Looking for help on Bose advice... - Blu-ray Forum

iaacp · 01-16-2008, 04:21 AM

Ok, so for Christmas I got the Bose 3-2-1 GS II system. So far, it's really great. However, I was mainly asking for a surround sound system to get the most of my PS3 gaming/Blu-Ray experience. I am worried that with only the choice of optical cable, I won't get that experience. The sound quality is amazing, but I was looking to try out high def audio - and as far as I know, the optical cable doesn't carry the HD audio signal - only HDMI does (please correct me if I'm wrong). So, what I'm asking is, would it be worth it return my 3-2-1 setup and maybe get the Acoustimass 10 home theater system, as it is the only one in the same price range (about $999).

Is the audio I would hear from a Bose system with lossless audio (the acoustimass 10) significantly better than what I currently hear with my 3-2-1?

Another problem - I need a receiver, and as far as I know the acoustimass doesn't come with one, while my 3-2-1 does. Ahhh! I'm stuck in a rut on what to do. Any advice would be helpful!

JasonR · 01-16-2008, 04:26 AM

Get the Acoustimass with an Onkyo 605 + for optimal sound, if you have to have Bose.

iaacp · 01-16-2008, 04:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JasonR

Get the Acoustimass with an Onkyo 605 + for optimal sound, if you have to have Bose.

I don't know if I have to, but I definately like what I've heard so far. I'm open to other suggestions.

darkpoet25 · 01-16-2008, 04:54 AM

Me personally I always thought that Bose was overrated and overpriced. You are better off getting a seperate reciever and speakers. Depending on your budget you can get Definitive Technology speaker packages for fairly cheap($800-$1000) that come with a sub and all five main speakers. For a reciever you can go with Yamaha, Onkyo and Denon all of whom have recievers with HMDI input/output for PCM, and TrueHD. As of right now, the PS3 is unable to do bitstream or DTS-MA, which will hopefully soon change. These are just some suggestions. I recommend you research as much as possible before spending any of your hard earned money. If you have a Best Buy with a Magnolia Theater, you can audition their speakers and recievers. Take a BD with you to help you make a better choice. You should also go to a local AV shop or Fry's if you have them too. At the end of the day our suggestions are just that, our suggestions. It's up to you, your ears and your wallet to decide for yourself. Hope this helps.

WickyWoo · 01-16-2008, 04:55 AM

Get Polk, far cheaper, sounds better

And read this:

http://www.intellexual.net/bose.html

Oddiophile · 01-16-2008, 05:45 AM

My advise is not to buy BOSE.

Polks are good, I had a set of them about 5 years ago. I am running Martin Logan Electrostat's right now.

IMO best bang for the buck is AV123.com's X series. I auditioned there bookshelf speaker summer last year and they are phenomenal for the price.

Petra_Kalbrain · 01-16-2008, 06:10 AM

#1. AVOID BOSE! Please!

#2. Onkyo and Yamaha receivers offer the best quality at reasonable prices.

#3. AVOID BOSE! (I can't say this one enough)

Edh63 · 01-16-2008, 06:29 AM

If you're sticking with Bose, definitely go with a Lifestyle System. I've had my 35 for around 5 years now with no problems. A Bose system is designed for those audio enthusiasts that want a clean looking system that performs wonderfully. Bose is for those that don't want a bunch of utilitarian equipment sitting around on the floor.

I would agree that Bose is pricey, but there is a great deal of research and technology that goes into the design of their systems. Is it the loudest on the market? No. But, this system performs extremely well and gives you excellent sound quality. I personally don't want a 10 to 15 inch sub-woofer sitting on my living room floor. Nor would I want stack speakers sitting around everywhere. I bought my Bose because it sounded phenomenal and I didn't want a visiually invasive system in my house.

Now, this is why you may want to consider not having a Bose system. Non of their receivers to date have HDMI inputs. You can run sound via bitstream from your BDP, but you cannot utilize all the audio enhancements on the Blu disks with a Bose. Although, bitstream sounds fantastic, as you already know.

I personally wouldn't want anymore bass performance out of my system than my Bose produces. The way the bass is engineered to perform out of the Acoustimass is enough bass to satisfy me and the neighbors around me on movie night that see me the next day and tell me what movie I watched. I'm just not in to the pound sound till your ears bleed anymore. I went through the phase of having all the sound system crap in my truck. I was one of those pricks that would drive up behind you at a stop light thumping his stereo in the back of your head. Been there, done that.

