Tivoli Audio RadioCombo CD/AM/FM Stereo System Review

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(More customer reviews)I was stunned by the difference it made to add the satellite speaker to the Tivoli Model One, confirming the findings of Consumer Reports, which rated the Model One plus satellite speaker the best sound quality of the high end radios tested. Moreover, it's a compact unit with full-frequencied sound at both loud and low volume levels. The iPal, on the other hand, is an overpriced novelty, putting out appealing sound until the gain is advanced beyond the mid-point, at which point distortion is unacceptable. Don't even consider the Tivoli sub-woofer. This unit already has ample bass (sometimes too much); if anything, I wouldn't mind having a treble control to bring out ride cymbals a bit more, though on the whole Tivoli's engineers have done a nice job of balancing frequencies.
If you're serious about sound, and especially stereo separation, you won't want to use this as a bedside clock radio (though the separation is effective even when listening to it in bed with a speaker on each night-stand). Moreover, as some consumer reviews indicate, the clock radio mechanism is very basic. For two hundred more you can get Tivoli's top unit, combining stereo with clock radio and CD player, but you're sacrificing stereo separation, since both speakers are mounted in a single, comparatively small cabinet.
The CD player is a quality unit for those who don't load up discs willy nilly in changers, inviting jamming. Moreover, unlike most portable disc players that I tried, this one doesn't slip, stick, or quickly wear out. It will occasionally balk at discs it doesn't like, and at first I thought I had another irritating jam problem and repair bill on my hands. Simply unplug the power cord for a few seconds, replug, and it will regurgitate the disc.
The price isn't necessarily the smallest, but the unit is, even with all three pieces. Simply put, you won't find a bigger, more satisfying sound anywhere in a more compact system, and face it: even if you're not a wood connoisseur, it looks classy.

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Bose® Wave® music system multi-CD changer, Titanium Silver Review

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(More customer reviews)After owning the Bose Wave System for a year and enjoying the streamlined, compact design coupled with of course the gorgeous rich sound....I was anticipating more of the same quality when coveting the Multi-Cd changer for a long time.
For my birthday I was excited to treat myself to purchasing one. However I was astonished to find that the random mode worked only within ONE cd at a time. This was a deal-breaker for me as that feature was pretty much the sole reason I wanted the benefit of having several CDs on hand. I was given the impression that the cd changer would allow for all the cds to be randomly sampled when playing. Also the mechanical noise was ridiculous when selecting one of the cds to play from the changer, it's a real loud and laborious sound that makes you sense the fragility of the system. Plus the CDs are not sucked in like on the Wave, you have to kind of really push it in.
Then the design when the wave system was mounted on top of this "elegant pedestal" was very awkward and clumsy looking, completely ruining the sleekness of the Wave design. So basically what this multi-cd changer ended up becoming was a VERY overpriced cd storage unit for me. Needless to say I promptly returned it and the friendly Bose associates looked a little sheepish for not being more familiar with the functions of the changer when I asked them specific questions earlier when purchasing this.
Frankly I think this CD changer sheds a bad light on Bose and actually makes you worry if the other products are as poorly designed! I would NOT recommend buying this, stick to your Wave and maybe they will put out a product worthy of their reputation. Until then I will just change the CD myself.

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Bose Acoustic Wave Music System II - Platinum White Review

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(More customer reviews)A couple years ago I was wandering around Philipsburg, on the Dutch side of St. Martin, just out enjoying a hot Caribbean day, when I spied a stereo shop. I wandered in and saw an American tourist bartering with a sales clerk, trying to get him to come down on the price for this funny looking, all in one stereo system.
Who'd want that? I thought. I watched fascinated while they haggled. The salesman didn't come down and in the end the tourist bought the stereo that looked more like a model for a hotel. The salesman took his name and made arrangement to have it delivered to the cruise ship the tourist had arrived on.
"You interested?" the clerk told me.
"Nah, not really," I said, but I was interested and the clerk knew it. He turned it on, not loud, and it sounded oh so sweet. He was playing Linda Ronstadt's "Heart Like a Wheel" and I've always been a sucker for Linda.
He told me he could have it delivered to my cruise ship duty free. I asked him how it sounded played loud. He cranked it up and I opened my wallet.
Now I find myself writing a review about this odd looking stereo. First off, I have to say I love the sound for the most part and have since purchased a wave radio and a couple wave radios with CD players, both the latter for work.
The good: This machine will fill your room with gorgeous sound and if you're playing a CD that was professionally produced or if you have ripped one and are playing it back from your iPod thorough the unit's aux in jacks, you'll probably be very satisfied, more than satisfied with the sound you get.
The bad: What if you're not playing a professionally produced CD? What if you have some of those early, almost illegal Beatle tapes, which have almost no bass on them? Or a tape of a Springsteen concert, which has too much bass? What if you've ripped these to iTunes? What if you want to play them through your Bose Acoustic Wave Music System II? You're SOL if you want to do that.
I have stereos in every room and they all have bass and treble controls. Still, regarding the Bose, I can equalize the sound coming out of my iPod Touch, but I shouldn't have too. At the very least Bose should have included a bass and treble control. Heck, my dad had those in the fifteen dollar radio in his Fifty-Two Chevy.
In conclusion, if you are going to use this as your main stereo and you have a hours and hours of concert tapes as I do, then this might not be the stereo for you, but if, on the other hand, you have only professionally recorded CDs from the major record companies or if you want to run your television sound though this machine via the auxiliary inputs, you'll probably be very happy with this unit.

