Bose. Why do people buy it?

[acj]

Why do people think a speaker system commonly sold at WalMart and Sams Club is good?

[leet1]

Originally posted by acj
Why do people think a speaker system commonly sold at WalMart and Sams Club is good?

Go listen to them and find out. Just because they are sold at WalMart and Sams means nothing.

[acj]

Just because their sound is terrible means everything.

[leet1]

Originally posted by acj
Just because their sound is terrible means everything.

:rolleyes: someone enlighten this guy.....

[acj]

So many people are influenced by their tricky advertising and it’s enormous budget, with fancy store displays with motorized speaker arms, or even dedicated “Bose rooms” found at fry’s electronics and the like. They can't even call their "bass module" a subwoofer because it doesn't produce deep bass below 45 Hz. It is a 7th order bandpass design known for high efficiency and uncontrolled bass, made from thin, low-density fiberboard. Their jewl-cube speakers produce nearly nothing above 13,000 Hz. Direct OEM replacement drivers for the jewl-cubes are $35 a pair. The overall frequency response of the system is plagued with giant peaks and valleys. A mid-bass peak and a mid-trebel peak gives the impression of powerful base and crisp highs, but ignores important percussion frequencies, male vocals, and deep base.

The $350 Wave radio is easily beaten in every respect by an old discontinued $180 Cambridge soundworks model 88. The $500 wave radio CD and even the $1079 Acoustic Wave system is blown away by the new, smaller $400 Cambridge Soundworks CD 740 found at www.hifi.com.

[acj]

Here's one enlightening link (http://www.intellexual.net/bose.html)

[bousozoku]

Originally posted by leet1
:rolleyes: someone enlighten this guy.....

I've been fighting this battle for a while. Many people only associate the Acoustimass line with Bose. They don't even know how the company made its name far before that line existed.

I have a pair of 901s in front, a VCS-10 at centre, and a pair of 601s for surround. The worst things I've heard about these is that they're not good for the studio--a place where they were never intended to go.

The funny thing is that several people who have knocked Bose think that low quality mp3 and AAC files have good sound. :rolleyes:

[manitoubalck]

Originally posted by bousozoku
I've been fighting this battle for a while. Many people only associate the Acoustimass line with Bose. They don't even know how the company made its name far before that line existed.

I have a pair of 901s in front, a VCS-10 at centre, and a pair of 601s for surround. The worst things I've heard about these is that they're not good for the studio--a place where they were never intended to go.

The funny thing is that several people who have knocked Bose think that low quality mp3 and AAC files have good sound. :rolleyes:

Agreed PCM audio all the way. I have a pair of Energy C5's hooked up to my NAD amp and finally my computer and Denon CD player. Would have loved to buy the C7's but couldn't come up with the cash.
I also had a listen to the Bose 601's when deciding, they sounded pretty dam good but couldn't go as hard as the energy's and were $400AUD more expencive.

would love to own a pair of Dali Euphonia MS5's

[WinterMute]

I think acj is referring to the consumer modular system that Bose have been touting for a while, not the much more accomplished pro series like the aforementioned 601's.

manitoubalck is right about them being unsuitable for studio work, they simply aren't flat enough for monitor work, but they are certainly good speaker systems for most live and home use.

[Stelliform]

Thanks for spreading the word on Bose. I never knew, but I don't care much for high end audio. My TiBook speakers usually do quite fine. ;) :D

[yamabushi]

I visited a Bose store at the Mall of America that happens to be just a few feet away from an Apple store. I had been considering purchasing a pair of headphones before I stopped by. The sales rep lied when I asked about the frequency range. He let me try a brand new pair in a closed studio. They really sucked. I was surpised at the number of crackles, pops, and dropouts I heard. I thought that it might of been a problem with the stereo. However, when I politely asked the sales rep about it he gut all huffy and shoved me out the door. Since he was unable to account for the poor sound, apparently Bose just sucks and he knew it. I decided to avoid all Bose products in the future.:mad:

[tpjunkie]

I dunno man, we had some old (~25-30) year old bose speakers in our house that we just put in the basement when we got a surround system, and they had really good sound to them. I'm no expert by any means, but I have a pretty good ear, and I wouldn't say they "sucked"

[acj]

Bose speakers are sold at an audiophile price but they do not provide audiophile quality. Especially the ridiculous design of the 901s. The pair has what, a total of 36 4.5” paper midrange drivers? They seem to be proud that their flagship speaker was designed in 1968. I’m really sorry to knock a product you spent so much on, but luckily you could probably sell it and buy something better.

Many people will be very happy with them because they don’t have the ear to tell any difference. They associate powerful sound with good sound.

[leet1]

My friend has a bose surround sound, is great. I don't have any real personal experience with them other than watching movies over there with her. They sound excellent, good bass and everything.




I only have an audio system in my car though. Infinity is good :D

[OutThere]

http://www.jbl.com/

http://www.harmankardon.com/

There is no other way to go.

[tpjunkie]

Has anyone read about the new type of speakers this guy developed? They emit sound waves at an ultra sonic frequency, which is inaudible, until they resonate through your skull, which causes a frequency shift so that the sound is literally in your head. It has many applications, and seems really cool, but I cant remember what its called...

[iGav]

Originally posted by OutThere761
http://www.jbl.com/

http://www.harmankardon.com/

There is no other way to go.

well... only one...

http://www.bang-olufsen.com/bl5/bl5center.html

the daddy ;)

[mangoduck]

from my observation, solid lows are only produced by moving large volumes of air efficiently. there is no way some tiny tiny sub is going to do this. also, midtones aren't going to resonate properly in a space barely big enough for a tweeter. floor speakers or studio monitors are the way to go.

[manitoubalck]

Originally posted by OutThere761
http://www.jbl.com/

http://www.harmankardon.com/

There is no other way to go.

JBl if all you want is Drum and Bass
Harmankardon is a sub of JBL,

Top 10 in my view in no particular order
B&W (classic,)
KEFF(Big, bold, warm, sound,)
KRIX (local Adelaide brand that supplies all Movie theaters in AUS,)
Energy (especally the connoisseur midrange speakers,)
Dali (Ribbon tweater,)
B&O (Active tech,)
Marage (do these guys still exist,)
Yamaha (the best of the Japs,)
VAF (local Adelaide brand that makes great Reference speakers,)
Mackie (Active speakers for all your sound needs >120dB)

There's probabley brands that should be here that aren't but this is just how I see it.

[WinterMute]

It does depend what you want your speakers to do, Hifi speakers are generically coloured, they have extended bass and HF response and are boosted at around 4-5Khz to enhance the vocal lines. This is done deliberately to make the listening experience better, no-one wants speakers to sound crap.

