BOSE(R) Companion 3 Multimedia Speaker System - Graphite / Silver
By: Bose Average Rating: 4.0 Total Reviews: 45
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 On: 2008-03-29
Bose uses basic drivers and adds electronics (equilizers) to customize the sound. Some like it,some dont. I personally dont. I grew up with the stereo system as being critical to producing accurate sound reproduction. However, the digital media has not helped because it has produced compressed music and lower sampling rates which actually loses some of the music.Bose, does almost as bad by coloring the sound to make listeners believe it sounds good.When in fact it does not even come close to being a good reproducer of the content.Now, I am not saying all these users who say the Companion 3s are great are wrong. I am certain they believe they sound great. My problem with them is they have too much bass too little midrange and highs that drop off too early.This is from measuring the sound through a tone generator and using a sound meter.I certainly think they are good for movies,gaming and watching web content. But I certainly do not like them for music.
On: 2007-10-28
I have been using this system for more than an year. I bought the system thinking that being a premium product should give me good performance over a period of time but I think that I was mistaken. To start with the system gave a very good sound output with good highs, deep lows and decent mid range. But over the period of time maybe due to the curing of the bass module it delivers an excessive bass taking over lot of mid range and highs.. I now have to keep the bass at the minimum level and adjust my equalizer settings to get the right mix.. I think there should have been something to adjust for the excess bass internally instead of keeping on readjusting the equalizer settings.. Overall decent,overpriced product but I doubt its longevity in terms of quality of output...
 On: 2007-07-26
Ok, i feel intimidated by those sound gurus bad reviews. But my personal experience is very different. Set up was easy. I replaced the computer with a Sony Cd Player (an extra cable is needed).....and put an Andy Williams Cd. The sound is EXTRAORDINARY. Period.
On: 2007-06-20
these bose speakers are wonderful, it has great sound, can get plenty loud, and fis easily on and under desks. Also know that there could be many alternitives that are just as good for 100$ less.
(And incase your wondering, the 2 small speakers arnt wireless)
On: 2007-05-12
Wanted smallest PC speakers possible that put out the best sound. Current model of this system has speakers on stands, which we didnt want. Excellent sound, and the desktop volume/mute controller is perfect for someone who is constantly taking phone calls. Highly recommend.
On: 2007-02-18
I have to say, that This is the best product out there, for such a reasonable price you get the most clear sound you cannot ever get form any other supplier. Bose definitely is the best quality brand for all systems sound. The speackers are tiny and can be placed anywhere. The volume control system is just great, with one touch you get on-off, and volume using the wheel around it, easy and convenient. The bass is very powerfull. You wont be dissapointed. This is a must have product at home or office. I love it.
On: 2007-01-10
I culdnt have made a better buy for this amount of money. As of today Im stll very satisfied with the great preformance that three speakers can provide. I cant belive that I waited so long to deside on buying this speaker system, which is quite pricy. But then again, Bose is the best way to go for those of us that can afford it. Overall the Companion 3 is a great buy. ---Sweet!!!!!!!!!---
On: 2006-11-01
I love the system but it failed six months after my warranty expired. But for $50 Bose fixed the unit and the turnaround was superfast -- I shipped it to them on Monday and received my working unit back on Friday. Fabulous.
On: 2006-10-07
I must say, Im listening to these components at my home desk office right now, and I have the subwoofer placed on my large desk, behind my large PC monitor, and Ive placed the satellites up front on the far front corners of my desk, and to be perfectly honest, the sound is incredibly rich, EXTREMELY precise on both low frequencies and all high end sounds. The instruments are crystal clear, and goose-bump making. Really am impressed with Bose. Ive been using ADCOM components to run my PC sounds to my Snell J2 bookshelf speakers, but wanted something more immediate to my desk -- an in-your-face type of sound, not so much a room-filler, and, well, I got it. It is more than adequate to satisfy me for desktop/pc usage, DVD playing at my computer, and all music files sound great with these. Im not throwing away my Snell speakers though! If youre going to have a room party, or want to "fill-the-air" in your room, and not just at your desk, you might want to look for something more. But if you just want quality sound while at the PC, look no further.
I was going to give these 4 stars for a lack of midrange sound, but in the end they are fulfilling as-is, when the sub is placed on the desk, and the satellites are positioned correctly. I do not like the satellites attached to the monitor -- look weird, and sound too high. Enveloping sounds though when placed correctly. I think any audiophile can tweak the placements of these components and be happy. If youre an audio-ignoramus, you might not figure out how to make this work for you. But I did, and am glad. Worth $300, though paid $250.
Give them a try.
On: 2006-03-29
Let me get right to the point. This speaker system is the most rediculus speaker system ever! BOSE doesnt mess around. TO start off, the speakers are tiny, yet can reach volumes that will damage ears. The bass is not intended to shake the floor, but it will. The woffer has an adjustable level, so if you like a soft bass then you can have it. If you want an abundance of bass, then you can have that, too. The sound quality is just crystal clear and has such a unique, real life sound to it. The system is very compact, and can be placed anywhere. This is the best buy that i have ever made, and i strongly recomend it to anyone.
On: 2006-03-03
This speaker system is fantastic, It makes my little laptop into a powerful music system right in my office. I love it, the sound is wonderful.I couldnt have asked for better!
 On: 2006-03-03
Im a professional audio producer and Im really pleased with the overall response of my Companion 3 Multimedia Speaker System . Pretty flat sound once you calibrate the subwoofer.
Inexpensive for a bose system, I must recommend this product.