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Bose® Wave® music system multi-CD changer - Platinum White Review

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(More customer reviews)I purchased this item about 2 years ago and put it on the shelf with the wave set. The system has only been used in moderation since only play cd's on the weekends and not always then. Up until yesterday the multi-changer worked fine as you would expect since it hasn't been overused and I have taken care with it. Then, for no apparent reason, the multi-changer refused to read the discs and reported "disc error" on the screen.
The main unit played CDs fine but then three multi-changer slots would not read the same disc that played on the main unit so clearly the disc was not at fault. I called customer service at Bose and was told that the multi-changer was malfunctioning and it would cost $75 plus tax and shipping to repair it since the one year warranty had expired.
I guess this is fair, but considering how BOSE hypes their products in the media, one would expect this product to last somewhat longer that 2 years for the price of $249.
I would be interested in knowing if other buyers of the multi-changer have had problems with this product after only a relatively short time. Normally I would expect a multi-changer to last a minimum of 5 years or more without a problem. Two years of service means I paid $125 per year which seems a very high price for this option.
Bose® Wave® music system multi-CD changer, Platinum White


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Tivoli Audio Model CD Player, Cherry/Metallic Taupe Review

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(More customer reviews)Having come across the three preceding reviews, I feel obliged to correct the negative impression they leave. I bought one of the first Model CDs to be made, and it had a design problem. It didn't play all CDs and the drive mechanism was flaky. But it SOUNDED terrific - high resolution and warm, balanced sound - one of the best digital/analog converters I've ever heard.
I contacted the company immediately and learned that they were having problems with many units and that they were already in the process of fixing the design problem. They said that they could send a replacement immediately, but I opted to wait until they knew they had fixed the problem. At that time, they shipped me a new unit and allowed me to return the old one in the same packing materials.
It was a pain to wait for, but well worth it. This is a simple, "bare-bones" CD player that is perfectly matched to the Model One. The design problem was part hardware and part software, and it is completely fixed. What's amazing is how good the music sounds. If that's what you're looking for, you'd be foolish to ignore this CD player because of the other reviews. They are not wrong, but collectively they leave the wrong impression about this CD player. For the price, I doubt you can find any CD player that sounds this good.

