Table of Contents
About Bose
Ask any would-be audiophile about their preferred brand of choice when it comes to listening to music and Bose would pop up. The juggernaut company is considered a leader in the world of audio equipment with their huge roster of inventive headphones, earbuds, and speakers.
They have over 1M followers on Instagram and 4M likes on Facebook. Numbers like that can make you believe they’re the absolute pinnacle of sound engineering, but why is that?
Read through our Bose review to find out what makes this company different from the rest. We’ll be examining their product line-up, their vision, their sales, and what customers really think about them. Ready to upgrade your audio experience?
Overview of Bose
Sound is all about the details. It’s why lossless audio has become such an attractive feature of many premium music streaming services.
Bose is a company that recognizes how much the fine details can affect the final product, which is why they build all their equipment with every small, seemingly insignificant factor in consideration for the benefit of their customers.
The American company is based out of Massachusetts. They started in 1964 when founder Amar Bose wanted to make a speaker that would outperform in a market he felt was severely malnourished.
But interestingly enough, Bose’s vision wasn’t and has never been about showboating. The company has always pushed the envelope in the realm of audio equipment for their customers. They want people to hear their music with the clarity of a child that’s hearing their mother’s voice for the first time.
That’s why their development team is filled with an Olympic-level roster of engineers, technicians, sound designers, and audiophiles.
The company also enforces sustainable practices throughout their supply chain. They keep a close eye on their production houses to ensure that their process is as sustainable as possible. Their Massachusetts headquarters even uses a 1.7MW solar array to power their operations.
Furthermore, they adhere to the Responsible Business Alliance (RBA) code to make sure their practices are ethical and that their workers are treated fairly.
One of the most attractive features of buying straight from Bose’s website is their price-matching practice. They’ll offer you a return on the price difference for any product listed on their website that’s also available through Target, Walmart, or Best Buy.
Now that you understand a bit more about what goes on behind the scenes of Bose’s operations, we’ll pivot to the highlights section of this Bose review:
Highlights
- A wide and innovative array of audio equipment
- Acts in accordance with the Responsible Business Alliance (RBA)
- Free 2nd-day shipping over $50
- Price match guarantee
- Products have a 90-day risk-free trial period
Here is a broad overview of all the products that Bose manufactures and distributes:
- Headphones
- Earbuds
- Speakers
- Sunglasses
- Sleep aids
- Hearing aids
Within these categories are subcategories that further differentiate between the different types of products.
Bose Speakers Review
The first category of products we’ll highlight in our article will be some of their most inspired items. These Bose speakers helped define the company.
Bose 251 Environmental Speakers Review
The benefit of speakers versus other forms of sound amplification is that they can transform your room into a new environment.
The Environmental Speakers can do more than turn your living room into an entertainment epicenter. These small speakers are powerful enough to cover huge outdoor areas.
Their trick is that they can project their sound over a vast distance. Most speakers work by focusing their output in one direction. However, the 251 Environmental Speakers can distribute your music evenly across a wide valley.
These speakers are ideal for outdoor activities because they can withstand a huge range of temperatures. They can even remain operational from -22 degrees to 140 degrees Fahrenheit. But in this Bose review we aren’t suggesting you go out and try this sort of experiment either.
A set of 251 Environmental Speakers includes 2 speakers and costs $398.
Bose Headphones Review
Despite earbuds becoming most people’s go-to listening apparatus, and we’ll get to those later in this Bose review, there’s still a time and place for a good set of headphones. That’s why we’ll dedicate a bit of this review to some of the best Bose headphones.
Bose QuietComfort 45 Headphones Review
These headphones can lull you into a brand new world, and that’s before you even hit the play button on your music player.
The QuietComfort 45 Headphones are designed to coddle your ears, their leather cups straddling you while the headband rests gently on the top of your head. These headphones have a 24-hour battery life on a full charge. However, all that battery power would be for nothing if they had lackluster sound output.