Monitor speakers are a different story, they are as flat in their frequency response as they can be designed to be, this is so engineers can assess the state of the audio they are recording "if it sounds crap, then it's crap" as the saying goes. If I play a bad CD on my hifi I would like it to sound OK, on my monitors I want it to be exactly as crap as it is.

Speakers are also very sensetive to the ampifiers they are paired with, hifi amps are again coloured, and are rarely class A, studio amps are flat, and many are designed to complement particular speakers, like Dynaudio and the Chameleon amp range.

For my money, the Dynaudio monitor range is the best in the world, the BM6a nearfields are excellent in small spaces and the M1's are the boss in any studio.

The M4a system is used in AIR Lyndhurst in London, George Martin's studio, and they are the best sounding main m onitors I've ever heard. At £28K (UK) they'd better be.

I have KEF 105.4 reference speakers for the hifi and a pair of B&W 802s in the home studio. Both are powered by Quad amps.

[iJon]

i really like bose, especially in home theater. we have a bose setup through out our living room and it sounds great. my friend has even a better setup in his house and its crazy. such crystal clear and loud sound, and a huge ass sub behingthe big screen, makes me feel like im in a movie theater. i wish bose was a good in cars. My acura tl type s came with a bose stereo, and its pretty good, just good enough for me not want to spend 2g's and put a new system in my car, plus i can control the volume from the steering wheel.

iJon

[bousozoku]

Originally posted by acj
Bose speakers are sold at an audiophile price but they do not provide audiophile quality. Especially the ridiculous design of the 901s. The pair has what, a total of 36 4.5” paper midrange drivers? They seem to be proud that their flagship speaker was designed in 1968. I’m really sorry to knock a product you spent so much on, but luckily you could probably sell it and buy something better.

Many people will be very happy with them because they don’t have the ear to tell any difference. They associate powerful sound with good sound.

9 drivers in each cabinet. 4 on each angle in the rear, 1 facing forward.

It's unfortunate that you criticise without any real knowledge. It's apparent that you've not listened to anything but the consumer products or you would have a bit more respect for the sound. If you want to bash the Acoustimass line, I'm all for it, though. They have no redeeming qualities other than being small and out of sight.

For that matter, the Wave Radio is basically a clock radio for the rich. It has good, compelling sound but like clock radios costing $50, lacks accuracy and bass.

[kuyu]

Originally posted by tpjunkie
Has anyone read about the new type of speakers this guy developed? They emit sound waves at an ultra sonic frequency, which is inaudible, until they resonate through your skull, which causes a frequency shift so that the sound is literally in your head. It has many applications, and seems really cool, but I cant remember what its called...

I read something in Pop Mechanics about this technology. It allows you to broadcast sound like a laser up to 500 feet, I think. The problem with home use is it has to be pointed directly at you to work, so you can't really shift in your seat. However, think about retinal scans and custom tailored advertisements (ie Vanilla Sky).

This would also work great for cell phones when privacy in a room is extremly important. With on the fly encryption and this tech cell phones would be totally silent from 1 inch away.

Another practical application for this technology is military use. Get a bunch of these "speakers" and blast mind-piercing noise at the enemy. They can cover their ears, but the noise will persist. It's hard to fight back when all you can hear is a 500 db screech in your head. You could defeat an army without firing a shot.

I should work for the DOD.....

[Gyroscope]

In my humble opinion, as long as you listen to lot of electronica or techno stuff any pair of low end speakers will do. Seriously!
Best way to tell difference between crappy/decent/top notch speakers is to listen some acoustic stuff. Here, at least for me Denon comes first. There is just no way other speakers can reproduce that live-like sound of guitar like Denon can.

So if you go with Denon you can't go wrong .

[maluscanis]

Sure Denon makes awesome stuff...but so do a number of other companies. I would have a hard time saying that one company is really better than another...oftentimes it is just a matter of finding the best speaker for the money...

trust me when I say that if you spend over 10 thousand for a speaker pair you will be getting pretty good sound quality.

As far as Bose goes...I have a good ear and I believe they offer a good bang for the buck...I wouldn't one personally as I think there are some better alternatives out there...Martin Logan's just because they look cool...Klipsch offers some excellent stuff in the sub-$1500 category...Denon...B&W...and a host of others

[acj]

Originally posted by bousozoku
9 drivers in each cabinet. 4 on each angle in the rear, 1 facing forward.

It's unfortunate that you criticise without any real knowledge. It's apparent that you've not listened to anything but the consumer products or you would have a bit more respect for the sound.

I doubled my number, accidentally. A foolish mistake. 18 total drivers per pair, not 36. Still a ridiculous design. I've listened to a lot of systems, including several 901s, my first experience was at a high school dance, when I thought they were good (I’ve been educated since then). If someone listened to a pair of those in a fair blind test, against, say a pair of Paradigm studio 100s or Polk Lsi15s or B+W 700 or 800 series speakers and preferred the Bose, I'd wonder how they hid the lobotomy scars so well.

[acj]

The 601s, they're OK for the price but I've only listened to them once in a store.

[damax452]

I bought a pair of Bose 301 series IV about 6 years ago. I love the way they sound, they have never given me any problems. I use them as my computer speakers, for my stereo and as audio for DVD movies. They play everything equally well. They were about $300. Thats a small price to pay for a pair of great sounding speakers that will probably last me the rest of my life.

Oh, and what reply would be complete without mentioning all you 'audiophiles' out there. Ok, maybe Bose doesn't make the best speakers on the planet. Maybe their advertising is a little strong. But people aren't stupid, they buy what sounds good to them. If you think Bose speakers sound horrible, thats you, not everyone. And certainly not me. Bose makes a quality product, and again, maybe not the best. But give them a chance.

So to you ppl thinking about buying some new speakers, go listen to them. Reading about what someone else hears is useless.

[manitoubalck]

Originally posted by Gyroscope
So if you go with Denon you can't go wrong .

Denon AMP's yes, but I'm unaware that Denon produce a floorstanding speaker.

[gwuMACaddict]

i've always been very happy with my bose systems. a little pricey, but they sound great to me. what i really love from bose is the noise cancelling headset. finally caved in and bought one a year ago- best investment since my original ipod.

[acj]

Originally posted by damax452
I bought a pair of Bose 301 series IV about 6 years ago. I love the way they sound, they have never given me any problems. I use them as my computer speakers, for my stereo and as audio for DVD movies. They play everything equally well. They were about $300. Thats a small price to pay for a pair of great sounding speakers that will probably last me the rest of my life.

