Bose PC Speakers?

[DXnfiniteFX]

Bose is a brand that makes some fine sound products. I have heard thier speakers before and they sound terrific! It seems they are moving to the PC market. They currently have two PC speaker products so far. I wouldn't be surprised if they decide to make more later on. Bose makes some very high quality stuff, so this is certainly a good thing for us PC gamers.

$99 2.0--These are just a pair of speakers. I forgot the actual amount of wattage, but I wouldn't expect them to have a lot of power. However, although they seem simple, they DO cost a hundred bucks! Anyone ever heard it? Is it any good?

$500 2.1--This is a supposed surround sound setup from only three speakers. The subwoofer is the Bose acoustimass module. The two satellites supposedly deliver surround sound. The whole system, according to Bose, delivers the equivalent of 5.1. Anyone heard these set of speakers before?

[LTech221]

Bose is all about marketing, you can find way better sounding setups that cost far less than their 'home theater' systems. Considering you can get z560's for around $100 or even Altec Lansing 621's for around the same price (they easily rival kpm 2.1's) the bose 2.0 is already beat for audio quality/price:performance ratio. Onto deliveing a full 5.1 experience fom 2 speakers...never will happen, that setup just cost way to damn much, I would rather get some bookshelves and a reciever.

[DXnfiniteFX]

Quite obviously. A 2.0 product will never beat a 2.1 product. I also know for a fact that surround sound from 2 speakers will never happen either (at least good surround sound). The Bose subwoofers aren't bad though.

I just think they could have done a much better job with just a more conventional setup. Maybe a Bose 5.1 setup?

BTW, exactly what makes the Bose subwoofers supposedly better? They seem to market the "acoustimass" aspect a lot. I only heard them for a short time, but their home theater products sound good. As far as their PC speakers, I wouldn't know.

[LTech221]

They arent even subwoofers, bose even doesnt classify them as subwoofers, they call them bass modules. Again any bose product can easily be outperformed by other equipment from various audio companies eg, Klipsch, Energy, Paradigm, Polk, Boston, B&W etc...

[saturnotaku]

Bose is way overpriced for what you get. You can get a set of Logitech, Klipsch or Altec Lansings that offer you just as good performance or more speakers at a lower price. Don't even waste your time with Bose.

[Edge]

Head over to 3dsoundsurge.com for some people who have REALLY...strong...opinions about Bose. Like they say "What the Bose are you talking about" :D

[LTech221]

Or "No highs, no lows, must be Bose!"

[saturnotaku]

Originally posted by LTech221
Or "No highs, no lows, must be Bose!"

Those are the people who obviously have way too much money. Bose has an outlet store about 15 minutes from where I live and their merchandise is hardly outlet quality (and it's reflected in the price).

I guess I'm not an audiophile but I have a really hard time justifying $100 for 2 PC speakers when I spent that much on my 5.1 Altec Lansing setup. :o

[Crowcell]

z560 is of great value, 500 bucks for a 2.1 setup is just a big rip off

[DXnfiniteFX]

While we are on the topic of speaker brands, has anyone ever heard of brands like JBL, KLH, and Cerwin-Vega? I wouldn't be surprised if all of you had, as they have them in Best Buy. Are they any good?

[saturnotaku]

JBL I'm familiar with as I used to have a set of those speakers. The set I had was a complete POS so I can't personally recommend any speakers from them.

[ricercar]

Eumir Bose may teach at MIT and sell a lot of product, but Paul Klipsch and Henry Kloss are better audio engineers.

Someone recently gave me one of those designer Macintosh computers with the built-in Bose AM/FM/TV/CD and Acoustimass sound systems. It's pretty to look at (http://homepage.mac.com/ricercar/.Pictures/Photo%20Album%20Pictures/2002-09-02%2000.13.00%20-0700/ImageDSCN4146.jpg), but audio performance is inaccurate and un-inspiring.

As an audiophile for three decades, I'd pay for a top-of-the-line Klipsch 5.1 system ("ProMedia"?) if I was spending my own money on a computer 5.1 system audio. Klipsch model KG2s were the best quality, most cost-effective dynamic loudspeakers I've ever owned. Klipsch products have been solid and impressive in their respective price brackets since the 70s. Hard to go wrong there.

If you don't want to spend >$400 for a Paul Klipsch design, my second choice would be a 5.1 setup from Henry Kloss' Cambridge Soundworks. I don't know them well enough to pick a model, but Henry Kloss is perhaps the most competent speaker designer alive. Any Cambridge product should be worth the price tag

[styles-T]

I have the 2.1 Acoustimass..They sound Phenomenal..I dont have them hooked up to my pc just the TV in my room..They are definitely worth it..You can here them at Bestbuy if you want and make your own assumption..

By the way I didnt pay for these..They were a gift..But If I had the money I would only spend from 100 - 150$ on PC speakers and no more..

[MuFu]

I have heard a £7,500 Bose lifestyle installation and it sounded absolutely bollocks. All the other Bose products I have demo'd really do suck compared with similarly priced systems. It's one of those things you have to go out and listen to for yourself though - if you buy a set of Bose speakers you will probably be happy with them. People that own huge luxury yachts are happy with their Bose speaker systems because they don't know any better. :rolleyes:

Most offerings from Klipsch, Cambridge Soundworks, Logitech, Altec are superior in the <$400 bracket. Above that, go hang out on www.avsforum.com or www.avforums.com for a bit and invest in a decent receiver + speakers. Even the lowest "audiophile grade" 5.1/6.1 setups totally smoke most PC speaker systems.

MuFu.

[ricercar]

Most of the time I recommend buying computer speakers from a speaker company instead of a computer company. Yet recently I've read inspiring reviews of the Logitech 5.1 system (Z-680? the $400 setup) that make me want to hear this setup.

However, if you're spending money, trust your ears more than any reviewer's opinion.

Except mine :D

[Smokey]

For the first time last night, I saw on a online pc shop, that they offer a speaker set up which is a home cinema set up.

home cinema/pc 5.1 ? (http://www.kustompcs.co.uk/product.php?view=4134)


I was wondering, would a set up like this be better than say Logitech or something? Tlaking pc speaker setups that are around a similar price?

[LTech221]

Id be a bit cautious about HTIB packages, as may of those sound like crap. However there are some that sound good, but can be hard to find.

[morkus64]

i'm wary about these too, no way am i spending that much on speakers... unless i was rich and they were Bose wave... those sound DAMN NICE! My friend has a little bose wave radio and it is literally the best sounding system i have ever heard. Now i would LOVE that in 5.1!

[g0at]

Originally posted by saturnotaku
...
I guess I'm not an audiophile but I have a really hard time justifying $100 for 2 PC speakers when I spent that much on my 5.1 Altec Lansing setup. :o

word :D

Im no speaker god, but I'd take my creative labs inspiron (say what you want) for $75 over and $100 for 2 speakers :p