Does any Surround Sound home cinema system compare to Bose?

Question

I'm looking at getting a home surround system that is QUALITY not cheap and cheerful. I already have a dvd/HD player that I want it to connect to and have been looking at the new Bose Lifestyle V20 kit that sounds superb and is very small and neat (I don't want huge amps etc), but at £1750 not sure it is worth this kind of money. I'm not looking to go cheap, but does anyone know of a kit that is comparable in quality and size at all? Your help is appreciated :)

Answer 1

Bose are highly overpriced for what you get. Read the article at the first link for why I would NEVER buy a Bose.

There are any number of better choices. That said, your preferences and needs may be quite different to anyone here (for example you appear to want small size), so it's important that you consider and define what they are. You would then be ready to look at reviews and listen to some possible options. After all this is not an insignificant purchase ... and one you may live with for decades.

From your question you are probably best looking at a Home-Theatre-in-a-Box (HTIB) system (See links 2 and 3 for some recommendations/reviews). The article at the 4th link provides some suggestions for buying a surround sound system (one option may be a virtual surround system -- see below).

Personally, I'd suggest combining a mid-level A/V receiver (e.g. Onkyo, Yamaha, Pioneer) with some good speakers (e.g. Klipsch (Link 5) or some of the good European brands (e.g. Jamo) ... but there are lots of good ones (Infinity, Polk, Monitor, etc.)

As an alternative to a full speaker system you might also consider one of the virtual surround systems, they are getting some excellent press. They might not have quite the accuracy of a true surround system, but the simplicity may more than make up for it (See Link 6 for some recommended systems).

As a final comment, the choice is ultimately yours, but I would strongly recommend against putting too high an emphasis on micro speakers. In my view they ALWAYS compromise sound too much (e.g. Bose compromise the midrange). That said, there is no reason for speakers much bigger than 6"-8" high (i.e. room for a 3/4-1" tweeter and a minimum 4" midrange) if you use a subwoofer for the bass, so you don't need to go "large" to get good sound.

Anyway, I have not recommended specific systems, but I hope there is some useful suggestions. Good Luck.

Answer 2

Bose Surround Sound

Answer 3

Nothing else that poorly made costs so much money - so no, nothing compares to Bose, fortunately.
Bose is unique, in that they are a triumph of marketing over common sense.

Anything you buy at that price point (and many cheaper systems) WILL be superior to Bose in every way.

Buy
Other
Sound
Equipment

Answer 4

How to compare Bose to the unspecified ton of other systems? Well a large variety of market competitors provide more full range sound with more accuracy and better imaging than Bose, for the same money spent. Bose has a very cunning sound, achieved by limiting the high end (above 17,000 hz) and by blooming bass slightly around 50 hz, by the sound the system makes. However, this makes for a smeared image, with poor staging overall. - you will never be able to point to a position in space and say this instrument is here, or that singer is standing over there, however you position the speakers. In theory, no one over the age of 35 hears much of anything over 17,000 Hz, many have trouble with anything over 7,000 Hz (by actual test, a persons age can be determined by playing pure tones and noting where they cease hearing them, with a high degree of accuracy) although the absolute spread of the human ear is 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz. That said, crisp edges to most instruments sound requires the shine put on them by the higher frequencies, and it contributes to the live sensation and quality of the sound. As tone adjustments are possible on most systems, it is usually better to have the full and accurate range, and tone it down slightly if needed, than to not have it at all. As for price, At your level I would check out the well reviewed Fluance surround sound speaker sets, just to compare what you are paying to what you are getting, then shop more, before making a decision on a system that mostly sounds okay in the store environments they were designed to sound good in.

Answer 5

surround sound home cinema system compare bose

Answer 6

Anthony Gallow speakers have won 'Best Of' awards for their softball sized speakers from Stereophile magazine and others.

Bose - has never made the recommended list from any magazine (Stereophile, Widscreen Review, Sound & Vision, Home Theater).

Answer 7

I've never been a fan of Bose, midrange is lacking...

I would look at an integrated amp and a set of speakers. I have a Polk Audio set, that blow Bose out of the water!

Answer 8

I think a number of comparable priced products will come close to a Bose System.

That being said I think the Bose is the most compact (small in Size). I did add a sub to my Bose system for more Bass. I love how it sounds now.

Answer 9

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Answer 10

I've got an Accustimas 31 system from Bose and that's brilliant.