Oh, and what reply would be complete without mentioning all you 'audiophiles' out there. Ok, maybe Bose doesn't make the best speakers on the planet. Maybe their advertising is a little strong. But people aren't stupid, they buy what sounds good to them. If you think Bose speakers sound horrible, thats you, not everyone. And certainly not me. Bose makes a quality product, and again, maybe not the best. But give them a chance.

So to you ppl thinking about buying some new speakers, go listen to them. Reading about what someone else hears is useless.

Good points. Although I would argue that people buy what sounds good to them. The smart ones do, but many people blindly (or deafly…) buy something because of brand name recognition. Most of all that is what I would like to discourage with this thread.

[bousozoku]

Originally posted by acj
Good points. Although I would argue that people buy what sounds good to them. The smart ones do, but many people blindly (or deafly…) buy something because of brand name recognition. Most of all that is what I would like to discourage with this thread.

Yet, you're telling people not to buy Bose because of brand name recognition, not because they don't like the sound. Strange, that.

[cr2sh]

I purchased my Infocus X1 this weekend, and though I'm not entirely happy with it... I need to decide on a home theatre stereo to compliment the visual.

I stopped into the Easton BOSE store over the weekend, after listening to the sound I was impressed... but not really by the overall quality, but the quality with consideration of size. As much as I'm a mac user, appearance does mean something to me.. if another company makes such small, elegant speakers that can produce similar sound quality... then jesus, I'm all ears.

Just finishing reading that article.. a good read, I'll definately be checking out the recommendations.

[Ambrose Chapel]

when i was in the market for headphones for my iPod i went to check out the Bose TriPorts, which, from the ads, seemed to be exactly what I was looking for. when i tried them out, i couldn't believe how bad they sounded. no bass at all, and great bass was one of the selling points! (interestingly, the CD in the player that the headphones were hooked up to was mostly classical and acoustic stuff, with very little bass. good thing i hooked them up to my iPod.) i ended up getting a pair of grados for half the price that sound far better. i was talking to the the salesman when i bought them and he wasn't too find of bose...

[jxyama]

as some of us mentioned, there's nothing exceptionally wrong with bose. the point is not so much that bose sounds bad... it's more like you *can* find better sounding equipment for comparable price or find similar quality equipment for less. takes some research. and for the general public, marketing strongly influences any amount of "research" they may or may not do.

i understand that those who has invested in a bose system will probably like to defend them and i'm sure they sound great to you. but that's not really the point of this thread. audiophiles - people who really try and learn/educate themselves on the best sound reproduction - "experts," if you may, - however "snobby" they may sound, generally agree that bose doesn't offer the best bang for bucks.

one example: there was a poster earlier who commented how someone's Bose surround system sounded good - "with good bass and all." enhancing bass (and drowning all other range) is the easiest way to fool most people into thinking that the sound is good - because it will be loud and "full." you feel like you get your money's worth because your system is "loud." i have noticed that Bose does this a lot. take waveradio - all it did was channel more of the bass to the front and they can charging a ton for them.

just because public uses them and generally likes them doesn't mean they offer quality... geez, and we are at a Mac forum, have you heard of Microsoft? people use them, they generally "like" them, even if only because they don't know any alternatives, but does that say anything about the quality of their product? :rolleyes:

[mactastic]

I've got 5 Infinity speakers of various sizes in my living room, with a Velodyne 12" subwoofer for some real clean (and powerful) bass. Sounds good to me. I'm just waiting until I can afford to get a really nice set of amps to redo my speakers, but since I dropped $2,000 on the last batch about 6 years ago I'm not too eager to spend that kind of cash again. I'm still plenty happy with the sound I get.

[rueyeet]

Originally posted by kuyu
This would also work great for cell phones when privacy in a room is extremly important. With on the fly encryption and this tech cell phones would be totally silent from 1 inch away.

Pity the person one foot away who is talking into the cellphone can't be silenced as easily. :)

I was riding the light rail one day, and there was a guy on his cellphone talking to his insurance company. He'd raised his voice out of annoyance with the service he was getting, and by the end of that call I could have told you his name, his wife's name, their Social Security numbers, the policy number, home address and phone number, the guy's cell number, his place of employment, and a couple other things I forget now. And he was a parter in a law firm...you'd have thought the guy would have been educated enough to know better!

Sorry, a bit off-topic....I can't afford any of the speakers you guys are discussing, so it's all the same to my ears: silence! ;) :)

[bousozoku]

Originally posted by jxyama
as some of us mentioned, there's nothing exceptionally wrong with bose. the point is not so much that bose sounds bad... it's more like you *can* find better sounding equipment for comparable price or find similar quality equipment for less. takes some research. and for the general public, marketing strongly influences any amount of "research" they may or may not do.

i understand that those who has invested in a bose system will probably like to defend them and i'm sure they sound great to you. but that's not really the point of this thread. audiophiles - people who really try and learn/educate themselves on the best sound reproduction - "experts," if you may, - however "snobby" they may sound, generally agree that bose doesn't offer the best bang for bucks.

...


I'm only going to defend against lumping of all Bose lines into one. While there are people who find the Acoustimass line to be fulfilling, I cannot.

I don't live in an anechoic chamber or a studio. I need to compensate for the carpeting and the furniture. Table-flat frequency response ends up being sucked up by such things. If i bought Polk speakers, for instance, I'd probably want to rip out the carpeting and put uncomfortable furniture in my house. On the other hand, if I bought JBL speakers, I'd probably want carpeting 3 inches thick to absorb some of the extra bass. Yamaha speakers are great for the studio, but have dead sound in a house.

After spending an afternoon with audiophiles listening to $6000/pair speakers a long time back and watching them switch cables and congratulate themselves, I still wonder. I've played quite a few concert grand pianos as well as several 6 foot grands and the expensive speakers we heard weren't clear enough to identify the piano. Sure, things have changed and when there's a good-sounding set at a reasonable price, I'll be there--even if it isn't Bose. I'll never be an audiophile--I'll only be a musician and we don't know anything about music or sound. ;)

[3rdpath]

sound ( like sex ) is experienced and enjoyed in a very subjective multitude of ways...;) i've heard some bose systems that sounded very good and some that didn't do anything for me at all. i can say that for just about every speaker manufacturer in existence. i get real annoyed with psuedo high-brow audio techni-talk wankfests.

as far as the beamed audio...the company is American Technologies out of San Diego. i explored their products for a multi-media installation i was creating sound design for. neat stuff though i didn't end up using it. the military is exploring ways to use it as a weapon...beaming it at an enemy's building and having the sound radiate from the walls. can you imagine -110db of "baby crying" or "rob zombie" for days at a time time? brutal.

lastly, as far as subwoofers go...there are ways to get massive low freqs. out of relatively small enclosures. one of my clients who shall remain nameless( ND agreements) uses an amazing sub with a 10'' speaker. the trick is the whole speaker can actually move up to 3 inches thereby moving huge amounts of air. personally, i don't like subs though i use them when doing 5.1 or 7.1 mixes.

i'm done.

