Entered CNET Catalog: 05/09/2002
SKU: 0017817308977
Manufacturer: Bose Corp.
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Manufacturer description
Experience your favorite films and music with the premium Lifestyle DVD home entertainment system. Bose Jewel Cube speakers deliver award-winning 5.1-channel surround sound from speakers a fraction of the size of most traditional ones. This complete system features a DVD/CD player and an AM/FM tuner, and showcases some of the most innovative technology, including the ADAPTiQ audio calibration system that customizes sound to the shape of your room. The trim and elegant media center enhances - instead of dominates - your decor. It contains much of the proprietary technology behind the performance of this revolutionary system, and also includes an integrated DVD/CD player and an AM/FM tuner with 50 presets. Inputs for up to three additional media sources broaden its capabilities. It also contains Videostage 5 decoding circuitry that brings a 5.1-channel experience to practically everything you watch, even older VHS tapes and mono TV programs. The Lifestyle 35 system's five tiny Jewel Cube speaker arrays rival the performance of larger speakers, yet each is only 4 1/2 inches tall. Engineered with over 40 different innovations, they deliver a lifelike, spacious performance from your favorite music and movies. The Acoustimass module works in concert with these small speakers to deliver the full range of sound. Tucked behind a curtain or chair, the module produces low-frequency sound with no audible distortion, so the sound seems to come directly from the small cube arrays. You experience natural, lifelike sound from any seat in the listening area. Every home's unique features can impact sound performance. The ADAPTiQ audio calibration system, only available from Bose, compensates for room dimensions and other variables that can impact your listening experience. Place the speakers wherever you like, then sit in any of your favorite listening spots. The system adjusts for variations in your room, so you enjoy remarkable surround sound without concern for speaker placement. This system is also designed for expansion to another room. With the Lifestyle 35 system, you can watch a DVD in the main room, while the kids listen to their favorite music downstairs, or you can hear the same sounds in both rooms, all at the touch of a button.CNET editors' review
- Editors' Choice: No
- Reviewed on: 12/02/2002
Bose's latest technological refinement, Adaptiq, provides automated system calibration. That's very cool since most kit buyers have neither the time nor the expertise to go through the hassles of setup chores. We found Bose's automated calibration refreshingly easy to implement--you just don a special, Walkman-style headset that houses measuring microphones and start the test. Then, Adaptiq smooths out speaker levels and applies sophisticated equalization to correct room-induced anomalies. A nifty DVD video-setup disc offers a host of speaker-placement and -hookup tips.
The large, comfortable remote is nicely laid out and highly legible, but we'd like it even better if it were backlit. The remote communicates with the Lifestyle 35 via radio frequencies instead of the more common infrared system. The signal travels through walls, and Bose rates the straight-line operating distance at 65 feet, so you don't have to aim the remote at the receiver or even be in the same room with it--very cool. Surround-processing abilities include only basic Dolby Digital and DTS. Bose left out the latest processing modes, such as 6.1-channel Dolby Digital EX and DTS-ES Discrete, and also failed to include Dolby Pro Logic II and Neo:6 music- and cinema-surround circuits. The Lifestyle 35 does have Bose's proprietary Videostage 5 processing.
Video connectivity options are adequate for more modest systems: you get a composite-video in/out, an S-Video in/out, and a component-video output. HDTV owners won't be happy to learn that the Lifestyle 35 doesn't offer progressive-scan video output. This kit's lack of 5.1 Super Audio CD (SACD) and DVD-Audio (DVD-A) inputs limits future upgrade possibilities.
The Jewel Cube sats feature Bose's patented Direct/Reflecting technology by employing two modules, each containing a 2-inch driver. You aim one module directly at the listening position and the other off axis. The Acoustimass sub houses two 5.25-inch woofers, along with its own power amplifier and amps for the five Jewel Cubes. Power ratings aren't specified for the subwoofer or for the amps driving the sats.
While we realize that the Lifestyle 35 isn't geared toward cash-strapped MP3 users, we threw in a couple of test discs anyway. All of our MP3 CDs played without a problem, but the Lifestyle 35 wouldn't display any filenames onscreen, making it all but impossible to locate tunes. This system also handled DVD-Rs, DVD+Rs, DVD+RWs, and CD-Rs--but not DVD-RWs.
