Why Bose Speakers are Overpriced II (The V20 and Lifestyle 28)
Correction on the Playstation 3:
The PS3 CAN be connected digitally for video via a component video cable (the red, green, and blue connectors). However, its capabilities will still be limited compared to an HDMI cable’s capabilities. While component video (and HDMI) will upscale PS3 and PS1 games to 1080p, you have to use HDMI to upconvert Blu-Ray discs or regular DVDs to 1080p. If you do use component video, you also have to use a digital audio cable, too (either an optical TOSLINK cable [which the PS3 has] or a composite audio cable). And, just like the component video cable has limited capabilities, these cables do, too; they can’t transport Dolby True HD or DTS-HD Master Audio, which are what Blu-Ray disc’s sound is coded in. Not only that, Bose protests against have “a ton of cables to deal with.” Well, if they held to this, they would have designed their systems with more HDMI inputs, since with out them, unless you go analogue, you have to use two cables. So much for having less cables….
As mentioned in the video, the Logitech Harmony remote has a special adapter that lets you use it with a Playstation 3. Bose’s remote cannot do this. Therefore, if you have a V20, and you’re going to use a Playstation 3 as your Blu-Ray player, you’re going to have to end up using both the V20 remote and PS3 remote, which defeats the purpose of having a multi-brand remote. And, while I’m not sure about this, I wonder if the V20’s remote can control a Blu-Ray disc’s features, such as the pop-up menu (which lets you access the DVD menu while watching it). Nevertheless, I know for sure the Logitech Harmony remote lets you control everything, including the eject button. Also, as an aside, when you “select” what you want to do from the touchscreen menu (it has options like “Watch Satellite” or
“Watch a DVD” instead of asking what components you want to turn on), you then point it at your entertainment system, and it’ll turn on everything you need to do for that activity, and set those component’s settings. My family owns one, and they are VERY nice.
Something on the Lifestyle 28:
The Bose Lifestyle 28 is basically the same as the V20. It has the same speakers, costs the same, but comes with its own DVD player. Now, you may be thinking that if you don’t want a Blu-Ray player, then this would be the better deal since if you bought the V20, you’d have to end up spending about $300 extra for the Blu-Ray player. With the LS28, it comes with its own DVD player, and is exactly $2000, so you don’t have to spend extra.
But, there’s a HUGE snag to this.
The Lifestyle 28 does NOT come with ANY HDMI inputs by itself. If you want HDMI inputs (which I don’t see why you wouldnt, especially if you have a PS3), you have to buy the VS-2 Video Enhancer, which gives you a mere 2 HDMI inputs (along with 3 Composite Video, S-Video, and Analogue video inputs). Also, the VS-2 costs $300, the same price as the Yamaha RX-V465 receiver, which already has 4 HDMI inputs itself, plus 5.1 surround sound capabilities that exceed ALL of Boses systems! Definitely proof that this thing is overpriced if all it has is a bunch of inputs, especially if it only has 2 HDMI inputs. Anyway, if you get the VS-2, plus the Lifestyle 28, the price of your system comes to $2300, almost the same price you’d pay for a V20 with a Blu-Ray player! Definitely stupid, and definitely a rip-off; I cant imagine why Bose didn’t just include the HDMI inputs with the LS28’s media center. But, one theory is that they’re trying to get more money out of the people willing to buy their stuff….
Duration : 0:8:26
Comments
@mazda2284 The …
@mazda2284 The quality of homemade speakers depends on the skill of the person building them, which means you have to have the knowledge of making them, and the time. Most people don’t have either of these when it comes to speakers, so store-bought ones are much, much more practical.
@IIYOYOII17 ask my …
@IIYOYOII17 ask my aunt & uncle , i replaced their 2000$ bose setup with a brand new JBL – hardman kardon setup and OMG.. its 1000 times better. they shouldent even compare them lol. $ for $ jbl’s smoke bose.
@savagesteve13 i …
@savagesteve13 i also have KLH’s 8” bookshelfs and they sound great ~!
lol even the …
lol even the speakers ur pointing out are expensive.. still better than bose but if u took the time and built ur own cabinets they would be way better. partsexpress has everything u need to make a way better system an way smaller for cheaper .
@falkenlaser …
@falkenlaser Please tell me, do you know quality / sound about speaker (5.1) from Denon i got from Denon D-1250 .
@MrCanadianPride …
@MrCanadianPride Hey!!! I bought it at a J&R music store in lower manahattan for $249. I think the best way to comepare prices is to type in the item your looking to buy in google search and then hit the shopping link. I was able to do a comparison and call the store directly to see if it was in stock. I actually got the reciever on sale I think now it retails for around $300. I also bought a center, left, right polk speakers for $200.