Sergio Sacoto Arias
www.cruksenkarnak.com
On: 2006-02-09
I love Bose products and cherish my Wave and the Bose sterero in my car. I bought this set up to add to my new IMAC G5 computer when hearing it in a store. I did this despite the hearing of other systems and was impressed of course by the Bose. Then at the Apple store I was then introduced to a similar two-speaker with controller and woofer set by Klipsch for the same price and the quality did not even come close to the Bose and suddenly had the Bose sounding tinny and not cutting the cake. I wanted more volume due to the DVD player function and the itunes of my new computer. Even though I can easily burn a disk and listen in my wave and in the bedroom, I wanted the extra sound for the DVD player and the computer in general. The apple rep online told me to go with the standing tall two speaker set and yet the system I got, not from apple online so dont worry amazon, the one with the woofer and the controller is just fabulous and for those of those who remember them I was raised by a man who had Voice of the Theatre in the Round Speakers in our living room. the same ones used at the Universal Ampitheatre in LA and could be heard four blocks away. The sound is amazing from the Klipsch and from the quiet mellow to cranking up the wonderful DVD I found by Pink Floyd commenerating the fall of the Berlin Wall in which thousands upon thousands gathered with many artists and a full symphony for an overwhelming performance of unspeakable deminsions. ( Again thank you Amazon the only place to have it!)Uncomfortably numb was not numb on the Klipsch and I had no real desire to move from my Imac in the bedroom to our 42 inch flat screen 1080I with Boston surround sound speakers in the living room. It did the job. I had ordered the Bose and had not recieved so bought the Klipsch and returned the Bose. i spent $150.00 and have a wonderful system. Woofer is larger and make sure you have plenty of desk space as the satalite speakers are not tall and thin so currently on a computer cart in my bedroom so they do block my 20 inch computer display some. Makes photo editing and slide show making more enjoyable and the price was better than a new program or more memory or any other advancement. I am trying to condense and because not a TV watcher per se I now feel I can easily get rid of the Sony old TV but hooked up to the wave and a fine sony progressive scan dvd player and have better on the Imac with the Klipsch and will move the wave into the living room to take full advantage of its capabilities there while still having the ability of using the surround sound for cds in the family room with the availability of outdoor speakers on as well. This will rock the house and make Bach beautiful Of course my kids with the wonderful round JVC sound docks for their IPODS. Although i liked the Bose for there sound docks for the kids I was again trying to save space and money so the JVC for the kids but the sound great, This way mom got the $300 noise reduction headphones from Bose, Still a great company and the best of products but they are beginning to have a wider range so be careful and remember to listen to music at a safe volume and only loudly for a short period and never let your ears ring. I reasearched heavily due to severe hearing loss of my husband due to too loud of rock and roll and drinking in the 70s and now sober and older he is paying the price. Apparently the commonly sold with IPods in the ear ear plugs at the same volume will cause more hearing loss than the outer ear headphones. So I get the Bose $300 and I bought the kids the sonys for $60 and can not find them as hid them for xmas so they use a pair that were $20 at 75% off and the quality there but not the volume. Perfect for the ears of children. Enjoy your music quality and loud and be safe. My husbands loss has nearly ruined our family and his life due to trouble dealing with it. The end. I love rock and roll..........
On: 2006-01-05
Whenever I read something like the following oft-repeated mantra from Dallas Electronics Fan:
"No highs, no lows (must be Bose!)"
I am reminded that there is a cadre of Bose haters out there possessed with as fervent a religious fanaticism as the Bose lovers.
Part of the problem is that speaker manufacturers are clearly targeting their products at the gaming market. They assume that everyone wants to be immersed from all 7.1 sides in explosions accompanied by heavy metal thrash music. Small 2.1 systems are treated as cheap throw-away afterthoughts - "shovelware" tossed in the box with every low-ball Dell and eMachines.
To Boses credit, it appears that Bose actually considers the Companion 3 to be a serious product aimed at a different target than juvenile gamers. These speakers sound more pleasing with music (especially classical music or jazz) at low-to-medium volume than most of the future landfill being sold (or given away in computer bundles) in the compact 2.1 computer speaker system market. And the volume control/connector pod is really slick and smooth in its operation, more intuitive, simpler and just better than anything else out there, with a satisfying sense of heft and precisely the right tactile feel.
This level of product refinement and design forethought arguably costs money and to many people this makes a product worth shelling out some extra. For a more familiar example, why do people knowingly and willingly pay a significant premium for McIntosh computers when nearly everyone with any objectivity now agrees that a Windows PC can do anything a Mac can do and do it cheaper? Many "macaholics" say it is because Macs are just more sophisticated, slicker, smoother, "cooler" and more pleasant to use than the average generic Windoze beige box, and this makes Macs worth their premium cost. That argument either is compelling to you or it isnt; its YOUR money. In any case, there isnt much sense getting worked up about it. We claim to have religious freedom in this country after all.
While I said that the sound of the Bose Companion 3 is "more pleasing" than most, I didnt say "more accurate." Bose uses much electronic and psycho-acoustic flim-flammery to make these speakers sound fuller and more spacious in close quarters and at low volume than any tiny 2.1 speaker system has any right to. And what do most people who are not stick-in-the-butt audiophiles or blood, entrails and explosion-addicted gamers really do with their computer audio? What do these non-enthusiasts really want from their speakers while working at their computers? Most of them are listening to MP3s or Internet radio while checking their email, balancing their bank accounts and/or budgets, surfing the web, etc. They are NOT editing a video or mixing a digital master, nor are they wreaking mayhem and destruction in Palookistan. Though they may be sophisticated enough to appreciate clarity, low distortion and a reasonable sense of bass extension and heft, they want it in a small, tidy, simple-to-set-up, simple-to-use package that is satisfying at less than lease-breaking volume, even at low, 2:00AM kind of volume.
