HELP! My mother wants a Bose radio for Xmas, need alternatives!

shep · « **Reply #20 on:** 11 Dec 2006, 06:53 pm »

I'm 62, my hearing is great and I definitely can hear the difference between a vacuum cleaner and my T-amp! Hey why don't we do an age poll on AC to findout how many old farts there are lurking in the wings?

Hogg · « **Reply #21 on:** 12 Dec 2006, 03:54 am »

As a certified old fart (63), there's nothing wrong with the Bose Wave radio. I've had one for 16 years. It's great for an alarm clock and for background listening. As others have said, the industrial design and ergonomics are great.

Mike, make your mother happy and buy her the radio.

nathanm · « **Reply #22 on:** 12 Dec 2006, 04:10 am »

It's kind of an odd situation. Usually one expects moms to want simple, very inexpensive equipment with convenience being top priority. Thus the most cheap\mainstream brand is desired. I didn't know Bose was so spendy. Well anyway, that's besides the point. If I were you topround, I'd put aside my own hifi nerd prejudices and just get her what she asked for. You can't go wrong with that plan. Now, if it was a computer I'd have to veto mom's wish, but this is just a radio and thus self-supporting.

lonewolfny42 · « **Reply #23 on:** 12 Dec 2006, 06:43 am »

Mike.....Found a Bose on Ebay....

OTL · « **Reply #24 on:** 12 Dec 2006, 06:57 am »

I've got something in my attic that might solve this problem for much less than a "C" note....complete with remote control and the famous "Radio Shack" CD player....PM me for details.

woodsyi · « **Reply #25 on:** 12 Dec 2006, 01:30 pm »

Quote from: topround on 9 Dec 2006, 05:45 pm

My mother wants the big Bose radio that sells for about $1300 for Xmas.
Not the clock radio but the acoustimass big box with cd.
Any reccommendations for something better for less$$ ?

I don't know if it will be cheaper but I can think of one way that may meet your mother's acceptance. Why not get a pair of Klaus' picture speakers and run them with an all-in-one box solution like an Arcam Solo http://www.arcam.co.uk/newsolo/about.html. I don't know if 75/4 or 50/8 will drive these speakers well, but it would be beautiful if this worked out.

Hmmmmmmmmmmmm. Come to think of itl, I think this would be a great solution for someone I know....

PhilNYC · « **Reply #26 on:** 12 Dec 2006, 01:33 pm »

Does it need to be a single box and portable?

If so, I'm with Hogg on this one...the Bose Waveradio isn't such a bad product. Not audiophile, but certainly something that would keep a mom happy.

If an office micro-system would work, then there are some alternatives I would choose...

BradJudy · « **Reply #27 on:** 12 Dec 2006, 01:56 pm »

I fall into the "buy her what she wants" camp. Not buying Bose because you don't like it is a bit selfish. There's nothing wrong with the product, other than being a bit overpriced. I actually own one that I inherited from my grandmother. It's not bad, although I never use it because I don't listen to radio in the house.

nunhgrader · « **Reply #28 on:** 12 Dec 2006, 11:59 pm »

Quote from: Midnite Mick on 10 Dec 2006, 03:40 pm

Quote from: avahifi on 10 Dec 2006, 03:08 pm
Can you provide a link to the review of the "Sound Quest" tube radio? I cannot find a reference to it.

Thank you.

Frank Van Alstine

I didn't read it myself but this is what I found.

http://www.6moons.com/audioreviews/tubetuner/r601p.html

Mike

I was thinking the same thing! I'm buying one for the bedroom.

Here's another idea: Outlaw's RR2150 Stereo Receiver http://stereophile.com/integratedamps/306outlaw
Just add some decent speakers (maybe used off of Audiogon).

Folsom · « **Reply #29 on:** 13 Dec 2006, 08:43 am »

$1300????????

I would let my mom cry for not getting it. She would just have to understand I morally could not spend that much money on a POS. I refuse to spend that kind of money on nothing that is probably made by child labor (at least parts of it).

