I agree that Bose is pretty much crap, but you have to give credit where credit is due. The acoustic wave sounds pretty good.

The lifestyles on the other hand is shite...

Bose? "Better Sound Through Marketing!"

My first comment to a client or anyone for that matter is that "their marketing is far superior to their products."
It takes me about 2 minutes to explain to a clent why bose is not the right solution for them. Yes the wave is a nice piece. But as for everything else I literaly get pissed at the company.
My biggest issues are with their processor (if it deserves to be called that).
I just about lost it when a client told me the salesman told him all he'd have to do is put am amp in the ceiling to power his speakers for his 2nd zone.
I'm just amazed at their rnd and how it seems they couldn't have given it much thought.
CMack

should i buy the lifestyle50 system? (at $3500) ... or some M&K, Klipsch, or hell for that matter some JBL, Infinity speakers with a decent receiver and dvd ... let me sleep on it and i'll get back to you

As a former Bose salesperson (in the '80's), I can tell you that Bose had the best spiff program in the industry. They sent out a full color catalog with items to choose from. I got a barbeque grille, outdoor speakers, a blender for my wife all in the space of about three months.

At the time, Bose also wanted us to set up their speakers in a discrete display, so that no other speaker manufacturers products could be compared easily.

What does it mean? They know how to market. Did I like the sound? Didn't matter. Did the customer?

Fred, "Did the customer like it?" Maybe it's my perspective but, What Garbage! The reason why I got into the business was to help educate people as to what can be done in home electronics. If i sold a customer a LS 40 at $3,500.00, and didnt show them what can give them a better sound for their dollar i'm ripping them off. If a customer wants a bose system, send 'em to Best Buy! If a customer comes to me i assume he wants something a little better for his dollar. BTW the reason Bose gives such good spiffs, is to ease the concience of the salesman who Scr.....helped their customer.

Do people that peddle this crap sleep well at night? I have to ask this question to each and every one of you? Why, because if I RAPED someone of 2-4k on this crap, I would not be able to sleep at night. Who CARES what the customer THINKS they hear...it's ALL subjective anyway. Would you tell a customer the newest SAMPO plasma was as good as the newest REVOX on RUNCO if the name SAMPO was more popular....

Bottom line is this...people who walk into our shops, or call our phones, should be treated to the BETTER world of custom integration and installation...they should be FAIRLY educated on the options available for the same price...period.

Any good consumer, that's willing to listen (and beleive me, these are the ones you want) is going to listen to you...if they don't, let em buy the bose from someone else, but don't get sucked into it.

By the way, take a bose acousticrap apart sometime. I did this once, to replace a blown driver...here is the part number and replacment for the drivers in those little tiny cubes...trust me, they drop right in...

[Link: radioshack.com]

avdude
site admin
www.integrationpros.com

That sound's like an awesome system ... a Sampo plasma with a Bose surround system ... What a combination!!! ... Can anyone tell me where to get it? ... I'm sure my customers will be blown away if I spec. that... Much better than the stuff I spec. now ;-)

If you guys don't have a set of Bose in your showroom, your missing out.......

It makes selling everything else so freaking easy.

Just put them on an A/B switch with the cheapest ones you sell, and watch all the jaws flapping on the floor. "you mean for half the money I can get it to sound that much better???!!!!"

Tellin ya, get the Boss to spring for a set, they pay for themselves in like 10 minuites.

We were thinking of doing the same thing, getting some in just so we can show people how they sound next to another speaker. I'm sure that they would help sell other speakers very effeciently.

Let me start off by saying I'm not a custom installer. If you don't think I should be reading this forum, tough. I try to learn each time I read here. Also, let me say I've never been in a custom installer's shop. Why? I can't afford it (as much as I'd like to).

So, my choices for listening to speaker comparisons are limited to Best Buy and Circuit City. I know their setups are not "true" to what you hear at home, but it's the closest I've got. When I compare the speakers at those stores, I think Bose sounds the best.

You say there are cheaper speakers that sound better? Let this lowly peon (read "don't have lots of extra money") know. What would you recommend in the Bose price range (<$500/pair) or less? I'll admit right now, even that range is high for me.

If I don't have enough money to interest you, fine, I'm sorry I've bothered you.

SamG

Looks like someone's not getting enough fiber in their diet!

Theres the marketing right there! He a chooses the Bose setup at Best Buy as the one that sounds the best. You don't work for Bose do you?

A great Bose killer is the Energy Take 5 pkg. It's got 4 satellite speakers, center channel, AND a powered 8" sub for around $500.00.

SamG, First Welcome to the party. In my opinion Enthusiasm for good audio and video is where most custom installers and designers start. Secondly, Never, never let a lack of funds stop you from going into a mid-fi, hi fi shop. I love having guys (and Gals) in my store who may not be able to afford something, but who are interested and enthusiastic about the industry. Finally, go to your yellow pages, and find a few stores that sell good speaker lines,(B&W, PSB, Thiel, Jm labs, Wilson, Kef, Energy, Magnepan, Totem, NHT, Dynaudio....just to name a few) Bring a couple of Cd's that you like and are familiar with. Go in and politely ask to give a few speakers a a listen. As you do listen for differences, see what you like. There are no wrong answers. When you listen to a really quality setup you will find that Bose' Just cant cut it. Do it, your ears will thank you!