Quote Originally Posted by dr_blurb
Hello,

My dad got _very_ close to buying a "Bose Lifestyle 18" system,
I just managed to talk him out of it.
Note: here in Europe they cost 2500 euros (more than $2900 !!!)

This weekend we'll be going shopping together, so my question is:
what system offers the same options (amp + radio + DVD + 6 speakers)
(wireless?) for less money with better sound quality?

Say a system that costs about $1000-1200 in the US.

many thanks,

Patrick
First you must demystify the Bose siren song. Ask him if he'd drop thousands of dollars/euros on a car whose manufacturer offered no tech specs. One would hope that your father would be suspicious of that circumstance and look elsewhere regardless of how much cache that "car" accrued through clever marketing. Next, your only all at once solutioin may be some form of a home theater in a box. Here in the states, some companies make them in that price range which, by implication, would sound better than ones in the $300 range. I've seen some Onkyo and Yamaha HTIB in your range. The idea here may not be finding the best sound for your father, but, as you suggest, keep him from getting ripped off.