@MADDKNOCKER
…
@MADDKNOCKER
Please tell me ifyou got a rx-v465 how much u paid for (your state also) cause i got one since 3 weeks and i paid it 475 (taxes included) and it seams to be 100$ more in canada than usa …thanks to drop a line on this
I have a pair of …
I have a pair of KLH speakers that cost $200/pair that sound better than my Bose speakers, and the KLH are made of LDF, thin wire, hand soldered crossovers stuck on a piece of plywood, and plenty of hot glue.
@falkenlaser I …
@falkenlaser I second this.
Yes, i have and i …
Yes, i have and i like wat my ears here
I own a Paradigm …
I own a Paradigm Monitor/Cinema system with a Paradigm PDR-10 subwoofer, and a Yamaha RX-N600 receiver (it’s an older model). It’s worth about $2000, and it mops the floor with ANY Bose system.
And just as I suspected. You’ve never heard any of these brands, so no wonder you think Bose is good. I think you’re the one who doesn’t know what you’re saying.
Have you ever use …
Have you ever use those. i haven’t.
Also, justify the …
Also, justify the Bose’s surround systems not having 7.1 surround sound, having only 2 HDMI inputs (with the Lifestyle 28 though, you have have to pay $300 for a video switcher, which still only gives you 2 HDMI inputs), and no Blu-Ray players or Blu-Ray soundtrack decoding, when in the same price range of their systems, and even less, you can get all of these things. Heck, Sony’s STR-DH800 receiver has 7.1 surround, 4 HDMI inputs built-in, and Blu-Ray sound track decoding, and it’s only $300!
What other speakers …
What other speakers? Brands like Paradigm, B&W, PSB, Wharfedale, Klipsch? Have you ever heard any of those brands? The people that buy Bose, and write those reviews, have rarely heard these brands. The only brands they’ve heard are just the cheap <$1000 systems they sell at Walmart and Best Buy. And, through very good marketing, fixed demos, and high prices (while still saying their systems rival more expensive systems), they’ve convinced people their stuff is good.
If you know what …
If you know what are you saying, put up videos but if you don’t, keep it to you self and Bose are good speakers and it is those for rich people and i try Bose before and the sound is better than another speakers. BTW, i read a lot of reviews and they will agree with me.
Very much so. And a …
Very much so. And a good thing about a component system is that you can build on over time.
Thanks, I am …
Thanks, I am looking at buying a Yamaha RX-V465 today. I dont have alot of money and my speakers sucks but I think it could be a solid reciever to start things with.
That hard drive …
That hard drive feature is nice. But, it’s only 40 GBs (I heard this in a review in which the guy opened up the media center), which means the music is compressed. I’d just rather get a 160 GB iPod and get Sony’s or Yamaha’s iPod dock which allows you to control your iPod through your receiver. Better yet, I’d get the Wadia iTransport, which is AWESOME. It bypasses the iPod’s DAC, and lets you connect it to a component that has a better DAC, resulting in MUCH better sound quality.
well the point is …
well the point is they are over priced and if they were half the price then they would be worth the money , but i like the lifestyle 48 for the harddrive only it makes listening to music so easy , thats where nothing on the market has even touched yet
Sony’s super …
Sony’s super low-end surround systems may suck, but they still do make some good stuff.
But hey, if you got the V20 for $600, then that’s a good deal.
BTW, Dolby Pro-Logic IIx will turn a 5.1 signal into a 7.1 signal. But yes, 5.1 surround sound will often do just fine. However, for how much research Bose claims they put in their products, I don’t see how they can miss even the most basic technologies.
A week after I …
A week after I heard the Lifestyle 48, I heard a surround system that consisted of:
4xParadigm Cinema 70 speakers
1xParadigm Cinema CC center
A Velodyne 12 in. subwoofer
A $200 Sony receiver
This whole system was being sold for $1000. This thing crushed the Lifestyle 48 in every way imaginable.
Not only that, my family has a Wharfedale Diamond surround system w/ a $300 Sony receiver. Having been used to hearing this, when I heard the LS48, it was worse than what I thought it would be.
the only HDMI i …
the only HDMI i need is for my blueray everything else will go straight into my tv having my ebox 360 going though the bose is over kill on the sound , so just one HDMI with sound is good ,
sony sucks in …
sony sucks in everything they make so sony vs bose no contest there , a low end yamaha sounds like compared to a high end yamaha , the v20 sounds ok not the best but i picked this up for $600
as for 5.1 , i know …
as for 5.1 , i know most movies are recorded in 5.1 and not many in 7.1 and u have to have a big enough room to have 7.1 , most people do fine with 5.1 , ,my yamaha setup is 11.2 .
i own a high end …
i own a high end home theater and i need something that sounds good and easy to use and something that does not heat up , a very very high end setup has to have fans in the reciever to keep it cool and if left on over night get very hot , bose offer a system which is just a good plug and play setup
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