8 out of 8 people found this review helpful.
Honest Opinion non-biased
Date of Review: Dec 23, 2002
The Bottom Line: The best advice I can give is, Buy the System and if you don't like it, take it back.
First of all I never considered buying a Bose product due to the cost untill my wife bought me the system for Christmas. I didn't know what to think at first but since there was a 30 Day return policy I thought what the heck lets give it a try.
Setting the Sytem up with the Pedestal took about 3 minutes and I started digging out numerous CD's from my collection. (I listen to everything, Country, R&B, Heavy Metal, 80's, Rock, Ambient, Pop...you name it I got it.)
After a few CD's I knew this baby was staying !
Here is what I found:
When I started with the Soundtracks from Braveheart and Titanic I felt as though I was in one of those epensive THX theaters, granted the Waveguide Music System does not have and Dolby Digital or Suround Sound etc...(which is what I was actually looking for) the sound was just amazing. It felt like I was surounded by Bagpipes Organs and Strings. It was fantastic.
Then I threw in some Jazz from Candy Dulfer and Kenny G along with some David Arkenstone and I was equally astouned. There was that feeling that notes where bouncing in the room ( don't know any other way to describe it).
As for the Saxophone Parts, I could have sworn Kenny G was in the room with me it was so lifelike,I could almost feel his breath, ..I did hear it.
I moved on to some Mary J Blige and the sound hear was just as great but this is where it gets complicated.
This System was not designed to be one of those Miami Style Lowride Pickup Truck with six 12 inch woofers in the bed of the truck so the bass although rich and deep was not as "thumping". Thank God because frankly I think it anoying after a while.
Now to the Heavy Metal:
Metallica's S&M was unbelievable the sound simply amazing, as was Fear Factory's Digimortal and Obsolete Albums.
when I got to some older Iron Maiden and Megadeath Albums the sound was not so great, but some of these albums (not the actual CD's) are more then 10 years old and I think the recording technique has changed a bit since then.
As for the Clasical or newer "instrument specific" music this system does wonders. I had put on the "Phanthom of the Opera" Soundtrack as well as some Richard Clayderman's Piano Solos and last but not least Bolero and the sound was amazing. No other way to dscribe it. It was like sitting in a Concert Hall.
Here is my take...:
If you want to listen to old screaming Thrash Metal or Rap where you want the whole neigborhood to expierience the sound of sneakers tumbling around in a dryer, go and get a CD player and some woofers.
But... If you want to listen to a variety of styles in lifelike fashion true in sound and as clear as I have ever heard them buy this system now.
I am sure you could probably put together a system that would equal or exceed the sound of this Waveguide system but it's gonna cost a lot more than $1,000.
I have read reviews on here and simply do not know where some of these people get there opinions. As a part time musician I know the sounds of instruments and the sound just like that on the waveguide system. I guess a lot depends on the quality of the CD you place in it.
As far as negatives, I only have one...
It only holds one CD, but you know what..you can hook a CD Changer up to it :)
