Product Description

CD music system

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Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1176 in Consumer Electronics
• Brand: Bose
• Model: Wave Music System
• Dimensions: 4.20" h x 14.60" w x 8.60" l, 8.70 pounds

Features

• A bold new standard in audio performance. It may well become the primary music system in your home
• Easy to use: no buttons, credit card-sized infrared remote, and MP3 CD capability
• Distinctive and elegant design: streamlined styling with a thin, slot-loaded CD player

From the Manufacturer

Bose - Better Sound Through Research

Dedication to research and excellence. It's been the Bose approach to better sound since Dr. Amar G. Bose founded the company in 1964. Since those early days, Bose engineers have kept their focus on creating better technology. You'll find that focus exemplified in the Wave music system, with advances that ensure premium performance and convenience.

The acclaimed Wave music system still sets the standard for quality audio and ease of use among one-piece, table top stereos. Its award-winning design adds a touch of distinction to almost any room. No wonder so many people use it as their main home entertainment system.

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Sleek, elegant design feels at home in any room. Shown in Graphite Gray This easy-to-use infrared remote lets you operate your Wave music system from anywhere in the room

Hearty Sound from a Compact System

Bose Technology at Work

Unique Bose innovations account for this compact system's hearty sound. Proprietary waveguide speaker technology combines with other Bose audio refinements to deliver performance well beyond the speakers' size.

Simplicity by Design

The Wave music system was engineered for easy enjoyment right out of the box. No setup required: just plug it in and you're ready to go. The FM/AM radio and CD player are built in. There's an auxiliary input for your MP3 or other portable player, and a headphone jack for keeping the music to yourself.

The system's sleek appearance is uninterrupted by buttons, with all controls on a handy, slim remote. The large display panel is brightly lit and easy to read, prominently displaying the artist, title and album names of your MP3 CDs.

Two waveguides are precisely tuned to reproduce lifelike sound from a small enclosure

Waveguide Speaker Technology

Two 26-inch folded waveguides are precisely tuned to amplify the output from the transducers (speakers) to reproduce lifelike sound from a small enclosure.

Wave Music System Highlights

Proprietary waveguide speaker technology enables full-bodied sound, especially in lower registers, for more natural-sounding bass and percussion instruments.

Slim infrared remote control lets you conveniently control system functions from just about anywhere in the room.

Slot-loaded CD player easily loads CDs or MP3 CDs. The front-loading design permits more placement options than traditional bookshelf stereos.

Large visual display with adjustable brightness and automatic nighttime dimming enhances viewing of clock radio display, as well as indicates audio source and shows track, title and artist on suitably encoded MP3 CDs.

Digital FM/AM tuner with seek function provides easy access to your favorite radio programs with built-in FM/AM antennas, including memory settings for six FM and six AM stations.

Automatic ramping creates a more pleasant listening experience. Volume starts low and gently increases when the unit is turned on or alarm clock is activated.

Shielded speakers prevent TV and computer picture interference for more placement flexibility.

Headphone jack enables private listening.

Auxiliary input jack lets you enjoy your TV, computer or another audio source through your Wave system.

Bose link easily connects your Wave system to a compatible Lifestyle system for an expanded home entertainment network.

What's in the Box

• Wave music system
• AC power cord
• Remote control
• Demonstration CD

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Wave Music System Accessories

	Wave Connect Kit for iPod--Just what you need to play your iPod through a Wave music system. Connect kit is compatible with most iPod models and includes a docking station that charges your iPod and a custom remote that controls both iPod and Wave system.
	Wave Music System Multi-CD Changer--Enjoy extra hours of uninterrupted CD music. Slide one CD or MP3 CD into the Wave music system's front slot, and up to three more into this optional multi-CD changer. The easy-to-use changer is seamlessly controlled by the Wave music system remote and provides an additional connection for another audio source.

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Similar Bose Products to Consider

Acoustic Wave Music System II--The best Bose all-in-one music system performs like large component systems costing much more--with far less complication and clutter. Advanced Bose technologies deliver sound with clarity and consistency, at loud or soft volume levels, even in larger rooms and outdoor spaces. The system plays audio and MP3 CDs plus FM/AM radio. An optional travel case and power pack make portability easy.

Wave Music System - SoundLink--The Wave music system - SoundLink plays audio from your computer in any room, wirelessly. So, sources like iTunes and Internet radio can now join your CDs and favorite FM/AM stations in one listening area--all from one system. It's easy, too, with just two quick connections. A custom remote lets you navigate your playlists and switch between computer and system audio at the press of a button. And you'll enjoy all your music even more with acclaimed Wave music system performance. The Wave music system - SoundLink: a great leap forward in versatility and convenience from the most popular Bose tabletop system.

