I need HELP wit my surround sound!!!

[zwbuntster]

So, we recently bought a new Sony 3LCD 60 inch HDTV (LCD Projection). For the surround sound, we bought the 6.1 system of Bose and 2 separate side speakers. However, the way Bose works is that everything goes through the sub woofer and its crossover and then out to the speakers. Because we rebuilt our house and wired for 7.1, we wanted to go that route. So, my question is, can we set the Bose up as a 5.1 system through the sub woofer and the two side speakers outside of the Bose? Will this work as a 7.1 system and will it still sound the same??

Thanks for your help.

[MacManNM]

So, we recently bought a new Sony 3LCD 60 inch HDTV (LCD Projection). For the surround sound, we bought the 6.1 system of Bose and 2 separate side speakers. However, the way Bose works is that everything goes through the sub woofer and its crossover and then out to the speakers. Because we rebuilt our house and wired for 7.1, we wanted to go that route. So, my question is, can we set the Bose up as a 5.1 system through the sub woofer and the two side speakers outside of the Bose? Will this work as a 7.1 system and will it still sound the same??

Thanks for your help.

No, you can't do that. The amp for all of the speakers is in the sub.

Is there any way you can take it back? The bose system isn't the best performing system around. For the amount of money you spent, you can get something that sounds way better.

[MDS]

No, it will not work as a 7.1 system. From the perspective of your receiver the Bose system is 2 channels. You would have to run the left and right front channels to the bose subwoofer and connect the satellite speakers to it.

You can't really hook up the satellites to each individual channel of the receiver because their frequency response is very limited. Those Bose systems are really an equalizer in a box (the electronics in the sub decide how to split up the signal and send it to the satellites). You cannot get true 5.1, 6.1, or 7.1 with that type of system. I would return the bose and get anything else for half as much money if you want a real HT setup.

[Tomorrow]

So, we recently bought a new Sony 3LCD 60 inch HDTV (LCD Projection). For the surround sound, we bought the 6.1 system of Bose and 2 separate side speakers. However, the way Bose works is that everything goes through the sub woofer and its crossover and then out to the speakers. Because we rebuilt our house and wired for 7.1, we wanted to go that route. So, my question is, can we set the Bose up as a 5.1 system through the sub woofer and the two side speakers outside of the Bose? Will this work as a 7.1 system and will it still sound the same??

Thanks for your help.

Whosoever answers this question in a warm, friendly, positive, and helpful sort of way shall receive a DOUBLE chiclet from me! ;)

[Tomorrow]

Whosoever answers this question in a warm, friendly, positive, and helpful sort of way shall receive a DOUBLE chiclet from me! ;)

Ah, while I was typing the above, two good'uns came in...but Mac was first. Double green for Mac. :D

[zwbuntster]

So even if we got a new receiver with similar technology in it, we couldn't just run the Bose as a 5.1 and add two side through the receiver?

[zwbuntster]

I just spoke with Bose and they told me that it will work.

[Tomorrow]

Did you audition any speakers? Did you select Bose because they sounded better than others you listened to? Are you set on them?

I'll chime in with MDS and MacManNM...if you can still return the Bose, do yourself a favor. Go listen to some other speaker brands. You can get much better quality for less money. There are many experienced a/v hands here that would be willing to help with suggestions if you are open to them.

[nibhaz]

I just spoke with Bose and they told me that it will work.

Please elaborate has to how they suggested you go about doing this, very interested! Telling you something can be done, and it actually working is two different things. Keep us updated please.

[j_garcia]

So even if we got a new receiver with similar technology in it, we couldn't just run the Bose as a 5.1 and add two side through the receiver?

Yes, that would work, but you'll still have Bose speakers.

[jcPanny]

Since you have the house wired for 7.1 channels, you could always purchase an entry level 7.1 capable receiver and use it to power all channels of your system.
Any 7.1 model available from Yamaha, Denon, HK, or Pioneer will deliver more power to the speakers than your current bose module.
If you decide that the performance of the Bose speakers is not adequate, you could replace them, but you'll already have a decent receiver.

For a small, satellite system with decent performance, check the recent Audioholics review of the Orb Audio Mod 2 system.

[zwbuntster]

We did buy a new receiver with pretty good quality. We don't have a Bose reciever is thats what you think. We just bought the speaker package because my step-dad like the look and i guess the sound even though I have heard better. He doesn't want to ge big speakers and he doesn't want to spend any more than we did. Bose told me that it should work if I set the Bose up in 5.1 through the sub and simply add the two sides through the receiver.

[mulester7]

We did buy a new receiver with pretty good quality. We don't have a Bose reciever is thats what you think. We just bought the speaker package because my step-dad like the look and i guess the sound even though I have heard better. He doesn't want to get big speakers and he doesn't want to spend any more than we did. Bose told me that it should work if I set the Bose up in 5.1 through the sub and simply add the two sides through the receiver......tell your step-dad we hope he enjoys the system, Zwbuntster....the Bose cubes will give volume and clarity plenty acceptable....if you ever find yourself wanting a system that will deliver more than Bose, please come back and give us a chance to help....thanks for dropping by......

