I am going to purchase a home audio system/theater system. I need some suggestions please.?

Question

I am planning on the actual speakers I am going to purchase are going to be the Bose Acoustimass 16 Series 2. I will still need a receiver, and dvd player. Can some one suggest a good quality receiver with some good features that will cost no more than 500 dollars US. And if anybody suggests other speaker systems, I would like to hear about that as well. Thanks for the help.

Answer 1

May I steer you away from Bose PLEASE!
Bose does not make good sounding products, they make LOUD and BOOMING products, and that is what Bose has done a brilliant job of convincing people quality music sounds like.
Having been an extreme high end audio/video salesperson for many years, Bose was our black sheep brand for people that had more money than sense. We didn't argue though, because we made a much bigger commission on Bose than any other brand because their products are incredibly cheaply produced and the margin they charge is 50-100% higher than any other "high end" electronics manufacturer in the industry.
The joke we used internally to describe the Bose sound is "No High's, ALL Low's, it MUST be Bose!" because the sound they produce is so bloated and tubby when compared to any other brands product at a similar price.
On top of that, the theory behind their mid-drivers (the cubes) is flawed at its core. They have to produce every frequency from 20Khz (Extreme high pitch) all the way down to about 200Hz(Mid-Bass, a common frequency in movie dialog). There is no single driver speaker in the world with that frequency response!
The best driver for the treble is a Dome Tweeter which are designed to ONLY produce high frequencies.
The best driver (generally speaking) for mid range is a standard cone driver.
But Bose forces their little 3" paper coned cubes to run through frequencies which severely challenge the range of each of the above mentioned types of frequencies, and does so without at least putting in an active crossover so that each of the cubes in each pair would be able to handle a different frequency range. This means each of the speakers is working too hard to cover ALL of the frequencies ALL of the time, thereby doing none of it well.
Don't even get me started on the lack of stereo imaging capabilities of this "Direct/Reflect" audio concept with 1 speaker aiming at you and another aiming away from you...
Buy a good quality receiver like Denon or Yamaha, and a good speaker set from a reputable brand like Klipsch or Definitive Technologies and you will be MUCH MUCH MUCH happier with the overall quality and fidelity of sound your system will produce.

Answer 2

If you are near a Circuit City, pick up an Onkyo TX-SR504 receiver, some Infinity Primus 150 speakers, or the Polk M10 speakers, a decent quality subwoofer (can be had for less than $300), and a decent quality DVD player (can be had for well under $100). This may overshoot your initial budget by some amount, but the results could be very well worth it. I bought a left over Onkyo TX-SR503 ( the 504 is a little better) and six Infinity Primus 150s. I already have a DVD player and subwoofer. I am very happy with my purchase.

Answer 3

Bose speakers do not "always sound good". You can do much better for less. Their slogan should be "Better sales through marketing." Note that Bose refuses to publish their equipment's spec; they say they want your ears to be the judge. The fact is they know no one would buy their speakers if they published their frequency response.

This is a nice read about your favorite speaker manufacturer-
http://www.intellexual.net/bose.html

I would suggest checking out a few of the other answerers suggestions (Boston Acoustic, ect) and mating them to an Onkyo or Marantz receiver. Go out and audition A LOT of gear and make an informed decision that you can be happy with.

Answer 4

You should consider getting a surround sound system. If you're sold on Bose (it's a very nice product), check the company's prices. I have a Pioneer surround sound system, which included the five surround speakers, a powered subwoofer and a receiver for less than $500. I've had it for four years and it's been reliable and sounds great. Watching DVDs in surround sound definitely increases the fun.

Answer 5

Bose Accustimas is always a great selection for speakers. If you want more bass get a powered 10 or 12 incher. I would buy the first one on sale or a real low priced major brand..... Bass is bass.

If your looking for a mid to lower price receiver, and a 7.1 channel system ,most are going there anyway.......................................... I like the Onkyo's Tx-sr 603x over 100 watts /chan@ 8 ohms. List - $500 I've priced them on the internet for $337.00 shipped....... powersellernyc.com. It's always a good idea to check out your selling store before you buy.

The best of the spec'd out would be the Harmon Kardon - Avr240 They tend to dominate every rating I've read,but just barely over the Onkyo series. The Avr240 is also a 7 channel receiver, but don't put out the amps that most the others do.(65/ch @8 ohms. I've read they are just that more efficient. List is $ 450.00 I've seen them at 6thave.com for $307.00 shipped.

Then there are the Sony 's. I think they are becoming a premiere seller like they used to be. Look at the Sony Str-dg 998. Delivers way over 100 watts per 7 channels @ 8 ohms. Lists $450.00 I've seen them at b&hphoto.com for $337.00 shipped.

So my pick would be the Onkyo or a model similiar in their line. I would not get a Panasonic or Marrantz.

Bose speakers, always sound good, but the best way to buy speakers is by listening to them. Everyone likes a different sound. .......I like JBL,s....Hope this tidbit helps cause there are a lot to choose from out there........Good luck

Answer 6

$500 isnt a lot of money to spend on a speaker system. man to man, if you buy bose, your going to be disapointed with them. there not a bad speaker, but they are both overpriced and over rated. if i were you i would leave best buy, or cirut city, or wherever your looking at bose at, and go to a private audio shop. one that sells boston acoustics, b&w, paridign, and klipsch, are a few of my favorites. before you buy anything, go listen to some of the brands i have listed. if you dont like them, you will have lost nothing, and you will have compaired great speakers to what your going to buy. but if i'm right, and these brands all sound sound and perform better then what your looking at, then look at what you have gained. thats my first piece of advise. dont go buy what everyone else says you should, just for the name. buy what you like, cause you are the one thats going to be listening to them. thats my advise for speakers.

as far as receiver, i would go, and did go, with Marantz. they put out more then what there rated at. unlike harmin-karda (sp) who puts out 1/2 and sometimes less what they claim to put out.

good luck to you my friend, and i hope you take my advise, and find what your looking for.

Answer 7

I have a Bose System 36 which has a receiver and DVD-CD player built in. It comes with 5.1 surround sound and a BIG sub-woofer.

The speakers are small but they fill my 32x20 room with sound.

I also have a BOSE in my Audi and I love the sound from it.

Answer 8

I doesn't seem as though you are going cheap. My suggestion was going to be to make sure you don't cheap out and make sure it is over 400 watts.