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Customer Reviews

Cambridge and Bose A/B Comparison
Wanting to replace the boombox in my kitchen with something premium, I decided to compare my boiled-down list of tabletop radios- the Cambridge Soundworks 740 and the Bose Wave CD. If you could only have seen the looks my wife gave me as I sat and AB'd them. :)

I was initially impressed by the Wave's good looks... until I took out the 740. It made the Wave look more like a plain-old clock radio. Although the front display on the 740 is more attractive, the Wave was easier to read when standing on angle to the unit. The 740's display of CD Text and FM radio song/station info is a really nice feature. The buttons on the 740 are arranged in a logical order with fairly easy to read function descriptions. The absence of buttons on the Wave is unfortunate. I'd rather not have to rely soley on a remote control as my only means to control the radio. Both remotes are pretty similar, but the Wave's did work a little better at further distances and angles.

The 740 can store more radio stations than the Wave, which I realized when I ran out of buttons trying to program the Wave. Speaking of radio, the 740 required more messing with the antenna to pull in the stations that the Wave was able to pull in without an antenna. The 740 comes with FM and AM antennas. The Wave comes with nada.

The sound quality difference is evident even before adjusting the settings on the 740. The Wave sounded good but the 740 was much better. Turning-on the subwoofer and setting the bass to -3 gave the best sound, IMHO. I was appalled to realize the Wave comes with no treble and bass controls- only a talk-radio feature that acts like a loudness button only when the radio is in use, not the CD.

Unfortunately for the 740 and in-line with many other comments about it, the CD transport failed to take my disc. I was very gentle at first then became more aggressive as I figured I'd have to return it anyhow. Well, when I moved it to another room it magically started working. Maybe it isn't as mechanically reliable as the Wave, but I'm willing to take my chances. This potential issue is the only reason I'm not giving five stars. I haven't noticed the clock losing time yet as other reviewers have noted.

In summary, the 740 is sounds better, has more features, and is more attractive than the Wave. If the Wave was $250 I might have kept it instead, but at $500 this A/B comparison is over and Bose has one more open box to contend with.

Too Much for Too Little
I've had my Bose for about two years. I'm very glad to have received it as a present because, despite some of its fine features, it certainly does not merit the hefty, comparable-to-a-small-home-stereo price tag.

I like its design and its sound.

I don't like the following "features":

1) It is the most sensitive CD player I have. It will not properly play a number of CDs, especially CD-Rs. If a disc is slightly thin, the unit will either not accept it (you have to give it a push) or not eject it (you have to open up the unit, turn it on, hit "eject," and pull the disc out). This is especially annoying when my $70 boombox plays them without a problem. Refurbishing by Bose did nothing to change my unit's sensitivity.

2) It is not programmable! It doesn't program songs at all. The best it can do is "shuffle," "shuffle repeat," "repeat track," and "repeat disc." The cheapest boombox these days is programmable.

3) The lack of buttons is annoying: I found I had to order a second remote ($10) and keep it by the box. When I called Bose about this problem, the tech suggested getting the second remote and added that a lot of people had done that. My boombox is more user-friendly (it has buttons as well as a remote).

One can argue about the merits of elegance vs. user-friendliness. But the lack of programmability and the oversensitivity of this box make it a poor buy, in my opinion.

Older design was better
I have mixed feelings about the newly designed Wave System. {Only the design, NOT the sound quality, which I'm sure is still excellent.}
I have the older model {Thank God} because after just 2 yrs, and that's not very long when you consider the price. The CD player on my model with the old design started doing weird things.. It played when it felt like it. That's the only way I can describe it. So I cannot imagine how angry I would be if I owned this new style & could not get my CD out of this thing if it malfunctioned!
Now, when I had my "issue", Bose offered to "Re-manufacture" it for $125. At first I was insulted, but then I thought, "Wait a minute, for $125 they are not only going to fix the problem but they are also going to check and replace/repair anything else that may be going wrong with it so it "meets the quality standards of the Bose Corporation" & re-set the warranty." I essentially received a "new" unit for $125.00 Oh, and they also sent me a postage paid shipping box to send it to them.
This happened 3 years ago and I've had no further problems with it. So 5/5 for customer service.
As for sound, I have owned many, many audio systems in my life, large and small. NOTHING compares to this system. Well, except for attending a live performance. You will put a CD in this "Little Plastic Box" and simply be amazed at the sound that comes out!
I recently bought the larger system. Strange as it may seem, The small system actually sounds clearer to me than the large {$1,200} system.
As for this new design. I have a piece of advice. Order a replacement remote along WITH your system. Always have a back up because you will not want to wait for a new one to arrive in order to use your expensive stereo system.
Personally, I think Bose has a lot of nerve removing the manual play buttons and forcing their customers to rely on their remote.
That's why I rated it 4/5
5/5 for sound 3/5 for design {it is pretty, but it IS useless without the remote}