Why do you hate/love Bose products!?

[Killyp]

Let's just say that I disagree with you, and you don't need an amp with the Genelecs. But arguing about these things would be next to pointless. They are both excellent speakers .

Oh definitely, the Genelecs are very very nice speakers indeed. There's a reason the 103x have always been used in some of the world's top studios, they're fantastic speakers. Yes you don't need amplifiers with them, they're active which means you get less distortion and signal loss from the crossover etc...

However, the B&Ws will still outperform them. Higher quality components, better drivers, impossibly simple crossovers (they're made up from a single electronic component) and larger cabinets/mid-bass drivers means the B&Ws have just got better mids and bass. The Nautilus tweeter in the B&Ws also means they're more transparent and have better imaging.

I'm still happy with my Rega Alya's, just thought I'd say

I wouldn't mind a set of them Bose PC speakers. My Rega's are the biggest part of my whole computer setup. I'd love something smaller and shift the Rega's aside till I get my own place.

I wouldn't get rid of the Regas, they're really very good speakers, although more suited to classical music/jazz.

 

[drewyboy]

Personally I like bose. My mother got a Wave and it sounds great. It fills the whole upstairs with sound which at first I was very skeptical, but hey, it works. Also I had a pair of the Sony Dj 700 i think their called and they were good, but I got a $150 pair of Bose headphones at Best Buy and when I'm listening to techno, Dj Tiesto, I feel the lower base that vibrates my ears. It's the base that's lower than hearing and I mean wow. I've only heard that type of base in a club, no joke. It's hard to communicate but I know it's low, not stupid rap base low. Those who know techno know what I'm talking about.

 

[Killyp]

Personally I like bose. My mother got a Wave and it sounds great. It fills the whole upstairs with sound which at first I was very skeptical, but hey, it works. Also I had a pair of the Sony Dj 700 i think their called and they were good, but I got a $150 pair of Bose headphones at Best Buy and when I'm listening to techno, Dj Tiesto, I feel the lower base that vibrates my ears. It's the base that's lower than hearing and I mean wow. I've only heard that type of base in a club, no joke. It's hard to communicate but I know it's low, not stupid rap base low. Those who know techno know what I'm talking about.

Yeh I know what you're talking about. That's what the Bose headphones do deliver oodles of, relatively well controlled but DEEP bass. I very rarely feel headphones ever deliver bass like a good pair of floorstanding speakers, but the Triports do a pretty good job of it.

I found with the Bose headphones that the highs weren't as good as others. I had a choice between Bose Triports or Sennheiser HD200s, and chose the HD200s despite the fact they're less comfortable. The high-end just didn't seem to be there on the Triports. Unbelievably comfortable though.

 

[Gunga Din]

Shure Headphones FTW. They rock with my ipod nano. Bose? They have a few nice products. Some of their sound systems are good, others i'm not a fan of.

 

[Victor ch]

Yeh I know what you're talking about. That's what the Bose headphones do deliver oodles of, relatively well controlled but DEEP bass. I very rarely feel headphones ever deliver bass like a good pair of floorstanding speakers, but the Triports do a pretty good job of it.

I found with the Bose headphones that the highs weren't as good as others. I had a choice between Bose Triports or Sennheiser HD200s, and chose the HD200s despite the fact they're less comfortable. The high-end just didn't seem to be there on the Triports. Unbelievably comfortable though.

Curiously the QC2 are not that "bassy" and has very clear highs, that is comparing it to the in ear triports and the on ear triports. I found about this while listening to some electronic music where some high pitched synths were not audible in any of them except the QC2 (and of course double checked with the "mini hi-fi" system and in there they where audible too. Also, I run the QC 2 without EQ because of their built ActiveEQ technology that really adjusts the sound. When on EQ Electronic or Rock the bass was just to clumsy and the highs didn't appear, after a short disappointment I turned the EQ on flat, having the same amount of bass but much clearer whilst the highs came in crisp and clear; then turned it off and got much clearer sound. I cannot say the same on the on ear ones, those bastards are the most bassy of Bose headphones.

-Victor

 

[Victor ch]

Shure Headphones FTW. They rock with my ipod nano. Bose? They have a few nice products. Some of their sound systems are good, others i'm not a fan of.

