Onkyo SKS-HT540 vs. Old Bose Accoustimas?

[Nailzaz]

Hi Forums - This is my first post, so please be gentle I've been listening to the AVRant Podcast and I love it. I don't want to make assumptions, but I would guess that you guys know your stuff real well and are also on the high-end of audio, so I hope my question isn't in appropriate for these forums. But here it goes...

I asked some people for advice about what component(s) of my system would be best to update and my speakers were at the top of the list.

I currently have the Bose Acoustimass 6 and a Mitsubishi M-SUB 10 (sub woofer) - I purchased many years ago and they seem "good enough" for me and my question is, would I noticed a difference with the Onkyo SKS-HT540 speakers?

I am on a very tight budget and these seem to get great reviews for the value - but if there wouldn't be much of a difference, than I'd rather not purchase them.

My current speakers are all wall-mounted and I would like to keep that set-up.

Any advice, comments, suggestions (other speakers?) would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance for your help.
Paul in Arizona

Here's my current HT system:

TV: 50" Plasma TV: Samsung HP-5053
Receiver: Sony STR-DG800
Speakers: Bose Acoustimass 6
Sub Woofer: Mitsubishi M-SUB 10
DVD player: Samsung DVD HD860
DVR: VIP622
Remote: Universal Remote Control MX-500
HD Programming: Dish Network (HD, Everything & Movie Packages)

 

[j_garcia]

What exactly IS your budget? No, I don't think the Onkyos will be a big step up. What you could consider is just replacing your front speakers, either mains or mains + center if budget allows (use current speakers for surrounds) as those will make the biggest difference in your overall sound.

 

[gmichael]

Ditto.

The Onkyos would not be a step up.
What is your budget?

 

[rnatalli]

Sound wise Bose is towards the bottom, but Bose does have good resale value. As others have asked, what's your budget?

 

[jimfitz]

Most people on this board bad-mouth Bose, but for watching movies, they are great. You might just consider expanding on what you have. I am running a Bose Acoustimass 7 for the fronts, Acoustimass 5 for the surrounds, and another Acoustimass 5 for the rears. I also have a Klipsch subwoofer. I bought the first two systems used and recently bought a new Acoustimass 5 on Ebay.

 

[avaserfi]

Most people on this board bad-mouth Bose, but for watching movies, they are great. You might just consider expanding on what you have. I am running a Bose Acoustimass 7 for the fronts, Acoustimass 5 for the surrounds, and another Acoustimass 5 for the rears. I also have a Klipsch subwoofer. I bought the first two systems used and recently bought a new Acoustimass 5 on Ebay.

You say they are great for watching movies, but from my experiences with the Acoustimass set up I was thoroughly unimpressed for a few reasons:

1. The subwoofer sucks. It can't produce any low SPLs at usable volumes which completely detracts from the movie experience. How am I supposed to enjoy a movie if my couch isn't shaking!

2. They don't fill a room with accurate sound. Yeah, they can play loud, but there is so much distortion created it is laughable. Not just from massive amounts of cabinet resonance, but from woofer incapability.

3. I am pretty sure the linearity of the Acoustimass is lacking severely everywhere below 200Hz. Those little cabinets and drivers just don't push out even close to equal SPLs through the range. If you don't get what I mean read this article I wrote. Then go and ask Bose for their frequency response I promise they won't tell you and say something about how it is irrelevant.

There is more but I think I have made my point clear.

Maybe I am just more critical than you maybe not, but for the prices Bose asks I see this simple tasks of a speaker as required and nothing less. So no, not everyone just bashes Bose because of their name. Some people, me included have spent enough time with them to make up their own mind and realize how poorly made/designed the speakers are.

 

[j_garcia]

Bose caters to a specifc crowd and they do that well. On forums you will usually find people looking for higher quality sound for the best price and on that level Bose does not deliver, which is why you will see most people on most forums not speak highly of them. It isn't simply bashing; they earn their reputation because they charge so much for what you get. They also KNOW that there are homes where the wife runs the show and cares about looks more than sound.

They aren't terrible for watching movies, but I listen to more music than movies, so that does me no good.

