BOSE puts a lot in a little package.
Pros:
Easy to install, sound really good. Very clear.
Cons:
Bass unit unshielded. Best sound achieved with distance between speakers.
The Bottom Line:
If you can't afford the 5 speaker Bose setup, this is one of the better 3 speaker sets on the market. Clear sound, great styling.
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Overall Rating:
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Author's Review
After reading the reviews posted by others whom have purchased these speakers, I felt it necessary to add my voice to the mix to perhaps put a little different spin on the Acoustimass 5. First, let me say this, for those who want gigantic sound over a dynamic range, who listen mostly to rock and roll or rap music, or who are buying these to impress their buddies, these are NOT the speakers for you. However, if you are trying to get the maximum sound clarity in the minimum of space and want these speaker more for classical, jazz, blues, or most country music as well as small home theatre set-ups then you will be very pleased with these speakers.
Bose has done a considerable job of packaging sound ordinarily requiring large cabinets, in tiny cube speakers that can be mounted inconspicuously just about anywhere you want. Given that this series is also available in white, instead of the ordinary black or wood tone, it is even easier to conceal the speakers up in the corners of a room for instance. Turn on the sound or a movie and watch your friends try to figure out where the sound is coming from.
I have found that the sound quality in these speakers is excellent and their ability to hand low and midrange sounds to be quite good. Bass sound is somewhat limited though not to a degree that most would notice unless seeking the same thump thump thump that they obviously also have in their mustang parked in the driveway. No, these speakers deliver clear, unobtrusive sound and reflect it in a way to fill a medium sized space with vibrant sound. Movies are also easily handled by the AM-5's though the lack of a center channel is somewhat missing. Nevertheless, the overall experience is a very positive one and well worth the cost.
One note of extreme caution. For some unknown reason, the designers of the AM-5 series chose not to shield their speakers so as to prevent magnetic interference. (Note to non-audiophiles - this means that the subwoofer unit that has a big speaker in it with a big magnet, lacks a case design to prevent that magnet from exerting invisible interference over nearby televisions and video devices). As a result, placing the subwoofer unit anywhere close to a television is a non-option as it will cause picture distortion that can ultimately permanently damage the television set. Due to the small size of the subwoofer speaker and magnet, this does not require moving the subwoofer a large distance from the set; however, it may make it impossible to place within an entertainment armoire or cabinet just above or below the television set as might be desired. Luckily, I was able to find a good location without compromising the wiring which I had already done.
Overall, this is a minor downfall of a very good speaker that can be completely offset by simply placing the subwoofer in an appropriate location. It does not detract from my recommendation that this speaker is still a buy recommendation. I would, however, consider getting the bose system which has rear and center speaker cubes as this will fill the only void in the sound quality - of course, such a setup is only really necessary if you are using this system in a home theatre setting. Bose makes a great product and I have no qualms with my AM-5's whatsoever.