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| company_type = [[Private company|Private]]
| company_type = [[Private company|Private]]
| company_slogan = Better Sound Through Research
| company_slogan = Better Sound Through Research
| fate = renamed [[Pose]]
| foundation = 1964
| foundation = 1989
| defunct = 2007
| location = [[Framingham, Massachusetts]], [[United States|U.S.]]
| location = [[Framingham, Massachusetts]], [[United States|U.S.]]
| key_people = [[Amar Bose]], Founder and Chairman<br>Bob Maresca, President
| key_people = [[Amar Bose]], Founder and Chairman<br>Bob Maresca, President

Revision as of 20:51, 22 April 2011

Bose Corporation
Company typePrivate
IndustryConsumer electronics
Founded1989
FounderAmar Bose Edit this on Wikidata
Defunct2007
Faterenamed Pose
HeadquartersFramingham, Massachusetts, U.S.
Key people
Amar Bose, Founder and Chairman
Bob Maresca, President
ProductsLoudspeakers, headphones, audio equipment, car audio
RevenueIncreaseUS$2 billion[1]
Websitebose.com

Bose Corporation (Template:Pron-en) is a privately held organization, based in Framingham, Massachusetts, that specializes in audio equipment.[2] Founded in 1964 by Amar G. Bose, the company operates 5 plants, 151 retail stores (as of October 20, 2006) and an automotive subsidiary at Stow, Massachusetts. With respect to sales in the U.S. for home audio retail and portable audio retail sales, Bose was ranked third for the period of November 2008 to April 2009.[3] Bose is known for the 901 speaker series.

Background

Bose Corporation develops and manufactures audio devices (including speakers, amplifiers, headphones, automotive sound systems [4] for luxury cars), [5][6] automotive suspension systems, and performs some general research (such as debunking cold fusion.)[7][8][9] The company was founded in 1964 by Amar G. Bose, a professor of electrical engineering (who retired in 2005) at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Bose has contracts with the U.S. military (Navy,[10] Air Force[11] and Army[12]) and NASA.[13] He is still the Chairman and primary stockholder, and also holds the title of Technical Director.[14]

History of Bose Corporation presidents

  1. William (Bill) Zackowitz (1964–66)
  2. Charles "Chuck" Hieken (1966–69)
  3. Frank E. Ferguson (1969–76)
  4. Amar G. Bose (1976–80)
  5. Sherwin Greenblatt (1980–2000)[15]
  6. John Coleman (2000–2005)
  7. Bob Maresca (Since 2005)

The company dedicates a 6,500 square meter (70,000 square feet) building in Framingham for research, development, and engineering (RD&E) purposes with a minimum annual RD&E budget of $100 million.[16] In 2004, Bose purchased an additional site from HP in Stow, Massachusetts, to house growing automotive and marketing divisions.[17]

Early years

In 1956, while a graduate student at MIT, Amar Bose purchased a high end stereo system and was disappointed when it failed to meet his expectations.[18] He later began extensive research aimed at clarifying factors that he saw as fundamental weaknesses plaguing high-end audio systems. The principal weaknesses, in Bose's view, were that the overall design of the electronics and speaker failed to account for the spatial properties of the radiated sound in typical listening spaces (homes and apartments) and the implications of spatiality for psychoacoustics, i.e. the listener's head as a sonic diffraction object as part of the system. Eight years later, he started the company, charging it with a mission to achieve "Better Sound Through Research", now the company slogan.

Research history

During the company's first year in business, Bose Corporation engaged in sponsored research. Its first loudspeaker product, the model 2201,[15] dispersed 22 small mid-range speakers over an eighth of a sphere. It was designed to fit in the corner of a room, reflecting the speaker's sound as a mirror would for light in a corner cube and giving rise to an acoustical image of a sphere in a vastly larger room. Amar Bose used an electronic equalizer to adjust the acoustical output for flat total radiated power.

