Horrific Confession and Question

Why do so many people hold it against a company that they're a marketing machine? It undoubtedly drives the cost up, since there are costs associated with extensive marketing, and it also undoubtedly drives the price that can be gotten for the product up because people now desire the product. But is seems like many people hold it against a company and their products because they're successful at marketing. If Bose products cost 1/2 as much, would they be any better or worse a product? It would cause those of us who understand how much better you can get for the same money a lot less angst, but it wouldn't change the performance of the product. People who buy the product apparently are well serviced, happy with their purchase, and have bought from a company that is going to be around for a long time - seems like, overall, it's not something to hold against the company.

As to the "mystery" of why sound can be so inviting in a public environment (Tower?). It reminds me of the feeling of anticipation I get when approaching the doors of a concert hall and hearing the sound check, or musicians tuning, there is a little adrenaline rush. In retail environments sound is usually up high and seems a bit distant, in much the same way. The size of the store is also a factor. Usually at least 10 - 100 times the size of most listening rooms. When you enter the Metropolitan Museum of Art on Friday evenings there is often a quartet playing near the lounge. The sound is everywhere, but difficult to locate. It must be similar to the sound at the court of Louis XIV at Versailles. Seeking out the source of the music is an exhilarating feeling, not to mention the effect and magic of large spaces. Though far from equal, there is a similarity when hearing music in some retail stores. * cLondon, check out a Denon receiver with 5 channel stereo mode and Gallo speakers, they are small, sleekly designed and knock the Bose systems out. The 5 channel mode basically gives you the same sound from 5 speakers, (different from Pro-logic). I also have a friend who has a very good stereo system and a B & O wall mounted system as well. It is overpriced, but served his need for an unobtrusive but decent sound system for entertaning guests and for casual listening. In his very tight living space it was a stylish solution. The road to discovering what good sound is can begin for some people on a Bose system, because if they they are willing to spend some money towards a good sound sound system, (even if they may not know what good sound is yet), sometimes, given a few years they will be curious about some much better sounding gear they will hear somewhere and want to get it for themselves, beginning a more serious interest in HiFi.

It's not the fact that the speakers are well marketed. Rolexes, Mercedes, and Absolut vodka are well marketed but I have no problem with that. What's offensive is that the aggressive marketing of BOSE speakers is disguised with pseudo scientific bullshit while ramming mediocre (at best) products down the throats of the undereducated public. It's not that they're aggressive marketers, it's that they're pretentious and full of shit. Cornfedboy, you hit the spot. An even more disturbing question -- is success in politics and business inversely related to integrity and the truth?

I agree with Cwlondon and Cornfedboy about lack of truth in marketing. As to your question: I have some friends who are very successful in business. One is an entreprenuer, one a screenwriter/producer, one a consultant/farmer. I have known them for 65 years collectively, and not once in all their endeavors did I see them screw anyone. This does not mean they are woosey little do gooders, it means that their success lied in their integrity and quality of their work. Many people want success at any price, some prefer to earn it. Sooner or later a good leader emerges in politics, let's hope he or she doesn't get killed this time.

One of the reasons people buy Bose is the hype created by its marketing, and Bose is a mediocre brand in terms of performance. I think many would agree to the two facts. Bashing Bose is not equivalent to bashing people who buy it. In fact, I have not seen anyone of Bose bashers here bashing people who buy Bose -- somebody, please, show me otherwise. I am not bashing people who buy Bose, nor would I call them stupid for the lack of time and interest to research and buying the hype. If high end audio industry were bloated with overprofiteering, that would be a legitimate reason for somebody who feel got ripped off to blast it. If you feel otherwise in terms of whether or not you got ripped off, that will be compeltely acceptable by me. However, I do feel such activities as bashing or complaining for a legitimate reason is consumers' right to protect themselves and is an only channel to expedite, along with boycotting the products at personal level, what one sees as common good for consumers. When the sentiment spreads against a product or a company, it becomes a consumer movement materialized in mass boycotting. Of course, so called Bose bashers are inconsequential because they are minority in number. Nevertheless, how many participates in such is inconsequential in terms of the legitimacy of the cause. Even bashing is not a negative activity when there is a legitimate reason. Nor does it arise from envy. Money or price is one of main objects in the evaluation of products. When some products offer little value comparing to the price they charge, or when they juggle with words to create marketing niche by adding imaginary values, some may call it scam.