Home Theater Forum › Home Theater Forum › Home Theater › Beginners, General Questions & HTiB (Home Theater in a Box) › Trying to use Bose speakers with a Sony receiver....
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

Trying to use Bose speakers with a Sony receiver....

post #1 of 22
8/3/09 at 8:57am
Thread Starter 
I had some Bose Acoustimas "cube" speakers left over from an older Bose system i had that had stopped working long ago.  Well the speakers were fine and i thought i would use them with my Sony home receiver. 

The problem is the Bose speakers have a single RCA plug on the back of them, and my Sony receiver has the traditional positive/negative speaker-wire terminals on the back.

is there a cable out there that is RCA-to-speaker wire?  or is there another way to make this work?  I'd hate to not use a perfectly good set of Bose cubes i already had...

thanks!
Reply
post #2 of 22
8/3/09 at 10:00am
Thread Starter 

i found this:

http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2102959&CAWELAID=107595248

It's Radio Shack (so quality of cable might be suspect), but it is 18g.....    this should work, no?  anything i should know about trying to hook these up?


Edited by ABTsportsline - 8/3/2009 at 05:51 pm GMT
Reply
post #3 of 22
8/3/09 at 10:28am
Your link doesn't work.

One option is to cut the RCA plug off and strip the insulation down to the bare wire.


Quote:
Originally Posted by ABTsportsline View Post

I'd hate to not use a perfectly good set of Bose cubes i already had...
Please do a search about Bose before responding.  They aren't 'perfectly good'.  In fact, they don't even rate as average.  Without the woofer module, you may even blow them up.  They aren't made to handle some of the low mid-bass frequencies.  Sell them on Ebay and buy a moderately priced set of speakers. 

-Robert
 
Reply
post #4 of 22
8/3/09 at 10:55am
Thread Starter 
sorry, i was using html formatting and i guess that doesn't fly here.

what search for bose would you recommend i do?  I would rather not buy speakers when i have a set here.... if you would tell me what is wrong with them, i'd be very grateful!  For the application i am going to use these in, their small size makes them more appealing than just about anything else out there.

i'm no audiophile and i won't brag about having the nicest setup.... but i appreciate small form-factor and the sound quality is good enough for me..... plus the obvious point that i already own them.

if it's a crossover issue, i could just put an in-line filter on them, no?  The receiver has a built-in crossover too, i could conceivably just isolate the frequencies to avoid damaging them, right?  sorry, i'm not too terribly well-versed with home audio, but i appreciate all the help.

cheers!

(If these are that bad, is there a set of very small speakers that i can run off a receiver out there that you would recommend?  I have searched online and in stores, and have not seen anything small enough for what i need.... plus the price has to be reasonable.  I don't want to spend several hundred dollars on speakers)
Reply
post #5 of 22
8/3/09 at 12:28pm
I used to own a Bose Acoustimass system also. I thought they sounded pretty good too. I was pretty proud of them, after all they cost me a lot more than most of the common similar sized setups.  They had to be better.  This was several years ago. At the time, our old VCR was going out, and I decided to get a new one.  After doing a lot of research, I settled on a Mitsubishi.  The only problem is that you could only find this particular VCR at higher end shops, not BB or CC.  I went to look at one place close to my house.  I walked in and they were playing The Matrix on some very expensive speakers.  I was mesmerized.  I could swear I was hearing all kinds of stuff I'd never heard on my Bose speakers at home???  What the heck.  I picked up the VCR, went back and watched a little more Matrix.  Then I immediately went home and put my copy of the matrix in my DVD player and fired it up.  Where's that nice, crisp tinkling of brass as it falls all over the floor and onto the helicopter skids???  Where's all of the low-end, thump in the chest impact from the helicopter crashing into the building.  This sounds like crap!  I paid good money for these speakers, what's going on.  I had done a lot of research on my new VCR, so I decided to start trying to find out what was wrong with my Bose speakers.  It turns out they are very poorly built with very poor components.  It's almost impossible to get both decent highs and mids from one driver, especially a very cheap one in a very poor, cheap plastic enclosure.  Long story, but I actually know pretty much how you feel...

