Bose: Paul Harvey swears by it...is it right for you?

Surely, no one in America has been missed. Between the full page ads, the television commercials, and the golden voice of legendary radio personality Paul Harvey extolling it, everyone has heard about the Bose Wave Radio CD unit.

And you've probably considered it yourself as a somewhat passing fancy.

But the question that continually troubles people is the price versus value ratio. Sure, it is a Bose. But several hundred dollars for a unit that does only three things - an alarm clock, an AM-FM radio, and a single cd player - seems pretty darn expensive. After all, Zenith has copied the "look" and "feel" of the unit for less than half the cost.

And no - I'm not an audiophile. I like music, but would no doubt finish last in a competitive debate on audio principles and the range of treble and bass within a piece of audio equipment.

That said, one thing I do possess is a set of ears that still work pretty well. And as I type this review, they are being massaged as never before by the most incredible sound to ever exist within the confines of our home.

Christmas came early for our household, and our oldest son surprised us with this Bose unit. My wife and I were at a loss for words as we opened the box. "A Bose - oh my goodness...!"

You see, we are middle aged. We do pretty well financially, but we still watch our dollars carefully. You probably are in that same range. You've no doubt stopped at the Bose store in the local mall and heard the richness and clarity of Bose products.

But then you'd look at the price tag and shudder - right? You've got too many other things to pay for to even consider indulging yourself in such an extravagance - right?

Well, stop right now and reset your mindset. Cash in those Epinions earnings you've been hoarding and treat yourself to the electronics treat of a lifetime. Don't hesitate, and don't even consider blurting out at your computer monitor that you couldn't possibly spend that kind of money.

The reason is simple. The sound emerging from this unit will redefine what music is supposed to sound like to you. No distortion, and the ability to really hear that the third flutist in that Broadway musical soundtrack you love actually was a bit off key on your favorite track.

See - we've got a fine Sony cd player. It holds fifty cds, and is easy to use. But compared to the Bose, the sound is infantile. Another way to describe the vast difference would be to listen to the actual recording artist play the song live in your living room, and then to have them play the song over the telephone to you.

Can you tell I've been blown away by this miniature piece of stereophonic heaven?

I have, and now I am kicking myself for not getting the unit when it came out several years ago. I could afford it, but I couldn't see laying out that kind of cash. And so - instead of dining on the fine china of audio magic that Bose produces - I've been snacking on paper plates for way too many years.

And yes - the Bose delivers on the many promises that you've heard on television in their ongoing commercial campaign. The unit is extremely attractive, lightweight at under nine pounds, and fits easily on a coffe table or nightstand. It is compact - under fifteen inches in width, and under nine inches in depth. It is durable, and the clock function displays easy to read numerals from across the room.

The remote controller is the size of a credit card, and works from up to twenty feet away. It comes with six buttons that you can preset on your favorite radio stations, and it controls the cd functions seamlessly.

But lots of units have similar equipment design. And if the "look" of the unit is all you're interested in, buy the Zenith. But if you want to listen to music replayed as crisply and perfectly as when it was recorded, then don't even consider the imitation units.

This Bose unit will become your favorite gift to yourself of all time. You will find yourself getting out old cds just for the pleasure of really hearing what they sound like. You'll play music ten times more than you're use to, and you'll find yourself stopping the neighbors on their walks and inviting them in for coffee - and for a chance to show off the world's most impressive small stereo system.

The twelve years they spent on developing this technology was time well spent. No wonder Nasa uses Bose speakers in the space shuttles, and the top of the line automotive makers install Bose in their luxury sedans.

Shouldn't you have at least one piece of equipment in your life that is truly world-class?

Come on. Indulge yourself.