Rob Babcock · « **Reply #30 on:** 13 Dec 2006, 10:20 am »

I'd wager she'd enjoy a Cambridge Soundworks model at least as much; you'll get comparable performance & ease of use for a lot less money. Of course, if she has researched it and wants the Bose (yeah, I know- no one researches and then chooses Bose!

), and if you can afford it, then by all means buy it for her if it'll make her happy. But CSW and Boston Acoustics both make very fine peices that would serve here just as well without making Amar any fatter.

JLM · « **Reply #31 on:** 13 Dec 2006, 10:45 am »

Gota agree with D of S on this one, $1300 is a bunch for a clock radio on sterodes.

Have you asked her why she mentioned the B*se? Can't imagine a mom researching audio stuff (or anything close to it).

Or what features are important to her? (Probably convenience, and as suggested above, senior friendly controls.)

Did she even ask for your learned opinion? If not, tread carefully, otherwise you could be buying your mom what you'd want (like getting your mom that catcher's mitt as a kid).

topround · « **Reply #32 on:** 13 Dec 2006, 07:42 pm »

We checked out the big Tivoli which I thought was nice, it sounded a lot better than the Cambridge radio, But it should it was two seperate speakers with a sub.
I think the Tivoli is too small for her, she wants a bigger sound, hence the want for the big bose radio.
I am looking into microsystems. Small two way speakers sort of thing.
thanks all

George · « **Reply #33 on:** 13 Dec 2006, 08:36 pm »

I wonder if she wants a "Bose" or if she wants the Bose. Sometimes folks substitute a brand name for an item (think Xerox or Band-Aid). If my Mom were to ask for a Bose table top, I would pickup the Cambridge Sounds Works version pretty much without hesitation because:
A: Bose is t3h suk
2) The CSW sounds really good
III - My mom is not into audio and I know her well enough (hell, I've known her my entire life, believe it or not) to know that she is asking for a fancy table top radio and not The Bose Acust-Wave-Miracle-Mass-Monkey Radio.

BradJudy · « **Reply #34 on:** 13 Dec 2006, 09:07 pm »

Quote from: George on 13 Dec 2006, 08:36 pm

I wonder if she wants a "Bose" or if she wants the Bose. Sometimes folks substitute a brand name for an item (think Xerox or Band-Aid).

Good point.

seadogs1 · « **Reply #35 on:** 13 Dec 2006, 09:20 pm »

Most of the older people I know much prefer the Sirius or XM satellite radio for the home. Choice of talk or music from different years. There is a monthly fee but the initial investment is small. My mother-in-law had the Bose tabletop radio and much prefers the XM because of the no commercial feature.

Russell Dawkins · « **Reply #36 on:** 13 Dec 2006, 10:01 pm »

If seadogs1 is right about older folks preferring Sirius and XM, then I think I'll revise my recommendation for Tivoli and switch it to Polk, especially after reading these reviews:
http://isonic.polkaudio.com/reviews/professional.php
I would say don't get distracted by the notion of separates of any kind. This is so much simpler.

laserman · « **Reply #37 on:** 14 Dec 2006, 10:21 pm »

Russell,

I think you hit a home run on this suggestion. The satellite option is nice but the HD feature is something I forgot about. I may get one for my mother-in-law, so when I visit I can listen to it too.

L

ken · « **Reply #38 on:** 16 Dec 2006, 12:33 am »

unsure how it sounds but sure looks looks pretty cool

http://www.tube-pod.com/detail/?nPID=318

guest1632 · « **Reply #39 on:** 18 Dec 2006, 07:56 pm »

Quote from: Carlman on 11 Dec 2006, 06:53 pm

I meant the 'general public' over 50.... but the more I think about it, could be the general public over 30... seems to be the real cutoff for audio enthusiasm for most folks... and not the fine folks around AC... we're considered nuts, old and new!

Well, 54 ain't old yet, only working on it.

HELP! My mother wants a Bose radio for Xmas, need alternatives!

guest1632