Anyway, there are a number of MUCH better systems out there for the money.  You may not be able to find something quite that small for the money, but take a look at Klipsch, they have a fairly small system that sounds pretty decent (MUCH better than the Acoustimass).  If you're willing to go just a little larger, Energy has some very decent systems for much less than a Bose system, also Polk.  Any of these would be better than what you have, trust me, I know.  Personally, I decided that sound was much more important than looks or size, so I e-bay'd my old system and got more than enough to pay for the 4 surrounds that I went with and invested a bit more in some towers and a large center.  I also bought all of these off of e-bay and they were all mint condition.  I've never looked back, kind of embarrassing now that I spent that much on those speakers before doing any proper research...
Reply
post #6 of 22
8/3/09 at 1:43pm
Thread Starter 
i'm not going to use the Bose speakers....  and my reservations have nothing to do with sound quality.

i'm just wary of the impedances and power handling, as this is not known and (as you guys will suspect), i can't even find out the specs from Bose.  To avoid risking ruining them, i'll just sell them and get something else.  Thanks Robert for your good point about using the bass module....

please put the bose hate away temporarily though, as they aren't bad if they're free 
Reply
post #7 of 22
8/3/09 at 1:47pm
Thread Starter 
anyone know why i cannot post to another sub-forum here?  my posts here appear immediately, but in another thread they are held for moderator approval....  which would be fine except other replies are coming in and my responses aren't being posted. 
Reply
post #8 of 22
8/3/09 at 2:34pm


Quote:
Originally Posted by ABTsportsline View Post
as they aren't bad if they're free 
See here...........click on links too, to find out more.
http://www.firstadopter.com/fa/archives/001749.html
Especially the "http://www.intellexual.net/bose.html " link.

BTW......
Even free, there're still too expensive! You have to use energy to collect them and hook them up. Very much not worth the trouble, even free!

Reply
post #9 of 22
8/3/09 at 2:52pm
Thread Starter 
yeah, i've read all those already.

take this as constructive, with no harm meant (and not singling you out either, but for everyone):  The anti-bose stuff is very tired.  seriously.  I did a search for Bose and saw all the threads of new people asking about it.  Very few threads had replies (i'm guessing if you guys see "Bose", you just ignore), and the ones that did have replies showed the posters getting slammed for using or even mentioning Bose.

Things you guys should consider:
* not everyone is an audio snob
* Bose isn't the best - sure - but it's definitely perfect for some
* some of us didn't buy it new, or even used
* Bose has its place in the marketplace, and it definitely has its own clientele

some people cannot tell the difference between SQ in a Bose system and one of the fancier ones you guys mention.  does that make them any less worthy of a person?  no.  i don't think that gives them any less of a right to be here.

i'll agree that bose isn't the best thing ever, but if you say it's absolute dog@#* because you read others say it before you, read some audio charts about frequency response, or because you were personally wronged by them, then that isn't being fair to the person who is asking the question.

what you guys should do is help those even if you disagree with the brand they go with.  You can make suggestions to improve their setup or situation without berating them for going with Bose.  Many of the threads where alternatives WERE suggested, the alternatives were ridiculously priced, or way out of the price range.  Not all of us have the budget for a nice fancy system, and have to go with what we can find out there used, or even yet, what we can be given from friends/relatives.

anyway, enough of the rant.  the point is i have a bose system that i was given.  i personally have heard bose stuff in the past and liked the way it sounded.  no way in hell i would pay that much for it, but i definitely consider it to be on the better end of the spectrum.  If you disagree, that is fine.  Obviously my ears are not as finely tuned as yours.  But why does that make me insignificant or any less valuable of a member/poster here?  I am not advising people to buy bose, just saying i have it.  so please, enough with the Bose-bashing here and let's get to answering questions.

no ill-will meant toward anyone, just pent-up frustration from reading all the threads i found on here regarding Bose products.  I wish everyone well, and i do very much appreciate all the support & help i get.  Extra thanks to those that can help objectively and without ridicule.  :beer:
Reply
post #10 of 22
8/3/09 at 3:32pm
Back in the late 60s and early 70s, Bose made some nice speakers. Don't know why they went downhill over the years. Ever notice in the stores, that every manufacturer, except Bose, will tell you their freq. response, efficiency ratings, crossovers, etc.? Bose wants the general public to think it's a secret, they don't want other speaker companies to know. Actually, they know that if you understand the numbers they give you, you'll realize you're not getting you're money's worth. There's no big secret other companies are trying to steal.
I know a guy that worked at an A/V store, and a customer was asking for info on Bose speakers, that the guy couldn't answer. So, he called Bose while the customer was there, and asked them for the answers. Bose told him, "we don't give out that information".