Considering sound quality and sonic accuracy alone though, I personally find the Cambridge Soundworks - selling for a ridiculously paltry $79.95 - to be a better choice. In my opinion, nothing else in a small 2.1 system is even close. And at the $79.95 price point, everything else sounds like two tin cans hung on strings, with subwoofers like somebody beating on an empty Cheerios box. The Cambridge Soundworks are the cheapest speakers BY FAR that I can stand to listen to for any length of time. And for me, that is saying a lot, since I am a classically trained musician who spends much more on audio gear than I can rationally afford.
But the Cambridge Soundworks user-friendliness and execution is rustic compared to the Bose Companion 3. The Cambridge product lacks a headphone jack, an auxiliary input, or even a volume control, except for a rinky-dink inline thumbwheel afterthought wired into the input cable. And to cap it all off, the bass level control is located awkwardly on the back panel of the subwoofer.
All this considered, I went ahead and purchased the Cambridge Soundworks despite its usability shortcomings because its octave-to-octave balance was more even and accurate than the Bose (or anything else for the Boses price or less), though I found I need to manually goose the subwoofer a tad at low volume to approximate what Boses circuitry automatically does to compensate for the human ears natural loss of sensitivity to bass as volume decreases. As for Boses clear superiority in features, ergonomics and general product sophistication, it wasnt enough for me, in the end, to justify my paying more than TRIPLE the cost ($249.95).
I think the Bose product would be a fair value at $149.95, a bargain at $99.95, and an out-of-the-park home run at the same price as the Cambridge Soundworks. While I praise this products unique virtues, I cannot say I recommend it given Boses notorious "bigger idiot theory" of product pricing (i.e. "with enough info-mercials and slick ad campaigns, and pricing through the nose to increase perceived value, there will be enough bigger idiots to make us rich!").
If you listen to this speaker at Best Buy or Circuit City and like it, look for a low-miles used one on ebay. DONT pay retail unless you LIKE the idea of raiding your childrens college fund to send the good Doctor Boses grandchildren to Harvard!
I give the Bose Companion 3 "4 stars" for its slick execution and better than average performance in a small 2.1 system. But I give it only "1 star" for its low value for money. Consider it on balance a "3 star" product.
On: 2006-01-03
I have just bought these speakers. I was looking for something to use in my flat for my ipod, and wanted something loud and good quality. I could not recomend this system more highly. The sound is perfect and the bass is almost too much. Much cheaper than the bose ipod dock at only £200 rather than £250. Yet it allows 2 sources and gives much better sound. The puck is beautifully made and works really well. To top it all, Bose have excellent customer service, it was quick and very polite, the lady I spoke to, knew exactly what she was talking about and I have every confidence that if something was to go wrong, I would be well looked after. In my opinion this is the best solution if you are looking for a small system to play music in a relatively small flat, I should think that I will never play it at the full output, as complaints will flood in. I hope that this gives any potential investor the confidence to buy one, it is great.
by: Anonymous On: 2005-09-07
My roomie down the hall just got these speakers, and they were bangin. I got to say man, he looked psyched out, bangin some rap. I got to give big ups to bose on these bangin speakers.
by: Anonymous On: 2005-09-06
My roomie down the hall just got these speakers, and they were bangin. I got to say man, he looked psyched out, bangin some rap. I got to give big ups to bose on these bangin speakers.
On: 2005-08-03
hey everyone i donno if anyone else is in love with bose i know own a set of these my car has bose and im soon too buy the triport headphones.yes they arent the loudest or the one with the biggest bass but they have the best sound quality around period. boses way of developing these makes every note crisper than the first! these will definately satisfy most everyone they do go loud enough to where you might say uhhh thats too loud im in love and you will be too!
 On: 2005-07-27
I was sold on these on the compact style, the puck, in store sound, and the Bose name. But after having these things for 6 months, I gotta say I severely regret the decision to get them. My friend has got an Altec Lansing 2.1 system for $99, and it sounds just as good as this system. Plus, the things arent even shielded! How you sell "computer" speakers for $250 and not even shield them! Thought it was maybe a defect; returned them for a new set, same interference.
If having "Bose" engraved on your speakers will give you some sort of satisfaction, then I guess you wont be content with anything else. Just know that the actual sound quality is no better than a set of solid $99 speakers - which wont wake you up at 2am with gunshot noises cause you left your cell phone too close them. and after seeing the logitech z-5500, they dont even look that good. if youre spending this much on computer speakers, you may as well get a digital 5.1 system.
Would be 2 stars cause the puck is cool. 1 star cause I feel like such an ass for convincing myself these things were worth the cash.
On: 2005-04-26
I read several reviews, and had doubts about the value of the Bose Companion 3 Multimedia System. I hadnt tried a Bose product before, so I thought Id give the brand a try. Now I have no regrets about spending the extra bucks! I love the system. Big, big sound from a small system! The control pad is handy -- volume is easy to control and you can instantly mute the system with a touch on the pad. Id pay extra for the very handy control pad, if nothing else. But the sound is great at all volumes. I listen to a lot of XM radio and the combo is fantastic. Nonstop music of my choice and great sounding, easy to control speakers while Im sitting at my computer!
On: 2005-03-10
I read the reviews here before purchasing these speakers and i saw mixed results..some good, some bad - as far as im concerned, these speakers are the best things i have ever heard coming out of a computer, aside from 5.1 systems, etc. For a 2.1 system it has an incredible range and sounds absolutely marvelous. As far as the "hissing" when no sound is playing, this is absolutely normal for a high quality speaker to do when its new. High Quality speakers, such as these, require a "burn in" period. Its about 20 hours for these little guys, and you just set the computer to play music for hours at a time while your not home at a moderately high volume. This will burn them in and you will notice day to day that the quality of the audio gets better - of course it will get to a point when it wont get any better, but once these speakers are properly burned in there will be no hissing when there is no sound coming out. Overall, this was an A+ product and well worth the money.
