Why Bose Speakers Are Overpriced 1 (The Lifestyle 48)
Check out my other video about the Lifestyle 48. It shows an example of a small speaker system that costs about the same as the Lifestyle 48, and sounds much better. That videos description also has information about this systems remote, which I suggest reading.
Anyway, This video shows an example of a big speaker system that you can get for the price of the $4000 Bose Lifestyle 48, and blows the LS48 away.
It is truly amazing how this system shows how overpriced the Lifestyle 48. How on earth can those 4 in. tall Jewel Cubes be worth the same as these bigger speakers, especially when Bose uses some of the cheapest materials out there? Sure, Bose claims their systems are equal to big speakers, yet as mentioned in the video, the Acoustimass module, which is what they say does this, is designed very poorly.
Beginning at 7:44, theres a slideshow that simply shows all of the systems main components. Sorry if it seems a little boring. But, at 8:16, theres a picture that shows all of the systems main components together. This system has just as many essential components the Lifestyle 48 has. The LS48 has 5 speakers, 1 Acoustimass module, the media center, a VS-2 Video Enhancer, and the remote; 9 components total. This system has 5 speakers, 1 subwoofer, the A/V receiver, a Blu-Ray player, and the remote; also 9 components. So much for the Lifestyle 48 having fewer components than a component system.
Anyway, here are a few major flaws with the Lifestyle 48 (and Boses systems in general). Some of them are also listed in my other Lifestyle 48s Worst Nightmare video.
-The Lifestyle 48 has a regular progressive-scan DVD player. Unless you have a very, very high end DVD player (which cost over $4000 themselves), that can up-convert a regular DVD to the point it rivals Blu-Ray (and dont even begin to think the Lifestyle 48 can do this), there is no excuse a $4000 surround system shouldn’t come with a Blu-Ray player. Furthermore, I was told by some Bose salespeople that they do not see their systems coming with built-in Blu-Ray players in the foreseeable future. WTF?
-The Lifestyle 48 has 5.1 surround sound. Even most of the least expensive A/V receivers on the market (about $300-$400) have 7.1 or 6.1 surround sound. Yes, most movies right now have only a 5.1 soundtrack, but these receivers with 6.1 or 7.1 have Dolby Pro-Logic IIx and DTS: Neo 6, which converts a 5.1 (and even a stereo) soundtrack into 6.1 or 7.1 surround sound (whatever the receiver has).
- The LS48 has the AdaptiQ sound calibration system. I talked to one of the salesmen at this dealer, and he said the AdaptiQ is kind of flawed in that it uses two microphones. The downside to this is that one microphone on the AdaptiQs headset will most likely be closer to the speaker when its calibrating, which also would give a less accurate measurement. On the other hand, a single microphone calibration device, like all Yamaha receivers have (Yamaha’s calibration system is called YPAO), most likely takes a more accurate measurement because it only has one microphone, so theres no difference in build quality and microphone position. But even then, the system in this video surpasses the Lifestyle 48’s performance so much that no amount of equalization would help the LS48 come close to being equal to its performance. Even a calibrated LS48 put against this system without itself being calibrated would not come close to being equal to it. You can only equalize a speaker system so much.
Anyway, if you’re considering buying the Lifestyle 48, or if you think Bose is “the best” or “really good,” think again and go listen to something like this.
Also, as mentioned near the end of the video, the total price of the system shown is about $3800. But, if you are willing to pay $4000, you could get either the Paradigm CC-290 center channel, which is $200 more (if you’re a movie buff, I would suggest this). If you like listening music more than watching movies, going with Paradigms Monitor 9s would be what I suggest, which are bigger than the Monitor 7s. But, I think the best thing would be to spend another $500 (which includes the $100 iPod dock) to get a Yamaha RX-V1065 A/V receiver ($900), making the system about $4300 (You could also get two more ADP-190 surrounds, also making this system $4300). Also, if you have the money and are willing to spend it, getting a JL Audio f110 Fathom subwoofer would make this system almost exactly $5500 (and would sound incredible). But, if you don’t want to spend that much, but want to spend more, getting a Paradigm Seismic-10 sub, which is about $700 less than the Fathom, would also be awesome.
