Customer Reviews

Bose Lifestyle 28 Home Entertainment System (Black)

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(7)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I picked up the lifestyle 28 system about a year ago, before I knew much, if anything about audio and speakers; I really should have shopped around. This system looked OK in the store, although I was still skeptical, as in the Bose stores, there is no place to try out the systems in quiet, with your own music, as everyone should do when buying speakers. I got home with the system, and set it up; I have to give them credit for one thing-the setup is relatively easy. Unfortunately, to use component video, one needs to use the adapter. I am using the adapter, but the use of component video doesn't help all that much over s-video, as the DVD player is a cheap, non progressive scan player. If you spent the money on a high definition television, as I did, to get progressive scan dvd, one needs to buy an extra dvd player. Also, there is only one video input, and it has to be the same format as the output (i.e. both component, both s-video, etc). Any other system in this price range has multiple video inputs. This means that if you have a vcr, and want to switch from your vcr to the dvd player, you would have to change the bose system to dvd, and change you tv to the bose input. If your tv doesn't have multiple inputs, you would have to either buy an a/v switch, or physically switch the cables. I do give bose credit for including coax digital input for all audio channels, but there is only one toslink optical in. That shouldn't be a huge problem, unless you have lots of external audio components, which most people buying this system will not. One other problem I've encountered is that the bass module is not a subwoofer, just some more midrange drivers designed to output lower frequencies, and they don't accomplish this very well.

The bose system is not terrible if you don't need any of the extra features of non-bose systems, and you only use it for video games and movies. With music, no feature like "range compression," as bose calls it, or any other equalization on the system can make it sound real. The goal of reproduction of music is to make one feel like they actually there, and the bose system just doesn't accomplish this. The sound from the system does not do a very good job of filling any relatively large room; the directions that bose gives you for placement of speakers is exactly what any audiophile will tell you not to do-you don't want first order reflections in your home theater. (you can google search for better tips on placement). When the volume on the system is turned up over about 60% (which is usually needs to be at, since the amp is not very powerful) there is noise in the system. It goes "click-click-beep, click-click-beep." This is not noticeable if you have something player through the speakers, unless you listen very carefully. I first thought this might be a result of unclean power going to the unit, but I have a monster brand surge protector that does a pretty good job of providing clean power. It is evident that the bass response is lumpy, possibly because bose sugests that you place the bass module on a wall, which is known to create standing waves. The soundstage is rather large, but sound noticably drops off in certain places around the room.

Good luck in your search for a good system, and the best advice anyone could give is this: go listen to the systems, with your own material, and compare! Make sure you shop around. There are endless possibilities in home theater now.

Bose makes great audio products. The Lifestyle 28 produces an incredible sound with high volume and no distortion at all. These speakers are only different from the old ones in that they are smaller and have bigger decibals for volume. But the price is simply ridiculous. For half the price you could get a Klipsch Synergy system, true power with perfect fidelity. The price you are paying for the Bose speakers are just for the fact that they are small and easily conceilable, not because they have the best sound (because they don't) or because they look great (because they don't).

I bought a Bose Lifestyle 35 system in Denver, CO, at the Cherry Creek Mall Bose Outlet. Prior to purchase, I was brought into a sound studio in the store to listen to "the system". It sounded pretty impressive. I brought the unit home, hooked it up and listened. Honestly, I had a hard time telling whether the Bose system or my television speakers were on. Very disappointed. I turned up the volume a bit (about 75% of max) and the center cube speaker blew. Very disappointed. I did some research and learned a lot. Bose does not publish a lot of the specs one would expect to be published on any audio system, let alone such an expensive one. People in the field think poorly of Bose quality and value, period. I called Bose Headquarters, the store in Denver, and a local dealer inquiring about returning the unit. I was told I must drive the unit back to Denver (250 miles from my home, over the mountains, in the snow) to return it, which I did. When I did, the store manager informed me that there is a mail-in return policy and I didn't need to waste an entire day, let alone drive so far in such conditions. He asked if there was anything else I was unhappy about (besides the salesgirl not informing me that I was to receive a free Wave Radio with the purchase; by the way, I liked the Wave Radio a lot but it is also overpriced), and I asked him if the system in the demo studio in the store is the same system I purchased. I mean, after all, they shine pretty spotlights on it and completely lead you to believe that's what you're listening to. "I don't believe anyone said that to you, did they?" was my response. Unbelievable. It turns out that what you hear in the studio is a specially recorded track (made by the designers of the system to accentuate the strengths and minimize the weaknesses of the system) played on an $8000 digital tape player! I subsequently purchased a $500 Onkyo 6.1 channel (not 5.1, like the Bose) system from Circuit City and am completely thrilled. It sounds FAR better than the Bose, for 1/7 the price. Goodbye, Bose, forever.