Overall, we were disappointed with this Bose's selection of features. In our opinion, a premium-priced home-theater package should offer all of the latest surround formats; 5.1-channel analog inputs for DVD-A or SACD capability; progressive-scan video outputs; and far more complete connectivity options. The first thing that we noticed about Lifestyle 35's sound was its warm and bass-heavy tonal balance. Radiohead's throbbing bass lines shuddered with maximum authority. The bass goes way, way down; we measured responses down to 35Hz in our large listening room.
No, it wasn't as smooth as some of the better subs that we've tested, but the Acoustimass was designed primarily to work as a coherent mate with the itsy-bitsy Jewel Cube sats. As long as we didn't push the system too hard, the audio held together pretty well. At annoy-the-neighbors levels, the sound coarsened, and the sub lost definition. Bose's engineers claim that the Lifestyle 35 was designed for much smaller areas than our 700-square-foot space, but they would not stipulate what room size will achieve the best results.
The Lifestyle 35 next went to battle with the Gladiator DVD. On chapter 19, Maximus the Merciful, the clanging of swords against armor; the pounding of flesh; and the deep, primal growl of tigers weren't as vivid as we would have liked. Dialogue was warm, and surround effects were pleasantly diffuse, but the system's high-frequency air and sparkle were lacking. Compared to most of its far less costly competition, the Lifestyle 35 softened the fine detail on the DVDs and CDs that we tested.
User opinions
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User Rating: 
2/10
colossal disappointment
Pros: I can't think of any other than the white color matches the paint in my family room.
Cons: Sound quality is poor; surround fades in/out randomly; settings don't hold; making setting adjustments is cumbersome.
Review:
I complained first to the dealer and then to Bose directly. The dealer replaced the main console and the bass box and the remote. He came and did the install himself. I wanted to believe the sound improved, but it didn't. I let some time go by and then contacted Bose in Framingham, MA. They were remarkably uninterested, but sent a technician to my home. He arrived several hours before the appointment time, and I was at work, so he did whatever he did without me there. He said the system was working fine, all electrical connections were right, etc. So the bottom line must be this is just an expensive piece of GARBAGE. I have lived with the system now for several years, because I paid nearly $4000 installed I'm embarrassed to admit. Now it's time to sell it or donate it and replace it. If anyone has a good suggestion for a surround system please let me know, I would appreciate the input. Bose should be ashamed of this system, but they arrogantly stand fast and claim excellence. Bose is BOGUS.
User Rating: 
5/10
Style over too little substance
Pros: Cool, discreet wife pleasing set-up. Easy to use.
Cons: Poor sound quality for the price, bad connectivity and bad image quality.
Review:
OK. I actually have owned a bose system for a long time. I am actually happy with it. Thats because up until now, I cared more about my sound system being discreet and wanted other things in my apartment to add to style rather than my speaker set-up. But, now that I have looked around, I concluded that the Bose system is massively overpriced - its system should be bought at similar prices to those Sony or Samsung HTIB systems.
So here is the beef. Its not there is little mid-range, there is virtually NO mid-range. Bose, for some mysterious reason, do not publish its frequency response. When professional audiophiles tried to measure it, it showed some very disturbing results. At a sensitivity of +-10.5db (which is much higher than what most speaker company do it at ...usually +-6db), it shows that 44% of the audible sound spectrum is not covered by the system. That is serious.
At first when you hear the system, you think it sounds pretty good. But if you hear the same CD on a proper seperate system that would cost less than half the price, you will hear parts of the music that you simply did not hear before on the bose.
If I was in the market for a sattelite speaker system and was prepared to pay the same money, I would go for the B&W MT-30 system and match it up with a $500 amp from Onkyo and get an upscaling DVD player for like $100. Then you would have a system that outclasses the Bose by a wide margin.
Also, the connectivity is terrible. If you are considering to purchase a PS3, have HD TV, DVD player, or anything else beyond that, you will struggle to accomodate any new devices.
So I don't HATE the system because I think it is still the best looking surround system on the market today. But if you are looking for performance, you will get a much better deal elswhere (albeit while sacrificing looks somewhat).