[shadowfax]

Originally posted by manitoubalck
JBl if all you want is Drum and Bass
Harmankardon is a sub of JBL,

Top 10 in my view in no particular order
B&W (classic,)
KEFF(Big, bold, warm, sound,)
KRIX (local Adelaide brand that supplies all Movie theaters in AUS,)
Energy (especally the connoisseur midrange speakers,)
Dali (Ribbon tweater,)
B&O (Active tech,)
Marage (do these guys still exist,)
Yamaha (the best of the Japs,)
VAF (local Adelaide brand that makes great Reference speakers,)
Mackie (Active speakers for all your sound needs >120dB)

There's probabley brands that should be here that aren't but this is just how I see it. the italian company Sonus Faber, as the Ferrari of Speakers (If B&W is Lamborghini, heh), should be in your top 3.

as for bose--i have some bose shelf speakers i got at fry's for 50$ (they were half off). i don't think you could beat these speakers for $50. that said, bose has turned into a MS-esque giant. not on monopolistic terms by any means, but they are much in the habit of producing DECENT speakers at unbelievably high prices. bose stuff does not sound bad, usually, though it's not worth the money they charge you. i would pat anyone on the back if they got an acoustimass system for about half price.

[manitoubalck]

Originally posted by shadowfax
the italian company Sonus Faber, as the Ferrari of Speakers (If B&W is Lamborghini, heh), should be in your top 3.

True but I was unaware of their existance. I like you analgy but I think B&W as Rolls Royce would have been better.

[shadowfax]

Originally posted by manitoubalck
True but I was unaware of their existance. I like you analgy but I think B&W as Rolls Royce would have been better. perhaps. then Bose is a struggling Jaguar, Yamaha is Acura/Honda, and... JBL or something is Chrysler?

[manitoubalck]

Maybe Shadow, I just adore the sound that comes out of my Energy C5's. Best speaker for under $1500AUD in Australia in my mind.

[acj]

Originally posted by 3rdpath


lastly, as far as subwoofers go...there are ways to get massive low freqs. out of relatively small enclosures. one of my clients who shall remain nameless( ND agreements) uses an amazing sub with a 10'' speaker. the trick is the whole speaker can actually move up to 3 inches thereby moving huge amounts of air. personally, i don't like subs though i use them when doing 5.1 or 7.1 mixes.

i'm done.

Perhaps you are talking about sunfire (http://www.sunfire.com) subs? Bob Carver, who I don't know but my dad used to dog fight control line model airplanes with as a kid (as if that means anything), has made some impressive subs with an interesting design. Go listen to one of THOSE babies and my god you will be impressed. I wouldn't say they're the best by any means, but you would not think an 11" cube (or a large Velodyne 12” woofer in 18” cube, for that matter) is producing that much amazingly clean, low base. A viable alternative as part of a system to compete in small size and elegence with an Acoustimass setup.

[shadowfax]

Originally posted by acj
Perhaps you are talking about sunfire (http://www.sunfire.com) subs? Bob Carver, who I don't know but my dad used to dog fight control line model airplanes with as a kid (as if that means anything), has made some impressive subs with an interesting design. Go listen to one of THOSE babies and my god you will be impressed. I wouldn't say they're the best by any means, but you would not think an 11" cube (or a large Velodyne 12” woofer in 18” cube, for that matter) is producing that much amazingly clean, low base. A viable alternative as part of a system to compete in small size and elegence with an Acoustimass setup. LOL... what do those little 12" sunfires weigh? i picked one up in a store once. i couldn't do it the first time i tried. the damn thing must have weighed at least 60 lb.

edit: i see they are 57 lbs... good lord! that's like 50 lbs/cubic foot!

[3rdpath]

Originally posted by acj
Perhaps you are talking about sunfire (http://www.sunfire.com) subs?

yep, that's them...except ours are installed outdoors and the enclosures look like large river-rocks. you can't see them but you can certainly feel them. thanks for the link.

[acj]

Originally posted by shadowfax
LOL... what do those little 12" sunfires weigh? i picked one up in a store once. i couldn't do it the first time i tried. the damn thing must have weighed at least 60 lb.

edit: i see they are 57 lbs... good lord! that's like 50 lbs/cubic foot!
Yeah, they are so innefficient, compressing so much air in such a small acoustic suspension design and achieving flat frequency response so low, that they have a 2700 watt (yes, 2,700 watt, and that's RMS) amplifier. They need to be so heavy as to not flex, as that would cancel out sound and distort it.

[absolut_mac]

Originally posted by shadowfax
the italian company Sonus Faber, as the Ferrari of Speakers (If B&W is Lamborghini, heh), should be in your top 3.

I sold high-end stereo for a number of years, and by far the best sounding speakers for the money are the English ones, although I agree with shadowfax that the Sonus Faber, if a little pricey, are good too.

Here's my pick for best sounding speakers in no particular order, as they do cover a wide price range.

If the difference between a Bösendorfer and Steinway, or a Fender and a Gibson etc is important to you, then any of these below should keep you happy.

ATC http://www.atc.gb.net/

Acoustic Energy http://www.acoustic-energy.co.uk/

B&W http://www.bwspeakers.com/

Celestion http://www.celestion.com/

Epos http://www.epos-acoustics.com

Harbeth http://www.harbeth.co.uk/

KEF http://www.kef.com/

Linn http://www.linn.co.uk

Naim http://www.naim-audio.com

ProAc http://www.proac-loudspeakers.com/

Rega http://www.rega.co.uk

Wharfdale http://www.wharfedale.co.uk/

Wilson Audio http://www.wilsonaudio.com

Keep in mind that no one speaker does it all. My favorites are ATC, Linn, Rega, ProAc and Wilson. The latter is the only American made speaker of the bunch, but offers the same positive attributes as its English counterparts, except for value-for-money. The Wilsons are exceptionally expensive.

Enjoy the vibes while you search for the perfect chord :)

[Peyote]

No highs, no lows? Must be bose!