On: 2005-01-16
We bought the BOSE Companion 3 speakers and were happy with the sound, but had to return them because, irritatingly, the sound (when connected to our ipod dock) would never fade out. So, basically, youre forced to mute or listen to a minimum volume that is more than a little too high for a New York appartment. Were a little incredulous that BOSE, for all its famed style and sound quality, wouldnt have noted this deal-killing flaw.... So weve returned them, very disappointed. Would have raved about the sound.
On: 2005-01-04
I received a set of Bose Companion 3 speakers as a gift, and they are absolutely fabulous. More than loud enough for a typical computer room. Games, CDs, DVDs etc all sounds great. Its easy to tell which mp3s i used crappy encoding on. Oh well, time to re-rip some of my CDs with a better bitrate...
I dunno if they are the sexiest speakers ive ever seen, but are modern looking and suprisingly small for all the sound they produce. They take up hardly any room on my desk.
The control pod was wierd at first, but after a little bit of using it, its quite cool. The volume is very smooth, although the mute can be somewhat sensitive at times (it has a touch sensor like in some lamps, etc.). I would have really liked the bass control to be on the pod. Currently you have to reach the rear of the sub to change it, although the subwoofer is versatile enough, its easy to find a setting that hits w/o overpowering the satelites.
While the satelites have ample cord length, the cabling isnt really that impressive; not to mention its all permenant. What they ship is what you use, period.
If i were paying for this out of my own pocket, id have gotten the 200W Klipsch 2.1 Pro Audio set, for $100 less, it sounds almost as good (if not AS good).
Overall, i couldnt be more pleased with these speakers. Theyre small, loud and the headphone jack on the control pod makes it easy to put the speakers in out of the way places.
On: 2004-12-28
Ill make this short and sweet. They are very cool high end speakers from Bose. There are very few systems out there that will provide the same performance let alone the elgance amd simplicity that Bose provides in all its products.
On: 2004-12-24
This speaker system is EXCELLENT!
Get em. they are worth every penny.
They out perform my ears.
The well built control is worth writing home about.
Cant write any more now, too busy enjoying these speakers.
.....Brad
On: 2004-12-05
These speakers sound absolutly beautiful. Anyone who hasnt heard a good speaker system before and listens to these will hear details theyve never heard before in songs they listen to all the time. Theres really only one problem with these speakers and unfortunatley its a pretty glaring one at that. These things are ridiculously overpriced, maybe 150 would be a fair price for these but not 250, thats insane. I own a set of logetich z-560 speakers that I picked up for 150 dollars, thats four speakers and a 200 watt sub, and it really kicks. So in conclusion although these speakers are a great design and sound wonderful they fall into the same trap that the previous generation of Ipods do. Theyre way overpriced becuase like the Ipod your paying a lot extra for the company name rather than for the product itself. your obviously going to make your own decision about buying this but look into some other similarly priced systems first, you may be surprised.
Id also like to note that the latest generation of the Ipod is reasonably priced although the accessorys are a little high it deserves to be priced with top models in the market as it is an excellent unit.
On: 2004-11-16
Hi all, firstly, I am a Bose lover and after reading some reviews from some people who posted negative reviews, I also would like to say something fair.
Bose only has 3 sets for computer: companion 3, companion 2 and mediamate. Other brands have dramatically more products such as Klipsch, Altec Lansing, Creative, Logitech, Labtec. And the number of people using Bose is just small. So in most stores, you will see mainly other brands. Furthermore, when you are paying such a big sum of money for a premium speaker such Companion 3, you always have a chance to test it at the stores. I am sure that every store will allow its customers to do so. You are not fool because it is 249 buck. Hence, if you bought this speaker, you would certainly check it. I think that nobody will disagree with me about this point.
However, I found somebody complained about the thing that they checked and bought?? Is it reliable to hear them? I think that they are just those who called Bose hater.
I am a person who demand the very high quality of sound. I love listening to my favourite mp3 songs, 24-bit CD, DVD Audio... I tried some speakers from Creative, Altec Lansing, Labtec, Klipsch, Logitech (I am sorry that I have not tried some brand new sets from Logitech such as 5500). I found that Klipsch is the best in them. Altec Lansing is just so so. (even the FX6021 the most high end set of Altec Lansing). Klipsch has wall-shaking bass. However, these can not compare to Bose. The sound of Bose Companion 3 is different. It is only from Bose Companion 3, I know what "lifelike" and "spacious" are. Its bass is also as good as Klipsch.
I think that what I say here is not very persuasive. The best way is to experience it yourself. Go to a Bose retailer, ask them to let you check. You can bring your laptop, your mp3 player (ipod, muvo....) and so on. You plug it in, you will immerse in the world of Bose.
If you still want to read how good companion 3 is from me, you just need to read all reviews that gave Bose Companion 3 5-star. All these reviews fulfilled every aspects.
 On: 2004-10-26
These speakers are terrible. I assumed -- unwisely -- that given the Bose brand and high price tag, that the sound quality would be wonderful, or at least average. As the other reviewers have noted, the midrange on these speakers are terrible -- a full 1/3 of the sound is missing: e.g., background vocals are frequently inaudible.
The industrial design is beautiful, and the interface is friendly, but not worth the extra cost. For audio purists and anyone who wants value for their money, youd be better off with another speaker system.
