What brand is most recognized by non-audiophiles?

I hear commercial Bose setups that make me think there is possibilities still there for good home audio, but most home audio Bose stuff I hear tends to be well sub-par.

I think there are ways one could make a good sounding home system with Bose stuff these days, but most that might have the interest and knowledge needed to give it a fair try probably end up elsewhere first.

There is a Bose store in a nearby mall last time I checked a couple years back. I went in looking for a good Bose 2-channel sound benchmark but there was nothing set up there that even gave it a decent attempt as I recall having seen and heard in similar Bose stores in years prior.

Bottom line is Bose has little interest in marketing traditional 2 channel home audio products these days. Too much money made elsewhere! Not to say Bose might not deliver good sound still if someone really tried. Bose definitely knows how to run a successful business built around sound. The numbers would indicate perhaps they know how to do this better than anyone. THey just don't give a hoot about traditional audiophiles. They tend to be more forward thinking and targeting the masses in regards to their products.

Who cares!!!!!

Well said, Mapman.

THey just don't give a hoot about traditional audiophiles. They tend to be more forward thinking and targeting the masses in regards to their products.

that's right! 'coz us old audiophiles are a cranky, nit-picky lot that turn our noses up if the audio item does not cost $$$$$. We say in our own minds " if it's not expensive then how it could sound the best?". Just the kind of words that audiophile equipment manuf wanted here to mark-up their gear to ludicrous values!
Bose realized quickly that $300 for a Bose Wave system from the masses would fetch more revenue that making, say, a $600 system & selling it to a niche audiophile market. The masses would appreciate the "better" sound more willingly than the audiophiles who needed convincing that Bose would compete with their existing hi-faluting systems.....
Piss as much as you want on Bose systems, their marketing dept got it right. You have to give the Devil his due.....

My response to the OP's question would be (besides Bose)
* Adcom
* Polk Audio
* Boston Acoustics
* Cambridge Audio
* Sony
* Onkyo

these are brands readily available at Best Buy, Tweeter, Circuit City (when they were in biz), Crutchfield, HHGregg, and J&R. That's where a lot of the masses shop.