Bose Companion 2 Series II Multimedia Speaker System
by BOSE
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Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Bose Companion 2 Series II Multimedia Speaker System
Customer Review: Slightly dumbfounded by reviews
Summary: 2 Stars
While most reviews are high, but there are still a number of people complaining about contradicting aspects of these speakers. One person says they're quiet, another stays they're room-filling. One person complains about lack of bass, another says how full they are. Perhaps each speaker is special and has it's own attributes, who knows!
Personally, I'm rather disappointed with my new set. Out of the box the quality felt wonderful. The speakers are nice and heavy with very dense plastics. The knob is also nice and smooth with no play in it, thus leading me to believe these are some high-class speakers. I then plug them up. I'm just as amazed by their sound as I am disgusted.
I will admit, for 2.0 speakers of this side, they have a tremendous amount of bass. The bass is almost overwelming. However, the higher ranges seem to have been forgotten. Perhaps it's just me as I've found so many pairs of speakers to be muffled but these just sound way too flat for my taste.
Many people say adjusting your EQ will really make these come alive. While this helps, it's not a cure. Soft-EQs can distort the audio. Note the reviews complaining about the volume not being consistent. My money's on their EQ being set and the sound fluctuating to prevent distortion.
Perhaps I'm too demanding on speakers. Though I'm guess I'm spoiled by my cheap $50 "iStereo" I used previously. 2-channel with bass and treble settings, very clear highs, decent lows (though not quite as nice as the Bose). The only reason I wish to replace it is because it turns off when it's not being used.
Customer Review: Good, but not great.
Summary: 3 Stars
I have tested many different desktop computer speakers. In my opinion the best is the JBL Duet system, which retails for around half the price of these speakers. These speakers are good but they really aren't great.
Pros: They look great, have good bass, and if you are on the other end of a room they fill the room up well.
Cons: Treble not great. It's not as bad as some computer speakers but not as good as many other either. As I said they fill a room up well but if you are right in front of them they sound off kilter unless you position yourself exactly in the middle of them. Last but certainly not least, my biggest issue with these speakers: too much bass. They sound like they have a third subwoofer stuffed in there somewhere. Now, for some people this may be a selling point. For me, however, I bought a set of two small tabletop speakers because I didn't want the boom of the subwoofer. I want a little bit of bass but not a subwoofer's worth. These pack a subwoofer's worth, and you have to use a manual software EQ from your computer to adjust it lower; there is no bass or treble adjustment on the speakers themselves. Again, this is probably great for a lot of people but I don't like booming bass when I'm listening to Neil Young or the Beatles.
Bottom line, these are just good. They are not great in any sense that I can discern. Also, they are overpriced because of the BOSE name on the front. These are not worth $100. More like $40. I would take a serious look at the JBL Duet and I will probably be returning these to get a set of Duets again.
Customer Review: Bose is overhyped
Summary: 3 Stars
I have owned MediaMate - a predecessor model identical to Companion 2 in almost every way - for quite a few years. If you are looking for quality sound, you should steer clear of Companion 2, and buy a real home theater system with a receiver and real speakers along the lines of Bowers & Wilkins or Fluance or KEF (I do not recommend Bose Acoustimass home theater systems here because they are WAY overpriced without good reason). This will cost you, but trust me - you WILL notice the difference. Of course, it would be unfair to compare Bose Companion 2, which is a hundred dollar active speaker system, to a real home theater system. But even when compared to the similarly-priced computer speakers like JBL Creature or Harman Kardon SoundSticks (both systems have subs), Companion 2 is not a clear winner - it performs admirably at low volume, but starts to distort lows at higher volumes. It is not great in terms of size either - there definitely are smaller albeit costlier speakers with better sound - check out Mirage MX. Bottom line - Companion 2 are ok speakers but nothing to write home about.
PROS:
- Midrange is very rich and pleasing to the ear;
- Adequate bass and treble at low volumes;
- Headphones jack on the powered speaker that mutes the speakers when the headphones are used;
- System is easy to set up.
CONS:
- SIGNIFICANT sound distortion at higher volumes (weak highs/lows and muddy midrange);
- Cheapness of build (plastic housing and flimsy cable to the accessory speaker).
Customer Review: Bose and really overpriced with mediocre sound!
Summary: 2 Stars
I just picked up a pair of these Bose Companion 2 series 2 speakers for my HOT new iMac 21.5". (What a terrific FIVE star computer! While the iMac speakers are improved, I wanted more bass and a "fuller" sound. The Bose (first Bose speakers ever for me) do sound more full with boomy bass and thin midrange and an exaggerated treble. At low volume they are not bad. When you turn them up, the boom and "rasp" become quite clear. While at the Apple store, I listened to a smaller pair of Bose speakers for four times the price and they sounded better but at $400.00 bucks-no thanks! I have owned the very best and for value I like Polk speakers. But they are not big into computer speakers, so for [...] I sprung for these "mediocre" speakers Made in China!
PRO'S:: Easy to setup but still too many wires and the cables that were not very long
Nice looking and not at all big
Volume control on the front of the speaker
Good but muddy Bass
Nice spacial effect-sounds bigger and wider than they are (a Bose trademark)
Suitable clarity
CONS:
Overpriced
Muddy non flat Bass -BOOM!
Tinny treble - the louder the more tin
Weak midrange
Sound changes when turned up-signals weak amp limited power speakers
BOTTOM LINE:
FOR $[...] bucks, a nice set of speakers. For $[...] overpriced and paying for a name that hopefully will give me return if I ever sell them! Bose is so over-rated and people think they are so well engineered-not true in 2010!
Customer Review: Slightly overpriced, but very good sound and build quality
Summary: 4 Stars
The short answer: I spent more than I would have liked - but I am very happy with the sound and if I had to do it over - I would buy these again.
The long answer:
Like all Bose products, these command a premium - are there better value priced speakers? Of course, but all speakers have different sound characteristics and trade off different characteristics. If you want a lot of added bass and volume, get a 3-piece system. The Bose Companion 2 Series II sound very good w/o a bass module - they will get much louder than I would ever be able to listen to them in my office. It would be difficult to find a better 2-piece system for less money, equivalent yes - but not better. I readily admit speakers are a matter of taste and what trade off you are willing to live with.
The build quality is exceptional compared to the competitors on the display I looked at - these have some heft (larger magnets?) and have a very professional appearance (as if they belong in a work environment instead of some 13 year old gamers' basement).
I wanted a set of sound neutral speakers that would not over take my desk (these are bigger than I would have liked) and having the dual inputs allows me to connect an MP3 without having to change unplug the computer (wish Bose would include 2 cables - they only give you one).
There is no buzzing and sound is very natural.
BTW - I am using these only for music at work so no opinion on using for video games...