Apart from going to Argos and buying the one with the most buttons....

[Nick Armstrong]

That's a bit unfair. They make perfectly good public address loudspeakers for speech.

I'll concede that...

[MrGongGong]

That's a bit unfair. They make perfectly good public address loudspeakers for speech.

The 802's were fine in the 1980's 1990's (as long as you either had the sub or the eq unit) but the stuff the make now is atrocious and over priced (though not as much as the Partridge favourite B&O which are never to be confused with B&W or even P&O )

[Mr Pee]

The 802's were fine in the 1980's 1990's (as long as you either had the sub or the eq unit) but the stuff the make now is atrocious and over priced (though not as much as the Partridge favourite B&O which are never to be confused with B&W or even P&O )

Any excuse to put up an Alan Partridge clip:-

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tyZspqjtG2k

[Nick Armstrong]

Any excuse to put up an Alan Partridge clip:-

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tyZspqjtG2k

The laugh at B&O from the annoying fellow-guest is perfect.

The end of that clip has become 'iconic' among self and similarly-minded colleagues, re: what goes on when sharing lifts at the office with irritating co-workers. The exasperated expression, and the word 'unbelievable!', are often exchanged...

[Dave2002]

Oh yes! I meant to say that too.

The sound that Bose equipment of all sorts puts out (inc headphones) seems to my ears to have the sort of thick, over-inflated, congested artificially boosted bass that I really hate. It's a personal thing no doubt, but I really would steer clear... it's bad for your ears!!!

Actually the sound from one of their iPod docks - supposedly portable - surprised me - rather good, but heck vastly overpriced. You could get a proper stereo system for not much more. Sound quality - maybe 3.5 stars (out of 5) depending what you compare with, rip-off factor about 10 stars (again out of 5)!

[Beef Oven]

One thing to add is

Bose .......... don't go there

Their iPod docking stations are amazing and I love my noise-cancelling headphones, although the bass is not as tight and dry as it ought to be - on balance, I can live with that.

[MrGongGong]

Their iPod docking stations are amazing and I love my noise-cancelling headphones, although the bass is not as tight and dry as it ought to be - on balance, I can live with that.

Too coloured to my ears and hideously overpriced IMV

[Beef Oven]

Too coloured to my ears and hideously overpriced IMV

No racist comments please, I accept your point about price though.

[MickyD]

I was given a Bose Lifestyle player from a friend in the States - within a year it has developed a nasty humming noise and frequently has problems ejecting the CD. Anyone else had problems with one? I was surprised, bearing in mind the huge publicity they are given.

[Don Petter]

I was given a Bose Lifestyle player from a friend in the States - within a year it has developed a nasty humming noise and frequently has problems ejecting the CD. Anyone else had problems with one? I was surprised, bearing in mind the huge publicity they are given.

A family member (non-technical) has one of those much hyped radio/CD models, and I note that for some time CDs have only played about two-thirds through then stopped.

[MickyD]

A family member (non-technical) has one of those much hyped radio/CD models, and I note that for some time CDs have only played about two-thirds through then stopped.

Interesting! I thought it might be something to do with the fact of using an adaptor for French electrical current, but the Bose dealer in the USA assured my friend it would work well in Europe with an adaptor.

[MrGongGong]

It sounds like you are running a 120v (60hz) model on European mains which is 230v (50hz) which without the right transformer is definitely NOT recommended at all .........

[PhilipT]

It sounds like you are running a 120v (60hz) model on European mains which is 230v (50hz) which without the right transformer is definitely NOT recommended at all .........

Not recommended by you, MrGG. Bose may differ. Take a look at this link and search down for 'voltage'.

There may be a switch to change between the two, but it's possible there may not. When I was an undergraduate there was an oscilloscope in the electronics lab with an over-engineered switch-mode power supply. You could put it on a Variac and turn down to 90 V and it still worked fine.

[MickyD]

I am using the transformer recommended by Bose, so presumably I am doing the right thing.

[Tony Halstead]

I was given a Bose Lifestyle player from a friend in the States - within a year it has developed a nasty humming noise

Does anyone know, are 'Bose' and 'Roland' related?
My otherwise excellent Roland piano has developed a nasty humming noise with a definite pitch, sounding a low A flat an octave and a third below middle C. Even nastier, it sounds that note at 'classical' pitch ( A 430).