Bose® Companion® 5 Multimedia Speaker System
Bose® Companion® 5 Multimedia Speaker System
Product Information
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Overview
The Companion® 5 multimedia speaker system is engineered to deliver the excitement of surround sound content right at your computer. Just two small speakers and a hideaway Acoustimass module deliver much of the audio performance you'd expect from a five-speaker surround sound system. A single USB connection is all it takes - no special software, hardware or sound card upgrade necessary.*
The TrueSpace® surround digital processing circuitry enables two elegant desktop speakers and a compact module to put you in the middle of the action. The soundstage seems to envelop you. And the experience is developed especially for computer listening, so you're right in the middle of the music, the game, the special effects.
Magnetic field is essentially confined inside the speakers and will not cause monitor interference or damage to magnetic media such as audio cassette tapes. With the Dual inputs you can enjoy two audio sources simultaneously - one to your computer, the other to a portable audio device.
The Companion® 5 system features a handy, all-in-one control pod to keep speaker volume control, single-touch mute, headphone jack and an auxiliary input all within easy reach. Speakers are mounted on stands enabling superb performance and more usable desktop space.
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Highlights
- Proprietary TrueSpace® surround digital processing circuitry
- Digital 5.1 audio playback
- USB simplicity
- Preassembled speakers/stands
- Compact Acoustimass module
- Control pod
- Magnetically shielded speakers
- Patented integrated signal processing
- Compression circuitry
- Active equalization
- Dual inputs
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What's in the Box?
- Acoustimass module
- Satellite speakers with stands
- Control pod
- Power cord, USB cable
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Tech Specs
- Connections : USB
- Height : Acoustimass module: 8.68 in./21.91 cm; Satellite speakers: 8.9 in./22.5 cm; Control pod: 1.13 in./2.86 cm
- Width : Acoustimass module: 7.13 in./18.1 cm; Satellite speakers: 5.8 in./14.7 cm; Control pod: 2.5 in./6.35 cm
- Depth : Acoustimass module: 14.0 in./35.56 cm; Satellite speakers: 3.8 in./9.7 cm
- Weight : Acoustimass module: 15.4 lb./6.99 kg; Satellite speakers: 1.9 lb./0.9 kg
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Manufacturer Information
Part Number
- UPC or EAN No. : 017817393270
Non-Apple Branded products / Third Party Products
- Note : Apple's One Year Limited Warranty does not apply to products that are not Apple-branded, even if packaged or sold with Apple products. Non-Apple branded products may have the benefit of a manufacturer's warranty provided by the product manufacturer - Please see your product box and literature for details. Rights under the product manufacturer's warranty are in addition, and not instead of, any rights that you have under consumer protection laws.
Manufacturer Note
- *For optimum performance, we recommend Mac OS X 10.4.6 or later.; Apple is an authorized Bose dealer.; Visit the following url to learn more and for verification: http://www.bose.com/apple
Ratings & Reviews
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Not what I hoped for
When I first set this system up on my new MacPro, I was blown away; clear, clean strong, truly remarkable, especially for watching movies. Now, a week later, I've discovered a deficiency that really disappoints me. Bose instructions suggest that you should turn off your equalizer and let the music sound the way the musicians intended it. If you follow that advice, you're going to run into a lot of recordings that sound like the vocal track is being projected from a distant coal mine. You can compensate fairly well with the iTunes equalizer but the fact is that my old $120 sound system did a better job with at last 10% of what I play. Notable victims include David Bowie (try Modern Love), John Mellencamp, and Journey, but you'll notice the effect to some degree with an unfortunately broad spectrum of artists. Overall, the sound quality is still so good that I rate the product at 4 stars, but you would be well advised to test the system with a representative selection of your favorite music before you sink $400 into it. …
- Written by Peter G from San Clemente
893 of 1144 people found this useful
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overpriced
As an audiophile I sample lots of speakers systems whether they are for home theatre, two channel listening, or computer speakers. In all catagories Bose speakers have been over priced for their performance. Ever since Bose came out with their 901 line, Bose has presented themselves as the Ferrari of home audio. But sadly the rest of their products just don't live up to the 901's quality, and these are no difference. If these speakers cost 200 dollars less they would be a good system, but for the price tag, well they just don't perform.
Highs:
-They do a pretty decent job reproducing high frequencies
- For a computer sub it hits the lows nicely.
-The touch pad is a neat feature that I would like ot see on other models
Lows:
-as i have stated many times its over priced
-I have found that the mids are lacking definition.
-The sub is lacking character, only giving out thumps. …- Written by Cody S
987 of 1347 people found this useful
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Bose Companion 5 Speakers
I must start by saying that these are a truly stunning set of speakers! They look amazing and the sound that they produce is prett y darn brilliant!
If you know about the Bose product range, they are in effect a small version of the 3-2-1 set. Although they use a different technology to the 3-2-1 set, they produce the same sort of effect for pc users. They honestly produce surround like sound from 2.1 speakers, which for hard-core PC & Mac users is ideal.