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The Tivoli Henry Kloss Model Two Radio with companion speaker, the Tivoli Model Subwoofer, and the Tivoli Model CD are designed to be used together as part of a complete compact stereo system but are sold separately.
All the elements of the component system have classic styling that makes Tivoli products so distinctive. Simplicity and elegance are engineered into all three components and, for the most part, we came away impressed with what this little system could do in terms of sound quality, as well as its ease of use. It's worth noting here that all three components sport separate ports for AC and DC power, making them a great choice for boating or RV use.
Henry Kloss Model Two The Model Two serves as the base unit for the Tivoli component system. It is very similar to the Model Three clock radio, without the alarm clock section. Like other Tivoli radios, the Model Two is just over 8 inches wide, 4.5 inches high, and 5.25 inches deep--about the size of a toaster turned on its side. The unit also ships with a companion speaker which, unlike the monaural Henry Kloss Model One, gives the system full stereo separation.
The Model Two has a single rotary dial that handles tuning for both AM and FM stations. The dial is designed to move between stations at a speed that's a bit slower than the speed at which the user turns the knob--a five-to-one ratio, to be exact. This ratio dialing technique makes it far easier to tune stations accurately and quickly. It's a nice touch that sets the unit apart from other desktop radios. The tuner band selection and volume dials are easy to control, and they're well designed for hands of all sizes. A small LED power indicator, as well as an LED that helps determine signal strength, are positioned between the dials. We did have one gripe about the Model Two controls, though--the same gripe we had about the Model Three. Unlike the high-contrast labeling we found on the Platinum Series Model One radio, the Model Two's blue-gray lettering atop a taupe background is difficult to read, especially in low-light situations.
The Model Two's 3-inch driver is housed next to the tuning dial and is protected by a handsome metal speaker cover. The companion speaker contains the same driver in a form factor that is the same size and construction as the Model Two's main unit. A 15-foot RCA speaker cord attached to the companion speaker allows you to set the speakers well apart in a room--great for getting optimal stereo separation. There's a small balance dial on the rear of the main unit as well as a mono-stereo switch.
A coaxial antenna jack for the included FM antenna wire is provided, although the Model Two also has an internal FM antenna. Tivoli recommends using the supplied external antenna for tricky tuning in locales with a lot of closely spaced stations. There's a handy switch for alternating between the internal and external antennae, as well. A standard 3.5-millimeter headphone jack is also provided, as is a 3.5-millimeter auxiliary line-in port for plugging in the Model CD. For the really techno-savvy, there's also a 3.5-millimeter mixing input that permits audio from your computer to be mixed with the radio. A preamp-out jack is provided for the Model Subwoofer, and if you want to use the Model Two as a component tuner--not a bad idea given the overall quality and accuracy of the tuning circuitry--Tivoli has provided a 3.5-millimeter output port.
Model Subwoofer At 6.5 inches high, 9.5 inches wide, and 6.1 inches deep, the Model Subwoofer is a bit larger than the other components in the Tivoli system. While a 5.25-inch bass driver dominates the front of the unit, there's also a deep front port for added bass response. A bass-level dial lets you decide how much of the low end you want to hear. The on-off switch has a sensor that automatically activates the subwoofer when a signal is detected. With 20 watts of power, the Model Subwoofer is an impressive little box with the capability of dramatically extending the fullness and richness of the Model Two sound.
Model CD With its cherry wood casing, Tivoli's component CD player matches the Model Two perfectly while offering equally simple operation. We really liked the elegant slot-loading mechanism; it felt solid and reliable. Basic functions like play, stop, and track selection can be controlled on the unit. There's also a tiny little remote that adds shuffle, direct track selection, repeat, and intro-scanning functions. True to form, the remote is simple and easy to use. The Model CD's display is bright and crisp with the look of a high-end audiophile-class component. We played a number of CDs, including CD-R discs with nary a hitch. Tivoli says that the Model CD will not play CD-RW discs, however.
A 3.5-millimeter headset jack is provided on the back of the unit, as are RCA outputs and an AC power port that connects to a supplied brick-style AC adapter. The unit is also capable of running on DC power.
All Together Now Setting up the component system was fairly straightforward. All of the inputs and outputs are clearly marked, and each component ships with everything you need to make the right connections. Although it might be too much to ask for, it would be great if the Model Two main unit had an AC power input for plugging in at least one of the components. This is admittedly a minor quibble, and it might not be feasible in such a small device.
Just like our experiences with other Tivoli products, sound was impressive--full of clear highs and mids and rich, room-filling lows. The Model Two tuning feature felt less accurate than the Model One, but we still were able to dial in stations quickly and easily. Overall, we recommend the Model Two as a high-quality mini-component system, because systems this size rarely sound this good. Even without the subwoofer engaged, the sound was rich and resonant. As soon as we plugged in the subwoofer, though, we were transported to near sonic bliss. It's a must-have accessory for the Model Two.--Joshua Gunn
Pros
Simple, stylish construction on all the component parts
Great sound from such a compact system; good tuning accuracy
Subwoofer option adds exceptional dynamic range
Cons
Tuner is slightly less accurate than the Model One

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Bose® Wave® music system multi-CD changer, Graphite Gray Review

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(More customer reviews)My sister and I purchased this for our father for Christmas, and he absolutely loves it. One issue I have with it is the COMPLETE lack of manual controls, you are utterly reliant on the remote, and the remote is tiny. I ordered a second remote in the larger size, which is much easier for my parents to read without searching for the reading glasses. But the unit sounds like a dream and has worked just perfectly. So, order the extra remote, best to have one on hand just in case you lose one or the dog eats one (yeah, our dogs like electronic remotes, if they can find them), it's well worth the small amount of extra $. With no manual controls on the unit, you're better off having a spare!

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Boston Acoustics Horizon Trio Clock Radio w/ CD Player (Mist) Review

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(More customer reviews)I already own one Boston Acoustics Clock Radio and decided to purchase another which plays CDs.
Unfortunately, there is a manufacturing glitch by which the audio mutes briefly at the end of each track when playing a CD straight through. This might not be noticeable on CDs where there is some silence between tracks. But on many classical CDs where there is continuity of music between tracks, this results in missing about a second of music at each track change.
This was confirmed by BA (because it always "searches" for the next track) and I found it unacceptable. So I had to return it.
However, if you are not into classical CDs, then this is otherwise an excellent CD/AM/FM clock radio. The sound quality is superb as one would expect from such an expensive item. I did find the snooze bar for the alarm a bit too sensitive, which on two occasions caused it to snooze for 15 minutes instead of 10.

