Bose Blows

[geo75]

I'm finally making the leap. My wife is visiting parents and while she is gone I'm getting a new surround setup. I've been suffering with Bose AM10 & 301's for too long. I'm in need of some suggestions. My listening area is 20' by 20' my Pioneer Plasma is in the middle of one of the walls, with main listening position three feet out from the opposite wall. We listen to a lot of music, watch a lot of movies, and play a lot of video games. So I want some speakers that are good all around speakers. I have a budget of around $3,000 for a sub and speakers. I'm currently running a 7.1 set-up with the 301 as mains and the AM10's as Center, RS, RRS, LRS, & LS. I also have an older Yamaha Sub that does an okay job.

Problem is I am currently stationed in Okinawa Japan and the only speakers I'm able to demo are Blows, Low end Yamaha, Sony, JVC, Kenwood, & Pioneer the brands carried by the Base Exchange. I have heard a Polk set-up (Ibelieve RTi-something he has, but not sure) that a friend of mine has and really like the Movie and Video game play, but was not impressed by Music. Another of my problems is that any speakers I go with must be small enough to ship via US Postal System because we don't have UPS in Okinawa.

Currently running a Kenwood Receiver (Will be upgrading to a Yamaha RX-V2500 in the next month or so). I special ordered it from the Exchange just waiting for it to come in. Thanks for the recommendations.

 

[av-man]

Wharfedale Diamond 9.2 Front LR $499 pr.
Wharfedale Diamond Center CM $449 ea.
Wharfedale Diamond DFS surround $299 pr X 2 for 7.1
Diamond 9 SW250 $700ea.

That should put you under budget with a system you should be proud of, and W.A.F. is there because Wharfedale is a real good looking speaker. If you want to spend the whole $3000 step up to Wharfedale EVO 10's

 

[Buckeyefan 1]

Another of my problems is that any speakers I go with must be small enough to ship via US Postal System because we don't have UPS in Okinawa.

What are their (USPS) requirements?
So your place is in Okinawa? Is this the resting place for your new 7.1 setup? I'm a little confused about the statement above. Do you mean you would buy the speakers in Okinawa, and then have to ship them to the states when you are reassigned? Or do you mean you'll buy speakers from the US and ship them to Okinawa. Either way, I'd imagine your postage would be quite a bit, depending on the situation, could lower that budget.

 

[geo75]

Sorry about the confusion I live in Okinawa. I want to have them shipped here. The size requirements are 82" L+W+H and 80lbs. per box.

 

[Buckeyefan 1]

Sorry about the confusion I live in Okinawa. I want to have them shipped here. The size requirements are 82" L+W+H and 80lbs. per box.

That may be an issue with a subwoofer, but as far as the speakers go, I think you'll be fine. I'd start with the largest SVS subwoofer you can buy under 80lbs shipped. As far as the speakers go, what type of music do you listen to?

 

[geo75]

That may be an issue with a subwoofer, but as far as the speakers go, I think you'll be fine. I'd start with the largest SVS subwoofer you can buy under 80lbs shipped. As far as the speakers go, what type of music do you listen to?

Thanks for the info on the sub I'll check it out. As for Music, Wide variety. Wife-Country & 80's Hair Bands, Me-Classic Rock, Alternative, Son-Top-40.

 

[Rob Babcock]

I suggest something small, light and easy to move- just in case your wife throws you out when she gets back and sees what you bought!

 

[mulester7]

I suggest something small, light and easy to move- just in case your wife throws you out when she gets back and sees what you bought!

.....he best have her favorite CD cranked when she pulls up, Rob.....

 

[Rock&Roll Ninja]

Seven Avantgarde Solo speakers would do the job right. Now you just need to find $31,500..........

 

[Takeereasy]

I'm just curious, why not purchase the speakers there? Japan is the high tech capital of the world. Yamaha has speakers there that are amazing. We don't get them here in North America very often but they do in Europe and Asia. The Yamahas I'm talking about are not cheap speakers, and not the chintzy ones we get here in North America. That $3000 would be better spent where you are I think. Doesn't Japan have murderous import taxes? I'm not sure how that applies to you guys on the base. My dad was in the airforce and everyime he came back from overseas he always had a duffel bag full of goodies that were undeclared.

 

[JoeE SP9]

Are there no audio video dealers off base? I haven't been to Okinawa since the early seventies but I remember stereo stores off base.

 

[JohnA]

If you are having that much trouble finding speakers...how about JAMO. I have heard them and installed them and they sound very good!!!

They have a dealer in Taiwan:

Taiwasn Audio Trading Co., Ltd (Taichung showroom)
No. 263, Sec.2, Kung-I Road.
408 Taichung

Phone: +886 4 2252 2250

 

[geo75]

Are there no audio video dealers off base? I haven't been to Okinawa since the early seventies but I remember stereo stores off base.