Thankfully, the QuietComfort 45 Headphones have a noise rejecting system, TriPort shape, and volume-optimized active EQ. These features can deliver one of the clearest audio streams available through the company.
If you want to be more involved in the world around you, then you can activate the Aware Mode. This feature balances external sound with your audio so you can hear around you without it interrupting your music.
You can buy these Bose wireless headphones in either white or black for $329.
Bose Soundbar Review
We’ll dedicate the next section of our Bose review to an item that’s instrumental for a proper home theater experience. This Bose soundbar can elevate your entertainment set-up into a locale that rivals an IMAX movie theater.
Bose Smart Soundbar 900 Review
This Bose soundbar takes the sound system you’re certainly familiar with if you’ve ever been to a cinema and puts it right in your living room. That’s right, the Smart Soundbar 900 is powered by Dolby Atmos, meaning it can produce cinema-quality sounds.
This soundbar contains 9 speakers, all of which are aimed to project sound across the room for an immersive full-body experience. The end result is that you may hear sounds from all around the room instead of just from the speakers in front of you.
The product also provides hands-free control because you can connect it to either Alexa or Google Assistant.
You can kick back your feet and cover your hands in buttery popcorn with the Bose Smart Soundbar 900 for $799.
Bose Earbuds Review
These Bose earbuds are the ideal purchase for people who want a private listening experience where nothing can interfere between them and their music.
Bose QuietComfort Earbuds Review
The QuietComfort Earbuds combine the comfort of absolute silence with the comfort of, well, earbuds that actually feel good in your ears. They can dampen most external sounds with their worldly noise-canceling technology.
Like the other QuietComfort product mentioned in this Bose review, you can shut off this function and turn on the Aware Mode if you need to be more cognizant of your surroundings.
These earbuds also have an intuitive set of touch controls allowing you to pause, play, fast forward, and rewind your music without needing to pull your phone out of your pocket.
The QuietComfort Earbuds have a battery life that can last up to 6 hours, and they’re comfortable enough that you may want to keep them in for that long. They have silicone ear tips that gently sit in your ear canals without irritating them.
You can purchase the QuietComfort Earbuds in either black, triple soapstone, or the stone blue colorway for $279.
Bose Bluetooth Speaker Review
This section of our Bose review will cover one of the most essential items for any house party. This Bose bluetooth speaker can have your entire neighbor rocking to the beat long into the night.
Bose S1 Pro Portable Bluetooth Speaker System Review
The S1 Pro Portable Bluetooth Speaker System looks to meet every need you could ever have when it comes to speakers.
First of all, it can connect to a variety of audio sources with either a wired or a wireless connection. You can sync it to your phone via Bluetooth, manually connect it to your iPod, or even play your musical instrument directly through it.
Bose designed this speaker to go wherever you do. It has a tough exterior to protect it from the wilderness and a handle for easy lifting and carrying. It only weighs 15 pounds so you wouldn’t misalign your spine by taking it with you.
The S1 Pro Portable Bluetooth Speaker System can be yours for $549, or $649 if you want to purchase a rechargeable battery for it too.
Who Is Bose For?
Bose’s products are for people who are tired of compromising in regards to their audio. They’re for people who want audio equipment that’s been designed to enhance every aspect, whether it’s listening to music on the go, watching a movie, or hosting a party.
Bose Reviews: What Do Customers Think?
We consulted with some of the largest Bose review hubs on the internet in order to present you with a clear representation of what customers think about the company. This section will show you what you can expect when you purchase a Bose product and tell you a little bit about the quality of their goods.
The first place we gathered customer insight was Consumer Affairs. Bose held an average score of 3.8/5 stars based on over 290 pieces of customer feedback.
We were surprised to see how many customers praised Bose’s customer service. This is usually a weak point for many companies as it’s hard for them to handle every unpredictable factor that can affect delivery, but Bose rose to the occasion.
