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Bose® provides a CD of specially recorded sounds to demonstrate the system’s remarkable capabilities. The disc slides silently into the slot, the display lights up and what comes from the speakers is a revelation. A full orchestra, chorus and soloists, plus assorted farmyard animals, fill the room with powerful, lifelike sound. Further tests with music ranging from Bach and Mozart to Wagner and Led Zeppelin show that the bass is satisfyingly deep and higher frequencies are well defined, without distortion. Piano music is crystal clear and the spoken word is particularly impressive with ‘talk radio’ mode selected, enhancing the natural sound of the human voice. There are sockets for headphones and to plug the unit into Bose®’s optional-extra surround sound system for increased stereo separation. An auxiliary input is provided for a turntable or your DVD player’s audio output - a huge improvement on the speakers built into most television sets.
Two straightforward connections link the DAB module to the music system and a five-foot extension cable allows you to place the module on a separate shelf or out of sight. DAB stations are automatically searched for and the information appears in clear, well laid out text on the display. The tuner can store up to eighteen stations in presets - six DAB, six AM and six FM. Instead of using a battery for backup memory, a unique capacitor system stores the time and alarm settings for up to 48 hours, which is useful during a power failure or when moving the unit from room to room.
This uncluttered, elegantly simple system is so user-friendly that even technophobes will find it easy to personalise. For example, the alarm can be set to wake you up to music or radio with a gently rising volume, easing you into the day listening to your favourite programme, CD track or MP3 file. The brightness level of the display normally adjusts itself for low and high ambient light conditions, dimming to become less intrusive in low ambient light, but high and low brightness can be selected as you wish. You can also choose the clock format, either 12-hour (AM/PM) or 24-hour, and a low power mode that uses less energy when the system is turned off.
Sold only in the UK, the Wave® music system-DAB comes in white, grey or silver and retails for £599 from Bose® directly. The DAB module can also be bought separately as an optional accessory to current Wave® music system and Wave® radio II owners for £149. The innovative Bose® Corporation was founded in 1964 by Massachusetts Institute of Technology professor Dr Amar G. Bose, and as well as designing audio products the company is famous for its research in the field of acoustics. Bose® was the first to introduce noise-reducing headphones, initially for pilots and later for consumers wanting to enjoy music playback without external interference. For more details of the Wave® music system-DAB and other products, see www.bose.co.uk.
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