What A/V brands do you avoid?

[T DUB]

For me it's Bose and anything cheap like Emerson, Sanyo, basically most Tvs that Walmart would sell.

[Steve]

I think Bose will be the popular answer here.

[skatalite]

Why the lack of love for Bose?

I'm not a fan or anything. Never owned a Bose system aside from what came in my car. I'd just like a clear-cut explanation. I remember when I was a kid and living in SoCal, there was a Bose store and I thought it was the end-all, be-all in audio. But, I was a child

[Animo]

Originally Posted by T DUB

For me it's Bose and anything cheap like Emerson, Sanyo, basically most Tvs that Walmart would sell.

What's wrong with Emerson?
Here's mine from the 1950's.
Needs a little work, a dial, and a new grill.

[Phil Taylor]

Bose used to be good - years ago. Now they are still good/OK but way overpriced and there are much better systems for the money one would spend on Bose. I still have a pair of first generation 601s (I've had them nearly 30 years now - paid $325 for them new) that I use for my L/Rs but they don't make 'em or price 'em like they used to.

Personally I avoid Monster like the plague - again good cables but WAYYYY overpriced and their business ethics (i.e. frivolous copyright lawsuits) suck donkey ballz.

[Animo]

Originally Posted by skatalite

Why the lack of love for Bose?

I'm not a fan or anything. Never owned a Bose system aside from what came in my car. I'd just like a clear-cut explanation. I remember when I was a kid and living in SoCal, there was a Bose store and I thought it was the end-all, be-all in audio. But, I was a child

When I was a child, the Bose 901 was a top notch speaker.
Today, that speaker is virtually identical to the one they made in the 70s. It is also mainly used as a portable sound system. They are durable in their plastic enclosure, and they can play loud. I remember many clubs back in the day, that used 901s exclusively. However, like many companies that break away from their bread & butter product, their expanded product line lacked in quality & performance. Even their foray into the 201, 301 bookshelf speakers, or the floorstanding 501 & 701 did not come close. And forget about the Bose cubes or Acoustimass systems. Just too easy to destry components. One product I have seen and feel is a decent product is their all in one Bosewave radio/CD. However, there are much better choices for the same or less money.

The reason so many people do buy Bose is because it is the only company that spends advertising money on TV.....(infomercials), and gets such universal coverage.

[VDogger]

The ones I don't know anything about.

V

[Beta Man]

Onkyo, JVC, and JBL to name a few...... but If they make something new, I'll audition it if I'm in the market for whatever they happen to be offering.... I don't dismiss anything based on brand name alone.

[Drew664]

Originally Posted by Beta Man

Onkyo, JVC, and JBL to name a few...... but If they make something new, I'll audition it if I'm in the market for whatever they happen to be offering.... I don't dismiss anything based on brand name alone.

Really? Seems like those are some big players in the AV world, and with good price to performance ratios. Did you get burned in the past?

[crazyBLUE]

Originally Posted by Animo

What's wrong with Emerson?
Here's mine from the 1950's.
Needs a little work, a dial, and a new grill.

Animo ~ I want to know if it still works ? I may need to get one for my bedroom !!

[Blu-ray Fanatic]

Originally Posted by Animo

What's wrong with Emerson?
Here's mine from the 1950's.
Needs a little work, a dial, and a new grill.

1950's??? You're making me feel young again. So how much was a Bose system back then? $20?

[Maswov]

I don't like the budget no-name brands like Avol.
Seems like the hatred for Bose is that they sell really well. I know it's not the best but it is very popular. There is much worse out there just people hate Bose more because popular consensus is they are best.

[Linksys2.4]

I would avoid Sony non-ES receivers (or any of their audio gear -- not their TVs), Pioneer non-Elite stuff, Bose (as has already been mentioned), Costco/Wal Mart-level electronics, Samsung Blu-ray players, JVC...

There are probably a s@#$@ load more, but this is all I can think of right now...

[SlmShdy1]

I thought JVC made really nice high-end projectors.

[Beta Man]

Originally Posted by Drew664

Really? Seems like those are some big players in the AV world, and with good price to performance ratios. Did you get burned in the past?

Nope.... just never found them to my liking.

Originally Posted by SlmShdy1

I thought JVC made really nice high-end projectors.

yeah.... I guess I haven't looked into their projectors.... based that off of their AVRs and T.V.s

[BLURAYSONYES]

I cant really judge by brand because most of here can afford better brand than what WalMart/Kmart/Target carries. If I was poor....I mean very poor where I can only afford a cheap ass brand at WalMart then so be it because thats what I can afford and be happy with it. Have you ever walked into one of these stores and look at another customer buying this cheap ass TV brand and say.."man, he can do better than that elsewhere for the same price!" Well these people are not aware of whats better and what isnt. From my field expertise I have seen many Samsung failing on TVs and HTIBs.

[Linksys2.4]

Originally Posted by SlmShdy1

I thought JVC made really nice high-end projectors.

Yes, apparently they do, Shady...I should have been clearer and said JVC audio products, which I don't think there are too many of nowadays, are there? Didn't they go the way of Kenwood in home audio?

[Linksys2.4]

Originally Posted by BLURAYSONYES

I cant really judge by brand because most of here can afford better brand than what WalMart/Kmart/Target carries. If I was poor....I mean very poor where I can only afford a cheap ass brand at WalMart then so be it because thats what I can afford and be happy with it. Have you ever walked into one of these stores and look at another customer buying this cheap ass TV brand and say.."man, he can do better than that elsewhere for the same price!" Well these people are not aware of whats better and what isnt.

Sure, most CAN afford better than that -- and I didn't mean any disrespect to those who cannot -- I was merely answering the original question, so to speak, by stating what I would avoid, even if money WAS a factor. I would find a way to buy better than those chain-store brands even if I had to buy Onkyo/Marantz/Panasonic/Sony ES etc. used somewhere.

From my field expertise I have seen many Samsung failing on TVs and HTIBs.

I don't know much about their TVs, but I have heard horror stories about their Blu-ray players, where devices would just fail and the units are simply built poorly; I would just avoid them.

[mtbkr]

zenith, westinghouse, RCA

[jonesyg27]

Originally Posted by Animo

When I was a child, the Bose 901 was a top notch speaker.
Today, that speaker is virtually identical to the one they made in the 70s. It is also mainly used as a portable sound system. They are durable in their plastic enclosure, and they can play loud. I remember many clubs back in the day, that used 901s exclusively. However, like many companies that break away from their bread & butter product, their expanded product line lacked in quality & performance. Even their foray into the 201, 301 bookshelf speakers, or the floorstanding 501 & 701 did not come close. And forget about the Bose cubes or Acoustimass systems. Just too easy to destry components. One product I have seen and feel is a decent product is their all in one Bosewave radio/CD. However, there are much better choices for the same or less money.
The reason so many people do buy Bose is because it is the only company that spends advertising money on TV.....(infomercials), and gets such universal coverage.

What do you mean about destroying components? I've had my Bose cubes for almost 10 years (along with my receiver) and have never had a problem. Just my luck, until they die I won't be able to justify any upgrades to my wife.

On topic: I avoid different brands for different products. I don't trust Samsung blu-ray players or Olevia/Vizio/Insignia anything. But I have no problem with my Emerson clock radio, it even automatically sets the time after power outages.