I have better sound on one of my systems--by a LONG shot and here's the cost:$699 pw-2200 Paradigm sub, $300 kit speakers using Focal drivers [tioxid dome and polykevlar mid]
This system has exceedingly clean reproduction from below 20hz to above 26khz. The sound is etched in space and holographic.
This system compared to *any* Bose product is a better value because it does so much more, so much better. I have some of the finest drivers available [next to Scan Speak, dynaudio, Eton etc] for the money.
Bose sounds like vulgar noise by contrast. Bose just sprays sound out: nothing that can approach transparent.
No matter how Bose is set up, it cannot approach the sound output and quality of the modest system I just wrote of.
I never owned Bose, I only helped design them. I can blast them as poor sounding and poor value because I was there....take it from me, you can do much much better...easily.

I look over some of the reviews.... and either some of the "audiophiles" who are reviewing this speaker system are DEAF, The Same Person, work for Bose, or a combination of the three.
I was IDIOT enough to buy these- and I hand my head in shame. They sound fine- compared against nothing, with MOR music. But TRY and put any Home theater through them, or any music more complex than N'Sync, and Bose's true colors show. They LOOK good, and they sound good as long as you don't turn them up, or expect anything with sonic range.

Yes, I was IDIOT enough to buy them.... at least I am not a bigger idiot that defends, even endorses this product. Bose is good at self promotion, NOT at making speakers...

I wish I could rate these ZERO!

Lis

I have never owned a BOSE product in my life and there is a very BIG reson for that. Compared to other sub/satellite systems the BOSE stuff is acceptable sound for a simple set-up but for the price? BOSE stuff is probably the worst value on the market. People pay hundreds even thousands of dollars for these little MDF boxes veneered in vinyl that house little two inch paper cones! It's really ridiculous. That's a BIG reson why if you go into a good audio specialist they probably don't/won't carry BOSE equipment. A place where I go and buy most of my equipment told me that they used to carry BOSE until BOSE cut them off because they had too much competition in the store from other brands that could easily embarrass BOSE's reputation and marketing strategy. Trust me I've done plenty of research, look into Boston Acoustic stuff for quality versus price. I own KEFs myself which are in a higher league, but if I were to buy a sub/sat system tommorrow I'd go for a Boston set-up.(the satellites to one of their nice micro systems weigh almost 5 lbs. ea. because their boxes are made of cast aluminum if that says anything plus you get dipole surrounds- all for about 1 G).Think about that BoSE folks.

The things I find that are very bad of these speakers is that there are so many products out there that performs so much better for far less. The faults of this series of speakers are very numerous but can be summed by the following quality components, performance, price. These speakers are made of paper drivers (speaker cones) like what most of you have seen in the low end cars and most vehicles before the 1990s with very thin particle board (non-sound dampened because it resonates), and pinch connectors (think about this as it sounds like that I am describing Jensen speakers or the lowest of the KLH); don't you think you deserve better (I know that I do)? The sub to sat crossover is so high that sub is easy to localize (close your eyes and you can hear voices speaking from the sub) and the lack of a true tweeter or midrange produces bad transients and poor vocals compared to most other speakers, as for using a bandpass subwoofer (ask almost any kid and they will tell you it puts out undefined bass) using midrange woofers is a very bad choice as it allows you to hear vocals (thus localization) coming thru (should have used these in the sats for true vocals instead it is muffled in the bandpass box setting) making this system very poor for both music and theater. The asking price ($899-1099) for these is speakers is quite high for their performance as you could buy 3 pairs of the 201s and a low end sub (for example the energy ES-8) which would sound better for both music and movies (and you would still have a BOSE product to impress all your casual listening audience) but you could do much better because you deserve more. I will list the following products that costs less, sound better, built the same/better, that you can test in your own home for up to 30 days with money back guarantee (because these companies have great customer service) that might be a little harder to set-up (BOSE does give you color coded wires, but if you can read this most companies give a good enough instructions and a 1-800 number that you can call for help) as long as you don't intentionally abuse the product (slamming it to the floor intensionally etc...).
1st product: This is to give you the true value of what the AM-10 is about and it will out perform the AM-10 for dynamics, frequency range (BOSE don't state theirs but most audio magazines that tested these speakers say that this series of speakers produce from 60-13.5K hz), and similar placement ease (except for sub): Buy 3 pairs of OPTIMUS XTS-10s ($79/pair normally but usually on sale for $49/pair but can only be purchased in pairs so you are forced to buy 3 of them) and the SW-14P passive 12" subwoofer (ugly, but can go low, costs $149 normally but usually goes on sale for $99). This system suffers from the sub localization like the BOSE and can't handle as much power (30W R,S/60W max for the sats, 100W RMS/200W max for the sub) but since each sats have a 3.5" midrange/2.5" twist tweeter (BOSE uses two hybrid drivers) they produce much cleaner and more accurate sound.

