My parents just bought this Black Bose Lifestyle v30 system and wondering if they are really worth all that money. I haven't yet see any member here w/ Bose so couldn't really find any review. Is it because they are over priced or output isn't high/strong enough?

btw, which receiver would you guys recommend? I'm trying to convience my parents to get a receiver to go w/ our set-up.

Thanks!

 

I've never owned a Bose but have heard from many enthusiasts that they're very overrated for the money. I guess the best analogy I can think of is Monster Cable - good quality cables but WAY OVERPRICED.

 

Yes. For home use a definite YES.
Some of their pro audio gear however is nice. However still over priced.

 

I owned a lifestyle 12 system a few years ago. It was fine for what it was, an all in one unit that was small profile with small speakers. The WAF (wife approval factor) was off the charts. It sounded fine but not great. I was willing to live with it for a while but eventually it just didn't do it for me.

Technical reviews are hard to come by. I eventually did find one and it wasn't favorable. The satelite speakers are made with paper cones and top out only up to around 14kHz. There is no midbass to speak of since the satelites have such small cones. Bose compensates by crossing over the bass module quite a bit higher, somewhere over 200Hz. This doesn't make the dip in frequency response go completely away but it makes the bass more boomy, and you can audibly locate the bass module.

Bottom line, you can do much better sound quality wise for the price of the Bose systems just by assembling the speakers and components on your own. If you're not a discriminating listener then the Bose system does offer simplicity, esthetics, and ease of operation.

 

Bose Wave Radios are cheap and decent alarm clocks but everything else they make is FAAARRRR overrated from their car audio systems to their home theater speakers and all-in-one units...

 

http://liquidtheater.com/editorial_56.html
Read the "Inaccuracies" section.

This one has actual freq. response measurements:
http://www.intellexual.net/bose.html#number1


No highs,
no lows,
must be BOSE!

 

^^ Also note that the Bose frequency response in the links provided by AChangeOfSeasons are given at +/-10.5 db whereas "normal" systems are rated +/- 3db.

 

yeah, never heard a Bose system I liked.

 

I have a Bose Lifestyle System (35 maybe?), and it served it's purpose. Sleek, small and decent sound; however, the bass unit/power unit has been sent back to Bose once due to malfunction. The wife didn't want speakers visible in our great room and didn't want a large tuner, DVD player, etc... So, this filled her silly requests.

Our entertainment theater room is an entirely different story.

 

Damn ! $500-$600 is cheap to you for an alarm clock/radio! Damn you must be at official balla status!

 

Oh and BTW bose sucks balls! But if you tell them that they'll sue the shit out of you!

 

I have the bose earbuds for my ipod. Sound great. But I got them from my parents. My mom is a dedicated bose person. I myself think that they are WAY overpriced for what you actually get.

 

yup they're overrated. i had the bose sound system in the 09 Nissan Murano loaner and the speakers were crappy

 

My CQ3's sound great

 

No highs
No lows
Must be Bose!

Bose Blows.

Bose: Better Sound through marketing.

Yeah Bose is overrated

 

okay... its not THAT bad. You make it sound like they are some stright up crap or something.

 

that's different. You can't really compare your car stero speakers vs. home threater system.

 

Oh well, there is nothing I can do..

 

The only Bose system that has ever impressed me is in the 1st gen RL. Its clear, excellent highs and lows. Quite frankly its nothing like most "Bose" car stereos (cough cough, 2nd gen TL)

As for home systems, my Dad had some old school quadraphonic sound system that was from the 60's or 70's. It says Bose on it and the speakers sound just as good if not better than anything they make today.

Edit: Apparently they are 901 series from 1969

 

Have never been terribly impressed with Bose systems/speakers. I do have a Bose Wave Radio and use it as an alarm clock, but the sound quality is meh.

 

Had an old school pair of 301s when I was a teen. I, and apparently my friends, thought I was hot shit for having them. In reality they didn't sound like anything special. I will say that I was impressed with the price they fetched on eBay a few years ago.

They are OK speakers but you can find much better for the same price or less.

 

yes

 

30-40 years old? Nice.

I know they are over priced, but I think this system will last long so should be okay in long run.

 

yeah... the price definitely got something to do w/ the name over the performance. Tell the truth, I'm know nothing about sounds so sounds pretty good to me.

 

way overrated

 

I like my 2G CL's Bose sound just fine. But then again I'm not an audiophile. I don't need glitzy glamorous sound systems. If it sounds clear, not distorted and pretty loud then I'm fine. Don't understand what the big deal is.

 

the v30 is wayyyy overpriced... get a seperate receiver and buy bose speakers if you really want. Or go with some better speakers.

 

^^ too late.

 

no 30 day return policy?

 

my dad has the wave radio alarm clock and this thing they sound excellent... the bose in my 02 TL-S was garbage... the bose in my 1st car a 2000 maxima was horrendous, but not as bad as my tl. My dad's 05 maxima has bose and its the best bose system ive heard in a car yet, but still nothing to brag about. in conclusion for home use bose is very nice, but for the money i still like my logitech 5.1 system that also plugs into my computer

 

My parents bought this 2-3 weeks ago and already hired people to set up everything so they don't want to return it and do whole install again. I'm currently not living my parents so I can't really help them out either so. I guess we just gonna stick w/ it.

 

If you've heard a really good car system, then you should be able to understand why some people hate their Bose car systems.

Personally I have nothing against Bose - they make a few decent products for a certain market. I just think that anyone intersted enugh to do their research can get better sound for the same money.

 

as far as comparing car systems, the Harmon Kardon system in my x5 actually sounds really good, and blows my bose system in my CLK 500 and my 97 CL.

 

My dad had a bose system in his Tahoe, and it sounded AMAZING, but I hear all the time that Bose is really overrated

 

Thanks guys!

I appreciate all you guys comment... I guess we are just going to stick w/ this system. This is first home theater system for me so I'm really enjoying this.

I'm gonna go watch Bad Boys2 ferrari chase scene.

 

looking for speakers - bose l1 system with 1 tower and base module is 2400. WTF. 4 Mackies or Jbls > Bose

 

Three words: Hecho en Mexico

Junk.

 

^^^ Thanks. I think I know... No need to rub it in.

 

My dad has some 901's from the 70's and they still sound good after all these years. He also has one of those Bose in a box systems and that thing is just OK. I agree that Bose is all about marketing and nothing about quality. My buddy built a theatre system using all B&W components and sounds absolutely stunning. Too bad he lives in a duplex with a bitch for a neighbor.

 

I got these:
http://www.bose.com/controller?event...adphones_index

They're kind of unique.