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Polk Audio I-Sonic Entertainment System 2 Review

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(More customer reviews)I got the I-Sonic 2 just about a month ago and I am still amazed at how good this thing sounds. I got a Bose and a Cambridge at the same time, niether come close and are going back. It was great to do a comparision in my own home.
I read a lot of reviews on the first I-Sonic; best I can tell Polk has fixed all of the issues. It doesn't get hot, the display is easy to read, and the controls are so simple I have yet to open the manual.
The iPod dock works with my iPhone and my video iPod and my iPod has never sounded better. Really, you will be blown away by how good this system sounds. I have the unit in my bedroom and it is a perfect place to store my iPod when I get home; keeps it charged all the time.
The HD Radio works well with the single wire antenna provided with the system. I have tagged a bunch of sounds and bought a few from iTunes; very very cool feature even if you just use it to remeber a song.
I am very satisfied with the system and would highly recommend it to any iPod owner, its a perfect match.


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The I-Sonic ES2 includes a second generation HD Radio tuner with full multicasting. With its advanced acoustical system, Digital Signal Processing, and new HD Radio tuner technology, the I-Sonic ES2 is one of the highest performing self-contained HD Radio products on the market. The I-Sonic ES2 accepts all iPod models with dock connectors in its top-mounted iPod dock, craftily hidden beneath a sliding door. S-Video and composite video outputs allow the user to connect a television or video monitor to the IES2 for viewing video content stored on a video iPod.

Four-Speaker I-Sonic Technology Polk's engineering breakthrough changes the rules for small system performance. Conventional table-top systems "beam" the sound straight towards the listener, even those with two speakers. At best, these designs can create a stereo soundfield for someone seated directly facing the unit. It's not at all satisfying for any other listeners in the room. Polk's exclusive, patent-pending I-Sonic design lets everyone in the room enjoy the rich sound. The I-Sonic stereo soundfield is projected all around. No matter where you are in the room, you'll get the full I-Sonic experience.
Deep Bass from Patented PowerPort Technology PowerPort venting technology belts out the kind of rich, powerful bass you'd expect from much larger stereo speakers. Bass ports redirect the sound created by the back of the speaker cone into the room. But conventional bass ports lose efficiency and create distortion because of air turbulence at the mouth of the port.
PowerPort vastly reduces air turbulence at the port mouth thereby reducing distortion and increasing bass output. This is the same technology used in Polk's legendary $10,000 Signature Reference Theater system. In the I-Sonic ES2 PowerPort delivers sound that is rich and warm, making all of your music and movies sound life-like and satisfying.
Advanced Digital Signal Processing Built into every I-Sonic ES2 is a Digital Signal Processor (DSP) with the processing power of a small computer. Polk engineers have programmed the DSP to ensure that you hear incredible sound at every volume level in every spot in the room. First, a Dynamic Loudness Contour automatically adjusts bass and treble response to account for your ears' frequency sensitivity at low volume. You'll hear rich, well-balanced sound even at late-night listening levels. The DSP also prevents distortion at high volume with its Dynamic Compression. Go ahead, crank up the volume and play air guitar to your heart's content. With I-Sonic the sound will always be crisp, clear and clean. Finally, the powerful DSP controls the time delay and frequency shaping that is behind Polk's exclusive and patented I-Sonic four-speaker technology. You'll hear full-bodied, huge stereo sound in every spot in your room.
HD Radio Technology Radio stations all over the country are converting to digital HD radio broadcasting. The chances are very good that your favorite radio station is or will shortly be broadcasting in HD. HD Radio brings you a host of sound quality, convenience and programming choice benefits. Your HD radio listening will be free of the static and multipath distortion of old fashioned analog radio. You'll enjoy CD-quality sound from FM HD stations and FM quality stereo sound from AM HD stations. You will never want to go back to analog once you've heard the HD radio difference.
The I-Sonic ES2 also allows broadcasters to show information on the display screen--information like artist/program name, song title, sports scores, traffic information and stock ticker.
Conventional AM/FM Radio The I-Sonic ES2 picks up all of the broadcast radio stations in your area. If your favorite radio stations are not yet broadcasting in HD you will receive standard analog AM and FM just like ay other AM/FM radio (only better sounding of course).
Sirius Satellite Radio (Optional) Add Sirius satellite radio with an optional add-on plus monthly subscription from the provider. Sirius boasts over 130 channels of digital radio, including 69 channels of 100% commercial-free music, live performances, artist interviews, and talk shows. Sirius is home to the NFL and over 40 NBA and NHL games a week, plus college sports.
Big names on Sirius include Howard Stern, Tony Hawk, and Martha Stewart. The Sirius bundle has a separate screen to display channel, artist, and song names, and plugs into the auxiliary port of the I-Sonic for high quality sound.
Built-In iPod Dock The I-Sonic ES2 has an integrated iPod dock on the top with a universal adapter for any size iPod, including the iPhone and iPod Touch. Listen to music or videos (Check Compatibility) through the dynamic sound of the I-Sonic ES2 speakers.
iPod Video with S-Video & Composite Outputs Use the integrated iPod dock to connect your iPod to the I-Sonic ES2 and you can stream videos directly to your TV via S-video or composite connection. Now you can watch and listen to your saved iPod videos easily, let the I-Sonic ES2 handle the hard stuff, you just sit back and relax.
Hear it. Tag it. Download it. Never forget it. Now it's easy to purchase songs you hear on HD Radio with the I-Sonic ES2 tagging feature and your iPod. Whenever you're listening to HD Radio and hear a song you love, simply hit the "TAG" button on the front of the I-Sonic ES2 to capture the song's information on your iPod. Then the next time you sync your iPod with your computer you will be able to download tagged songs via the Apple iTunes music store. It's that simple!
Tune into any HD Radio station with the I-Sonic ES2. When song information can be tagged, the tag button will light up. When you hear a song you like, press the tag button on the front panel or the remote (shown right). The TAG (song data) is stored in the I-Sonic ES2 and will store up to 50 TAGs.
Dock your iPod in the I-Sonic ES2 and TAGs will be automatically transfered to your iPod.
Sync your iPod with iTunes and your TAGs will appear in a playlist called "Tagged" in iTunes, ready for you to purchase directly from the Apple iTunes Music Store.

