Sales: Bose vs JBL

[Akira]

I read a report that says Bose has annual sales of 4.5 billion....wow.
Also of interest is the company apparently spends more on marketing than all other speaker manufacturers combined.
Just curious, any idea how JBL sales compare?

[Rolf]

Some companies sell there soul. Guess Armand is turning in his grave.

[BMWCCA]

Guess Armand is turning in his grave.

That would be Amar.

[Rolf]

That would be Amar.

Sorry for the miss spelling.

[Mr. Widget]

Some companies sell there soul. Guess Armand is turning in his grave.

Maybe he is... who is he?

Amar Bose, the founder of Bose Corporation is still with us.


Widget

[MikeBrewster77]

Harman did $4.113 billion last year. Their annual report doesn't appear to detail net sales by brand, only by segment, so what chunk of that number is comprised of JBL products, I don't know... :dont-know

Just curious, any idea how JBL sales compare?

[Akira]

Harman did $4.113 billion last year. Their annual report doesn't appear to detail net sales by brand, only by segment, so what chunk of that number is comprised of JBL products, I don't know... :dont-know

In that case Bose definitely outsold JBL. When you consider that JBL has a pretty diversified lineup and Bose is mainly consumer.

[Akira]

I know it's popular to trash Bose but, the original 901's were supposed to be a good product has anyone heard them that can comment.

Although I never heard them, they had a professional equivalent, the same size and basic design that employed eight 4" drivers all firing forward. They were excellent speakers for their intended application--crystal clear natural vocals. We used to use them for conferencing, and you could even playback music with acceptable results. A pair can easily cover 100 people in a meeting.

[Ken Pachkowsky]

I know it's popular to trash Bose but, the original 901's were supposed to be a good product has anyone heard them that can comment.

Hi Akira, long time no chat.

I remember when the Bose 901's hit the scene in the mid 70's. They definately caused a buzz. A few guys I knew in Winnipeg bought them and flew them from the ceiling. I must admit they were impressive at the time. Were they high fidelity....no, but they sure could take high volume without blowing up.

Bose is a good example of marketing done well. Its a shame that Harman has not been able to recapture the consumer market to the degree JBL enjoyed in the 60's and 70's.

Ken

[Mr. Widget]

Bose is a good example of marketing done well.

Absolutely... Bose, Bud, Marlboro cigarettes... all three offer an average product with above average marketing... leading to market dominance.

That said. Bose has focused on the desire to have invisible speakers as opposed to invisible sound. Their consumer friendly designs at the cost of sonics have proven to be a very marketable design. JBL has to be blamed for not going after this market too. It can be done with better sonics than Bose and still be consumer friendly... unfortunately JBL hasn't put any serious R+D into this end of the market... their smaller systems are mostly "me too" junk.


Widget

[Akira]

Hi Akira, long time no chat.

Yes, hi Ken it's been a while, but I have been following your Westlake threads.
You are the man...I can't play in your league.
As I have said a number of times on LH, Westlake are the only system I have heard that have completely blown me away.

unfortunately JBL hasn't put any serious R+D into this end of the market... their smaller systems are mostly "me too" junk.
Widget

I once bought one of JBL's mini 'Bose' systems for an apartment I had years back...sounded worse than Bose but only cost $500. for a comlpete theater in a box. THE ONLY JBL'S I EVER RETURNED....but, the only thing JBL put into them was the sticker...the Chinese did the rest.

[JBL 4645]

I read a report that says Bose has annual sales of 4.5 billion....wow.
Also of interest is the company apparently spends more on marketing than all other speaker manufacturers combined.
Just curious, any idea how JBL sales compare?

I think someone at BOSE has been fiddling with those figures don’t you mean BOSE £431 pounds? JBL £4.5 billion!

Hi Akira, long time no chat.

I remember when the Bose 901's hit the scene in the mid 70's. They definately caused a buzz. A few guys I knew in Winnipeg bought them and flew them from the ceiling. I must admit they were impressive at the time. Were they high fidelity....no, but they sure could take high volume without blowing up.

Bose is a good example of marketing done well. Its a shame that Harman has not been able to recapture the consumer market to the degree JBL enjoyed in the 60's and 70's.

Ken

Maybe they’ve got no more pride in the company or its heritage.

[Harvey Gerst]

I know it's popular to trash Bose but, the original 901's were supposed to be a good product. Has anyone heard them that can comment?

I remember being at a NAMM show in Chicago when they came out. They set up a demo PA at a blues club featuring Buddy Guy. I remember the high end being so shrill, I had to leave after just a few minutes. It could have been the FOH guy had the top end cranked, but it was dreadful.

[jcrobso]

I know it's popular to trash Bose but, the original 901's were supposed to be a good product has anyone heard them that can comment.

Although I never heard them, they had a professional equivalent, the same size and basic design that employed eight 4" drivers all firing forward. They were excellent speakers for their intended application--crystal clear natural vocals. We used to use them for conferencing, and you could even playback music with acceptable results. A pair can easily cover 100 people in a meeting.

It was a long time ago now! It was an interesting effect using the corner to make the sound image bigger, a K horn used the corner much better.
As for the Bo$e 801 Pro speaker there is set of these at the station, crystal clear they are NOT!

[Hoerninger]

It was a long time ago now!

Yes, when they were new I had a chance to listen to them in a studio, very common at that time . At that time I liked them, but I did not have much comparisons.

It was an interesting effect using the corner to make the sound image bigger

The 901s have to be placed in front of a straight wall in a definite distance. The Bose equalizer is mandatory!
The direct/indirect sound distribution was revolutionary at that time and it sounded interesting.

Today I prefer speakers with higher efficiency ( Boses are low - especially for SR), some "augmentation with adequate speakers" and a direct sound with care of early reflections.
____________
Peter