On: 2004-10-14
Before you buy these listen to comparable product from Logitech, Klipsch, Altec Lansing and Cambridge Soundworks to name four. If this Bose product was priced around 100 bucks I would be a little more forgiving. It isnt though and the sound quality is shockingly bad. No highs, no lows (must be Bose!), not even a reasonably accurate midrange. Shame on the Bose corporation for marketing yet another overpriced, under performing product. I would encourage anyone in the market for a good pair of desktop speakers to listen to the brands I list at the top of this review. The quality of desktop speakers has risen to a very high level in the last couple of years. Amazingly, the Bose corporations arrogance has once again produced yet another embarrasing product.
On: 2004-10-13
Before you buy these listen to comparable product from Logitech, Klipsch, Altec Lansing and Cambridge Soundworks to name four. If this Bose product was priced around 100 bucks I would be a little more forgiving. It isnt though and the sound quality is shockingly bad. No highs, no lows (must be Bose!), not even a reasonably accurate midrange. Shame on the Bose corporation for marketing yet another overpriced, under performing product. I would encourage anyone in the market for a good pair of desktop speakers to listen to the brands I list at the top of this review. The quality of desktop speakers has risen to a very high level in the last couple of years. Amazingly, the Bose corporations arrogance has once again produced yet another embarrasing product.
On: 2004-09-12
I would rate this system as average to poor. The speakers provide ample bass but other frequencies sound cheap. It helps if you update your sound card drivers, experiment with plug-ins and equalizer settings if you use WinAmp but nevertheless, its a major tweaking job. I may be too picky but I expected better sound quality for the price.
The system looks good and the mouse-type volume control/mute/headphone jack/input jack is a good idea. Bottomline, dont buy this system if youre a perfectionist about sound reproduction.
On: 2004-08-10
I really do not know what people expect from their speakers. These Bose units are just awesome. The sound is great. I think people who are complaining about the sound must be listening to low rate MP3s. I have these great looking speakers plugged in to my Mac with the system volume turned all the way and the Bose speaker volume all the down and they sound great for listening to music. Of course if you want it LOUD it does not take much of a turn on the volume knob. And I am talking about loud and CLEAR sound from the tiny speakers that are just so cool looking on my desk. I know they are expensive but I have to say they are worth it if you want clear and great sound from your computer and they look great. Everyone who sees them comments on how cool they look and how good they sound.
On: 2004-05-16
With the sound, bass, and clarity these are well worth the price. Every component is made with great quality right down to the littlest of details. Im very impressed. Im a firm believe you get what you pay for. I feel every penny was spent well!!!
On: 2004-05-06
I listen to music all day while at work and play games on my system at home at night. I have owned easily a dozen or more computer speakers over the last couple of years and have listened to a number of other speakers owned by friends. Ive also owned the Bose companions. Ive listened to several in side by side tests at home - not sitting in some canvernous big box store and I think I have a pretty good idea of what you can get for the money. Id say the Companions, with their undersized satellite drivers, are excessively bright and have very little mid range. Aside from other speakers that use the "micro drivers" like the Creative iTrigues, I cant think any other speaker above $50 that uses a driver as small as 2". The sub is ok. Bose says it "delivers impressive lower tones". Perhaps the people at Bose are easily impressed, but I beg to differ. Two problems here; the sub has a 5 1/4" driver - small by comparison to like priced products - and the power, which Bose doesnt publish, but I would estimate at less than 50 watts, isnt enough to recreate much in the way of low frequency effects. Overall, if these were $79 products, I could see how one might, and I stress might, pick these over a set of Altecs or Logitechs. At $249 these things are obscenely over priced. Sometimes I have to step back in awe at how much Bose can get away with charging for their products. The Companion 3s are further evidence that Bose is an exceptional marketing company and a mediocre audio company.
On: 2004-04-22
these are the best looking speakers on the market for computer speakers, in my humble opinion, especially if you have a G5 or Powerbook, as these match them 100%.but more importantly, they sound terrific. i have been listening to music while i work much more often because of the rich, crisp sound of the satellites combined with this powerful subwoofer. pros:
-great look
-incredible sound for such small speakers
-sound control puck has great feel - like analog volume knob on a hifi system
-can be very loud if you need it to be cons:
-price!
-i concur that low volume level results in a less full sound, but thats true for any small speaker, and hey, youre lowering the volume!
On: 2004-04-15
Bose a highly respected name in speakers is taking advantage of that. When I first got my speakers I thought they were pretty good. However as time went on they have gotten worse and worse. The sattelites have stated an irratating buzz wich can be heard over the music. The bass is awesome but the sattelites leave much to be desired. I also know i havent blown them and it is not my sound card. My final thought is that if your going to spend $250 on speakers get somethig else.
On: 2004-04-14
I purchased these speakers from a BOSE dealer about a month ago and they still sound great! I cant believe the quality of sound that comes out of these puppies for such a small size. They are perfect for watching DVDs and playing MP3s. However, I have a couple of complaints. My personal listening preference is to listen at a lower than average volume than most people. In order to get the full quality of sound, you must crank it up to a much higher than normal listening volume. The other complaint is that the touch sensitive mute on top of the "hockey puck" control is a bit too sensitive for me. I like to adjust the volume with my whole hand above the "puck" and twist. Sometimes the mute is activated without even touching it, but having fingers very very close to it. If you play counter-strike, you will notice that the footsteps are much more faint than regular speakers. Gunfire is extremely loud, but it is much harder to hear footsteps. Ive gotten killed many more times because of it :P
On: 2004-04-12
When i first opened my $200 (i bought them early when they were only 200 then they uped it to 250) speakers i thought the sound would be amazing. WEll the bass was great but the satelites werent "heavenly". Then i went online and found out that you need to break in new speakers for 20 hours to get best performance. So everyday when i left for work i started leaving them on until i hit 20 hours. I put on a good song and it was awesome. The sattelites were unbelieveable and the bass was even more great. So this really woke the lion. One little thing that annoys me, The sattelite speakers hiss a little when no music is on but nothing nerve racking. All i do Is just hit the snazzy mute (touch sensitive) and its the hissing is gone, nothing to not buy them over. So i absolutely love mine and bose surely held up its name. Great for music and works ok for games but go for 5.1 if youre into hard gaming and movies. One more thing these speakers arent the best on hard rock or something where theres guitars and drums banging alot. But its awesome on pop techno hiphop classical etc. Also be sure you got a good sound card i have an audigy LS and its great for the price. TWo thumbs up!!
