Win 7 and USB Bose Companion 5 Speakers

Win7 on my desktop. I use Bose Companion 5 speakers which are plugged into my USB connection. They are NOT connected to my sound card. When i downloaded iTunes last night and imported my music library, i played a number of songs through my speaker system and found it to be crackling and sputtering. This is the same problem that occurred with Windows Vista which is why i'm back on XP (where the music plays beautifully). I've tried the RC for Windows7 on my notebook with no problems. I've tested this on Windows Media Player and get the same thing so i'm thinking this is a USB problem with Windows 7 and Vista but i'm not completely sure. Hoping this would be resolved since Vista, for the first time in 20 years, i'm thinking of going Mac. Anybody have any ideas here? Also, is this the correct forum to alert Microsoft to this problem?

I have had my Bose Companion 5 system for 3 weeks and it has been awsome, until this morning. No sounds, no pops, squeeks or snaps :-(
Google searched for a few minutes not finding any real answers (ahhhh, remember when the net had information with no ads?). Anyway, poked around on my system and found that something had adjusted some sound properties. I'm running windows 7 pro, so your system may be different, dialogs, tabs etc, but this should help bring that expensive Bose system back to life (hopefully).
1. Got "Control Panel > Hardware and Sound > Devices and Printers" or in Win7 "Devices and Printers"
2. Right click on the "Bose USB Audio" icon
3. Select "Sound Settings"
4. Make sure that the "Bose USB Audio" speakers are set to default.
5. Select the "Communications Tab"
6. Select the "Do nothing" radio button.
7. Listen to killer audio from Bose again! :-)
Something on my system had set this tab to "reduce the volume of other sounds by 80%" Grrrrrrrr. I think that Obama called Bill Gates and asked for a "go green noise polution" initiative. Hence the reduce volume of sounds by 80%. Haha
Anyway, hope this works for you all

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Popping when new sound comes through, with Bose companion speakers.

I've used the Bose companion speakers for years with my 17" PowerBook and they were fine. Now, connected to my new 24" iMac they "pop" just before a new sound comes through, i.e. mail message coming in etc. I've connected them to my husband's 24" iMac and same deal. Apple has no idea why, and it's driving me nuts.

Just came from the Apple store, told the same story to one of the guys there who use to work in a recording studio. He knew what I was talking about. Now I've talked to Apple Care twice, Bose once, no answers. But this guy suggested a USB device, like an iMic which I happened to have so I gave it a try and so far, NO POPPING. I have my fingers crossed, but it seems to be working. I have the speakers plugged into the iMic, the iMic plugged into a USB port.
Bottom line, this is screwed up, I shouldn't have to do this work around. Apple has to know about the problem. But until they own up to it at least now I'm not going nuts with this noise. At least I hope not. I'll post again if I'm wrong.

Bose Companion Speakers not recognized

My son has a set of Bose Companion Speakers that are not recognized with his macbook, but his brother's macbook does recognize them and they work fine. Any ideas as to why the one macbook no longer can recognize the speakers, it did at on time.
Thanks

You say that other speakers are recognized on this Mac.
Do you mean other USB speakers or other analog type speakers that plug into the speaker jack?
If it is the later, does your Mac have a red light showing inside the speaker jack? If so, the problem is with a switch integral to that jack. If not red light, I don't know what is wrong.
Try logging into your computer in another User Account. Create one if need be. This will help rule out the possibility of corrupt software in your main user account. It is very unlikely that a driver went bad or got removed. This is a Mac and that just doesn't happen unless someone literally removed files from the System folder or other Library folder, and you would know if you did that.

AirPort Express & Bose Companion Speakers w/ laptop - how do I???

What audio cable input do I need to buy to attach the Bose Companion (three speakers) to my Airport Express for wireless sound? (Macbook pro) This is possible right?
Needing to learn more consumer
Thanks
MacBook Pro Mac OS X (10.4.6)

Not sure about the speaker system but from what I read they are PRIMARILY to be connected to the computer with an additional input for auxilliary inputs. The express will work with pretty much any speakers provided that they have their own power. The express provides an output (mini jack or mini optical) to be input to a powered speaker system. It will not provide the power to the speakers. I would guess that the Companion does plug directly into an AC outlet for power and you could use the Y cable (probably a mini Y but I am unfamiliar with the aux inputs on the Companion- they could use RCA type) and it should work UNLESS the Bose requires a computer to choose the input. Hope this helps but I'm not really a Bose fan - any discussion that may raise is better posted elsewhere.

