Depth of sound, SIZE, beauty, good construction, elegance

Price!

This product, while perhaps not the finest piece of audio equipment availiable, is certainly one of the most impressive. I am extremely demanding in my taste for sound, and this product has not failed to impress me except for the one time I attempted to place it in a small bathroom. When placed as recommended against a wall in a decent sized room, this machine delievers incredible bass from a tiny package, other frequencies are also very clear and well distributed, there is no equalization control, but it does a fine job on its own. The features of the included clock/radio functions are equally impressive, it is certainly the most elegant radio one could ever wake up to. The price is a bit insane, but other than that, there is very little to complain about, unless you're a tweak-crazy audiophile or die hard anti-Bose. ELEGANCE is this machine in a word. I DARE you to hear this thing around the corner and not think it's a FAR larger system!

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Various full entertainment systems, everyday clock/radios

"Big sound" great marketing

"Accurate sound" price

Definately a "big sound" , but not an "accurate sound". Sounds like a car speaker system that you get with the car. Sounds big, but sloppy.

This isn't necessarily a bad thing, but at the price Bose charges it's actually not a very good deal.

For $500, you can really get some excellent bookshelf speakers, and have even BIGGER sound and have it accurate.

If you absolutely have to cram you entire sound unit into a square foot of space, then maybe this is for you...but seriously consider auditioning other speaker systems before plunking down a hard-earned $500 on what should be a $250 very good sounding clock/radio.

awesome looks

none

Who cares what it sounds like, the looks are what matters.

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none

I thought small size, big sound

I thought none

I was pretty excited about buying a Bose Wave CD/Radio! After reading the reviews below I have decided on not buying it. Thanks to all of gave reviews.

The bottom line I gained from all the reviews was that this piece of equipment was highly overpriced, mostly functioned as a clock radio, had poor bass with no bass control and would not function well at high volumes ( but it got better at high volumes if you moved further away from it - good for out doors). People who liked it did say it got the big sound they were looking for. It worked best if placed in a corner.

Be careful of the rating of 2.84 it may be bogus because many of the detractors gave five stars when they should have given only one star.

Thanks again reviewers.

I'm a bit surprised by the highly negative reviews for this product. My parents bought one (against my advice based largely on the reviews here) for their "second home", a small apartment. It turns out to have vastly better sound than a $100 Sony CD clock radio, or a $100 Sony "boom box", for example. Of course, Sony doesn't claim that its $100 products have audiophile-quality sound, and Sony and many other Japanese brands sell somewhat larger "mini systems", most with separate speakers, for $300-$400, many of which offer better sound for less money than the $500 Bose. However, if your space is extemely tight (but your money is not), and if you feel very strongly that audio equipment should be heard and not seen, the Bose Wave radio CD is not a bad choice. It is certainly not a fraud, as some seem to imply.

Great sound, low profile, many features

Can't walk down the street with it while listening.

Hey, I think it is great. I just got it. True, I didn't have to pay for it. But, the sound quality was much better than I expected. Has many more options than most other mini clock/ radios too. I just have to find a good place to put it for best sound. I have used the $2000 a piece 901's that Bose once made. It doesn't even come close to that, but how could it? Besides, Bose no longer makes the 901s. I think it is great!

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first mini radio used

Status symbol for superficial friends

Poor sound quality

I wanted a good sounding radio for the kitchen, where most people spend most of their time. I borrowed a Bose Wave Radio for a few weeks before buying, which was very smart. The highs are thin. The bass booms. Even at modest volume, there is annoying distortion and the case rattles with bass in classical music. For hundreds of dollars less I bought the Cambridge Soundworks Model 88 ($129 on sale without CD, but there is an input for CD player). The highs are clear, distortion free. The bass is strong without distortion, and can be adjusted. The overall sound quality of the Model 88 is clearly very superior, and more natural sounding than the Bose, at far less cost. The Model 88 also has more options for inputs, and the separate clock control makes a lot of sense. The Model 88 with CD player costs the same as the Bose without CD player. There is really no comparison.

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Cambridge Soundworks Model 88

size

sound, price

I purchased the Cambridge Model 88 and was able to do a side-by-side comparison of the two products within days of the purchase. I won't make the claim that the Bose is a bad product. I will say that it is incredibly overpriced- the Wave Radio without CD should cost about $100 when one considers that the Model 88 is regularly priced at $150. I would guess that the Bose sounds about 65% as good as the 88 in FM mode. Hook up a portable CD and play a few demos and the Bose is only about 50-55% as good as the 88. A matter of tonal quality, bass (quality and quantity) and good ol' fashioned SPLs. I can live with the prices of the Waves- if people wish to be stupid with their money, fine. But I cannot tolerate the advertising hyperbole that so completely lies about the quality of the sound. Shameless exploitation of ignorant consumers by a company that deserves nothing but consignment to the dustbin of audio history.

Similar Products Used:

Cambridge Model 88

size

sound, price

I purchased the Cambridge Model 88 and was able to do a side-by-side comparison of the two products within days of the purchase. I won't make the claim that the Bose is a bad product. I will say that it is incredibly overpriced- the Wave Radio without CD should cost about $100 when one considers that the Model 88 is regularly priced at $150. I would guess that the Bose sounds about 65% as good as the 88 in FM mode. Hook up a portable CD and play a few demos and the Bose is only about 50-55% as good as the 88. A matter of tonal quality, bass (quality and quantity) and good ol' fashioned SPLs. I can live with the prices of the Waves- if people wish to be stupid with their money, fine. But I cannot tolerate the advertising hyperbole that so completely lies about the quality of the sound. Shameless exploitation of ignorant consumers by a company that deserves nothing but consignment to the dustbin of audio history.

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Cambridge Model 88

High-quality, balanced sound from a well-made table radio. Stylish appearance.

Price. I'd say it's over-priced except for the fact that Bose continues to sell them like crazy. Which means it's not over-priced.

First of all, read the name of this product: it's the Wave RADIO. Not the Wave mini system. Not the Wave component stack! An honest review will recognize that this is a table RADIO! As a radio, it sounds great - crisp, balanced sound at normal listening levels. If some reviewers are upset because the bass falls apart when they crank it up to 92, well my friends, you bought the wrong product for your needs. (I'm shocked, shocked I tell you, that my Yugo won't go 0 - 60 in six second!!) Don't blame Bose because YOU chose poorly!

That being said, the Cambridge Model 88 is a much better value. It has the same clarity as the Wave with better (and adjustable) bass. Though not as stylish, and somewhat larger than the Wave, it is considerably less expensive, thus a better value than the Wave if a fuller sound is your main criteria.

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Cambridge Model 88