TCS wrote:

On Sun, 26 Dec 2004 18:51:28 GMT, NSM wrote:

"TCS" wrote in message
...
| On Sun, 26 Dec 2004 02:36:03 -0500, Choreboy
wrote:
| For Christmas I visited relatives with a Bose stereo. The tuner/CD
| changer feeds audio through a cord to the subwoofer, which has the
| amplifier.
|
| A CD has jammed in the changer. The way to open the case is not
| obvious. Bose says it would void the warranty, but they will charge
| $200 plus shipping to fix it.
|
| Would it be better to replace that component with another brand of
| tuner/changer?
|
| Yes. The unit isn't as good as a $150 panasonic sold at
target/walmart/kmart.
| The $99 RCA minisystem (also with a changer) is also a superior unit.

But is it compatible with the powered woofer?

With this model, the music center is powered by 12 volts. The amplifier
for the three speakers is in the subwoofer compartment. I haven't
studied the signal cable. If it's left/right/ground, I'd be looking for
a tuner/changer whose line level could be adjusted by remote control. (I
have a CD player like that.)

The rca and panasonic have two properly sized woofers and stereo.
The bose is monofonic at frequencies you'll notice. Only a subwoofer
should be mono; the woofer(s) shouldn't.

BTW, I'm surprised to see
anyone use 'RCA' and 'superior' in the same sentence!

Only compared to bose. If you find someone who'll take $1500 for the RCA,
it'll be just like the bose -- you'll have that special feeling of pride that
comes from spending way too much.

This is a Lifestyle 20 bought in 1999. They bought four reconditioned
units, each of which quickly failed. The store finally gave them a new one.

Now that the changer has jammed, Bose says they will refuse to fix it if
it has been opened. They will charge $200.

I told them about the cheaper alternatives. They said, "But everyone
tells us how good it sounds." I certainly haven't told them that,
although the Bose is an improvement over what they had before, a pair of
speakers with enormous bass resonance that colored and distorted everything.

With the Bose, they aim one speaker into the living room and the other
down the hall. I have aimed both speakers into the living room to see
how good it can sound. I haven't been awed.

Epinions has two reviews from 2000. One was from a teen whose parents
had one. He said every teen should have one because he could turn it up
loud enough to hear throughout the house. The other owner had his fail
in thirteen months. He had sent it in to Bose three times, and the
speakers still hissed and whined.