Bose Companion speakers with Subwoofer

I am trying to link my airport express directly to the Bose subwoofer but the only input connection is a USB port.
When I go direct to laptop using USB the sound is unbeatable. Unfortunately, I can't seem to configure the airport express to handle audio signals out of the USB port
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Yes, and a bit more detail...
For the AX, the audio is handled by a Texas
Instruments PCM2705 digital-to-analog converter which
it outputs on a 3.5mm stereo minijack. However, the
innermost end of the 3.5mm jack is an optical S/PDIF
transmitter.
The AX works only with iTunes v4.6+ and is limited to
music files that iTunes can read; ie, 16-bit data
only. (An exception is you can use a third-party
product like Rogue Amoeba's AirFoil to stream other
non-iTunes sources.) These data, though, can be in
any file format that iTunes recognizes, from lossy
MP3s at the low-quality end of the spectrum to Apple
Lossless and lossless AIF or WAV files at the high
end. It is also important to note that the AX
functions only at a 44.1kHz sample rate. When you
play 32kHz or 48kHz data, iTunes sample-rate-converts
the data in real time before sending it to the AX.
One operational glitch is the fact that, as the AX
doesn't have a local clock circuit, when the incoming
data is interrupted, as it is when you change songs
in iTunes, there is no longer a digital output to
feed the DAC, which loses lock as a result. Provided
you stick within its limitations and your DAC can
cope with its digital output switching off at the end
of songs, the combination of iTunes and an AX
provides an easy way to pipe CD-quality music around
your home.
Thanks for those details - So, how do I connect my Bose companion 5 to the airport express ?
Do I just use a mini to mini cable plugged into the Bose's control pod ? Can you buy mini to USB or toslink(?) to USB ?
Should I (and can I buy ??) the digital (toslink?) to mini (toslink in ax and mini in Bose pod) or is that a waste of time quality wise ?
So many questions !
Any help much appreciated THANKS

Why did my Bose companion speakers just quit working/ I have not changed a thing?

I have a companion 3 series II bose system. The other day it just quit, I haven't changed a thing. What happened?

Hello,
Long shot, but...
Open Audio Midi Setup in Applications>Utilities, see the input & output options & KHz setting there, some things will change it for their own use, then not set it back.

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Hello there I was hoping that someone might be able to help me out with my sound woes. My Bose speakers are great and have a fantastic sound but recently I have noticed it either uses one or both the speakers whenever it desires. I can unplug the speakers and plug them back in and they will work just fine. I did notice I was wondering if anyone else has noticed this at all. Sometimes it will just magically switch speakers from time to time or play in both. What do you all recommend I should do? Do you think it's the multiple audio jack playing tricks on me or do you think it's the speakers?

+Hiya Appleriffic. Don't know if I have a solution but I too have Bose Companion speakers and I agree they are great. Not had the problem you describe myself, I just plugged mine into the 'Headphone out/optical digital audio out port' and they are fine. Personally, I would try them without the multiple audio jack first, maybe that's the problem, or if that doesn't solve it, maybe it could be a problem with the speakers, are they new ones? Also do check that your plugs are all fully inserted. Hope you problem is soon sorted. x+
Message was edited by: Tidybitz

MacBook Pro Retina Late 2013 Compatibility issue with Bose Companion 5 USB Speakers on Mavericks

Hi, I wonder if somebody has compatibility issues of new MacBook Pro Retina (late 2013) and Bose Companion 5 USB speakers? They work fine on a left USB port on my MacBook Pro, but doesn't work at all on a right one: USB speakers are not recognised or if recognised as "Uknown Audio Device", they doesn't work any way and iTunes stops playing till I take USB cable out.
I tested them already on two identical machines - the same issue: left USB port works fine, right one - not.
While comparing, I tested this audio device also with other MacBooks:
MacBook Pro 15" 2008 (Mavericks) - both USB ports work fine
MacBook 13" 2010 (Mountain Lion) - both USB ports work fine
MacBook Pro 13" Retina early 2013 (Mavericks) - both USB ports work fine
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Hi,
Im having USB problems with storage devices and android phone connections
Thanks

Hi..I have bose companion 2 speakers and they don't seem to work with my macbook pro anymore..

The bose companion 2 speakers used to work fine in the beginning when I bought it.
After some days, I stopped using them and kept it in the box.
A few days ago, I removed them from the box and tried connecting them to my macbook pro but it does not seem to work
I also tried connecting it to iphone and tablet, it works with that
I dunnot what seems to be the problem here.
It does not even show as an option in the sound output preferences.
If anyone could help me, it would be great.
Thanks..

