Cons: Poor Quality, Materials, support. Technology that is outdated. I fell for it
The Bottom Line: Take the time to look elsewhere. $3000 can get you an incredible system one that's far superior to this. There is an adage that goes: Bose Blows.
willgraves's Full Review: Bose Lifestyle 28 Theater System
My wife and I purchased this system mainly as a matter of convenience. We've subsequently removed the system and sold it via Ebay.
I'm no audiophile, but I learned pretty quickly that with the Lifestyle system you get poor quality with a big price tag.
Before labeling me as a Bose basher, remember that I purchased the system and used it for about a year before I gave up on it.
Out of the Box: The speaker wire, audio and visual connectors included with the system are more suited for a $200 system. This is stuff is junk that you find at Walmart, Radio Shack and the like. Poor quality RCA plugs throughout. I don't believe the system came with speaker wire, but it was included in our overpriced home installation. The Bose "professionals" used Allegro Brand 20 gauge speaker wire for all speakers including the 45 ft run to the rear channels (this includes up the walls and across the ceiling) I wasn't home for the install, but the wife informed me that they broke the wire at least 3 different times. This stuff is $4.95 for 50' roll and not suited for any real audio application. Not what you are paying Bose several hundred dollars to use on one of their "high end" jobs! The Bose "professionals" also wired a couple of the speakers up backward, so the thing was out of phase. They tested the system for my wife and said everything was in perfect order. It was painfully obvious that something was wrong the moment I turned the thing on! I threw in a DVD with some phase test tones and quickly confirmed the system to be out of phase. I called Bose immediately to complain about the bargain basement wiring they used and to let them know their crew screwed up the wiring.
Bose responded by saying they only used the best quality materials and workmanship. I offered to send them a sample of the 20 gauge, almost razor thin wiring, but they declined my offer. They ripped us off!
Regarding the screwed up wiring...the Bose "Technician" on the phone said that a 3rd party CD or DVD would not provide an accurate indication of any problems with the system such as this. He said I should run the AdaptIQ and this would resolve the issue. I then informed him that AdaptIQ could not resolve such an issue as it relates purely to how the speakers are physically wired. I took it upon myself to check each speaker individually and after about an hour, I figured out that 2 of the speakers were wired backward. I ran the test tones again and the system was no longer out of phase.
The lack of inputs on the media center is astonishing! No Hi Def capabilities...I have to wire the video to my TV and the audio to the media center. Most $250 receivers can accommodate this with ease along with several other input/output configurations.
This system does not send digital signals to separate channels, rather it's a slave/drive setup. The sub drives the fronts and rears in what amounts to be a simulated surround rather than true 5.1. This is totally unacceptable for a system of this price!!!!!!!! $2400 for simulated surround sound?
The speaker cones are paper...this is without a doubt the most shameful scam Bose has pulled. Again, this is something suitable for a $200 system. Even $500 systems now employ silk or other materials into their speaker cones. $2400 for paper speakers?
This system didn't even come equipped with progressive scan DVD. This leads me to believe that Bose waits until the technology is at it's cheapest before buying the materials or units needed to upgrade their system. Any $250 DVD player has progressive scan, but not the Bose $2400 one. (BTW...I've read that Bose purchased their DVD players from Sanyo. Base on the amount of noise and vibration I heard...it was the cheapest version they could get.
The system could not accurately read DVDs or DVD audio. Sometimes, the system would indicate the soundtrack to be in Dolby Stereo, when it was in fact 5.1. This leads me to believe that Bose proprietary soundstage stuff is a load of crap. The system cannot distinguish between stereo and multi channel sources? Even if it could, does it matter? After all, it's a slave/drive system that more or less simulates surround sound.
Bose has offered to upgrade my current media center to one with progressive scan and the ne Umusic technology, but I would need to pay $1,400 and return my original media center. How is this an upgrade? This is called buying a new media center and giving Bose the one I already paid for...Is it not? I've sent Bose several emails regarding this upgrade deal...asking why I need to pay so much for an upgrade and why I must return my existing media center as per the terms. I've not once received a response to my inquiries.
The thing that makes me the most upset about my Bose purchase was the simple fact that I went for it! I knew better, but I had money burning a hole in my pocket.
I'm now using an Onkyo receiver along with some decent Polk Audio speakers and sub. The sound, build, materials, options and level of satisfaction is miles above what Bose has to offer. (and at a lesser price)
Lok for professional reviews of the Bose equip. The most positive reviews I can find labels sound quality as mediocre for any price point.
If you are thinking of Bose...please take the time to check out other systems at some of the better audio shops in your area. Ask questions, listen to lots of demos and listen to music you're familiar with, so you can pick what system or components sound best to you. You'll get a lot more for your money. I guarantee it.
Here's why: The technology is absolutely outdated. Bose has come up with nothing new in their Lifestyle system in years. Progressive scan has been around for quite some time and has long been considered standard rather than the exception. Bose would have you beleive otherwise.
Also, the only level of sound adjustment possible is bass, treble or center channel. This is laughable! A $2400 with no real eq options? My $300 Onkyo receiver has a host of options...none of which are available on Bose systems at any price point.
The Umusic technology is also a scam. The new systems range from almost $3000 to $4000 (a several hundred dollar increase over the already bloated price points), for something my $200 MP3 or just about any $299 PC can do more efficiently. Why does Bose push this as an advance in music technology that only they've pioneered?
The workmanship and materials used are sub-standard and of the poorest possible quality available at almost any price point. Paper cones, the cheapest possible wiring/cables available to the public.
Experience stellar sound with this home theater system that features a sleek horizontal center-channel speaker and compact satellite speakers that ble...More at Best Buy ®
This innovative DVD-based home entertainment system delivers a blend of performance and elegance not found in conventional component systems. Direct/R...More at Vanns.com
Bose Lifestyle 28 Series III Home Entertainment System - LS28IIIBK/ Direct/Reflecting Cube Speaker Arrays/ Horizontal Center Channel Speaker/ Acoustim...More at Abt Electronics
Introducing the Bose(R) Lifestyle(R) 28 Series III DVD home entertainment system. Get ready to experience more of the emotional impact of your movies,...More at OneCall
Epinions.com periodically updates pricing and product information from third-party sources, so some information may be slightly out-of-date. You should confirm all information before relying on it.
- Add to My Yahoo!: 
- Add to Google Homepage: 
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc.