Bose Companion 2 Series III Multimedia Speakers - for PC (with 3.5mm AUX & PC Input) Black

UPDATE 7/19/2015 - After over a year with the speakers they are still going strong! Yet, I found myself in a Bose store the other day and purchased the more expensive Companion 20 speakers. Look below for my comparison of the two. ORIGINAL REVIEW I own a pair of bose QC 15 headphones which have spoiled me and made me discontent with the mediocre sound systems around my house. So, I wanted some bose speakers to connect to my wireless network at home via my airport express and airplay. Well, I am happy to say that these $100 Bose speakers sound GREAT! The sound is spacious, deep and CRISP. The high notes sing and one can feel the base. ARE THEY LOUD ENOUGH? Some reviewers complain that they do not get loud enough. I thought the same at first and then realized that my music was turned down at the source. Now, I have the volume all the way up on my iPad and then adjust the volume on the speakers themselves. I have to tell that they get extremely loud with no distortion. The volume only needs to be up half-way on the speakers for the volume to shake the room and tickle my eardrums. ARE THE MIDS DECENT? Just to clear-up another misconception - the highs and lows are reproduced extremely well. Both the high notes and the bass are VERY pleasing. Ragtime Piano, for example, sounds excellent on the speakers. The weakness is indeed with the mids. Nothing bad, but the speakers do seem to equalize (True Space technology) in such a way where the mids do suffer. For example, Josh Groban's incredible voice looses some of its magic on these Bose. The same is true on my QC 15 headphones, by the way. For me, this is a minor thing that I immediately tolerate because the other sound strengths more than compensate. SHOULD YOU PURCHASE THESE? Indeed, buy these now. You will not regret your purchase and will feel that they are well worth $100. Especially if you are new to Bose, then you will love this entry level product. _________ BOSE COMPANION 20 vs COMPANION 2 Serries III The wonderful Bose Companion 2 Series 3 computer speakers have graced our home ever since they first came out. We have really enjoyed them. Not at the computer but instead for inconspicuous bookshelf speakers in a small room. the Speakers were souced wirelessly via an Apple Airport Express router and AirPlay. Though they were great for this function, recently I have been itching for an upgrade. So, the other day I visited a Bose store and came home with the larger and more expensive Companion 20 speakers. So, how do they compare? Here are some detailed impressions... SOUND QUALITY OVERVIEW The less expensive Companion 2 held up pretty well when first compared side-by-side with the 20s. In fact, at lower volumes the two speakers sounded nearly identical. After a while, the supiorority of the Companion 20's became clearly evident. They are much more rich and crisp than the 2s. After hours of listening to the new speakers I switched back to the 2's and they sounded tinny and shril. Especially at moderate and higher listening volumes. HIGHS and LOWS First about the lows. Again initial impression led me to think the base sounded nearly identical on both speakers. It wasn't until I played bass heavy music that I noticed the difference. The 20s bass is much tighter and gives a cleaner thump. In their promotional material Bose states that when one walks into a room where 20's are playing they will look around for a base module. This is true. Especial when the rear of the speakers are placed near a wall or a corner. My Companion 2s are spread nearly three feet apart on a bookshelf. Each speaker is slightly angled towards eachother with the backs up against the corners of the shelf. This is the sweet spot for the room. As to the high, the 20s are also the clear leader. Female voices SHINE on these silver speakers. High notes on the 2s by comparison sound like they are distant as though the singer is behind a closed door. In general every musical detail (highs, lows and mids) are better detailed and distinct. Play a song with complex instrumentation, for example, and you will distinctly hear most every nuance of each instrument. On the Companion 2 speakers similarly complex tracs sounded blended together where the details were muted or lost. BUILD QUALITY I thought the 2s were well built but, oh my goodness, they look like toys next to the aluminum 20 speakers! The quality becomes especially apparent when you feel the weight and heartiness of the build. This is best showcased by just the control module on the 20. The knob feels substantial and turns smoother than any dial I have ever used. Really, you must try it!. This buttery smoothness is balanced absolutely perfectly with proper resistance and responsiveness. The module further boasts a touch sensitive on/off "button" which is also amazingly responsive and instant. In short, looking at the Companion 20s and controlling them are just as pleasant as listening to them! The 2s are solidly built but their look and feel is only average. FURTHER COMPARISONS I own several othe Bose products including he Bose sound link mini, the QC20 in-ear headphones, and the Bose QC15 over-the-ear headphones. So, how does the sound of the Companion 20s compare to these other products? Soundlink Color - The 20s win easily. This is remarkable because I think the Color sounded better than the Companion 2's eventhough the it is a small Bluetooth speaker compared to a wired 2 speaker system. The color has better clarity than the 2s and overall boast a higher fidelity. The 2s did have better stereo separation (obviously) and can play at a higher volume. On the other hand, my new Companion 20s just sound better than the Soundlink Color in every single aspect. Quiet Comfort 20 - The similarity between the Quiet Comort 20 headphones and the Companion 20 computer speakers comes in warmth of sound. Both boast a warmth that is very pleasing and Senheiser like. This is where the comparisons end. The QC headphones win in the area that they sound a little more natural and balanced. Though, the Companion 20s beat the QC20s in crispness and detail. When I have a choice between the two, I enjoy listening to the speakers over the QC20 in-ear headphones. Quiet Comfort 15 - Now, here is where the Companion 20s begin to fall short. The best sound I have ever heard comes from my QC15 headphones. They are astonishingly impressive. These companion 20's get me much closer to that great sound quality. In fact, the Companion 20s sound warmer and a tad richer than the QC15! Unfortunately, the music is not as detailed nor crisp. I do find myself debateing whether or not to enjoy music via the QC15 headphones or via the Companion 20 computer speakers. By comparison the Companion 2's always sounded decent but I never purposely chose to go listen to them over any of the other Bose products that I own. CONCLUSION Though Companion 2s have seen series of re-iterations through the years, the Companion 20s are still the original speakers first introduced in 2011. To me, the fact that a Companion 20 series 2 does not yet exist hints that there is not much to improve with the current speaker. Give these speakers a serious try and I think you will agree. PS - A note about source volume. The manual for the 20s instructs to place the source volume at a maximum of 80 percent. This is key! Use the control pod to crank up the volume. There will be no distortion not even when turning the dial all the way up. With the 2s the sound the sound improved with the source volume at 100 percent and the knob on the speakers at slightly over half. All this to say that the more expensive 20's do a better job of signal processing and improving the source signal into that distinctive rich and Bose sound. By the way, the 20s top volume is about twice that of the 2s.

