Bose: Why Audiophiles Should Stop the Hate

[Hocky]

In most cases you pay for high quality workmanship and materials, not just a brand name. This is not so with Bose (IMO).

Would you pay 2k for a Breitling if it couldn't tell time correctly? Would you buy a gun that didn't shoot straight? A calculator that gave you the wrong answer? Accuracy is what nearly every industry strives for, audio should be no different.

People need to learn what accuracy in audio is and how to listen for it. Otherwise, anything that has the impression of bass and plays loud enough is labeled as fantastic.

Bose has a target audience, those looking for simplicity and have the money to pay for it. Everyone else who genuinely thinks that Bose sounds the best needs to be aware of what good sound is and the science behind it.

[/rant]

Rolex hardly keeps time and I have a Tag that was returned for movement repair 3 times in 2 years. About that quality....... lol.

 

[dkane360]

Rolex hardly keeps time and I have a Tag that was returned for movement repair 3 times in 2 years. About that quality....... lol.

Well I won't buy a tag or a rolex

 

[mtrycrafts]

My dad had a Bose Wave Radio. I thought it sounded pretty impressive for a small clock radio. The transmission line gives it an impressive amount of bass. Contrary to their marketing, it didn't sound like a full sized stereo but it put out a lot of sound.

...Jim

If you have a test Cd with a sweep sine wave from 20-20khz, try it the next time you have the opportunity. Curious what it sounds like.

 

[dkane360]

If you have a test Cd with a sweep sine wave from 20-20khz, try it the next time you have the opportunity. Curious what it sounds like.

We have one too, I'll give it a try. The CD player is broken though, so I'll have to do aux in

 

[adwilk]

We have one too, I'll give it a try. The CD player is broken though, so I'll have to do aux in

Ok, no matter what side of the fence you're on, thats funny.

 

[jeffsg4mac]

Huh! I bet Wayde did not expect this much chatter over his article. I though it was a good read Wayde, but count me in the Bose hater group and here is why. I don't buy for a minute that they actually believe the crap they spout. They know damn well that most of their consumer stuff is crap and that they are charging way more than it is worth.

They also don't care and are laughing all the way to the bank. I also fully support their right to do it. However, I also won't just sit around and let anyone I know get suckered into purchasing their garbage. They are every bit as bad and unscrupulous as exotic cable vendors. Every damn bit! They are selling products that DO NOT do what they claim, and they are charging too much for them. Absolutely no different than snake oil cable vendors.

Rant Over!

 

[jeffsg4mac]

I was going to buy a 42" LCD for even more than that.....but they didn't have the shiny white color that would match my Mac.

Whoever thought this looks sexy needs a punch in the face.....looks like a Fisher Price product....

No they look fine I have one. It was the Clamshell ibooks that were butt ugly. Steve was smoking some 70's leftovers when he allowed those.

Now whoever doesn't think this looks sexy needs a roundhouse kick in the nads.

 

[its phillip]

I'd prefer these instead
Dell U3011


Filco Majestouch


Zowie EC2


Nice roomy case like this Corsair 700D

 

[Guavamanh]

Rolex hardly keeps time and I have a Tag that was returned for movement repair 3 times in 2 years. About that quality....... lol.

Where did you buy your watches? I'm sure Bloomingdales would have taken care of me if my Tag gave me issues like that. Hope you didnt get it off a white van.

 

[Guavamanh]

Huh! I bet Wayde did not expect this much chatter over his article. I though it was a good read Wayde, but count me in the Bose hater group and here is why. I don't buy for a minute that they actually believe the crap they spout. They know damn well that most of their consumer stuff is crap and that they are charging way more than it is worth.

They also don't care and are laughing all the way to the bank. I also fully support their right to do it. However, I also won't just sit around and let anyone I know get suckered into purchasing their garbage. They are every bit as bad and unscrupulous as exotic cable vendors. Every damn bit! They are selling products that DO NOT do what they claim, and they are charging too much for them. Absolutely no different than snake oil cable vendors.

Rant Over!

I think we all agree that legally Bose has the right to sell whatever speakers they want at whatever price they want. Audioquest can sell those $8k K2 wires for all I care. http://www.amazon.com/AudioQuest-K2-terminated-speaker-cable/dp/B000J36XR2 If you truly like the system and happy with the purchase I'm glad for you.

My issue is that they've done deceptive things like demo-ing their consumer system with other components and misleading the audience that they can buy the satellite system and recreate that experience in their own home.

 

[GO-NAD!]

Rolex hardly keeps time and I have a Tag that was returned for movement repair 3 times in 2 years. About that quality....... lol.

Hmm, I've had my Tag for over 20 years and haven't had a problem. But then, it's one of ther "cheaper" Tags and has an electronic movement. All I've ever had to do is change the battery - twice. A cheap Timex or Casio would be just as accurate as mine, but mine looks pretty much the same as the first day that I put it on - great materials and great construction.

I think the vast majority of people who buy expensive watches with mechanical movements realize that they are not buying accuracy or reliability. It goes back to what Wayde said - people are buying their identities.

I think the difference between the expensive watch collector and the typical Bose owner is that the watch collector generally realizes that there are drawbacks to the mechanical movement. Whereas, average Joe Bose owner thinks he bought a great performing system - because the kid at Best Buy told him so and he didn't bother to listen to anything else. Or, he fell for the drivel spewed during a Wave radio commercial. He didn't do the least bit of research before going out and buying his system and therefore, has no idea that he can get better sound for less, or much better sound for the same amount.

