Bose Wave Music System (graphite gray)
Manufacturer: Bose Corp. Part number: 33975
- More product information:
- Editors' review
- User reviews
- Specifications
- Product series
- Manufacturer info
- Bottom Line:
- Bose's Wave Music System improves upon the original in both design and performance.
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CNET editors' review
Bose Wave Music System (graphite gray) price range: $499.95
- Reviewed by: David Carnoy
- Edited by: John P. Falcone
- Reviewed on: 11/08/2004
- Updated on:09/07/2006
- Released on: 10/15/2004
The good: Simple to set up and use; attractive design; improved sound; plays MP3 CDs; line-in support for other devices; 30-day trial period.
The bad: Expensive; no bass or treble control.
The bottom line: Bose's Wave Music System improves upon the original in both design and performance.
Editor's note: We have changed the rating in this review to reflect recent changes in our rating scale. Click here to find out more.
In creating the follow-up to its original Wave radio/CD player, Bose was on a mission to keep the unit the same size while improving its sound quality, which can present a serious challenge when it comes to a compact piece of equipment that includes speakers. Bose also decided to replace the top-loading CD player with a swankier front-loading one and did away with all the buttons on the unit to enhance the Wave's sleek, minimalist styling and keep things as simple as possible. The new Wave is available in two colors: platinum white and slate gray.
A buttonless Wave means you have to use the included credit-card-style remote to control all of the unit's functions. That's mostly a good thing. The remote is well-labeled and easy to use, though it helps to make a quick study of the manual to make sure you're aware of certain buttons' dual purposes. For instance, when in radio mode, the Tune/MP3 buttons scan to the next/previous radio stations; in CD mode they allow you to navigate through folders on an MP3 CD. Meanwhile, the Play mode button selects various shuffle and repeat CD play modes but also turns on the bass-trimming Talk Radio mode when you're listening to stations that artificially boost low frequencies to make your favorite blowhards sound more authoritative.
You can store up to six AM and six FM stations into memory, and the Wave, like its predecessor, is a proficient clock radio that gives you the option of awaking to a CD or a radio station. In contrast to Bose's SoundDock for iPods, this model has an auxiliary input (minijack) so that you can not only connect an iPod but any other playback device as well, including a DVD player. On the back you'll also find a headphone input, a jack for an external antenna (not included), and a Bose Link jack that allows you to connect the Wave to select link-enabled Bose Lifestyle systems and turn it into a Zone 2 stereo speaker. (A separate cable is required to engage the Bose Link functionality.)
The only major drawback to having to control everything through the remote is that tiny remotes are easy to misplace or lose. Imagine the alarm going off and not being able to silence it right away or hit the Snooze button (the Sleep button on the remote) because your clicker mysteriously disappeared. Grrrr. We therefore recommend you purchase an extra remote (about $10) to have on hand in case the included one pulls a D.B. Cooper.
Now on to the thing that really matters: Does this Wave sound better than the original? Yes, it does, though we found that it sounded a little different in each room we placed it in, so it's worth experimenting with different locations. (Bose offers a handy 30-day trial period.)
Small as it is, the unit can fill fairly large rooms with sound. CDs ranging from Frank Zappa's orchestral extravaganzas to the fury of rock duo White Stripes shined over the Wave. Bass was full and rich, though we sometimes wished the unit had bass and treble controls to compensate for recording variability. The Wave's AM and FM tuner pulled in all of our favorite stations, including most of the hard-to-receive ones.
At the suggestion of the Bose folks, who changed this model's name from the Wave Radio/CD II to the Wave Music System to better express (read: market) the full range of its capabilities, we next hooked up the Wave to a DVD player's audio outputs. The sound easily bested the speakers built into most TVs, particularly flat-panel displays. True, its stereo imaging was confined to the space between the Wave's two speakers, but the Master and Commander DVD sounded remarkably clear and present. Just don't expect miracles from this tabletop system. The DVD's naval battle scenes lacked the visceral impact you'll get from better HTIBs and component systems, but the Wave certainly didn't embarrass itself or overtly distort sound. We imagine it will provide yeoman's service in cozy dens, bedrooms, or kitchens.
