Are the Bose Companion® 2 speakers better than the iMac speakers?

[Siderz]

It looks like the Bose Companion® 2 speakers are perfect for what I need; to plug in my PS3 and iMac at the same time. But, I don't want to buy speakers that are only worse than the iMac ones.

So, anyone know anything?

I've seen people saying that the 2012 iMac internal speakers sound like tin cans...personally I don't have much of a problem with them, but I'd like an upgrade and it sounds very odd playing video on a secondary monitor and for the audio to be coming from the left.

Also don't go "Bose are tin cans buy this speaker set for £2000". I can't afford that, and every thread regarding Bose has a 'Bose are tin cans' post along with a contradictory response saying 'Bose are actually good'...every thread in the world...

 

[simsaladimbamba]

I have those speakers, though no 2012 iMac, but I cannot imagine, that the iMac speakers are anywhere near their (Bose) quality.
The Bose speakers are quite good, I wasn't going to buy them, but since I tested several in a not so good environment (big store), those were the best.

My flatmate even though I had a subwoofer, as they have quite a good bass, he had to check for himself that it was only those two speakers.

 

[Siderz]

I have those speakers, though no 2012 iMac, but I cannot imagine, that the iMac speakers are anywhere near their (Bose) quality.
The Bose speakers are quite good, I wasn't going to buy them, but since I tested several in a not so good environment (big store), those were the best.

My flatmate even though I had a subwoofer, as they have quite a good bass, he had to check for himself that it was only those two speakers.

Thanks for the input! So far it seems those speakers are very good.

I might go up a step and get the Companion® 20 multimedia speakers.

I'll be using this for video editing, if anybody can pitch in regarding the use of such speakers for video editing.

 

[warpdrive]

Thanks for the input! So far it seems those speakers are very good.
.

If you are going to spend that much, I would recommend Focal XS Book. These are fantastic speakers (google them for reviews). Much better than Bose Companion. The Bose computer speakers are somewhat colored sounding, so if you want speakers that have an accurate frequency response, you can do better.
If you are actually producing videos, I would recommend studio monitors which are designed to produce accurate sound so you properly guage the sound quality

 

[Siderz]

If you are going to spend that much, I would recommend Focal XS Book.

Hmm, those do look pretty good. But judging by the picture, it only has one RCA input?

I need to be able to plug in my iMac and PS3 simultaneously. iMac via the 3.5mm jack on the back, and PS3 via the A/V cable supplied.

 

[iSayuSay]

All multimedia 2.1 speakers are better than iMac built in one, who are you kidding?

Yep iMac speakers are admittedly better than any laptop speaker out there, but compared to any external speaker? the sound quality of built in one is like $10 garbage bin speaker deal.

 

[warpdrive]

I need to be able to plug in my iMac and PS3 simultaneously. iMac via the 3.5mm jack on the back, and PS3 via the A/V cable supplied.

The XS Book has two inputs, a minijack and a RCA input, so you should be ok.

See page 15 http://www.focal.com/en/index.php?controller=attachment&id_attachment=3627 of the manual

I used to own Audioengine A2 speakers, which have two inputs. They sounded decent and I would recommend them over the Bose C2 if you are not looking to spend that much money

 

[Siderz]

The XS Book has two inputs, a minijack and a RCA input, so you should be ok.

See page 15 http://www.focal.com/en/index.php?controller=attachment&id_attachment=3627 of the manual

I used to own Audioengine A2 speakers, which have two inputs. They sounded decent and I would recommend them over the Bose C2 if you are not looking to spend that much money

I'm so tempted by those speakers now, but they're ~£150 more than the Bose ones. Not sure I can afford that right now on top of the other stuff I'm buying (And I just spent ~£130 on a secondary monitor).

I'm going to stick to either these Bose speakers or ones that are cheaper with equal quality/inputs, and upgrade later when I've got the money.

 

[BIG-b]

I have the Bose Companion 2 speakers and they have very nice sound quality! They are well worth the $90-$100 that they cost.

I have the 27" iMac and although the built-in speakers are not as good as the Bose speakers, I think they are decent considering the are "down firing" and fairly compact!

I have not used my Bose speakers since I bought the iMac.. It's not worth taking up desk space to me.

 

[tredstone]

For sure. I used the regular 27" iMac speakers for a few days when I first got it until I finally plugged in the Bose's. Big difference.

 

[marzer]

It looks like the Bose Companion® 2 speakers are perfect for what I need; to plug in my PS3 and iMac at the same time. But, I don't want to buy speakers that are only worse than the iMac ones.

So, anyone know anything?

I've seen people saying that the 2012 iMac internal speakers sound like tin cans...personally I don't have much of a problem with them, but I'd like an upgrade and it sounds very odd playing video on a secondary monitor and for the audio to be coming from the left.

Also don't go "Bose are tin cans buy this speaker set for £2000". I can't afford that, and every thread regarding Bose has a 'Bose are tin cans' post along with a contradictory response saying 'Bose are actually good'...every thread in the world...

I feel the speakers in my 2012 27" iMac are the best sounding iMac speakers to date. Better sounding than my 2009 27" iMac speakers. However, any high quality external computer speakers will probably sound better.

As for the Bose, I don't own that set but have demo'd them many times in various stores including a Bose store. I think they are the best sounding desktop speakers for the money. I would get them myself but I have an aversion to clutter on my desk. So I use an Airport Express with in-wall speakers in the den for times I want high-fi sound.

 

[steve119]

I haven't got the bose 2's but I have the 5's, they sound lovely.

 

[zipur]

I haven't got the bose 2's but I have the 5's, they sound lovely.

I have the Bose 5's, they are amazing, small, loud and sound so wonderful. Very few speakers will make you turn your head to reply to a sound in your music which you never realized was there.
So although I don't have the IMAC, I can't believe the speakers would even compare.

 

[ser968]

the bose companion 20 are great - they fill the room up nicely. I think that they are worth the upgrade from the 2s.