Bose Lifestyle 650 vs Other Options

[mshifi]

Hi Guys -

I have been looking for an ideal home theatre / music system for some time, and i stumbled across this forum. Realised there are quite a few experts here. So just wanted to take your guidance on what would be the some good options for home theatre / sound system.

1. Need to set it up living room, with possibly some satellite speakers in other rooms or balcony
2. Need it for both movies and music (would like to leverage Bluetooth, and my record player)
3. Budget - I've checked out Bose 650, which costs close to 4L, ideally if i wouldn't want to cross 2.5 - 3 L

Any guidance would be highly appreciated

Sameer

You could also look at Monitor Audio Mass10 which are sat speakers. Try to audition them

 

[edjamesx]

I bought the Bose 650, but thinking I could find better systems for the money. I already have an Onkyo 676 Receiver and thinking I could simply invest the $4k in better speakers. I prefer to have less obtrusive in wall speakers and NOT larger towers and was sold on the clean Bose look.

My other concern is that he Bose speakers is they won't be adequate for the size of the room.

Got other questions related to the projector and screen..

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

For the Room size , Bose speakers wont be sufficient , and for the price of Bose you can get better speakers.
There are many in -wall speakers available in the market , You dont need to go with Large tower speakers .
But in wall speakers have its own limitations , for acoustics ...should be installed correctly to get the best output.

If your taste is for movies then Tower speaker (not necessary to be large Tower speakers) is recommended , else Bookshelf speakers should do the job fine.

 

[thisisbalu]

People are still buying Bose after becoming a member here Strange !

Why The Forum members don't go for BOSE?

 

[cbrcoder]

Why The Forum members don't go for BOSE?

Sir I think because BOSE tries to simplify and dummy proof items and make wrong claims about tiny/small speakers producing big and crisp sounds which the physics don't agree to. BOSE lately is more about marketing hype then real substance. It's only plus side is playing on consumer mind about "premium" value.

 

[prateekatasniya]

Why The Forum members don't go for BOSE?

You will surely get better sound for 1/3rd price of Bose..
But those brands might not suffice people's ego

 

[edjamesx]

Hi Guys -

I have been looking for an ideal home theatre / music system for some time, and i stumbled across this forum. Realised there are quite a few experts here. So just wanted to take your guidance on what would be the some good options for home theatre / sound system.

1. Need to set it up living room, with possibly some satellite speakers in other rooms or balcony
2. Need it for both movies and music (would like to leverage Bluetooth, and my record player)
3. Budget - I've checked out Bose 650, which costs close to 4L, ideally if i wouldn't want to cross 2.5 - 3 L

Any guidance would be highly appreciated

Sameer

For the price of Bose 650 , 4 Lacks you can get better package.

Go to showroom which has both Bose and other speakers and play your content and see the difference.
If you are in Bangalore , go to DNI home theater (they are dealing with Bose and other brands as well).

I was earlier user of Bose for couple of years and moved on.. For entry level it's ok , but after sometime you feel you are missing something.

If your budget is 2.5 to 3 Lakhs You may look at Sonodyne (SRT /SRA Series) Powered Speakers. Rated 200 to 250 watts /channel. Since these are powered speakers you can pick up any entry level of Amp/processor.

http://sonodyne.com/sonodyne-residential/sonodyne-loudspeakers/srt-series.html
http://sonodyne.com/sonodyne-residential/sonodyne-loudspeakers/sra-3000-series/sra-3010.html

 

[hifitoaster]

People are still buying Bose after becoming a member here Strange !

The only reason for choosing a bose over others should be space constraints and brand value.

 

[thisisbalu]

You will surely get better sound for 1/3rd price of Bose..
But those brands might not suffice people's ego

True, Like Apple in Mobile Brands... Bose in Home theater products (Egoistic )

 

[prateekatasniya]

True, Like Apple in Mobile Brands... Bose in Home theater products (Egoistic )

Yeah. True.. but Apple at least provide good hardware.. closed software of apple is a pain..
I'm fed up of this phrase "APPLE IS APPLE"

Bose has nothing other than some stupid Jewel cube tech. ( Marketing ) speakers are played in glass wall room.. that's why such small speakers sound so loud. And the salesmen make them sound clean by their polished words.
I had a first hand experience.

 

[vnavin]

Hi Guys -

I have been looking for an ideal home theatre / music system for some time, and i stumbled across this forum. Realised there are quite a few experts here. So just wanted to take your guidance on what would be the some good options for home theatre / sound system.

1. Need to set it up living room, with possibly some satellite speakers in other rooms or balcony
2. Need it for both movies and music (would like to leverage Bluetooth, and my record player)
3. Budget - I've checked out Bose 650, which costs close to 4L, ideally if i wouldn't want to cross 2.5 - 3 L

Any guidance would be highly appreciated

Sameer

 

[Nandan]

Ok so I read through all the replies to Sameer's question in this thread. My requirement is very similar to Sameer's - music and entertainment with 60% around music. The space I which I will keep this unit is not enclosed by four walls but is rather open with staircases leading in and out and also four doors that lead to other rooms. Can anyone suggest a place in Bangalore where I can audition the Lifestyle 650 along with other options from the Denons and B&Ws of the world. I agree that Bose's philosophy beats the laws of physics, and is over priced too, but I am constrained for space as well. If I have to audition a Bose in their showroom and then drive in Bangalore traffic to another place to audition another brand, it just doesn't serve my cause. Please help.

 

[newlash09]

Hi Nandan....

