Bose Wave Music System Radio?

[hopey]

Bose is underrated. They have really smart crossovers getting the absolute best out of the drivers without distortion. They do a flat EQ that's so it sounds like the artist intended. Sure you can get a louder more adjustable sound system however you are listening to distortion you would never know the difference.

 

[Brutus442]

This is the one I grabbed from an estate sale. I'm not sure which version this is but it does sound decent given it's small enclosure and "table-top furniture" appearance

 

[Tinman]

If you look up aperiodic speaker enclosure it's similar in principle to what the foam blocks do .

I can't remember but I think it's my GE 5268 detachable speakers that have insulation in them which looks like what you're talking about.
The Bose sponges are extremely dense and are pushed right into the beginning of the ports so they're almost like mufflers.

 

[Tinman]

This is the one I grabbed from an estate sale. I'm not sure which version this is but it does sound decent given it's small enclosure and "table-top furniture" appearanceView attachment 60857View attachment 60858View attachment 60859

That's either a I or II.
Great condition.
Try connecting your phone through the aux in and use an EQ app adjusted to your liking and see what you think.

 

[Reli]

I've never listened to a bose wave radio, and never bought one because they remain quite pricey, but for sure, they have a fanatical following.

Way back in the mid 90s I interviewed for a sales job with one of their field reps. They were cold-calling people and trying to set appointments to go into their homes and demo the Wave radio against their home stereo. Supposedly they would blindfold them while they set it up, and then ask them which one sounded better. I said no thanks. I knew I wasn't persuasive enough to pull off that kind of con-job.

No highs, no bass below 60 Hz, that's Bose

 

[Superduper]

I have met a lot of people, musicians, middle to upper middle classers. They love these. Not everyone needs 20hz bass, and for what it is, typically sitting on a console, nightstand, or kitchen counter, they are good sets for the proper audience.

 

[Tinman]

Again, if you're listening to the radio or CD, you're kind of stuck with what they give you.
Listening through an EQ app, you can get lower lows and higher highs.

 

[Reli]

Again, if you're listening to the radio or CD, you're kind of stuck with what they give you.
Listening through an EQ app, you can get lower lows and higher highs.

True, but this assumes the speakers are capable of delivering the frequencies you want

 

[Superduper]

True, but this assumes the speakers are capable of delivering the frequencies you want

I've seen short videos of the wave radios in action. They didn't seem to be lacking in treble, even though they are video recordings of the actual wave radio, and watched on a smartphone. Of course, you're not going to squeeze subwoofer style bass from 3" woofers in a clock radio sized package. Unless you get the bose that looks more like an angular subwoofer -- I imagine those have larger drivers and bigger bass. Many owners who have wave radios are willing to pay $$$ to replace them when they fail. Also, the high prices they command in 20 year old condition suggests that while they aren't right for everyone, there's plenty of people that do like them. Like tinman said, there's no you can equalize them if you want. The sets themselves are simplistic so they don't include a mariad of sound shaping controls. They are supposed to be neutral. Many boomboxes don't sound all that great either if you just leave the bass and treble controls dead smack in the middle.

 

[Tinman]

True, but this assumes the speakers are capable of delivering the frequencies you want

I love my highs and they deliver more than enough for me.