This 5/5 stars review recounts one buyer’s experience working with Bose:
“Everyone knows Bose has high-quality products, but their customer service is truly one of the best in the business. When you need a replacement for any reason they ask very few questions, so whether something broke or you don’t like the specific product, they are happy to offer a replacement or exchange.”
Users on Consumer Affairs also pointed to the high quality of Bose’s products. They said that their purchases sounded better than almost every other product in the same price range.
Some customers even went as far as to say that Bose’s products lasted longer than they ever would’ve expected. Here’s another 5/5-star Bose review that elaborates on that:
“I’ve been happy with all the headphones I purchased from Bose, their sound, their design, their colors, their excellent customer service. They exchanged products for me quick. My very first bose earphones still sound decent even when the earmuffs worn out. Even when people look online for better deals, I didn’t mind buying directly from the store. Keep it up, Bose!”
We also took into account what customers said about Bose on TrustPilot. There, we did find some positive testimonials that espoused similar sentiments to the Bose reviews on Consumer Affairs. This is one customer’s account of their Bose QuietComfort Earbuds:
“I work night shift, so I wear the earbuds while I sleep during the day. I usually listen to an audiobook or music and put a sleep timer on it. The noise-canceling is the best in the industry and blocked out kids screaming, lawnmowers, and traffic noise.”
We’d be lying if we said there weren’t some negative Bose reviews. Most of the few naysayers we found focused on the brand’s apparent inability to answer their qualms about returns or faulty products.
It’s common for companies to receive negative feedback from annoyed customers who just want their products, so these critiques weren’t unusual.
Is Bose Legit?
As we stated in the previous segment of our Bose review, none of the customer reviews that we saw seemed so overtly negative that they raised any red flags.
Sure, there were some issues with shipping, but there are so many factors that can delay or interfere with shipping that it’s impossible for a company to control them.
Is Bose Worth It?
To conclude this Bose review—we believe this brand is worth looking into if you want high-quality sound for agreeable prices.
There are definitely more expensive brands that can deliver better-sounding products, but Bose hit the perfect spot between affordable and astounding sound quality.
Bose Promotions & Discounts
Some of the best deals available through Bose are their bundles. For example, you can save 15% if you purchase two Bose SoundLink Flex Bluetooth Speakers together, or a pair of Bose Sport Earbuds. You can also save 10% if you buy two Bose Portable Smart Speakers.
There are more deals on the company’s website under their special offers banner. These discounts include a markdown on the Bose Noise Canceling Headphones 700 from $379 to $249.
Where to Buy Bose
Here are some of the most popular places where you can buy Bose goods:
- On the company’s website, bose.com
- Through large distributors like Target, Best Buy, or Walmart
- In audio shops across the nation
FAQ
Who owns Bose?
Bose’s founder Amar Bose donated the majority of the company’s shares to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, meaning that the school is technically Bose’s owner.
Does Bose ship internationally?
Though it appears that Bose ships to Canada, the US, and Puerto Rico, we were unable to find any information about whether they shipped internationally or not. Based on that fact, we think it’s safe to assume that they do not ship internationally.
What is Bose’s Shipping Policy?
Bose offers free 2nd-day shipping for all US orders that cost more than $50.
Bose’s shipping costs vary based on the size of the order and the shipping method. Most standard shipping orders should reach their destination in 5 to 6 business days while express shipping takes 3 to 5 business days
What is Bose’s Return Policy?
You’ll have to call Bose if you want to request a product return. Thankfully, all returns are subject to free shipping, so you won’t have to pay to send your product back to them.
How to Contact Bose
We’ll conclude our Bose review by listing out all the ways that you can contact the brand if you have any questions that haven’t yet been answered:
- Text BOSE to 1-508-469-5278
- Call them at 1-800-379-2073
- Visit their product support page
Their customer service lines are open from 9:00 am to 9:00 pm ET on weekdays and 9:00 am to 7:00 pm ET on Saturdays.
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