Bose 701 floor standing speakers as rear?

[GRUBBERZ]

I am trying to set up a surround system. I am currently out looking for a receiver. I have 2 Bose 701 speakers. Someone suggested that I use them as rear speakers and buy a MATCHED front and center. I am confused. I dont know what to buy.I thought I could use the Bose as fronts and buy 2 rear and one center. Or should I sell my Bose and but all of the same speakers.
Please offer your advice.
Thanx.

 

[Jason Coleman]

To get a "seamless" front end, where sound can shift from left to center to right without a noticeable change is sound, you'd want to get 3 speakers from the same manufacturer that are timbre-matched. Most companies will recommend a specific center-channel speaker that will match the sound qualities of their floorstanding or bookshelf-style main (front) speakers. When it comes to surround, the matching becomes less critical because the amount of information (sound) being sent to those speakers is significantly less than the information the front end is receiving. However, if you plan to do much multi-channel (DVD-A or SACD) music listening, where the information sent to the rears is often the same as that sent to the mains, you might want to consider selling the Bose and buying 5 speakers from the same manufacturer. Some people prefer direct-radiating or monopole speakers for the rears, which will create a more concise and direct sound, while others prefer dipoles which radiate and disperse the sound for a less-concise but more enveloping sound. It's a matter of taste.

I'd figure out what your priorities are and what your budget is and shop around for a set of speakers that best fits the bill for your needs. I think as you listen to other manufacturers' speakers, you'll find that there are a lot of speakers that sound significantly better than the Bose and cost significantly less. Paradigm makes several lines of speakers that range from a couple of hundred dollars for a setup (their Performance line) to $15K+ for their Signature series speakers. They have a lot in between that you might want to check out.

Jason

 

[warnerwh]

The above poster is giving good advice. Bose speakers are easily outdone dollar for dollar by many other brands. Polk audio can be had at one of the big chain stores also and are decent. Many speakers are out there and listening to them is your best bet. The use of your Bose speakers for the rear is a good idea. Do some more reading and you'll be rewarded with a much better system for your money.

 

[Die Hard Yammy]

Both of these guys make very good points and give great advice.
here's what I'm running:
Yamaha RXV-2400
Bose 701 II (front) (front sub)
Bose 601 IV (rear)
Bose 301 IV (side)
Kef Q6c (centre)
Polk PSW-202 (rear sub)

Yes, most people will laugh at Bose when u tell them u have it, and I'm not going to lie to this forum so let me say I WORK FOR BOSE. I'll be the first to say I'm not big on Bose I just have it cause I don't pay what consumers pay for it. (too much)

Now, I personnally would use the 701's for your fronts, as they do sound pretty good (depending on your amp) Do not, I repeat, do not buy Bose centre channels (CACA) there are plenty of other centres out there for that price that blow BOSE way. (POLK, KEF, Paradigm, B&W)
This all depends whether you want to spend money on new frionts or not, and by that I mean, either go with the Bose or get a completely timbre matched system and make yourself happy!

Remember, this is comming from a Bose employee, so do take heed to what I'm ADVISING you, I'm not telling you what to do, in the end it's your choice and yours alone. (unless u have a wife to throw a monkey in the wrench)

 

[mustang_steve]

I pretty much agree here.

I'm more of the set of timbre matching all speakers in a surround set...but I understand that can either be a huge compromise or costly.

Basically for a starter, how much do you like the Bose sound? If you like it, maybe you are better off looking for some used Bose indoor/outdoor speakers to use as center/surround. If you would like more from your system, just relocate the Boses to the rear channels, then after a while determine for yourself if the Boses fit the bill there...if not, go grab some rear speakers.

Basically, it is subjective...speakers are like shoes...what works with one person my not work at all for another. Just go and listen to some speakers using music or audio you are familiar with, and see what you think.

 

[Yamahaluver]

Since you are running all BOSE speakers all around, I dont really see a problem with your setup except for the center, why not get a single 701 if you can for center.

love your moniker, DIE HARD YAMMY, but you work for BOSE so isnt that some sort of a conflict of interest by the way.

 

[Die Hard Yammy]

Yes, YAMAHALUVER, it is a conflict of intrest, the bottom line is ya gotta pay the bills somehow. The truth is I have a real passion for AUDIOPHILE more than consumer electonics, I just happen to work for BOSE, which can be a real benefit at times. I own three Yammy receivers and my parents have a full 5.1 Yammy package. If money was no object , I'd go KEF Reference series but we can't have our cake and afford to eat steak too!