The basic motivator of capitalism is profit. The main goal is to maximize profit. If Bose spends vast amounts on marketing and can jack up their asking prices as result, that's certainly their right.

I fell for the BS once - just once. My first "good" 2-channel system consisted of Luxman components and a pair of Sound Dynamics speakers. The speakers weren't top drawer, but they were good. After a couple of years, I thought about finding some "better" speakers. I went out and without doing basic research, bought an Acoustimass speaker system. I set it up in a different room and didn't even bother directly comparing with the SD's and without really doing any critical listening, thought that the Acoustimass sounded fine. My wife liked them, because they didn't take up much space. A few years later, out of curiosity, I decided to do a direct comparison between the SD's and Bose. It was then, that I finally realized how crappy the Acoustimass system was! That was the moment that I started taking my equipment seriously and headed down the road to where I am today.

Caveat Emptor!

 

[GO-NAD!]

Now whoever doesn't think this looks sexy....

She's awfully flat-chested though.

...needs a roundhouse kick in the nads.

Before anybody gets any bright ideas, my handle refers to my treasured NAD components.

 

[Hocky]

Where did you buy your watches? I'm sure Bloomingdales would have taken care of me if my Tag gave me issues like that. Hope you didnt get it off a white van.

They are from a local high end jeweler. Tag doesn't replace the watches, they have to be sent in for repair. I actuall have several tags and the only one that I really have problems with is the cheapest battery powered one. lol. Regardless, we are getting away from the point.

 

[BMXTRIX]

They have spent millions to market sugar water.... and made millions, and it's all from pennies worth of sugar water.
(what's the % mark up of that $0.01 can of soda? Then compare it to the % mark up of Bose and their cheap drivers, etc.) Pretty much the same as Bose

Not at all.

You see, the non-advertised, generic, bottom of the barrel Wal-Mart soft drink typically costs just 20% less than Pepsi or Coke. That is stuff with almost zero markup. Maybe 20% or so markup? So, the stuff with the heavy marketing doesn't cost $.01 without that marketing. They still have to make it, clean equipment, buy equipment, buy the cans/bottles, ship them, etc. That's often the big cost in a lot of gear.

Apple may be a better comparison, but once again, Apple delivers a more specific, fine quality product for the extra money, and you can't buy a better PC at almost any price, because it would still be a PC.

Still: I understand WHY Bose markets. I understand why clueless people buy Bose. But, I don't sit around saying "That's okay with me." when people ask about buying Bose.

Bose doesn't fill a niche, it markets to a niche and then people are to stupid to ask if there are alternatives, or worse, a salesperson doesn't give them the alternatives that truly are better for far less money.

 

[its phillip]

Apple may be a better comparison, but once again, Apple delivers a more specific, fine quality product for the extra money, and you can't buy a better PC at almost any price, because it would still be a PC.

You just crossed a line :O

 

[BMXTRIX]

Fault?
They do it because they can. It isn't Pepsi's fault because people will buy sugar water for $1.00 a can.

Just because you can, doesn't make it right. That's like kindergarden stuff right there. Bose knows they are delivering inferior product at extraordinary prices, and they are fine with it.

I'm not.

Unlike that sugar water, which likely has a great deal more labor and value associated with it than you imply, since you can't get something identical for 1/4 the price. Oh, and you can find it on sale for about $.20 a can. Not sure Bose has ever had the sale where their product actual costs what it is worth.

All the advertising in world won't sell ice to the Eskimos.
Bose fills a void and people buy into it.
Marketing & price point is all about Perceived Quality, Bose has it with it's advertising to the less informed consumer, as do soda manufacturers.

Bose has no interest in an informed consumer. That makes them vultures, or hyenas. They are going after their prey and abusing them to take their money. While their prey may feel content, it remains because their prey, quite honestly, is so poorly informed that they don't know that they were taken to the cleaners.

For people who can afford it and are just lazy about information, I don't care. For the college kid who is struggling, or the mom just looking for a good gift for her husband/family, it's way up there with the same junk Monster pulls. It is a gross use of knowledge, and enforced by their sales tactics.

Great marketing != right way to do business.

 

[Rickster71]

Not at all.
You see, the non-advertised, generic, bottom of the barrel Wal-Mart soft drink typically costs just 20% less than Pepsi or Coke. That is stuff with almost zero markup. Maybe 20% or so markup? So, the stuff with the heavy marketing doesn't cost $.01 without that marketing.

You do know that's not the way companies derive pricepoints for their products right?

I can only say that the two experiences I've had with soda pricing were from a beer / soda distributor, and an old friend that was a chemist for a major soda manufacturer. The distributor told me the cola syrup costs a bar, etc between $0.03 and $0.08 per 8oz glass. That the bar or restaurant's cost.
My chemist friend says the six-pack packaging costs them more than it's contents.

 

[randyb]

That's two mentions... I could never find it but it's been years since I ran any searches on the name. I figured someone here would know more about him. I loved the tests he used to do.

I'll have to look him up again.

http://nousaine.com/

 

[Wayde Robson]

http://nousaine.com/

Thanks, brah! Good reading ahead.

Now that's two firsts. I don't usually start 12-page conversations on forums and I don't call people brah.

 

[its phillip]

Change the amount of posts you see per page. It's only 4 pages for me