Have you read for possible solutions over in the "More Like This" thread over here?----------------------->

Bose companion 2 speakers wont play when i hook up to headphone jack. why?

bose companion 2 speakers produce no sound when i hook up everything apparently correctly. ideas?

I have the same speakers hooked up to my iMac (21.5" late 2009), to the headphone jack on the backside. Works fine for me. A few things to check:
- System Preferences -> Hardware -> Sound -> Output: make sure the headphone port is selected
- Make sure cable is plugged in to the correct port. My iMac has two ports: input (microphone, next to the USB ports) and output on the far left side.
- Do you get any sound if you plug in a pair of headphones to the same port?
- Do the speakers work if connected to another audio source (iPod, iPhone, etc.)?
Sorry if the above are quite obvious things which you've already checked. But just in case you forgot something...

My Bose Companion 5 speakers are not getting detected in mac pro. They are working fine with other machines (including mac).

My bose companion 5 speakers are not getting detected on Mac Pro. They are working fine with other machines (including friend's mac)

Same Issue here. I had a similar issue with my Bose USB speakers when I upgraded to Maverick. I've had the speakers since 2010 and had no issue with my 2006 Mac Pro or my iMac till the Maverick upgrade, contacted both Apple and Bose with no luck but an Apple update fixed the issue.
I wonder if other USB speakers have an issue or is it just BOSE USB speakers. But my Companions did work fine with my Mac Pro and iMac 27 till the Yosemite update with an initial issue with the Maverick upgrade it was definitely an Apple issue not Bose. I have both Boise Airplay and Blue tooth speakers that seem OK it is only the USB Companions that don't work.
Will look forward to a solution.
Thanks,
Rich

I have a mid-2009 MBP and I've been using my BOSE Companion 20 with it for about half a year now. It was fine until recently, when i want to adjust the volume using the pod on the BOSE Companion 20, it will cause like a surge in volume, spiking it up

I have a mid-2009 MBP and I've been using my BOSE Companion 20 with it for about half a year now. It was fine until recently, when i want to adjust the volume using the pod on the BOSE Companion 20, it will cause like a surge in volume, spiking it up and down. It will not stablise itself! It's very fustrating. Anybody with the same issue?

I have the BOSE Companion 5 speakers and have had the same problem. I've searched everywhere and gotten nowhere. My speakers are way past their warranty, so calling Bose would probably get me no where either. Only thing I can think of is that the speakers overheat which causes the spikes in the volume. I've tried unplugging them for a few minutes and then plug them back on. The problem does go away, but after about 5 minutes, same problem.

Bose Companion 2 Multimedia Speakers

I just bought the Bose Companion 2 Multimedia Speakers from Best Buy but originally saw them on the apple page. I can not hook them up. In the booklet they say they are a PC speaker system. Why would apple have them rated as the best? Thanks for any help in advance.

Are these the speakers you have?
http://www.bose.com/controller?event=VIEWPRODUCT_PAGE_EVENT&product=companion2_multimediaindex
You should be able to connect them as long as you have the right cables.
You will need one with a mini headphone plug(like ones for headphones for an ipod etc) on one end and two rca (red and white) on the other.
The rca go into the back of the speaker and the other into the headphone socket on your macbook.
You might not have the right cables included but it will work.
What you need is something like this (but not this long)
http://www.amazon.com/Belkin-F8V235-12-12-Foot-Audio-Cable/dp/B000067RBT/ref=pdbbs2?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1198718051&sr=8-2
Cheers

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My imac is not recognizing my Bose companion 3 speakers. This is the second time since I bought these speakers 3 years ago.The last time this happened, the problem simply fixed iteself after leaving things unplugged for a few weeks. One day I plugged everything again and suddenly, the speakers appered in the output option of sound section in system preferences. No luck with that this time.

Hello,
Long shot, but...
Open Audio Midi Setup in Applications>Utilities, see the input & output options & KHz setting there, some things will change it for their own use, then not set it back.

BOSE Companion 3 speakers not supported?

I just upgraded to an iMAC running OS X 10.5.8 and now my BOSE Companion 3 speakers don't seem to be supported. I've plugged everything in (double and triple checked!) but just not being recognised. Under Sys Prefs/Sound/Outputs no option is available other than "Internal Speakers". Can anyone help please?

I know this discussion was regarding a MacBook Pro but the common denominator is the Bose System. It appears that their Mini Plug isn't compatible with the jacks Macs use.
https://discussions.apple.com/message/18463030?ac_cid=tw123456#18463030

Win 7 and USB Bose Companion 5 Speakers

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