What's in the Box I-Sonic ES2, Remote Control (batteries included), Power Supply, AM External Antenna, FM External Antennas (dipole and wire), Owner's Guide, Online Registration Card

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Bose Wave Radio - Clock radio - graphite gray Review

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(More customer reviews)Bose is a true case study in Marketing over Engineering. The Wave Radio proves it. This radio uses a tuned port to accent a certain part of the bass region.
The problem is that the port seem to make a characture of the bass. Bommy in some spots and thin in others. I think the tube is an attempt to compensate for some small / weak drivers.
After a while this radio started to sound annoying to me. I have had this problem before with another piece of Bose equipment. (A factory car stereo)
For far less money check out the Tivoli model 1 or Model 2. These little radios are MUCH cheaper than the Bose and they sound much better. They also take up less table space and look nicer.
Bose is very famous. They have spent a lot of money to convinve people they are an "audiophile" brand. True audiophiles who hear the Tivoli will see that there is NO comparision. Thanks goodness I was able to return the Wave radio!
I gave this 3 stars. It does sound better than most small radios. However, it is over priced and you can do better for less. Also, it takes up a lot of dresser space.


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Bose® Wave® music system -- SoundLink Review

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(More customer reviews)My parents sent me a Bose Wave music system with SoundLink for Christmas. It arrived a bit early so I took it into my office and set it up. I listen to music while writing software into the early hours of the morning. This isn't something I would have bought for myself, but it was a well-appreciated gift as I'm listening through some small Altec Lansing speakers currently.
A couple of notes about the product below:
Aesthetics - The system looks like an oversized alarm clock. If I were frozen in the 80's to be thawed out today, I would have reason to believe that nothing had changed as far as alarm clocks go. That said, this is more than _just_ an alarm clock so this is forgiven. I was surprised to see that the SoundLink device was an external device. It seems to me that a radio receiver could easily be internalized into the main radio appliance. While the Wave music system is more than an alarm clock, you wouldn't know that much by the clock interface on the front. The big LED numbers with an AM/PM indicator and accompanying LED indicator of the source seem out of touch with the reality of a device this costly in this modern era. Compare the aesthetics of this device vs. the elegance of other devices costing the same. I think you'll agree that 'looks' were likely the last thing on the Bose technicians' minds.
Setup - This was likely one of the easiest devices I've set up in ages. I expected there to be, at the minimum, some software to install and some cumbersome UI to work through to get sound pumping from my computer to the appliance. This wasn't the case. I literally plugged the power and the SoundLink device into the appliance, plugged the USB transmitter into my computer and I was off to the races! That said, I was confused why the SoundLink device had a DC power input, but no DC power cord. Perhaps there is something I'm missing in why the input is needed but it wasn't a big deal since the system works without one.
Use - The appliance itself has no buttons on it which bothers me a bit. Perhaps Bose was trying to avoid the complete appearance that this was just an alarm-clock radio. That said, the concern is that if I lose my remote control, I'm screwed till I find a replacement. Since this device is sitting on my side desk (literally right beside me) the effect of using my remote control to use the device seems absurd. This wouldn't be so bad if Bose had thought to make the remote control dockable to the system and allow you to use the remote as a front or top panel control when docked as such. Setting the time and alarms on the system is also very archaic. This uses that same tired 'rewind/fast forward' type alarm setting that your clock radio does -- again reinforcing that this is just an expensive version of the same. Apart from that, I was happy with how easily my music just seamlessly streams from my computer to the appliance. I don't need to configure my software. I just run my normal apps (Zune Software, iTunes, etc.) and it just works!
Sound Quality - When I first plugged this in, I was quite happy with the sound. However, shortly into my first song, I started hearing frequent cracking and popping. I didn't have the device cranked. I'm at work so I couldn't possibly put it above 50% output on my computer with 30-50 on the device itself without the music starting to waft out of my office and into the hallways. That said, the cracking and popping was actually louder than the music which makes the device output more annoying than soothing. I tried listening to a variety of music from classical to heavy metal. I tried adjusting the volume. I even tried cranking it a bit higher at other times of the night when no one else is here. No matter the volume levels on the computer or the radio, the crackling and popping persists making this device practically useless for my purposes. Looking at the website, this appears to be a regularly enough occurring event that they included it in the FAQ: [...] Their solution was to 'reset' the device. I tried this and the popping persisted. Lest you think this is was just a bad unit, start searching the internet for other unhappy users and you won't have to look far. On top of the cracking and popping there appears to be an occasional 'skip' in sound. I haven't yet determined if this is caused by the SoundLink transmission or the radio itself.
Summary - The Bose Wave radio is, in my opinion overpriced for what it provides. The aesthetics are behind the times. There is no 'wow' feature to the device and that unfortunately includes the sound which is the primary purpose of the system. The remote-only control of the device is scary. There is a lot of wasted potential here. My recommendation to you would be to buy a regular clock radio. At least if it crackles and pops, you won't be out so much money.
My recommendations for Bose would be: 1) Integrate the SoundLink receiver into the main appliance 2) make the remote control dockable/lockable into the top of the system so it can be used as a front/top panel input on the device itself 3) Bring the front-instrumentation of the device into the modern era with some music visualization options and a less static LCD-centric display 4) Fix the primary purpose of the system (there is absolutely no reason why I should spend several hundred dollars to hear this when there are many other lower-cost music-listening options at my disposal) 5) Allow me to set alarms a bit more reasonably than scrolling through a 60-minute-times-24-hour-rolling interface. Perhaps put a bluetooth radio in the device and let me set it through my phone or computer. Or just give me an easy hour-then-minute-then-am/pm interface.
Original review posted December 23, 2009 - updated January 5, 2011:
Per one of the comments to this review, I attempted to connect to the Bose Wave Music System through standard Bluetooth rather than through the provided SoundLink USB key. This has proved to remove the crackling and popping. While this does limit the distance that you will get through wireless (limited to 30 feet as opposed to the reported 60 feet with the SoundLink USB Key), it does make the device more effective within it's range, in my opinion). I highly recommend this option. You can find instructions for setting the Bluetooth into a discoverable mode on page 24 of the owner's manual that accompanies the device.
- I still keep my rating where it is for the same reasons described in my review above. This is a below average device in a highly above-average cost. I don't recommend purchasing this device. Perhaps the next itteration of the system will include some of the recommendations given in my review and in others to improve the value.