I have been a PC gamer for over 30 years. The first few years audio was horrible, just beeps really. Then sound cards came along and it was better, but PC speakers were always a problem. I went through a dozen sets from about 1995 to 2015, and honestly they all really sucked. I always got cheap ones that were ugly, weak, and full of distortion, or mid- tier ones with a sub-woofer that were still ugly with wires everywhere, and still had distortion issues, but at least they were loud. Either way swapping to headphones was almost always a pain. They were all compromises so none lasted more than 2 years. One day in 2015 I got tired of the endless string of bad speakers so I decided to finally do it right and I bought these Bose speakers. It's been nearly 7 years and I haven't even begun to consider replacing them. They look good in any space. The wiring is easy to manage. They can be placed vertically beside a monitor or horizontally below one . The controls are simple. The headphone access is easy to use. They sound fantastic, loud with no distortion at any volume I would ever use. They are just 100% winners. Yes they lack modern features, but that is exactly what makes them so great. They work exactly perfectly for their intended purpose, with no expensive and unnecessary features. Place them on the correct sides of your monitor, connect the right speaker to your PC or monitor, connect the two speakers to each other, plug the power cord into power and the right speaker and turn up the volume.... Done. Okay, there is one possible small problem. If your PC is to the left of your monitor it is annoying you have to run an audio cable all the way to the right, then another cable back to the left speaker. But it's not that big a deal and you can always buy a longer audio cable if you need it. Point being, if you think all PC speakers suck, spend the $$$$ and let these ones change your mind

