What to buy???

[cflaro]

Ok, I need a little help my wife & I both liked the Bose GS2 321 system for our home. I have spoken to many people who have said it's not worth the money & the sound is not all that great. Here is my question!!

1. Is there ANOTHER system JUST LIKE the Bose GS2 321 system that you can suggest. The specs need to be almost the same as the Bose although I dont care if it has DVD or not. The speakers MUST be no bigger than 1/2"H x 5 1/2"W x 4 1/8"D......GOOD LUCK!

http://www.bose.com/controller?event=VIEW_PRODUCT_PAGE_EVENT&product=321gs_dvd_index&linksource=avb_txt_321GS&intcmp=AVB_Q405_CatHTS_321GSII_NoOffer

 

[j_garcia]

Well, the people who told you it isn't worth the money are right. Unfortunately, most everything that is similar is going to sound similar too. Sony and Denon both just released similar systems, though both also have similar price tags. The Sony DAV-X1 is on sale at Crutchfield for $899 already though, with free shipping. The Denon S-101 is $999, and the speakers may not fit your spec (also may not be available yet).

IMO, you're the one who's going to need the luck...

 

[BMXTRIX]

The biggest issue you will have is that you just said specs... then gave us dimensions. If you take a look at the Bose website, you won't find specs. Specs talk about power handling, effeciency, frequecy response, things like that.

Bose gives you size and weight.

This is part of their marketing which limits what you know about the system and the ability to compare it to any other product directly.

If all you care about is the size, and not the sound quality, then you have already made a decision. You aren't going to get more sound quality from another company who uses the same size speakers. It is not just a limiting factor, it is a major limiting factor.

Knowing that, if you walk through Best Buy or Circuit City you will find a host of products that LOOK similar to what you are seeing from Bose at a fraction of the price that operate similarly and have similar functions. As long as it is a major manufacturer, you can rest assured that you are getting similar quality for a much better price.

You typically won't find much similar though as most manufacutrers are focussing on sound quality, not marketing, and thus, are forced to used quality components to build a reputation for quality. This is how speakers from companies like Axiom, Energy, BIC, and Definitive Technology, in all sizes are so well regarded. Maybe take a look at the Definitive Technology Mythos Gem speakers.

http://www.definitivetech.com/loudspeakers/mythos/mythos_gem.html

or, try a $500.00 or less package from Yamaha:
http://www.yamaha.com/yec/products/HTIB/HTIB_DTX3100_1.htm

Yamaha actually has all types of HTIB packages at all sorts of prices that, at the very least, are more accurately priced for the quality of the product.

As always - your money - your choice.

 

[Hanse18]

As an owner of a bose system (lifestyle 25), I must come to Bose's defense...... They are.... uhhh.... small..... and maybe the chicks will think they look cute..... and.... I dunno, you can tell your friends you spent alot of money on them. Then again, I will sell you a wood pencil for $1000 too. Seriously, the only reason I own said system is because I got it for free from work. Long story short, some supplier was so desperate to get rid of them that my company was able to pick up a couple of them at basically no cost. As the people before me said, if you MUST have small speakers, go with a company that has a better reputation for quality speakers. What is the reason for the lack of room for big speakers, and maybe you should consider scrapping the home theatre surround sound idea if size and space is such an issue.

If bose has a store near you, find and print off some specs of similarly priced speaker systems (big or small, up to you. Maybe the acoustech system from BIC, which is a steal at $700 for the 6-piece system) and bring them in and ask a sales person why you should get bose over another system. Just be prepared for some bullhonky about better engineering and wave technology and size and just about everything else *EXCEPT* cold hard facts about specs that would prove bose to be the better speakers. My bose store even has a demo room with the little bose speakers in a big speaker cabinet so they can show you how wonderful these little speakers are. Of course, the people that would actually fall for the presentation have probably never heard speakers besides the ones in their car or alarm radio.

Plenty of other manufacturers are coming out with small speakers. Take advantage of return policies and try multiple systems until you think you have the one you want. If you are thinking about buying the bose system, start out by trying a system for $200 cheaper and compare quality.

http://www.roundsound.com/main.html

As long as you are pleased with what you get, and don't feel you have been cheated, you made the right decision i guess.

 

[Tomorrow]

This much neglected system WILL give you the specs, will blow you away with sound, has an unbelievable subwoofer and is ~half the price of those b...b...bo....bose. (Honey, hand me the soap!)

http://www.hsustore.com/vt-12-stf-2.html

Good luck.

 

[Tomorrow]

Ok, The speakers MUST be no bigger than 1/2"H x 5 1/2"W x 4 1/8"D......GOOD LUCK! ]

Actually, I didn't note that you wanted speakers only 1/2" tall. Don't think even b....b....bo.....blo....bose (ack) has 'em that small. "GOOD LUCK!" is right.

 

[tbewick]

There are loads of speaker manufacturers that make cube speakers nowadays. Have a look on the harmon/kardon website, or the Klipsch one. They are both good speaker manufacturers.

I wouldn't worry about the lack of specifications. Bose aren't in the business of making studio monitors, their speakers are for the home market, and are designed accordingly.

If you like the Bose units, then go for them. The thing is that they probably aren't that powerful, because of their small size. You are also paying much more for the Bose name.

As an alternative, there is a review for a good set of small Tannoy 5.1 speakers on the main Audioholics site, which are meant to be good.

I assume the Bose system is surround sound? You could trade down to a stereo system and see if you're allowed to buy a pair of larger speakers. Some full-range floor-standers aren't too big nowadays and would be more capable than cube speakers.