Bottom line, I am extremely satisfied with my Lifestyle 35. I'm just realizing that I am limited at my receiver when it comes to Blu-Ray. Again, bitstream sounds fantastic and I really could care less about this slight audio enhancement that the new disks give. let me put it this way, I have no one coming to my house watching movies asking me why I'm only using optical and bitstream. People come over and watch a movie that entertains them and gives them a wonderful experience. I think most people get way to wrapped up in all the technology sometimes when it really doesn't matter that much. The audio that I get right now from my Bose satisfies my needs well beyond what I deserve and I am more into getting the best picture quality that I can. With what I have today, I am very pleased with the Lifestyle.

Of course, there will be Bose bashers that post here that will continue to say stay away from them, but it all comes down to what your preferences are and what you think. Good luck on your purchase.

Sylin · 01-16-2008, 06:32 AM

I have an Onkyo TX-SR804 (silver) for sale if you're interested.

Downhere · 01-16-2008, 07:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Petra_Kalbrain

#1. AVOID BOSE! Please!

#2. Onkyo and Yamaha receivers offer the best quality at reasonable prices.

#3. AVOID BOSE! (I can't say this one enough)

Definitely agree, there are better options to go with other than Bose. Pretty much anything can destroy Bose when it comes to sound quality. Just to throw out a suggestion, the Kef KHT2005 system (you can get it for around 600 if you look around online) would be a better option and all you will have to do is throw in a good receiver (example: Onkyo 605). Or you can look into Ascend Acoustics, they have some nice smaller speakers that would be worth looking into as well. All you would have to do is add a nice sub and receiver and your good to go. There's also Def Tech, etc.

tofur69 · 01-16-2008, 07:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Petra_Kalbrain

#1. AVOID BOSE! Please!

#2. Onkyo and Yamaha receivers offer the best quality at reasonable prices.

#3. AVOID BOSE! (I can't say this one enough)

Amen. Movie theatres will not even buy their crap. All the techs I have run into always say...

"Has no highs and has no lows. Look at the label and it must be Bose."

Bose is good for music only.

Downhere · 01-16-2008, 08:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tofur69

Amen. Movie theatres will not even buy their crap. All the techs I have run into always say...

"Has no highs and has no lows. Look at the label and it must be Bose."

Bose is good for music only.

No way, Bose is good for nothing at all.

DragonSarc · 01-16-2008, 09:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Downhere

Definitely agree, there are better options to go with other than Bose. Pretty much anything can destroy Bose when it comes to sound quality. Just to throw out a suggestion, the Kef KHT2005 system (you can get it for around 600 if you look around online) would be a better option and all you will have to do is throw in a good receiver (example: Onkyo 605). Or you can look into Ascend Acoustics, they have some nice smaller speakers that would be worth looking into as well. All you would have to do is add a nice sub and receiver and your good to go. There's also Def Tech, etc.

I second this!!!!!

get a definitive technology procinema 600 5.1 and a denon receiver. Solve!!!!

MacDaddyOJack · 01-16-2008, 11:22 AM

No highs, no lows, must be Bose. For a grand, you can get an Onkyo 605 and some pretty good Polk speakers.

Bourne1 · 01-16-2008, 11:54 AM

I have a Bose Acoustimass 10 Series III, I got it for $400 brand new (employee spring sale on my last week working there for a couple months). Anyway, for now, these speakers do the job for me. They are not the best and are over rated, but are not as bad as people say they are. The sound is better than most home theaters in a box. Anyway, never go with a Lifestyle system, its a waste of money. If you have to stay with Bose, then get the Acoustimass 10 and a nice receiver. I am most likely going to upgrade my Sony receiver to an Onkyo 705. Again, Bose are not the greatest and are over rated for the price, but they are not as bad as people say.

Hypnopooper · 01-16-2008, 01:10 PM

Uh-Oh! Here come the Bose haters...

I say to each their own. If you like it and it sounds good to you great. Its your money

I was able to get an AM16 setup for dealer cost of about $5OO new. I know what peoples opinions are about bose but for a smaller room and a wife that says no to big speakers, they are ok until I get my atlantic technology in wall speakers. The upside is, they do hold their resale value on ebay

Its kind of ironic however, that most people just don't like them because they are overpriced, and have never heard them outside of Best Buy. These arguments tend to be alot like the arguments we all have read about HD-DUD vs. Blu

Enjoy what you have whether it be Bose or Polk or whatever.