My wife ordered these for me two days ago. You gotta love Amazon Prime! I have them set up on my desk at work. I've always worked better with some decent music in the background. The space I occupy does not pull in a radio station other than a today's Top 40 broadcast, which just isn't my cup of coffee, and built in computer speakers just plain do not cut it. Tinny sounding is being generous. I'm no audiophile, but I can still hear when the music sounds good or bad. My previous setup was a Sony AM/FM/iPod docking unit playing music from the computer through the AUX IN connection. Not a bad sound, but I knew it could be better. I hooked the speakers up in very short order (I think it took me longer to unpack them than it did to set them up) through my laptop's docking station headphone jack. Everything was plug-and-play; no need to purchase, cut or otherwise mess with any speaker wires. As everything sets on top of my desk, I had no problem with cord lengths as others have reported. Using Windows Media Player, I picked a variety of tunes to listen to (Adele, Boston, Spyro Gyra, AC/DC). While I won't use over the top hype, such as "I was blown away!", I can honestly say these are the best computer speakers I've ever heard, bar none. Those I've had in the past have always had problems handling bass. With the volume down, the bass would not come through; with the volume up the speakers would rattle. Not these. Being near 60 I'm not inclined to thump the bass, which is good for a corporate office setting. But the bass was there at the lowest of volume. Of course, I have not (and unless I bring them home, probably will not) cranked them up to level 10, but I have no doubt they can handle it. I'll report further if I ever conduct this test. The music, both instrumental and vocal, was crisp and clear throughout. I was able to hear subtleties in Boston tunes I had been listening to for years that I had not heard before. And it also beat the previous Sony set-up I mentioned. I can see where the connection cord might be a bit short if you're using a computer standing on the floor. Easy work around is a headphone extension cord which might set you back an additional $10. If you spent $100 on the speakers, the additional $10 will be worth it. My opinion is these are worth the price. Bose makes some great products, most of which I'll never be able to afford. These speakers are a great way to treat yourself to the fabulous Bose sound without boosting the balance on your credit card. I'll be getting plenty of use from these. Thanks, honey.