Although these speaker systems accurately emulated the characteristics of a simulated, massless, ideal, spherical membrane, the results of listening tests were disappointing[15] (some of the reasons for this are detailed in a later publication[19] from Bose's research department). This led Bose to conduct further research into psychoacoustics that eventually clarified the importance of a dominance of reflected sound arriving at the head of the listener, a listening condition that is characteristic of live performances. This finding led to a revised speaker design in which eight of nine identical small mid-range drivers (with electronic equalization) were aimed at the wall behind the speaker while one driver was aimed forward, thus ensuring a dominance of reflected over direct sound in home listening spaces, replicating the dominant reflected sound fields listeners experience in live performances.

Before hearing his new design for the first time, although confident that his new design would produce a dominance of reflected sound arriving at the ear of the listener, faithfully replicating that aspect of a "live" listening experience, Amar Bose was unsure as to whether his new "direct/reflected" design would be a small audible improvement or a large one over his earlier design and the best commercially available loudspeakers. The new pentagonal design, named the Model 901, was a very unconventional design for speakers at the time (which were generally either full-size floorstanding units or bookshelf type speakers). The Model 901 premiered in 1968 and was an immediate commercial success, and the Bose Corporation grew rapidly during the 1970s.

Amar Bose believes that imperfect knowledge of psychoacoustics limits the ability to adequately characterize quantitatively any two arbitrary sounds that are perceived differently, and to adequately characterize and quantify all aspects of perceived quality. He believes, for example, that distortion is much over-rated as a factor in perceived quality in the complex sounds that comprise music, noting that a sine wave and a square wave (a hugely distorted sine wave) are audibly indistinguishable above 7 kHz. Similarly, he does not find measurable relevance to perceived quality in other easily measured parameters of loudspeakers and electronics, and therefore does not publish those specifications for Bose products. The ultimate test, Bose insists, is the listener's perception of audible quality (or lack of it) and his or her own preferences.[20]

Unlike other audio product manufacturers, Bose does not publish specifications relating to the measured electrical and objective acoustic performance of its products.[21][22] This reluctance to publish information links back to the classic Amar Bose paper presented in 1968 to the Audio Engineering Society: "On the Design, Measurement and Evaluation of Loudspeakers". In the paper, Bose rejects these measurements in favor of "more meaningful measurement and evaluation procedures",[20] and defines himself as a subjectivist, not an objectivist, in terms of audiophile beliefs; he considers the human experience the best measure of performance.[20]

Following the logic in this paper, Bose Corporation has endeavored to strike an economic balance between cost and performance to provide high quality as judged by the average listener whose criteria of quality include faithful reproduction of the listener's experience in a live performance, which according to Bose requires a dominance of the reverberant sound field in the listening space (a typical home environment).

Additionally, the company researches portable audio within the fields of circumaural and supra-aural headphones, centering within the lines of acoustic noise cancellation (see Bose Headphone Family).

Cold fusion research

In 1991 Bose Corporation began research into cold fusion.[7][9] Company engineers built a precision calorimeter,[8] began replicating prior experiments, and concluded that there was no net energy gain.

Bose stores

Bose retail store in Century City

In 1993 Bose opened its first store in Kittery, Maine. Since then Bose has opened 160 stores in the U.S. and numerous locations worldwide. In Britain there are eight Bose stores, including one on Regent Street. Bose stores feature a 15- to 25-seat theater which has a short film that demonstrates a Lifestyle Home Entertainment System.[23][24][25][26] Stores located in factory outlets discount prices on some products and sell both new and factory renewed (retested open-box) products.[26]

Trademarked technologies

  • Tri-Port Earcup Drivers
  • Acoustic Noise Cancellation
  • Acoustimass Technology
  • Acoustic Waveguide Technology
  • Direct/Reflecting Technology
  • Psychoacoustic Equalization
  • TrueSpace Technology
  • Electromagnetic Suspension System for Automobiles

