Bass; sound distribution

Treble; price, price, price!

I gave this unit a test drive at the local "Factory Outlet" store. Put a Bob Marley CD in and should make following observations: overall sound distribution was excellent with regard to the placement of the speakers. Bass was very good also. Unfortunately, the highs sounded quite shrill and the fact that there is no way for adjusting this is a major drawback. At $1,079 retail, this is not a good buy.

Similar Products Used:

Aiwa

incredible lifelike sound quality,separation and clarity

price is not very appealing,but its worth what you pay

I bought the acoustic wave system about a week ago,because I was realy impressed with the sound quality.I was originally going to buy a reciever and speakers,but I realized I'd have to spend at least a couple of thousand to get the quality I'm looking for in a music system and I neither have the space.So now I have the bose and am very satisfied.Its a real musical experience,you can actually hear every instrument and vocals as if they were about to burst from the speakers,with such a monumental sound for its size,and all without any distortion.
I really believe this system is what bose claims it to be,for its size and superb,live,vibrant and natural sound.This "musical instrument" that plays recorded music,almost like if it were live,is for people who really appreciate real music sound,and not loud,cheap distortion

Similar Products Used:

JVC boombox,aiwa mini-system

Bose Name

Bose Name

Ok folks,

First off I have to say that I do not have this system nor
do I intend to ever purchase this or any product for the
home from Bose. People who are reading this review listing
before they purchase this system can take my post with a
grain of salt or they can actualy listen. The choice is 100%
in your hands.

As I read through these reviews and I see 'Audiophiles' that
claim the sound this system produces is accurate. And in the
same breath they defent thier opinion by stating that anyone
who does not rate this system high must listen to 'rap or
hip hop on a wallmart system'. Dare I say it is ludicrous to
make that generalization?

I do not own the Bose Wave system but I own Bose's most
expensive stereo component and that is the 2000 Corvette
Coupe which employs a Bose 6 speaker setup with a pair of
unique 8" Midbass that are designed with the magnets to the
outside (and are only found in one other place, a Lear Jet).
As with all of the other components I have heard from Bose
over the years (including the 'legendary' 901's) this is usual
Bose quality. As another review stated, Bose often over accentuates
the lows and completely lacks in crisp highs and tight mids.
This is simply the Bose way of inacurately producing a 'warm'
sounding system (or their attempt to do so)


I sit back at nights and I watch the Bose Wave System Infomercial
and I think to myself 'my how the mighty have falled' and I
am not speaking of Herbie Hancock either. Sales must be bad
for Bose to feel the urge to enter the realm of late night
Infomercials to sell thier 'audiophile' products.

I have a question for the experts at Bose or anyone who may
be watching this forum. Bose says that they use a tuned acoustical
wave guide to tune the music much like a wind instrument does.
Ok if that's the case then how come a wind instrument has
valves to change the pitch and tone? Does the Bose Acoustical
Wave Guide have a bunch of valves inside? No....

I can sit here and rant all day long about Bose's Marketing
Strategy and it won't do any good. I say if you are seriously
interested in this system then you should do yourself a favor
and listen to it in person. And tell the 16 year old kid at
Best Buy to go bother someone else when you do. Otherwise he
will have you walking out of the store with the Wave System
and a bag full of Monster Cables ta boot! After you listen
to this system then compare it to component systems sold in
Mid/High end audio stores (not BB/CC) and then make an informed
decision.

And for the reviewer that said someone who speaks poorly of
Bose listens to rap.... I listen to instrumental, classical,
new-age instrumental,heavy metal,country,ethnic instrumental
and many more genre's of music.

My system specs are:

Front Left/Right: Acoustic Research AR9's
Front Center Channel: Acoustic Research AR4C
Rear L/R Surround: Acoustic Research 216PSB's
Rear Surround: Acoustic Research C225PSB
Receiver: Onkyo TX-DS787 THX-Select Certified
DVD/CD: Panasonic CV51 5 Disk DVD Changer

And I will be the first to admit there are much better
setups than mine.. For what I spent on my system so far I
could not be more happy. How can you argue with AR ? They
did invent the Acoustic Suspension LoudSpeaker after all!
(While Dr.Bose was still in kindergarten!)

