Amar Bose ’51, SM ’52, ScD ’56, Bose Corporation’s founder, has died at 83

[hexola]

Source: MIT News

Amar Bose ’51, SM ’52, ScD ’56, a former member of the MIT faculty and the founder of Bose Corporation, has died. He was 83.

Dr. Bose received his bachelor’s degree, master’s degree and doctorate from MIT, all in electrical engineering. He was asked to join the faculty in 1956, and he accepted with the intention of teaching for no more than two years. He continued as a member of the MIT faculty until 2001.

During his long tenure at MIT, Dr. Bose made his mark both in research and in teaching. In 1956, he started a research program in physical acoustics and psychoacoustics: This led to his development of many patents in acoustics, electronics, nonlinear systems and communication theory.

Read more: http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/2013/obit-amar-bose-0712.html

[benld74]

1. Thank you Mr. Bose,

for hours of exceptional listening pleasure through the 501's I purchased immediately after college.

[NewJeffCT]

2. RIP Amar Bose

some great audio equipment.

[SHRED]

3. and and even greater...

...advertising department.

[srican69]

4. I didn't want to say it but.... +1

RIP nevertheless.


Honestly there were better speakers to be had for the same pricepoint

[Kolesar]

9. He kept some cool mags in business with his print advertisements

Rolling Stone, Stereo Review, Lampoon

[riqster]

5. His life had many highs, and few lows.

Much like his speakers.

[SHRED]

6. nice... ;)

[SamKnause]

7. Bose

Thank you Dr. Bose !!!!

Your Bose 901 speakers are second to none for home entertainment.

RIP

You made the music come to life in my living room.

[jmowreader]

8. Hopefully the engineers he created were better than his speakers

[Ferretherder]

10. No shit. I truly say RIP, Mr. Bose, but...

...your speakers were worth about one FOURTH the price at which they were marketed.

As a home theater installer, I have installed more than a few Bose home theater systems and, though very adequate for a smaller theater environment, they PALED in comparison to systems from some of the more solid names in audio engineering when compared 'dollar for dollar'. I'm not saying they were 'crap' or anything, I'm just saying that for what Bose costs you, you could buy a SMOKIN' speaker system that would blow the Bose stuff into the weeds!

Sorry, Dr. Bose, but, I suppose you were laughing all the way to the bank, anyway.

[geckosfeet]

11. Bose corp has a huge focus on R&D and plows a lot of profits back into engineering.

People seem to enjoy jumping on the bandwagon and criticizing Bose highly engineered sound. But Bose devices are built for ease of use and simplicity of design. Sound engineering and advanced acoustic design go into every product.

There are many products on the market. If you enjoy turning knobs and tuning a system every time you change a source that is your choice. I prefer to plug it in and listen to well engineered sound.

[Dr Hobbitstein]

12. Over the past 20 years, I have yet to have a system...

That required multiple tunings. Plug and play. It all worked fine. None of it was Bose. All of it cost about the same, but was MUCH better.

Bose spent WAY more on advertising than R&D/Engineering.

[geckosfeet]

14. Your experience may be true. Your comment about Bose spending is way off base.

[Dr Hobbitstein]

15. Maybe in the 60s and 70s...

But in the 80s and 90s, Bose reps used to go to middle and high schools to push their products. I sat through a couple of those. Then there were the late night 3 hour infomercials with Herbie Hancock, the constant advertising in Stereo Review (which led SR to stop being a trusted review magazine), tons more TV and magazine adverts, it goes on. Then look at a company like Paradigm or B&W... Very little advertising, superior product, and they spend more in R&D than Bose.

[turbo_satan]

19. Listen...

I'm speaking as a designer and manufacturer of audio production, instrumentation, and measurement equipment. My gear is used extensively by Bose and very likely at B&W and Paradigm and I deal with designers and engineers from all of these companies, so I have some relevant background here. Much of Paradigm's R&D was publicly funded by the CNRC (along with other Canadian brands like Energy, PSB, et. al). I don't know if there was any public funding for B&W's work. Probably not. Bose spends a tremendous amount of money on R&D; I would venture at least an order of magnitude more than Paradigm or B&W. As big as they may seem, Paradigm and B&W are tiny little specks compared to Bose, which is about as close to a behemoth as you get in the audio industry.

I will grant you that Bose's R&D has not been about advancing the state of the art in audio reproduction. But they have very successfully addressed myriad lifestyle-audio issues and they spend a fortune in R&D for the automotive sector. They've also perfected the art of turning very inexpensive raw materials into products that are more than adequate for their intended base, are reliable, functional, attractive, and profitable for them and their dealers, distributors, and reps. Take it from me: this is much, much more difficult to accomplish than achieving sonic realism.

[hexola]

16. If there products were that good they would be copied...ala Apple vs Samsung

The wave radio is about the only product I've ever been remotely impressed with.

No surprise - I've never seen any Bose knockoffs...

[geckosfeet]

17. Bose products are unique. The engineering is proprietary and patented.

That said Bose is constantly battling counterfeit products. And they prosecute counterfeiters.

[warrprayer]

13. I have 80s vintage Wave

lots of power in a small package, with beautiful clarity.

[olddots]

18. No comment

n.t

[Benton D Struckcheon]

20. Have their sound dampening headphones.

You can listen to the quietest moments of a jazz or symphonic piece on em while riding a bus/airplane. Can't do that with any other headphones I know of.
RIP Mr. Bose.