March 24, 2016

  • Bose Acoustic Wave Music System CD-3000, Part 2

    This Bose Acoustic Wave CD-3000 has lain in the office of my last job for a number of years. I guess it isn't sexy or prized enough, for anyone to steal it. Yes, it provides audio in a small office or room. But, it's not so distorted, that it can't provide music in a large and open floorspace.
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    See, when I was in high school during the late-80s, CD players were expensive. You were lucky, to have one in your main system. Having one in your bedroom was a luxury. Nowadays, the only reason people need CD drives is to rip CDs. F--- that. The Bose CD-3000 wants you to play the discs directly. And for that, the CD-3000 provides a top-loading drive. Because you place discs directly onto the spindle, the CD-3000 can play 3" CD singles without an adapter. Yes, I used a CD Greenback. Yes, it played without any anomalies. No, it did not effect enough of a sonic improvement. But if the CD Greenback floats your boat, you will be happy to note that you can indeed safely use one in the CD-3000.
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    If you do not like the CD-3000's built-in antenna, a 75-ohm F-type coaxial connector is provided. Thus, you can supply your own FM antenna. Great mother of pearl; the CD-3000 sports an analog line input, on a pair of RCA jacks. Thus, you can provide your own source, and use the CD-3000 to listen.

    Oh ho ho. The CD-3000 sports a lineout, also via a pair of RCA jacks. So if you do not like the built-in speakers, you can use the CD-3000 itself as a source component and/or preamp. Go ahead and use your expensive audiophile interconnects to feed, for example, a tube amp!

    We tried the CD-3000 in a variety of locations. It does not seem to be capable of pinpoint imaging, with razor-sharp outlines. The images are kind of diffuse, large, and ill-defined. But the sound doesn't scream at you. And when you turn up the volume at parties, the CD-3000 doesn't wail like a banshee, or bash you over the head with ear-piercing shards.
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    Oh ho ho. The Bose CD-3000 uses a "figure 8" IEC C8 jack, commonly found on tape recorders and some DVD players. That means you can, with an adapter, play around with after-market 15-amp powercords. So if you like, and want to preserve, the basic performance of the CD-3000, try an MIT Z-Cord II, which takes what throw-away OEM powercords do, and reduces a little bit of noise and grain. But if you want a cleaner sound, with more see-through ability, try the original Kimber PowerKord, the one with the corrugated plastic tubing. Enjoy!