Your room seems to be of a complex shape. It would really help us all suggest something if you could post a sketch of the room with dimensions.

 

[Thirumalkumaran]

There seems to be lot of Bose haters...
Its the cool thing to bash something, like apple, without knowing its design intents.

To the guys who says buy other stuff, point me to a single package which near size of Bose and produces similar sound.
2 of my friends have moved to bose from the receiver & FAST system (1 was from Kipsch).
Does it sound crap compared to compared to showroom..? No... those who claim it sounds good only at showroom, has never ever heard at an actual place.

If Bose method sells why nobody is replicating it? remember the BA XS? got discontinued, without any successor..?

simple to explain, You get more power from an engine by either bigger displacement or a turbocharged compact engine...

Finally, sound is perspective. Just like a painting vs photograph. you pick whatever YOU like...dont say to to others not to buy something which you dont like...

 

[raghupb]

Bose is a good brand; lifestyle brand and does a lot of things right in HTiB.
Cost to performance ratio is arguable. Many companies are making little speakers now.
Mission, MA, Jamo, etc
So there is better choice these days, if one has the inclination and patience to put together a HT package.

Personally I don't have anything against Bose.
The first set of speakers I bought with my own money were Bose book shelf speakers.
Served me well enough for 5 years.
It's their marketing that baffles me. Endless talk in literature and showroom demo like they reinvented fire or something.

But if Bose HT appeals to someone, please buy it.
Anyways, this is an old thread

Cheers,
Raghu

 

[uneet]

Hello Friends,

Iam inna same dilemma.

I want to buy HT for my new house living room size in 'L' shape. The length is 27' while the shorter width is 16' and the longer width is 25'
So basically its a spacious room. I would place 65" LED screen here. The requirement is of only movies and music (Not heavy music) Also ca be used for music duding a party with friends.

I did look at bose and Polk Audio systems. Bose 650 is a clean system without taking much space and wireless connectivity. The sound looks clear.

The polk audio speakers along with Denon AV looked very bulky and suiting to the aesthetics of the room.

Iam getting a Bose 650 FR version. These are used units on 20% discount and comes with one year warranty. I looked at the model and its manufactured in Nov'18

Guys need your opinion as I have to close this in next week.

Any other option in Delhi is welcome. Iam not looking more bulky stuff.

Regards

Uneet

 

[efernand1]

Hi

You have revived an old thread......as you may have read the above posts and comments....bottom line, if it appeals to you then go ahead.......there are other brands where you get mini speakers or satellites,,,,,you will need to pair it well to a good AVR etc......then the challenge of wires and placement....

The latest AV trend for the last couple of years is Bluetooth and Wifi ...most want this route as it becomes clutter free and also ease of operations......I still prefer hooking wires to the AVR as it sends better SQ and depth to the speakers etc......Also connected sources like Laptop or Blu Ray player perform better using appropriate cables....anyways this is my take.......

Perhaps some powered speakers from Sonodyne etc with a AV pre may help but ....here there will be speaker cables and source wiring......

The Marantz NR series AVR ( 1508/09 or 1608/09) are slim line AVRs.....perhaps you could look at those and pair it up with satellite speaker systems......or Bose Cube speakers.... AM 15.....

 

[uneet]

Hi

You have revived an old thread......as you may have read the above posts and comments....bottom line, if it appeals to you then go ahead.......there are other brands where you get mini speakers or satellites,,,,,you will need to pair it well to a good AVR etc......then the challenge of wires and placement....

The latest AV trend for the last couple of years is Bluetooth and Wifi ...most want this route as it becomes clutter free and also ease of operations......I still prefer hooking wires to the AVR as it sends better SQ and depth to the speakers etc......Also connected sources like Laptop or Blu Ray player perform better using appropriate cables....anyways this is my take.......

Perhaps some powered speakers from Sonodyne etc with a AV pre may help but ....here there will be speaker cables and source wiring......

The Marantz NR series AVR ( 1508/09 or 1608/09) are slim line AVRs.....perhaps you could look at those and pair it up with satellite speaker systems......or Bose Cube speakers.... AM 15.....

Hello

Thanks for your quick reply.

I just looked at Marantz NR 1608. It looks slim compared to other AVR's.

Can it support some wireless connectivity at least on the rear speakers. May be I can pair them with Bose speakers.
How about subwoofer? Which one do you suggest

Thanks

 

[efernand1]

Hi

For subwoofer, depending on the area you want to cover, you can look at 10 inch (Taga) or Yamaha ( 8 inch / 10 / 12 inch) BIC America 12 inch or Velodyne or SVS

Depends on how much you want to spend........

There is no wireless support directly on the 1608......perhaps there would be devices available over Amazon / ebay to make speakers wireless......some adapter type product

 

[shankara.kris]

[QUOTE
There is no wireless support directly on the 1608......perhaps there would be devices available over Amazon / ebay to make speakers wireless......some adapter type product
[/QUOTE]

I would'nt risk buying 3rd party wireless adaptors as it is likely to cause reception/tonal/signal quality issues and leaves you disappointed. Just do the wiring using casing pipe. What's the big deal? Or try Yamaha Rxv 585 if you haven't bought Receiver yet.

 

[efernand1]

Well thats for @uneet to decide if he still wants to pursue the wireless speaker route.....it is risky etc.......

honestly i dont believe in the Bluetooth / Wifi route at all ....in my opinion sound quality / connective gets disruptive........too many signals in the air.......

I only use my Laptop for wifi internet.....it is connected to the marantz via HDMI.....rest all connections through the wire.......