 

[Nailzaz]

The budget question is tricky and is always the first question that comes to mind when people ask me about purchases (computers, A/V, cars, etc...).

It's tricky because right now I have ZERO money with a baby and another one on the way, it's hard to predict - all I know is that it's tight and I'm shooting for about $500 to upgrade my system around Christmas.

I was thinking about betting an HD DVD player & PS3, but then I thought about my old Bose Accoustimas's and that's why I've turned to you guys. The price seems incredible but if there isn't a great improvement, then I'd rather spend that money on a DVD player probably.

I would also like to add that I am happy with my Bose system but it's only with the additional powered sub woofer that makes it sound good (for me). I use it mostly for movies (Dolby/DTS - HiDef).

What I am picking up from you guys is that even though this Onkyo speaker system is probably a great value, it may not be worth my money & time to replace what I have - is this a good assessment?

Thank you very much for this help - it is great.

Paul in Arizona

 

[rnatalli]

I would also like to add that I am happy with my Bose system but it's only with the additional powered sub woofer that makes it sound good (for me). I use it mostly for movies (Dolby/DTS - HiDef).

Have you compared your Bose with some reputable speaker manufacturers? If not, then you don't know what you could be missing. If so, and you still like them, then to each their own. However, your original post asked if going to the Onkyo would be an improvement. Why are you looking to improve if you're happy with your Bose system? The simple answer to your question is no the Onkyo would not be an improvement, but for the same money as your Bose, you could have better sound.

 

[Nailzaz]

Have you compared your Bose with some reputable speaker manufacturers? If not, then you don't know what you could be missing. If so, and you still like them, then to each their own. However, your original post asked if going to the Onkyo would be an improvement. Why are you looking to improve if you're happy with your Bose system? The simple answer to your question is no the Onkyo would not be an improvement, but for the same money as your Bose, you could have better sound.

Do you mean that in hindsight, I could have bought better speakers but as it is now, it's not worth it to get the Onkyo's - right?

In a way, if this is what you're saying then it's actually good news - I could use the money for something else.

To answer you question, no I haven't listened or compared (physically) my system with anything else. The main reason is, I don't think that stores have the old Accoustimass 6 in show rooms anymore and I didn't see this Onkyo locally, expect online.

 

[rnatalli]

Do you mean that in hindsight, I could have bought better speakers but as it is now, it's not worth it to get the Onkyo's - right?

Correct. But I was also thinking how much those Bose would fetch on Ebay and if it'd be worth selling the Bose and buying new speakers. I don't know...

 

[gmichael]

Onkyo makes good electronics. Their receivers, CD players and DVD players etc are fine units. They don't however make great speakers. You could improve on the Bose speakers you have with your $500 guessed budget. But that Onkyo set aint it.

If I were you, I'd build slowly. Maybe pick up a decent set of Main speakers this year, and then build the rest down the road. Take a look at this line of speakers. http://www.av123.com/products_category_brand.php?section=speakers&brand=55

You could pick up a center and a pair of bookshelf speakers for under that $500. Just keep using your Bose for surrounds. Down the road you could pick up another set of bookshelves, or even a set of towers once your wife hears how much better these sound over the Bose.

These are just one set of options. There are plenty of others that are good as well.
The Onkyos, are not.

 

[jcPanny]

In-wall or inceiling speakers

I got some budget Phoenix Gold in-ceiling speakers for my distributed audio system. They build quality is great for the price and the 6.5" woofer and 1" tweeter would be a sound quality upgrade from the Bose cubes and would rate high on asthetics. They only cost about $40/pair on Amazon.

Check it out:
http://www.amazon.com/Phoenix-Gold-6-5-inch-Ceiling-Speakers/dp/B0006FK3Y2/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/103-8621544-9703008?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1189808852&sr=8-1
http://www.amazon.com/Phoenix-6-5-Inch-Wall-Speakers-White/dp/B0006G0WCO/ref=sr_1_8/103-8621544-9703008?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1189808927&sr=1-8

 

[flippo]

Budget

I think the best thing you can do is just have patience and save, save, save until you get what you want or else down the road you'll want to upgrade again. Just keep using what you have now (it hasn't killed you yet!). In the meantime you can also research and audition different brands to see what you like. Speakers are very subjective.

