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Bose Acoustimass 10: Review

Posted to Speakers 2010-03-22

The Bose Acoustimass 10 5.1 channel speaker system is Bose's most popular surround sound speaker system. Featuring a powered Acoustimass sub-woofer module with two high performance drivers, four Direct/Reflecting cube speakers and a horizontal center speaker, the Acoustimass 10 delivers a true theater-like experience. The four surround speakers are small and handsome - they should fit in well with any decor.

The Acoustimass module can be hidden away, and the four surround and center channel speakers are small and versatile enough to be placed out of the way. The four Direct/Reflecting cube speakers swivel so you can direct the sound into the center of the room or off of the walls. The bottom-firing Acoustimass module delivers deep, rich bass and the center and surround speakers provide crisp, clear highs and lifelike midrange.

Rating:

3.2 out of 5

Quality

This speaker system is expensive, but it does come with legendary Bose quality and sound. While the speakers are efficient enough to be driven by a fairly low-power amplifier, they're constructed well enough to take a beating from a high-power unit as well. If you like room-pounding bass and full-bore action scenes, these speakers can deliver the goods. Many users report using Bose speakers for 15-20 years, so your investment in these speakers should be a good one.

Value

The Bose Acoustimass 10 surround system provides good sound, but the system is quite expensive when compared to comparable offerings from some of the competition, particularly Klipsch and Polk Audio. Some people, however, will only buy Bose, and if you're one of those people the price is not outrageous. But the same sound quality can be achieved for $200-$300 less.

Summary

All-in-all a great offering from Bose, but too pricey for my taste. In fact, I think it is one of the better speaker systems from them (read some of my other opinions). If you're building a high-end system and want only the best, then they're probably other options, but you can achieve the same sound for quite a bit less. One big plus is the small size of the Direct/Reflecting cube speakers - they deliver a lot of sound for their size. At one time, Bose owned this type of speaker design, but in the last 20 years other players have manufacturered better speakers for less. As I have mentioned before with other Bos products, Bose doesn't want you to learn about their products by not publishing details... why?

Pros

5.1 Channel surround speaker system
Powered Acoustimass sub-woofer module
4 Direct/Reflecting cube surround speakers
Horizontal center channel speaker

Cons

Expensive

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