2nd product: Cambridge SoundWorks (CSW) Center Channel Plus ($199.99), New Ensemble II (sub/sats usually at $399-599), and The Surrounds 5.1 ($399/pair and was rated by most magazines as one of the best surrounds overall whether budget or highend). CSW is almost a mail order exclusive company buy with the hotlinks you can go and order a catalog sent to your house for free. Almost everyone agrees that these speakers sound much better than BOSE (their former motto was something like "twice as good sound and half the price of BOSE", was removed because they used the BOSE name in their add, notice that BOSE has a registered trademark symbol by their name so no one can use their name in their ads without permission from BOSE) with good build quality, similar size, and a 10 year warranty (shows they really stand behind their products). These speakers also come in black and white and can be had for $799.97 from this month's flyer. WWW.hifi.com is their address.

These are just two choices you can pick-up and buy with so many more to choose from such as Definite Tech (Procinema), Boston Acoustic (micros), Mirage (AVS), Nht (newwave), Energy (Take 5, e:XL series), Klipsch (Synergy 6, Quintet), Paradigm (atom/micro), Rock Solid Sounds (Solid Solution, HCM-2), Sound Dynamics (CINE series), etc... and you can contact the HOTLINK vendors (Onecall, SoundCity, UncleStereo, ETC...) and ask for what brands do they carry for less than "X" amount that is a system, mini-monitor, specials, etc... that sounds better than or equal to BOSE in size, performance, placement, etc... if you don't know of some particular brand (that is why I assume that you are buying BOSE or are planning to buy BOSE) I tell you this because I think some of you don't know what questions to ask and what are the other competition outside of your Sears, Montgomery Wards, Best Buys, Circuit City, etc...(sorry about the "etc..."s as there are so many options). If you still really want BOSE AM-10 speakers for $899-1099 a set, I have a great deal on a set of 92'Geo Metro speakers about the same sound for the same price.

I have to admit I have worked retail and have heard alot ... hands down Bose is the best I've heard. Why would I want to pick up some obscure brand of speakers that I have to go to the end of the earth for service or problems. You all belly ache about the quality ... >> and if you don't own them ... you're jealous ... hands down. If you're thinking about getting them, just do it. You'll save endless hours listening to why the el' cheapo brand is "just as good". I have an additional Sub and a nice 35" to top it off and it's just the bomb. By the way these negative reviews are a blast, they make me want to go home and pop in a tape!!! Happy hunting.
Signed ... I must be blind

In my reasoning, an audiophile [as poster Weiss claims to be] is an individual that discriminates on the equipment he buys so that optimum audio fidelity is heard in the final product puchase. Bose cannot, and does not cover 20hz to 20khz not even close. And the spectrum it does cover is by Paper-not doped or laminate, but cheap paper WHIZZER cones that are supposed to recreate the mid and upper audio range.
Does ANYONE with the SLIGHTEST knowledge of physics think that a poor transient material like a paper cone can accurately reproduce mid or high frequencies even close to the quality of textile, metal or plastics? Paper cones were abandoned by the industry in all but the worst/cheapest bottom end.
Paper does not make a good mid or high freq transducer. Some doped/reinforced paper can do well only as a woofer. Two 6 to 6.5" small excursion cones in what is a Hiemholtz/Thiele resonator [bandpass] box do not have the displacement to reproduce anything below 60hz usably. The distortion factors are high for what it does reproduce. Distortion in the form of a midbass thump, and no low bass.
This setup prduces three distinct areas of loss: low bass, lower midrange, and treble are all non existant. This is not opinion, this is drawing board fact.
If you like the way Bose interacts with your listening environment, and enjoy that type of sound exclusion and distortion then that is a personal quirk.
But to call them accurate or clear, requires a hearing problem. Try listening to Magnepans sometime, VMPS, Genesis, Avalon, Sonus-Faber etc to hear what high end sounds like. Truly being enveloped in effortless clarity is a real speakers job.
Spattering the sound around and trying to pass one self off as high end is Bose's mission statement. If you believe Bose is accurate sounding, I know a factory stock Yugo that is obviously as good quality, and a better performer than any car anyone else has.
BTW: being jealous of a person who own's Bose is like being jealous of Roseanne's husband when I have a girl that looks like Jennifer Lopez. The only way I could be jealous is if I wanted something that was fat and ugly.
I urge anyone considering buying Bose to go to a real stereo/hi fi shop and not superstores like circuit city.