Bose has an excellent marketing company. They use the power of suggestion, to fool people into believing they are the best speakers.


We're not being snobs. We're trying to educate people that they can get much better, for the same money or less.


Edited by Ed Moxley - 8/3/2009 at 10:46 pm GMT
Reply
post #11 of 22
8/3/09 at 8:09pm
Renn,

Many of the BOSE posts go unanswered because we don't own BOSE and cannot help.

Also, we hate ripoffs.  We hate companies that rip off their customers.  Search any legit audio forum for BOSE or Monster and see it is not just us.

Reply
post #12 of 22
8/3/09 at 11:05pm
Wow, great thread - exactly what I was looking for, I've been searching the NET for more info on Bose

I was going to dish out $1800 on a Bose Lifestyle v10 system (Costco Deal) for my home theater but I wasn't sure if it was worth it. Now I'm going back to the drawing board.

Can I ask what you would purchase for similar functionality using $1800? Would it have something similar to AdaptiQ? Or is that feature just marketing hype? My room size is 10' by 15' by 8' ceilings. It will be mainly used for Cable TV, Movies and Video Games.
Reply
post #13 of 22
8/4/09 at 4:55am
For $1800, I, personally, would recommend a set of SVS speakers and sub:
http://www.svsound.com/products-sys-sbs_black.cfm
Then, for a receiver, I would recommend an Onkyo:
http://www.amazon.com/Onkyo-TX-SR806-Channel-Theater-Receiver/dp/B001AMUF7K/ref=sr_1_14?ie=UTF8&s=aht&qid=1249386264&sr=1-14
and cables to connect everything from monoprice.com: http://www.monoprice.com/home/index.asp
With cables, this totals around $1700, and will blow away any Bose system made. You'll probably want a blu ray player too, but it would also be an extra cost with the Bose setup.
I'm sure others will make other recommendations for speakers and receiver, that will also put Bose to shame. Lots of stuff out there................ :)
Reply
post #14 of 22
8/4/09 at 5:43am
Joe,

I have no idea what AdaptiQ...  Is it some sort of EQ???  If so, the Onkyo that Ed suggested comes with Audyssey EQ.  IMO, it is the best EQ out there (of the ones that ship with recievers).
Reply
post #15 of 22
8/4/09 at 8:09am

Wow, if I was going to take a stand and defend something, it definitely wouldn't be Bose, but since you did....  I take offense at your post.  No one in this thread posted anything about Bose just because they read someone else's post.  As mentioned, I personally owned an expensive set of Bose speakers, so I definitely know about them first hand.  Robert builds speakers, and has actually handbuilt some actual drivers and helped my rebuild my sub with excellent results.  Also, the speakers that were suggested in this thread were specifically suggested to be within given price ranges.  You also asked for more information on what was wrong with Bose and then turn around and scold us for providing additional views.  I have also seen several threads where people were helping with various Bose setups.  So, if you choose to bash us for trying to help, I will no longer try, besides, I'm really wondering if I'm smelling Troll here based on your unwarranted rant...

Reply
post #16 of 22
8/4/09 at 1:00pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ed Moxley View Post

Back in the late 60s and early 70s, Bose made some nice speakers. Don't know why they went downhill over the years. Ever notice in the stores, that every manufacturer, except Bose, will tell you their freq. response, efficiency ratings, crossovers, etc.? Bose wants the general public to think it's a secret, they don't want other speaker companies to know. Actually, they know that if you understand the numbers they give you, you'll realize you're not getting you're money's worth. There's no big secret other companies are trying to steal.
I know a guy that worked at an A/V store, and a customer was asking for info on Bose speakers, that the guy couldn't answer. So, he called Bose while the customer was there, and asked them for the answers. Bose told him, "we don't give out that information".

Bose has an excellent marketing company. They use the power of suggestion, to fool people into believing they are the best speakers.


