Should I invest in a bose sound system?

Question

I want a good home theater sound system and i am willing to invest as much as $3,5000. The problem is that Im not sure what system to buy and what the best one I can buy for my money. Is bose the best sound out there?

Answer 1

Agree with most all of responses. Start in an AUDIO specialty retailer(not BB, CC, etc.), spend an hour or so w/slsman picking his brain and A-B'ing speakers, preferably w/music u have. After 1 or 2 trips, you'll know what's up and what u want. Then shop, but don't discount value of that store's probably higher $.

Bose is nothing but hi-qual in upper end; yes, they also have superior marketing but in that end u won't go wrong. Have friends still using Bose fr late '70s -- not 'throwaway' product.

I like JBL myself, but in HT system prefer a mixed setup -- I just posted a response to a Klipsch/DefTech question abt my setup using different brand WC and EC drivers. I prefer this over any HT 'matched set' I've heard.

Some said get a 5-7 driver set fr 1 mf'r for $1200 or so, I think fr. DefTech or BA. With a $700 amp? I own and use JBLs in my syst. today that were $650/pr in 1976. Don't believe quality of a $1200 set today is in the same universe as mine, of course they may sound excellent! And if u consider speakers a 'throw-away' item like most else we buy today(replace in abt 10yrs or so), that's an obvious choice IF they sound excellent to u.

Of that $3500 budget, for say 5 speakers, think $2200 or so for that part, if u want 2 buy $700 power. I totally agree speakers are most important part of syst., and good ones can make a middling amp sound waygood.

Answer 2

Bose is actually lower quality sound than most other speakers - but their Marketing department has fooled the public into thinking it's a premium brand.

Here is what I would consider for that kind of money:

RECEIVER:  Onkyo TX-SR805 receiver. This unit is winning awards and is on several 'recommended' lists. About $700

Subwoofer: Get a SVS subwoofer. The sub does NOT have to be from the same company as the other speakers, yet it's the smooth, powerful bass that really impresses people.  About $800-$1,000

Speakers: Get a set of 5 matched speakers from a REAL speaker company. This means:

- The company only makes speakers (Not Sony, Not Yamaha, Not Phillips, Not Samsung, etc)

- You can find reviews of the speaker sets (Not Bose - they sue anybody who tries to review their speakers)

Speakers have 'flavor' like ice cream.  You need to take a favorite music CD and audition them to find ones you like.  Some well-respected lines are Paradigm, Definitive Technology, B&W.  There are many others as well and the remaining $1,500 should be enough to buy a good set.

Answer 3

You can buy a very nice system with that money.

Bose is not a very good system.

Bose has a design that allow for dramatic mid to low frequency response while use inexpensive drivers. When you look at the response of these speakers with a Real Time Analyzer (a unit that let you see audio) these speakers Perform very bad.

Try looking at a home theater in a box. Many companys build them.

Look at Onkyo, Pioneer, Yamaha, and Denon.

Even Pioneer Elite has a Home theater in a box system.

But with the money your spending you can have a custom home theater installer come to your home and design and install a system that will blow Bose out of the water!

Answer 4

Since your willing to spend $3,500 I would go with a component system and stay away from Bose or home theater in a box. The HTIBs may have good receivers but lousy speakers or vice-versa. Spend most of your money on good speakers (I'd suggest Klipsch or Boston Acoustics but you really need to spend some time in a good A/V store demoing speakers because each person has a different ear). Then look for a good A/V receiver (Denon or Yamaha would be my choices) with HDMI connectivity. I'd spend around $500 - $700 on the receiver and the rest on the speakers.

Be careful when demoing Bose cubes. Bose does make some great speakers, but the cubes aren't among them.  Each of their retailers is required to setup their system for optimal sound. This is because they have a lousy soundstage and they only sound good when your in the right position to listen. Move around the room and you'll notice that they change dramatically.

You really should take great care in selecting the speakers. If properly taken care of, they can last 20 or more years and the effort now is worth the time.

Answer 5

Bose is made very well and will last a long time. Do your research on cnet.com and other impartial websites.

My main recommendation is to make sure you have full HDMI setup on your receiver to that it will last for many years to come. Sound technology is not a fast changing technology relatively speaking. A good system will last you a long time.

Keep in mind that you can create a component system by selecting brands that specialize in certain areas. For instance, McIntosh and Denon make great receivers. Klipsh and Advent make great speakers. A store that specializes in home theatre will be able to help you mix and match so that your rms wattage, ohms and distortion match well.

Answer 6

hate to tell you this but the only sure way is going to be to go to a store and LISTEN... every ones ear has a different sensitivity...

you will find people that SWEAR by bose... because they don't have the ability to pick out the sub bass sounds that the people that hate bose hear clearly...

OTOH i have heard people swear by electronic tweeters.. .to others the sound is tinny and artificial...

bottom line is the human is is a VERY different and unique device.. asking which speaker sounds best is like asking which picture LOOKS best;   the only sure way to know.. is to go listen to the options and pick the one that appeals to YOUR ear the best!

Answer 7

BOSE is FAR from the best sound out there...they are closer to bottom than the top.

Their commecial marketing however is phenominal, and they really rope unsuspecting and uneducated people into their products.  

I would reccomend you to purchase a Sound and Vision magazine and take a look at some of the audiophile quality products out there...or log on to www.avsforum.com and browse the forums.  

Bose demo's, tunes, and markets their speakers in the "sweet spot" of listeners preferences and what the majority of listeners 'want" to hear, not how the recording was intended to be heard, which is usually quite a noticable difference...and quite more dynamic.  Bose rarely demo's their products with concerts, movies, or high action scenes since the products have horrible dynamic range and seperation.

With 3500$, which is a very good budget to work with, id reccomend you to start by taking a look at receivers from Harman Kardon, Onkyo, Denon, and Yamaha.  You can pick up a very good receiver from one of these brands for $500.00-$1000.00.  If a sub is not included, check into SVS, HSU, and Velodyne, again, a good 10-12 inch woofer can be had for 300-500$.

As far as speakers, Klipsch, Boston Acoustics, and Definitive Technology makes some wonderful sets for under $1000.00 in both 5.1 and 7.1, and include the subwoofers often too.  

Id also reccomed to pick up a power conditioner with the remainder of the budget, the best ones out there for the money are by Panamax.  Id guess at about $250-500.  This product will protect as a surge protector, filter our electronic noise from interferece between components, and stabilize incomming current when your components are under heavy load or current draw. They have a website that can give you more info.  

Make sure to spend about 15% of the value of your theater system on wires that are high quality.  Your components can only be as good as your wires...water flows better through a hose than a straw, same with wires.  

Research...research....research...this is your best friend.  Also dont hesitate to go demo some systems yourself at local retailers...and ask lots of questions.

Good luck!

Answer 8

first off get yourself an av education

start here http://www.audioholics.com/buying-guides...

i would never recommend bose to anyone but that's just me. i know that 99 times out of 100 you can get better equipment for less money. audio is all subjective whats sounds good to me might not sound good to you. if you think that the bose system sounds better to you compared to others of the same price, buy it but do compare before you spend your hard earned money.