Replacing bose lifestyle cubes w/ Polk

[Zimbob]

I currently have a Bose Lifestyle 38 system (i know, I know, don't start), & would like to start replacing the cubes w/ Polk surround speakers (starting w/ the center speaker, RM8 Center). Since Bose doesn't publish their friggin specs, I don't know how much wattage the Bose/acoustimass is putting out and if it will blow the Polk speaker. I have a feeling the Bose cubes are 6 ohm & the amp is pushing somewhere in neighborhood of 100 watts, so I'm thinking I'm ok to switch to an 8 ohm speaker that handles 125 watts. Has anyone done this already or know for sure?

[jacob.simpson]

Am sure Polk CS will be able to help you out, contact them and if am not mistaken they will surely have data to back this up.

[LessisNevermore]

Hi Zimbob, welcome to CP.

Getting right to it, I wouldn't do it. I doubt very seriously that the Bose amp is putting that kind of power into the cubes. The lion's share of the power is going to the 'sub'. I also believe Bose uses higher impedance levels. I believe if you connect even 8 ohm speakers to that amp, it will clip out and blow your new speakers. Of course, as you said, Bose won't publish specs, so no one knows for absolute sure.

I wouldn't risk it. A new receiver will drive the Bose cubes, albeit with less power, than it would drive normal impedance speakers. (8/4 ohm).....but it would be the safer upgrade, then do up the speakers.

Best of luck heading down the rabbit hole.:D

[comfortablycurt]

Hi Zimbob, welcome to CP.

Getting right to it, I wouldn't do it. I doubt very seriously that the Bose amp is putting that kind of power into the cubes. The lion's share of the power is going to the 'sub'. I also believe Bose uses higher impedance levels. I believe if you connect even 8 ohm speakers to that amp, it will clip out and blow your new speakers. Of course, as you said, Bose won't publish specs, so no one knows for absolute sure.

I wouldn't risk it. A new receiver will drive the Bose cubes, albeit with less power, than it would drive normal impedance speakers. (8/4 ohm).....but it would be the safer upgrade, then do up the speakers.

Best of luck heading down the rabbit hole.:D

That would probably be your best bet.

I remember reading information from private tests stating that the Bose cubs run at a 16 or 32 ohm nominal impedance. I'd upgrade your AVR first...and then start upgrading the speakers.

[leroyjr1]

Bose Rocks !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[comfortablycurt]

Bose Rocks !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Lee- I'll trade you a Bose Lifestyle system for the Pio SC-07 and the RTi A9's...deal?;)

[wutadumsn23]

I agree with the guys on this one, ditch the Bose unit and upgrade with a new AVR. Then get ahold of some speakers. Good luck and welcome to Club Polk.

[obieone]

Another welcome, and recommend you taking some pic.'s of your system, and SELLING it on craigslist.
If you can get $1,000-1,500, WE could build you a damn nice system.

[leroyjr1]

Lee- I'll trade you a Bose Lifestyle system for the Pio SC-07 and the RTi A9's...deal?;)

I still have my first Bose system (Bose 321) which is currently running in my daughters bedroom. It does a great job playing poor recorded music. No match for my 2 channel rig.

[jvc]

There'll be lots of advice but just make sure you make the final decision.

Its a buyer's market - resale prices are not good but you can
find great deals like when people are upgrading their systems.

good luck....and Welcome to Club Polk.

[Zimbob]

Thanks all for your help. Unfortunately, I need (& want) to keep the core lifestyle media center as I haven't seen any other supplier w/ the functionality of the umusic center (loading several hundred cd's into memory & playing them back in any order desire, & literally having it 'memorize' my musical tastes, ie jazz, etc). Also, I don't happen to have $2500 in my pocket to spend on a new system. At this point, I'm simply wanting to know feasibility of starting to swap out bose cubes a few at a time.....

[xcapri79]

Thanks all for your help. Unfortunately, I need (& want) to keep the core lifestyle media center as I haven't seen any other supplier w/ the functionality of the umusic center (loading several hundred cd's into memory & playing them back in any order desire, & literally having it 'memorize' my musical tastes, ie jazz, etc). Also, I don't happen to have $2500 in my pocket to spend on a new system. At this point, I'm simply wanting to know feasibility of starting to swap out bose cubes a few at a time.....

Get a hold of an ohmmeter and measure the DC impedance of the Bose Cube speaker. That measurement will give you a pretty good idea on whether a typical 6 - 16 ohm speaker will work.

[nguyendot]

That would probably be your best bet.

I remember reading information from private tests stating that the Bose cubs run at a 16 or 32 ohm nominal impedance. I'd upgrade your AVR first...and then start upgrading the speakers.

I was told differently than that. 16 or 32 ohms at the volume those play at, and the distortion levels they have would mean some serious power. I believe they are 2 or 1 ohm with upwards of 10% THD.

This means any speakers you put on will be extremely quiet and sound horrible.

Listen to everyone else though, get a decent AVR and speakers, and sell the bose lifestyle off to some unsuspecting person on Craigslist for a pretty penny.

I bet you could come out even.

[raidersrule76]

This isn't slow trying to sneak back in is it? JK

Welcome to cp you will get some very useful info. here I know I have and so dose my bank account.

Mark