What annoys me though is that I would still buy a Bose if they made it better. Even at the size of the speakers they sell, if they used better drivers and better cones and a much better sub - they could get a substantial improvement in frequency range and sound imaging. But Bose knows they still sell well and there is no point in inflating their costs for no real substantial lift in sales.
So here is the beef. Its not there is little mid-range, there is virtually NO mid-range. Bose, for some mysterious reason, do not publish its frequency response. When professional audiophiles tried to measure it, it showed some very disturbing results. At a sensitivity of +-10.5db (which is much higher than what most speaker company do it at ...usually +-6db), it shows that 44% of the audible sound spectrum is not covered by the system. That is serious.
At first when you hear the system, you think it sounds pretty good. But if you hear the same CD on a proper seperate system that would cost less than half the price, you will hear parts of the music that you simply did not hear before on the bose.
If I was in the market for a sattelite speaker system and was prepared to pay the same money, I would go for the B&W MT-30 system and match it up with a $500 amp from Onkyo and get an upscaling DVD player for like $100. Then you would have a system that outclasses the Bose by a wide margin.
Also, the connectivity is terrible. If you are considering to purchase a PS3, have HD TV, DVD player, or anything else beyond that, you will struggle to accomodate any new devices.
So I don't HATE the system because I think it is still the best looking surround system on the market today. But if you are looking for performance, you will get a much better deal elswhere (albeit while sacrificing looks somewhat).
What annoys me though is that I would still buy a Bose if they made it better. Even at the size of the speakers they sell, if they used better drivers and better cones and a much better sub - they could get a substantial improvement in frequency range and sound imaging. But Bose knows they still sell well and there is no point in inflating their costs for no real substantial lift in sales.
User Rating: 2/10
No highs no lows it must be Bose
Pros: Mine got stolen and the insurance paid for some Phase Techs. Speakers for dummies.
Cons: All I can say is "Ditto" to Clever's review and discussion of the **** poor qulity, performance and workmanship.
Review:
User Rating: 
8/10
A very positive experience
Pros: Takes up alot less space than my seperates and Klipsch Forte II's. Very complete package - and paid less than retail. Logical set-up. Very good sound for most applications. Local retail store supplied additional cables at no charge. I have two Wave radios
Cons: Very high retail price. Base module has an assembly issue - minor, but should not exist.
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User Rating: 
3/10
Rip-off city
Pros: Looks
Cons: Sound, price etc...this is a complete ripoff...do research at any audio website and everyone will verify this!!!
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User Rating: 3/10
Can have better for a quarter of the price.
Pros: Small, easy to set up, aesthetically pleasing.
Cons: Where to begin: No progressive scan No multi-channel inputs No DPLII, no DTS Neo:6 Poor mid-range for music It is an adequate system, no more, on a par with various HTIBs in the 500-800$US range. My 399$ Harman Kardon HKTS6 sat/sub system, while not as
Review:
User Rating: 3/10
Paying for a name, and fraudulent advertising.
Pros: Small, for what THAT'S worth.
Cons: Poor sound quality, only 5.1 channels, poor build quality, poor customer support, fraudulent in-store demos.
Review:
User Rating: 3/10
You can get 100x better for 1/3 the price
Pros: Not at this price level
Cons: Go with an onkyo, pioneer, denon fairly priced receiver and get some good infinity/harman kardon speakers and u will have a much better system for less than 1/3 the price of this bose garbage.
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User Rating: 3/10
For Deaf Suckers
Pros: Aesthetics
Cons: Lows bottom out, no definition to bass, loss of definition in mid-range, and screeching tweeters. Not upgradeable.
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User Rating: 
1/10
never buy
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This system is like buying a Geo Metro for the price of a Rolls Royce, it's really not worth it. If you are purchasing a sub/sat system for the sound quality, look elsewhere. I have a small bedroom and while I'll admit that the sound is good for the size, it is not that good for the price. I returned it and got myself a refurbished Onkyo LS-V950. The sound was TEN TIMES BETTER!! What really surprised me though was the way that the specs were never mentioned on the bose... hmm. For the money there are really much better systems out there, not to mention better sounding. Overall, the system has very boomy bass, and the highs just simply aren't there due to the lack of a tweeter. In conclusion, if you must have a Bose, then get it, but I would rather be bragging about great sound than a name.
