Bose Wave Music System Radio?

Tinman

Tinman

Member (SA)
So a friend of my mother's has an older Bose Wave radio with the 3 cd changer that sits below the radio/cd player (they connect with a "Bose link" cable).
A month or so ago, she asked if I could take a look at the cd changer because it had stopped working.
I took it apart and found two cds were stuck in it.
It was tough but I got them removed.
I ended up finding that there was some mechanical damage (I think one of her grandkids attempted to remove the cds before she asked me and did the damage).
The original problem was that it needed a new transformer which I found a used one for around $20.
It was a VERY tough and finicky unit to get working correctly.
I've seen several people online that said the same thing.
One guy is a supposed radio repairman who said that he hates them so much that he won't accept them any more.
She was thrilled so it was worth the ridiculous amount of hours I spent to get it back up and running.

I know a lot of people don't like Bose products (if there's no highs or lows, it must be Bose).
While I was working on it and testing it out, there was something that I liked about it.
There are four iterations of the Wave radio, the last three were designated II, III and IV.
I ended up buying a III which was fully working.
I completely dismantled it and gave it a thorough cleaning like I do with all my electronics.
I liked the overall sound but it was definitely lacking in the highs.
For some reason they didn't come with bluetooth installed but I found they had bluetooth adapters available so I bought one.
I believe I found the combination that makes these things sound really good (at least to my ears).
Playing music from my phone with an equalizer app gives the sound all the highs and lows I want.
It's amazing how good it sounds with speakers that are this small (around 2-1/2").
I ended up buying two more of the IV models I found for sale locally.

One thing I'm confuse about is when I removed the speakers, there were two small blocks of very dense foam (similar to the Mr. Clean erasers) between the speakers and wave chambers.
I was wondering if anyone could figure out what the purpose might be for these.
I'll post a bunch of pics for people who have never seen the inside of one of these.
 
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Brutus442

Brutus442

Member (SA)
I recently picked up a Bose Wave radio from an estate sale for $5 and just turned it on to verify it works briefly. I was pleasantly surprised by it's sound but I really haven't examined it too a lengthy extent. I'm intrigued by your model and have to check the one I have
 
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floyd

floyd

Boomus Fidelis
I have used several bose speakers and have factory Bose speakers in my Audi a8l and the factory stereo in it sounds ****ing awesome . the highs are perfectly controlled but not over powering . the subwoofer sounds flawless with punch and accuracy that can shake the car but without unwanted distortion and sonic warmth that just makes you shake your head going damn .
Once i used and accoustomass subwoofers in my jeep and the amount of bass it produced was shocking.
 
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Transistorized

Transistorized

Member (SA)
I have a wave radio in my kitchen. I had to replace the capacitors in the clock board to keep the CD player from skipping, but other than that, it plays nicely
 
Reli

Reli

Boomus Fidelis
The Bose system in my Mazda is junk, I have to turn the treble all the way up and the bass nearly all the way down. And the door speakers are mid-bass woofers instead of full-range, so they rattle the door panels and anything being held in the map pockets. Very dumb idea.
 
floyd

floyd

Boomus Fidelis
These audi a8l is built like a tank and Bose and in an almost $90.000 car have to be on their toes. It's not perfect but sounds damn good. Mind you it was used but it's been in the family since it was 3 years old. Back then it was a top of the line audi sedan.
 
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Tinman

Tinman

Member (SA)
I had a Bose system in my 07 Silverado.
I think it was 8 total speakers, 2 tweeters, one on each of the A pillars.
I thought it was ok, nothing special.
I had a Harman Kardon 9 speaker system in my 00 Saab 9-5, that sounded pretty damn good.

These Wave radios do produce a little too much bass as far as I'm concerned.
There is no EQ so you're stuck with what they give you.
The Wave IV has a setting to turn it down a notch which is nice.
Like I said, when connected via bluetooth with an EQ app, it's a completely different ballgame.
 
Tinman

Tinman

Member (SA)
Reli said:
Foam is often inserted into bass ports to reduce turbulence noises
Click to expand...
I wonder if that's something that's easily heard?
I removed them and personally can't tell a difference.
Being that they're behind the speakers, I thought they might have something to do with bass.
 
Reli

Reli

Boomus Fidelis
Depends on the music, but some people don't like the "boominess" of bass ports. I had a Denon system that came with removable foam plugs to reduce that effect.

The other possibility is that they're intended to dampen rattles of that plastic duct.
 
floyd

floyd

Boomus Fidelis
Tinman said:
That's interesting.
Seems similar to this.

I don't think this duct would ever rattle, it's put together really well.
Click to expand...
I think those foam blocks are to control the air flow exiting the ports in order to control air turbulence and port noises .
 
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Superduper

Superduper

Moderator
Staff member
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.
 
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