jigawatts
New Head-Fier
- Joined
- Oct 13, 2008
- Posts
- 25
- Likes
- 11
After reading countless posts from Bose haters, I thought I would post my personal views on their products, on the off-chance it might actually help someone make a decision prior to making a purchase.
I currently listen to most of my music on a Cowon D2 with a pair of Bose Triport OE headphones. The EQ on the D2 is flat with all effects turned off. So far, this is the best sounding portable setup I have owned. I previously owned a Cowon iAudio f2. Other headphones I have owned have been the original Bose Triports, the Sennheiser PX100, the Sennheiser CX95, and I have also tried the Sennheiser HD280 Pros.
I liked the sound of my original Triports, but didn't like the way they were built. They just seemed too flimsy, and I eventually sold them on ebay. I liked the PX100s, but they seemed to be missing something in the sound. The CX95s sounded a little better than the PX100s, but I couldn't stand the stuffed-up-head feeling of having those things jammed in my ear-canal. The cord microphonics also bugged-me. The HD280 Pros I did not like at all. To me it sounded like I was listening to music inside a tin can. The music felt completely lifeless to me.
I have owned my Bose Triport OEs for about 2 years now. During this time, I tried all of the above headphones, because I kept reading on various internet forums that there were so many better, cheaper products available than the Bose. So I tried them, thinking I would be blown-away by the sound, but I wasn't. I kept coming back to my Bose headphones, and even after owning them for 2 years, I am still blown-away by how good they sound. They really make the music come alive and give it emotion.
I've read a lot on the internet about frequency response of different headphones, responese curves, etc. I kind of liken it to how some camera manufacturers really push Megapixel counts (more is better, right?). Truth is on most digital SLR's you'll never be able to tell the difference between a 6 MP image and a 12 MP image. Same with a frequency response of 20-20,000 Hz vs 15-35,000 Hz. The latter is beyond the range of human hearing, so what difference does it make. What matters to me is how does it sound when I put it on my head. Some say, "Bose FR is only 20-14,000 Hz when tests are performed on their speakers." So what? Most music falls well below 14,000 Hz anyway, and the upper limit of a middle-aged adult's hearing is about 14,000 Hz. Most musical instruments range in FR from 20 Hz to about 10,000 Hz.
Many people have claimed that Bose tricks people into thinking their products sound good. This doesn't even make sense. If it sounds good, then it sounds good. Where's the trick. Out of the headphones I've tried, Bose are the only ones that make me feel like I'm actually sitting in an auditorium listening to the music. I keep trying other products, but keep coming back to Bose. And thankfully, my OE's are much more durable than the original Triports I used to own. They feel very strong, yet lightweight. Have a detachable cord, fold-up nicely, have a nice carrying case, and are very comfortable to wear.
Okay, let the inevitable flames and bashing begin.......
I currently listen to most of my music on a Cowon D2 with a pair of Bose Triport OE headphones. The EQ on the D2 is flat with all effects turned off. So far, this is the best sounding portable setup I have owned. I previously owned a Cowon iAudio f2. Other headphones I have owned have been the original Bose Triports, the Sennheiser PX100, the Sennheiser CX95, and I have also tried the Sennheiser HD280 Pros.
I liked the sound of my original Triports, but didn't like the way they were built. They just seemed too flimsy, and I eventually sold them on ebay. I liked the PX100s, but they seemed to be missing something in the sound. The CX95s sounded a little better than the PX100s, but I couldn't stand the stuffed-up-head feeling of having those things jammed in my ear-canal. The cord microphonics also bugged-me. The HD280 Pros I did not like at all. To me it sounded like I was listening to music inside a tin can. The music felt completely lifeless to me.
I have owned my Bose Triport OEs for about 2 years now. During this time, I tried all of the above headphones, because I kept reading on various internet forums that there were so many better, cheaper products available than the Bose. So I tried them, thinking I would be blown-away by the sound, but I wasn't. I kept coming back to my Bose headphones, and even after owning them for 2 years, I am still blown-away by how good they sound. They really make the music come alive and give it emotion.
I've read a lot on the internet about frequency response of different headphones, responese curves, etc. I kind of liken it to how some camera manufacturers really push Megapixel counts (more is better, right?). Truth is on most digital SLR's you'll never be able to tell the difference between a 6 MP image and a 12 MP image. Same with a frequency response of 20-20,000 Hz vs 15-35,000 Hz. The latter is beyond the range of human hearing, so what difference does it make. What matters to me is how does it sound when I put it on my head. Some say, "Bose FR is only 20-14,000 Hz when tests are performed on their speakers." So what? Most music falls well below 14,000 Hz anyway, and the upper limit of a middle-aged adult's hearing is about 14,000 Hz. Most musical instruments range in FR from 20 Hz to about 10,000 Hz.
Many people have claimed that Bose tricks people into thinking their products sound good. This doesn't even make sense. If it sounds good, then it sounds good. Where's the trick. Out of the headphones I've tried, Bose are the only ones that make me feel like I'm actually sitting in an auditorium listening to the music. I keep trying other products, but keep coming back to Bose. And thankfully, my OE's are much more durable than the original Triports I used to own. They feel very strong, yet lightweight. Have a detachable cord, fold-up nicely, have a nice carrying case, and are very comfortable to wear.
Okay, let the inevitable flames and bashing begin.......
