Are Bose 301 Speakers the best in there price range?

[ChrisY]

Im interested in purchasing a pair of bookshelf speakers as fronts for a low budget (cheap) small HT system. I found a place here where I can purchase a pair Polk R30s for $120.00 a pair brand new though there not bookshelf speakers as I prefer they'll still work just fine. My neighbor insist that Bose 301s are a better choice and are the best speakers you can find in there price range anywhere. Im just a proud amateur looking for decent sound.

[JohnMichael]

Im interested in purchasing a pair of bookshelf speakers as fronts for a low budget (cheap) small HT system. I found a place here where I can purchase a pair Polk R30s for $120.00 a pair brand new though there not bookshelf speakers as I prefer they'll still work just fine. My neighbor insist that Bose 301s are a better choice and are the best speakers you can find in there price range anywhere. Im just a proud amateur looking for decent sound.

ChrisY listen to your ears and not your neighbor. Bose 301's are one type of speaker and sound but there are many good speakers in the same price range. Polk makes a few as do Paradigm, Infinity, Epos and Athena. www.audioadvisor.com has the Energy C-3 reduced to $299.95 a pair and they would also be a better speaker than Bose. Of course if you like the Bose sound by all means. Listen to as many speakers in your price range as you can.

[N. Abstentia]

Your neigbor sounds very ignorant. The more you read and listen, the more you'll find out that Bose is not a good choice in ANY price range.

I'd look into these first:
http://audioadvisor.com/store/produc...0Black,%20Pair

You should also look at the used market.

[ChrisY]

Thank you kindly fellas.

[kexodusc]

Yikes!

I'm betting that if you visited all the web forums on the internet, you won't find a more disliked speaker brand than Bose.

Some people obviously like them, but if you're looking for sound quality, I don't think I'd be out of line saying you could do better with almost any other speaker at that price point - with the exception of something sold out of a white van.

[ChrisY]

I've read all info given and suggested to me and all I can say is WOW and that Bose will NEVER get an ounce of my interest .I cant afford to be ripped off.

[kgg]

Bose 301 - worst stereo equipment purchase I ever made. They sound slightly better than an old transistor radio.

I'm not completely anti-Bose. their noise-cancelling headphones are great on an airplane.

[Woochifer]

Not by a long shot. Bose products are typically way overpriced for the performance that they deliver. The 301s don't necessarily fall into the overpriced category, because they do deliver more bass than most speakers in their price class (but this is more a case of quantity than quality). That said, they are also not especially accurate in the more critical high and midrange, and their direct/reflecting design messes around with the imaging by creating an artificially large soundstage that lacks locational precision. Plenty of other options out there at the $300 price point that will outperform the 301s.

[Century L100]

I'm not familiar with the 301s at all. In fact, I'm not too familiar with any of their home audio equipment. However, as a pilot, the Bose product I am familiar with is their noise-canclling aviation headset, which is horribly overpriced compared to most other products on the market. I get the impression that a lot of people buy them because of some perceived mystique associated with the Bose nameplate.

It's a quality product, but there are other aviation headsets that provide about 80% of the quality for only 50% of the price.

Just a thought.

[njspeer]

You might be interested in my "$750 Stereo" post below. I purchased a pair of Bose 901s (series 2) for $275. I don't know if they would work for a surround sound setup, but for music they can't be beat at that price range.

People claiming Bose speakers are a bad deal at any price aren't being reasonable. Anything can be a good deal at the right price.Bose bashing is simply a form of contraryism. The masses love Bose, so of course, no self respecting audiophile can like the same thing the man on the street does. You have to keep in mind that these are also the same people who go to wine tastings. People who consider themselves audiophiles feel that bashing Bose is the only way to prove their objectivity to other audiophiles; it's really more of a cultural thing than anything else. They'll tell you all Bose speakers are a bad deal at any price, then turn right around and tell you to buy silver speaker wire. The truth is audiophiles are, for the most part, very gullible and tend to all think the same things, and repeat the same things. Most of them only know what they've read in magazines. Go ask a physicist what they think of audiophiles, and you'll see what I mean. Unless you're trying to impress a bunch of audiophiles, you should research it, and just get what you want.

