In many ways Amar Bose can be considered to be the father of small speaker technology. I wonder if anyone really gave "imaging" a thought before Bose introduced its flagship model 901 speaker system in 1968. Nobody had ever heard small speakers sounding that awesome! Again, in the 80's when Bose introduced its first Acoustimass Systems that consisted of a couple of cubes and a compact bass module, the company managed to work their magic by offering great sound at a reasonable price while boasting a stereo speaker system that could actually make itself disappear both visually and sonically.
But time has not been kind to the Acoustimass Systems as more than a few manufacturers have not only surpassed the overall sound quality of such systems but have done so at price levels unfamiliar to Bose. While one or two of said AM systems offer a decent dollar performance, most of the others DO NOT. The technology may very well be amazing but the benevolence of the manufacturer IS NOT. Bose offers some great value in their 901, 301 and 201 systems but some of the others are seriously lagging in this department!
I have been fortunate over the many years I've enjoyed this hobby to experience different unique design philosophies from various manufacturers both in my homes and friends' while also enduring some interesting auditions at various hi-fi shops. This is in large part due to the wonderful hospitality of not only local friends but also to the wonderful people here at
EPINIONS who by their beautiful comments and Emails have turned me on to products I otherwise would not have been inclined to checkout...including speaker systems!
Over the past three or four years I have made it a point to audition the Bose line as I have loved this co. for a long long time now. Fortunately, I am happy to report that the co. still knows how to create speaker systems at reasonable prices offering excellent value at their respective price points. However, having said this ... sadly, there are more than a few systems by the manufacturer that in no way reflect {Sorry...had to get that in!} an effort by Bose to offer people...performance for their hard earned dollars at other price points. I decided to hold off on these negative reports for the most part but after I auditioned the product for review here...
The Bose Acoustimass 16 Home Entertainment Speaker System and was thrilled only until I took a gander at the outrageous price tag...well I just have to say my piece!
From The Manufacturer's Own Mouth:
"Surround yourself with riveting movie sound and superb musical performances with our best 6.1-channel home entertainment speaker system. The Acoustimass® 16 speaker system pairs with your 6.1-channel components to place you in the middle of the action-without bulky equipment overpowering your décor."
System Specs:
Drivers {2} 2 1/2" Twiddlers per cube
{3} 5 1/4" woofers {Acoustimass Bass Module}
Bass Module Power Rating None
Cube speakers • 6 1/4"H x 3"W x 4"D • (15.7 x 7.8 x 10.2 cm) • 2 2/5 lbs. (1.1 kg)
Acoustimass module • 16 1/3"H x 8 1/8"W x 29 1/8"D • (41.5 x 20.7 x 74 cm) • 45 lbs. (20.5 kg)
Compatible with receivers or amplifiers of 8 ohm impedances
Power Handling 200 watts
Total shipping weight • 75 lbs. (34 kg)
Cube Wall Mounts optional
Features
Direct/Reflecting Speaker Technology
Virtually Invisible Speaker Design
Acoustimass Speaker Technology combined with integrated Signal Processing
Magnetically shielded cube speaker arays
Automatic system ptotection circuitry
Syncom computer quality control
Finish Black, Silver or White
Break-in Period
It is extremely important to follow "Break-In Period" rules when first hooking up your newly purchased speakers. Use moderate listening levels for the first two months as this practice will render best long term results from your Bose. The drivers will properly seat themselves. This will also give the transducers time to flex their muscles a bit for proper development!
Following the well written sixteen page
Owners Manual should not be too difficult for the average user but may prove tedious to the uninitiated. Take your time and do it right. The manual also applies to the AM-15 Series II System which is identical except it lacks the extra cube needed for a 6.1 setup. My comments for the AM-15 system are basically the same. Apparently Bose feels that this extra cube is worth the $200 price difference between the two systems. I personally have some very serious reservations about that!
The supplied cabling should prove excellent for most applications but do note that it is of the computer ribbon style. This fact may or may not be attractive to certain audiophiles and users. The zip cord can be separated as much as necessary to accomplish a neat installation. After the basic installation is complete, be sure to set the
Bass Module's LFE Control to an appropriate level.
Listening Tests:
When hooked up to an Onkyo TR-SX601 HT Receiver this system is going to give you thrills and spills from your music and video library like many of you have never experienced! But the informed consumer knows better! There are certain deficiencies or trade-offs if you will with the Bose AM Systems in general that are excusable in the entry models but not with this higher priced wallet-sucking model. Although the
highs seem extended, upon further investigation one will find that they are just a tad pronounced in the 12KHz range and really do not extend beyond 18KHz.
Still, the system is extremely well balanced but for its asking price it needs to accomplish more!
Accuracy of musical timbre is good...not great. There seems to me to be too many dips and peaks in the overall
Frequency Response that is not characteristic of first-rate sound reproduction. The overall sound quality is quite pleasing but could be oh so much better for the asking price!
Yes, percussive sounds will be reproduced with some impressiveness but by enlarge will lack proper weight. The
bass is clean and tight but while reaching into the 50Hz area it tends to waver around 80Hz to 150HZ.
Midbass is so characteristically smooth and powerful but lacks the ability to present subtle changes in tone for kick drums or string basses. Yet the
Soundstaging can be awesome depending on how well one sets up the twisty cubes. The inter-action between the Front, Center and Rear cubes is stable but I've heard better. Yes, the system does have the ability to shake your house but others do it so much better! The Bose is robust, however and should last you a lifetime but DO NOT induce amplifier clipping which can kill any speaker system regardless of its
Power Rating.
Movies like "Fantasia 2000", "The Perfect Storm", "Twister" and "Jurassic Park" will indeed thrill you and admittedly there is a consumer need for small
Home Theater Systems that are onubtrusive but the Polk RM systems exceed the Bose's performance level for about half the money. There are frequencies reproduced with the Polks that ARE NOT present with the Bose. The BIC America Systems equal or better Bose's for 1/5 the price! Inspired by founding father...the late and great Henry Kloss...I have been informed by many that Cambridge Soundworks home theater systems perform admirably well for less money than the Bose. Although I have yet to hear this particular system as it is available only through the manufacturer...I have no doubt judging by Kloss's numerous previous endeavors that they too must be wonderful!
It is true that Bose has answered the call for ht systems that need to be heard and not seen but for a considerably less sum of money, Polk has answered the call so much better! As a matter of fact, for those that do not mind having the speakers out in the open a bit...five Polk RM-30 towers with an appropriate Polk center and sub would be astounding in performance and still manage considerable savings in contrast to the Bose!
For your $1500 you do not even receive the wall mounts which are optional and that I find to be way out of line as is the system's asking price. For $100 less you could own the top-of-the-line 901 Series VI in just a "stereo" 2.1 configuration and still have a far better sounding system! To each his own...but this is just one humble servant's opinion...nothing more...nothing less. God bless!
Please see my review on the Polk RM Systems...
http://www.epinions.com/content_101109173892?alert_type=0&comments=1&ratings=1&submit=Submit
Axiom...
http://www.epinions.com/content_178183966340
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