Lines of specialized products

Car audio

Bose Car Audio

Bose produces a range of speakers and audio products for automotive use. Different Bose audio systems are available in vehicles with most GM labels (including Buick, Holden, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC, Hummer, Pontiac and Saab),[27] as well as in some European models from Alfa Romeo, Audi, Ferrari, Lancia, Maserati, Maybach, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche and Renault,[27] and also in some Japanese production cars, like Nissan, Infiniti and Mazda.[27] Bose currently does not offer its car audio products on an aftermarket basis in order to ensure proper integration and appropriate in-cabin acoustic adaptation.[27]

At the 2007 auto show in Geneva, Switzerland Bose launched a new media system—incorporating stereo, navigation, and hands free calling—with the Ferrari 612 Scaglietti.[28][29][30][31] In 2007 the Bose media system won the International Telematics Award for the "Best Storage Solution for In-Car Environment".[32]

Automotive suspension system

Another area of research and development at Bose Corporation is two-state, non-linear power processing and conditioning. Several early patents were awarded to Amar Bose and other Bose engineers and this technology is one of the key elements in an innovative project that the company disclosed in 2004 after more than 20 years of research,[33] an automobile suspension system that uses electromagnetic principles instead of the hydraulics that are common today. This system uses electromagnetic linear motors to raise or lower the wheels of an automobile in response to uneven bumps or potholes on the road.[34] The wheels are raised when approaching a bump, or extended into a pothole, within milliseconds, thus keeping the vehicle steady. This technology is another application of Bose's active noise reduction technology for speakers and earphones. The unevenness of the road is sensed, and processed much like a sound wave. A canceling wave is generated, which is applied to the wheels through the linear motors.[14] Bose expected the system to be available commercially on high-end luxury cars by 2009.[35] In a French interview Bose even shows off the car jumping over an obstacle.[36] Bose says that the system is "high cost" and heavy, even after nearly three decades, and $100 million, of development.[37]

Noise cancelling headphones

Bose makes noise-cancelling headphones that have been lauded for their performance,[38] though they have been criticized by Anthony Kershaw of Audiophilia as costing "at least 50% too much for the musical value of the experience ... however, if you're a frequent flyer, these are a no brainer".[39] Bose makes noise-canceling aviation headsets which have been used in the Space Shuttle, where the noise cancellation feature helps prevent astronaut hearing damage.[40] The headsets are also connected to a special communications system on the International Space Station so that astronauts can make phone calls to their families at home.[40][41]

Commercial Systems

Bose's Professional Systems Division designs and provides audio systems for use in commercial settings such as auditoriums, retail spaces, hotels, offices, restaurants, and stadiums.[42] Though Bose commercial audio equipment has not been approved for use in studios or movie theaters that carry THX certification,[43] the division accounts for about 60% of Bose's annual revenue.[44] In 1988, Bose became the first company to be named official Olympics sound system supplier, providing audio equipment for the Winter Olympics in Calgary, and again four years later in Albertville, France, the latter installed and maintained by company subsidiary Bose France.[45][46] Bose sound systems have also been installed at the Staples Center sports arena in Los Angeles, the Sistine Chapel in Rome and the Masjid al-Haram mosque in Mecca. For each of these reverberant spaces, proposed sound designs were tested using the Bose Auditioner program to predict the results before installation.[40][47]

Personalized Amplification System

Sound amplification for performing musicians has been an area of research and product development at Bose Corporation since the early 1970s. The most recent Bose system for musicians is an individualized amplification product in the form of a vertical pole mounted atop a bass module.[48] This system, designated the L1, is a portable, inline speaker array with broad forward-dispersion of the sound.

On October 15, 2003, Bose Corporation began selling the L1 family of products through its internal sales division and selected dealers. Bose maintains an active Musicians Community Message Board for support, and there is an owner maintained Unofficial Wiki and FAQ.

Electroforce

In 2004 Bose acquired company assets related to the development, manufacture and sales of materials testing equipment, founding the ElectroForce Systems Group,[49] which provides materials testing and durability simulation instruments to research institutions, universities, medical device companies and engineering organizations worldwide.

Lines of home audio products

Multimedia systems

Speaker systems

Home entertainment systems

Opinions about Bose

Discussion of the quality of Bose products can sometimes elicit strong and polarized opinions. There are two major camps: those who see Bose as a maker of high-end market equipment, and others who see Bose as a company that uses marketing to make extravagant claims for otherwise ordinary products.