On: 2004-04-09
Well, the time when BOSE name was associated with good sound came and gone. As for now it is company who sells crappy speakers for reach guys. In fact you can get the speaker s that sound much better for third of the price but they will not be such beautifully slick. For the price you can get pro sound from Samson, M-Audio, Fostex Alesis studio monitors. This set has bad everything. It has dirty bass, poor midrange (near not midrange) and flat and dull highs. Yes it is slick, but theres no sound.
To have the sound you need the space where the sound could resonate, thats why people buy larger speakers with invertors. It is simple like that: no resonance - no sound!
If you have the extra money to show off with BOSE brand buy those. But do not forget to save some money to buy a good speakers along to listen to music after your friends will read the label.
On: 2004-03-25
I just received the Bose Companion 3 speakers today, I hooked everything up which was really easy, took about 3 minutes, and hooked it to my iPod. WOW. I was amazed. It was like having a live concert right there with you! The sound is amazing, well worth $250. Seriously, I love them and will keep them forever (until Bose comes out with more computer speakers in the future).
On: 2004-03-18
Ok, first thing I want to say is no other brand is over Bose in Computer audio(Even less in Home, Car and Professional Audio). You can say Logitech, Altec Lansing, Creative, whatever you want.. and all of them are killed by Klipsch. And if my Klipsch 2.1 speakers are killed by the Bose Companion 3 in spaciousness and how clear the sound is, then no way any other 2.1 setup is better than the Bose. No the Companion 3 doesnt kill the Klipsch in maximum volume.. the Klipsch go a bit louder, but for what do you want speakers that go louder if after half of the maximum the bass and sometimes the voices are all distorted on them? You cant get the Bose to distort NEVER. If you are getting:
-Tiny great looking speakers that show their quality
-Clear, Lifelike, undistorted spacious sound UNSURPASSED by ANY other computer speakers(the klipsch 2.1 were considered the best 2.1 setup, the bose kills them in spaciousness and clarity so they take klipschs place)
-Quality bass that is deep and makes nice vibrations(even on large rooms)
-Lost little details in music, that will let you know what you have missed with other speakers
-A great control pod that mutes and unmutes the volume, has the headphones jack, another line-in to mix sources and the volume control
-The name Bose on your desktop
Then they are all worth $250. Yes, the price is high, but you get what you pay for... Quality Lifelike Clear Spacious Bassy Sound. Lets say you get HUGE sound from TINY speakers. Its amazing how the Bose are like 5 times smaller(combining height, width and diameter) than the Klipsch, and still manage to sound way better than them. Dont let their size fool you.. and dont let other computer speakers fool you by making you think bass is everything. These speakers have more than enough bass.. I had the Bass Compensation to 1/2 and it made the windows vibrate already. They have about the same amount of bass as the Klipsch 2.1, the difference is the Klipsch cant handle bass to the max at high volumes, and the Bose can do so nicely with no distortion. For music you will NEVER find a better set-up than this. They sound great on my Bose CD Player, they sound great connected to the Headphone jack of my RCA 650 watt surround sound system and they sound great connected to my computer. I connected them to my Xbox and with James Bond: Everything or Nothing and Need for Speed Underground you can feel everything around you and a lot of bass. With DVDs I tested Die Another Day and the Car Chase and Hovercraft Scene blow you away! So does Star Wars Episode 1 Race! I dont care what other people have said.. these speakers get 5 stars for the great sound they make!Now time for the problems though.. I had to return my first Companion 3 because I blew it lol. I abused the volume too much.. it isnt meant to be connected to a 650 watt system and I did that and blew it. I got it exchanged and the new one I got was having problems with one speaker so I was like AHHHH and returned it. You dont know now how much I miss it. I payed $200 for it. I called the Bose Store and now they are thinking if theyll let me get it for $200... but if it is for $250 I doubt Ill get it back. Id rather add $200 to the $$ I got already and upgrade my RCA hometheater speakers to Bose, or just get a Wave Radio/CD. And no I am not doing it because I think it is overpriced, it is just pricey to me, I am doing it because if it is $250 now.. with $100 or $150 more I can get bigger speakers from Bose. Summary: They deserve 5 stars for the amazing and unrivaled sound quality, for their simplicity, for no distorsion and because I can connect it to ANYTHING with a headphone or RCA Output. Continuity: The Bose store didnt allow me to get it back for $200, I said whatever. Ill just get it later on this year or if the price ever drops.. for now I am after the Bose 321GS... full surround sound with just 2 speakers and a bass module!
