Can I use Bose Speakers with a non Bose sub-woofer and receiver?
Hi, I have purchased some Series 4 Bose cube speakers (x5). I haven’t got an Acoustimass Sub-Woofer or Bose receiver (have a Yamaha receiver). I am pretty sure I can use a non Bose receiver, but what about the Sub-Woofer, can I use a non Bose Sub Woofer with these speakers?
Yes, you can use a non bos sub with the cube speakers.
Your non-Bose receiver will have a subwoofer-pre-out which is just a signal mono bass signal to your powered subwoofer [most if not all of the subwoofers that you'd buy are powered -with its own internal amp].
It will work.
But there will be a few issues. -Try it and let us know how it sounds.
It may sound ok… but most likely, sound quality will be questionable.
Bose speakers and other components are designed specifically to work with its own Bose components only.
This sux because ppl cannot mix and match and use their own components —which is one of the reasons why I prefer to stay away from Bose products.
In your case: the Bose Accoustimass Bass module is the most important part of the Bose "signature sound".
The Accoustimass Bass module is not just the sub —- it actually contains the amplifier for the cube speakers.
Along with the amplifier is a locked DSP [digital signal processing] = which FORCES the cube speakers to produce sounds that it normally will not be capable of [with a non-bose receiver].
This DSP is very necessary because the cube speakers consists of 2 drivers: each measuring 2.5" — made of untreated paper…. in a small abs plastic enclosure - cannot produce quality sound without the DSP forcing them to do so.
The 2 drivers are what Bose calls "twiddlers" … these twiddlers are too big to be tweeters and too small to be midwoofers [for voices etc]… I suspect that if you use a non bose receiver… you’ll be missing the Highs and lower mids.
The DSP is designed to push these cube speakers to most the sound spectrum at best.
This DSP is inside the Accoustimass module - which you do not have…. so that’s why I’d say you may be unhappy with the sound.
You see, Bose is a very big company because they know how to make money: by marketing their name with Millions of dollars each year. Then they produce their products with one thing in mind: cheapest possible… then they spent their research money on the DSP which is cheap to make
You may think that the solution is to buy an Accoustimass module… but really - that’ll only solve half your issues. This module is not called a Subwoofer by bose cuz it cannot produce the lower sound spectrum [low low rumbles: below 50hz] properly…. cuz inside this module is 2 or 3 [depends on which series you have] 5.5" paper woofers in a bandpass enclosure.
These 5.5" woofers are made of cheap untreated paper again — and is really too small to be a good subwoofer and produce low notes… Most of the subwoofers out there are 8"-15". Bose cheaps out and uses 5.5" ones.
Another thing is that the bandpass enclosure is made of cheap LDF [low density fiberboard -no different than your bottom end IKEA furniture particle board]… most decent audio companies use MDF [Medium density fiberboard].
So… my suggestion is to sell back these cube speakers.
You can try it first…. as I’d love to hear your thoughts on the sound.
It is possible I’m wrong - and you’ll like the sound…
If you want alternatiives … there are lots of speaker audio companies that make decent, quality sounding equipment at prices way below Bo$e prices.
Klipsch is one of them.
Good Luck and Hope this helps!
ps. Don’t mean to rain on your parade… just trying to help!
email me for ?’s 
yes
References :
yess
the power source dont realy matter just b carfel not to giv thim to mutch power
References :
Yes, you can use a non bos sub with the cube speakers.
Your non-Bose receiver will have a subwoofer-pre-out which is just a signal mono bass signal to your powered subwoofer [most if not all of the subwoofers that you'd buy are powered -with its own internal amp].
It will work.
But there will be a few issues. -Try it and let us know how it sounds.
It may sound ok… but most likely, sound quality will be questionable.
Bose speakers and other components are designed specifically to work with its own Bose components only.
This sux because ppl cannot mix and match and use their own components —which is one of the reasons why I prefer to stay away from Bose products.
In your case: the Bose Accoustimass Bass module is the most important part of the Bose "signature sound".
The Accoustimass Bass module is not just the sub —- it actually contains the amplifier for the cube speakers.
Along with the amplifier is a locked DSP [digital signal processing] = which FORCES the cube speakers to produce sounds that it normally will not be capable of [with a non-bose receiver].
This DSP is very necessary because the cube speakers consists of 2 drivers: each measuring 2.5" — made of untreated paper…. in a small abs plastic enclosure - cannot produce quality sound without the DSP forcing them to do so.
The 2 drivers are what Bose calls "twiddlers" … these twiddlers are too big to be tweeters and too small to be midwoofers [for voices etc]… I suspect that if you use a non bose receiver… you’ll be missing the Highs and lower mids.
The DSP is designed to push these cube speakers to most the sound spectrum at best.
This DSP is inside the Accoustimass module - which you do not have…. so that’s why I’d say you may be unhappy with the sound.
You see, Bose is a very big company because they know how to make money: by marketing their name with Millions of dollars each year. Then they produce their products with one thing in mind: cheapest possible… then they spent their research money on the DSP which is cheap to make
You may think that the solution is to buy an Accoustimass module… but really - that’ll only solve half your issues. This module is not called a Subwoofer by bose cuz it cannot produce the lower sound spectrum [low low rumbles: below 50hz] properly…. cuz inside this module is 2 or 3 [depends on which series you have] 5.5" paper woofers in a bandpass enclosure.
These 5.5" woofers are made of cheap untreated paper again — and is really too small to be a good subwoofer and produce low notes… Most of the subwoofers out there are 8"-15". Bose cheaps out and uses 5.5" ones.
Another thing is that the bandpass enclosure is made of cheap LDF [low density fiberboard -no different than your bottom end IKEA furniture particle board]… most decent audio companies use MDF [Medium density fiberboard].
So… my suggestion is to sell back these cube speakers.
You can try it first…. as I’d love to hear your thoughts on the sound.
It is possible I’m wrong - and you’ll like the sound…
If you want alternatiives … there are lots of speaker audio companies that make decent, quality sounding equipment at prices way below Bo$e prices.
Klipsch is one of them.
Good Luck and Hope this helps!
ps. Don’t mean to rain on your parade… just trying to help!
email me for ?’s
References :
I’m an Audio Enthusiast… that have had a few Bose systems in my earlier years… still have one of their systems [not by choice].
Here’s a good read for more reference on their Accoustimass and Lifestyle series speakers:
http://intellexual.net/bose.html
http://intellexual.net/bose.html
http://intellexual.net/bose.html