Bose Companion 2 Series II (graphite)
Manufacturer: Bose Corp. Part number: 40274
- More product information:
- Editors' review
- User reviews
- Specifications
- Manufacturer info
- Bottom Line:
- Bose's entry-level Companion 2 Series II speakers offer good bass and dual inputs--but they're not the best-sounding PC speakers in their price class.
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CNET editors' review
Bose Companion 2 Series II (graphite) price range: $89.95 - $126.99
- Reviewed by: David Carnoy
- Edited by: John P. Falcone
- Reviewed on: 06/20/2008
The good: Headphone jack and volume control on front of right speaker; dual stereo inputs; respectable bass for a 2.0 desktop speaker; attractive design; most affordable Bose PC speakers.
The bad: Sound isn't as good as other computer speakers in this price class.
The bottom line: Bose's entry-level Companion 2 Series II speakers offer good bass and dual inputs--but they're not the best-sounding PC speakers in their price class.
Bose makes a few computer speaker packages, the least expensive of which is the Companion 2 Series II at $100. The package includes two compact speakers measuring 7.5 by 3.2 by 5.8 inches; both are angled slightly upward so the sound is aimed toward your head when you're sitting at your computer. With their metallic silver finish and clean, business-like styling, the Companion 2 Series IIs deliver the sort of understated, elegant look that you'd expect from the design-conscious Bose engineers.
The speakers themselves are fairly lightweight--the left speaker weighs 2.3 pounds and the right is 1.8 pounds--but there's enough heft here to give you the perception that the speakers contain some quality components. Bose has conveniently placed the volume control knob and headphone jack on the front of the right speaker.
The right speaker also houses all of the system's connectivity on its rear panel. There you'll find the power jack for the AC adapter (there's no USB option), a minijack connector for connecting the umbilical line to the left-hand speaker, and two sets of full-size stereo RCA inputs. One of the inputs, obviously, is for your PC, while the other is for any other audio source you'd like--an iPod, stereo receiver, or what have you. Bose supplies a minijack-to-RCA cable for the PC, and a standard set of stereo cables for connecting larger gear. For better or worse, the two inputs are active simultaneously, so if two sources are plugged in, you get a mixed output. We actually liked that; you can hear notification sounds from your PC even as you're listening to your music player.
The spec list in the manual says each speaker contains one 2.5-inch full-range driver--that means there's no separate tweeter. It's worth noting that we've seen speakers in this price range that offer a separate woofer and tweeter--the M-Audio Studiophile AV20s and the Creative Labs GigaWorks T20s come to mind. That's the preferred configuration so long as it's implemented well. On the plus side, the speakers are magnetically shielded, so they won't interfere with older CRT monitors.
If you're looking for heavy bass in a PC speaker, you'll probably want to steer clear of these sort of 2.0 stereo speakers and pick up a 2.1 configuration with a separate subwoofer instead (Bose offers several subwoofer-enabled models, as do dozens of competitors). That said, we don't think anyone will accuse the Bose Companion 2 Series II speakers of being bass shy. The little speakers put out a reasonable amount of bass--but that's arguably the best part of the speakers' sound.
Bose has incorporated something called TrueSpace Stereo Signal Processing Circuitry, which it says is a "proprietary technology [that] helps maximize audio performance by widening the image of closely placed speakers. You experience audio that seems to come from a soundstage wider than the two speakers, allowing for full performance beyond the computer screen." According to Bose, the speakers also automatically adjust tonal balance "for rich, convincing audio performance at practically any listening level." We put these features to the test with some musical selections, as well as one of our favorite PC games.
The vocals on Belle & Sebastian's The Boy With The Arab Strap album were pushed forward and sounded somewhat harsh. The speaker seemed to emphasize sibilants. Arcade Fire's Neon Bible is a rather densely layered recording, and the Bose Companion 2 Series II speakers made it hard to distinguish instruments from each other.
We switched things up with some instrumental jazz. When we fired up saxophonist Ben Webster's classic "Chelsea Bridge," we felt the Bose Companion 2 Series II seemed to accentuate the analog recording's tape hiss, and Webster's warm sax sound was nowhere to be heard.
