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Bose Companion 2 Series II multimedia speaker system | 
 enlarge | Brand: Bose
Category: CE
List Price: $99.99
Buy Used: $72.33
You Save: $27.66 (28%)
New (15) from $89.00
Avg. Customer Rating:  110 reviews
Memorabilia: No
Batteries Included: No
Shipping Weight (lbs): 10
Dimensions (in): 16 x 20 x 12
nv:Speaker Type: Computer Speakers
Speaker Setup: 2 - Speakers
Connectivity: 3.5 mm Stereo Jack(s)
Warranty: 1 year warranty
MPN: 40274
Model: 2 Series II
UPC: 017817392815
EAN: 0017817392815
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Features:
| • | Designed to provide a clearer and more realistic music/movie/gaming experience | | • | Contemporary, elegant appearance | | • | Dual inputs for easy connection to computer and additional audio source |
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| Editorial Reviews:
Product Description
Oddsare, 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 Series II speakers and unleash your computers true potential with powerful, full-range sound for CDs, DVDs, MP3s, streaming videos, games and more. Companion 2 Series II 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 circuitry, 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 Series II speakers are magnetically shielded to prevent interference with your monitor. Now, its time to play.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 105 more reviews...
Great speakers - but not perfect May 14, 2007
47 out of 47 found this review helpful
I have Altec Lansing ATP3 back at my home. They're a pretty good 2.1 set, and never had problems with them. But now, I'm away from home.
I set out to buy speakers to help me relax in my hotel room. My first choice would have been a 2.1 system. But since I am put up in a hotel room, a 2.1 system would prove heavy on my floor-space. So, instead I started to look out for good 2.0 systems.
There are several tiny speakers in the market, but all of them compromise sound quality over portability. I am ready to drag along some weight if needed, but I didn't want tin cans.
After a lot of research, I ended up with two options - Bose Companion 2 Series II and Klipsch Promedia 2.0. The Klipsch ones had excellent reviews all over the place. The bose speakers were rather new and haven't yet received a professional review anywhere. My deciding factor was the size. I wanted the smallest of the speakers without a compromise on sound quality. The klipsch speakers were larger than the Bose. So, I had to choose Bose. I didn't get to listen to Klipsch Promedia 2.0 anywhere, so I can't do a comparison. On the other hand, I did get to hear Klipsch Promedia 2.1 before and they're exceptionally good. I would prefer them to any Bose system if I was OK with a 2.1 system.
I had heard Bose Companion 2 (the older ones) at a Bose store, and didn't like them much, as they sounded tinny. A lot of screeching sound, and a lack of bass. But I found Series II to be much better. Thanks to Bose for overcoming this problem even if that needed an increase in the size of the speakers ever so slightly.
Now that I had only one option, I went ahead and brought these speakers home. Needless to say that these speakers were really good. I could hear the player's fingers rubbing against the guitar wires and all.
I listen to a lot of Rock, Jazz and Classical. The sound is really balanced, and reproduces bass, mid-tone and treble on more or less equal footage. I believe the bass and treble are amplified a little more. Maybe that's a decision Bose have taken to "define" their desktop speakers.
The advantage Bose has to other speakers of the same class, is the digital circuitry they probably use to enhance the sound to bring in increased stereo separation and roominess to the sound. The sound coming out is definitely more pleasing to the ears, and feels room-filling. You wouldn't get this experience with speakers from other brands, however faithful they are in reproducing sound as exactly as recorded.
Now, an advantage that's almost a disadvantage. These speakers are so accurate in reproducing the sound that you cannot forgive playing mp3s at low bitrates. You need mp3s to be coded at least at 128kbps for the sound to be acceptable. I rip my music at VBR 192-320kbps and I find it hard to differentiate between the original CD and the mp3, So, never over-compress your music.
Now, two clear disadvantages. The first is that these speakers are built to aim their best sound at the person sitting at the desktop. The sound fills the room, but you lose out on the spaciousness. The stereo separation is good at 6-10 feet away, but the spaciousness is lost. So, these speakers do have a sweet-spot, and that is a chair right next to the desktop. I wish Bose provided swivel stands, so that I could point my speakers at my couch and still get the best from the speakers.
Disadvantage 2. I have played at least 200 tracks by now. The sound reproduction was near perfect, except for one track. I was playing a classical track "Symphony No. 3 in E-flat major, Op. 55, "Eroica" - Scherzo: Allegro Vivace". This is an mp3 that has been shipped along with Windows Vista. Somewhere in the middle of the track, when a trumpet is played at a particular note, the right speaker gives a buzz. It means that I hit the natural frequency of the right speaker, and that resulted in resonance. I totally understand every object has its own natural frequency and you can't help it if you make a sound matching their natural frequency. But I am disappointed Bose didn't build it tight enough to avoid the buzz. I am not sure if this a defect in the speaker. But I can't return these speakers showing that the speakers buzz in only one track out of 200 tracks.
