Bose Corporation is a privately run American company, based in Framingham, Massachusetts, which designs, develops and sells audio equipment. Founded in 1964 by Amar Bose, the company sells its products to the world. According to the company's annual report in the financial year 2017, Bose received revenues of US $ 3.8 billion and employed more than 8,000 people. Bose is famous for its home audio and speaker systems, noise suppression headphones, professional audio systems, and car sound systems. The company has also conducted suspension technology research for heavy duty cars and trucks and became the subject of cold fusion. Bose has a reputation as patent protectors, trademarks and brands.
Most of the Bose Corporation's non-voting shares were awarded by Amar Bose in 2011 to his alma mater and his former employer, Massachusetts Institute of Technology. They receive cash dividends, but are prohibited from selling shares and can not participate in corporate management and governance.
Video Bose Corporation
History
Formation
The company was founded in 1964 by Amar Bose. Eight years earlier, Bose, who later became a graduate student at MIT, bought a stereo system and was disappointed with his performance. This led him to examine the importance of reverberant (indirect) sound on perceived audio quality.
Initial years
Bose began extensive research that aims to clarify the factors he sees as a fundamental weakness that disrupts high-end audio systems. The main drawback, in his view, is that overall, electronics and speakers fail to take into account the spatial nature of sounds emanating in distinctive auditory spaces (homes and apartments) and spatiality implications for psychoacoustics, ie the listener head as a sonic diffraction object as part of the system. Eight years later, he started the company, filling with a mission to achieve "Better Sound Through Research", now a corporate slogan.
In an interview in 2007 Bose talked about a preliminary review that kept the company alive.
- "One magazine in the United States, High Fidelity, a truly credible magazine, had a reviewer named Norman Eisenburg who really knew his music, and I used to bring a loudspeaker to the reviewer. son and loudspeaker in the car and leave.I put this little thing on the big speaker he had, turned it on, and within five minutes he said: 'I do not care if it's made of green cheese, it's the best sound, the most accurate sound , which I've heard. 'She came out with a review titled' Surround and Conquer 'She was not known to do things like that.All people in the media knew she knew music, and it produced a warm welcome one after another, and we were able to survive live. "
Research history
Bose's first loudspeaker product, model 2201, deploys 22 small mid-range speakers over eighth balls. It was designed to be placed in the corner of the room, using a reflection from the wall to increase the size of the room. An electronic equalizer is used to level the frequency spectrum of this system. Hearing test results are disappointing.
After this study, Bose came to the conclusion that the imperfect knowledge of psychoacoustics limits the ability to adequately quantitatively characterize every two different perceived arbitrary sounds, and to adequately characterize and quantify all aspects of perceived quality. He believes that distortion is too much a factor in the perceived quality in a complex sound composed of music. Similarly, he found no measurable relevance to the perceived quality in other loudspeaker and electronic parameters that was easily measurable, and therefore did not publish the specifications for Bose products. The final exam, Bose insists, is the listener's perception of the audible (or less) of it and his own preferences. The reluctance to publish information is due to Bose's rejection of this measure in favor of "more meaningful measurement and evaluation procedures".
Bose conducts further research into psychoacoustics that ultimately clarifies the importance of reflected voice dominance arriving at the listener's head, a listening condition that is characteristic of live performances. This led to the design of speakers aimed at eight identical mid-range drivers (with electronic equalization) on the wall behind the speaker, and the ninth driver to the listener. The purpose of this design is to achieve dominance reflected through direct sound in the home listening room. The pentagonal design used in the Model 901 is, and remains, unconventional compared to most systems, where mid-range and high-frequency speakers directly face the listener.
The 901 model premiered in 1968 and was a direct commercial success, and Bose Corporation grew rapidly during the 1970s. Bose 901 in production since 1968 completed in 2017, the longest running production, second only to Klipsch Klipschorn speakers in longevity sustainable production.
President
- William (Bill) Zackowitz (1964-66)
- Charles "Chuck" Hieken (1966-69)
- Frank E. Ferguson (1969-76)
- Amar G. Bose (1976-80)
- Sherwin Greenblatt (1980-2000)
- John Coleman (2000-05)
- Bob Maresca (2005-2017)
- Philip W. "Phil" Hess (2017 -)
Share donations to MIT
The late founder Amar Bose is chairman of the company and major shareholder until he contributed the majority of the company's non-voting shares to his former employer and alma mater, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, in 2011. An annual cash dividend is paid to "Advancing the MIT research and education mission". However, the terms of receipt of shares stated that MIT was not allowed to sell it, nor did MIT be allowed to participate in management and corporate governance.