I’d like to note that I do not work for or endorse any of these company’s products.
Duration : 0:8:33
Comments
I understand people …
I understand people want small speakers. That’s why I have another video about the Lifestyle 48 called “Bose Lifestyle 48’s Worst Nightmare: A System With Small Speakers for the Same Price ” (I’m really trying to figure out a better name; it’s very vague). It shows a small speaker surround system that costs the same as the Lifestyle 48, that’s much, much better (especially that system’s subwooofer).
Most people bye …
Most people bye bose is because either there wife doesn’t want big speakers in the way or want there space to look decent. another reason small speakers are popular. if you have room or a wife doesn’t care then get big speakers. this guy must be single.
BOSE=”No Highs-No …
BOSE=”No Highs-No Lows” …….Dated/overpriced/ugly(this is subjective of course)/horrible image/colored sound/terrible mids/very cheap materials/no clean bass to speak of……..BOSE= “Better Sound thru Research”?…..no…BOSE=”Better Sound thru Marketing”LOL:)
Anyway, it has been …
Anyway, it has been accepted in the area of home audio, by experts, that Bose makes overpriced low-quality products that use out of date electronics and materials, and are sold through clever marketing that is full of empty promises. If an audio enthusiast read your comment, they’d think you’re an ass-over-teakettle fool.
I’d like to see you set up the speaker system that’s in the video to your receiver, and then do a blind test between it and your Bose system. THEN we’ll see who’s crying.
(cont’d from driver …
(cont’d from driver)
…., which are better materials and make my speakers MUCH more dynamic than your cubes, which only have 2 2.5 in. paper drivers (VERY cheap material for a driver). As for your 701s, those may be a bit better than my Paradigm Atom Monitors just because they’d be louder because they’re bigger. BUT, they also have paper drivers, while my Atoms have a metal tweeter and plastic mid-bass, so they for sure have better-made drivers.
Oh yeah, the only …
Oh yeah, the only thing you probably have over me is that receiver. I know for certain my Paradigm PDR-10 subwoofer plays lower than your Acoustimass module, plays tighter, and doesn’t produce sounds that should only come from the speakers (such as dialogue); not some box sitting on the floor. My Paradigm Cinema center and surrounds I know for sure are already better speakers physically than your Bose cubes. Mine have a metal dome tweeters and a mid-bass driver….(cont’d)
And, I did not …
And, I did not include a power conditioner because a Bose Lifestyle 48 does not come with one. That would end up being a (highly recommended) accessory.
Don’t think I don’t know my stuff.
As for …
As for interconnects, I figured about 150 ft. of speaker wire @ $.50/ft., plus a $40 IXOS studio 3 meter-long subwoofer cable. And, while I’m still skeptical about this (I got a REALLY cheap HDMI cable, and I’m going to compare it to a $165 IXOS Overture HDMI cable in a blind test, to see if there really is a different), I included a $100 IXOS Studio HDMI cable in this system’s price. So yes, I included the price of interconnects.
The dealer I go to, …
The dealer I go to, one of 4 Paradigm dealers in the Northwest US, had a $1500-$2000 (can’t remember the exact price) receiver, and it was feeding a $3700 JL Audio f113 Fathom, and a 7-speaker Paradigm Studio system, which was about $5000 combined. So, I don’t see a problem in connecting a a more expensive sub to a less expensive receiver. It’s going to be better than a Bose system no matter what.
Where did you learn …
Where did you learn how to pair up audio gear? There is no balance there. Your putting more money into the sub than the power source? What about interconnects (another important component), what about a power management component?
The only people …
The only people that “prove” Bose is the best in the world are people who’ve never gotten out of Wall Mart, want nothing but a “prestigious” “name,”, or Bose’s marketing itself. REAL audio enthusiasts know Bose’s products are overpriced and out of date, and are sold through clever marketing. How do you explain a $4000, or even a $2000 system, not having a Blu-Ray player, no HDMI inputs, and no 7.1 surround sound? And, for the same price, your ability to get something like what’s in the video?