These are a set of speakers that I think everyone will be jealous of, if you buy them. I know I would be! …- Written by Thomas H from Witney
348 of 456 people found this useful
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Companion 3 series II system was better
I owned the companion 3 series II and was completely in love with them. (5 out of 4 stars) (Not the Companion 3 series III)
Bou ght the companion 5 series II because who doesn't want 5 channel sound!?
Complaints:
1. No Optical input! (i knew this before purchasing). If you're going to pay 400 dollars for a 5.1 system, it'd better have optical input. Not having optical really limits the use of these speakers to the computer. I DONT CARE if they are called "computer speakers", at this price point they should support ALL COMPUTER AUDIO INPUTS. They're just trying to be stingy and make it so you have to buy their tv system if you want to have a BOSE 5.1 experience when gaming or using Apple TV.
2. Acoustamass module has a lot less depth in this system, leaving the sound very stringy and over trebled (i only listen to lossless audio)
3. its a bulky set when you compare it to the companion 3 series II and consider that the companion 5 doesnt sound quite as good.
Compliments:
1. If all you do is watch dvd's with 5.1 audio at your computer then by all means, this is the system for you! If you're a normal person and listen to music at your computer and watch movies on your TV then you might want to consider a system that will support both your computer and tv (AKA a system with both analog and digital/optical inputs; logitech makes a decent one) because i dont know about you but the only 5.1 audio i own is Dark Side of the Moon. As much as i love that album from pink floyd, its not worth $400 to experience... …- Written by Michael M from Grand Forks
2 of 2 people found this useful
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Good for Gaming but not music
If all you are going to do is use these exclusively for gaming and have the money they will make you happy. However, if you want to listen to music you would be much better off selecting another product. On many of my recordings, (both CD and MP3) the vocals and guitar solos sound like they are in another room--way in back of the other instruments. It would appear that if the recording was mixed in certain manner you are not going hear an even mix. For the amount of money I spent on these I'm a little disappointed. …
- Written by John D from Dorchester
3 of 8 people found this useful
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highly recommended
I use this acoustic for 5 years and every time admire the quality
certainly not fair to compare with hi quality floor standing sp eakers with good amplifier
but for their size, they do a great job …- Written by Sergey B from Petach Tikva
7 of 9 people found this useful
Questions & Answers
Answers from the community
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Volume adjustment
- Asked by Blaine H from Abilene
- 08/12/2012
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can this sound system can be connected to your tv
- Asked by Uveerajsingh J
- 26/04/2012
Answer
I own this set of speakers. The only way you can connect the Bose Companion 5 (BC5) is via the 3.5m m mini jack. Most televisions do not have the capability of passing sound via their USB ports (if they even have one).
What I did is find an RCA to Mini Jack converter cable, this will allow you to plug into your audio out on your television and connect directly to your BC5. (Tricky part is that you still need to adjust the sound via the BCA dial and not the TV, unless your television doesn't do a pre out RCA)
If your television only has optical audio out (toslink), then the passthrough gets a bit more tricky. You will need the following:
1. A Toslink cable to connect from your TV to a converter (mentioned in #2)
2. A Toslink to Coax (RCA) converter. Easily purchased online or at an electronics store i.e. Radioshack.
3. Finally you will need an RCA to to Mini Jack converter cable.
For this you connect the Toslink (optical audio) cable from the TV to the Converter, and then using the RCA to Minijack connect the Converter to the BC5. Again the tricky part is that you still need to adjust the sound via the BCA dial and not the TV) …- Answered by Miguel S from Phoenix
- 28/07/2012
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Would it be possible to connect these speakers to a laptop? and if so HOW?
- Asked by Raza M
- 23/02/2010
Answer
Yes, these speakers are connected to a laptop through a USB port.
- Answered by Nigel S
- 28/02/2010
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What are the best speakers to buy - all in one type - that will work with Mac Book Pro, iphone/ipod products and apple tv?
- Asked by Pamela K from Phoenix
- 02/05/2010
Answer
Can I buy this product from Italy at this price?
- Answered by Stefano L from Frascati
- 12/09/2012
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are these speakers good for dubstep
- Asked by Leslie F from Slingerlands
- 01/11/2011
Answer
YES, i love a bit of skrillex and these eat dubstep for breakfast.
- Answered by Rob P
- 14/02/2012
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How can I connect these speakers wirelessly to my iMAc
- Asked by Edward S from Vancouver
- 18/04/2010
Best Answer
To Shellharbour - the Airport Express is NOT NOT NOT NOT NOT compatible with the USB cable technolog y for this system. The only USB that runs on an airport express is that of a printer. I have tried time and time again to make mine work because of this answer and another on Amazon which led me to buy this system, only to find that the Airport Express and Extreme do not support the USB plug in for these. A great disappointment in my multifloor loft apartment where I have to leave my laptop upstairs next to the speakers to get it to play while I have guests over. So - this answer is not correct - these do not run on Airport or any other wireless hub/router. The Bose Companion 3 used to, my parents have one, but it does not have a USB, it has an audio port. …
- Answered by Sarah C from New York
- 04/02/2011