I'm really not sure what to say about the bad reviews of this product. I can't imagine why anyone would not be impressed by the sound coming from these tiny cube speakers. As they did not mention it in their reviews, I can only assume that the people who were unhappy with their products did not read the instructions (it is fairly simple to figure out) and play the setup DVD that came with it. Before running the AdaptIQ program, the system sounds decent. Then I ran the software and the system literally came alive and adjusted itself perfectly to my room (it's an odd "L" shape and I was getting an unbalanced sound at first).

In terms of music listening, I have not heard anything that matched the spaciousness in this price range. I listened to a lot of products and the Lifestyle system blew me away. Its music processing changed a regular stereo CD into a surround sound experience which was 20 times better than a traditional dolby processing in a traditional receiver. This also works well with TV and radio.

If you are looking for a great sounding product with an elegant appearance and a simple setup, then go with a Bose Lifestyle system. Just run the setup software. :P

I always wanted a Bose. I have several friends who had the WAVE radio, and i figured
it would be really cool to have the Big System for everything (DVDc, CDs, MP3s, etc).
No more piles of machines lying around my TV.
BUT... what I found out was shocking.
1) The system sounds Great. It's tough to tell what is real, and what is coming from
the speakers. This is good.
2) It's got more then enough base to get you going. You have a separate Base control
to max. it out, if you want. After that, even Enya sounds like a Club-Mix.
3) My $110, 7 year old DVD player, has more features. The Bose cost $3000!!!!
---- a)Slow motion, play backward, step frames (forward-reverse), one button audio control,
one button subtitles control: are all NOT available on the Bose, but ARE on
my $110 Player.
---- b)The Bose is SO sensitive. My $110 Player can play ANYTHING. Scratched or
whatever. the Bose freezes on several DVDs (Disney's most of all).
4) Music is played funny. It would be nice if the sound came from EVERYWHERE,
But it comes from the focus point you set. ie. the TV. There are 5 speakers (one on
your TV, then one on each side of the TV, then two speakers behind you, are the surround
sound speakers). The 2 behind you get less sound. This makes sense when watching movies,
but listening to music should be different.

Overall it's a great system. I bought it for the sound, and I watch lots of DVDs, but I want
more control in my remote. I hope Bose comes out with a better controller soon.

OK, having read such mixed reviews, I felt I had to get to the bottom of things, so I visited a number of dealers, some who sold Bose and some who did not.
I could not believe what a difference in attitude there was between the Bose believers and the Bose haters. So, why is this?
I can only assume it's a lack of understanding or fear of the unknown. Almost every one agrees that if space, operational issues, cable and time were no problem, you can do better than Bose for the money, but for normal people who have little space and time and no inclination to create a pile of mismatched electronics that look ... odd (to say the least) the Bose is a superb option.
What about sound? When a Bose comes out of the box, it sounds Ok in most rooms, but when you use the adaptIQ it really sorts out, even strange shaped rooms like mine where the TV is in the corner and the speakers are impeded by curtains and book shelves.
What about the strange sounding music reported in another review? Sure one or two pieces did not seem to like the Bose 5 speaker experience, but I just pressed the 2 speaker button on my remote and the sound was true and stereo and no where near the TV. For most music however, band and classic especially, the Bose 5 speaker sound is superb, to my ears. I do sometimes turn the centre down a little if there is a strong vocal presence mind you; this spreads it out to a more normal stereo sound stage, but keeping the band and ambiance all around me.
My advice is don't take advice, listen and decide your self. Brands like Bose and B&O did not get to be huge by conning people, they did it by making what people want and it is only people who don't want Bose or B&O solutions who seem intent on bad mouthing them? I've got a Bose and it's great, more people in the world own Bose speakers than any other brand and I guess they think they are great, I hope your choice, what ever it is, works as well for you.

For [the money] you can be totally blown away by a speaker system. Try getting a Harmon/Kardon 7.1 45 WPC Reciever with Infinity floorstanding with sub, infinity center, and any high quality surround speakers and you will be absolutely impressed and you will ask yourself why you ever thought Bose was right for you. Bose - Better sound through advertising?

The Bose line of DVD players seems to have some sort of filter that removes the closed caption signal. Even if a DVD is encoded with it, you won't be able to access it on your television. This has turned into a very expensive mistake for me.

The sound is fabulous; deep bass and great spacing. Video is good -> great. But for those of us who need CC, it's a poor choice.

(Note: CC is different from subtitles; if a DVD has subtitles -- such as "English for the Hearing Impaired" as a choice -- you will be able to use that.)

We have enjoyed our system for 4 years now. The quality and sound is everything it is advertised to be. Sound effects and music videos could not be better. Sound is great from any seat in the room. I think it is best suited for average sized rooms of about 15x20 ft or smaller. Volume is more than adequate for normal tastes. For extremely loud, ground shaking effects you will want to look elsewhere.

The system came well documented with everything needed for a complete set-up. This made assembly and dis-assembly very easy. We watched 10 DVD's. It "hung" on two DVD's. The power of the system was very disappointing. We had the volume control near maximum to hear well. The bass was very weak. The highs and surround sound feeling were pretty good. We did have a problem with customer service that was a show stopper. We returned the system believing we could find something comparable at a lower price with better customer service.