I think one thing we all need to be mindful of here is that what sounds
“Better” to one person may not sound so to another person. Just as one’s
favourite colour, in the visual world, is ugly to somebody else.
I never stated that the Bose was going to be my final purchase in this market.
I’m still watching with my finger on the pulse to see when Amazon will,
officially, release the Amazon Tap, (to give it its correct title) in the
United Kingdom. Just as Google has not done so with their own device, the Tap
remains as illusive as ever to all but the most determined UK resident.
I exhibited such determination when I bought the Google Home and had it
imported all the way from Chicago. But that was due to the fact that the seller
offered me free delivery, and also said that they would foot the bill for a
return should I not be able to get the device to function. I took a chance, and
wow! I got it to work and I also managed to get it to recognise local services
and facilities. The approach of the Google Home is, however, radically
different to that of the Tap. Instead of using their country-specific network
of services and facilities, as dictated by the place of purchase, Google uses
your own account in order to pick things up. Ergo, since Google knows that I am
located within the United Kingdom, it used that account data to define what I
would most likely want to be aware of. Subsequently, in every other respect
than the nauseating American speech synthesiser, (they use Acapela Group’s
voices), I have a localised Google Home. I know that you, Dane, do not have an
Australian localised Amazon Tap. This was another reason why I opted not to
import a Tap from the US. All that having been said, I would not for a moment
deny the possibility of acquiring a Tap later in the year if released.
Regarding the very specifics of individual sound perception on which I touched
earlier, I think that point is particularly relevant here. I personally like a
very base-sounding system. It’s one reason why I bought the Pioneer DX10A
amplifier for my hi-fi system upstairs. I still have my 1979 vintage 100 Watt
(RMS) speakers up on the walls of my office. The amplifier in question is
world-renowned for its very full-sounding output right across the spectrum of
the human ear. And in this aspect particularly, I was not disappointed. As it
is always good practice to do, I deliberately over-rated the speakers at the
original time of purchase. I had no reason to regret that decision when I
purchased the Pioneer amp back in 2015. Each output terminal of that amp can
kick out 100 Watts RMS. Which just happened to be precisely the maximum rating
of my speakers, as I’ve already said. But, of course, I’ve never come close to
powering them up to full capacity. In actual fact, there’s no need too. The
Warfdale speaker and Pioneer amplifier combination lend themselves one to the
other with perfect clarity right across the board. Thus, a small symbol in a
piece of classical music is perfectly audible at the same time as the dulcet
tones of the deep double base. In actual fact, when I first got the amp, the
very first thing I played on it was a piece of classical music to demonstrate
just that fact. And my goodness, I was not disappointed.
All that having been said, I know of one person who doesn’t much like that kind
of full audio. That’s totally fine, he’s entitled to do as he pleases. So, I
guess there are two proverbs which come into play here, regarding my purchase
of the Bose SoundLink3. The first is “Caviet Entor”, (Let The Buyer Beware).
The second is horses for courses, to each their own.
As mono systems go, the Amazon Echo Dot when encased in the add-on battery base
from Laptree, is a very acceptable-sounding piece of equipment. Indeed, I know
somebody who doesn’t like full-sounding systems for audiobooks. She says that
they detract from her enjoyment of the product. Again, that is perfectly fine.
She is entitled to do things her way.
========================================
My compliments and kindest regards
Gordon Smith:
<[email protected]>
Accessibility & Information Technology Support Specialist.
Mobile/SMS:
+44 (0)7907 823971
————————————————————
On 17 Feb 2017, at 19:21, Dane Trethowan <[email protected]> wrote:
A few things here need addressing and I’ll address the most important points
first.
Regarding your Bose? you’ll have no problem with accessibility whatever as the
Bose is as accessible as any device could possibly be under the circumstances.
Yep, the new Bose soundlink Mini has Text to Speech but that’s not a deal
breaker as far as I’m concerned when purchasing a speaker, more of a gimmick if
anything in my opinion.
Regarding Hands Free? I think you’l find that Nokia had hands free speaking
mastered in portable devices long before Apple came along.
Grant you, we’re talking about two distinctly different systems and yes
technology has marched forwards thousands of miles since the days of Nokia.
Windows phones have not been in production for around a year now and if anyone
is using a Windows phone then I can only admire them for their patience.
The Windows phone was never truly accessible, you could only use Narrator in
the US for example so the phone just wasn’t a viable option when it came to
accessibility.
I know the particular gentleman you speak of and I do remember that when the Apple
iPhone 3GS came along he certainly made a point of rubbishing the whole concept of
the iPhone, how times have changed <smile>.
What this goes to show is that we all need to keep an open mind with regard to
technology as technology is changing and evolving so quickly.
My opinion was 8 years ago that it was just completely impossible for any blind
user to use a Touch Screen and look how far out I was, yep I have no problem
admitting it and I’m glad I was wrong.
Regarding the bass of the Bose? Well it may be the same story for you as it is
for lots of other people, “What you don’t hear you don’t miss”, in other words
if you don’t hear anything better than the Bose then you’re most likely not
going to be too worried about it.
In my case I have some B&W speaker systems here so the minute I heard about the release
of the B&W T7 - given I know what B&W Speakers sound like - I was curious to say
the least to hear the T7.
