Thread: Amar Bose has died

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Post by Polarius T July 15, 2013 (11 of 32)
hiredfox said:

...Bang & Olufsen the other complicit half of the campaign against real sound.

That sounds like you know nothing about, for example, their BeoLab 5 speakers, which are some of the more innovative, ambitious, and indeed interesting contributions to audio reproduction. "A masterpiece in sound, as well as in electroacoustic theory" (Audio Critic). Self-calibrating active semi-omnis in three words, with more features than would fit on an entire page here. Real landmark pieces in hi-fi in any case, and I'm not talking about their looks.

Kanye West listens to them at home... :-) (Disclaimer: I didn't take that photo of him and his.)

Post by hiredfox July 15, 2013 (12 of 32)
Polarius T said:

That sounds like you know nothing about their BeoLab 5 speakers

Absolutely nothing!

Post by Polarius T July 15, 2013 (13 of 32)
hiredfox said:

Absolutely nothing!

Here's for starters: http://theaudiocritic.com/plog/index.php?op=ViewArticle&articleId=34&blogId=1

:-)

Post by The Seventh Taylor July 16, 2013 (14 of 32)
rammiepie said:

BOSE products were hardly ever offered at a discount and IMO, were mass produced garbage for the masses. But the brand name was tatooed on the brains of those masses and consequently garnered a veritable fortune for the company that bore its name.

Two signs Bose did admirably good marketing.

Post by rammiepie July 16, 2013 (15 of 32)
The Seventh Taylor said:

Two signs Bose did admirably good marketing.

Would the same be said for Sony's SACD launch, we'd be swimming in product!

I read an article a few years back in which an audio technician dissected a Bose Soundwave system and was shocked that it contained chintzy guts and a paper coned speaker (of the very basic variety). And yet its compact size and "sleight of ear" sound captivated millions into believing it was way more than (literally) the sum of its parts!

And of course the discount offered was FREE shipping. How big of them.

Post by Fitzcaraldo215 July 17, 2013 (16 of 32)
I guess those who need to feel superior can have a field day attacking Bose, or B&O, for that matter. And, as I see as is typical, those attacks are done entirely without any listening experience whatsoever. But, whatever you might think of their sound, both companies have been quite successful identifying a market and providing products that appealed to many as a simple package you could take home, plug in, and it sounded pretty decent. As I said before, it is not high end. But, not everyone wants or needs or even cares what high end sound is. In reality, most people simply don't know and don't care. They are not audiophiles like us wackos, who represent a distinct minority niche.

You can criticize paper cones, though a number of legitimate high end speakers also use them. You can look down your nose at them , as you might at Chevvies or Fords, because they do have mass appeal. And, their marketing to the masses was rather brilliant and highly successful. As I see it, though I have never used them in my main system for critical listening, unsophisticated buyers could have done much worse, as there is far worse on the market, in some cases, even at higher prices.

Criticizing them for being successful and for not being something other than what they are and were designed to be is nuts.

Post by pgmdir July 17, 2013 (17 of 32)
Fitzcaraldo215 said:

Criticizing them for being successful and for not being something other than what they are and were designed to be is nuts.

My experience with Bose goes back to the late 60's when their speakers were marketed as being top quality. And, as I've written, I still use B&O speakers I've had for over 30 years-- for movies and some music listening. I think most of us have acknowledged Bose as being a master marketer and for making products which appealed to the masses. While I have never liked his products personally, I am thankful that his marketing at last got lots of people interested in better audio. I really don't believe that any of us was kicking a dead man.

Post by Tehillim July 17, 2013 (18 of 32)
pgmdir said:
I am thankful that his marketing at last got lots of people interested in better audio.

That's the bottom line.

I lived as a young audio enthusiast through the Hi-Fi boom of 1970's overseas and back here in the States. Back then Bose 901's with the plethora of small drivers married to those 2001 Space Odyssey looking stands stirred much interest on our US shores. Most stateside Hi-Fi shoppers weren't aware of Quad, but they were aware of Bose. I along with most capitalists appreciate a manufacturer who raises the tide-of-interest for all ships. These days Bose QC15 is IME the most effective over-the-ear can for noise-cancelling, and if you like me, are stuck in a noisy neighborhood the QC15's are a godsend. While Bose transducers are not the critical listeners choice, they have their niche market segment and have been profitable within that realm.

Post by hiredfox July 17, 2013 (19 of 32)
Fitzcaraldo215 said:

I guess those who need to feel superior can have a field day attacking Bose, or B&O, for that matter. And, as I see as is typical, those attacks are done entirely without any listening experience whatsoever.

You cannot be serious, who can have failed to hear Bose and B & O they're in your face everywhere you go.

Post by Bobpaule July 17, 2013 (20 of 32)
hiredfox said:

You said it buddy, Bang & Olufsen the other complicit half of the campaign against real sound. Alas, they too outsell all our respected Hi Fi brands by (maybe) 10:1?

What BOSE is in the USA, B&O is in Europe,
both infommercial products with average performance.

Fitzcaraldo215, the sound in my B8 S4 is average, the radio
is Panasonic BTW. I don't care cuz 4.9s stock with 3 pedals
on the floor on rear biased AWD make it fun.

Hope to swap wife's Odyssey (atrocious sound)
for a giant 2014 Land Rover with Mark Levinson:)

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