We'll finish by pointing out what may be an obvious stumbling block for some buyers: the $500 price tag. All we can say is, sticker shock aside, the Wave's a good-looking, good-sounding tabletop radio/CD player. In other words, while you'll be overpaying for the right to own one, you won't feel terribly ripped off.
Editors' note: Freelancer Steve Guttenberg contributed to this review.
User reviews
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Great sounding unit but with a major design flaw
by rfguru on December 26, 2005
Pros: Good sound, stylish
Cons: No function controls on the main unit, workmanship, reliability
Summary: This brand new, $500.00 alarm clock caused me a major embarassment in front of my wife and Christmas guests when it stopped responding to the remote control after about ...
Summary: This brand new, $500.00 alarm clock caused me a major embarassment in front of my wife and Christmas guests when it stopped responding to the remote control after about one hour of use (and the remote control battery was not the problem).
I am an electrical engineer and I bough the Wave Music System as a Christmas gift for my wife wanting to impress her with the exquisite quality of a luxury-class sound system, mind you this was the first time I purchased a Bose product. I opted for a factory new system from a Bose outlet, as opposed to a refurbished one, which the outlet also offers, thinking that it will decrease the chances of something being wrong with the unit.
After my wife unwrapped the radio, I set it on the kitchen counter, plugged it in, popped in a CD, and turned it on, and out came this wanderful, crisp and full sound. My wife was impressed indeed. All was fine until about an hour later when she called me over and showed me that the unit was not responding to the remote control anymore. I tried resetting the battery, brought the remote control closer to the unit, moved the radio to a different direction, all of no avail. Today I purchased a new battery for the remote control, but that didn't do it either. Tomorrow, I have to drive 110 miles away to return the whole kettle and caboodle back to the outlet.
The fact that the radio has no control buttons built in is a major design flaw. A failure of the remote control becomes a system failure. And since the remotes are made in Mexico, guess what are the chances of it failing? Also, if you misplace or lose the remote control, the radio becomes a useless piece of furniture antil you get a new remote control.
I give Bose Wave Music System a 10 for sound quality and style and a 0 (zero) for workmanship and system design which averages out to a 5.
I just want to add one more thing: my old, $50.00, no name stereo system purchased from Costco, has been working flawlessly for years.5 out of 6 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Unbelievable Sound, Incredible look
by malex930 on December 29, 2005
Pros: Sound quality is unsurpassed...sleek design...alarm function is top notch
Cons: No bass or treble control...no buttons...doesn't scroll the songs when playing mp3 CDs
Summary: This is an absolutely fantastic desktop radio. At first, I was a bit dismayed when I realized this sounded as good (if not better) thank my large surround sound stereo ...
Summary: This is an absolutely fantastic desktop radio. At first, I was a bit dismayed when I realized this sounded as good (if not better) thank my large surround sound stereo system in my living room! That was until I realized a similarly priced Bose system would be about $4000. But I digress.
It's unbelievable that such rich, deep, and impressive sound can come from such a small radio. Everything sounds amazingly clean, no matter what the volume is. The light of the clock will automatically dim in low light (so it's not emitting this blinding light in a dark room). The alarm is great: you can set the time, wake mode (FM, AM, or CD), and alarm volume. The alarm comes on at a very low level and gently rises until it reaches the volume you specify. There is an AUX jack in the back, to which you can connect any type of component (TV, DVD, mp3 player, etc.).
There are only minor issues: no bass or treble controls, the lack of buttons on the player itself (relegating all use to a remote control), and the fact that the song names do not scroll in the display when you are playing mp3 CDs. The first two, however, are relatively insignificant. The sound is such that you won't adjust the bass or treble anyway if you could (perfect setting). And let's face it: this unit is $500. If you have that kind of money to spend on a unit like this, you are probably a grown adult. Which means this: take care of your remote like a grown adult and don't lose it. Simple as that. However, I would recommend paying an extra $40 and springing for the backlit remote that is 3 times larger than the original.