 

[Nailzaz]

Everyone's given me great advice and thank you for that

Two conclusions from what has been said that seem to be the most useful and deserve a follow up question.

#1. Budget is the core question: Or main factor when making a purchasing decision for the home theater.

#2. Subjectivity plays a role too: But (question here), budget aside, is there a way to qualitatively say that speaker "A" is better than speaker "B" by XX%? This is regardless of one's budget. I ask this because a cheap speaker likely won't sound as good as the most expensive one - but is there a way to measure that side by side (watts, ohms, etc...)? If so, then couldn't I do a side-by-side comparassion of what I currently have with whatever I am looking to buy and then decide if the purchase is a good value aside from my budget?

If there is such a way, maybe there's a web site or something that can help. Maybe that was my original question (to remove the subjectivity out of the equation). In a math problem it may look like this:

(A) Bose Accoustimass 6 + Mitsubishi M-SUB 10 (subwoofer)
(B) Onkyo SKS-HT540
(C) X Brand & Model
Attribute 1 (watts for example): (A) = X (B) = X (C) =X
Attribute 2: (A) = X (B) = X (C) =X
Attribute 3: (A) = X (B) = X (C) =X
Attribute 4: (A) = X (B) = X (C) =X

Or maybe this is a niave way of trying to think about this.

Again, I love the feedback - it is helpful. What a great thing to be able to turn to a community and find answers that you couldn't get in the "real world".

Sincerely,
Paul

 

[jimfitz]

You have to use a real subwoofer with them. The Acoustimass module is not a subwoofer. It merely carries the bass for the cubes.

 

[avaserfi]

You have to use a real subwoofer with them. The Acoustimass module is not a subwoofer. It merely carries the bass for the cubes.

Isn't that an oxymoron? I didn't know speakers that small could have bass .

 

[jimfitz]

Bose caters to a specifc crowd and they do that well. On forums you will usually find people looking for higher quality sound for the best price and on that level Bose does not deliver, which is why you will see most people on most forums not speak highly of them. It isn't simply bashing; they earn their reputation because they charge so much for what you get. They also KNOW that there are homes where the wife runs the show and cares about looks more than sound.

They aren't terrible for watching movies, but I listen to more music than movies, so that does me no good.

It's not a question of the wife "running the show." It's showing some respect for her desires and wishes. In a family room, the large speakers are ugly and obtrusive.

 

[jimfitz]

Isn't that an oxymoron? I didn't know speakers that small could have bass .

They don't, can you read? The Acoustimass module carries the bass.

 

[jimfitz]

Everyone's given me great advice and thank you for that

Two conclusions from what has been said that seem to be the most useful and deserve a follow up question.

#1. Budget is the core question: Or main factor when making a purchasing decision for the home theater.

#2. Subjectivity plays a role too: But (question here), budget aside, is there a way to qualitatively say that speaker "A" is better than speaker "B" by XX%? This is regardless of one's budget. I ask this because a cheap speaker likely won't sound as good as the most expensive one - but is there a way to measure that side by side (watts, ohms, etc...)? If so, then couldn't I do a side-by-side comparassion of what I currently have with whatever I am looking to buy and then decide if the purchase is a good value aside from my budget?

If there is such a way, maybe there's a web site or something that can help. Maybe that was my original question (to remove the subjectivity out of the equation). In a math problem it may look like this:

(A) Bose Accoustimass 6 + Mitsubishi M-SUB 10 (subwoofer)
(B) Onkyo SKS-HT540
(C) X Brand & Model
Attribute 1 (watts for example): (A) = X (B) = X (C) =X
Attribute 2: (A) = X (B) = X (C) =X
Attribute 3: (A) = X (B) = X (C) =X
Attribute 4: (A) = X (B) = X (C) =X

Or maybe this is a niave way of trying to think about this.

Again, I love the feedback - it is helpful. What a great thing to be able to turn to a community and find answers that you couldn't get in the "real world".

Sincerely,
Paul

If I was you, I would stick with what you have until you have enough money to upgrade your speakers to something that would really make a hugh difference.