Bose is the best …
Bose is the best speakers in the world, and that have been proofed 20 times.
But if you want really expensive speakers,
Cost more than 15.000 Euro Bang & olufsen.
But Bose is the best anyway the price doesn’t matter.
And, did it ever …
And, did it ever occur to you that the system in this video costs THE SAME as the Lifestyle 48? In other words, you’d have to be able to afford a Lifestyle 48 ($4000) in order to buy this system. Now, if I’m hating on Bose because I can’t afford it, then why am I pushing systems that cost the same as Bose systems? And, why is it my dream to own a Wilson Audio/JL Audio/Classe/Meridian surround system, which would be about $250,000?
And, look up the first 7 definitions of Bose on Urbandictionary.
Also, have you ever …
Also, have you ever heard of Wilson Audio? Classe? Audio Research. I heard a simple two-channel system with a pair of Wilson Audio WATT/Puppies with Audio Research electronics. The whole setup was worth about $60,000. The speakers alone were $25,000. And they sounded AWESOME.
BTW, the 701s are no longer made. And, the RXV-3300 is also outdated. Just pointing that out.
And, I’m putting a video of my system on soon. It costs as much as a Bose Lifestyle 28/V20.
Bose is not the …
Bose is not the only company out there that makes expensive speakers. In this video, which shows a system that costs the same as the Lifestyle 48 ($4000), it shows Paradigm’s BUDGET line. A similar Paradigm Studio series system, with a JL Audio f113 Fathom subwoofer, and an Anthem PVA7 amp, with an AVM50 processor, would be about $20,000. The highest-end system Paradigm, JL Audio, and Anthem could hook you up with would be about $60,000. Wanna compare these with your system?
Well, I think you …
Well, I think you are a complelte and utter douchebag Colonel LaserFag, you probably have no money, hence your hating on Bose. I strongly reccomend that you actualy buy something and demonstrate it, instead of crying like a baby. I would love to compare your junk to mine… Yamaha RXV-3300 with Bose 701 Series 2 along with an Acoustimass 10 Series 4 setup in 7.1 (yes my receiever can also support 8.1 audio. learn about audio and setups cause you sound like a fag.
Oh hey, go look up …
Oh hey, go look up the first 7 definitions of “Bose” on Urbandictionary.
Dude, I will say …
Dude, I will say demonicBerith is an idiot about what he thinks he knows about A/V equipment (notice how he didn’t respond to me), but my hometown high school has a very good wrestling program. They have state champions almost every year. And let me tell you, especially the lower-weight classes, train insanely hard to keep their weight down. They’d have like only an apple for lunch. They also run like 25 laps around the school every day for practice. It’s tougher than it looks for sure.
Oh BTW, my system …
Oh BTW, my system cost the same as a Lifestyle 28 or V20 ($2000). That’s not too hard to save up, even with a burger-flipping job. In fact, Bose, in the grand scheme of things, isn’t even expensive. My $2000 system, and the system in this video, features Paradigm’s BUDGET line. A 5.1 system featuring the next level up’s cheapest speakers would be $3000, and that doesn’t include a subwoofer or an amp.
If buying something really expensive was your goal, you could have done better.
What Bose system is …
What Bose system is it?
I think this …
I think this falkenlaser onced worked for Bose then got fired and now has become against the product, I have a Bose system and I don’t have 1 compaint about it it sounds amazing, and it’s not over priced either… Well not for most people, unless your flipping burgers
whatever i …
whatever i wish i knew who you were and what you looked like so i could identify your if i ever came across you to hear you say that in my face you queen of dicks
@demonicBerith do …
@demonicBerith do your self u stupid little , Wrestling is not even a sport , its a show of stupid pretending to Wrestle, so stfu u fat ,
Wrestling is …
Wrestling is actually a very difficult sport and isnt gay. Football players where singlets too but you don’t see them because of the gay unnecessary Armour they have over them. so go your un athletic loser
lol u sad stupid …
lol u sad stupid ,go wrestling a guy and let him teabag u , u are clearly a moron ,
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