Hmm when I was about to purchase a pair of in ear headphones I took Shure into consideration and was seeing their sub-150$ lineup and they seemed ok, but when my cousins very expensive Shure noise-canceling headphones died in less than 1 year I backed off immediately. I've seen alot of advertising of those headphones and it always remembers me the ones the died in less the 1 year.

-Victor

 

[ich1ban]

I always do yardwork with my QC 2. It's great

 

[Victor ch]

I always do yardwork with my QC 2. It's great

LOL yes they're very good indeed. People want them to cancel out the noise even without music... they do block out low frequencies like an airplanes engine rumble or a vacuum cleaner (got one right behind me at this moment ) and I can barely hear it when the music goes down, but by itself it does little and honestly I didn't pay 300$ to use them without music. If you combine music and their noise-canceling abilities you will get most of the sounds away: voices, people yelling, engines, even annoying terrier barks ejjeje they just seem to disappear.

Another thing I like about the QC is that they have this communications kit that fits perfectly in my iPhone and has a built in mic so I take calls in the comfort of the headphones; this is something none of the others headphones have available...

-Victor

 

[Sesshi]

You have to remember that half (or more) of the self-styled audiophiles who bash Bose haven't actually listened to them. That doesn't mean the Boses are terrific products, but it does mean many people who bash them do so without any experience.

I like the QC's but a major problem I have while flying is feeling stuffy in a pair of headphones. For me, in-ear monitors are the only way to go for flying, and since I have pressure and fit-based problems with generic-fit iems such as the Shures I had to go custom-moulded. And for commutes, active cancellation is ineffective against a large percentage of the sort of noise that you encounter on public transport so high passive isolation is far more effective. Which is why I once again use iems or headphones with a high degree of passive noise isolation.

 

[Victor ch]

You have to remember that half (or more) of the self-styled audiophiles who bash Bose haven't actually listened to them. That doesn't mean the Boses are terrific products, but it does mean many people who bash them do so without any experience.

I like the QC's but a major problem I have while flying is feeling stuffy in a pair of headphones. For me, in-ear monitors are the only way to go for flying, and since I have pressure and fit-based problems with generic-fit iems such as the Shures I had to go custom-moulded. And for commutes, active cancellation is ineffective against a large percentage of the sort of noise that you encounter on public transport so high passive isolation is far more effective. Which is why I once again use iems or headphones with a high degree of passive noise isolation.

Hmm true, but for me in ear is really just for running or something active or when I have no space to carry the big ones. I haven't been able to test my Bose QC2 in my school bus (main reason I got them) since I start 10th grade in February. But as of today my dad has gone berserk a couple of times when he asks me for a favor and Im drooling out in my music staring at the ceiling therefore unable to listen. And to me there's nothing like the comfort you get wearing circum-aural headphones, they won't heat up as much as supra-aural (on the ear) and are better for long listening time than any other buds that will hurt my ears. An example: I just came back from a trip to Guanacaste (province of Costa Rica) from the beach and it was near 5 hours and in that time only once they bothered me, and was easily fixed by taking them of for 2 minutes then right back on (it was like after 4 hours and a half that happened).

The fit is more of a personal thing but, what others dislike about the active noise-canceling is their requirement of additional power (mostly AAA batteries) but to me its easy, just spent like ¢2500 (5 bucks) on 8 Energizer Alkaline batteries that if you add up its 320 hours of noise-canceling time and carrying around 2 extra ones (80 hours) is not a space taker so thats not the big a deal.

-Victor

 

[Naimfan]

You have to remember that half (or more) of the self-styled audiophiles who bash Bose haven't actually listened to them. That doesn't mean the Boses are terrific products, but it does mean many people who bash them do so without any experience.

I'd be fascinated to hear your source for that bit of intelligence. . .

 

[Drumjim85]

Hmm true, but for me in ear is really just for running or something active or when I have no space to carry the big ones. I haven't been able to test my Bose QC2 in my school bus (main reason I got them) since I start 10th grade in February. But as of today my dad has gone berserk a couple of times when he asks me for a favor and Im drooling out in my music staring at the ceiling therefore unable to listen. And to me there's nothing like the comfort you get wearing circum-aural headphones, they won't heat up as much as supra-aural (on the ear) and are better for long listening time than any other buds that will hurt my ears. An example: I just came back from a trip to Guanacaste (province of Costa Rica) from the beach and it was near 5 hours and in that time only once they bothered me, and was easily fixed by taking them of for 2 minutes then right back on (it was like after 4 hours and a half that happened).

