I think they sound like a shoebox at low levels!

Let the buyer beware. The Bose Corporation is a master of market manipulation and advertising strategy, marketing products made with inexpensive components in big-box stores as state-of -the-art systems at premium prices. Be aware that some of the "listening rooms" in the stores are financed and constructed to favor or minimize the shortcomings of certain systems with high profitability and will in all probability give the buyer a false sense of the relative performance of systems being auditioned.
    A few auditioning tips to remember:
1. Auditioning speakers in a high ambient noise area (i.e. big-box store) is rarely a fair test of any speaker system.
2. Compare systems at equal apparent listening volume, not just the same volume setting on the amp/receiver - speaker efficiency varies widely, and in an A/B comparison, louder usually seems "better'.
3. Be aware that speaker location within the room can greatly affect the bass response of any system. Corner locations tend to re-inforce low frequency performance, while mid-wall locations may minimize it.
4. The laws of physics cannot be repealed by advertising - as a rule, low frequency sound reproduction takes a combination of power and speaker box volume (see readily available info. on ducted port, acoustic suspension or folded horn speakers). Small boxes with small drivers generally equate to insufficient bass response.
    Also remember, people who have purchased high priced equipment with subsequent performance deficiencies will vigorously defend their choice, regardless of their true opinion, rather than appear foolish - be cautious of glowing Bose reports          

Pathetic sound. My son drooled for this after hearing his rich father-in-law's system. Not to disappoint, I bought it for Christmas. We hooked it up beside my system, driving both with the CD player, and did A/B tests. No comparison. Highs were missing (cymbal, etc). Lows were non-existant (deep bass, pipe organ). He used it for a few years, but replaced it when the HDTV arrived. Bose markets well, but equipment makes a puny sound, on a par with car stereos.

The last speaker system you will ever buy. Simply the best. Buy cheap get cheap. Pay more get more. You figure out the rest.

People! DO NOT shop for stereo equipment at Best Buy! Take the money you wanted to use on that overpriced Acoustimass thing and go to a specialty stereo/home theater store. Often they're privately owned, and the salesmen know novels more about speakers and amps than Best Buy or Circuit City employess. Just let them show you brands you've never heard of ... there are tons of them. Give them a listen and decide for yourself. Will you end up with tiny plastic speakers and a boomy subwoofer that's not really even a subwoofer? Probably not. But you will end up with something that sounds like what you paid for it.

No highs...no lows...must be BOSE!

I am thrilled with my new Acoustimass Speakers. They have tremendous sound. The bass is unbeatable. As with others, the price is the only thing that bothered my, however, I don't think about the price when my ceiling shakes during a movie.

Sounds like a transistor radio and a thumping tub.

The big question, for all looking for speakers. Do you want something that sounds great, or REAL? I do digital recording with my MiniDisc recorder of all sorts of things from music boxes to piano. I then play it back on my Bose. I close my eyes and think does that sound like the piano is in the room with me or am I just playing it back on a stereo. A lot of times it's hard to tell. SO BACK TO THE QUESTION, SOMTHING THAT SOUNDS GREAT, OR REAL?

I like the high sounds that these speakers bring out, but there is still nothing like the JBL. Although if JBL went out of business, I would buy Bose. It does come close though.

I like this product because of it's compact size, and the good quality of sound it offers with such a small package.

How can something so small produce sounds that big? I was extremely amazed, when it was on display at the Good Guys. It saves space and produces sounds that are just unbelieveable. It's kind of expensive though.

Bose has built a reputation of high quality sound. Their speakers are clear and loud.

I believe Bose produces the best quality speaker on the market. They are generally smaller, with the aim towards high quality sound rather than power base, but since I like loud speakers, I rated them a 3.

The quality of the sound is great for the size of the speakers. It gives dynamic stereo sound which sounds live. It gives a digital effect to boring music. Adds life to a party.

Good sound quality. I like the bass. A little bit of static, but all in all a good buy for the average music listener.

The level of clarity in this series is almost unbelievable. If you turn your stereo up expecting distortion, your're surprised at the performance in the clean and warm tone of the speakers. Keep pushing and they'll be right behind you one hundred percent.

These speakers bump. I have a pair in my '93 Accord SE and they're great. Equal amount of bass and treble output. Good high end frequency. Good buy.

Very good. Clear, I could hear all the words. Very good base, it is deep and clean. It also echos. I like the compact design. It is also cheap.

Good speakers for movies, but not the greatest for music. Expensive, and not that easy to set up. Not very much mid-range response, which hurts it when listening to the guitar.

These speakers provide great sound with 3-dimensional realism, and they come in a very small cube design. The only problem is that they can run a bit pricey as you are paying more for the brand name.

Great but so expensive.