(My rating is 'average 3 stars' and 'little expensive 2 starts'
since I don't want to totaly throw off the ratings scale)

Ohh and feel free to email me!

Similar Products Used:

Pioneer,Onkyo,Phillips,Acoustic Research,JVC,Sony and the list goes on.

Quality sound from the active equalization and durability of product. Radio is high quality

Would like a phono input on pedestal.

This was bought with downsizing in mind. If you don't like this product I don't how you could call yourself and audiophile. I have been mixing for over 15 years and I can tell you. This thing is for real. As far as my standard applications I have never and will never hear anything I know of to top the output for size. I don't listen to hip-hop and that other tripe. For standard Rock, Jazz, and Blues it is absolutely unbelievable. It is not only a high-quality system. It is one of the best investments I ever made. As for those who are panning this system it is unfortunate. It seems now that if you can't shake the foundation of a house with bass a stereo is worthless to many of these people. If you appreciate quality of sound throughout the spectrum you will enjoy this system thoroughly.

Similar Products Used:

Harman-Kardon Stereo System and Infinity Speakers.

Nothing besides the name

PRICE!!!. This thing dosen't sound at all like a Bose system. Bose has been known for quality produces. They should fire the idiotic fool who came up with the idea for this system.

Sound almost on a par with a 30$ Fisher Price. God what a fricking RIPOFF. And I also have a nice Bose system that is awsem so I would never consider myself an idioc Bose basher.

Similar Products Used:

Fisher Price Childrens Clock Radio

Crystal clear sound for a very affordable price. Compact and lifelike, best sound most have ever heard.

None

In response to Johnny Hsu.

Johnny Hsu probably does not even own this unit or know anything about serious audiophilia. His disdain for the successful company is sickening. See Mr. Wellington's review below, it quite somes up what this unit is capable of and why you should have it in your home.

Similar Products Used:

B&W, Meridian, Wilson Audio, Krell, amongst others.

Very portable.

Price.

Well i move around every couple of months or so and needed something that sounded good and could be carried under my arm. Why this product very portable and did sound good it was far to expensive. I may have paid $600 if i had to do it agian. Now that i don't move around as much i regreat it.

Similar Products Used:

krell, pioneer, yamaha, sony, etc.

Visual appearence is stunning! Has the looks that will enhance any room in your home!

Way to expensive!

After reading the post and reviews here, I decided to send in my opinion of the Bose Acoustic Wave Radio.

When I first received the system, I'll admit, I was a tad bit taken aback with the "lack" of sound that the system emitted. I have a rather large bedroom, so I chalked up the "less than booming" sound to the bedroom's width and depth.

About a week into having the system, I decided to wash my motorcycle and transfer the unit from my bedroom to the garage. I put on some Earl Klugh, (he's a jazz guitar player) and place the volume up to 56. The system sounded like I was playing my 901's out doors! (ok folks maybe not that good, but you get the point) I couldn't believe the sound that was emitting from my system! I increased the volume gradually hoping to hear distortion, but I was gladly dissapointed. The unit held it's musical integrity and sounded awesome!

My neighbor from across the street came over curious to see what new "boom box" I had purchased. When he saw the Wave system, he shook his head and replied..."I've seen those informercials on late night tv, and wondered if all the hype was true. Man, that "box" sounds better than my home stereo!"

Now, to be fair, my neighbors owns a rather bland stereo system, you know, the ones with two speakers, a receiver, cassette deck, purchased in 1980 something! So his annoucment about the excellent sound wasn't exactly what I call rave review. But I will say that to get his fat butt to cross the street and inquire about the sound was a feat!

But seriously...I was really impressed by the way the unit filled the garage with excellent and rich sound. So I wondered what the hell was wrong with the bedroom sound?

