8 out of 8 people found this review helpful.
I listened to this unit in my home - This unit was not for me.
Date of Review: Mar 5, 2003
The Bottom Line: Definitetly not for all listeners. I do not feel that it sounds as grand as Bose claims.
I saw an infomercial for this product that offered a "no-hassle" 30-day trial. I figured that this would be the best way to audition the unit as I was hoping to setup a listening area in another room of my residence. I have had trivial experiences with Bose, and I felt that I had to listen to the unit rather than trust the name brand. To me, it seems that either a Bose system is very nice, or it is a waste of money. I tried my best to have an unbiased analysis of my appreciation of the Bose unit.
Bose claims that their mini-system will replace a conventional stereo setup. This marketing campaign continuously compares the small, sleek AcousticWave to a monstrosity of cones, woofers, and metal. While the AcousticWave is far superior to most mini-systems that I have heard, the unit itself is not meant to replace a mini system. To me, Bose wants people to believe in their product's ability to replicate what is done with a conventional pair of 3-way speakers; and it is based on this claim that I was interested in the AcousticWave. I was not so concerned with user controls and ergonomics. I felt that the quality of sound and music to be the factor that compelled me to invest in the AcousticWave.
My current music listening setup includes a Yamaha 795a receiver connected to two Paradigm Monitor 7 (conventional 3-way) main speakers. The CD player that I have is a Denon DCM-370. It was to this setup that I compared this Bose system. The price of the conventional equipment was purchased for a price that is comparable to that of the Bose AcousticWave.
First off, please note that I did not use any HDCDs for my testing. Also, I chose not to use the Bose sampler CD as I felt that the mixing would be biased towards the AcousticWave syetem's strengths. I have always been a fan of Loreena McKennitt and used her CD 'The Mask and the Mirror' as the first CD that I tested. If you are not familiar with any of McKennitt's works, she possesses a beautiful voice and mixes her intriguing lyrics with Celtic beats that are formed with a variety of classical and contemporary instruments. Her music usually is rather airy, with little bass.
I placed the Bose system in the location usually occupied by my center channel. Like all small systems, the Bose unit is amazingly simple to use and I was able to sit down and begin enjoying music. At first, I was impressed by the AcousticWave's ability to produce such room-filling sound from its small package. However, by track 2 (The Bonny Swans), I could tell that the unit seemed to have a slight problem with some sounds in McKennitt's vocal range. While the Bose unit produces sound that is much better than most boom box and small-integrated systems, it did not sound as incredible as Bose claims.
The sound produced by my Paradigm speakers is much more transparent and pleasant than the Bose. Compared to the Paradigms, the Bose unit lacked the fidelity and sheer beauty of McKennitt's voice. Her voice came across rather flat and lacking in definition when listened through the Bose. Many times, I felt that the instruments and her voice seemed to be produced separately. It is hard to describe with words, but the sound seemed to merge a rich texture with a coarse texture. The result was subtle but a big factor in my appreciation of the unit.
Upon closer inspection of the Bose AcousticWave, I could see why. It seems that it has conventional tweeters for highs, and it produces lower, instrumental sounds via the wave-guide system. I do not have any professional tools to gauge where exactly the crossover is, but I would venture a guess that it is within the higher portion of the human vocal range - maybe around 3000 Hz. These conventional speakers sound fine enough - if they were found in a low price unit. It seemed that Bose attempted to mask this shortfall with their rich sounding wave-system. While this does produce nice sound, it does not compare well to the sound produced by the Paradigms. Also, you cannot adjust any parameters (bass, treble, etc.) of the Bose unit. I did not know if the sound could be improved with an equalizer.
After a week of listening, I could not justify the purchase of the Bose Unit at its lofty price. While $1000 may seem like a drop in the bucket for some, I feel that I must get my money's worth if a unit is to cost as much as my current system. While this unit is much better than those bookshelf units offered by Aiwa, JVC, and the like, this unit tries to set itself apart by using its wave-guide feature as a superior artifact. To me, it does not deliver on its claim
I must admit, the Wave technology is intriguing and offers its own unique sound. Unfortunately, the unit does not sound any better than a time-tested 3-way speaker setup. If you simply want a compact unit that is easy to use and sounds pretty good, the Bose unit fits that bill. Many consumers may value it's small footprint and style. There is no utility granted by durability or outdoor weather tolerance. However, I believe that if I invest the same amount of money on the conventional receiver/amplifier speaker setup, the result will be able a higher level of sound quality and enjoyment.