Succession
Founder and chairman of the company Amar G. Bose died in July 2013 at his home in Wayland, Massachusetts at the age of 83. He was replaced as Chairman of the Board by Bob Maresca.
Maps Bose Corporation
Shop
In 1993 Bose opened his first store in Kittery, Maine. Since then, Bose has opened 190 stores in the US and many locations around the world. For example, in Hong Kong, there are 10 Bose retail stores. Also, in the UK there are eleven standard Bose retail stores, including one on Regent Street and seven called 'factory outlets'.
Facilities
The complex corporate headquarters complex, located in Framingham, Massachusetts, is known as "The Mountain". The company runs facilities in Framingham, Westborough, and Stow (all in Massachusetts).
Bose products are generally produced in one of four factories. Bose Corporation has two factories - one in Framingham and the other in Tijuana, Mexico.
Two other manufacturing and development operations, employing approximately 3,500 people, are located in San Luis RÃÆ'o Colorado, Mexico (opened in 1990) and Batu Kawan, Malaysia (opened in 2013). They produce optional headphones, wireless speakers, home theater systems and professional audio products. The Batu Kawan facility also serves as a distribution center for Bose Asia-Pacific and Middle East businesses. In June 2016, it was announced that the facility will be purchased by the Flextronics contract manufacturer (now Flex), which will take over Bose's current and planned production at two plants.
By 2015, two facilities in Columbia, South Carolina and Carrickmacross, Ireland, were closed (with a loss of 300 and 140 jobs each), as part of Bose's "global streamlining supply chain." Bose uses the Columbia facility, opened in 1993, to distribution and repair, sub-manufacturing and regional manufacturing, and final assembly for multiple headsets. The Carrickmacross plant, which began operation in 1978, conducts final assembly for multiple home theater systems, Wave radios, and other regional manufacturing.
Custom products
Car audio
In 1983, Bose introduced a custom-made industrial sound system for the industry in Cadillac Seville, Cadillac Eldorado, Buick Riviera and Oldsmobile Toronado in 1983. In this early system, Bose adjusted each installation by building a speaker enclosure and adjusting the frequency response for each vehicle. Bose manufactures various speakers and audio products for automotive use. At the 2007 automotive exhibition in Geneva, Switzerland, Bose launched a new media system - combining stereo, navigation and hands-free calling - with the Ferrari 612 Scaglietti. In 2007, Bose's media system won the International Telematics Award for "The Best Storage Solution for the In-Car Environment".
Some automotive manufacturers that have been used in the past or are currently using Bose car audio products are: Acura, Alfa Romeo, Audi, Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Ferrari, Fiat, GMC, Holden, Honda, Infiniti, Mazda, Maybach, Mercedes- Benz, Nissan, Oldsmobile, Opel, Pontiac, Porsche, Renault, Rolls Royce, and Volkswagen.
Headphone noise reducer
Bose makes noise-canceling headphones that have been praised for their performance. Bose makes noise-canceling flight headsets, which have been used in the Space Shuttle to help prevent astronaut hearing damage.
Smartphone app
The smart phone app called "Bose Connect" was promoted to corporate noise-canceling headphone users. This app has a privacy policy stating that it does not collect personally identifiable information. A 2017 lawsuit against Bose alleges that the app monitors what type of audio users play on their phones. The Rapporteur says that people who play religious musical instruments, or podcasts on political or sexual topics, can be traced according to their religion, political beliefs, or sexual orientation.
Automotive suspension system
Bose conducted research to use electromagnetic motors instead of conventional automotive suspension systems (hydraulic or air). The system will be released in 2009, but no vehicles are produced using the system.
This research is based on processing and conditioning of two-state, non-linear power. In 2004, Bose launched its prototype technology application after more than 20 years of research. This system uses an electromagnetic linear motor to raise or lower the wheels of the car in response to uneven ridges or holes in the road. In milliseconds, the wheels are raised when approaching a bump, or extended into a hole, thus keeping the vehicle more level. This technology uses the same principle as noise-canceling technology for speakers and earphones. Road unevenness is felt, and processed like sound waves. A wave of cancellation is generated, applied to the wheel through a linear motor. In a French interview, Bose even showed off a car that jumped over obstacles. Bose says that the system is "high cost" and heavy, even after years and $ 100 million in development.
