The Insanity of Marketing Disguised as Science in Loudspeakers

[RGA]

I would consider it snobbish to think that ALL Bose buyers are ignorant of better brands. SOME are and some aren't. There are those who buy bose for the brand-whore and aethetic appeal. These are the people who I believe RGA is attacking here. I happen to agree with him. Doesn't make me a snob- maybe a bit opinionated.

I didn't think I was attacking them; however, yes that is the difference. Aesthetic buyers versus the "brand-whore" to a not very good brand (in terms of sound quality). The sound quality opinion may be opinionated but not snobby. Interestingly, it is the reason one often pays MORE for BOSE and tells everyone it's the best - they are actually the ones who fit the definition of "snob" as they are buying the brand to "have it over" everyone else.

Somehow this is still evading Mark's needlessly conflagratory argument. But, yes, some people are led to believe that the wave radio can sound like a large "traditional" stereo system. However, whether or not their belief that this is true cannot be determined and truly should not be judged.

Not really sure that that is the issue. It doesn't really matter what the reason is for buying a wave radio. When it becomes an issue is when an owner says it's the best and decent hi-fi equipment. Merely stating the fact that they are ignorant of what is out there isn't being a snob - it's simply telling them by the way listen to any one of these 400 brands some of which are in driving distance from your house.

Maybe there are those who have never seen any of Bose's ads and their wild claims (as I'd see it), who wandered into a Bose outlet and literally believed a bose wave radio to sound just as good, and as big as their old Magnepan setup.

Possible, but highly doubtful. If you meet anyone let me know. If I meet anyone I'd be amazed. That's just it - I have never ever met anyone anywhere that has heard good quality audiophile brands and proceeded to purchase a Bose loudspeaker system. The Wave Radio is something else- I don;t know anyone who is an audiophile and bought one but I did read about a guy on a forum who did - but nobody is buying a clock radio to recreate the Philharmonic anyway.

There are generalizations and generalizations. When I say for example Bose is "viewed" by virtually every audiophile and reviewer on every audiophile website in the world as being overpriced for the coin I am coming up with that information on more than 10 years on audio forums and discussing it with reviewers.

I have not met anyone that traded in his SoundLab or AN's or Teresonics or Quad panels, or Magnepans, or Revels, JM Labs, etc etc for a set of Bose 901 loudspeakers. I have read many posts and know many people who had those speakers and dumped them.

Indeed, when I had the $250 B&W 302 loudspeakers and let a Bose 901 retailer (who didn't know much about audio and thought the 901 was best) audition the 302 he was so impressed he bought a pair for himself and sold his 901s. The 302 is a fine little speaker but it's still just a tiny 2 way for $250. The 901 was going for $1850 and is a royal pain in the arse to position.

So yes there may be an exception - there may be a Scaena or Perfect 8 Technologies speaker owner out there who decides - nope the Acoustimass sounds better. But the point of generalizing is that it is a "general" rule.

For instance I will mentions SS high feedback amps sound a certain way and invariably someone will mention Sugden or Pass Labs. But how many SS makers are out there that don't design amps in the same way and that are affordable? To me it's pretty safe to generalize when it's 90%+ part of the time.

The only audiophile poster I have met in support of the 901 was Soundmind/skeptic and even then only the first original model - and only after he basically rebuilt the entire thing and only with a special crossover presumably that he designed and only with additional drivers.

And I defend Bose more than most - the 901 is fine in a club where you want to spread the music around a large room - it works like a charm - much better than the sound in the pub when they were using Klipsch horn loudspeaker with a narrow focus. The 901 sounded better not just to cover the room either - it was less shouty and hard sounding - you could converse with the Bose in the background not intruding your conversation. In a home the Klipsch speakers sound better however in the listening chair (Ref 3).