Amar Gopal Bose was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to parents of Indian descent. His father, Noni Gopal Bose, was a physicist who had been imprisoned for his activism during the Indian independence movement. His mother was an American schoolteacher. This unique blend of scientific curiosity and social consciousness likely influenced Amar's later endeavors.

During World War II, when electrical components were scarce, the twelve year old Amar, displaying an early aptitude for electronics and entrepreneurship, started a radio repair shop in his family home. This experience provided him with practical skills and a fundamental understanding of electronics that would prove invaluable in his future career.

Bose earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). His time at MIT solidified his engineering foundation and exposed him to cutting-edge research, paving the way for his future innovations.

Bose continued his studies at MIT, earning a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering. His doctoral research focused on nonlinear systems, a field that would later contribute to his understanding of audio signal processing and loudspeaker design. His thesis advisor was Norbert Wiener, a pioneer in cybernetics.

After completing his Ph.D., Bose joined the faculty of MIT as an Assistant Professor of Electrical Engineering. He was passionate about teaching and mentoring students, and he remained affiliated with MIT for over 45 years. He believed in hands-on learning and encouraged his students to pursue their own research interests.

While pursuing his academic career, Bose became dissatisfied with the performance of commercially available high-end loudspeakers. Despite their impressive specifications, he felt that they failed to accurately reproduce the listening experience of a live performance. This dissatisfaction spurred him to conduct his own research into psychoacoustics and loudspeaker design.

Driven by his desire to create better audio equipment, Bose founded the Bose Corporation. The company's initial focus was on developing non-conventional loudspeaker designs based on his research into psychoacoustics, which aimed to understand how humans perceive sound. He funded the company with personal funds and venture capital.

The Bose 901 loudspeaker, a revolutionary design that used reflected sound to create a more immersive listening experience, was introduced to the market. The design was based on the idea that in a concert hall, most of the sound that reaches the listener is reflected off of walls, ceilings and floors. The 901 was a critical and commercial success, helping to establish Bose as a major player in the audio industry, even with the unconventional sound that some critics disputed.

Bose was inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame for his significant contributions to the field of audio technology. This honor recognized his innovative loudspeaker designs and his impact on the consumer electronics industry.

Bose donated a majority of the Bose Corporation's non-voting shares to MIT. The dividends from these shares are used to support MIT's research and education programs. This act reflected Bose's commitment to education and his desire to give back to the institution that had played such a significant role in his life. It was stipulated that MIT could never sell the shares, and they are forbidden from participating in the company’s management.

Amar Gopal Bose passed away in Wayland, Massachusetts, at the age of 83. His legacy lives on through the Bose Corporation, which continues to innovate in the field of audio technology, and through his contributions to education at MIT. His dedication to research, innovation, and education has left a lasting impact on the world.