Bose Companion 5 speakers on Apple Store

HQvhs

Hi,

I own a Macbook and I'm looking to buy a set of decent speakers for listening to music etc.

I saw the Bose Companion 5 speakers on the Apple Site:
http://store.apple.com/Apple/WebObjects/irlstore.woa/91014042/wa/PSLID?n=speakers&fnode=home/shop_mac/mac_accessories/audio_speakers&nplm=TK760&mco=68FE8E47&wosid=SN2jCEuisSfP2JmTvVS158cidDq

It mentions USB connectivity on the review, and I'm wondering does this mean that I have to keep the speakers connected to the Macbook by USB or just the control module?
I ask because I want to keep the speakers wall mounted and away from my desk so USB wouldn't really work.

Thanks!

440Hz

How serious are you about your sound? Not being smart, just wondering. If the price tag doesnt put you off, are if you are an audiophile then you wont go far wrong with your choice here. Next to B&O you are not going to get much better sound, even on the lower end multimedia speakers.

PhilipMarlowe

Looks like the speakers and the control pod are connected to the big module, so you only connect one usb cable to the pc and the rest could remain in place...

The attachment is from the user manual downloaded from the bose site here

Check out the manual to see how suitable they would be for wall mounting.... and ideally they would be 2ft apart max (and most likely only the same distance from you?)

babypink

440Hz wrote: »

Next to B&O you are not going to get much better sound, even on the lower end multimedia speakers.

mmmmmmm....B&O - high on my purchase list!!! when i win the lotto

seriously though, the Bose are really nice....though i have to admit that i'm not a fan of how they go about reproducing sound - they play with the sound a bit too much for my liking.

I'm on a set of JBL Soundstick II's and have no huge complaints about them.

cornbb

Hmmm I'm quite skeptical about Bose products. I'll admit I haven't owned any, but within a section of the audiophile/pro-audio community they have a reputation for placing more emphasis on looks, pseudoscience and marketing spin then they do on audio quality. 400 squid is an awfully hefty price to pay for a consumer-level system, especially when they don't quote specs on wattage, frequency response etc.

The Companion 5 multimedia speaker system is engineered to deliver the excitement of surround sound content right at your computer. Just two small speakers and a hideaway Acoustimass module deliver much of the audio performance you'd expect from a five-speaker surround sound system.

Its simply not physically possible to "deliver the excitement of surround sound content" with 2 satellite speakers and a hyped-up subwoofer.

I think you'd get better value for money elsewhere, try looking at JBL or Cambridge Soundworks products. Don't limit yourself to products sold by Apple.

440Hz

Agree with your points there cornbb, no doubt that is true, but I think a lot depends on what the speakers will mostly be used for and how discerning the ear is. These speakers won't be bad speakers, but you are paying for the name, and could certainly get a very good alternative for a lot less.

I have not heard this particular set, but I have heard some Bose that I have liked the sound, and some that I have not. Depends on the model and what the intended use is when it comes to rating the audio quality from these. Personally, I think that is true of most manufacturers, bar the creme de la creme.

Looking at what I posted above though, I guess id correct that and say you could do better than these for the overall rating, taking in price etc, but like I said, if you are not bothered than the price tag then why not.

triple h

I plan to get these guys pretty soon, from what i have read about they are fantastic.

http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.aspx?sku=304887

They are €50 more expensive from apple.
The ones you mentioned above are €439 at Komplett. strange, i know.

here is a video from youtube, give it about a minute cause that is when he starts talking about the soundsticks.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uUDodxW7CKs

I am going to get them.

BanzaiBk

I have the Harmon soundsticks and would reccommend them. They're used almost every night for music/movies and I enjoy the sound clarity. As somewhat of an audiophile I would say that those particulary Bose units are very meh. What's that saying about Bose? No highs no lows, must be Bose? Anyway, there are much better priced JBL/HK systems out there imo, unless you want the bose name.

HQvhs

Thanks for the advice,
I was considering the Bose because they sounded good but now I'll reconsider. I currently have the JBL Creature II speakers and they're ok but not great. Are the HK soundsticks any better?