On the gaming front, we booted up Unreal Tournament 3 and the little speakers' strengths in the bass department helped accentuate weapons firing and the explosions they caused. The speakers didn't produce huge, enveloping sound, but they delivered enough oomph to serve casual gamers expectations for a more visceral gaming experience by upgrading from their PC's bundled speakers.
We wrapped things up by putting the Bose Companion 2 Series II against the aforementioned M-Audio Studiophile AV20s, which are widely available for the same price (if not less). The head-to-head comparison confirmed our initial evaluation of the Bose. Overall, the M-Audios delivered a somewhat cleaner, crisper sound, free of the noticeable sibilance exhibited by the Bose. That said, they lack the second input and headphone jack found on the Bose.
In an earlier review, we were pretty hard on Bose's high-end Computer MusicMonitor speakers, which are smaller and sleeker looking than the speakers reviewed here--but also really expensive at $400. In the end, it's easier to be more forgiving with the $100 Companion 2 Series IIs. But if you're not married to the Bose label, there are plenty of PC speakers out there for the same price that will deliver better overall sound quality.
User reviews
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great performance !
by doaxxx on November 17, 2006
Pros: sound quality,beautiful design and sturdy construction
Cons: a littlte excessive bass
Summary: Listenning to these babies at the demo kios at Frys store for just a couple minutes really convinced me I don't have to look further,just exactly what I ...
Summary: Listenning to these babies at the demo kios at Frys store for just a couple minutes really convinced me I don't have to look further,just exactly what I wanted for my Zen vison M,a perfect match.I've already owned a pair of Creative GigaWorks T20 which I really satisfied with its sound quality but Companion 2 sounds even better,just a little excessive bass but that won't be a problem since I can ajust the equalizer in my mp3 player to get a well balanced sound.
Everyone at my work seemed supprised at the big life-like sound from these baby speakers when they heard the music.At $99.00 is somewhat pricey for a pair of portable speakers but worth the money.Recommend to anyone looking for quality in multimedia speakers.4 out of 4 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Flat sound - going with 2.1
by rtboutte on February 2, 2007
Pros: Videos sound good
Cons: Gaming sound is flat
Summary: I was thinking/hoping that Bose would make a speaker that would make me not want a subwoofer, but it just isn't there. If you want a basic 2....
Summary: I was thinking/hoping that Bose would make a speaker that would make me not want a subwoofer, but it just isn't there. If you want a basic 2.0 speaker system for basic audio, this is it. If you want gaming, go with something in the 2.1 configuration, like the Companion 3.
3 out of 3 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Great pair of 2.0s, you get what you pay for here
by KonradBerry on September 25, 2007
Pros: Sound good, compact, reliable
Cons: They are 2.0 computer speakers, afterall
Summary: I almost went for the Klipsch ProMedia Ultra 2.0 based on user reviews. And man, am I glad I didn't. I noticed several user complaints about the Klipsch ...
Summary: I almost went for the Klipsch ProMedia Ultra 2.0 based on user reviews. And man, am I glad I didn't. I noticed several user complaints about the Klipsch crackling and popping and failing after 6mos. So I decided to take some time and actually shop. After testing, the Klipsch, Bose and many others at 3 or 4 stores. The Bose stood out head and shoulders and a couple of pairs of the Klipsch were crackling in the stores. Some user reviews on Bose said that they sound better in the store b/c of their special display setup. I found that they sound as good or BETTER at home. Don't nickel and dime, you'll get what you pay for with these.
2 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Smooth response for music and an excellent value
by dcstephens on November 21, 2007
Pros: Smooth, balanced response and attractive.
Cons: I'm entirely pleased.
Summary: I use these for music on my work computer. I'm a serious musician and have an audiophile system at home, so I was primarily seeking smooth, clean music reproduction, ...
Summary: I use these for music on my work computer. I'm a serious musician and have an audiophile system at home, so I was primarily seeking smooth, clean music reproduction, without bloated bass and shrill highs. These Bose do a great job reproducing files up to 1-bit DSD 5.6 mHz. I can easily hear the difference between a CD and hi-rez files.