I got tired of reading endless forums about the "best budget desktop speakers" so I decided to purchase the following and compare them in real life against each other: Neumi BS5P | Micca PB42X | Klipsch ProMedia 2.1 THX | Edifier R1280T | Bose Companion 2 Series III | Edifier G2000. I am not an audiophile, I am not technical. I have played instruments my whole life and run sound in some amateur settings, so I'm guessing I have a slightly more critical ear than the average listener, but definitely not of those truly dedicated to hi fidelity listening. I don't know proper terms. I took these notes kind of haphazardly, but they are listed in order of best to worst after personal testing. I intend to play games and listen to music with a slight preference towards gaming as I have another speaker system for music that I can use for music. High level takeaway: the true battle is between the Neumi BS5P and the Micca PB42X. Between those 2 speakers, either would be the right choice of all these options depending on your intended use. I ended up choosing the Neumi because I am going to be playing games quite a bit, and they provided much better low end to fill out a lot of the sound effects. If I were choosing a speaker just for music listening, I would have gone with the Miccas as they have superior mid/high/vocal clarity. The Miccas have a good enough sub that I wouldn't be missing the low end on most music, but if I wanted to, I could just add a sub to fill out the lows on the Miccas (for edm type music). _______________________________________________________________________________________________ Neumi BS5P 75-Watt $139.99 - My personal winner Pro: - Sounds full and satisfying right away - Great bass (almost as good as the dedicated sub on the Klipsch, definitely better than all other options without a dedicated sub. I've got adjacent neighbors so I won't ever go sub heavy anyways, so don't need a dedicated sub with the power these pull) - Decently clear mids/highs, though this is less defined than the Miccas. These get better after doing the firmware update, and get it much closer to the Micca's clarity, but still not quite as good - Bluetooth pairing quality stays really high (doesn't make a difference for me) Cons - Mids/highs/vocals still just not as good/clear/crisp as the Micca - Much larger than the other options (might be a pro if you're looking to fill a room with more volume - I'm not looking for that) - Need to update the firmware to get better mids/highs than out of the box (minor inconvenience but might scare some away) Micca PB42X $109.99 Pro: - Really nice, crisp/clean mid/highs (better than everything else) The vocals are bright and shiny, unrivaled by any other of these options - Doesn't seem to add much coloration (but this also leads to it feeling slightly emptier than the 1280T, could be good or bad) - Pretty good bass for what it is (far better than the G2000 and Bose, worse than the others) - It comes with a 2 part dc cable that's longer than others, and a longer mp3 cable than others (doesn't really matter, but it's nice) - Fairly flat (might be a good or bad thing for usage) Con: - Getting really nit picky just to find differences, but the connection cable on the back is a twisty, rather than a poke as the Edifiers have. Twistys just seem less stable/more exposed - Mids/lows start to sound more tinny in comparison to the mids/lows of the neumi, leaving a somewhat less satisfying feeling - Ultimately this feels a bit emptier than others with better subs, but is also definitely crisper/clearer Klipsch ProMedia 2.1 THX Certified $144.99 Pro: - Great sound out of the box - Great bass (only one with a dedicated sub, so that should be obvious) Con: - Decent mid/highs, but still not as crisp/clear as the Miccas Edifier R1280T $129.32 Pro: - Beautiful aesthetic - Good sound out of the box , there's not the obvious tinny sound of budget speaker - Volume, bass, and treble knobs - I'm satisfied with the sound immediately (I grew less satisfied with the sound the more I A/B compared to the Bose due to the coloration. I then adjusted the tilt of the speakers and it seemed to fix this coloration issue and bring more clarity to the mids/highs) - It's really minor, but the power plug is a plug and not a brick like all the others Con: - No sub out option - Definitely colors the sound to fill in the space more (which could be a pro for some people too). Ends up adding a layer of mud to the overall sound - The mids/highs are really just muddy due to the coloration Bose Companion 2 Series III $149.00 Pro: - The mids/highs are nice and bright and clear - Really compact if you don't have a lot of desk space00 - I'm satisfied with this sound out of the box - Seems not to color the sound (certainly not nearly like the R1280T), feels more accurate - Has an upward tilt so it seems to naturally position for the sweet spot Con: - Only a volume knob so no automatic control over bass/treble (I assume there's eq software that would fix this?) - Bass is a bit lacking (probably would be satisfied with the amount of bass if I weren't comparing against the others) - Something feels emptier about these speakers against the 1280T and Micca Edifier G2000 $109.99 Pro: - Decent bass and presence - The LED light is kind of nice Con: - Stupid startup car sound is absolutely childish and obnoxious - The LED light stays on (I think you can turn it off but who's going to go through the hassle of turning it off and on if you have to hear the stupid car sound at every startup) - Still clearly sounds like a budget speaker with a constant of tin/noise - Bass can wash out pretty easily at medium volumes - It crackles at other certain sounds like my incoming email ping - Not satisfied with this sound out of the box

Holy cow! These are great! Okay, so I realize that these are "entry level" Bose speakers, and I can almost certainly spend five times as much (or more) on Bose speakers. But I didn't want to. I need to edit video (in Adobe premiere Pro CC) for a college class, and my iMac speakers just aren't doing the job (they suck). I went on to Amazon to buy a pair of $5 speakers. Then I realized that I want an "A" in this class (as I will be graded on sound, among other things). Oh yeah, and I remembered that I am not 15 any more. I can afford to invest a hundred bucks in some "decent" computer speakers. I read a LOT of reviews, but the ones that really stuck with me were all of the trolls declaring this sound as "flat," and how the Yamaha speakers were "sooooo much better." That wasted another hour of my life tracking down these "magnificent speakers" only to find that the trolls wrote how sucky they were compared to these. I finally gave up and just bought the Bose speakers (this pair), as Bose is a super-premium brand. I had to trust the positive reviews. Let me save you a LOT of time and hassle. If you don't like these, you can send them back. You see how attentive Bose is to packaging these do they cannot possibly get damaged in shipment. I buy a TON of stuff on Amazon (every week in fact), and it is rare to see any product this securely a(and cleverly) packaged. But yeah, the bass is great and the treble is clear and crisp. This is not a $10,000 surround sound movie theater system, but for a pair of "relatively inexpensive" speakers, this set kicks ass. They really put out nice sound. NOTE: I have not cranked these "up to eleven," to see if there is distortion (so I can complain). I have them at 75% and adjust my iMac volume. It is more than loud enough to hear outside of the house (a few rooms away) and get my neighbors to complain. Perfect for office use and even some gaming and basic entertainment (as it is stereo, but bot quad). SUPER--EASY to set up. I read the instructions after I had them working. Not bluetooth., nut these are good. Short cords. Don't expect to be able to mount these 20 feet away from your computer. These sit on, or under, your desk. Use 'em that way and you will like them a lot. Anyway, hope this helps.