We're not being snobs. We're trying to educate people that they can get much better, for the same money or less.


Edited by Ed Moxley - 8/3/2009 at 10:46 pm GMT

I understand that angle & appreciate that.  I have learned the difficulty of obtaining specs or information as well, which is why i came here in the first place.   :beer:

Quote:
Originally Posted by David Willow View Post

Renn,

Many of the BOSE posts go unanswered because we don't own BOSE and cannot help.

Also, we hate ripoffs.  We hate companies that rip off their customers.  Search any legit audio forum for BOSE or Monster and see it is not just us.

 
I definitely do see it everywhere, and that's why i tried to make clear as possible i'm not singling anyone out.  i appreciate the ripoff argument - and i agree, not worth the price they ask.  However my overall point was that rarely do the posters anywhere bother to worry about how the question-asker acquired the equipment.  but appreciate your input.  :beer:

Quote:
Originally Posted by ShanonS View Post

Wow, if I was going to take a stand and defend something, it definitely wouldn't be Bose, but since you did....  I take offense at your post.  No one in this thread posted anything about Bose just because they read someone else's post.  As mentioned, I personally owned an expensive set of Bose speakers, so I definitely know about them first hand.  Robert builds speakers, and has actually handbuilt some actual drivers and helped my rebuild my sub with excellent results.  Also, the speakers that were suggested in this thread were specifically suggested to be within given price ranges.  You also asked for more information on what was wrong with Bose and then turn around and scold us for providing additional views.  I have also seen several threads where people were helping with various Bose setups.  So, if you choose to bash us for trying to help, I will no longer try, besides, I'm really wondering if I'm smelling Troll here based on your unwarranted rant...

i haven't had any previous dialogue with you nor have i ever even addressed you, so i don't know how you take offense to my post.  also, NOTHING was suggested in this thread for me, so i don't know what you're speaking of as your entire post is factually inaccurate.

* i did not scold anyone for providing additional views. 
* no speakers were listed at any prices to my question (what are you talking about??)
* i have seen several threads where SOME posters did try to help - and those people are NOT the ones i'm talking to.  you will NOT find a thread with someone asking for Bose help that does not include at least some bashing that was unwarranted or not asked for.  THAT is what i'm talking about.  If you aren't that person, why would you care what i say?
* i don't understand why you are defending robert - i never attacked or said anything about him.  He gave an answer and that was fine.  i appreciate his input, but don't understand what his post and my post have to do with anything.

my only post that could be considered "scolding" was the one you undoubtedly responded to, which was an attempt to give you guys an outsider's "devils advocate" point of view. it is easy for masses to fall into "groupthink" and all jump off the deep end uncontrollably at times...  I didn't single out or target anyone, just hoped it would be a "food for thought" post.  i apologize if you were offended - that wasn't my intent. Granted, some of my words are from reading many posts over time - not just ones you might have posted in, in the past.  If you read what i read on here in the search results, you'd see what i am talking about.  Fortunately (or unfortunately), i don't have the time or desire to go back and quote every comment in every thread.... but as a complete newbie to this site who did some time searching, i can assure you that i didn't post that because i was bored.  and a troll, i am most definitely NOT.  i fail to understand how you can even say that given that i've only had one post of several that was critical - and it was constructive at that.

and with that i've devoted entirely too much time at trying to give you an outsider's point of view.  i'm not realizing you don't care to hear it, so i'm done.

i do very much appreciate all those who did give their time to help & offered assistance.  thank you.
 

Reply
post #17 of 22
8/4/09 at 1:49pm
with all teeth-gnashing aside (grin) you already found the answer for connecting your cubes to your receiver.  It'll work just fine, and won't damage the cubes.  You will want to set the crossover in the receiver pretty high, like 400 hertz (or more?), and have a small subwoofer that can produce fairly high-frequency (for a sub) audio.  While Radio Shack gets bad press for quality, wire is just wire, and what you pictured above is plenty good enough for your intended use.