Bourne1 · 01-16-2008, 02:04 PM

Yea, that was another reason on top of the $400 steal price why I chose the Bose AM10's, very small and my living room is small. But I know in the years to come that I will end up upgrading to Polk or Inifinity's. First thing I want to do is get a new receiver though; more important than speakers to me at this point right now.

dvs · 01-16-2008, 02:31 PM

I have the Bose Acoustimass 10 Series III too, and I'm happy. Don't let anyone stop you from getting BOSE. Just hear it for yourself. I worked at Best Buy and know how good this series is. I did my reseach, called BOSE direct and was satified with the quality. Their small neat looking , sound excellent and makes my basement rumble (the wife complains how our bed shakes, my bedroom is on the second floor) so obivously they work. They got friendly customer service people too.

Just hear it for your self. Don't let someone decide for you.

Pioneer VSX-1016(HDMI)
Bose Acoustimass 10 Series III
PS3 60gb
SHARP Aquos 52"
Blu-ray's

(Spiderman Triology, Superman Returns, Cars,Bruce Lee -Enter the Dragon,Fantastic Four-Silver Surfer,X-Man Last Stand,Day After Tomorrow...)

moviefan · 01-16-2008, 03:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Downhere

No way, Bose is good for nothing at all.

Bose "doesn't play well with others".
Their stuff can't be integrated into a quality system.
Look at the speaker wire they supply (22ga?) junk!
Speaker grills not removeable ... ashamed of what's inside?
They never reveal wattage ... why?
The same $ will buy MUCH better stuff, and you will have the flexibility to change out individual components later.
So there!

Edh63 · 01-16-2008, 04:01 PM

Ignorance is bliss. It's pointless to even talk about this because those that do not have Bose think they have some in depth knowledge about how Bose will sound in your home. All I can say is that my system rocks. Is it better than other systems out there? I'm not here promoting that childish point of view. I can tell you what I think of it and how it sounds in my home from an educated and intelligent perspective.

When you are subjected to something you spend money on and have in your possession, it all of the sudden becomes the "best" out there. This is the human nature in many of us. How you bring that attitude in here and talk about it in a non-biased format becomes all about "you" and less about the equipment. Every product has its limitations and its appeal.

I do know there are greater systems out there than a Bose system. Does that mean I think Bose is a "bad" system? No. I shopped around a decided Bose was for me for the reasons I've posted in other threads addressing personal preference. I'm grateful to be able to shop in a free market where I'm afforded the allowance to have many choices rather than one. For me to say that Onkyo or Sony or Pioneer suck because I have a Bose is ignorant, unintelligent and immature. I think that every manufacture had a design in mind when they had their systems and equipment on the table, and from that concept came a product that appealed to a market.

Good advice is one thing, but speaking with diplomacy while promoting what your preference is becomes about maturity. I promise I won't post about this again.

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01-16-2008, 04:21 AM	#1
iaacp Member Member since:Sep 2007	Looking for help on Bose advice... Ok, so for Christmas I got the Bose 3-2-1 GS II system. So far, it's really great. However, I was mainly asking for a surround sound system to get the most of my PS3 gaming/Blu-Ray experience. I am worried that with only the choice of optical cable, I won't get that experience. The sound quality is amazing, but I was looking to try out high def audio - and as far as I know, the optical cable doesn't carry the HD audio signal - only HDMI does (please correct me if I'm wrong). So, what I'm asking is, would it be worth it return my 3-2-1 setup and maybe get the Acoustimass 10 home theater system, as it is the only one in the same price range (about $999). Is the audio I would hear from a Bose system with lossless audio (the acoustimass 10) significantly better than what I currently hear with my 3-2-1? Another problem - I need a receiver, and as far as I know the acoustimass doesn't come with one, while my 3-2-1 does. Ahhh! I'm stuck in a rut on what to do. Any advice would be helpful!

01-16-2008, 04:26 AM	#2
JasonR Super Moderator Top contributor Member since:Nov 2007 Trading Score:12	Get the Acoustimass with an Onkyo 605 + for optimal sound, if you have to have Bose.