The sound of this player, the sleekness of the design, and the alarm function make this the best possible desktop radio/CD player you could buy.Updated
I gave this unit a 9 out of 10 because of the problem reported by another user, in which he said that the remote control simply stopped working. In that case, there's nothing you can do except return the remote/unit for another one. However, I think buttons anywhere on the unit would detract from its fabulous design.1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Little Wonder!!!
by ccramu on January 14, 2006
Pros: Small size, elegant design,
Cons: small remote, no controls over the main unit.
Summary: I reside in UK and i bought it during christmas. I opted for black colour. The system is compact and the sound it produces is astonishing. The unit is compact, ...
Summary: I reside in UK and i bought it during christmas. I opted for black colour. The system is compact and the sound it produces is astonishing. The unit is compact, clutter free with out any buttons on the main unit.
Coming to down side, it is irritating when u cannot mute, pause or stop the alarm when u dont find the small remote. The only way is to switch of the power.
The Bose claimed that we can assign a particular track as alarm tune, but you have to load the same CD which contains the track every night before u go to bed if u want that particular song. this does not make any sense. Atleast they should have some memory to store that particular track.
At least they should have one button on the main unit, atleast Power button to switch it off or on in emergency.
But at the end of the day you will forget all these flaws when u listen to your favourite track in your BOSE music system because it is different!!!2 out of 4 users found this user opinion helpful.
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GREAT SYSTEM FOR THE SIZE...WOW!!
by TemujinScott on June 3, 2007
Pros: Great sound and great design...Great customer service as well!
Cons: A little pricey...but you have to pay for quality!
Summary: I have been seeing this WAVE radio for quite some time now. On QVC, Bose.com, crutchfield. The price was always discouraging. I have read some reviews -- and I ...
Summary: I have been seeing this WAVE radio for quite some time now. On QVC, Bose.com, crutchfield. The price was always discouraging. I have read some reviews -- and I will say some people are a little too picky. This system is very small. You place it across the room from where you sit or lay and you WILL be impressed. It is a nice design. There have been complaints about the remote. Bose currently has a special where they give you a bigger remote with a backlight for free!
For people who love to listen to their music on a great sounding system..BUY IT!
Bose's customer service is great. I had to send the unit back because the cd player would malfunction. Before I could finish my statement/complaint, they had shipped a brand new system out to me -- Got it in 2 DAYS!!
People -- buy the system -- you won't be dissapointed.
Remember -- it is about placement of the unit, to get the BEST sound!!!
And, Bose has a great payment plan option!!!
The unit has great features in it - that you will discover when you plug in the system! -
My first intro to BOSE sounds
by pueblo99 on January 25, 2007
Pros: Great sound on local radio and CDs
Cons: The only thing is not able to play MP3s
Summary: I have the older model with top loading CD, I think I prefer this method to he letter box.
It's in my bedroom and used every day from wake ...Summary: I have the older model with top loading CD, I think I prefer this method to he letter box.
It's in my bedroom and used every day from wake up time which is very early, I use either Radio or my own CDs.
The sound is crisp and clear, although there are no bass or treble controls the sound is consistent for easy listening.
No need to fiddle around just adjust the volume level and enjoy. -
overall great
by yanni1234 on January 20, 2007
Pros: great sound, power for it's size, and clarity
Cons: can't thunder out bass tones, if it could it would be totally perfect.
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Great Radio, Great Features, Great BOSE Sound
by bose120 on April 12, 2006
Pros: CD, A/M/F/M, Auxillary, Better Than Wave Radio I
Cons: Really None
Summary: I Bought This Radio. It's Great! Sometimes, I'll Plug My IPod Into It. It Sounds GREAT! I LOVE IT!
Summary: I Bought This Radio. It's Great! Sometimes, I'll Plug My IPod Into It. It Sounds GREAT! I LOVE IT!
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Great, Simple
by wishalis on February 13, 2006
Pros: Not Available
Cons: Not Available
Summary: I have mentioned all the Pros and I want to expand on the cons.
1) There are no operating buttons on the system itself so, it is really inconvenient. You ...Summary: I have mentioned all the Pros and I want to expand on the cons.