The fit is more of a personal thing but, what others dislike about the active noise-canceling is their requirement of additional power (mostly AAA batteries) but to me its easy, just spent like ¢2500 (5 bucks) on 8 Energizer Alkaline batteries that if you add up its 320 hours of noise-canceling time and carrying around 2 extra ones (80 hours) is not a space taker so thats not the big a deal.

-Victor

If in-ears hurt you, try getting some custom molded ones .... It's going to be a little more expensive, but you'll get better isolation and comfort

The thing i don't like about noise cancellation is that it adds noise to your medium (which is how it cancels out the outside noise) and that can create issues (like phase) with the overall medium...

 

[Killyp]

You have to remember that half (or more) of the self-styled audiophiles who bash Bose haven't actually listened to them. That doesn't mean the Boses are terrific products, but it does mean many people who bash them do so without any experience.

Agreed, the same goes for so much stuff in the hifi world.

Audiophiles tend to 'go with the flow' when it comes to good/bad brands or habits, just to make themselves look as if they're 'in-the-know'.

 

[Victor ch]

If in-ears hurt you, try getting some custom molded ones .... It's going to be a little more expensive, but you'll get better isolation and comfort

The thing i don't like about noise cancellation is that it adds noise to your medium (which is how it cancels out the outside noise) and that can create issues (like phase) with the overall medium...

They don't hurt me if I use them for less than a few hours, after a while they start getting uncomfortable later on hurting, and I've already spent 100$ on the Bose in ear and have no complaints to them, I knew what I was getting and had no unpleasant surprises.

With the purchase of the Companion 3 Series II computer speakers my "lineup" will be complete with Bose having the role on headphones and computer speakers and Sony with the hi-fi (well they say they are mini hi-fi) and in a couple of years I will then change the hi-fi component to B&W. Bose will remain my #1 choice when in headphones and for big speakers its out of the picture.

-Victor

 

[Sesshi]

I'd be fascinated to hear your source for that bit of intelligence. . .

The source is called "actually buying one to try out, and comparing the conclusions with wildly inaccurate 'opinions' out there from self styled experts"

It's not intelligence. It's actual comparative experience that's worth a **** of product/service. Something that I would like to see more in opinion-making forums and blogs.

 

[Naimfan]

The source is called "actually buying one to try out, and comparing the conclusions with wildly inaccurate 'opinions' out there from self styled experts"

It's not intelligence. It's actual comparative experience that's worth a **** of product/service. Something that I would like to see more in opinion-making forums and blogs.

So you're generalizing from your own experience?

Where are all these people who are bashing Bose without having listened to them? You asserted that "half (or more)" of the people who bash them have never heard them. I'd be curious to know if that's based on anything more than your experience. Because it is an enormous generalization.

 

[adrake86]

I think you are paying for the name. The product is good but not great for the price.

 

[davidjearly]

Personally, I think the whole 'Bose = crap' thing is exactly that, crap. Likewise, the idea that every Bose product is amazing is just ill-informed.

There are some Bose products that I like very much (E.g. Companion II series 2 speakers, QuietComfort 2 Headphones). At the same time, some of their higher-end professional audio equipment is much overpriced.

So, it depends on the product, but I don't have a particular like/dislike for them.

 

[da2005pizimp]

I love the sound and quality of bose but hate that i can't afford them

 

[Sesshi]

So you're generalizing from your own experience?

Where are all these people who are bashing Bose without having listened to them? You asserted that "half (or more)" of the people who bash them have never heard them. I'd be curious to know if that's based on anything more than your experience. Because it is an enormous generalization.

Indeed I am. But it is not an enormous generalisation unfortunately.

The comments I read usually specify the general prejudices of the mass instead of touching on the item under discussion's specific weaknesses which are often removed from such general prejudices held by the peer group at large. It indicates zero product knowledge for the majority of those pitching in.