Seriously though, I get so tired of people telling others how much experience they've had with audio equipment, or trying to list as many SUPER high end brands as they can think of. Nobody can afford that stuff (or very few people anyway), so nobody cares, you're not impressing anyone. Show-offs are my pet peeve and any time audio equipment comes up they come out of the woodworks.

BTW, this isn't directed at any one person, but a lot of people in general. :D

[manitoubalck]

Originally posted by absolut_mac
Here's my pick for best sounding speakers in no particular order, as they do cover a wide price range.


I like that list, But the wold is a big place and some of the best speakers are made in the oddest locations. Take Krix for example, as I said before they supply every Cinema in Australia, and the company is based in a run down suburb of little old Adelaide.

Here's a pic of the Twin 18" sub-woofer for cinema, check out www.krix for the whole range, also have a look at www.vaf.com.au, these guys can make custom speakers to order.

[shadowfax]

Originally posted by manitoubalck
I like that list, But the wold is a big place and some of the best speakers are made in the oddest locations. Take Krix for example, as I said before they supply every Cinema in Australia, and the company is based in a run down suburb of little old Adelaide.

Here's a pic of the Twin 18" sub-woofer for cinema, check out www.krix for the whole range, also have a look at www.vaf.com.au, these guys can make custom speakers to order. is that woofer dipoled (or is it bipoled?)?

[manitoubalck]

Originally posted by shadowfax
is that woofer dipoled (or is it bipoled?)?

I'm pretty sure it's not bipolar since it only has two drivers both facing the front, hence it is most likly dipolar with the woffers out of phase.

It' could be monopolar with both drivers firing at the same time.
I listen to this sub every time I go to the movies and it sounds amazing, I've heard them in there shop and the result is the same. Truth is I don't know as product sheets and web site don't disclose that infomation.

Though if your really interested I could ask them.

[Geetar]

Originally posted by absolut_mac
I sold high-end stereo for a number of years, and by far the best sounding speakers for the money are the English ones, although I agree with shadowfax that the Sonus Faber, if a little pricey, are good too.

Here's my pick for best sounding speakers in no particular order, as they do cover a wide price range.

If the difference between a Bösendorfer and Steinway, or a Fender and a Gibson etc is important to you, then any of these below should keep you happy.

ATC http://www.atc.gb.net/

Acoustic Energy http://www.acoustic-energy.co.uk/

B&W http://www.bwspeakers.com/

Celestion http://www.celestion.com/

Epos http://www.epos-acoustics.com

Harbeth http://www.harbeth.co.uk/

KEF http://www.kef.com/

Linn http://www.linn.co.uk

Naim http://www.naim-audio.com

ProAc http://www.proac-loudspeakers.com/

Rega http://www.rega.co.uk

Wharfdale http://www.wharfedale.co.uk/

Wilson Audio http://www.wilsonaudio.com

Keep in mind that no one speaker does it all. My favorites are ATC, Linn, Rega, ProAc and Wilson. The latter is the only American made speaker of the bunch, but offers the same positive attributes as its English counterparts, except for value-for-money. The Wilsons are exceptionally expensive.

Enjoy the vibes while you search for the perfect chord :)



To which you should add PMC and Quad (the 988 and 989 electrostatics, as well as a smaller conventional cone range).

I've been accused of being an audiophile (Phil of Mac !) but heck, you've got to care about something passionately or you might as well be dead... I love my TiBk 500 too so I can't be all bad.

....I run ATC 100 ASLs, passive 20 SLs, active Spendors and Rogers LS3/5As/AB1s on Bryston and Meridian pre/pwr amps. But I also distribute British pro-audio and valve (tube) Marshall-type guitar amps (DC Plexi) in the USA and I play bass and guitar, so I figure I've got a good excuse. At least that's how I explain a $XX thousand dollar hi-fi as a tax write-off/depreciating asset :eek:

As for Bose, their lesser stuff (which is what most folk run into) does their older better stuff no favours from a reputational point of view. At their best, Bose is quite serviceable, but truthfully IMHO, none of their range would even make it into my top 1000 speakers list, regardless of price. Of course, Your Mileage May Vary.

[shadowfax]

Originally posted by manitoubalck
I'm pretty sure it's not bipolar since it only has two drivers both facing the front, hence it is most likly dipolar with the woffers out of phase.

It' could be monopolar with both drivers firing at the same time.
I listen to this sub every time I go to the movies and it sounds amazing, I've heard them in there shop and the result is the same. Truth is I don't know as product sheets and web site don't disclose that infomation.

Though if your really interested I could ask them. it's no big deal. i am sure it must be dipoled (i get bi- and di- mixed up a lot) if it sounds anywhere near as good as you say... dipoling makes woofers sound a whole lot bigger than they are. my dad has some Sound Dynamics floor standing speakers with dual 6 inch woofers on each. they're dipoled, and the bass they give off is amazing.

[acj]

Originally posted by Peyote
No highs, no lows? Must be bose!


Seriously though, I get so tired of people telling others how much experience they've had with audio equipment, or trying to list as many SUPER high end brands as they can think of. Nobody can afford that stuff (or very few people anyway), so nobody cares, you're not impressing anyone. Show-offs are my pet peeve and any time audio equipment comes up they come out of the woodworks.

BTW, this isn't directed at any one person, but a lot of people in general. :D

I am so smart! I am so smart! S-M-R-T!

[Powerbook G5]

I don't have the money for high end speakers, but I do like good sound. My car has a Pioneer head unit with 8 Infinity Speakers that sounds really awesome, my school system is a Pioneer DTS EX surround system with 2 Infinity fronts, a Bose center, 2 Pioneer rears, and a Yamaha sub, and my home system is just a basic Sony 4 speaker Pro Logic system with 5' surround speakers.

[Genie]

BOse not audiophile level, but ok

[Powerbook G5]

I'm partial to Infinity, I know, it's not high end, but is sounds pretty nice for the price range.

[manitoubalck]

Originally posted by Powerbook G5
my home system is just a basic Sony 4 speaker Pro Logic system with 5' surround speakers.

Old school quadraphonic.

[Genie]

http://www.geniesongs.com/genie/endorsements/apple/Genie-G5Computer50pix.jpg (http://www.geniesongs.com/genie/endorsements/apple/g5opening/index.htm)
I monitor on Genelec

[Powerbook G5]

Generally, I found that Bose is decent for what it is, which is providing a good sounding system from a compact footprint. They don't match the quality of many of the higher end systems, but Bose isn't meant to. It's mainstream "quality" as opposed to the specialty quality you get from the truly audiophile systems out there.