1) There are no operating buttons on the system itself so, it is really inconvenient. You have to fetch for the remote every time you are near the system and want to perform some operation. I solved this inconvenience. I bought another remote (costs just 10$) and stuck it to the system using a back to back sticker. I wish BOSE makes some kind of accessory to tie the remote to the system neatly. I should get an award from BOSE for coming up with something like this!!
2) CD loading is like in the car i.e., the system handles the eject (slide in and out). It is not a top loading CD so it is impossible to clean the lens manually. Just for cleaning the lens, I may have to send the system to BOSE for which they are going to charge a lot but, I guess you get CD cleaners for this purpose in the market. It may not be very effective though, I am assuming. -
Incredible Sound
by Computant on January 17, 2006
Pros: Small, excellent sound, streamlined appearance,
Cons: Price, no buttons on the machine itself
Summary: The Bose Wave is an incredible little system that can pick up a large variety of stations clearly. The sound is truly amazing considering the size of the speaker cones ...
Summary: The Bose Wave is an incredible little system that can pick up a large variety of stations clearly. The sound is truly amazing considering the size of the speaker cones inside the unit. The $500 price tag is enough to turn some people off but this unit is well worth the price considering its size and quality.
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Spectacular sound
by gatocosmico on December 2, 2005
Pros: Easy to use: no buttons, credit card-sized infrared remote, and MP3 CD capability, elegant design.
Cons: Expensive, nothing is perfect !!
Specifications
- Manufacturer: Bose Corp.
- Part number: 33975
- Description: A bold new standard in audio performance from a tabletop system as elegant as it is easy to use. The Bose Wave music system may well become the primary music system in your home.
General
- Product Type Audio system
- Width 14.5 in
- Depth 8.6 in
- Height 4.2 in
- Weight 8.6 lbs
- Enclosure Color Graphite gray
Audio System
- Sound Output Mode Stereo
- Built-in Clock Alarm, Digital clock
- Timer Wake, Sleep, Snooze
- Display Dimmer Yes
- Digital Storage Media None - -1
Connectors
- Headphone Jack Yes
Speaker System
- Speaker(s) 2 x Right/left channel speaker - Built-in
Radio
- Type Radio tuner - AM/FM - Digital
- Preset Station Qty 12
- AM Preset Station Qty 6
- FM Preset Station Qty 6
Turntable
- Type None
CD System
- CD system type CD / MP3 player
- Media load type Slot-load
- Playback modes Repeat folder, Repeat shuffle, One track repeat, All tracks repeat, Random play / shuffle
- CD-R compatible Yes
- CD-RW compatible Yes
- Digital audio standards supported MP3
- MP3 playback Yes
- ID3 tag support Yes
DVD
- Type None
Cassette System
- Cassette system type None
Digital Player (Recorder)
- Type None
MD System
- MD system type None
Headphones
- Headphones Type None
Microphone
- Type None
Remote Control
- Remote Control Remote control - Infrared
Remote Control (2nd)
- Type None
Connections
- Connector Type 1 x Headphones ( Mini-phone stereo 3.5 mm ) - Rear, 1 x Audio line-in ( Mini-phone stereo 3.5 mm ) - Rear, 1 x System components control bus - Rear
Power
- Power Device Power supply - Internal
- Power AC 120 V
- Power Consumption Operational 60 Watt
Miscellaneous
- AV Furniture None
Product series
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Bose Wave Music System (platinum white)
Manufacturer: Bose Corp.
Specs: Audio system, Stereo, Remote control (Infrared), Platinum white, 14.5 in x 8.6 in x 4.2 in, 8.6 lbs
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Bose Wave Music System (graphite gray)
Manufacturer: Bose Corp.
Specs: Audio system, Stereo, Remote control (Infrared), Graphite gray, 14.5 in x 8.6 in x 4.2 in, 8.6 lbs
Manufacturer info
- Bose Corp.
- Manufacturer profile
- Browse Bose Corp. products on Shopper.com
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- Website: http://www.bose.com/
- Address:
The Mountain, Framingham, MA 01701 - Phone: 1-800-999-2673
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