I need to purchase a small stereo for the apartment that I will be living in when school begins in the fall. Anyone had any experience with this system? Worth the cost? Lower cost alternatives? I don’t mind spending the money if it’s worth it. Just wanted to see if anyone else had some advice. Thanks 
I have no personal experience, but the consensus over at Home Theater Forum seems to be that Bose products tend toward being very badly overpriced.
Good luck!
There are a lot of options out there, including many much cheaper than the Bose system. But for what it’s worth, I have a Bose system, and I love it. It was well worth the money I paid.
The one warning I’ve heard from other Bose users: if the Bose unit ever needs repair, that can be a difficult and expensive process. But thus far, I’ve been lucky.
The Bose Accoustic Wave Music System does sound good. People that buy it are usually happy with it. But, you can buy a lot more sound for the price. You could get a complete home theater system for the same money.
Basically, Bose has good products, but are highly priced. Their target consumer is old and rich. The products tend to be good sounding, simple to use, but expensive and often uncompatible with other components.
Audiophiles tend to hate Bose, the same way that computer savy people hate AOL.
Well, this IS IMHO, right?
The Accoustic Wave System sounds as good as any compact stereo set: marginally acceptable. If you opt for a compact setting such as this, then the Bose is probably as good as it gets.
However, there is no substitute for space and volume when it comes to HiFi. All the technology in the world will not make that little Bose box with its speakers 20 centimeters apart sound anywhere near a decent middle-of-the-road set-up of an integrated amp, a CD player, and two speakers of decent size (meaning: bigger than a bookshelf model - speakers need the resonance, the room of the cabinet).
Which brands you should buy when it comes to compact sets, I have no idea. Personally, I wouldn’t buy the Bose, and opt for a compact set of a more affordable brand like Technics or Pioneer. No super HiFi sound either, but a compact set won’t deliver that anyway, and this way you’ll get some value for money at least.
Sounds harsh, but hey, you asked.
Thanks for the info, and unfortunately space is at a premium until I finish my internship so it will have to be something that is bookshelf size for time being.
All those Herbie Hancock infomercials ain’t cheap.