In some non-audio related publications, Bose has been cited as a producer of "high-end audio" products.[29][30][31][50][2][51][52][53][54][55] Commenting on Bose's "high-end" market positioning among audiophiles (people concerned with the best possible sound), a PC Magazine product reviewer stated "not only is Bose equipment's sound quality not up to audiophile standards, but one could buy something that does meet these stringent requirements for the same price or, often, for less." [56] Bose has not been certified by THX for its home entertainment products.[57]

A market study published in March 2006 by the independent market research firm Forrester Research reported that Bose's brand name was among the three computer and electronics brands most trusted by US consumers.[58]

Bose's flagship 901 speaker system was criticized by Stereophile magazine in 1979.[59] In a review of the 901 system, stating that in the magazine's opinion, the system was unexceptional and unlikely to appeal to perfectionists with a developed taste in precise imaging, detail, and timbre; and that these shortcomings were an excessive price to pay for the improvement in impact and ambiance generated by the large proportion of reflected sound [to on-axis sound]. However, the author also stated that the system produced a more realistic resemblance of natural ambiance than any other speaker system.

Legal action

In 1981 Bose unsuccessfully sued the magazine Consumer Reports for libel. Consumer Reports reported in a review that the sound from the system that they reviewed "tended to wander about the room." Initially, the Federal District Court found that Consumer Reports "had published the false statement with knowledge that it was false or with reckless disregard of its truth or falsity" when it changed what the original reviewer wrote about the speakers in his pre-publication draft, that the sound tended to wander "along the wall." The Court of Appeals then reversed the trial court's ruling on liability, and the United States Supreme Court affirmed in a 6–3 vote in the case Bose Corp. v. Consumers Union of United States, Inc., finding that the statement was made without actual malice, and therefore there was no libel.[60][61][62]