On: 2004-03-12
I was shopping around for a high end 2.1 multimedia set and it came down to the following 3 sets: Logitech z2200, Bose Compnion 3 and Altec Lansing MX5021. The Bose set is definately the most stylish of the three as well as it takes the least amount of space. But the price (which is twice as much as the other two sets) is a great fault. Yes, they are loud and clear but compared to the other 2 sets, the sound is colored and certain frequencies are simply "not there". It should be espected since the Companion 3 system probably uses similar drivers as Boses Acoustimass speakers (2" mid/high and 5.25" bass driver). When compared to other ($50 range) low end speakers, the Bose set will astonish you, however put it beside the Logitech set & you will notice a huge difference. Bose is great at producing PLEASANT (but not accurate) sound. The Altec MX5021 had the best overall clarity and neutrality of the 3. All it comes down to is an individuals sound preference. I would give a listen to all 3 and make a chioce afterwards. Bose looks good but the puny 5.25" bass driver cannot compete with Logitech 8" 120W driver. Altecs 3 way stellites are 3 times bigger & give you much clearer & open sound. For under $150 I would buy the Companion 3 and keep it. But when the competitors are offering better produts at half the price, theres no reason for spending that much uless youre really dying to have the name Bose on your desktop.
On: 2004-02-25
This speakers are PERFECT. Probably the best sounding computer speakers.. the satellites are TINY but they are GREAT on fillin large rooms with sound. The subwoofer is 5.25 inches. I took them to school for a V-Day party the day after I got them and I just amazed EVERYONE. I got them for $200, now they are $250, but I have tweaked the sound settings on my comp in such a great way that they sound ALMOST like the Bose 321, which is $1,000! Its sad what An electronics fan said, he really is a Bose hater. Before this I had Bose Mediamates on my comp, and those were GREAT, but this take the bass way farther, and the sound is more "lifelike", spacious and clear. With live CDs you feel the people clapping and it sounds so greatt, everythign shines on this system! You can connect them to Xbox, Ps2, PC, DVD Player WHATEVER you want! They will soound GREAT like if they were a HUGE system! I compared these against my Klipsch ProMedia 2.1... and I was amazed how such tiny speakers kill HUGE speakers. Get them! They are perfect for games, movies and music! They deliver sound the way you were supposed to hear it! they sound better than THX certified speakers! The bass is very strong and deep. Youll love them! Ignore Bose haters! Those are the guys that want to damage the raputation of the best name in sound! Bose is the greatest!TIP: For movies, get Bose Mediamates and this Companion 3. Use the Companion 3 for subwoofer, center, L and R and the Mediamates for rear L and R. Youll get GREAT surround sound out of your comp!!
by: Anonymous On: 2004-02-11
I bought these speakers because of the five star reviews on this site but quickly returned them do to the mediocre sound quality. I am amazed that a manufacturer can sell a 99.00 set up for 250.00 dollars! The speakers and subwoofer are very small and the sound they emit is far below what you would expect for the price. Fortunately I purchased this product from a store that allowed me to return them for a full refund. I doubt I will purchase a Bose product again.
On: 2004-02-06
I bought these speakers a few weeks ago and like them more and more every day. The first thing I noticed when I hooked them up was that they are very loud. After that initial reaction I felt as if there was a lack of good mid-range, shrill highs and overly heavy bass. I have since managed to tweak things to my liking and I have to say these speakers are awesome. The following is a list of things that worked for me to help get things sounding right:* Point the speakers away from you, like they suggest in the manual. I have mine about pointed about 30-45 degrees outward. This will keep your sound stage wide and cut down on the tin-like sounding highs * Dont be afraid to turn down the bass. I have my acoustimass module under my desk and against the wall so it has a lot of surfaces to bounce off of. This increases the bass response. I have the bass dial up only about 1/4 of the way and I find that to be about the right level. The bass still thumps when you listen to 50 Cent but it doesnt become all you hear. * Play around with the output levels on your computer. I have my master volume and mp3 player set to only about 50%. For some reason this seemed to bring back my midrange a bit and cut down on how loud the sound is when the volume knob is all the way down. I also have the treble output on my sound card set a little lower than normal to further reduce the over-emphasized highs. * Break in your speakers. Ive read that new speakers need to be broken in and I think Im buying that suggestion now. I think this is also why I feel a lot better about the system after a few weeks than I did the first day I installed them. So, they take a little finessing but once you have played around with them for a while, youll be happy you have them. Its also worth it to mention they are easily the most sylish speakers out there and one of the few brands of comupter speakers that also make other top-notch audio products. The volume/headphone jack/second audio source/mute control disc is a really nice touch too. Everything about the system is well designed. One of these reviews mentions the heavy weight of the subwoofer being a con. I see that as a pro. Lets you know theres a lot of high quality, durable components inside it.
On: 2004-02-06
I am a music major, and sound means a lot to me. I prefer to be live in the concert hall listening to the music. If anything is going to crack I want it to be my ears not the speakers. The sound is so wonderful. I cant get them to crack, and the base is something else. Here is why I like them:There are only three speakers. I live in a dorm and space is precious in small rooms like that. These take up so little space I actually have more space now then I did before. Secondly for the sound they produce. It feels and sounds like surroud sound. I have never heard anything so little produce so much sound. They also wont crack. There are no highs or lows with this system. If you like bass, "Turn it up." I wanted to test out the bass, so I turned everything up on my soundcard and on the system. Then I put in Pearl Harbor;I shook the whole room, the windows rattled. I also like the controls. It is very easy to mute and turn up or down. Of course everything has a con. I think the biggest one is the weight of the sub. That thing has to weigh at least 4 pounds if not more. My arms felt like they were going to fall off just carrying the thing. Also I cheated with the sound a little. While bose sounds wonderful I have an Audigy (soundblaster) card. The connections that Bose uses is lacking in the highest quality connections, that I could have with my soundcard. Here is why I bought this system. I have always loved bose sound. It is amazing how they can get so much sound out of little speakers. I knew that I was missing details on my CDs but I didnt know how much until I got this system. Secondly I think that the price was actually pretty good. You can find cheaper 3 speaker sets like that, but none that can be heard 3 floors up. If you want true surround sound, or a system that sounds this good you would expect to pay about this much for it. Finally simplicity and connectivity. With only three speakers to worry about it is very simple, not to mention that the two speakers plug into the sub, which helps you keep track of your wires. These speakers can (with a little work) be connected to most anything. I would highly recommend it. You may want to invest in a good soundcard to go along with it a system can be limited by the sound card it uses. Soundblasters Live 5.1 is great if you dont want to spend much more than $50.