The analogue control on the speakers is useful, allowing me to avoid the degradation caused by DSP in the computer. All gains and resolution are set at their maxes on the computer and I use the analog volume control to adjust level. Unfortunately, I did need to use a little DSP to reduce a slight hump in the lower bass.
At 100-bucks, I don't know of any competition. These are not audiophile grade, by any stretch of the imagination, but they do a very good job at their price point. Most of the competition in this price looked to "cheap" and "plastic". I know there's plastic in the Bose, but it looks good.
Dave1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Muffled sound
by fleurya on December 30, 2006
Pros: decent base for lack of subwoofer
Cons: very muffled sound
Summary: Listened to set set in the store and they sounded great, but it was a Bose display, so the surroundings and music were chosen by Bose. I was skeptical, but ...
Summary: Listened to set set in the store and they sounded great, but it was a Bose display, so the surroundings and music were chosen by Bose. I was skeptical, but decided the Bose name is good.
I got them home listening to them now. The sound is very muffled-sounding, as if some heavy cloth or a pillow is being held over speakers that would normally sound clear. I've tried a number of different kinds of music, but same result. I'm taking them back and getting a set of M-Audio monitors that sounded great, even out in the open, on a steel shelf, and playing internet radio!1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Wow! I've had Bose in my car,now my computer! Amazing!
by photolito on August 14, 2009
Pros: -They offer incredible bass
-They are good value (except some people find 120 dollars a little expensive for computer speakers)
-Built and designed well
-Matches the Mac look
-Pretty accurate sound
-Very high resale value
-No distortion
-Go LoudCons: -No bass/treble dial but really that's not important with today's Equalizer software implemented into todays programs like iTunes/Windows Media Player and writing software like Logic/Pro Tools/FL Studio. Plus the speakers do a good job at equalizing.
Summary: I compose music as well as play, and wanted to get some good speakers for the studio but didn't want to spend too much, and wanted some small speakers, ...
Summary: I compose music as well as play, and wanted to get some good speakers for the studio but didn't want to spend too much, and wanted some small speakers, so a 3-5 piece system was out of the question. Then I found these. And they were on special so I figured what the heck , tried them out, especially with them being the famous audio brand Bose. They are not exactly the best , cause I mean 100 dollars you're not buying the real deal but for what the do , how big they are, the price, they are hard to beat. Bose does a good job at making the music sound real. I really hate it when snobs bash Bose. People claim Bose don't reproduce sound well. That's not true. If each note is on pitch with what it's supposed to be, it's on tune, it's true sound. These speakers deliver that. I would highly recommend these speakers. Even if you're frugal and like to pinch pennies, these are a good investment. I was also considering the M-Audio Studiophile AV-20s but I've heard lots of bad things about them and when I listened to them in store, I still said the Bose sounded the most realistic. I would highly highly recommend to people with aluminum Macs: the style is matched and looks elegant. No wonder this company is first place in Home Audio retail. Bose is the Mercedes-Benz of speakers.
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NO NO -- Don't Buy
by Integerik on August 1, 2009
Pros: Portability
Cons: Sound, Power
Summary: Please do not but these. They are worse then portable speakers of a much smaller size and absolutely sound horrible!! You would probably do better with a set that is ...
Summary: Please do not but these. They are worse then portable speakers of a much smaller size and absolutely sound horrible!! You would probably do better with a set that is powered by AA batteries than these things. In the past I haven't liked Bose but decided to give them one last shot. What a waste of $89.00! They are half decent if you are traveling and want something with a bit better sound than your laptop speakers but probably won't imprese you much more than much cheaper battery powered speakers. Save yourself the $100.00 they want for this garbage.
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simple and fairly good pair of speakers
by donatello77 on July 27, 2009
Pros: compact and nice design, good sound
Cons: some flat sounds
Summary: Acceptable quality for this price range.
Summary: Acceptable quality for this price range.
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Good portable for MP3 players
by brett_h_l on July 15, 2009
Pros: CNET reviewer missed a pro for these speakers (CNET does that, as they don't have much tech prowess) - power adapter is 110V or 220V, good if you travel. Sound is good. Base is extended by patent 4,739,415 so base is colored,booms, hollow sounding.
