How Screwed Am I?

[Genghis]

Disclaimer: I'm a newb but I am aware I didn't make the best equipment choices when I bought this stuff. My only defense is it was five years ago, I was in a hurry, and I didn't spend much cash.

I've got a Sony STR-DE845 receiver and a Bose Acoustimass 6 Series II satellite system (it's got single cubes, not doubles, and a passive "bass module"). Please, any ranting against Bose will be preaching to the choir at this point. I will indeed upgrade my speakers...later.

I want to get some bass out of my system, and the Bose bass module is godawful. So I'm shopping for an inexpensive (<$300) active subwoofer. The problem is that the satellites run through the bass module, and the super-secret Bose crossover is apparently set around 280 Hz, which is way high. Too high to use an active subwoofer or the receiver as the crossover. The receiver will only crossover up to 180 Hz, and active subwoofers around 120 to 180. So not only would I lose 180-280 Hz, but I might damage the satellites. So it looks like I need to keep the Bose bass module just for its crossover utility.

Finally I figured, hey, I'll just leave the Bose system as is and plug the active subwoofer into the receiver's LFE jack. But I couldn't find any stats on what where the LFE crossover is for the receiver. I've seen reports of 70, 80, 100, and 120 Hz for various receivers, so I assume it's somewhere in that range. My plan had been to buy a subwoofer that went pretty high (some go up to 200Hz) to try and better match the satellites, but it looks like no matter what its range the sub would be limited by whatever the LFE output fed it.

It looks like my only option (assuming I can only afford a subwoofer at this point) is to buy an active subwoofer, plug it into the LFE, and deal with the fact that there'll be a big gap of about 180 Hz between the top of the LFE (around 100) and the bottom of the satellites (around 280).

Oh, and I have one more question. Is my LFE output only going to work as the .1 channel when I'm playing a DVD in 5.1? Or will LFE output work for regular stereo inputs as well?

Any constructive comments would be appreciated. Such as, are my assumptions correct? Are my conclusions correct? Does anyone have any alternate proposals on how to solve this? Is my only option one of sucktitude?

Thanks,

- G

[jamison]

Not to knock your Bose system but instead of worrying about all that stuff try putting your bose up for sale on ebay and see what you can get for them, you might at the least get enough money to get a half decent set of front speakers, any money on trying to improve the bose is not worth it. if you have to keep the bose try looking into SVS or HSU for a decent low end sub.

[texlle]

Jamison makes a good point. You may want to upgrade your main system first since IMO, its probably your weakest link here. However, SVS, Hsu, and Velodyne are probably the best values for what you would be paying .

[Lord_Magnepan]

I would suggest the same thing. Put the BOSE stuff on www.audiogon.com or www.ebay.com and see what you can get. There are many BOSE Fans out there, so i dont think youll have a problem selling them.

-Good luck

[Genghis]

Thanks for the responses; they're much appreciated.

I hadn't considered selling the Bose system; I've bought from ebay but never sold. I checked out other people's listings for an Acoustimass 6 Series II system and surprisingly it looks like I can get at least $300 for this old system! At least this time I've got the Bose reputation working in my favor. Plus I've got the white model, which I know drives the ladies crazy.

So my next step is planning for bigger and better things. I want the best of both worlds; i.e. good home theater and good music, but I've got a fairly small apartment. Is this possible? Is there someone who makes a satellites/sub combo that sounds great for music? Or would I need something bigger than satellites? Maybe mix and match, with good music speakers for front, a specialized center speaker, moderate satellites for the rear, and a decent sub? How do people get the best of both worlds?

[Lord_Magnepan]

Well in my humble opinion the Magnepan MMGW Surround set is impossible to beat anywhere near the price they are asking. Here is some info

http://www.magnepan.com/spk_mmgw_c.php

You can check out Magnepan's ratings (if you belive in them) right here on Audioreview. They can be swung out when in use and put back when done. I would save money and look for a used REL or Thiel subwoofer later on to match the Maggies.

As far as a Receiver goes, the absolute best value and which beat my 4K Onkyo Integra 989 is the Cambridge Audio Azur 540r which works wonderfully on Maggies.

Good luck

PS: This is what they look like on a wall installtion.