Bose Corporation Informative - Short Life Time on $499 Bose Wave Radio/CD - Wave Radio CD

Posted by viperpa33s on 2006-04-07:

Sorry you are dissatisfied with Bose. I have been using Bose for awhile but never dived into getting the Bose radio. Seems a bit much to use it for a radio just to wake up to. It's true, the more technical the product is, the more chances it will fail. It's always best to get a surge protector. Best to be safe than sorry. You may get a surge at the least likliest times even on a beautiful day. Get a heavy duty surge protector for electronics. You can pick one up at any of the chain retail stores. Computers only have a 3 year average life span under normal use.

Posted by CrazyRedHead on 2006-04-07:

I am not in the belief that $$ equals quality. I have seen very cheap or free items last longer than there more expensive counterpart. I have had a clock radio that I bought for 19.99 for almost 25 years, I got it when I was in high school. The volume button is going, so it may be time for a new one. They don't make electronics to last like they used to. If you get a surge protector and get it registered, they usually cover your electronics for up to $50,000.00. I have one with hooked up to my computer. My neighbor has three computers in her house with no SP and recently got two fried by an electrical storm.

Posted by rancar on 2006-07-20:

Thank you very much for your posting. I was seriously considering going Bose, and you saved me a lot of money.

Posted by ChuckE on 2006-09-11:

I also had the same problem with my Bose. I loved the product but after 2 years, the bass disappeared and only one speaker works. I was very dissappointed to find that I would have to pay $150 to repair a $500 device. They were very cavalier about their no guarantee after one year. I will not buy Bose again.

Posted by ErnieDMC on 2008-11-02:

I bought my wave radio cd player in 2002. At first it was making a rattling noise whenever deep notes played, it seemed to be coming from the coax antenna circuit card in the back. Bose happily took it back and gave me a new one. I love this radio, I take it with me when I travel too. It has always worked fine and 6 years later it still performs well. Now in late 2003 when they introduced the new Wave radio music cd system. I was a bit concerned. It had a front slot loading cd which uses small mechanical components. And as a Electronics Engineer, I immediately had a bad feeling. Mechanically operated items in electronics do not last long. In my opinion bose had a better product with the top loading cd player. Perhaps that is why my original version still works. I bought a new wave music system for my girlfriend and she rarely uses it. it is about 2 years old now and it still works. I hope it doesn't break.

Posted by BMonster on 2009-12-10:

I was given a Bose Wave CD-2000 to repair. Bose will *not* supply service literature or parts (even at the assembly level) to ANY independent servicemen. This is *not* standard industry practice; most companies do provide parts and literature.

Regardless of Bose's stance on supplying parts or literature, I was shocked by the, um, "cost-conscious" design of such a high-priced unit. The speakers themselves are cheap, the power stage consists of a chip originally designed for car stereos (not exactly an audiophile application), etc.

I speak not as a disgruntled consumer, but as a disgruntled engineer with a university degree in electrical engineering... don't buy into the hype! You can get equivalent or better performance at a lower cost from other makers.