Bose Wave Music System - Graphite Gray

I have to admit I hated paying so much for a radio/cd player but it was worth every penny. I didn't buy it for the name because I originally purchased the Cambridge Soundworks I765 hoping it would be just as good as the Bose...but it was not. The sound was good but it was defective, the display background light was super bright and it was lacking quality as it was made in China. The Bose is made in Mexico and has a much better sound, excellent quality and very easy to use. Plus the display background light is really dim and programmable. Hands down, Bose is the best. You do get what you pay for.

I've been using Bose equipment since 1995. I won't say Bose is necessarily better than anything else out there but if you listen to a Bose system and it fits your needs, then who's to tell you not to buy it.

Regarding this Wave Radio/CD, I purchased it from Bose[...] and they gave me a free Bose glass table stand. Always go to Bose[...] because they usually throw in something with the Wave units. Either a stand, or an upgraded remote.

As far as sound quality is concerned, placement is key. If you hide this in a bookshelf, sound quality will suffer, the ideal placement for the unit is in an open space backing up to a wall. The purpose of backing up to the wall is to increase the low end response. Try it and you will hear the difference.

When you listen to the unit at lower to moderate volumes, it sounds good when you're listening to acoustic, classical, or jazz music. If you think you can play rap, R&B, dance, etc. on this, you will be very disappointed as I don't think Bose designed this unit with such a user in mind.

If you remember the old Bose infomercials for the original Wave Radio/CD's from yesteryear, they used to have one line which said "It sounds like a system costing five times as much" and then on your TV you would watch the Wave system morph into a full stereo system. That couldn't be farther from the truth. For three reasons, this unit does not use a tweeter, it does not have a true mid-range driver, and there is no subwoofer or at least an output for one. An acoustic wave guide structure will only take your sound so far. In fact if you raise the volume quite a bit, the sound becomes hollow not deeper.

If you want a nice sleek system to keep by your bed or on your desk at work, and you listen to the radio or the music I outlined above, you'll actually be surprised at this unit. That is what I use it for. $[...] is very pricey and IMO not really worth it, but if you don't mind spending the $500, and you use it within it's limitations, I don't see anything wrong with it and it sounds very good.

Honestly I think this is more of a status symbol. Bose does really well with advertising and when someone sees the Bose Wave Radio, you get a nod of approval.

This is the third BOSE Wave radio I've had over the years, giving away the other two to family members during moves. I moved again, and used the move as an excuse to get the newer radio with different color. I expected improvments, but found none other than color.

The sound quality is good, but there is only one auxillary input jack - headhphone jack - in the unit. That is a change from the options they've had in the past where up to 3 devices could be used (I've got an ipod, a satellite radio, a TV...). In the instruction manual, the user is even TOLD to increase the volume in order to hear the unit. Right now, I have my aux device on high, and the BOSE on the highest volume -- and I can hear it. This is different than their old radios; they worked fine without having to put volume on max. Most odd, BOSE knows this is an issue and at least they warned the conusmer about it in the manual.

If it wouldn't be rude, I'd go back and swap out radios and get my old one back, give this new one away. It's definitely not an improvement.

Also, I agree with other reviewers about it being odd that there is no control buttons on the radio itself. I bought two remotes, and I keep one on the unit and never move it. No big deal, but weird. The backlit remote is a good thing to have because it is big enough to not lose too easily; it is about the size of a TV remote.

With CDs going away and digital players become more and more popular -- I don't understand why BOSE would screw this one up. I suggest getting an older model, or waiting until the next BOSE WAVE is introduced; this one misses the mark. But if you're looking for just a radio -- it's a great one.

Ugh - I can't believe this thing doesn't cost $20, because that's the sound you get out of it.
Even the most well-produced CD's from the mid-eighties when they still knew how to use the format sound like 128 compressed-to-hell .mp3's on this garbage.
BOSE is a giant marketing scam. This little thing costs $499 for which you can get a half decent Yamaha receiver with Polk 5.1 system (or JBL, Paradigm, Klipsch, Infinity, etc.) which gives you roughly 30Hz - 20kHz frequency response (+/- 6dB)
This Wave radio is about 280Hz - 13kHz +/-12dB which basically means it's rubbish.
You're better off just burning your money that spending it on this nonsense.
http://www.intellexual.net/bose.html

I highly recommend the Bose Wave Music System. The sound is awesome and I love the fact it is so small. I always wanted one of these and I am so glad I finally purchased one. It is so easy to use and I love everything about it.