[paul_pci]

If it's a cultural thing, then why is Bose the only speaker company that won't publish their specifications all the while claiming better sound through research. What a crock.

[njspeer]

If it's a cultural thing, then why is Bose the only speaker company that won't publish their specifications all the while claiming better sound through research. What a crock.

I find it humorous that you challenge my argument by repeating a standard audiophile talking point.

[SlumpBuster]

You might be interested in my "$750 Stereo" post below. I purchased a pair of Bose 901s (series 2) for $275. I don't know if they would work for a surround sound setup, but for music they can't be beat at that price range.

People claiming Bose speakers are a bad deal at any price aren't being reasonable. Anything can be a good deal at the right price.Bose bashing is simply a form of contraryism. The masses love Bose, so of course, no self respecting audiophile can like the same thing the man on the street does. You have to keep in mind that these are also the same people who go to wine tastings. People who consider themselves audiophiles feel that bashing Bose is the only way to prove their objectivity to other audiophiles; it's really more of a cultural thing than anything else. They'll tell you all Bose speakers are a bad deal at any price, then turn right around and tell you to buy silver speaker wire. The truth is audiophiles are, for the most part, very gullible and tend to all think the same things, and repeat the same things. Most of them only know what they've read in magazines. Go ask a physicist what they think of audiophiles, and you'll see what I mean. Unless you're trying to impress a bunch of audiophiles, you should research it, and just get what you want.

Those 901s are pretty sweet. I was pretty sure the Series II came with the "instant expert" mod. Looks like they sure do. (insert sarcasm here)

As for trying to impress a bunch of audiophiles, that's the pot calling the kettle black. You just posted a thread about your new kick azz system that your all proud of.

Your right about the physics though. Bose 301s exist in an alternate dimension where physics are suspended and a cross over network is not required. Open almost any bose speaker cab and the proof of inferior build, materials and quality is in the pudding.

[njspeer]

Those 901s are pretty sweet. I was pretty sure the Series II came with the "instant expert" mod. Looks like they sure do. (insert sarcasm here)

As for trying to impress a bunch of audiophiles, that's the pot calling the kettle black. You just posted a thread about your new kick azz system that your all proud of.

Huh? Did you even read my post? I explicitly stated that audiophiles would not like the system.

Your right about the physics though. Bose 301s exist in an alternate dimension where physics are suspended and a cross over network is not required. Open almost any bose speaker cab and the proof of inferior build, materials and quality is in the pudding.

[GMichael]

You might be interested in my "$750 Stereo" post below. I purchased a pair of Bose 901s (series 2) for $275. I don't know if they would work for a surround sound setup, but for music they can't be beat at that price range.

People claiming Bose speakers are a bad deal at any price aren't being reasonable. Anything can be a good deal at the right price.Bose bashing is simply a form of contraryism. The masses love Bose, so of course, no self respecting audiophile can like the same thing the man on the street does. You have to keep in mind that these are also the same people who go to wine tastings. People who consider themselves audiophiles feel that bashing Bose is the only way to prove their objectivity to other audiophiles; it's really more of a cultural thing than anything else. They'll tell you all Bose speakers are a bad deal at any price, then turn right around and tell you to buy silver speaker wire. The truth is audiophiles are, for the most part, very gullible and tend to all think the same things, and repeat the same things. Most of them only know what they've read in magazines. Go ask a physicist what they think of audiophiles, and you'll see what I mean. Unless you're trying to impress a bunch of audiophiles, you should research it, and just get what you want.

Uhm, sorry, but "no go" on this.

I think you'll find more beer drinkers here than wine sippers. The cable debate starts up all the time. There are plenty of down to Earth people on this site. They don't go by what magazines tell them. They go listen. In fact, it's the magazines and commercials that have the masses believing that Bose is the best. Bose are just OK. They are the foothills to the Rockies of hi-fi. But not the top of the mountain by any means.
When you buy a speaker, the money you spend goes several places. Some to advertisements, some to the companie's profit, some to research, and some to actually building the speaker. Bose spends more than anyone on research and advertisement. And they have the highest profit margins than almost anyone. That leaves very little left over to actually build them.
I don't want to bash Bose. They make an OK speaker. But far from the best at their price point.