User Rating: 2/10
Build your own...
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I've had the Bose Lifestyle 35 for almost a year now and haven't been more unsatisfied with a major electronics purchase than I am with this one. The main unit has been returned for replacement twice, once when it failed to eject the DVD. The second time was when the entire internal system board came loose and wouldn't establish a connection with the power supply input. I've experienced several incidents where the system couldn't read the menu options of top quality DVDs, as you tried to navigate through the menu it would either lock up the entire system or the menu options on the screen wouldn't be inline with where the "cursor" through they would be. I've even had experiences where the entire picture would be offset 1/3 to the right, wrapping the rest of the picture on the left side of the screen. More often than not, on completely clean brand new DVDs, the system would lock up entirely in the middle of a movie and I would have to start the movie over, find the last "chapter" viewed and "fast forward" over the point at which it locked up. All in all, the unit is WAY over priced for what you can build yourself at a decent A/V store if you do just a little research on the internet or in trade magazines. It is nice to "plug and play" a home theatre system, but for the problems I've experienced, you'd be better off "building" a system out of components and paying someone to install it for you if you can't do it yourself. Since I've bought my system, Bose has release 3 software upgrades to fix problems with their firmware. A nice feature to be able to upgrade the syetem from a DVD recieved in the mail, but it shows me extremely poor quality control on Bose's part. Buy something else and save orself a ton of money or build youself a better and cheaper system out of individual components. By the way, this comment comes from someone who bought the Bose as a replacement for another Home Theatre system and has been working in high tech for 15 years.
User Rating: 
9/10
Superior Clear Tight BASE
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While I do agree that BOSE charges a premium, the ability for its almost invisible system (which my wife loves) and concept of running the amp out of the base module to the Jewel speakers insures fantastic sound. The System 35 also will process old Mono Video Tapes turning the sound into an incredible experieince. I also got a free set of Headphones which cancel out my wife's vaccuming when she's upset at me for lying on the Horizontal watching Tivo and giving her my devoted attention. My experieince with Stereos goes back to the 1960s, and my circle of friends loved the Macintoch, Klipsh Corner Horns, Yamaha Rosewood Speakers and JBL Systems. My last system before the BOSE was a Techniques 500.00 Suround Sound, but the quality was no where near the separation and base of the current BOSE system 35.
User Rating: 5/10
If sound matters to you, there are better choices...
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For those with limited space (and a big budget) this is a fair system. But, there are clearly better choices available; Onkyo, Klipsch, and Paradigm, to name a few. But, if you must have a Bose, Dont forget the "tiny cubes" need to be accompanied by a rather imposing "BASE UNIT". Bose calles it "non-localized", I call it BOOMY. This channel separation should make for good delivery of highs and lows. But it is the lows that stand out. Boy do they stand out! The LS35 produces a rather muddy sound. This system also lacks progressive scan, a common feature even on far less pricey systems. Yeah, I know, Bose speakers are found in high-end automobiles, etc. But, the reality is, Bose sound reproduction is not the best available (and name recognition sometimes matters more than anything else, including sound reproduction quality). After all, when is the last time someone was bragging about their "Klipsch system". Think, listen, and you just might realize that you can get alot more for alot less $$$$. Unless, of course, image is of the utmost importance to you in making a purchasing decision.
User Rating: 3/10
these thyings are awful...
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anyone that likes these things really needs to get their hearing checked. Ever wonder why bose doesn't publish specs? it is because they suck, plain and simple. No pro uses bose speakers ( a REAL pro that is) and luxury manufacturers are shifting away from bose. Lexus uses mark levinson, and that is a system. If you still think bose sound good, my advice to you is to go to a high end dealer and listen to some REAL speakers (like martin logan). My 'logans set my back over $10,000. so they should sound better, but even their $2000 model sounds better in a 2 channel than this bose does in surround sound. Bose is a joke people, get over it. The only product that they make even worth considering is the triport headset, which I have and love. The only reason that bose is in luxury cars is because Bose is what everyone THINKS they should hear. Bose have a very nasy midrange response, and very sharp highs. True bass is nonexistnt. No bass below 50 Hz. My 5 inch klipsch hit that, just not as loud. The average consumer equates louder with better. Listen to the bose against some really good stuff like: Klipsch, Axiom, Monitor, Mission, Wharfedale, M@K, B&W, and the upper end JBL. The axiom aer truely audiophile quality speakers at around $400. go to www.axiomaudio and see for yourself.