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Acclaimed Bose sound, now for your computer music. Wirelessly.Presenting another great reason to own a Wave music system: wireless audio from your computer. In addition to CDs and FM/AM, the Wave® music system -- SoundLinkTM puts a new world of entertainment at your command. iTunes. Internet radio. Any music on your computer can be enjoyed in the room of your choice. Imagine: all your listening options available from one central system--in lifelike Bose sound.
Plug and play simplicityJust plug the small USB key into your computer and the SoundLink adapter to the Wave music system. In seconds, you can enjoy your favorite playlists and more in a different room, away from your computer. It's quick, convenient and easy. There's no software to load and no networks to configure.
Acclaimed performanceYour music comes to life with Bose waveguide speaker technology, the innovation that has made this compact system one of the industry's most praised creations. Rich Warren of News Gazette said the Wave music system "...will flat out seduce you." Now, hear what it can do for your music downloads and favorite online stations.
A handy remote controls all system functions and even navigates your computer playlists. There's an auxiliary input for your MP3 or other portable player, and a headphone jack for private listening.
The Wave music system -- SoundLink: legendary performance with added versatility. It could be the only system you'll ever need to enjoy all of your music.
What's in the box--Wave® music system --SoundLink adapter--SoundLink USB key--AC power cord--remote control--demonstration CD

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Bose® Wave® Music System with Multi-CD Changer -- Graphite Gray Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)As a huge music lover, I have always wished for a Bose system to get that amazing sound in such a small box. Upon receiving it...I was not disappointed by the sound or size. However, I have discovered two limitations to the system that are highly disappointing. I bought the 3 disk cd changer along with my Bose system...so that I can listen to 4 CDs without having to change out CDS. With other multi-disc systems I've had...I've always been able to shuffle among disks so that you don't have to listen to just one artist...you can listen to a range of artists from the various disks. The Bose system does NOT allow you to shuffle among disks. It does have a shuffle feature but it only shuffles songs within one disk (which seems futile)...or you can shuffle and have one disk repeat over and over. I was pretty disappointed to see that a system that costs this much can't shuffle between disks.
The other disappointment that I knew when I bought it....is there are no buttons on the system....they are all on a remote control (which is easy to use)...but if you are prone to losing things...this might not be so great for you. I would have liked to have buttons AND a remote.

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Bose Acoustic Wave Music System II - Graphite Gray Review

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(More customer reviews)I bought this for my study. I wanted a simple all in one, plug and play. I got SO much more! It is rich and room filling at all sound levels! It is expensive.....yes, you get what you pay for! This is a great item don't hesitate if you want a one piece masterpiece! Pax.