[njspeer]

Uhm, sorry, but "no go" on this.

I think you'll find more beer drinkers here than wine sippers. The cable debate starts up all the time. There are plenty of down to Earth people on this site. They don't go by what magazines tell them. They go listen. In fact, it's the magazines and commercials that have the masses believing that Bose is the best. Bose are just OK. They are the foothills to the Rockies of hi-fi. But not the top of the mountain by any means.
When you buy a speaker, the money you spend goes several places. Some to advertisements, some to the companie's profit, some to research, and some to actually building the speaker. Bose spends more than anyone on research and advertisement. And they have the highest profit margins than almost anyone. That leaves very little left over to actually build them.
I don't want to bash Bose. They make an OK speaker. But far from the best at their price point.

I'm encouraged to know there are more beer drinkers than wine sippers here. IMO there's nothing worse than a wine and cheese party. However, my point was not directed at wine sippers but rather wine tasters. There's a difference. A wine taster thinks he can detect all sorts of microscopic differences in wines with his taste buds, and then uses this delusion to bash lay-people wines, and justifies paying hundreds if not thousands of dollars for a bottle of wine. Wine tasters also, coincidentally, all like the same wines, and of course they aren't the wines that ordinary people like. And they are the same type of people who buy solid Ag cables, paint the edges or the CDs green, buy $20,000 DACs and claim Bose speakers are a bad deal at any price. Don't get me wrong, I'm not claiming that Bose speakers are the best; I'm sure they're not, but they do sound pretty good for their price point. If they didn't Bose would go out of business. And when someone claims they are a bad deal at any price they're just an audiophile trying to fit in.

[Mike Anderson]

IMO there's nothing worse than a wine and cheese party.

Yeah, I can't stand wine and cheese. You're right -- there truly is nothing worse: Having your head sawed off with a rusty shank; plucking your eyes out with a dull spoon; having nails jammed into your eardrums. All of these things are far less painful than have to consume wine and cheese.

Clearly, people who do so are just looking for an excuse to spend money and act like effete liberal snobs.

[JohnMichael]

Yeah, I can't stand wine and cheese. You're right -- there truly is nothing worse: Having your head sawed off with a rusty shank; plucking your eyes out with a dull spoon; having nails jammed into your eardrums. All of these things are far less painful than have to consume wine and cheese.

Clearly, people who do so are just looking for an excuse to spend money and act like effete liberal snobs.

I resemble that remark. A case of definition of character.

[Bernd]

I'm encouraged to know there are more beer drinkers than wine sippers here. IMO there's nothing worse than a wine and cheese party. However, my point was not directed at wine sippers but rather wine tasters. There's a difference. A wine taster thinks he can detect all sorts of microscopic differences in wines with his taste buds, and then uses this delusion to bash lay-people wines, and justifies paying hundreds if not thousands of dollars for a bottle of wine. Wine tasters also, coincidentally, all like the same wines, and of course they aren't the wines that ordinary people like. And they are the same type of people who buy solid Ag cables, paint the edges or the CDs green, buy $20,000 DACs and claim Bose speakers are a bad deal at any price. Don't get me wrong, I'm not claiming that Bose speakers are the best; I'm sure they're not, but they do sound pretty good for their price point. If they didn't Bose would go out of business. And when someone claims they are a bad deal at any price they're just an audiophile trying to fit in.

I like good wine,beer, music, good food and sex, so what does that make me? No answer requiered.
In your musings you are talking in a negative way about audiophiles. Once you listen to a great set up you would understand what it's all about. I run three systems in my home. All from different areas of development and with a different price tag (budget to high end), and all play music for my enjoyment and all sound good to me.
Just because something sells the most does not make it the best.
It's all about the music.

Peace

Bernd

[markw]

IJust because something sells the most does not make it the best.

Unless, of course, you're a shareholder in the company. Sell dem Big Macs with Cheese. ...do you wanna supersize that, sir?