The seat suspension system for truckers
Bose applies his research into the suspension system for problems of fatigue, backache and physical stress experienced by truck drivers. In 2010, Bose introduced the Bose Ride, an active system that reduces the vibrations induced by the road in the driver's seat. Bose claims as much as 90% reduction in the vibration of the driver's seat.
Professional audio system
Bose Professional designs and manufactures audio components for integrators and AV system consultants that define and install sound systems for commercial and portable settings such as stadiums, worship houses, performing arts theater, auditoriums, retail stores, restaurants and spaces meeting. Although Bose commercial audio equipment has not been approved for use in studios or cinemas carrying THX certification (since never applying), this share accounts for about 60% of Bose's annual revenue. In 1988, Bose became the first company to pay for the title of supplier of the official Olympic voice system, providing audio equipment for the Winter Olympics in Calgary, and again four years later in Albertville, France, the last one installed and maintained by a subsidiary of Bose France.
Electroforce
In 2004 Bose acquired the company's assets related to the development, manufacture and sale of material testing equipment, established ElectroForce Systems Group, which provides material testing and simulation instruments for endurance research institutions, universities, medical equipment companies and engineering organizations at the whole world.
Military applications
Bose has contracts with the US military and NASA.
Audio & amp; home; video products
In connection with US sales for home theater home theater retail systems (combined speaker and receiver systems) and portable audio sales, Bose are ranked first and third in 2012. Unlike "high-end home theater" systems that use separate components , Bose multimedia TV system combines processing and amplification into one unit.
Music and speaker systems
- SoundLink
- SoundDock
- Computer speakers
- Headphones
- The wave system
Home entertainment system
- system 5.1
- 2.1 system
- surround sound speakers
Technical specifications
Amar Bose believes that the traditional steps of audio equipment are irrelevant to the perceived audio quality and therefore do not publish the specifications for Bose products, claiming that the final test is the audience's perception of audio quality according to the listener's preference. In 1968, Bose presented a paper to the Audio Engineering Society entitled "On the Design, Measurement and Evaluation of Speakers". In this paper, he rejected numerical test data in favor of "more meaningful measurement and evaluation procedures". This is still a corporate philosophy. Many other audio product manufacturers publish numerical test data on their equipment, but Bose does not.
Reception
In some un audio-related publications, Bose has been touted as a manufacturer of "advanced audio" products. Commenting on Bose's "high-end" market position among audiophiles, a PC Magazine product announcer stated "not only does the Bose equipment sound quality go to an audiophile standard, but someone can buy something that meets these stringent requirements at the same price or, often, less. "Bose has not been certified by THX for its home entertainment products even though more expensive home theater products compete with the price at which a general THX certification. Also unlike other competing products, Bose does not provide technical specifications such as frequency response, audio crossover, and acoustic impedance for its products.
Some other views include:
- The flagship speaker system of Bose 901 was criticized by Stereophile magazine in 1979. In its review, the magazine stated that the system was unacceptable and impossible to attract the attention of perfectionists with a growing sense in imaging , detail, and timbre; and that this deficiency is an excessive price to pay for an increase in the impact and atmosphere generated by a large proportion of the reflected sound [to the sound of the axis]. However, the authors also state that the system produces a more naturalistic resemblance to a natural atmosphere than any other loudspeaker system. The latest positive reviews by TONE Audio find that 901 is better than expected and good value at $ 1,400. From the notes, speakers can not be found at local retailers and must be custom-ordered.
- The 2005 market research published by Forrester Research reports that the Bose brand name is among the few brands of computers and consumer electronics most trusted by US consumers including Dell and Hewlett-Packard.
- The 2007 review in Audioholics online magazine reiterates that Bose is very expensive for its performance. From Bose Lifestyle V20 Home Theater System, reviewer writes, "The Bose system is very expensive at almost $ 2,000 and the sound quality is no better than many other surround systems that cost a third of the price... the smaller [bass] cones can not reproduce frequencies [tic] lower below. "This review included an interview with Best Buy sales manager who advised from his experience that, despite directing his customers to better-sounding and cheaper alternatives, some customers insisted on Bose.
- The July 2012 review by NBC News from TV Bose for $ 5,000 46 "states that the video screen, manufactured by Samsung, is almost like a flat panel television for $ 750, and that the technology used is not equivalent to other screens in that category The review then questioned the value of the additional cost of $ 4,250 for Bose TV, indicating there is an interesting audio alternative for less than 1/5th of the price difference.The same system received positive reviews by PC Magazine citing the user interface and sound quality in an unobtrusive design.