There are a few local places to get speakers. But with the size of the houses here their electronics tend to favor the small and tend to forgo quality. Also another big issue here is price. If you find something that even compares to the cheap Yamah, Sony, and JVC home theaters in a box systems I have you get well out of my price range. A friend told me of a great sound shop yesterday. I stopped by after work and the only thing in my price range wouldn't compare with the sound quality of a system of similar price in the states.

 

[geo75]

I'm just curious, why not purchase the speakers there? Japan is the high tech capital of the world. Yamaha has speakers there that are amazing. We don't get them here in North America very often but they do in Europe and Asia. The Yamahas I'm talking about are not cheap speakers, and not the chintzy ones we get here in North America. That $3000 would be better spent where you are I think. Doesn't Japan have murderous import taxes? I'm not sure how that applies to you guys on the base. My dad was in the airforce and everyime he came back from overseas he always had a duffel bag full of goodies that were undeclared.

Japan is, but Okinawa is Japans Black sheap and they tend to not send anything here unless the tack on steap charges. The same cheap Yamaha home theater in a box I bought on base for less the $300.00 is around 1900 off base. I don't understand it but the shop I visited yesterday is charging 330,000 Yen (About $3200.00) for the Yamaha YSP-1 which I can buy online for less than $1500.00. Even after shipping I would save big paying the extra shipping.

 

[Takeereasy]

Yowzers, I had no Idea. Don't you have any service buddies stationed elsewhere that can ship you something via the USAF? I don't know how it works now, or for any other branch of the service, but when my family wanted to go anywhere it was $10 US a flight per person. All that was required was that they had room for you. It's how we travelled. Sure a DC-10 is loud, and some surly 19 yr. old in fatigues serving me a re-hydrated ration makes for a lousy in flight meal, but we got to see a lot of the world that way. For example we went shopping in Paris for my mom one time for mothers day. Cost for dad, 3 tickets at $10 bucks a pop, and whatever he got her. Good luck, I know how hard it can be stationed overseas, but I had no idea about Okinawa.

 

[geo75]

Yowzers, I had no Idea. Don't you have any service buddies stationed elsewhere that can ship you something via the USAF? I don't know how it works now, or for any other branch of the service, but when my family wanted to go anywhere it was $10 US a flight per person. All that was required was that they had room for you. It's how we travelled. Sure a DC-10 is loud, and some surly 19 yr. old in fatigues serving me a re-hydrated ration makes for a lousy in flight meal, but we got to see a lot of the world that way. For example we went shopping in Paris for my mom one time for mothers day. Cost for dad, 3 tickets at $10 bucks a pop, and whatever he got her. Good luck, I know how hard it can be stationed overseas, but I had no idea about Okinawa.

Now it doesn't even cost that, it's free if there is an empty seat. The kicker is you have to be on leave to take any of the flight's. I'm currently trying to save up leave for a nice family vacation. Then it doesn't really matter about size sound or anything WAF is out the window when she figures out I used my leave to go shop for speakers.

 

[geo75]

Axiom Epic 60 500

I've heard great things about Axiom, although I have never heard them in person. I've just about decided with the above set-up and then going back to order another pair of the QS8's to complete the 7.1 when money is available. Anyone have that set up paired with a Yamaha Receiver that could let me know how they sound. I've worked it out with a friend who is headed this way so I'm not going to have to worry about shipping.

 

[Takeereasy]

Supposed to be great speakers. If you go to axiomaudio.com they have discussion groups that will be able to answer the question for you better than most for sure. It seems like most Yamahas have the spec's to drive those Axioms, but to make sure you'll need to find someone running that setup.

Agarwalro posted that he liked his Yamaha 5890/m60 setup very much.

 

[geo75]

Bose really blows

Last night I figured what the heck I'm getting a new system let's give these Blows a real test. I watched Coach Carter, The Hostage, & LOTR Return of the King Extended Version (DTS6.1) in succession. With my so-so Kenwood receiver Cranked. The Bose failed misserably. I was actually thinking of donating these to have someone test them when my new system has arrived. Now needless to say it would be pointless. The receiver is only rated at 100 watts and I didn't have it all the way up, the speakers; if you can actually call them that; are rated at 100 as well. Well you want some stats Kenwood cranked + Bose AM10 + Bose 301's= 7 blown speakers. My rear surround actually faired pretty well. Well now I have to wait 2-3 Months for my buddy to get here from the states with my new Axioms and am currently taking donations from my friends here.

 

[claudermilk]

LOL. Now you can truly say you have BLOSE speakers. A proper end to the speakers.