First, Bose DOES make quality products through constant research and development.
The problem with their $1000 speaker package is that it ONLY costs $12 to replace a speaker driver.
Which leads me to my next problem...The speaker drivers (cones) are only 3 inches in diameter and made of PAPER. This day in age a speaker driver can be make if just about anything under the sun and be superior to paper.
But I know what you're saying, "But I went to the Bose Outlet Store, and it sounded INCREDIBLE!"...Well it should...Bose has installed over $30,000 worth of audio equipment behind the walls of their demo room...Bose engineers the room and demo material to match their products...They also make sure you can't compare Bose to any OTHER products by making sure their speakers are on display FAR away from all of the other speakers in retail stores.
With speakers so small and a tremendous sub-woofer, you get wonderful bass and treble out of your inconspicuous, out-of-the-way equipment. What you DON'T get is any sort of quality mid-range sound (mid-range means people's voices). Most speaker companies know that "Average Joe" buys speakers buy judging ONLY bass and treble. Listen to the VOICES in the songs when you demo!
All of Bose's equipment is PROPRIETARY. This means it is IMCOMPATABLE with ALL other speakers and amplifiers. Whether it's in your home or in your car, it's all Bose or nothing. To replace ANY component of your car's Bose stereo system, you must gut the ENTIRE stereo and start over.
Lastly, sound test ANY other satillite/sub speaker system of similar size against the Bose and you'll find Bose falls far behind most competitors products for about half the price
Definitive Technology "ProCinema 600"
Infinity "TSS-450"
Paradigm "Cinema 70 CT"