I wish I could call myself an audiophile, I just don't have the money to spend the $1000+ on a sound system. My school system is awesome, but I got it from Best Buy for just a few hundred because of a special sale since it was going under and I had a tuition/scholarship refund check to blow. I also got my audio system for my car for a great price from Circuit City during a 4th of July sale with 30% off the speakers with free installation and a discount on the head unit because my car came with an Alpine in it that I didn't like and they took it from me as a sort of "trade in". As far as my Sony system, I worked for a year as a janitor at my church to same my money up for it and it's my first "big" purchase ever, so I was pretty proud the day I came back from the store with it.

[Genie]

yeah- i get ya


If you want some good reference speakers check out the Blue Sky or the Event- you can get a nice flat 2.1 system for under a grand

[manitoubalck]

Originally posted by Genie
If you want some good reference speakers check out the Blue Sky or the Event- you can get a nice flat 2.1 system for under a grand

Reference speakers for under $1000USD. You must be kidding right? Reference speakers are manufactures top models usually starting, repeat starting @ $2000USD.

[Genie]

Originally posted by manitoubalck
Reference speakers for under $1000USD. You must be kidding right? Reference speakers are manufactures top models usually starting, repeat starting @ $2000USD.

The blue Sky and Event are trying hard to be like the Genelecs. They do a pretty good job for the $$.

[Powerbook G5]

It's all about shopping around. I got a $900 surround sound system for under $400, a $350 Pioneer system for my car for $150, a $800 tv for $400, and a $3000 PowerBook for $2600. You just have to be motivated to be cheap. ;)

[manitoubalck]

Cash also helps but Reference speakers are the top of the line, with no expences speared.

[Powerbook G5]

The component speakers in my car were Infinity Reference series, but I doubt they are in the same league as the kind you are talking about.

[Genie]

Originally posted by Powerbook G5
It's all about shopping around. I got a $900 surround sound system for under $400, a $350 Pioneer system for my car for $150, a $800 tv for $400, and a $3000 PowerBook for $2600. You just have to be motivated to be cheap. ;)

Lemme know where u shop!
'

[Powerbook G5]

I got my 600-watt Pioneer system with the 6 speakers from Best Buy in Waterloo, Iowa when I was there for my first semester of college after leaving the Army. I got my Pioneer/Infinity system from Circuit City in Wellington, Florida during a 4th of July sale so there were lots of big sales going on and I traded in my old Alpine system for the Pioneer. As far as my PowerBook, it pays to be a student...plus my dad is a minister so we can declare tax free status on any purchase :)

[Genie]

Wow

DO you use dealmac.com or anything like that?

[Powerbook G5]

I got it from Apple since they have 15% discount for students, which also applied to the BTO options I got added to my order and there is a form you can fill out with them to get rid of the sales tax if you qualify. I also found www.academicsuperstore.com through Adobe's website where I got Photoshop for 1/3 the price and MS Office for 40% off, too. It's just the "cheap" side of me that I got from my parents that comes out from being an unemployed college student in need of every dollar but who still wants all the coolest toys out there.

[Sedulous]

I totally agree with what a few people have said... Bose is good for what it is... a simple system that sounds relatively good for its cost. It is, in effect, the iBook of the audio world.

[Powerbook G5]

Those iBooks are really starting to become impressive machines, too. I think that Bose needs to come down a bit more in price, though, to truly be considered a more consumer oriented brand.

[InAppleHeaven]

I've heard a few Bose systems before, all set up in different configurations in different types of rooms(carpeted, hardwood, etc.). Although the sound was clear from most sources, spending $2500 on it I believe is very expensive. The best home audio equipment I have heard so far is the Polk tower speakers with the built in amp, and the Denon/Mirage receiver/speaker package at Tweeter. Even in their crappy audio room, the mirage speakers had excellent sound from everything (cd's, dvd's, acoustic stuff). And now, they have even lowered the price on their 6.1 system by $200. Spending $799 would be a lot better than $2500. Check out Tweeter.com and place an order. I know what I want for Christmas.

[Genie]

I'll check it out.

[rhpenguin]

I used to have bose speakers in my grand prix and they sounded GREAT. Its all about what your ears like. For instance, my $500 setup at home which consists of a crappy kenwood receiver some sony fronts and a mashed up set of logitech z560s to fill in the satellites and sub sounds fine and dandy. It also too depends on what wire your using.

sorry for the really unorganized post.

[Genie]

I think of bose as pretty hyped on the high end and boosted on the bottom- kinda smiley.

[Powerbook G5]

I have a Bose just because it was free, but it's just one of those in between brands that I doubt I've ever buy since I will either never have the money for high end or I will have the money and skip over Bose to get something better. It's kind of like Cadillac. It is "higher up" than a Ford but lower than Mercedes, BMW, Porsche, Ferrari...I doubt I will have the money to afford a high end car, but if I do, I would skip right over Cadillac and go right for a BMW, Porsche, Ferrari, etc.

[Genie]

Originally posted by Powerbook G5
I have a Bose just because it was free, but it's just one of those in between brands that I doubt I've ever buy since I will either never have the money for high end or I will have the money and skip over Bose to get something better. It's kind of like Cadillac. It is "higher up" than a Ford but lower than Mercedes, BMW, Porsche, Ferrari...I doubt I will have the money to afford a high end car, but if I do, I would skip right over Cadillac and go right for a BMW, Porsche, Ferrari, etc.

I totally agree.

They say most of the really lifetime- rich people drive old paid-for cars and aren't into buying stuff for show. - at least rapidly depreciating stuff like cars - and electronics :)

[johnnowak]

Originally posted by bousozoku

I have a pair of 901s in front, a VCS-10 at centre, and a pair of 601s for surround. The worst things I've heard about these is that they're not good for the studio--a place where they were never intended to go.

You do realize the 901s are a pair of junk, right? Bose is famous for spending much more money on marketing then their product.

[johnnowak]

Originally posted by Peyote
No highs, no lows? Must be bose!


EXACTLY. This phrase has been around for decades. It's classic. Most people who like Bose are like the people here: They use it for their computer systems, little home theatre thing, whatever. They have no idea what hi-fi speakers should sound like, and hence have no idea what they're missing.

And hence, act really superior about owning such crap. heh

[Geetar]

Originally posted by Peyote

Seriously though, I get so tired of people telling others how much experience they've had with audio equipment, or trying to list as many SUPER high end brands as they can think of. Nobody can afford that stuff (or very few people anyway), so nobody cares, you're not impressing anyone. Show-offs are my pet peeve and any time audio equipment comes up they come out of the woodworks.

BTW, this isn't directed at any one person, but a lot of people in general. :D

Several things on my mind reading your post:

1) I know your post wasn't aimed at me, 'cos I posted after your comment..........

