Connection Question

[Da5id]

My sister owns a Bose Lifestyle Series II home theater system. She has the attractively designed little cube speakers mounted on her walls with the speaker wire nicely pulled behind drywall, etc. I purchased a Panasonic AV receiver and DVD/CD player for her for Christmas.(I was flabbergasted to learn that Bose sells these expensive speakers with no way to upgrade the matching "Media Center" as technology changes.) I can see how the five cube speakers can be connected to the receiver by just cutting off plugs and attaching the wires to be binding posts on the receiver (but I am concerned about the Panasonic amplifier damaging the speakers). However, I see no way to connect the subwoofer. Any advice would certainly be hugely appreciated.

 

[JVC]

I don't think you can connect the subwoofer. It's meant for one way connection..........
If you cut the ends off the speakers and attatch them to the posts, you'll blow the speakers. They are matched with the other Bose equipment, and are efficient ONLY with it.
Best thing your sister can do is go get a real HT........

 

[flyv65]

Da5id-
You're a prince of a guy for wanting to "beef up" your sister's AV situation, but the Bose system doesn't lend itself to easy tweeking. I see two options: one, she likes what she has now and is humouring you; or two, she wants better (probably because she's seen your AV setup). For case one, take back the Panasonic stuff and help her pick out a better TV (or washer/dryer, or microwave, or coffemaker, etc.). In case two, move the WHOLE Bose system out (speakers and all), and start shopping for better speakers to go with the electronics you bought her. The painful truth about the Bose acoustimass systems is that the speakers may well be the weakest link in the stereo chain.

Bryan...sorry 'bout that...

 

[sjdgpt]

Bose is got you stuck between a rock and a hard place.

You can cut off the ends of the speaker wires, but I doubt those cute little cubes (with their paper cones) would be able to handle the power produced by any decent $100 receiver. Yep, them speakers are pretty weak. Then again, unless she is cranking the volume, those speakers might work in a pinch.

I have no idea how you can adapt the sub, I am sure it can be done, but is it practical? Doubtful.

Best suggestion... sell the Bose to somebody else, and take the money that you got from the sale of the used equipment and put it towards some better, more cost effective equipment.

 

[Zarg]

A Tentative Suggestion

Okay -- I have seen this done but never done it myself. Be careful; be very careful. This suggestion might work if your subwoofer has output jacks (many do) and you have the Bose speaker system with the bass modules. But let me be completely frank here -- I have no technical ability to speak of. I just know that my buddy John did this (or something very close to it) and got some decent sound.

Run the speaker wires from the receiver to your non-Bose subwoofer. (How many? Which ones? I'm not sure.) From the sub, run speaker output to the Acoustimass bass module(s), then the jewel cubes connect to the bass module(s) as usual. Essentially, you are running the system backwards, dropping off the low frequencies at each point until you get to the jewel cubes.

If this doesn't work then I agree with the previous poster who suggested getting an entirely new HT system, or a different present, for your sister.

Good luck!