[topspeed]

I'm encouraged to know there are more beer drinkers than wine sippers here. IMO there's nothing worse than a wine and cheese party. However, my point was not directed at wine sippers but rather wine tasters. There's a difference. A wine taster thinks he can detect all sorts of microscopic differences in wines with his taste buds, and then uses this delusion to bash lay-people wines, and justifies paying hundreds if not thousands of dollars for a bottle of wine. Wine tasters also, coincidentally, all like the same wines, and of course they aren't the wines that ordinary people like. And they are the same type of people who buy solid Ag cables, paint the edges or the CDs green, buy $20,000 DACs and claim Bose speakers are a bad deal at any price. Don't get me wrong, I'm not claiming that Bose speakers are the best; I'm sure they're not, but they do sound pretty good for their price point. If they didn't Bose would go out of business. And when someone claims they are a bad deal at any price they're just an audiophile trying to fit in.

For a NooB, you sure are making a lot of bold accusations here. Just so I'm clear, lemme see if I get this straight:

1) If you don't like Bose, you are a lemming simply following the other audiophiles off the cliff. It has nothing to do with their measured fr containing more peaks and valleys than the Appalachians or build quality ranking right up there with that suit you bought at the 99 Cent Store.

2) All audiophiles are ego driven lunatics interested more in the name than the sound quality.

3) Wine drinkers are drunk audiophiles. I.E. egomaniacal snobs trying to suppress the heathens and unwashed.

I'm not so bold to pidgeonhole the masses with useless labels, although I know what you are...

[canuckle]

Don't get me wrong, I'm not claiming that Bose speakers are the best; I'm sure they're not, but they do sound pretty good for their price point. If they didn't Bose would go out of business. And when someone claims they are a bad deal at any price they're just an audiophile trying to fit in.

There's so many things wrong there. The whole point of all these flame attacks on Bose is that they are *not* a good deal at their price point. Their price point is 5 times higher than comparable speakers from other manufacturers. They are built out of cheap crap materials and paper cones. $14 goes into components and $100 into marketting. The marketting is why Bose doesn't go out of business, not the components. People will buy garbage if you can convince them it's treasure.

You keep jumping back to the defensive position that your ancient 901's for $275 are a good deal. But you might want to note that this thread is not about you or your garage sale purchases. Someone asked others' opinions on a pair of new 301s as the best speakers available for the money. They are not. They're not the best speakers for half the money. That's what the thread is about and people should be free to pass on that advice to someone who's considering a truly terrible purchase. Enjoy your 901s. Don't try to slag off people who appreciate a higher standard of quality and want to let someone know that they can also have good sound for less money.

[njspeer]

There's so many things wrong there. The whole point of all these flame attacks on Bose is that they are *not* a good deal at their price point. Their price point is 5 times higher than comparable speakers from other manufacturers. They are built out of cheap crap materials and paper cones. $14 goes into components and $100 into marketting. The marketting is why Bose doesn't go out of business, not the components. People will buy garbage if you can convince them it's treasure.

I'm afraid you underestimate the intelligence of the consumer. Hype as a business strategy will only get you so far. I've already admitted that (at MSRP) Bose speakers probably aren't the best deal out there, but that should be no surprise. All big name companies charge a premium. Nevertheless, you can't just hype your way to success without delivering a quality product. That business model just doesn't work. I'm sorry to go against the grain of established audiophile dogma, but what you're saying just isn't true. The truth is that Bose bashing is simply a way for audiophiles to stand out from the masses (period). If audiophiles were really ONLY concerned about value (as you claim) then they would go off on companies that sell things like this:

http://www.amusicdirect.com/products...?sku=ABEDDBEAM

or this

http://www.hometheaterhifi.com/volum...at-7-2005.html

or

http://www.machinadynamica.com/machina28.htm

or

http://www.altmann.haan.de/tubeolator/default.htm


Yep. I could go one, but I think I've made my point for now.

[markw]

You might be interested in my "$750 Stereo" post below. I purchased a pair of Bose 901s (series 2) for $275. I don't know if they would work for a surround sound setup, but for music they can't be beat at that price range.

