It is true that the Bose AM series speakers are inherently lacking in satisfactory mid-range reproduction. Highs are ok.And because of their total dependency on a SUB for bass reproduction; they are most difficult to intergrate successfully.
The common impression are offend excessive bass boooooom, muddy sound, unnatural soundstage, poor dynamics and depth.
In fact, they are more suited for multi-media applications rather than audiophile equipment.
Furthermore, there are many other true high performance speakers availabile at the AM series price range. a good word of advice to future HI-Hi buyers, do audition other speakers, and discover true for yourselves. So RESEARCH don¹t always produce BETTER SOUND. RESEARCH. RESEARCH.
Perhaps in the future, there would be better speakers from BOSE.

I heard these in a computer store. They were hooked up to a NEC Pentium computer. They sounded dreadful. No warmth , no highs, no dynamics, no imaging. They would be a poor value at a third of their suggested price. I bought a pair of plastic altec lansings that cost $89; much better value than the bose speakers. By the way the little plastic $89 altecs sounded about as good as the Bose speakers.

I have heard these speakers along with many other speakers designed by Bose and this along with every other speaker they make sound muddy, congested, overworked and just unacceptable for the ridiculious price tag.

I have heard these about two months ago. My opinion about these is if anyone is shopping in this price range, ehhhh, my take would be to look at other systems before you buy this one. If Mr. Baker (California) says that they cost only $5.00 to produce, only for Bose to charge 800 clams for them, then I guess Bose should be held liable for corporate robbery. My take: Look at the Boston Acoustics Micro 90t System before buying these. Only $200.00 more than the AM5's. I'm sold. Sorry Bose.
One Star.

I know an engineer that used to work at Bose and he indicated the speakers in the AM-5 and 7 cost less than $5 ea. That should tell us something about its value. I've listened to them and the best thing I can say is my wife loves them (the small size, not the sound).

I put up with these speakers for four years when I updated them for a pair of infinity reference 60's I realised what i was missing. AM 5's are rubbish

Just like thousans of people out there, first attracked by Bose's appearenceand it's outstanding show at Fry's Electronics. And soon figure out it is
made of cheap piece of junk. Then been disapoint by its sonic performance.
Finally find out that we can get a much decent speakers at much lower price
instead of Bose. Well, Bose did what they are good at-marketing and advertisment. For those of you who havn't learn the lesson yet---
Please, Please listen to other brand's speaker before you pick Bose.
Because if you want good looking, you should get make up, not Bose
If you want good sound, a non-Bose is first step.
PS. Bose 301 is the only speaker that is not over priced and worth listen to.

I like My Bose, sterio seperation is GREAT! they could use a sub woofer and the highs arent all that well defined the overall sound quality is fine. Product support is the BEST!! Im on my 3rd pair, I blowem and they give me a brand new pair every time.

Hello all of you people that think you know what you are talking about.If you are considering a Bose cube system you should know
that there are no miracles in speaker making. I work in a high end store
and to tell you the truth there are no short cuts as far as size in
speakers. If you are looking for a well balanced set of speakers go for
the floor standing models. When you seperate speakers in the satalite
configuration you lose alot of sound quality. The reasoning behind this
problem is when you seperate speakers 1. sound is radiating from alot of
different areas. 2. It is harder to find a precise location so that the
satalites will perform good. 3. The smaller the enclosure the higher the
natural roll off frequencies are. For instance the Boston A. Micro 90
satalites have a roll off around 120 hz. Which means that you have to
make up for the lost sound with the sub. If you ask a powered sub to
respond accurately that high it becomes boomy and allows you to pin point
the exact location of the bass.
As for the bose direct reflecting systems, given the exact materials
of the room they could sound good. Bose 101 Dr Bose created Direct Ref.
systems to open up the sound of the music which is fine. Many people
don't realize that you have to have a reflective surface such as glass
for this system to work. Other wise its like firing a speaker directly
into carpet. I am not approving of the system I think they all suck
However I am writing this to explain to all of the people that want to
know why they sound like s*** when they get home.

Just a single word to describe it: POORSpend your money on something else, you can get a good speaker on the same price range ($ 800s when I bought my AM-7 3 yrs ago).