User Rating: 8/10
Great Natural Sound without Artifacts
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Had this system for a month and simply amazed by the quality and depth of the sound produced from CDs as well as DVDs. I have it hooked up to a HDTV and DVDs look fabolous. It does not have a progressive scan output. Progressive scan output is not needed if your HDTV has a built in line doubler, which usually does. The only thing that I wish we had was to be able to see the song list while playing MP3. Hope this is available by a software upgrade.
User Rating: 
10/10
Great Systems
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For people to comment on the system is for rich folks. Thats fine, but don't be freaky jerk about it and give negative comments on the system. Second, the people at CNET or the guys that talk about the midrange or bass is not perfect because they dont know anything about music or music systems. There is something called amplifier that plays a lot with adjustment of sound and base. As far as sound quality goes no system, absolutely no system in the world can beat the natural sound of bose. If you dont know sounds or music dont even think about making comments about bose. Almost every luxury car is nowadays equipped with bose speakers. I guess they must be idiots or may be you, who have given negative comments here
User Rating: 
4/10
Overrated and overpriced
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I and various other family members have owned several Bose products over the past decade. My current setup is a Bose AM-7, and another family member has the system listed here. At one time, I was a huge Bose fan. I thought the sound quality justified the relatively high price. However, I have been auditioning numerous loudspeaker systems to upgrade my home theater, and I must say that Bose has fallen way off the curve. They still sound nice, but you can buy a sub/sat system of equal or superior performance for much less money these days. Unfortunately, I think that Bose has allowed their advertising budget to outrun their R&D.
User Rating: 1/10
for rich suckers
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I bought one recently, and I have to say it was a big disappointment. The sound was just average. My Son's sony dream system dvd system $300 is as good or better. If you want the best, then get yourself a Onkyo system. I returned this unit after 4 weeks of sub-average perforance and traded for a Onkyo system with $1000 to spare. This system is for people who have no clue about what is and isn't good. One word: POSER A FAKE.
User Rating: 1/10
Overpriced!
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At 1/5th the price, this system might be worth looking at for its asthetics and ease of use. But for $3000, its easily blown away by everything else in its class. For a good set of mini-speakers, check out Paradigm or Energy.
User Rating: 8/10
best choice for aesthetics
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i own the lifestyle 28 which comes with slightly bigger speakers than the 35 and is $500 cheaper. i know there are critics out there that will slam this system, it is expensive. but i am completely satisfied with it, it has awesome sound for both music and movies and is very user friendly. if not for the appearance i would have bought something else for better quality sound but my wife insisted on this for the bedroom to compliment our plasma display. for all you critics out there, i have home theater surround sound in my living room, office and now bedroom, dont knock a system just because you couldnt afford it. if you dont like it, dont buy it. the system speaks for itself at the store displays that anyone can play with.
User Rating: 4/10
NO Highs....No Lows....MUST BE BOSE!!
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I auditioned this speaker set while looking for a new system. Unfortunately, it sounded awful. Yes, sound was better than expected in relation to the small size of the speakers, but much,much better sound can be had for much less money. The bass was very heavy and failed to impress when really pushed (Blade opening sequence). The real shame is in the midrange. The system completely fails in the mid-range, lacking any tonal quality. Dialogue is cold and thin with no support from the bass module. All in all, for $3000, this speaker system should blow the doors off of comparable systems at $1000. But, even systems around $500 from Sony, JVC, and Energy completely run circles around the Bose Lifestyle 35.
User Rating: 
6/10
Compact. Quality can be improved.
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i like the small speakers set. It comes with an amp, a acoustic woffer that is really value for money for sound quality.
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