Why the Bose hate?

Mr Jones · 22 Dec 2007 at 20:05

Guys... I was out today looking for a decent pair of headphones and by chance I saw the display of Bose Around-Ear Tripod Headphones there, gave it a try and OMG! They are light, comfortable and the demo sounded brilliant!

I use a Mylar XB (IEM) and they sound good but the Bose just made listening more comfortable (as compared to the IEM) and look less like a cyberman, plus the sound quality is good - compared to what I've tried tho, the mere Sony MBR100 and a Skullcandy Harsh (Hush?) - but the pricing is 3x to them of course.

I popped to the Bose retailer next door and they've got it got £75, cheaper than that music shop with a dog (£99)

Came back to do a little research around it and found most review sites gave it around 3.5 to 4 out of 5, comparing it to Sony and Grado (sp?). However, many users and so called "audiophiles" seem to slate it for its pricing... Honestly, I think it's too harsh and I actually really really like it, for comfort and the sound quality I heard alone is worth £75.

What do you guys think?
Also, what would be a more "favoured" headphone for £50 to £70 pricing then?

balls · 23 Dec 2007 at 10:21

Cannot really comment on the Bose cans, not used any in about 5-6 years. I think the sennheiser HD555's fit perfectly in that bracket.

taz488 · 23 Dec 2007 at 10:26

my mates got £100 bose, the cone shaped ones, and they are flimsy, good sound, good isolating, but not worth £100 as my hd485's sound as good, are as comfy and were £40

Leporello · 23 Dec 2007 at 12:10

What are you concerned about?. Bose products are distinctly unfashionable amongst audiophile fashionistas but if they work for you does it matter?

I have a set of Sennheiser HD650s and a headphone amplifier which together cost £600. I use these for my home hi-fi and PC. I also own a set of BOSE triports that I use with an MP3 player and laptop, etc. I enjoy and am happy with both. The Triports aren't as good as the Sennheisers but they cost less than half as much.

Enjoy your triports.

-Ad- · 23 Dec 2007 at 13:10

Well i tried some BOSe triports in a shop and they wernt bad, but for the price they were crap tbh. THey isolated well and were light, but were also very flimsy and sounded much like sony ex-71s with their sound signature, so not good.

I have heard many headphones now, mainly at the UK head-fi meet this year, and the BOSE is still one of the worst ive heard compared to similarly priced headphones.

It's is not that they are horrific, just seriously overpriced. At 1/2 price they would be a lot better value, and although they don't sound particularly great, and are built out of airfix parts stuck together, they do have some plus points.