[MDS]

Bose told me that it should work if I set the Bose up in 5.1 through the sub and simply add the two sides through the receiver.

You will have 5.1 speakers. You will NOT have the 5.1 discrete channels of Dolby Digital 5.1 - for that you need to have the receiver send a separate signal for each channel to each speaker.

Visualize how your connections would work:
1. You connect the L/R speaker outputs of the receiver to bose subwoofer and the rest of the satellite speakers to the subwoofer.
2. You connect additional speakers to the rear surround speaker outputs of the receiver.
3. You tell the receiver you have 7.1 speakers - but there is no speaker connected to the center channel, the side surround channels, or the subwoofer pre-out so that information is lost. Only the L and R front channels will go to the bose "subwoofer" and they will be played back over 5 speakers.

[zwbuntster]

No, you dont understand. A separate signal leaves the receiver for each speaker. The 5 Bose then go to the sub woofer and passes through the crossover, sending all the bass to the woofer and the original signals to the speakers. Then, I will add two sides from the receiver that will both get separate signals as well. I think it will work, Bose says it will work, others have said it will work, so I am going to go for it.

[markw]

No, you dont understand. A separate signal leaves the receiver for each speaker. The 5 Bose then go to the sub woofer and passes through the crossover, sending all the bass to the woofer and the original signals to the speakers. Then, I will add two sides from the receiver that will both get separate signals as well. I think it will work, Bose says it will work, others have said it will work, so I am going to go for it.You have seven speaker outputs coming out of hte receiver, right?

Now, you are gonna to connect the two "non-bose" speakers directly to your receiver's front right and left speaker outputs, right?

The other five speakers outputs on the receiver are going to the Bose bass box and. from there. to the individual bosettes, right?

If so, set your receiver as such:

Subwoofer to "No" or "Off". You're not sending a LFE signal to the sub from the receiver.

Assuming all speakers are up to it, set all speakers to large.

You'll get something. Maybe not what you want, but you'll get something. If the front right/left speakers are any good at all, you will quickly find out that the bosette you're using as your center speaker is woefully inadaquete in delivering the dialogue in compariason to them.

[MDS]

No, you dont understand. A separate signal leaves the receiver for each speaker. The 5 Bose then go to the sub woofer and passes through the crossover, sending all the bass to the woofer and the original signals to the speakers. Then, I will add two sides from the receiver that will both get separate signals as well. I think it will work, Bose says it will work, others have said it will work, so I am going to go for it.

So all 5 speaker outputs go to the bose subwoofer? That's wonderful, go for it. I predict you will be back with further questions about how to set the bass management features of the receiver...although markw has already alluded to some of the approaches you can try (and will be disappointed with).

[j_garcia]

If so, set your receiver as such:

Subwoofer to "No" or "Off". You're not sending a LFE signal to the sub from the receiver.

Assuming all speakers are up to it, set all speakers to large.

You'll get something. Maybe not what you want, but you'll get something. If the front right/left speakers are any good at all, you will quickly find out that the bosette you're using as your center speaker is woefully inadaquete in delivering the dialogue in compariason to them.

Mark is correct, and this is the ONLY way you can hook up the Bose system. It does not have a LFE input, AFAIK. The last time I set up one of these, it has basically a harness that has 5 speaker wires that hooks from the receiver to the bass module (where the crossover is), which in turn passes on the filtered signal to the cubes. The other two speakers must be fed directly off the receiver.

[zwbuntster]

Actually, we are going to use the non-bose speakers as left and right sides not front sides.

[zwbuntster]

Also, the sub does receive a signal from the reciever.

[Votrax]

Also, the sub does receive a signal from the reciever.

You're correct. All the latest Acoustimass packages use a powered subwoofer so there is a LFE connection. The "Series I" systems routed all 5 channels through the sub because they had a passive crossover that sent the low frequencies to the subwoofer since it wasn't powered. Since the Series III subwoofer is powered I wasn't sure why they still route all 5 channels through the sub until I read the manual online.

CAUTION: The Acoustimass® 6 and Acoustimass 10 speaker systems incorporate an automatic protection circuit, which guards against most kinds of damage from electrical stress or overload. This circuit activates at high volume levels to reduce output, causing a slight decrease in volume. This is normal operation and indicates that power input may be exceeding safe levels. Sustained listening at these levels is not recommended.

This is how the manual suggested to set up your receiver as well:

Your Acoustimass 6 or Acoustimass 10 speakers are compatible with the output from digitalsurround receivers. Integrated Signal Processing assures full bass reproduction for all channels regardless of receiver settings. However, the following table suggests a set of recommended receiver settings. The cube speaker arrays should be set to LARGE in the receiver's
digital display menu. The LFE, or subwoofer, is set to ON. If applicable, the crossover value should be set to the lowest number possible, typically 80 Hz.

[markw]

That bass box is just that. a bass box. A subwoofer starts doing it's thing below 80 hz and any one worth it's salt goes down fairly loudly and cleanly to 30 hz or lower.

good luck...