Bose Wave System IV

[Old Grumpy]

I now reached a time in my life when I will have more time for listening to the radio and CDs. I am thinking of getting a compact system to sit in a small to medium sized room. The Bose system looks very attractive, but does the sound quality live up to the promise of the advertising, or would I be better served by a unit with similar capabilities (CD, FM/DAB/DAB+?, Internet radio, Bluetooth) with separate speakers?

The majority of the online reviews for the Bose system are very good, but a significant minority suggest an alternative approach to the end result.

Any views welcome.

OG

[Hornspieler]

I now reached a time in my life when I will have more time for listening to the radio and CDs. I am thinking of getting a compact system to sit in a small to medium sized room. The Bose system looks very attractive, but does the sound quality live up to the promise of the advertising, or would I be better served by a unit with similar capabilities (CD, FM/DAB/DAB+?, Internet radio, Bluetooth) with separate speakers?

The majority of the online reviews for the Bose system are very good, but a significant minority suggest an alternative approach to the end result.

Any views welcome.

OG

Modern flat screen television sets do not have sufficient room to take high quality speakers. If such sets have an audio output socket, connection to an outside amplifier gives a more pleasing result.

I have had a Bose system for 2 years now but, in fact, I have it connected straight to my Toshiba DVD/Audio Cassette player.

I'm not bothered with sound quality when watching TV (I sometimes listen on cordless headphones or watch subtitles on the screen) but the sound quality of the Bose is far superior to any of the non-expensive loudspeaker cabinets - and takes up less room space.

Why not go to an audio dealer and ask for a demonstration?

Good listening!

HS

[Pulcinella]

Why not go to an audio dealer and ask for a demonstration?

Excellent advice.
You may well find that Richer Sounds will come out to your house (depending on distance from their shop) and advise, though I don't think that they deal with Bose equipment.
If you go to a shop for a demonstration, make sure you take some of your favourite CDs of the type of music you want to listen to (especially if piano or vocal, say).

[Richard Barrett]

IMO Bose equipment is overpriced for the kind of sound it makes, apart from their noise-cancelling headphones. It's manufactured for people who rate appearance over sound quality. It's always better for a stereo system to have separate speakers unless there's really no space for them at all. If you went somewhere like Richer Sounds you could get something a great deal better than Bose for the same price.

[Bryn]

IMO Bose equipment is overpriced for the kind of sound it makes, apart from their noise-cancelling headphones. It's manufactured for people who rate appearance over sound quality. It's always better for a stereo system to have separate speakers unless there's really no space for them at all. If you went somewhere like Richer Sounds you could get something a great deal better than Bose for the same price.

Agreed in every particular, though even the noise-cancelling headphones are overpriced, good as they are at doing their job. That said, if one has money to burn, the Wave IV makes a very serviceable kitchen radio/CD player, and it can handle a pretty wide range of audio CODECs, including aac and FLAC. No DAB+ facility though, as far as I can see, so maybe not too future-proof. I also note that the specification mentions only an FM aerial input. No mention of an F-type connector for 50 Ohm DAB aerial input.

[richardfinegold]

The OP asks whether he would be better served if he had a versatile unit that played through speakers. That is an easy question to answer in the affirmative. Having a dedicated pair of speakers will always trump the sound coming from a one box unit.
, which regardless of advertising hype (which is what Bose really excels at) cannot produce a true separation of channels.

[Old Grumpy]

Thanks for all the replies so far - seem to be pretty unanimous! The system I was considering is this - nothing to do with TV.
I was concerned to ascertain whether I was being taken in by advertising hype - it seems that may be the case! I have been to Richer Sounds and there is a very nice combo for marginally more than the cost of the Bose, and yes, I did take in two CDs to listen to (one jazz, one classical).

OG

[pastoralguy]

I've had two pairs of BOSE noise cancelling headphones which a friend scoffed at until we flew back from Washington with a screaming baby behind us! Yes, they are expensive but are well made and durable although replacing the accessories is very expensive. (£45 for a case 10 years ago, iirc).

Interestingly, BOSE don't submit their equipment to the various consumer magazines for review so one has to take their equipment at face value. Have a look at the Amazon reviews since there are some rational opinions there.

[Old Grumpy]

Interestingly, BOSE don't submit their equipment to the various consumer magazines for review so one has to take their equipment at face value. Have a look at the Amazon reviews since there are some rational opinions there.

Yes, have done that. You can't even buy the system in a store - it has to be ordered from the company direct. You can allegedly have 30 day trial though, with no cost if you return the equipment within that time.

OG

[vinteuil]

.

... I inherited a (much older) Bose some years back : I've never liked it - to my ears the sound is relentlessly 'boomy', and you can't switch the radio from 'stereo' to 'mono', so when reception is poor you have to expect unacceptable fizz.


.

[Anastasius]

IMO Bose equipment is overpriced for the kind of sound it makes, apart from their noise-cancelling headphones. It's manufactured for people who rate appearance over sound quality. It's always better for a stereo system to have separate speakers unless there's really no space for them at all. If you went somewhere like Richer Sounds you could get something a great deal better than Bose for the same price.

+1

Remember the old adage

"No highs, no lows
It must be Bose"

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

IMO Bose equipment is overpriced for the kind of sound it makes, apart from their noise-cancelling headphones. It's manufactured for people who rate appearance over sound quality. It's always better for a stereo system to have separate speakers unless there's really no space for them at all. If you went somewhere like Richer Sounds you could get something a great deal better than Bose for the same price.

I agree completely. The headphones are great, but most other products are advertising spin.

[Alison]

Based on my experience there will be lots of boomy bass, an unhelpfully warm and rich sound. Not really ideal for classical enthusiasts.

[MrGongGong]

I agree completely. The headphones are great, but most other products are advertising spin.

I love the "waveguide" idea
made for people with very small heads who want to put them between the two speakers
and the elongated bog roll inside ..... aaah
Perfect for those who weren't paying attention in physics lessons at school

BUT the 802's were really good .... so how can folks get some things so right and others completely wrong?
It's like a certain English composer's choral music

[umslopogaas]

My local hifi guru, whose advice I respect, says that for anything Bose charges, he can provide a better item for the money. Perhaps Bose has a place when space is at a premium, but I believe you pay for it with inferior sound quality. Try Bose yes, but try other systems too before you hand over money.