Cons: Weak treble.
Summary: Getting harder to find good, small 2.0 amplified speakers these days, these may be the last. Over priced, but everything from Bose is these days. They charge allot and ...
Summary: Getting harder to find good, small 2.0 amplified speakers these days, these may be the last. Over priced, but everything from Bose is these days. They charge allot and tend to put the minimum into their products. Seems to be sensitive enough for MP3 player input, using with Cowon D2. Have not measured input resistance.
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Surprisingly Unexceptional
by jholber2 on June 23, 2009
Pros: Good mid and vocal frequency reproduction.
Excellent clarity in online / video chat.
Good bass.Cons: Lacks the wider frequency range of a larger system.
Narrow dispersion - coverage suffers at distances wider than your monitor.
Price.
No on/off switch...Summary: Don't expect these to replace the average 2.1 system. Their narrow dispersion makes them useless for any setup other than a desk. Great for a video conference setup. ...
Summary: Don't expect these to replace the average 2.1 system. Their narrow dispersion makes them useless for any setup other than a desk. Great for a video conference setup. The magnetic shielding is nice, but lack of an on / off switch makes them a pain to unplug when your catching interference from nearby cell phones.
Specifications
- Manufacturer: Bose Corp.
- Part number: 40274
- Description: The Bose Companion 2 multimedia speaker system represents a significant upgrade in sound and style over original equipment computer speakers. Enjoy sharp, expansive sound for music, movies and games. These sleek and compact speakers fit easily in their surroundings to save useful desk space. Dual inputs make it a snap to connect your computer and portable audio sources at the same time. Both volume and the headphone jack reside on the front of one speaker to provide easy control over your listening experience. Odds are, your computer is a primary source of entertainment. So why rely on standard computer speakers with so much rich content at your fingertips? Step up to Companion 2 speakers and unleash your computer's true potential with powerful, full-range sound for CDs, DVDs, MP3s, streaming videos, games and more. Companion 2 speakers deliver both the subtleties in your music and the rousing resonance of movie and game sound effects. Think of them as giving new voice to your computer. And with Bose TrueSpace stereo signal processing, that voice really has some reach. Experience a spacious, dramatic soundstage that seems to extend beyond the desktop speakers - whether you've set them next to your monitor or placed them farther apart. You'll also appreciate the clear, robust response for those challenging low musical notes and sound effects. Companion 2 speakers bring more than new flair to your desktop. They're also designed for convenience, with both the volume control and headphone jack close at hand. All so controlling your listening experience is as simple as you'd like it to be. Dual inputs enable the speakers to be used with your computer as well as a second audio source, such as a portable MP3 or CD player. And Companion 2 speakers are magnetically shielded to prevent interference with your monitor. Now, it's time to play.
General
- Product Type PC multimedia speakers
- Enclosure Color Silver, Graphite
Speaker System
- Speaker Type Active
- Output Features Bass Reflex
- Magnetic Shield Yes
- Audio Amplifier Integrated
- Connectivity Technology Wired
- Controls Volume
Speaker System Details
- Speakers Included 2 x Right/left channel speaker - Wired
- Driver Details Right/left channel speaker : 1 x Full-range driver - 2.5 in
Connections
- Connector Type 2 x Audio line-in ( Mini-phone stereo 3.5 mm ), 1 x Headphones ( Mini-phone stereo 3.5 mm )
PC Speakers (Extended Specs)
- Width 3.4 in
- Depth 6 in
- Height 7.5 in
- Weight 2.2 lbs
- Battery type None
- Cable(s) Included 2 Audio cable
- Cables included qty 2
- Cables type Audio cable
- Color Silver
- Full contract period 1 year
- Power Supply / Device Power adapter External
- Power device form factor External
- Power device type Power adapter
- Service & support details type Limited warranty
Miscellaneous
- Cables Included 2 x Audio cable
- Included Accessories Rubber pads
- AV Furniture None
Power
- Power Device Power adapter - External
Battery
- Type None
Manufacturer Warranty
- Service & Support 1 year warranty
- Service & Support Details Limited warranty - 1 year
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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