Wavin' Hello and Glad To Meet Ya

I purchased my Bose Acoustic Wave® music system ll Theater System last year and have been more than satisfied with it. If you decide to buy one you will be put off by what seems to be a very high price for "something so small". You'll have to think of it as something that will be with you for years and if you amortize it on that basis then it will be easier to accept. Bose does allow you to pay it off in 12 equal installments without interest which is a good marketing ploy and one we grasped at like a drowning victim. Why pay it off immediately when your money can work for you and you are not paying any interest on the debt?

We have more than one Bose system and all have perpetuated the name and good reputation of quality. This system already has given us hours of enjoyment as we have used it for several types of music, easily relocated it in more than one place inside and outside the home for more enjoyment, and we have learned to appreciate the finer nuances of the system and music. That's saying a lot for someone who is tone deaf.

In regard to moving it around, it weighs about fourteen pounds and is not difficult to pick up by its two recessed areas on the sides. We have moved it to about every room in less than a minute, and my favorite is to bring it outside in good weather. The only thing that hinders me is the distance I can be from an outside all weather outlet, but whether I am sitting on the patio or working at the back fence line, the sound is crisp and clear. The most I have cranked it up to is about 75% of the maximum volume when outside. I would probably get a complaint from a neighbor if I went higher but it is still enjoyable to be about 50 feet from it and hear every note played as if I'm sitting near it.

Now, there are two things you should be aware of if you do not own a Bose. First, those who own other systems (regardless of price) claim that a Bosephile is blind to other options, overpays for what is obtained, and wouldn't know the difference if a "superior" product bit him on the ear. Second, is that a Bose owner more than likely got their first system from Bose and either fears changing because they believe that they might not get the same quality, or that they would not know the difference if they bought a better or worse system.

Both criticisms very well could be true. My first system was a huge Bose set up that I got in 1977 and was the supposed standard to meet at the time. That system is still in use in my wife's reading room although I still maintain that it should go to a thrift shop because of the space it takes even though the sound quality is acceptable. Obviously, it might have been great 30 years ago but it's an antique considering what is on the market today. It does show, however, that reliability and durability cannot be doubted.

As best as I can recall, my first system cost about $500 then but we saw it as a "lifetime purchase" that could be prorated over the years in order to ease our minds about such a hefty expenditure. Perhaps that is what allowed us to buy this system for $1079. There are fewer vices to indulge in when you get older so why not spend some of it on entertainment if it can be fit into the budget.

Before I mention the positives, I bring up the ONE NEGATIVE that I have found with all Bose systems. They come with a remote control that would be about the size of a very thick credit card. It is easier to lose it or misplace it. Since I have enough to do, I immediately learned to get some velcro and stick it to anything that is a bit larger and much thicker. I had a pocket calculator in a case that flips open so that is where the remote now rests. The only other thing that I could suggest to Bose about the remote (it is how they do all their music systems' remotes including the clock radio) is to put a page finder on the unit to locate the remote with a beep or chirp.

Now for THE GOOD STUFF:

---It comes in grey or white and the curved or "wave" design is esthetically pleasing.
---You get precise audio reproduction from CDs, MP3 discs and FM/AM radio stations (6 AM and 6 FM pre-sets available). We also have an XM subscription and when it is plugged into a home outlet the XM hookup on the set station will give us all the XM choices.
---The lifelike sounds in large spaces at higher volumes is due to what Bose calls its Waveguide and digital technology processing.
---You have connections for two systems like your TV and iPod.
---A jack for headphones.
---The display on the unit will show the program source, track, title, and artist for MP3 CDs.
---Besides the $299 CD changer you can also purchase the travel case ($149.95), power pack ($149.95), and connect kit for iPod ($129). By the way, with the CD changer you can load six CDs or MP3 discs by putting one into the Acoustic Wave® system ll plus five more into the optional CD changer.
---A choice of three different remote controls
---Optional power protector to eliminate power surges that may damage the system.

Since I'm not a techy or an audiophile it wouldn't do much good for me to regurgitate the specs for you since I can't comment on them. You can analyze it for yourself though because even if you just want to "give it a try", you can't go wrong with a 30-day no risk return policy.