Reply
post #18 of 22
8/4/09 at 5:00pm
Renn,

If something is known to be a bad investment, wouldn't you want to know about it?  No one here rips anyone for their choice of speaker.  We do, however, attempt to inform them of the issues, problems, or general information about their setups.  Many uniformed folks have no idea that in audio circles, BOSE is not considered the best (or even acceptable).  
Reply
post #19 of 22
8/4/09 at 9:25pm
Hi Ed & David,

The reason I was gravitating towards the Bose was because of their small size (the wife likes them because they seem unobtrusive) but I'm not stuck on it. The speakers you recommended looks alot bigger are their small speakers on the market which provides fantastic sound or am I asking to break the laws of physics. Next question was the receiver you recommended supports 7.1 sound but the speakers are a 5.1 set or 7.1 set - does it really matter, is it worth the extra $150 bucks. With most movies of the action flicks out there would I notice the difference?  

David one of my other reasons was I was looking at Bose was because they had some magical method of automatically adjusting the speakers to provide the best sound for the room layout. I sat in the demo room with the wife and we were pretty awed when they lifted the fake speaker boxes and showed the little cubes off. The next thing they did was to put a bucket on the speakers to make it sound like crap and then after pressing a button - voila - it sounded normal again. AdaptiQ was Boses auto calibration system - do other manufacturers have that feature?

Thanks for your answers

Joe
Reply
post #20 of 22
8/4/09 at 9:58pm
Joe............
The only movies that are in 7.1 are a few blu ray movies. I'm sure they'll be making much more.
I use a 7.1 setup and like it. I watch tv using the Dolby Pro Logic IIx, and it sounds great. Since I don't have blu ray yet, I get 5.1/6.1 from my dvds. Is 7.1 worth it? Some say yes, and some say no. You have to decide if it's what you want, and if you have room behind you for the back surround speakers. You'll definitely notice a difference on some stuff, more than others.

The SVS speakers are bookshelf speakers, so they aren't real big. They are bigger than the little Bose. But, do you want good sound, or tiny speakers? Orb makes some tiny speakers, that your wife may like. I have no experience with them. See them here: www.orbaudio.com/

The Onkyo receiver has Audyssey, instead of AdaptiQ. Same type of thing, but Audyssey is very much respected, and does an excellent job. Denon also uses Audyssey. If you decide to just use a 5.1 speaker system with the 7.1 receiver, that will be just fine. A lot of folks do. The Audyssey will detect the number of speakers, while doing the calibration process, and setup that way.
Reply
post #21 of 22
8/5/09 at 4:01am

Pioneer calls is MCACC.  All of the other major brands have auto calibration/EQ as well.  Some are more advanced than others. 

During this demo were you allowed to play your own CD's?  Probably not.  This demonstation has been discussed for years.  When more seasoned listener brings in their own material to audition the Bose employee won't allow it.  Their demo is carefully scripted and any deviation will reveal the flaws in the sound system.  It is the same reason that Bose speaker listening stations in Best Buy and Sam's Club aren't with the rest of the audio equipment.  That way you can't perform side by side listening sessions.

-Robert
Quote:
Originally Posted by Yokiebear View Post

David one of my other reasons was I was looking at Bose was because they had some magical method of automatically adjusting the speakers to provide the best sound for the room layout. I sat in the demo room with the wife and we were pretty awed when they lifted the fake speaker boxes and showed the little cubes off. The next thing they did was to put a bucket on the speakers to make it sound like crap and then after pressing a button - voila - it sounded normal again. AdaptiQ was Boses auto calibration system - do other manufacturers have that feature?
Reply
post #22 of 22
8/5/09 at 9:59am

Quote:
NOTHING was suggested in this thread for me, so i don't know what you're speaking of as your entire post is factually inaccurate.

* no speakers were listed at any prices to my question (what are you talking about??) 

Quote:
 You may not be able to find something quite that small for the money, but take a look at Klipsch, they have a fairly small system that sounds pretty decent (MUCH better than the Acoustimass).  If you're willing to go just a little larger, Energy has some very decent systems for much less than a Bose system, also Polk. 

I didn't suggest specific speakers, but I did make suggestions, but I was also referring to your other post that I had already read where they were very specific about speakers and prices to meet your desired specs.  Not sure where that would be factually innaccurate, might want to double check.
Reply
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home
Home Theater Forum › Home Theater Forum › Home Theater › Beginners, General Questions & HTiB (Home Theater in a Box) › Trying to use Bose speakers with a Sony receiver....