BUT.........

2) If you're tired, take a nap. Stop reading. It's making you cranky.

3) Super high-end brands.......where the super high-end starts depends entirely on your personal circumstances. If you're dirt-poor, probably even Bose (!) qualifies.


[As an aside, for me, it's around where pre-amps cost more than $5k, and speakers more than $10k. But not because I'm wealthy- I'm not, I supply pro-audio and backline to working musicians, so I never will be. But I care about music passionately, and need to be able to demo effectively to pros who, in turn, care about their work]

4) There is a magic to recorded music that, with your attitude, you will never experience. As a recorded artist myself, I wish you could hear the gulf that exists between how music sounds in the mastering facility and how it generally sounds on a boom-box or even an entry-level "hi-fi" system.

5) Even if you don't care, who set you up as judge of the passions of others? A smiley won't save you here- you accuse people, in a spirit that is, mercifully, generally absent from what may be the most open-minded forum I've ever spent time on.. Is YOUR passion immune to criticism? I hope you HAVE a passion of some sort- such things are a comfort and an anchor in an uncertain world.

Enough. I've typed my irritation away. Don't make me tell you off again, or I'll have to get my "friends" Sieglinde and Helmut to come round and spank ya. By the way, that's expensive too.....


:eek:

[jxyama]

peyote:

your points are somewhat valid - you are right, not everyone can afford the very best stuff knowledgeable people have been posting here.

however, that doesn't say anything about bose. what those people are implying is that instead of paying high premium (re: overpriced) for bose, you can spend less on non-bose, non-studio speakers and basically get the same thing. the problem with bose, as opposed to, say, JBL, sony - non-studio quality, "generic" speaker makers - is that in general, you don't see where the extra money went to. bose is a lot of marketing hype. yes, they may sound nice. they aren't junk, afterall. but if bose sounded nice, there are others out there that will sound just as nice for less money. that's all.

"audiophiles" get kind of annoyed because they've experienced how people who shelled good amout of money for bose will start describing them as if they are much better than other non-descript non-studio quality equipment. if marketing constantly made general public believe that an overpriced equipment is actually not "overpriced", while you knew all along how untrue that is, wouldn't you get a little frustrated?

M$ does this. they make it seem like their OS is the best of the bunch and public believes them - mostly because they don't know any better. if you are a mac fan and think macs just work better, wouldn't you get frustrated with windows fanatics when they just don't know what they are talking about?

[howard]

Originally posted by jxyama
peyote:

your points are somewhat valid - you are right, not everyone can afford the very best stuff knowledgeable people have been posting here.

however, that doesn't say anything about bose. what those people are implying is that instead of paying high premium (re: overpriced) for bose, you can spend less on non-bose, non-studio speakers and basically get the same thing. the problem with bose, as opposed to, say, JBL, sony - non-studio quality, "generic" speaker makers - is that in general, you don't see where the extra money went to. bose is a lot of marketing hype. yes, they may sound nice. they aren't junk, afterall. but if bose sounded nice, there are others out there that will sound just as nice for less money. that's all.

"audiophiles" get kind of annoyed because they've experienced how people who shelled good amout of money for bose will start describing them as if they are much better than other non-descript non-studio quality equipment. if marketing constantly made general public believe that an overpriced equipment is actually not "overpriced", while you knew all along how untrue that is, wouldn't you get a little frustrated?

M$ does this. they make it seem like their OS is the best of the bunch and public believes them - mostly because they don't know any better. if you are a mac fan and think macs just work better, wouldn't you get frustrated with windows fanatics when they just don't know what they are talking about?

this guy has it down, he knows what he's talking about and anyone on either side of this arguement should read and find logic and intelligence in his post. :)

i totally agree with what he says

[Rower_CPU]

So, I guess my Polk speakers and Klipsch sub at home are no good. :( ;)

[shadowfax]

Originally posted by Rower_CPU
So, I guess my Polk speakers and Klipsch sub at home are no good. :( ;) heh. i dunno about klipsch, but i would say polk is better quality for your money than bose. depending on whinch ones you've got...

[howard]

Originally posted by Rower_CPU
So, I guess my Polk speakers and Klipsch sub at home are no good. :( ;)

you shouldn't be curious if there good or not to everyone, but whether there good or not to you...if you wanted the best quality speakers you'd ask an audiophile...if you want speakers that you like the sound of then go and listen to a bunch and pick out what you like whatever the name is

[bousozoku]

Originally posted by johnnowak
You do realize the 901s are a pair of junk, right? Bose is famous for spending much more money on marketing then their product.

They're not junk. They may not be what you want but so what? It wasn't your money--it wasn't your choice. If you want to buy another pair of speakers for me, you're welcome to do it. I'll probably find that they aren't representative of a live performance anyway.

I had never seen any Bose marketing materials until after wanting their speakers. I seriously don't see why their marketing (or equipment) should bother you any more than Apple's. Apple have been marketing the equivalent of what Bose offer. Tell me that the G4 processor is better than the 901s. It lacks strength and is a compromise but gets the job done even when outclassed.

[Rower_CPU]

I was being halfway facetious in my Polk = bad statement.

I demoed a few speakers and am more than happy with the system I got. Along with the Sony receiver, it was a big step up from the JVC Pro Logic shelf speaker system I had before. It was a good investment and I'm more than happy with the results.

I'll post the models once I get home.

[manitoubalck]

Originally posted by bousozoku
Tell me that the G4 processor is better than the 901s. It lacks strength and is a compromise but gets the job done even when outclassed.

It is, It was dated when it was released and is still dated now.
(sorry off topic but couldn't resist.)

I agree with you though that it was your money to spend and you probably did some market reseach and the 901's were what you were after. as for me the Energy C5's were the pic of the bunch.

[shadowfax]

Originally posted by Rower_CPU
I was being halfway facetious in my Polk = bad statement.

I demoed a few speakers and am more than happy with the system I got. Along with the Sony receiver, it was a big step up from the JVC Pro Logic shelf speaker system I had before. It was a good investment and I'm more than happy with the results.

I'll post the models once I get home. if i were you, i would get an Onkyo or Yamaha receiver... personally, i don't think sony does very good quality amps/receivers.

you can get a wonderful Yamaha amp for around $300. i had one that my dad got about 21 years ago... it didn't start having problems till about 2 years ago. it was a fabulously constructed receiver... lasted 18-19 years in great order. it finally went out though, earlier this year, and i picked up an Onkyo TX-8211 for about $170 (i think)... i wish i could have afforded a $250-300 receiver, but this thing is awesome for its price. very good sound reproduction :)

[manitoubalck]

Originally posted by shadowfax
if i were you, i would get an Onkyo or Yamaha receiver... personally, i don't think sony does very good quality amps/receivers.