People claiming Bose speakers are a bad deal at any price aren't being reasonable. Anything can be a good deal at the right price.Bose bashing is simply a form of contraryism. The masses love Bose, so of course, no self respecting audiophile can like the same thing the man on the street does. You have to keep in mind that these are also the same people who go to wine tastings. People who consider themselves audiophiles feel that bashing Bose is the only way to prove their objectivity to other audiophiles; it's really more of a cultural thing than anything else. They'll tell you all Bose speakers are a bad deal at any price, then turn right around and tell you to buy silver speaker wire. The truth is audiophiles are, for the most part, very gullible and tend to all think the same things, and repeat the same things. Most of them only know what they've read in magazines. Go ask a physicist what they think of audiophiles, and you'll see what I mean. Unless you're trying to impress a bunch of audiophiles, you should research it, and just get what you want.

but, for their asking price they can be easily bettered.


First off, don't call me an audiophile. I'm just someone who has been playing with these toys since the days of tubes and knows what I like and can spot a value when I see/hear one.

Secondly, "the masses" love bose because they've been inculcated with their advertising everywhere they look, even late night TV and QVC. As far as name recognition goes, Bose wins hands down.

Third, "the masses" just love the cute little boxes and aren't aware of other similar products. ...or they haven't bothered to listen for themselves.

While the 301s are arguably the best speaker value in the Bose lineup, they are, by far, not the "best" overall, unless one figures the panache that the Bose name has on the uninitiated and blissfully ignorant has a high dollar value. A pair of lowly Athena B2s* will, IMNSHO, blow them out of the water but, then again, Athena doesn't post ads in every magazine one is like, to read in the doctor's office or Newsweek.

As far as their sales numbers go, Charlie Browns most likely sells more beef than Ruth's Chris Steak House but does that make them better?

Time to come off that high horse. Would you still be singing praises to the 901's if you paid full price for them?

And, no, you most likely won't be able to easily integrate the 901s into a HT system. I'm sure you'll figure out why later.

*and many others as well

[njspeer]

but, for their asking price they can be easily bettered.

That's probably true. I doubt I would have bought them for full price. But for $275 you have to admit that a lot of speaker.

First off, don't call me an audiophile. I'm just someone who has been playing with these toys since the days of tubes and knows what I like and can spot a value when I see/hear one.

Ok, I can understand that. I wouldn't want to be called an audiophile either. Where I work 'audiophile' is about the same as 'astrologer to the stars.' If you were caught painting the edges of your CDs green you'd get horse whipped.

Secondly, "the masses" love bose because they've been inculcated with their advertising everywhere they look, even late night TV and QVC. As far as name recognition goes, Bose wins hands down.

Well, now you're sounding like an audiophile again, belittling the masses and repeating age old Bose bashing arguments, that are most likely not true. I guess all Ford and GM need to do to keep from going out of business is just increase advertising, and the idiot masses will follow, does that really make sense to you?

Third, "the masses" just love the cute little boxes and aren't aware of other similar products. ...or they haven't bothered to listen for themselves.

While the 301s are arguably the best speaker [v]alue in the Bose lineup, they are, by far, not the "best" overall, unless one figures the panache that the Bose name has on the initiated has a dollar value. A pair of lowly Athena B2s* will, IMNSHO, blow them out of the water but, then again, Athena doesn't post ads in every magazine one is like, to read in the doctor's office or Newsweek.

As far as their sales numbers go, Charlie Browns most likely sells more beef than Ruth's Chris Steak House but does that make them better?

Time to come off that high horse. Would you still be singing praises to the 901's if you paid full price for them?

To be honest I can't see myself paying full price for anything. If I were going to spend $1500 on a pair of speakers, I'd have to re-asses the situation. But you can buy used 901s all day long for the price I paid, so it's really a moot point.

And, no, you most likely won't be able to easily integrate the 901s into a HT system. I'm sure you'll figure out why later.

*and many others as well

Maybe, maybe not. Have you actually tried to integrate a pair of 901s into a surround sound set up? I didn't think so. The 901 users guide says you can; I've heard many say you can't, but I've also heard quite a few say you can. So I don't know I haven't tried, that's why I stated as such.