Why my friend should not buy BOSE

S

stato

Junior Audioholic
I have a friend who is thinking of spending 3k on a Bose Lifestyle system and I have been trying to talk him out of it. I have said that he could get better for the money but he has asked me what to buy and I don't know. i have seen a lot of discussion on here about the pro's and cons of this and I need a convincing point of view to help change his mind. Any help would be appreciated and thanks.
 
Alex2507

Alex2507

Audioholic Slumlord
I don't think you are the one who needs to convince your friend not to buy something ... he needs to convince himself that he is buying something worth while. If he's not willing to do the little bit of research it takes to uncover the truth then what makes you think that there is any reasoning with him?

I've found that people are way more likely to believe marketing hype than me.
But then again I look dumber than I am.
 
M

markw

Audioholic Overlord
Hard to say.

A lot depends on what he likes about it.

Bose may be overpriced for their sound but it's hard to beat or it's human interface, styling, pride of ownership (amongst the muggles, anyway) and sound may not be of the utmost importance.

Considering all that, it may be just the ticket for a lot of people. They sure sell a lot of systems and their owners sure seem genuinely satisfied.
 
lsiberian

lsiberian

Audioholic Overlord
If he doesn't mind large speakers.

Tell him Infinity Primus speakers.
http://store.audioholics.com/product/2058/66384/infinity-primus-theater-pack-ii-5-0-speaker-system
Infinity makes the best speakers of the well known brands.

SVS Ultra subwoofer
http://www.svsound.com/products-sub-box-pb13ultra.cfm
This sub will make your home a theater.

Marantz
http://store.audioholics.com/product/2697/69/marantz-sr5004-surround-receiver
Reliable, Powerful, and Feature-filled.

If he wants small speakers

KEF
http://www.accessories4less.com/make-a-store/item/KEFKHT3005BLKSE/KEF/Kht3005se-5.1-Home-Theater-Speaker-Package-In-Black/1.html
Award winning system that destroyed Bose in it's Industry accolades.

Marantz
http://store.audioholics.com/product/2697/69/marantz-sr5004-surround-receiver
Reliable, Powerful, and Feature-filled.
 
lsiberian

lsiberian

Audioholic Overlord
A lot depends on what he likes about it.

Bose may be overpriced for their sound but it's hard to beat or it's human interface, styling, pride of ownership (amongst the muggles, anyway) and sound may not be of the utmost importance.

Considering all that, it may be just the ticket for a lot of people. They sure sell a lot of systems and their owners sure seem genuinely satisfied.
That's very true. They are alright in the limited band they can handle. Of course that is where the problem lies.
 
jeffsg4mac

jeffsg4mac

Republican Poster Boy
I would really point your friend to the posts and articles already mentioned, and really try to steer him away from Bose. Seeing someone pay 3k for a system that is barely worth $350 really burns my biscuits. I could never recommend a Bose system for any purpose nor for anyone. It is complete and utter junk.
 
S

stato

Junior Audioholic
Thank you all for your help. In particular the reply from BoredSysAdmin. the first link is the one I was looking for as I had seen it before somewhere. I have forwarded that link to my friend and now its up to him to make his own mind.

Once again thank you all.
 
jinjuku

jinjuku

Moderator
Your friend is the one that needs to break out of the follower mentality and do his/her own research.

Sometimes people have more money than time and truly don't give a crap. The purchaser should come here, or AVSForum, or HomeTheaterShack and ask their questions.

If you can get them to participate in a board like this at least if they still purchase the Bose system it will be with information and not marketing hype.
 
H

highfigh

Seriously, I have no life.
I have a friend who is thinking of spending 3k on a Bose Lifestyle system and I have been trying to talk him out of it. I have said that he could get better for the money but he has asked me what to buy and I don't know. i have seen a lot of discussion on here about the pro's and cons of this and I need a convincing point of view to help change his mind. Any help would be appreciated and thanks.
$3K would get some nice-sounding equipment. If they like little, tiny, wimpy sounding speakers, that's one thing but if realistic sound is the goal, I would pass on this. The fact that they almost never discount the line tells me that a similar sounding system should be attainable for much less. Bose dealers don't compete against each other, so there's no need to discount the price.

The speakers don't need to be huge but they need to move some air in order to make good sound. Anything else is just arguing with the Laws of Physics and in all things, physics wins. A good receiver will have far more inputs and outputs than a Bose, it will have much more flexibility and more power. Power is needed to allow the dynamics to come out- this can't be side-stepped. Power is power and other than changing from one form to another, it's needed in order to do work, which is what speakers do.

If nothing else, tell them not to buy it BECAUSE WE SAID NOT TO!!!!!!!!:D
 
BMXTRIX

BMXTRIX

Audioholic Warlord
Why should he not buy it?

Because $3,000 buys you:

More diminutive AND better sounding speakers:
http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=108&cp_id=10837&cs_id=1083703&p_id=4101&seq=1&format=2
and
http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=108&cp_id=10837&cs_id=1083704&p_id=6317&seq=1&format=2
($200 for all 7 speakers)

Better bass:
http://www.parts-express.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?Partnumber=300-635
$160

Far more capable receiver:
http://www.ecost.com/detail.aspx?edp=53205641&source=EWBBASE&cm_mmc=CSE-_-google-_-ewbbase-_-Electronics&CAWELAID=451225012
$500 WITH 1-year warranty

A solid HD Blu-ray player:
http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_05757349000P?vName=Computers & Electronics&cName=Blu-ray&DVDPlayers&sName=DVD Players&psid=FROOGLE01&sid=IDx20070921x00003a
$140

AND a 58" plasma:
http://www.buydig.com/shop/basket.aspx?sku=PNTCP58S1&act=add&sks=PNTCP58S1,&omid=103&ref=froogle&utm_source=Froogle&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=PNTCP58S1&cam=dtc
$1,500

With money left over for plenty of speaker wire:
http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=102&cp_id=10239&cs_id=1023901&p_id=3844&seq=1&format=2

HDMI Cables...
http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=102&cp_id=10243&cs_id=1024004&p_id=4967&seq=1&format=2

and a rack to put them all on...
http://www.racksandstands.com/Walker-Edison-CS60MWF-WLK1104.html

Seriously... While there are other speakers which sound far better for more money, the setup listed above, for the same $3,000 is FAR more impressive than Bose could ever even aspire to be. If your friend had $300 and the Bose cost that much, then it would be perfectly fine to do that.
 
sholling

sholling

Audioholic Ninja
Many people are looking for a one box solution to their home theater systems. The first thing I'd have him do is read the link Bored gave you. The next thing is to present him with superior solutions.

If he's just looking for an 80% moves / 20% music package deal system then I'd have him him in consider a SVS 5.1 package deal with a PB12-NSD for $1200. A refurbished Onkyo TX-SR707 receiver and a Sony PS3 for a DVD/Blu-Ray player. A decent system for under $2000.

If he's more interested in music then I'd have him look a nice system like EMP E55Ti towers $800, the matched E5Ci center $220, and a pair bookshelves as surrounds ~$250. And a quality SVS or Hsu Research sub sized to fill his room. Ether will help him size the sub. Combine with the Onkyo I linked above and a PS3 (or any Blu-Ray player) and he's styling for his $3000.
 
R

rnatalli

Audioholic Ninja
Orb Audio is the answer to Bose cubes if small is what's needed. Add a receiver and sub and he's good to go.
 
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