A fam of the high end Jsp stuff. Not bad. I have a 20 year old NAD 7020 stereo Amp, has 20Watts RMS, and I still can't go to full volume with my C5's

[Rower_CPU]

Originally posted by shadowfax
if i were you, i would get an Onkyo or Yamaha receiver... personally, i don't think sony does very good quality amps/receivers.

you can get a wonderful Yamaha amp for around $300. i had one that my dad got about 21 years ago... it didn't start having problems till about 2 years ago. it was a fabulously constructed receiver... lasted 18-19 years in great order. it finally went out though, earlier this year, and i picked up an Onkyo TX-8211 for about $170 (i think)... i wish i could have afforded a $250-300 receiver, but this thing is awesome for its price. very good sound reproduction :)

Onkyo and Yamaha are both on my list for when the time comes to upgrade, along with Denon. The Sony fit my budget and feature needs (under $400, DTS output, optical ins, etc.) at the time - over 2 years ago. I have no complaints about it so far.

The grass is always greener, and I've mostly been looking at TV upgrades (from my 27" WEGA), but the Onkyo DV-SP800 SACD/DVD-Audio player would be nice, too. ;)

[andrewlandry]

I have to third the remarks made by jxyama.

The reason audio people hate Bose isn't because they are cheap, it's because the money is not well spent and they present themselves as so great.

I read that Bose spends more on marketing every year than the entire high-end audio industry.

The point is that for the same price, you could get a much better sounding system if you'd go to a hi-end store and get their low-end stuff.

It's just a little maddening to see people that really love music and are trying to buy a good stereo who don't realize that there is more out there in their price range that what is for sale at places like Best Buy and Circuit City.

Incidentally, I like how this conversation is splintering into two conversations - one is about consumer electronics and hi-fi, and simultaneously there is a pro-audio monitor discussion going on.

Not that it matters, but my poor booty just bought my first pair of nearfields for my little bedroom setup (Alesis M1 Active Mk2). They are not exactly mind-blowing, but they'll do for now as I'm saving my money for new synths and maybe a nice mic. :)

[howard]

Originally posted by andrewlandry

Not that it matters, but my poor booty just bought my first pair of nearfields for my little bedroom setup (Alesis M1 Active Mk2). They are not exactly mind-blowing, but they'll do for now as I'm saving my money for new synths and maybe a nice mic. :)

heard those a damn nice moniters for the price. alesis is like that for a lot of things

on my wish list are a pair of the tannoy 8inch active monitors, those would be bliss...

[InAppleHeaven]

I like Jxyama's reference to M$ in this thread. It seems like everything can be related to M$ in some form or fashion. Someone has to say it. :D . Anyway, home theater is a great topic and I hope everyone read my previous post. I have been in the market for a system for a while now, and have yet to decide on the components for a system. A lot of people go with a "Home Theater In A Box", and that's fine. Panasonic has a great box system with the surround stands built in. For $499, it would sound great in a small to mid size room. The clarity is surprising. But my complaint is with the color. What is with the silver???? Almost every box system i've seen has that silver color. But, that Panasonic system has a dvd player with progressive scan and has dvd-a capability, so it's my pick for a box system for you folks looking for a Christmas present if that's what your looking to spend. Now I will get to my question. How good is DVD-A? I've heard it before in a showroom, but it's always hard to relate a $7,000 system that it was playing on to the kind of systems most of us would have.

[Backtothemac]

Originally posted by InAppleHeaven
I like Jxyama's reference to M$ in this thread. It seems like everything can be related to M$ in some form or fashion. Someone has to say it. :D . Anyway, home theater is a great topic and I hope everyone read my previous post. I have been in the market for a system for a while now, and have yet to decide on the components for a system. A lot of people go with a "Home Theater In A Box", and that's fine. Panasonic has a great box system with the surround stands built in. For $499, it would sound great in a small to mid size room. The clarity is surprising. But my complaint is with the color. What is with the silver???? Almost every box system i've seen has that silver color. But, that Panasonic system has a dvd player with progressive scan and has dvd-a capability, so it's my pick for a box system for you folks looking for a Christmas present if that's what your looking to spend. Now I will get to my question. How good is DVD-A? I've heard it before in a showroom, but it's always hard to relate a $7,000 system that it was playing on to the kind of systems most of us would have.

Well, you know how much I like clarity. The biggest thing about DVD-Audio is the clairty. It is basically similar in sound to a DTS DVD. Think Eagles "Hell freezes over". You remember how good that sounds on my system.

I just want you to get one, so we can start watching movies on the big screen. Man, my audio setup with your video. Now that is sweet. Movies just loose it on a 27" Tube ;)

[InAppleHeaven]

That's right brother. It's high time I started annoying my next door neighbors. I'm tired of hearing every stereo in their place. They can play DMX and cisco all they want, but I'm going to play AC/DC baby--balls to the wall for Daytona too. God speed February.

[Powerbook G5]

Nice to hear that someone has their priorities right. :D

[e-coli]

For pro-sumer stuff, go with Harman Kardon decks and Klipsch speakers.

Very nice. Nobody will be able to tell the difference comparing the setup to something much more expensive.

[jxyama]

while i'm no audiophile - heck, i have JBL front speakers with mismatched non-JBL center/surround speakers (hey, they were free) driven by a Sony receiver - i did try to do some research. and i did find bose to be not much better. when i get around to making enough money, i will definitely be looking at high end stuff because i think they are worth it. the current set up is just a hold me over until i get out of the "student living" lifestyle...

i'm bringing up one off-topic issue: headphones. a friend of mine who is more of an audiophile - recommended one to me and they are so incredibly good that even i could tell the difference! i cannot help bringing it up every time there's a good discussion on music.

Grado.

they are not compact headphones. but if you want a nice set to listen to music at home from your iPod, they will be the best $70 you will ever spend.

[manitoubalck]

Originally posted by InAppleHeaven
That's right brother. It's high time I started annoying my next door neighbors. I'm tired of hearing every stereo in their place. They can play DMX and cisco all they want, but I'm going to play AC/DC baby--balls to the wall for Daytona too. God speed February.

If you want really mindbolwing sound buy 2 Mackie Fusion 3000 stacks with an 18" sub. That system will puch past 130dB. I think the threshold of pain is around 120dB.

[tazo]

I am happy with my audiovox bookshelf stereo.

:o