 

[pseudobrit]

Indeed I am. But it is not an enormous generalisation unfortunately.

The comments I read usually specify the general prejudices of the mass instead of touching on the item under discussion's specific weaknesses which are often removed from such general prejudices held by the peer group at large. It indicates zero product knowledge for the majority of those pitching in.

Oh like you wouldn't **** all over Apple if the next Mac Pro had "more than adequate" listed under each column instead of processor speed, type and hard drive capacity. A company afraid to list their specs either has something to hide or wants to reserve the right. Either way, it tells exactly how they regard their customers.

 

[Victor ch]

Personally, I think the whole 'Bose = crap' thing is exactly that, crap. Likewise, the idea that every Bose product is amazing is just ill-informed.

There are some Bose products that I like very much (E.g. Companion II series 2 speakers, QuietComfort 2 Headphones). At the same time, some of their higher-end professional audio equipment is much overpriced.

So, it depends on the product, but I don't have a particular like/dislike for them.

Yeah I agree with you. For example their headphones are reasonably priced and are of very good quality, the same with their computer speakers and maybe even the Wave music system. But the big speakers or bookshelf speakers are way overpriced and honestly they don't sound so amazing.In some occasions you overpay due to the name, in others you do pay for what you get.

-Victor

 

[Sesshi]

Oh like you wouldn't **** all over Apple if the next Mac Pro had "more than adequate" listed under each column instead of processor speed, type and hard drive capacity. A company afraid to list their specs either has something to hide or wants to reserve the right. Either way, it tells exactly how they regard their customers.

There's a number of subsystems onboard the Apples which the company does not list in commonly available sales documentation, which other manufacturers do. Sound chips for example... all the more important given that the Apples are heavily sold for media use. Like Apple, Bose only makes figures available which have a broad-based utility use (impedance, sensitivity for headphones for example) and not specifics like frequency response, which the vast majority of their customers probably wouldn't even look at or query. Your point is? That Apple are as "afraid" as Bose?

I would not **** all over Apple if the build quality, reliability under varying environmental conditions and the ultimate flexibility of the systems were not "below adequate" for someone like me... but like Bose, I understand that there is a large market for people who want something "adequate" for them, which looks nice, is wife/girlfriend-friendly in terms of decor matching and has the feel of a premium product, regardless of what it's actual performance might be.

As I've said before, many things that Bose makes is perfectly respectable if not outstanding in terms of performance. But the marketing and design is clearly aimed at people who simply crave something that is a balance of looking good, being usable and sounding good in isolation, especially if you're moving up from some econo-box and haven't actually ventured towards the 'real' Hi-Fi. Once again, the parallels to Apple.

I'm a dCS (if you consider yourself an audiophile you might be familiar with this company) man as far as sources are concerned, but an iPod + Sounddock does a better job in some instances, although I wouldn't say it's actually better of course. And as a dock speaker I wouldn't say it's bad, although there are better. I use the Triport for example as a headphone with great comfort for casual undemanding listening on the move and I appreciate it as such - but I would be the very last person in the world to make any overtly positive claims to the Triport's audio capabilities. Still, I have limited occasions where this works better for me and I keep it around - just as I use my brace of Apple hardware for personal use in a number of niche, relatively undemanding roles these days.

 

[Victor ch]

Oh like you wouldn't **** all over Apple if the next Mac Pro had "more than adequate" listed under each column instead of processor speed, type and hard drive capacity. A company afraid to list their specs either has something to hide or wants to reserve the right. Either way, it tells exactly how they regard their customers.

According to Wikipedia: "Bose does not publish specific technical specifications (impedance, sensitivity, range, sound pressure levels) on either of their packages and/or their website and as of November 21, 2006" I also read that they do this because they believe that giving such specs might interfere with the listening experience, and they are very attached to the whole psychoacoustics thing. MTI graduate Amar Bose started the company, because the sound equipment back in those years did not take into consideration psychoacoustics, something that bothered him.

-Victor

 

[Unspeaked]

I'm not a big fan of THX Certification, but realize its value as a logo on a box of home theater speakers (surely it helps with sales if nothing else) and the very fact that not a single product in the Bose lineup has THX Certification makes me think twice about their quality.