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Bose Wave Music System - Graphite Gray Review

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(More customer reviews)I've had my Bose for about two years. I'm very glad to have received it as a present because, despite some of its fine features, it certainly does not merit the hefty, comparable-to-a-small-home-stereo price tag.
I like its design and its sound.
I don't like the following "features":
1) It is the most sensitive CD player I have. It will not properly play a number of CDs, especially CD-Rs. If a disc is slightly thin, the unit will either not accept it (you have to give it a push) or not eject it (you have to open up the unit, turn it on, hit "eject," and pull the disc out). This is especially annoying when my $70 boombox plays them without a problem. Refurbishing by Bose did nothing to change my unit's sensitivity.
2) It is not programmable! It doesn't program songs at all. The best it can do is "shuffle," "shuffle repeat," "repeat track," and "repeat disc." The cheapest boombox these days is programmable.
3) The lack of buttons is annoying: I found I had to order a second remote ($10) and keep it by the box. When I called Bose about this problem, the tech suggested getting the second remote and added that a lot of people had done that. My boombox is more user-friendly (it has buttons as well as a remote).
One can argue about the merits of elegance vs. user-friendliness. But the lack of programmability and the oversensitivity of this box make it a poor buy, in my opinion.

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CD music system

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Bose Wave Music System - Platinum White Review

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(More customer reviews)Yes, you read that right. But before I get to the review, a confession:
As a life-long audiophile, I have long felt that Bose represented the pinnacle of overpriced hype and underwhelming sound quality. The true genius of Amar Bose, in my opinion, is that he has created a distinctive "Bose sound" that appeals greatly to mass market consumers who don't know any better. Spend some time listening to truly good audio systems, and you'll quickly realize that Bose is a high-priced, superbly marketed joke. And unfortunately, I have to live with Bose mediocrity on a daily basis in the form of a Bose audio system "upgrade" in my Acura MDX. (Which I was forced to take as part of the touring package.) It cranks out 'okay' sound at best, and is no where near as good as "stock" audio systems in some of my previously owned vehicles. The most positive thing I can say is that my Acura Bose system sounds better than the Bose system in my friend's Mercedes.
By now you should be getting the idea that I'm the last person in the world inclined to give a Bose product a compliment, no less a five star review. What happened? Well, I was looking for a compact, one piece music system for my home office. And in the world of audio, I realize there is no such thing as a free lunch--designing such a system requires that sound quality be compromised to various degrees along the way. So I certainly wasn't expecting this unit to sound anything like the $10K Sonus Faber speakers in my main rig. What I wanted was good quality sound that, muscially speaking, got the important things right, with no obvious "wrongs."
With these parameters, I quickly realized that there are not many systems out there worth considering. The Cambridge Soundworks 740 soon became my top contender, but I wasn't really happy with it. Yes, it's got bass to spare, but it's bass that I find to be somewhat out of balance with the overall sound, and there's simply no way to tame it. And so, begrudgingly, I decided to give Bose's "New Wave Music System" a listen--after all, I could return it if I didnt like the sound, which I fully expected to be doing. And yet, nearly a month after it arrived in my home, I'm here to sing its praises.
Simply put, the New Wave Music System sounds better than I ever imagined possible with a unit of this size. It's extremely musical and just sounds "right," (whether it be rock, hip-hop, jazz or classical) with many sonic strengths and no obvious flaws. It will easily fill an average-sized room with music, and there's no sense of strain as you push it to higher volumes. For many if not most consumers, the New Wave may be as much "music system" as you'll ever need. One of the downsides to the audiophile pursuit is that you increasing tend to listen analytically, rather than for enjoyment. With the New Wave system, I've rediscovered the pleasure of just popping in a CD and letting it play. I"ve also found both the AM and FM receivers to be quite good, as well.
I really like the sleek, compact design, though I suspect I'll be cursing the "no buttons" approach the first time I (inevitably) lose the remote. And, being always suspicious of Bose's motives, I suspect this design may have been driven by bean counters who saw a way to reduce manufacturing costs by eliminating all on-case controls.
Is it overpriced? Well, if you're the type of person for whom "good enough" is usually good enough, you may want to look elsewhere. But for a product that I truly enjoy using on a daily basis, this was well worth the price. And compared to the insanity of high-end audio, where a 1 meter interconnect can run 3,000 bucks, $500 is downright reasonable.
Overall, I give the New Wave a "Bravo, Bose!" and I'd encourage any audiophiles looking for a small second system to give this a listen. You can always return it within 30 days, but I'd plan on it being a keeper.