References

  1. ^ "Spotlight: Amar Bose, the guru of sound design", International Herald Tribune, May 11, 2007
  2. ^ a b The Register "Bose SoundDock iPod speakers"
  3. ^ Twice.com PoS article
  4. ^ Bose Automotive Site
  5. ^ Forbes article stating the automobiles Bose installs its systems in a high-end automobiles
  6. ^ link to Bose automotive giving a list of the high-end automobiles that Bose will fit their systems to
  7. ^ a b Discover Magazine Interview with Amar Bose "Cold Fusion Research"
  8. ^ a b William M. Bulkeley, The Wall Street Journal, 31st December 1996
  9. ^ a b Article about suspension which mentions the Cold Fusion research towards the end
  10. ^ Bose Headsets used by Sonar Operators
  11. ^ Aerospace News
  12. ^ Bose Crewman Headphones used by the US military
  13. ^ Forbes Magazine Biography of Amar Bose
  14. ^ a b MSNBC "A car that can jump over obstacles"
  15. ^ a b c University of Massachusetts: Pioneers of Innovation – Sherwin Greenblatt Conversation
  16. ^ Satellite view of Bose Headquarters
  17. ^ bizjournals.com – Bose nixes N.Y. expansion, chooses Stow instead
  18. ^ Amar Bose Interview
  19. ^ Bose Panaray MA12 technical papers
  20. ^ a b c "On The Design, Measurement, and Evaluation of Loudspeakers". AES. 1968. Retrieved 2010-07-23.
  21. ^ Hilmar-at-Bose (July 5, 2006). "What Do You Think of This New Approach?" Discussion thread at Bose Musicians Forum. "...it's very difficult to express this through a specification with only a few numbers. That's one of the reasons why are very reluctant to publish specification: More often then not they are interpreted incorrectly and people draw the wrong conclusions."
  22. ^ Gadget Guy Review of the Bose Wave Music System
  23. ^ AMEinfo - New Bose outlet for Dubai Mall
  24. ^ Manilla Bulletin - BOSE opens its first concept store in Greenbelt 5 Makati
  25. ^ The Philippine Star - Bose showrooms get a sound facelift
  26. ^ a b Bose stores
  27. ^ a b c d Bose Automotive Systems Division
  28. ^ Frank Filipponio (2007-03-08). "Bose Media System debuts in Ferrari 612 Scaglietti". Retrieved 2007-06-07.
  29. ^ a b motortrend - Bose seeks to offer Media System premium stereo in more cars
  30. ^ a b bose media system sophisticated car audio "Audio gear maker Bose is showing off their latest in car audio systems, the high-end Bose Media System."
  31. ^ a b edmunds - 2008 Ferrari 612 Scaglietti Review
  32. ^ World News: Finalists revealed for the 2007 Telematics Awards
  33. ^ Auto Tech "Better Living Through Curiosity"
  34. ^ Bose bumps on YouTube
  35. ^ Inside Line "Bose Suspension"
  36. ^ French Interview "Suspension BOSE" on YouTube Go 3 minutes and 20 seconds into it to view the Car jumping with Bose Suspension
  37. ^ Shuldiner, Herb (November 30, 2007). "Bose Says Suspension Drawing Interest From OEMs". WardsAuto.com. Retrieved July 31, 2010.
  38. ^ Carnoy, David (October 3, 2008). "Do Denon's new noise-canceling headphones beat Bose's Quiet Comfort models?". Crave. CNET.com. Retrieved July 29, 2010.
  39. ^ Kershaw, Anthony (September 18, 2009). "Bose QuietComfort 3 Acoustic Noise Canceling Headphones". Audiophilia. Retrieved July 29, 2010.
  40. ^ a b c MIT "Inventor of the Week Archive"
  41. ^ Cisco NASA Publication
  42. ^ "Case Stories – Bose Professional Products". Pro.bose.com. Retrieved 2009-09-18.
  43. ^ "Approved Equipment Lists". Sound Engineer. THX. Retrieved July 23, 2010.
  44. ^ Plunkett's Entertainment and Media Industry Almanac 2009
  45. ^ "olympic"&dq=Bose+"olympic" The Film journal Volume 93, Issues 7-12 "At the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary. Canada. Bose was the first company ever to be named official sound system supplier. This designation indicates that a company's products have been selected for purchase or lease by the Olympics" "Olympic Suppliers Bose Corporation was named official professional sound system supplier for the XVI Winter Olympic Games, to be held in Albertville. France in 1992"
  46. ^ Bose Corporation -- Company History
  47. ^ Popular Science Dec 2004 (pg 65)
  48. ^ Bose.com web site for L1 systems
  49. ^ ElectroForce Systems Group
  50. ^ C|Net "Classy compacts: high-end CD radios"
  51. ^ Forbes Magazine – Amar Bose, The world's richest people
  52. ^ PCMag.com - High-End, Affordable and Adaptable
  53. ^ Ignited: managers! light up your company and career for more power By Vince Thompson (pg 178) "Bose Corporation, the maker of high-end audio equipment"
  54. ^ International business: theory and practice By Riad A. Ajami, Karel Cool, G. Jason Goddard (pg 470) "In 2002, Loewe established its distribution in the United States. The distribution was set up in cooperation with another high-end manufacturer, Bose, a U.S. sound specialist."
  55. ^ Popular Mechanics Aug 2002 (pg38) "Bose electronics, known for its tiny yet powerful Lifestyle home theater speaker and other high-end audio equipment"
  56. ^ Gideon, Tim (February 21, 2007), Bose Companion 5 Multimedia Speaker System, PC Magazine.com, retrieved July 27, 2010 {{citation}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= and |date= (help)
  57. ^ "List of THX certified home entertainment products". Consumer. Retrieved July 23, 2010.
  58. ^ Forrester Research – "The 2005 Technology Brand Scorecard"
  59. ^ Stereophile Review
  60. ^ Commentary on libel cases in general giving a specific example of Bose Corp. v. Consumer's Union of United States.
  61. ^ Opinion of the United States Supreme Court
  62. ^ NY Times editorial on the Supreme Court's ruling

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Bose Corporation.
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