Reviews for Bose® Computer MusicMonitor®

I couldn't believe the sound quality and bass thump these speakers brought to my computer music system. i was up and listening in just a few minutes. easy install, great sound what more do you need.

79 of 82 people found this useful

Most reviewers think this is a high quality sound but they have not listened to really good quality sound. The Bose Computer MusicMonitor have a good design, but that is all.

I received them as a present from my wife and they are disappointing. If you want great quality sound, listen to british speakers like B&W...and read reviews from specialized magazines like Audiophile, Hi-FI Choice, etc., but above all, trust your ears.

Bose, a great marketing company...

137 of 190 people found this useful

I have the early version of these, but they have amazing sound quality, workmanship and volume! a bit expensive, but worth it IF you care about sound. (You might find the older ones cheaper somewhere...)

10 of 12 people found this useful

Nothing comes close, size to sound ratio, nothing. The best product from Bose.

12 of 14 people found this useful

So after spending weeks trying to find a decent set of portable speakers, I finally ended up with these. FWIW, I purchased them from a Bose store and much to my pleasant surprise they were running a promotion and they cost $350. Add another $60 for the travel case, however, and the total still topped out at $410.

The missing star in my review is for the price. These do not produce $400 worth of sound when you consider all the options out there at that price with one important caveat; I COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING THAT PRODUCED THIS KIND OF SOUND QUALITY IN THIS SIZE OR WEIGHT - and that was one of my most important requirements. Add to that the very convenient hard shell travel case and I was sold on the package.

Like all speakers, what each individual likes is very subjective so always listen before you buy or buy from a source that allows unconditional returns without penalty for 2-4 weeks after purchase.

I'm definitely not a Bose fanatic, but I can say the sound quality is very good. They have a decent dynamic range with good response on the low end (certainly not what you can expect from a system with a subwoofer, but again, these are for travel) and very good fidelity and clarity at all frequencies. They do not provide booming sound so don't expect them to fill the room, however they certainly work beyond what you can expect for near-field speakers. Having them going in the background with a room full of people was fine for me. The louder they get though, the more the sound will appear very localized. Once again I say, think convenience for travel and not huge AV/Home Theater sound.

One final comment; I am a musician and I operated a recording studio for almost 25 years. No way would I ever use these as reference monitor speakers for mixing or creating music.

I've owned a few other Bose products in the past and I have found their construction quality to be excellent. I am certainly expecting these to last for many years to come.

Pros:
- Very good sound quality
- Small and light form factor
- Great for travel (with the case)

Cons:
- Over priced with respect to the quality of sound produced
- Won't fill up a room with sound

Hope this helps.

50 of 56 people found this useful

These speakers have excellent sound quality for their portable size. I highly recommend them for laptop users who want to be able to hear some bass. I also enjoy using them for music editing/mixing because the bass is fairly well balanced for most headphones and other speaker setups.

If you are a gamer, avid movie-watcher, or dance partier, I would not buy these. If you want to blast sound into a room, these speakers will not cut it. There are much better speakers out there for a quarter of the price that include external sub-woofers and adjustable bass/treble. I have compared the MusicMonitors with the Creature 3s for watching movies in my living room, and the Creature 3s are much better in sound quality, flexibility, and volume.

The MusicMonitors are pretty sweet, but they are definitely not worth the $400 price point. If you want real sound, go for an external sub-woofer setup.

39 of 43 people found this useful

They are good, great sound but I rather buy Bose® Companion® 5 Multimedia Speaker..
Have them both and Bose® Companion® 5 Multimedia is better priced and deeper bass.

20 of 29 people found this useful

Ok, I was skeptical to order these 400-dollar set of micro-speakers that measure a mere 2.5-inches in width.

When I first picked them up from the shipping box I was even more skeptical as I connected them up to my Mac. The first thing I noticed was the sound was surprisingly smooth and as I turned up the volume, I was pleasantly surprised! I didn’t bother with the sample CD that comes with the Bose, so I played select cuts of my own favorites. The sound was much better than I was expecting. It’s actually hard to believe just how clean and accurate these little guys truly are.

I realize many of you may be concerned with the bass response, but I feel it’s well balanced and fairly deep. If you want a true testament, try playing “Angel” by Sarah McLachian and you’ll be amazed! Ok, I can’t realistically compare these with other larger systems with a sub, since these are so very unique! If you want your cake and eat it too, then it will cost more than double of what these have to offer.

Part of what makes the speakers impressive is the same thing that may turn the nose up of the skeptics. The sound produced is disproportional to what you would expect from such a small enclosure. For me personally, I’m very impressed with the sound quality. Now, some people may not be please unless they produce ghetto blasting bass, so for that group I would recommend something larger. These are not harsh or weak, and they actually sound nicer than some larger enclosures with a sub! Speaking of which, the unique rear baffle enhances the bass response quite well. Unlike more conventional rear-ported base reflex designs, the preset distance to the reflector is constant so speaker placement is much more flexible.

As a minimalist, I much prefer to have my computing environment to be free of extraneous clutter and mass. My flat panel monitor with my Mac, all blend together to form a very clean and contemporary appearance. I really like the way they compliment my system. Granted, it’s hard to associate this level of sound quality with a pair of speakers that are so small, but I can’t say enough good things about them. Bose has always been unique and very successful with small enclosures.

In short, I’m impressed although I do recommend a good quality surge/line conditioner. Yeah I know; this is one of those things that we hate to buy since we can’t readily appreciate the benefits until its too late. Remember, you get what you pay for so stay clear of those cheap hollow boxes. Anyway, the company also makes purchasing so stupid-easy with zero financing, no credit checks and a 30-day return policy.

BTW: I received a promotional carry bag for portable use, for those that are so inclined. The quality is also of superior to what you could have imagined. Granted, I don’t have much use for it but maybe my son would like it if I buy him a set for Christmas. I don't know if they'll be offering this perk for very long.

Pros
* Commercial style build quality with metal enclosures
* Powerful clean sound in a markedly small footprint
* Accurate and convenient Remote Control
* Zero interest payment plan options
* Good return policy

Cons
Still looking but can’t find any…

35 of 40 people found this useful

Quality is good, maybe very good, these are well designed and small speakers that fill my townhouse with solid quality sound, I am not audiophile and some will find issue with these not being 5' towers pushed by a big amp, I am not, as I said, good, maybe very good sound at a pretty high price! It was worthwhile for me, I wanted to keep it small and these speakers gave me exactly what I was looking for!

21 of 28 people found this useful

I am very picky when it comes to my audio equipment. I had a gift card to blow at the apple store and came across these speakers. I was amazed by them at the apple store and quickly decided I had to have them. I got home, hooked them up, and had to talk myself out of returning them over the course of about two weeks. I put off returning them (got lazy) and have been pleasantly surprised. At first the bass was nothing like what I had experienced at the store...but after letting these sit on my desk, they have really opened up. The missing bass slowly came around and I have no complaints. People will say they're not powerful enough, not enough bass...yes, they will not suffice for a party.

On from the "amazing bass from a no-sub setup", the sound is honestly very pleasing. The bass lines are well defined and call me a liar, but I have always felt like I can audibly locate a subwoofer in a room. These have kept acoustic bass "on the stage" with the vocalist. No complaints in the mid-range. The upper frequencies REALLY stood out at first when the bass was so weak, but now feel much more mellow.

Keep quiet audiophiles...I know they're Bose and a lot of you dislike them...but honestly, for a two speaker setup I have yet to come across anything better.

42 of 50 people found this useful