"Bose Companion 2, Series III" : Overall Rating: 4.8 Treble Tones: Clear, bell like, sweet, not sibilant, no hiss or cracking. Excellent. Mid Tones: Phenomenal. Stellar mid range. My favorite aspect of the speakers. Bass Tones: Upper bass tones are rich, full, and plenty adequate. Very litte lower bass tones. Remember the speakers inside these are just about 2.0" diameter. You cannot expect substantial low bass tones from a speaker that size. (The laws of physics). If you must have that, you'll need bigger speakers on your desktop. The bass tones that these produce with such small speakers is pretty incredible. Volume: Fantastic for computer speakers. I use 50% sitting at the keyboard, and if I want to listen from a comfortable chair 16 feet away, then perhaps 70%. If used as computer speakers, you'll never want more than 70% of what these are capable of producing. Build Quality: Fantastic. Solid. Heavy. Stable. Well built. Ergonomics / Dimensions: IF you want desktop computer speakers, and your desktop space is even somewhat at a premium, then these are perfect. Their "footprint" is barely bigger than the smallest $5 cheap computer speakers one could buy (but a bit taller). And very narrow, so they require very little desktop space side-to-side. Designed perfectly for a desktop use case. Packaging: Phenomenal. Packaging is designed to protect them extremely well, until they get onto your desktop. Why 4.8 Stars? I deducted 0.2 stars, because I'd love even better bass. But with a speaker diameter of 2.0", I am being unreasonable to want better bass. Keeping them? Heck yes. One of my best purchases in years. Recommended? Absolutely, if you want desktop computer speakers and your desktop space is at somewhat of a premium for you. They are fantastic for that use case. If instead you want the very best sound, with great bass, AND you have room for significantly larger "bookshelf" speakers, then you may be able to do better elsewhere - but be prepared to pay more. I hope this review helps you in making a decision.

As an avid gamer and someone who spends significant time at their workstation, finding the right audio setup has always been crucial to me. Recently, I made the leap to the Bose Companion 2 Series III Multimedia Speakers, and I can confidently say they've transformed my gaming and work experience for the better. Let's talk about what matters most: the sound quality. While I wouldn't consider myself an audiophile, I do appreciate clear, immersive audio, and these speakers deliver just that. Whether I'm engrossed in the latest AAA title or listening to my favorite tunes while working, the sound quality from the Bose Companion 2 Series III is simply outstanding. The bass is punchy, the highs are crisp, and the overall clarity is impressive, making every gaming session or work task a more enjoyable experience. One thing that's particularly notable about these speakers is their reliability. Unlike cheaper alternatives I've tried in the past, the Bose Companion 2 Series III doesn't suffer from annoying crackling or hissing noises, even at higher volumes. This consistency ensures that my gaming and music sessions remain uninterrupted and immersive, without any distractions. In terms of build quality, these speakers are rock solid. The sturdy construction instills confidence, and the sleek black design adds a touch of sophistication to my workstation setup. They may not have flashy RGB lighting or extravagant designs, but the understated elegance of the Bose Companion 2 Series III fits perfectly with my aesthetic preferences. Now, onto the one downside I've encountered: the absence of an LED light for power on/off. As someone who occasionally forgets to turn off their speakers, a visual indicator would be a welcome addition. I imagine this might not pose an issue if your setup resides in a well-lit space, but for those in dimly lit environments, I'm certain you can empathize. However, it's a minor inconvenience that doesn't overshadow the overall excellence of these speakers. In conclusion, if you're like me—an avid gamer and music enthusiast who values quality audio without needing audiophile-level precision—the Bose Companion 2 Series III Multimedia Speakers are a fantastic choice. They deliver exceptional sound quality, reliability, and durability, enhancing both gaming sessions and workstation productivity. They're a definite upgrade over my previous $25 Logitech speakers and I would recommend them to anyone seeking an immersive audio experience for gaming and work alike.

