Bose (sort of) admits its new headphones are flawed

Bose TriPort In-Ear headphones ad.

A perfectionist company like Bose doesn't often admit to making mistakes, so it took me by surprise when I got an invitation to a Bose press conference in New York next week, where it appears that Bose will indeed do just that--or sort of anyway.

The product in question is Bose's Triport In-Ear headphones, which we didn't exactly give high marks here at CNET. The company trotted out its first in-ear headphones last year with ads boasting that it had solved the three problems (sound quality, comfort, and stability in the ear) that prevented it from making in-ear headphones that "it could present with pride." Well, it appears that based on customer feedback, Bose hadn't really solved the stability issue *(read: snug fit in ear).* Oops. "Back to research!" says the invitation.

At the press conference, Bose reps are going to tell us what it's going to do "for any owners who experienced a stability problem," according to the invitation. Alas, I'll be in Las Vegas at PMA (a photo trade show), but I wish I could attend; I always like a good fix.

[Phillip Ruffin]

All they need

Are wrap-arounds to go over the back of the ear. Similar to the cheap 15 dollar sony headphones, or for a better example, the same way some blutooth headsets wrap around the back of the ear.

[NJS2U]

I don't know, but...

I LOVE the fit of these. They are soooo comfortable and hardly feel as if there's anything in your ear. That, of course is probably what the problem is - the PERCEPTION that they're unstable. The first time I put them in it DID feel as if they would fall right out. They didn't. I shook my head like a wet dog and they stayed right where they were.

You definitely have to use the right size gels though. Perhaps the large ones aren't large enough for guys with huge ears. :-) I actually found the large worked best for me and I'm a girl with average size ears. I started out with the mediums, which seemed fine but decided to try the large and liked them even better.

I don't find the bass overpowering either.

I guess I'm just really happy with them.

[woodygg]

which would defeat the whole

purpose of the type of headphone design...

typical crap from bose. looks good, peforms average at best.

[RoadRunner6]

Bose ... a perfectionist company ?????

You call Bose a "perfectionist" company? If you mean that being exceptionally overpriced and of mediocre performance at the best defines perfectionism, then I'll let you off on that absurd comment.

I made the mistake of buying their original series Bose 901 speakers in 1970. When I finally woke up and started to study audio in detail I realized the error I had made.

Since then I have seen their products almost exclusively designed to appeal to the uneducated audio/video shopper through a massive marketing campaign. Put the bulk of your manufacturing expenses into advertising and what's left over into build quality and performance, that's the Bose business plan.

A perfectionists is the last person who would buy a Bose product.

RR6

[gryphyn]

Just to let you know

Bose does put a ton of money into research. You may not agree with the results but they are intentional results. It's one of the advantages to being privately help, is that you can actually spend money on that kind of thing. I admit I'm biased though since I'll have been at Bose 7 years this June (in the Research department). It's a fabulous place to work.

I have learned a lot about acoustics since coming here (BS in Physics, so related field) and have discovered that a lot of what audiophile magazine articles go on about is total BS when it comes down to the physics and material science. So we don't play a lot of those games. I could go on farther but I doubt I'll change anyone's existing perceptions about Bose.

I'll leave with this. I work with incredibly smart people who do amazing work. We may be over-priced, but the pricing generates the perception we want. If you're too cheap, people want to know what's wrong with it. :)

~Sarah

[andrewrm]

Beginner HiFi

When I first had a little more money after school I bought my first "adult" speakers. They were the Acoustamas AM-10 system. They were great for me at the time. Then I did a lot more research. I found that a lot of the "science" of hi end audio is marketing to get you to buy over priced cables and components with no real world increase in quality. I've become enamored with Boston Acoustics as of late as the price vs. quality equation to me is great. At least Bose is admitting they released a flawed product. Try getting Sony to do that!

[zbangando]

The philosophy and reality of the world of acoustic equipment is that there will always be something better, it just all comes down to how much money, you the listener, is willing to spend at the time. As to a image of a audio perfectionist, well it all really comes down to how much money you can invest in the best sound in your budget.

[jazzbase]

Bose products

Yes you are correct. I'm very surprised that Bose has found a way to stick around all of these years making a produts that under performs the way all of the Bose produts do. Back in the Hi-Fi heyday, I would try to steer those that were going to buy speakers over to Paradigm, PSB or hell even some of the Infinity or Polk speakers.

[bgantt]

Bose Triport in-ear headphones

I had the same problems with the earbuds. They keep falling off and would not stay in ear. The Bose Inc store in a local mall told me they were not meant to be used during workouts.
Solved problem with Shure E3C replacement ear pieces(Soft Rubber replacements)