Horrific Confession and Question

I would guess from some of the "True Confessions" above that for casual listening, which is what most people do, it isn't so important what you listen through so long as you are enjoying the music. So far as the Bose products go, I for one don't understand the animosity by Audiophiles against them. Maybe a little resentment that most people don’t acknowledge or care as much as we do at the well reproduced audio our systems make albeit at great expense? I would hope that other manufacturers of high-end gear might learn from their marketing methods. Funny thing is that I recently stopped in one of their retail "Showrooms" and they did a very credible presentation in a really well set-up small theater. They had blankets covering their jewel speakers and the subwoofer and the sound for home theater wasn't bad and would be satisfactory for my home theater listening which isn't near as critical as music to me. The presentation was quite theatrical itself. The young enthusiastic salesman (most high end dealers would benefit from having someone as good as he was) did a well choreographed point and gesture as the music was playing and finally, OLA, he swished the blankets off to reveal the tiny jewel speakers to the ooohs and ahhhhs by the 8 people listening to the demo with me. I was laughing inside and knew it was more the well set-up room than the system. Where the young salesman lost me (little did he know) was when he told me how Bose puts their profits back in R&D. I laughed out loud, couldn't help it. He asked me what was so funny but I didn't have the heart to burst his bubble so I told him how impressed I was but the price (3,700) for the system was a bit more than I was willing to pay right then. I would have to talk it over with my wife.

One reason many audiophiles bash Bose, I suspect, may be that one time or another they got burned by Bose -- I have. I had to work my tails off during the summer and save like Scrouge to afford (an amplifier and) a Bose satellite system about ten years ago which was almost 1K at the time (I know, I know). After a year of horrific experience with them, I finally found the light and realized what a rip-off they were. It was not really the sounding bad or missing frequency factor that got me. Rather, the rip-off part that leaves a long lasting impression. Ever since then, I have become a Bose basher. :) With regards to the enjoyable Bose at Tower Records, I too like what I hear. I second the opinion that it may be because of the multiple speaker setting. Multi-speakers, when placed right, can make ambient sound that is very impressive and pleasing for casual listening. At the same time, I suspect it has something to do with the joy of music shopping. Like going to some bad sounding concerts or live. Most good concerts do outshine any system by gazillion times. But, regardless of sound being natural or otherwise, some lives sound quite bad. Neverthelss, it is still more enjoyable for me to listen to a quartet, solos, or guitar riffs in live than from my audio. I think the occasion of going and being in a live concert adds dimesions that not only compensate for bad acoutic, screetching guitar, dry violin, etc., but also turn what could be a disastrous experience into a very enjoyable one. Well, nothing can cure the overamplified sound in a small bar, though...

When listening to radio, mostly as background, I prefer the "5 channel stereo" mode of my Denon AVR-5700. Although accurate imaging is lost I get a more pleasing ambience. This helps me to concentrate on something other than the sound of my stereo. When something interesting attracts my attention I will switch to stereo. I have also noticed that the 5 channel set up works well at low volumes for ambient party music.

Bose sells alot of product and while it may not be the absolute best performing, nor even a particularly good value, Bose is a popular choice for many people. I also believe it is an appropriate choice for most of the consumers who purchase them. As I see it there are two types of audio consumers in this world -- those who buy 18" x 15" x 30" 150 lb. monobloc amps attached by short lengths of $5,000 cables suspended above the floor to coffin sized speakers and those who buyers who want something that "sounds good", doesn't take up too much space and looks nice. I don't believe either group can lay claim to loving or enjoying music more than the other. If we audiophile want the average listener to respect our choices, then we must do them the honor by respecting theirs.

Go with your gut. Personally I don't care for Bose. My best advise is, if you can't here the difference then don't buy it. What does your main system consist of? Will it integrate with bose?