Duration : 0:2:36

Technorati Tags: 1000, 215, 2800, 5100, 70, 92, american, amplifier, audio, bluetooth, call, camera, cerwin, ck, ck-1000, ck1000, cls, cls-215, cls215, cod, cod4, cod5, computer, cv, cv-2800, Denon, dn-a7100, dna7100, dongle, dragonfly, duty, extreme, eye, Games, gaming, Harmony, hd, hd-70, hd70, hi-definition, hts, hts5100, in, logitech, loud, microphone, monster, music, of, Optical, Optoma, plate, playstation, playstation3, power, poweramp, preamp, preamplifier, professional, ps3, screen, subs, theatre, turntables, USB, vega, wall, wallplate, wireless, woofer, woofers

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

Technorati Tags: 28, 48, Acoustimass, AdaptiQ, ADP, amp, amplifier, Bose, CC-190, cinema, Cube, Direct-Reflect, Harmony, Jewel, Lifestyle, logitech, Loudspeaker, Mini-Monitor, monitor, One, Paradigm, PDR-8, receiver, RX-V465, sound, speaker, subwoofer, surround, system, V20, yamaha

Every time I hear this system, I am amazed. I actually have to walk up to those little speakers to make sure it’s them playing and not some bigger speaker next to them!

Beginning at 5:25, theres a slideshow that simply shows all of the systems main components. Sorry if it seems a little boring. But, at 5:54, theres a picture that shows all of the systems main components together. Speaking of which, excluding 2 of this systems surrounds (which are not essential), this system has just as many essential components as the Lifestyle 48 does. 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 (excluding 2 surrounds), 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.

-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. And, if you were wondering (or didnt know), Blu-Ray players can play regular DVDs. 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 $200-$300) have 7.1 or 6.1 surround sound. Yes, most movies right now have only a 5.1 soundtrack, but these receivers have Dolby Pro-Logic IIx, which converts a 5.1 (or even a stereo) soundtrack into 6.1 or 7.1 (whatever the receiver has).

- The LS48 has the AdaptiQ sound calibration system. But, the performance of this system compared to the LS48 would be that the AdaptiQ wouldn’t help, for this system’s performance is so much better. Heck, my A/V receiver doesnt even have an auto calibration feature, and it still blows the LS48 away! (This Yamaha receiver does have a calibration feature, though).

-The Lifestyle 48s Jewel Cube speakers, yes, are VERY small, and are very loud for their size. But, would you buy a system to admire its super-small speakers that have big sound, or would you rather buy a system with speakers that are a couple inches bigger, but sound MUCH better than the smaller ones (and costs the same price)?

-The Lifestyle 48s Acoustimass module, well, should be called an Acousticlusterf**k. It has 2 5.25 in. drivers inside of it that are supposed to handle almost all of the low sounds. 5.25 in. drivers are what the size mid-range or mid-bass drivers should be; not subwoofers. As mentioned in the video, it cant play as low as a subwoofer. Also, it produces sounds a subwoofer SHOULD NOT play; dialogue being the main thing. This means that wherever you put it, it would sound as if voices were coming from that location if you listened carefully. Sure, the voices may seem a bit omnipresent, but when in real life have you ever heard voices sounding omnipresent? (So much for Boses lifelike sound). Voices should come out of the speakers only, and nothing but low bass should come from a subwoofer.

The Lifestyle 48s remote is actually kind of cool; it uses radio frequencies instead of IR. However, although Bose claims its a multi-brand remote that can control some other non-Bose components, it can only control basic functions of those components. This means that you will probably still need to use the remotes for your other components to use every feature they may have. The Logitech Harmony One remote this system has, however, supports and gives you full control over almost every electronic media device under the sun (through following a simple online setup through Harmonys website). It may not have the cool RF control the LS48s remote has, but it will limit your remotes to one.

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. Heck, even a system costing 1/4 of this (using the same Cinema speakers) would blow away the LS48.

Also, note that because this is a component system, theres a number of ways you could build it. If you’re set on spending only $4000, exchanging the Fathom for a Paradigm Seismic-12 subwoofer, which is about $500 less (and still annihilates the Acoustimass module) would do fine. But, that Fathom makes that extra $500 TOTALLY worth it. Just about anything you could do with this system would make it sound better than the Lifestyle 48.

FYI, I do not work for or endorse any of these companys products.

Duration : 0:6:22

Technorati Tags: 48, Acoustimass, audio, Bose, cinema, Cube, Direct-Reflect, Fathom, Harmony, Jewel, JL, Lifestyle, logitech, One, Paradigm, RX-V665, W7, yamaha

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

Technorati Tags: 48, Acoustimass, AdaptiQ, ADP-190, amp, amplifier, audio, Bose, cinema, Cube, Direct-Reflect, DSP-3200, Fathom, Harmony, Jewel, JL, Lifestyle, logitech, Loudspeaker, monitor, One, Paradigm, receiver, RX-V1065, RX-V665, Sony, sound, speaker, STR-DA2400ES, subwoofer, surround, system, W7, yamaha

PC Specs:

Windows 7 Ultimate 64 Bit
Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 3.06Ghz
4 GB RAM
NVIDIA GeForce 7800 GT (yea i know, card by todays standard..)
Internal HDDs: 1 TB + 320 GB = 1.32 TB
External HDDs: 250 GB + 250 GB + 320 GB = 820 GB
Total HDD capacities: 2.14 TB (yea, I downloaded too much stuff!)
Acer H233H 23 inch LCD (1080p & HDMI capable)
Logitech Z2300 THX Certified Speakers
Logitech EX100 Wireless Keyboard & Mouse (with limited edition Left 4 Dead mousepad

Home Theater Setup:

Crappy Sony 21 inch CRT (nearly 10 years old and still works like a charm! Will be replaced by LCD HDTV when I got the money, lol!)
Pioneer DVD Player
Denon Receiver & Subwoofer
5 Audio Pro Speakers

Duration : 0:4:40

Technorati Tags: acer, apple, Denon, ipod, logitech, PC, PIONEER, playstation, ps3, setup, wdtv, Windows

Duration : 1 min 16 sec

Technorati Tags: logitech

Duration : 0:3:27

Technorati Tags: AIR, device, DVD, freespace, home, input, logitech, mouse, movies, mx, PC, theater

Duration : 4 min 42 sec

Technorati Tags: logitech

Duration : 6 min 5 sec

Technorati Tags: logitech

Duration : 6 min 38 sec

Technorati Tags: logitech