- In July 2013, iLounge wrote about Bose Soundlink Mini, a small remote speaker competing with low-end low-end audio devices, that "Audio quality is the real SoundLink Mini trick card over Jambox and most - not all - of its competitors... SoundLink Mini delivers deeper and cleaner bass with mid-bass in all volumes, suffers from real distortions only at the top of its volume scale. "
Legal action
Bose has been described by audio industry professionals as a legal conscious company. In 1981, Bose was unable to sue the Consumer Reports magazine for defamation. Consumer Reports reported in a review that the sounds of the system they reviewed "tend to wander around the room." Initially, the Federal District Court found that Consumer Reports had published a false statement with the knowledge that it was wrong or frivolously ignored the truth or error "when it changed what the original reviewer wrote about the speaker in his pre-publishing draft, that sound tends to wander "along the wall." The Court of Appeals then reversed the court's ruling on responsibility, and the United States Supreme Court confirmed in a 6-3 vote in the case of Bose Corp v. Consumers Union of United States, Inc. , found that the statement was made without real malice, and therefore no slander. In an interview several decades later Bose said, "We had 37 people at the time, I collected them in one room and said, 'If we do nothing, it might kill us, but if we do something, have credibility because we're just a small company and we can not do anything to fight this. "I said I thought we should do something I wanted a vote It was a unanimous vote in favor of taking action Little did we know would need 14 years to undergo a legal process. "
Bose sued Thiel Audio in the early 1990s to stop the audiophile loudspeaker maker using ".2" (colon) at the end of his product model "CS2.2". To comply with the Bose trademark of ".2" associated with the Bose Model 2.2 product, Thiel changed its model name to "CS2 2", replacing the space for the decimal point. Bose is not a ".3" trademark so in 1997 when Thiel introduced the next model in the series, they named it "Thiel 2.3", advertise "the return of the decimal point."
In 1996, Bose sued two subsidiaries of Harman International Industries - JBL and Infinity Systems - for violating Bose patents on elliptical tuning ports on some loudspeaker products. In 2000, the court ruled that Harman would stop using the elliptical ports in his product, and Harman had to pay Bose $ 5.7 million for court fees. Harman stopped using the disputed port design but appealed the financial decision. At the end of 2002, the previous decision was upheld but at this point the cost of the Bose court has increased to $ 8 million, all to be paid by Harman.
Bose successfully blocked QSC Audio Products from the trademark the term "PowerWave" in conjunction with certain QSC amplifier technology. In 2002, the court ruled that the trademark "Wave" deserves greater protection because it is known by itself, even outside of its relationship with Bose.
In 2003, Bose sued the CEDIA nonprofit electronic commerce organization for the use of the trademark "Electronic Lifestyle", which CEDIA has used since 1997. Bose believes that the trademark interferes with its own trademark "Lifestyle". Bose was previously sued for protecting his trademark "Lifestyle" from 1996 with success against Motorola and continuing his settlement with New England Stereo, Lifestyle Technologies, Optoma and AMX. In May 2007, CEDIA won a lawsuit after a court ruled that Bose was guilty of laches, and that Bose's remarks about fraud and possible confusion were unfounded. CEDIA was criticized for spending nearly $ 1 million of its members' money on the lawsuit, and Bose was criticized for "unsportsmanlike conduct of its own trade association," according to Julie Jacobson of the CE Pro magazine.
In July 2014, Bose sued Beats Electronics for patent infringement, alleging that its "Studio" channel incorporated a bose noise cancellation technology. Bose and Apple had collaborated on SoundDock for the iPod music player in 2004, then in May 2014 Beats was bought by Apple, bringing Bose and Apple into direct competition in the headphone market. Bose headphones were once the leading brands offered at Apple stores, but Beats headphones lost the number of Bose headphones at Apple stores at the time of the lawsuit, and the Beats had seized 60% of the market while Bose held 25%. In October 2014, Bose canceled the lawsuit, as Bose and Beats left the court without disclosing the terms. Apple removed all Bose products from an Apple store a few days after the lawsuit was resolved, but two months later the Bose product was returned to the shelves.
In April 2017 Bose was charged with a privacy violation related to a mobile app sent by Bose to control Bose bluetooth headphones.
References
External links
- Official website
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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