Well, so called audiophiles, I did as you said. I got a hold of some 'proper' speakers so that I could compare them to my Bose AM10s. These proper speakers were actually Infinity SM 105s, belonging to my friend. I hooked them up to my Sony receiver and prepared to hear the amazing difference.
What can I say but BOSE RULES. The Infinity speakers had no bass like my Bose subwoofer produces. The highs and mids aren't nearly as peppy as my cute little cubes on the roof.

It is obvious to me that you are all jealous of Bose owners just because they got a better deal on their sound system than you did, and the Bose subwoofers can go lower than your expensive setup. You are angry that your $$$$ speakers can not produce crisp treble like BOSE. And also, you surrendered half of you living room to bulky sound gear when you could have that space back if you switched to BOSE. You would have to go and spend at least twice as much to get as good a sound as Bose produces. In fact I think is one of the best systems I have ever heard.

And what is this about Bose not producing full 20hz - 20khz sound? My Bose sure does. It shakes the window frames of my room. The bass is not boomy but tight and accurate. And the treble is very crisp and natural.

Please do not insult Mercedes if all you can afford is a Lada.

Justin,

Infinity SM105`s are Best Buy,Sears,Circuit City junk.I mean a good Audio Shop you bonehead.I`ll bet you bought these because somebody said they were the best.Also when you said you had a friend with the infinity`s that you compared them to that makes it obvious that you never went out and auditioned at a GOOD audio store.Most all Bose owners have to learn the hard way and I admit I was one of them.

To the poster "Williams" What scientific meathod did you use to determine that ANY Bose product goes from 20hz to 20khz?
I am an Audio Engineer that worked for Bose up until the introduction of the Am series.
I can tell you, as an inside source that Bose Acoustimass were never designed to be able to get near 20 hertz on the bottom, or past 16.5khz on top.
Simply examining the Bass module, there isn't enough cone area to go that deep. What you are hearing, is a Bose engineered rise in midbass response.
You are enjoying Bose, that's fine. However- you are stating it has qualities that it cannot possible have.
The Infinity line you are looking at is a low end model distributed by Harman International as an alternative to cheap Japanese speakers. They are more nuetral sounding than Bose, and do not have as much midbass emphasis as Bose. They can be bought for much less money than the AM-10's.
For the monetary output on AM-10's there is a broad selection of speakers and sub/sat combo's that will embarass Bose. As for me, I can afford a Mercedes. I wouldn't waste my money on one, because there are other cars that cost less and outperform them. The NAME is the pricetag and you are paying a shocking markup for the Bose name. This is to pay for adveratising. The philosophy at the Bose corp in Framinham is not to produce superior quality speakers, but rather to produce a mass-fi product, that has a simple, eye catching compact design, and provides "Joe consumer" with what he is after. That is: a wide soundstage, and emphasis on the "Body" of music information in a way it will please you when it interacts with your home listening environment.
High end? NO. Please don't shut your brain off and spout nonesense like "it goes from 20-20" when that is impossible by design. I quit Bose because I wanted to make real speakers, not parlor tricks. It is nice to work with exotic materials like titanium and kevlar, instead of paper and plastic.

Size, ease of use

OK so I'm not an audio techie like most of you ... I'm a computer guy. I've read numerous reviews on here of the AM10 and I'm sorta split.

I am going to visit a Bose store and listen to the AM10, but I want something to compare it to.

What other surround speaker package could I get for around $1000 (same price as AM10) or less, that will sound better and be a better overall value? Size is also somewhat of a limitation ... the smaller the better.

Also what about a good receiver under $500-600?

Please no flame mail.

Thanks!
G.