Just unboxed yesterday have listened several hours on various devices. I love to blast sound within reason and without distortion. For years, I have relied on 2 sets of Logitech Z-Cinema speakers perhaps about the most powerful PC speakers. (Those subs weigh more than my HP Envy Desktop) And the Logitech Z speakers rely on software not compatible with Windows 8 so I bought the Bose Companion 2 for my Windows 8 PC. These speakers like most plug and play using the included male to male audio cable. There is no software, nor are there any controls on the speakers, except the on-off volume dial . Any base/treble balance adjustments must be made using your audio drivers (if applicable). I found the lack of controls and input/outputs to be a plus. Simple. Coming from a perspective of knowing power and base rarely heard out of a PC, I was surprised how much power and base came out of these sleek, stylish little devils. I've been listing to a wide variety from Iggy Azalea on YouTube to Solo Piano on Pandora Radio. These are crisp sounding PC speakers and half volume fills a large room. A sign of their quality is that my beats audio sound card/drivers absolutely crushes my work Dell laptop with bla sound capability driving these speakers. The sound bigger than their size, typical of Bose. I'm also confident that while made in China (bummer) they will be made to last. Most shoppers will compare these on Amazon to Logitech (decent speakers) with a sub-woofer. Granted these subs are lighter and more compact, but I am jazzed by the ease of moving just 2 fairly small, yet solid speakers from room to room, connecting to various devices. So far I've listened with not only PCs, but my kid's X-Box, MP3s, and my kid's $500 Casio 88 key keyboard. Whoa! That was an eye opener. Those Bose sat up on his keyboard perfectly, plugged in in 2 seconds and just made a great keyboard sound even more like a piano. So for versatility and ease of connections and vacuuming under the desk without extra wires and a sub, I'm really happy to own these. Until my kid goes back to college. He already told me he's stealing them.

AppleTV connection to speaker OK But because Spotify not available on Apple, need to connect to Mac Book. this necessitates unplugging one cable and installing another. A switch would be a good idea. Then A socket for newer iPhones would help because an additional small converter before usable. (The other type was discontinues a few phone models ago. Also Your SoundLink sound is inferior to lots of less expensive units, and your speakers sound is underwhelming in sound.

Som limpo, puro e combinado com dolby atmos no laptop fica incrível.

Al principio no estaba convencido de la calidad del sonido, pero quitando los efectos de sonido y reproducir música desde iTunes, realmente me agrado el sonido que dan estas bocinas. Las bocinas tienen potencia suficiente para ambientar una recamara con su sonido. En los juegos, videos, etc. se escucha bien el sonido, así que puedo concluir que las bocinas realmente son multimedia y no se limitan a la música. En cuanto a la música se escucha más nítida que una bocina normal, lo cual me permite escuchar instrumentos o sonidos que con otras bocinas no podría distinguir, por lo contrario, la calidad de los graves podría haber sido mejor. Las bocinas en su parte trasera cuentan con una entrada para PC y un Auxiliar por si quieres utilizarlas con otros dispositivos. Conclusión Son buenas bocinas diseñadas para PC, pero el sonido podría haber sido un poco mejor para decir que son excelentes. Recomendadas para todo tipo de usuario. Pros: Sonido nítido. Precio bajo considerando la marca. Volumen decente para una habitación de tamaño medio. Doble entrada de audio. Contras: Falta un poco de potencia en los bajos. No cuentan con Bluetooth o algún tipo de emparejamiento inalámbrico.

Excellent sound

販売終了からかなり経ちましたが、低音が美しく響くBOSEサウンドは健在でした。 私はBOSEの中古で外れを引いた苦い過去があり、業者選びが肝心だと痛感しました。難しいところではありますが。