That's about it. The speakers are almost the best you could get in a 2.0 to my knowledge. The only contendor would be the Klipsch Promedia Ultra 2.0 and if you have enough desk-space and don't need them to be as portable, you could as well go for the Klipsch. But you mght miss upon the spacious-feel circuitry that Bose uses.
Advantages
* Good balance in sound. Enough bass - I don't miss the woofer
* TrueSpace technology - whatever this thing is, your ears will like it
* small size - almost portable
Disadvantages
* Speakers aimed at the desktop user. No swivel stands
* Buzz on right speaker playing a particular track (not sure if
this is a defect)
I am tempted to put price as a disadvantage, but I failed to find speakers of the same class at a lower price. So, I would rather leave the price alone.
 Excellent sound...as TV speakers!! December 28, 2006
37 out of 54 found this review helpful
I got these speakers for free from one of the vendors I deal with for an Xmas gift. So, of course, the price was right. But since I already had top-notch speakers on both of my home computers, I wasn't sure what to do with them. Alas...to the family room and my crappy, 27" Panasonic tube television, which is stereo but whose speakers blow. I figured since these speakers are amplified, I could hook them up to my TV's audio out jacks. And whaddya know. It worked great. So now I have nice Bose sound coming out of my previously crappy sounding TV. What a difference it makes when watching music DVDs or musical performances on broadcast TV. So, while I can't speak as to how these speakers will sound with a computer, I can tell you that they work great with a stereo TV with audio out jacks. I probably never would've bought these just to use with the TV. But I'm sure glad I got them for free, because they're totally cool. Nice looking, too.
 Bose in name only. Not in sound. November 23, 2007
30 out of 31 found this review helpful
I have and have used a lot of speakers, including those for computers. I have just tried out these Bose speakers. They are very disappointing for the price. I believe that the Altec or Creative types for around 30 bucks just as good. These are highly overrated. I like, Bose, too. I have two different pairs of their headphones and love them. But, you can do a lot better than these speakers for the same amount of money (like a Logitech model with sub) and just as well for less than half (check ALtec or Creative. I'd give the edge to JBLs.) If you want to do something a bit novel, and speaker separation is not an issue for you, the Altec inMotion IM9 that runs about the same cost as these will give you dramatically better sound.
Addendum since first post:
Well, Not to be unsatisfied, I went out and bought similarly priced set of Logitech's. I got the Z4 system. It is one of their mid priced ones with a sub-woofer. And, sure, I know what you may be thinking. It is unfair to compare the Bose Companion 2s to a system with a sub. Further,I have NO DOUBT that with the satellites for the Z4 system, I am giving up some quality of midrange. However, the comparison is sharper. For same price as these Bose speakers, you can get a better overall sound for less money with the Z4s. If you go up to their Logitech's Z-2300 (I think the model number is), you will get vastly better sound. In fact, CNET says those sound best of all computer systems they tested (sound systems built for computers), outdoing systems costing upwards of 2000.00. That set up runs around 150.00. I didn't want a 12 by 12 inch sub-woofer.
Back to the Companions. They are disappointing for Bose. Very solid and rich middle with little bottom end and a somewhat tinny top end. Bottom line. I think these Bose Companion 2s are okay, if you were paying one half the price for them. At around 100 bucks, they do not give you what sound you'd get in other options, including the InMotion 9 built for iPod (but works great as computer speakers) or the Logitech Z4s.
Top notch sound! December 28, 2006
27 out of 32 found this review helpful
I agree with the others that these are far beyond your every day computer speakers. I am getting clean clean sounds and an excellent balance.
I was able to adjust the sound to my specifications with the awesome sound software on my computer. Now, I am finally glad I paid more for an upgraded sound system when I purchased this computer! I was certainly not benefiting from it with my plain old cheapy computer speakers.
I really enjoy having the headphone jack on the front of the speaker too.
These speakers are nice and heavy...not all plastic like most of the ones I've had in the past. The box, as shipped, weighed 8lbs.
I could not be more pleased with the Bose Companion 2 Series II speakers!
 Just can't stand up to the competition... December 26, 2006
26 out of 54 found this review helpful
Dave, my co-worker, just got a pair of these for Christmas, so I asked him if I could bring over a pair of my Klipsch 2.0 Ultra Pro Media speakers (which cost about ten bucks less) to compare.
Not surprisingly at all---at least not to me, but more so for Dave who has always associated Bose with premium sound quality due to his lack of audio experience and exposure to Bose's saturation-advertising campaigns---my Klipsch speakers won handily. They played louder, clearer, and with much better bass bass whereas these Bose speakers had a very unnatural and castrated sound...perfect confirmation of the old saw, "No highs no lows it must be Bose."
Even Dave's wife (who had chosen the speakers for him strictly on brand name recognition) had to agree, and to her credit she gracefully offered to return the Bose speakers for him. Which goes to show that no matter how much advertising can make suckers out of people at first, real-life experience/experimentation is always the best teacher!
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