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View Full Version : BOSE Acoustimass - Better Profit Margins Through Shortcuts


firstadopter
08-14-2004, 11:47 PM
http://www.intellexual.net/bose.html

The $1300 Bose Acoustimass system implements five dual-cubed, 2.5-inch, paper-cone satellite speakers. Incidentally, you can buy these exact same drivers for $35 a pair here. The material that is used to build these speakers may seem adequate to the unassuming novice; However, upon closer inspection, it is clear that they are built with little regard for performance. To start off, the cubed satellites are made of what Bose once claimed to be "revolutionary new space-aged paper", when in fact my own observations lead me to believe that they are nothing more than dyed Manila hemp. Paper grade is besides the point here, as any type of large paper driver has poor resonant properties in upper octave frequencies (2 KHz to 20+ KHz). When designing satellite speakers where size is the primary consideration, a conventional dome tweeter is ideal. In a cube speaker the size of the Acoustimass, a dome tweeter would perform much better than a cone tweeter. However, Bose disregards this fact because making paper cone tweeters is a much cheaper manufacturing process. You find this practice abundant in $200 Aiwa boom boxes and mini-systems.

MailManX
08-16-2004, 09:43 AM
Funny. I always thought that Bose products cost a lot in order to pay for the extensive R & D necessary to develop a superior product. I know that Doctor Amar Bose does this research out of a love of good sound and a desire to share that with others. Money is not important to him. ;)