Very dissappointed with this. Examples of how bad this speaker performs; watch 'Africa the Serengetti', James Earl Jones sounds like his nose has been beat into a pulp. 'Executive Decision' conversation passages can hardly be heard. Even turning the Dynamic compression ON, on the reciever does not help. Wasteful to pay for something that is so transparent in the whole setup. Ended up replacing this with B&W CC6 S2 and it does its job. Bose should redirect some of its funds from advertising to R&D. They should realize, more people are becoming more aware that turning speakers left to right, upside down, whatever, doesn't mean technology. I could achieve the same effect by listening to the speakers from a different room or how about standing upside down...

By no means am I a Bose hater, but I must say that this is the absolute worst center channel speaker that I have ever heard. The highs are muddy and voices are unclear, and it almost sounds like Bose is using a paper tweeter with a pencil stuck through it.
The Good:
Best lookin center channel speaker you can buy

The Bad:
Not suitable for sound reproduction

The Verdict:
It seems that Bose forgot to hire acoustical engineers and just had the marketing reps design this speaker. If you are trying to make your living room look good, this is the speaker for you. But if you ever plan on using your center channel speaker, look elsewhere, anywhere, just don't get this speaker. It's not worth spending the money on this speaker when you can get an infinity, polk, or other much-better quality center channel for the same price. If you don't believe me, just go to the store and compare the VCS-10 to the other center channels.

I'd give it zero stars, but it gets one star for style.

I read the reviews on this speaker, and realize that the dissatisfied users are clearly victims of the poor representation of this product in its commercial literature. This is not a center channel to be used in any other setting than with their accoustic mass arrays as a replacement for the center cube. It uses the waveguide technology to improve the center info vis a vis the cube and of course adds two additional drivers. If used with this set of speakers it will improve the performance of the Accousticmass system, but still the whole assembly can't pass 2.5. To use it any other set up is a waste of time since it cannot satisfy the heavy demand on center channels in home theater adequately. Even at 10 db boost resp to the other channels (the most that recievers allow) the sound pressure generated by this unit is too low to match up to full size drivers on other channels.

This is my first Bose purchase and I am completely happy with it.The VCS-10 is a wonderful addition to my home-theater system.As soon as I hooked it up to my system I noticed the center channel sound hitting me directly in the face and as I moved around it seemed to follow me.The sound is also very spatial and filling,plus it looks d**m good!!!!!

I personally thought I would never find a center channel worse than my Fisher 424 (you get this free every now and then when you buy an AVR from CC with matching surrounds) and the amazing part is this came out after Fisher 424 (how can a company want to build a worse center channel than lowest of the mass market centers). With no true tweeter (thus no extention in the treble) or true midrange (which means a compromised vocals) and using a hybrid tweeter (hybrid woofer/mids make sense, but not hybrid tweeters) means vocals are extremely weak for men/women/children. This can't even be used to even make a LCR setup so this should really tell you how good of a center this is. I have heard better performance from a pro-logic surround used as a center (which has a frequency limitations of 80-7000hz restriction, pathetic). My advice is to either use phantom mode or the center out on your AVR to your TV and use the TV's speaker (which by the way would sound better). This is by far the worst of the worst for a ridiculous price and you would be better off using (GASP!) the 141 instead (I can't actually believe that I am recommending a Bose product) to match the lack of tonal balance that is common in the Bose AM series line of speakers. This speaker is inconspicuous in sight as it is in performance. Buy anything else and you should be more impressed.

I bought this speaker about nine months ago to go with my Bose 201s, which had sounded fine to me, though a little lite on bass. At first I was really impressed with the VCS 10. It sounded good on music and sound effects. But my wife and I kept finding ourselves turning up the volume to hear the dialogue. Then boom! and explosion and the rest of the system would blow you out of the chair. Eventually we started setting the home theater at a reasonable listening level and turning up the volume on the T.v. to hear what people were saying. Now I'm looking for a new center channel speaker. Bose should be ashamed of selling this speaker and charging $200 for it.

It is so discreet on my TV that I almost manage to forget I have bought it.

None, except the way it sounds.

I am one of the victims of Bose's marketing. My VCS 10 has been resting im my house for one year since I no longer have patience to look for something good in it.

I just bought the VCS10 b/c my armoir wont allow me to put a center channel over 5in tall in it. Is this the only small one or is there another one that sounds better? I have the Wharfedale Modus 1.6 for my fronts andd rears but the Modus Music Center is to big.

None

You name it!

I still can't believe I shelled out $200 for this speaker, what a waste of money!! I recently picked up a Wharfedale CC on U-Bid for a fraction of the price I paid for the Bose.
The difference is unreal!!! I'am going to use the VCS as coaster is place my Beer on!

best looking center channel speaker

probable the worst sounding center channel speaker

I initially bought the VCS-10 for my home theater (without reading this forum). I immediately heard the overall poor sound when playing several DVDs (e.g. Matrix, T2, Rush Hour). Reproduction of bass is poor, dialogue is poor, treble is poor. This thing just plain stinks.

Then I spoke to some of my audiophile friends who would clearly fall in the Bose-basher category. One of them recommended the Infinity CC-2, CC-3 (which cost the same through mail order). Wow! What a difference! I am now the happy and satisfied owner of the CC-3 (which can be voice matched to my fronts).

To potential VCS-10 buyers, please do not even consider this speaker (with the exception of AM-5 owners for reasons stated in the post below). I am not a Bose basher like some of my friends. I used this product and it just plain stinks (and costs approx. $180). I am lucky that Best Buy would refund my VCS-10 price in full. Save your money and consider other center channel speakers such as the Infinity CC-3.

Similar Products Used:

Infinity CC-2, Infinity CC-3