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The Wave music system reproduces one-half octave lower musical notes and delivers even greater clarity and definition than the original Wave radio/CD. With its deeper tones and even more lifelike sound, you might just feel like you're sitting in the front row. Inside, our new proprietary waveguide speaker technology combines with other Bose technologies to deliver enhanced performance at all listening levels. You'll hear the same clear musical nuances whether you turn the volume up or keep it soft. You'll also enjoy the full depth and range of every vocal or instrument on MP3s, CD-R/RWs, and conventional CDs. Listen to CDs created on your computer and take advantage of the digital MP3 format for hours of uninterrupted Wave music system quality sound. The Wave music system was engineered to be delightfully easy to use. There are no visible buttons. Instead, the entire system is completely and conveniently controlled by a credit card-sized remote control. And setup couldn't be easier. The CD player, digital AM/FM tuner, amplifiers and speakers are all built-in so you can enjoy quality sound right out of the box. The large, bright display panel is easy to read and understand, prominently displaying the artist, title and album names of your suitably encoded MP3 CDs. It's also easy to enjoy the system's full, rich sound with your TV, VCR, DVD player, or computer, thanks to an auxiliary input jack. And if you want to keep the music to yourself, you can simply plug your headphones into the headphone jack. The Wave music system may look familiar, but it takes the original award-winning design of the Wave radio/CD to new levels. With its absence of buttons and a convenient slot-loaded CD player, the slim, sleek profile shines through to complement just about any room.

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Bose Acoustic Wave Music System - Micro system - radio / CD - graphite gray Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I have had this system for a couple of years now and I am not looking back.
I added a Sennheiser DSP 360 processor to give the system virtual digital surround sound for television and DVDs, just to give an extra pop, but it isn't a necessary add on.
Despite that little fix, the system is perfect. The sound is remarkable.
I have several snobby audiofile friends who scoffed when I first mentioned I bought this system. But when watching television (especially digital cable with it's exceptional audio channel) or a DVD, or listening to a CD, either through the DVD player on the included CD player, all of my friends have remarked how great the sound is.

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Bose Wave Music System - Titanium Silver Review

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(More customer reviews)I have enjoyed my Bose Wave music system for just over a month and I am very pleased with its performance. This is the second or third generation of the iconic Bose one-piece tabletop sound system that is intended to make you think you are listening to a much more complicated and professional component system. And, to a great extent, it does just that--or at least, it is closer to a stereo component sound than to a stand-alone run-of-the-mill radio sound. It certainly features a deeper range of bass sounds than any other one-piece radio I have ever encountered.
Bose has pioneered its spectacular sound machines which seem highly defined by their innovative speaker systems which they refer to as "waveguide speaker technology". This one-piece system produces a clear, natural, room-filling sound without the need of external speakers. It has a very innovative physical design with a small unintrusive footprint that sits well on a night stand or in the kitchen. I particulrly appreciate the Titanium Silver color which seems appropriate for any area of the home. It is simple to install right out of the box and has the FM/AM radio, CD player, and clock/alarm built in. There is an auxiliary input for an MP3 player or other alternate sound source.

I especially appreciate the alarm system that opens softly and gently rises in volume as you awake. It comes with a credit card size remote control; however, I purchased the larger backlit remote with a dedicated cradle that I use instead. All in all, this is an effective and very impressive one-piece tabletop sound system that I enjoy daily. It is a bit pricy, but ultimately, you get what you pay for.


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The acclaimed Wave music system still sets the standard for quality audio and ease of use among one-piece, table top radios and bookshelf stereos. Its award-winning design adds a touch of distinction to almost any room. It's no surprise so many people use it as their main home entertainment system for music listening.Unique Bose innovations account for this compact Wave system's hearty sound. Proprietary waveguide speaker technology combines with other Bose technologies to deliver performance well beyond the speakers' size.The Wave music system was engineered for easy enjoyment, right out of the box. No setup required: just plug it in and you're ready to go. The FM/AM radio and CD player are built in. There's an auxiliary input for your MP3 or other portable player, and a headphone jack for keeping the music to yourself.The system's sleek appearance is uninterrupted by buttons, with all controls on a handy, slim remote. The large display panel is brightly lit and easy to read, prominently displaying the artist, title and album names of your MP3 CDs.

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Bose Wave Radio II - Platinum White Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)The Bose Wave Radio II is easy to use, has top-of-the-line speakers and has a high-quality build. I use mine as a TV stereo speaker. The auxiliary input works for that function and what I like is that it doesn't take up a lot of space next to the TV. Indeed, incredible sound for the size of the speakers. So why only four stars, not five? Because the Bose, for all the money it costs, is not a top radio performer. It has only average AM reception with its internal ferrite antenna and worse its FM relies on the power cord for what is truly a lame "antenna." So as a speaker, the Bose is great but as a radio it is well below par. For hooking up to your TV, the Bose is outstanding. But as a bedside radio? No way. You would be better off buying a 120-dollar Sangean WR-2, a 100-dollar Boston Acoustics Horizon Solo, or a 100-dollar Tivoli Songbook for your bedside. But if you're integrating the Bose into your TV home entertainment system and you don't mind spending the money and you're not fastidious about your FM reception, then you will enjoy the Bose.

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