01-16-2008, 04:54 AM	#4
darkpoet25 Blu-ray Samurai Member since:Feb 2007 Location:Indianapolis, IN Home Theater Gallery:45 4K collection:50 Blu-ray collection:297 Blu-ray reviews: 4	Me personally I always thought that Bose was overrated and overpriced. You are better off getting a seperate reciever and speakers. Depending on your budget you can get Definitive Technology speaker packages for fairly cheap($800-$1000) that come with a sub and all five main speakers. For a reciever you can go with Yamaha, Onkyo and Denon all of whom have recievers with HMDI input/output for PCM, and TrueHD. As of right now, the PS3 is unable to do bitstream or DTS-MA, which will hopefully soon change. These are just some suggestions. I recommend you research as much as possible before spending any of your hard earned money. If you have a Best Buy with a Magnolia Theater, you can audition their speakers and recievers. Take a BD with you to help you make a better choice. You should also go to a local AV shop or Fry's if you have them too. At the end of the day our suggestions are just that, our suggestions. It's up to you, your ears and your wallet to decide for yourself. Hope this helps.

01-16-2008, 04:55 AM	#5
WickyWoo Blu-ray Champion Member since:May 2007 Trading Score:2	Get Polk, far cheaper, sounds better And read this: http://www.intellexual.net/bose.html

01-16-2008, 05:45 AM	#6
Oddiophile Expert Member Member since:Dec 2007 Location:Phoenix, AZ 4K collection:1034 Blu-ray collection:1435 Trading Score:6	My advise is not to buy BOSE. Polks are good, I had a set of them about 5 years ago. I am running Martin Logan Electrostat's right now. IMO best bang for the buck is AV123.com's X series. I auditioned there bookshelf speaker summer last year and they are phenomenal for the price.

01-16-2008, 06:10 AM	#7
Petra_Kalbrain Blu-ray Archduke Top contributor Member since:Jul 2007 Location:Vancouver, BC 4K collection:5 Blu-ray collection:561 Blu-ray reviews:3 Trading Score:20	#1. AVOID BOSE! Please! #2. Onkyo and Yamaha receivers offer the best quality at reasonable prices. #3. AVOID BOSE! (I can't say this one enough)

01-16-2008, 06:29 AM	#8
Edh63 Senior Member Member since:Jan 2008 Location:Wimberley, TX	If you're sticking with Bose, definitely go with a Lifestyle System. I've had my 35 for around 5 years now with no problems. A Bose system is designed for those audio enthusiasts that want a clean looking system that performs wonderfully. Bose is for those that don't want a bunch of utilitarian equipment sitting around on the floor. I would agree that Bose is pricey, but there is a great deal of research and technology that goes into the design of their systems. Is it the loudest on the market? No. But, this system performs extremely well and gives you excellent sound quality. I personally don't want a 10 to 15 inch sub-woofer sitting on my living room floor. Nor would I want stack speakers sitting around everywhere. I bought my Bose because it sounded phenomenal and I didn't want a visiually invasive system in my house. Now, this is why you may want to consider not having a Bose system. Non of their receivers to date have HDMI inputs. You can run sound via bitstream from your BDP, but you cannot utilize all the audio enhancements on the Blu disks with a Bose. Although, bitstream sounds fantastic, as you already know. I personally wouldn't want anymore bass performance out of my system than my Bose produces. The way the bass is engineered to perform out of the Acoustimass is enough bass to satisfy me and the neighbors around me on movie night that see me the next day and tell me what movie I watched. I'm just not in to the pound sound till your ears bleed anymore. I went through the phase of having all the sound system crap in my truck. I was one of those pricks that would drive up behind you at a stop light thumping his stereo in the back of your head. Been there, done that. Bottom line, I am extremely satisfied with my Lifestyle 35. I'm just realizing that I am limited at my receiver when it comes to Blu-Ray. Again, bitstream sounds fantastic and I really could care less about this slight audio enhancement that the new disks give. let me put it this way, I have no one coming to my house watching movies asking me why I'm only using optical and bitstream. People come over and watch a movie that entertains them and gives them a wonderful experience. I think most people get way to wrapped up in all the technology sometimes when it really doesn't matter that much. The audio that I get right now from my Bose satisfies my needs well beyond what I deserve and I am more into getting the best picture quality that I can. With what I have today, I am very pleased with the Lifestyle. Of course, there will be Bose bashers that post here that will continue to say stay away from them, but it all comes down to what your preferences are and what you think. Good luck on your purchase.

01-16-2008, 06:32 AM	#9
Sylin Blu-ray Samurai Member since:Jun 2007 Location:Nashville Blu-ray collection:1 Trading Score:159	I have an Onkyo TX-SR804 (silver) for sale if you're interested.

