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

[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.