On: 2004-01-20
I happened upon the Bose Companion 3 speakers when I returned my Logitech Z-560 4.1 speakers to Best Buy. (The control module had a short in the balance.) I then had $179 to spend on their replacements. Wandering over to the speaker demos, I couldnt find the exact replacements for the Logitechs, so I set about testing all the models. The new Logitech series, though similar, sounded muddy. These Bose speakers immediately captured my attention with their clarity and solid bass. These speakers do not lose clarity as the volume increases. There is a built-in sound processor which likely has a lot to do with it. The controls are extremely simple, with a rotary volume-dial, mute function, and headphone and line-in jacks. Strangely, those controls are truly all that are needed with these speakers. The brushed silver metal exudes class and makes me look sideways at the older equipment that shares my desk. Are they expensive? Possibly. Its harder for me to say, as I only had to add $20 addition money to the $179 credit I already had to bring these beauties home. They do seem to offer the bang for the buck I expected, especially considering that this is only a 2.1 setup. Overall, two big thumbs up!
by: Anonymous On: 2003-12-28
I bought these because I was looking to reduce the clutter on my desk. My set up had the Yamaha TSS-1s (which I highly recommend for entry level surround sound--if you can still find them in black), but I felt like the need for surround sound was diminishing in favor of less clutter. Im in a 12 x 11 office with the speakers a couple of feet in front of me and the subwoofer under the desk to my left. I hooked them up (through a audio switcher from Radio Shack) to my Laptop (headphone jack), Win2K Server (headphone jack), TV (Samsung 170MP-headphone jack), and DVD player (line out).What sold me was...
-Its Bose. I know alot of folks dont like Bose, but I do.
-Alot of folks say that Bose doesnt use quality parts, but I think they actually do make some durable stuff.
-I shouldnt admit this, but they do look cool.
-The sound is clear and bright. Although Bose doesnt publish the frequency range or power ratings, which bugs me.
-They mount easily on each side of the monitor (which is where I put them) or sit on the desktop.
-The mounting brackets are pretty solid and function well.
-The control pad - Its a hockey puck a little over 2" round and a little over 1" high. The top black ring is the volume. Theres also a headphone jack and secondary input on it (the primary input is on the subwoofer). Whats the best part is the touch-sensitive top which is the mute/standby. At first, it was a little annoying when I would touch it accidentally (as it sits right next to my keyboard). But, I got used to it and I dont have as many accidents. The control pod is very easy to use and shows good design.
-I recommend finding a demo. I was able to demo it at Best Buy. They sounded good there, but the size of the store (and noise especially during the holiday rush) did impact the quality. Bring some sort of source (MP3 player...) and a stereo jack. That way you can hook up to the secondary source on the control pod and listen to what you want to. Other Thoughts...
-The secondary input on the control pod "adds" a secondary source. It doesnt cut off the primary source. Its kind of neat to add a second source on top of the primary. But, may be troublesome if you cant mute the primary source.
-The subwoofer has a bass control, and also feels solid (pretty heavy).
-The TrueSpace does create somewhat of a spacious environment. When placing them or mounting them, Bose suggests pointing the speakers outward which enhances the airiness...I actually like them pointing right at me and getting my head in between the speakers. I tried both pointing outward and at me. Both sound fine, I just prefer at me instead.
-Its pretty good at "centering" the important audio while sending other audio outwards.
-Loudness is good. It plays louder than I can stand. If distortion occurs, there is some circuitry to cut off the sound (which has happened during my testing.. :^)
-Watched the opening NightCrawler scene from X-Men2 with both the Bose and my old speakers TSS-1s. The TSS-1s because they are DD5.1, did sound much better in terms of having the sound move around me. In a side-by-side, you can tell. But, on its own, the Bose sounded just fine.
-I also put in Bugs Life which IMHO has an excellent soundtrack. The speakers did a good job of left and right and some back to front.
-I dont do any gaming, so sorry no opinion here.
-Theres a slight buzz when the source is low volume and the Bose is high volume. May be my set up.
-Headphones jack is fine. I have Grado SR-80s. Only that buzzing again...
-You cant get the volume down to nothing (you have to mute). If the sound source is a line out like my DVD, it has a static volume level. This volume level can be higher than desired (especially at night). For movies on my DVD its OK, but some music (like No Doubts Singles) plays too loud at the lowest volume. For the TV and PC, its OK because I can adjust the volume from the device. The line out, I cant Conclusion
Im glad I bought them. They met my goal of reducing the clutter while not losing too much sound quality. Beside losing true surround sound, I think I reached that goal. I like the way they look and the ergonomics of the control pod. It also sounds pretty good and has good clarity at high volumes. The price tag is a little high (as is all Bose equipt). But, I figure the control pod adds some value over a normal control pod. The solidness of the pieces also adds value. But, I still think its a little high. At maybe 20% lower, this would be better priced and Id feel like it was really worth it. The only other con is that the I cant get the volume low enough with my DVD which has line out. To follow up, I talked to Bose Support and not being able to turn the volume down to nothing meant it was broken. So, I returned it (Best Buy was out of stock and I was going to buy it again when they came back in). So, now they raise the price $50 to $249! I think that stinks. I still think they are pretty good, but not for $249.
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