I took the system back upstairs to my bedroom hooked the unit back up but in a different location. I previously had the unit on my dresser facing more towards the closet. This time, I placed the unit on top of my televisions wall cabinet. This made all the difference in the world! The unit sounded like it did when I was in the garage. The bass was deep and full, the treble came out crisp, and the increasing
of the volume never lost it's intergity.

I can now say that the unit...while still over priced, is an excellent music center for the bedroom, office, study, or similar set up.

If you are in the market for a excellent conversation piece, or you are one of those types who have superior taste in value and reliability, this unit is for you. I can see this system being purchased by individuals who believe in quality, and have no qualms about paying for it.

The Bose Acoustic Wave Radio, in my opinion, is worth the "investment"!

Similar Products Used:

Cambridge radio

Good Sound, great form factor.

Cheesy remote, no advanced functions for CD player.

Well, just rec'd it via next day air (excellent cust. svc) and had it up and running in less than 30 seconds. My technologically illiterate fiancee absolutely loves it and was impressed as well with the ease of operation as she hates wasting time learning about something that is only going to play tunes (as she says, life's too short to mess around with stupid features, setup, etc.) Anyway, I'm over the sticker shock and the realization that there are many other systems that sound as good if not better for less ...BUT... it does what its supposed to and requires no hookup at all and never will should it need to be moved. Also, friends can come over and figure it out in 10 seconds and cannot hurt anything or change any settings that affect performance. Stuff I'd change: remote is cheap and has those "bubble buttons" that have always worn out on me rather quickly on other units in the past. I would also appreciate a more fully featured cd player (although I must confess I rarely used these features on my other players). And, maybe. . . a front mounted LCD display instead of the one on top because it would be easier to read. Otherwise, go for it, its a more than adequate unit and descent stuff isn't cheap. Let's face it, if you're even looking at this system you've got the money to burn anyway ;). Burn baby burn.

Similar Products Used:

Nakamichi Soundspace 5

I have had two seperate oportunities to evaluate this system. Both time were by invitation from Bose. Not a big deal, I simply requested literature from them about the system and they sent me an invitation to hear the unit in person. The system is on tour and stops in my home town about once a year. This were Bose excells in marketing over other companies.
I must admit, at first I was impressed. Bose was using two adjoining conference rooms to display their unit, with seating for about 40 people (only about 15 people were there). The presentor droned on for about 10 or 15 minutes before starting the presentation. He uses a CD sampler w/ various Classical pieces (which is given away for just showing up). They try to fool everyone with the old dropcloth-over-a-big-box trick, then surprise everyone when they lift the 'veil' and reveal the system, only as big as a large boombox, but smaller than most mini-systems. This is where the acoustic wave technology excells where it falls way short in the AM-series. The unit put out alot of sound for a small box, and it even had good presence. However, the base price for this unit is around $1100 to $1200. Not exactly a bargin. And, despite what they say in the magazines, it doesn't compete with my Polk's running on a 100watt amp. Also, its a proven fact that most portable radio designs sound louder and have better dynamics in a large room than they do in a small room. This is undoubtedly why Bose demonstrates their units in motel conference rooms and banquet halls, rather than in smaller rooms. It does sound good, but at Bose's overblown prices, you can do better. JBL has a nice compact portable for around $400 that sounds as loud as the AcousticWave, maybe not as transparent as the Bose. But then again, the Bose is not as portable as they would have you believe. If you buy all the accessories you will be out another $500, and a couple of the accessories you really couldn't do without, like the rechargable battery pack, or the RCA type input-expander-pedistal. This is a monument to what quality sound can be achieved in such a small space. Now if only Bose would not try to make up those R & D expenditures in the sale of one or two units and take their rightful place with the other mass-market low to mid -Fi electronic companies and lower their prices. BTW---Acoustamass technology is now about 20 years old---Bose, its time to move ahead and maybe people will stop feeling ripped off.