surxenberg

Overall Rating
 2 of 5

Value Rating
 1 of 5

Used product for
Less than 1 month

Price Paid:  $0.00

Summary:
I checked this speaker system at a friend's house today.

He has the Series III though, which are virtually identical.

He payed about 2000 swiss franks for it (that's roughly 1800 us dollars) and he's pretty proud of it! yay!

There comes the old psychological effect, that if a consumer buys something for serious money he'll defend that purchase by all means. He thinks it's cool while I think it sucks.

The system's purpose clearly is not listening to music but having a compact 5.1 HomeCinema sound system.

It does the latter way better than the former.

However, i'd like to present an alternative for about the same price, the Canton GLE Series. My bro has got those.

There are:

- Front: 2xCanton GLE 430 -> 2 x 275 CHF (CHF=swiss franks)
-Rear 2x Canton GLE 420 -> 2x220 CHF
-Center: 1 x Canton GLE 455 -> 1x320 CHF
-Sub 1xCanton AS 85 SC -> 1x480 CHF

Note that prices in Switzerland are extraordinarily high due to some protectionist policies for the government.

The sum of these speakers are roughly 1900 CHF.

They can be had cheaper at some places, however, expect to pay at least 1600-1700 for the complete system. A Bose acoustimass 15 can be had a little cheaper too, so they're really about the same in price.

As far as homecinema goes, the Canton clearly outplays the Bose system, no competition.

If it comes to music, the Canton blows them away! It's like comparing a children's toy to a stradivari violin.

The reasons for this can be seen with the eye: The Canton System is way bulkier. You *need* space for the speakers, which are significantly bigger as those BOSE cubes.
Canton sells On-Wall Speakers though, the GLE 410. They're considerably smaller and intended for Wall mounting. Never listened to them though, but I'm more than sure that they outclass BOSE.

It gets even sadder for BOSE when I check my girlfriend's living room - I got her a Logitech surround system for 550 CHF.
Even though they probably sound totally different in their own way, they're about the same as far as sound and build quality goes.

I couldn't compare them directly, but my verdict was in both cases: Good enough for some fun homecinema and TV, atrocious for music listening.
The BOSE system gives me the impression that there's sound everywhere in the room. kinda like an electrostatic loudspeaker, but that's not the point when you're watching a movie.

Strengths:

-Compact
-easy to set up
-fills the room with sound

Weaknesses:

-way too overpriced
-gets annihilated by any German loudspeaker manufacturing competitor (Canton, Teufel, Magnat)
-ugly sound when it comes to listening to music

STEAMROLL9

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Value Rating
 3 of 5

Used product for
More than 1 year

Visitors rate this review
3.00 of 5, 2.00 votes

Price Paid:  $0.00

Summary:
I have owned this system for almost 9 years! Whenever I watch TV(which is way too much!), all sound always comes through my A/V system. I was very impressed with the ease of the set up and being up and running in a relativley short amount of time. I have the system powered by a Sony Reciever for almost 9 years!! THe receiver is just starting to breakdown, but considering how much TV i watch and how old it is, not too bad for a $500 receiver. OK, so if ur listening to just straight music, not so impressive. But when listening to surround and digital content, amazing!!! I certainly don't claim to be an audiophile, but I know what sounds good. I don't think one should have to spend the money they would on a new Honda Civic for a reciever and a couple of speakers. My friends have been constantly impressed when wathcing movies(especially in DTS), so much so that many have run out and bought updated Bose systems. While listening to straight 2 channel audio isn't so impressive, throw in a DTS 5.1 soundstack/album, and ur tune will change!!

Not that I will be moving into a larger space and will need to aquire a new receiver, I still plan on using the bose system as my surround speakers(moving up to 7.1) and purchasing a decent pair of floor standing speakers. Using an accousmass sytem as surrounds?!?!?! SWEET!!! Thinking of getting and Onkyo SR-876 receiver to power it all, should be mind blowing!!! While these may not be the sweetest speaker on the market, I do believe that as far as packaged surround sets go, BOSE is tops!! If you want something better, be prepared to fork out 2-3k for something comparable, and quit ur b*tc*ing!!

Price Paid:  $950.00 from tweeter

Summary:
i love it it rocks call me at 1-914-634-8945

Strengths:
Kewl

Weaknesses:
nota

Price Paid:  $1300.00 from ebay

Summary:
bose acoustimass home theater is all about the setup of speakers. its for watching movies. Thes speakers are not for haveing a concerts in your house.
I highly recomend that a yamaha amp is used with bose the 2 work just great together. the one bad thing about this bose system is that i cant open it and clean it, thers really no info on how to fix it if it breaks

ARVID41539

Overall Rating
 2 of 5

Value Rating
 2 of 5

Used product for
More than 1 year

Visitors rate this review
3.54 of 5, 13.00 votes

Price Paid:  $999.00 from SOUND ADVICE

Summary:
I WISH I HAD READ THESE REVIEWS BEFORE I BOUGHT BOSE. BELIEVING THE MARKETING I BOUGHT THE SPEAKERS WITHOUT RESERVATION. NOW THAT I HAVE HAD THEM A YEAR I BELIEVE THAT EVERYTHING THAT I HAVE HEARD ABOUT THESE SPEAKERS IS FALSE. I HAVE GOTTEN TWO DIFFERENT YAMAHA RECEIVERS TRYING TO MAKE THEM SOUND BETTER BUT NOTHING SEEMS TO HAVE WORKED. AFTER READING THESE REVIEWS I KNOW EXACTLY WHAT IS BEING DISCRIBED, THERE ALWAYS SEEMS TO BE SOMETHING MISSING IN THE SOUND, A LITTLE TOO HIGH, NO LOWS AND A HOLE IN THE MIDDLE. WISH I WOULD HAVE KNOWN.

Strengths:
SMALL AND UNOBTRUSIVE

Weaknesses:
POOR SOUND FOR THE MONEY