01-16-2008, 11:22 AM	#14
MacDaddyOJack Blu-ray Guru Member since:Sep 2007 Location:Richmond, VA PSNetwork: MacDaddyOJack Trophy Level: 12(4%) Home Theater Gallery:12 Blu-ray collection:71 Blu-ray reviews:23 Trading Score:4	No highs, no lows, must be Bose. For a grand, you can get an Onkyo 605 and some pretty good Polk speakers.

01-16-2008, 11:54 AM	#15
Bourne1 Senior Member Member since:Dec 2007	I have a Bose Acoustimass 10 Series III, I got it for $400 brand new (employee spring sale on my last week working there for a couple months). Anyway, for now, these speakers do the job for me. They are not the best and are over rated, but are not as bad as people say they are. The sound is better than most home theaters in a box. Anyway, never go with a Lifestyle system, its a waste of money. If you have to stay with Bose, then get the Acoustimass 10 and a nice receiver. I am most likely going to upgrade my Sony receiver to an Onkyo 705. Again, Bose are not the greatest and are over rated for the price, but they are not as bad as people say.

01-16-2008, 01:10 PM	#16
Hypnopooper Member Member since:Nov 2007	Uh-Oh! Here come the Bose haters... I say to each their own. If you like it and it sounds good to you great. Its your money I was able to get an AM16 setup for dealer cost of about $5OO new. I know what peoples opinions are about bose but for a smaller room and a wife that says no to big speakers, they are ok until I get my atlantic technology in wall speakers. The upside is, they do hold their resale value on ebay Its kind of ironic however, that most people just don't like them because they are overpriced, and have never heard them outside of Best Buy. These arguments tend to be alot like the arguments we all have read about HD-DUD vs. Blu Enjoy what you have whether it be Bose or Polk or whatever.

01-16-2008, 02:04 PM	#17
Bourne1 Senior Member Member since:Dec 2007	Yea, that was another reason on top of the $400 steal price why I chose the Bose AM10's, very small and my living room is small. But I know in the years to come that I will end up upgrading to Polk or Inifinity's. First thing I want to do is get a new receiver though; more important than speakers to me at this point right now.

01-16-2008, 02:31 PM	#18
dvs Member Member since:Jan 2008 Location:Toronto,Canada	I have the Bose Acoustimass 10 Series III too, and I'm happy. Don't let anyone stop you from getting BOSE. Just hear it for yourself. I worked at Best Buy and know how good this series is. I did my reseach, called BOSE direct and was satified with the quality. Their small neat looking , sound excellent and makes my basement rumble (the wife complains how our bed shakes, my bedroom is on the second floor) so obivously they work. They got friendly customer service people too. Just hear it for your self. Don't let someone decide for you. Pioneer VSX-1016(HDMI) Bose Acoustimass 10 Series III PS3 60gb SHARP Aquos 52" Blu-ray's (Spiderman Triology, Superman Returns, Cars,Bruce Lee -Enter the Dragon,Fantastic Four-Silver Surfer,X-Man Last Stand,Day After Tomorrow...)

01-16-2008, 04:01 PM	#20
Edh63 Senior Member Member since:Jan 2008 Location:Wimberley, TX	Ignorance is bliss. It's pointless to even talk about this because those that do not have Bose think they have some in depth knowledge about how Bose will sound in your home. All I can say is that my system rocks. Is it better than other systems out there? I'm not here promoting that childish point of view. I can tell you what I think of it and how it sounds in my home from an educated and intelligent perspective. When you are subjected to something you spend money on and have in your possession, it all of the sudden becomes the "best" out there. This is the human nature in many of us. How you bring that attitude in here and talk about it in a non-biased format becomes all about "you" and less about the equipment. Every product has its limitations and its appeal. I do know there are greater systems out there than a Bose system. Does that mean I think Bose is a "bad" system? No. I shopped around a decided Bose was for me for the reasons I've posted in other threads addressing personal preference. I'm grateful to be able to shop in a free market where I'm afforded the allowance to have many choices rather than one. For me to say that Onkyo or Sony or Pioneer suck because I have a Bose is ignorant, unintelligent and immature. I think that every manufacture had a design in mind when they had their systems and equipment on the table, and from that concept came a product that appealed to a market. Good advice is one thing, but speaking with diplomacy while promoting what your preference is becomes about maturity. I promise I won't post about this again.

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