Front View of the Bose Wave Music System, First Generation
Here, we offer our Bose Wave music system review. This, the first version of the Bose Wave system looks like a more traditional hi fi stereo outfit. It costs about as much.
Its performance, for its size, might leave even the most seasoned audiophile breathless. The small speakers makes lots of firm but by no means muddy bass. But no, this all-in-one sound system will not rattle your teeth and shake your chest (much). But otherwise, it sounds like a discrete component stereo.
This original model has a thick plastic case. And unlike separate hi-fi components, it has no buttons on the unit proper that often wear out. It features the following.
Bose does a great job at packaging a pretty decent component-grade stereo setup into this all-in-one sound system. It sounds as good as the better stereo boom boxes. Yet it takes up much less space. This Bose Wave product is a glorified clock radio. It has a CD boom box, and sensitive radio tuner, put all together into a single package. Plus you can manage it all with the accessory remote.
We got to play with one of these during a vacation trip. This product so interested us that we spent several days listening and messing around with it. Find out what we found below.
The remote works well, even across large rooms. Controllable functions via this remote include…
Silent clock when the rest of the system is off. We heard no hum from either the speakers or from inside, even within inches of it. Put this sound system as close to your bed as you like, and yet it won’t keep you awake.
Selectable 12 or 24 hour time-of-day display modes.
Available built-in music sources include a front loading, single-disc-at-a-time CD player, and an AM and FM tuner radio. Also has one Stereo 3.5 millimeter aux line level input. Use this to play from an iPod, Zune, Echo Dot, or most any other line level source.
Plays standard as well as MP3 CDs.
There’s also a 3.5mm audio output jack that accepts today’s headphones and earbuds. Or, the signals here can be fed to a larger amplifier and speakers, for an even bigger sound.
This Bose tabletop stereo system has surprisingly rich and fairly full high fidelity sound. That’s a pleasant surprise with its small table radio like size.
The integrated amplifier inside well drives the speakers to room filling volumes. This thing cag play quite loudly; loud enough to completely engulf a ten foot by thirty foot room. Punchy enough for small dance parties.
Setup is simple, Simple, SIMPLE. And you don’t need to do much setup if you just want to start jamming right away. But eventually, you may want to set the current time or create wake alarms. Or maybe add radio station presets. Whatever you want, you can do quickly via the easy-to-operate remote controll.
Six AM and six FM radio presets. These let you jump to a station, just by pressing a single button. So this works like the presets in a car radio.
75 ohm antenna connection. But when you don’t have an external antenna, the radio uses the power cord as an FM aerial.
Features a Bose Link port. So this allows this component to work as part of a multi component sound system.
Removable, and as such, replaceable power cord.
Remembers programmed settings and alarm times for up to 48 hours during loss of power.
Automatic dimming and brightening of the big, easy-to-read electronic display.
Available in white and dark gray case colors.
If you buy one but do not like it within thirty days, you can return it for a full refund.
So the cheapest price we could find for this player is on Amazon Marketplace as of this writing. That is $249. Plus, due to the lack of controls, this stereo tuner, amp, and speaker system seems pricey. But we would feel much more eager about paying $149 for it. Then again though, $249 is likely not a terribly high price, as many have paid close to $500 for this.
The sound system itself has no operating controls. Now you do need remote to access all functions therefore. So, do not lose it!
The remote occupies about the same surface area as a debit card, and is almost as thin as well. As a result, it can easily slide between the couch cushions or behind the mattress. Easy to lose due to its thin form factor.
No bass, midrange, or treble adjustments either on the unit or on the remote. In fact, we could lower the bass only by turning on the Talk Radio mode. This definitely cuts the low frequency output a bit. Yet it seems to have no effect on the treble.
You cannot connect iPods without buying an iPod dock to 3.5mm TRS plug. Thus, this unit does not support iPod charging.
There’s only one AUX input. But with so many media players, portable CD machines, and so on, at least three auxiliary inputs would be nice.
Due to the close proximity of the left and right speakers, the stereo separation and imaging is only so effective. Move just several feet away from the Wave Sound System, and you lose all perceptions of stereo sound. Stereophonic completely melts down into monophonic at less than ten feet away.
Unfortunately, you can’t play a turntable through this unit without an external amp. But you’d need this to boost the very low-level cartridge output signals up to AUX line level for vinyl play.
No longer marketed by Bose, as of 2012.
Finally, the first generation of the Bose Wave Music System is a decent product. People know it for its great sound quality, and on the whole, we’d agree. Indeed we like its pushy bass, projecting midrange, and non harsh treble. So this product qualifies as one of the highest performance clock radios we’ve ever tested. So it’s a pretty good all-in-one stereo system in general. But our most serious objection is the high price. All things considered however, we’d be happy to own this piece of serious audio equipment. Thus our product rating is 93 out of 100.
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