 |
 VTI RF Series Center Channel Speaker Stand RFC $62.99 Time Remaining: 14d 3h 24m Buy It Now for only: $62.99 |
 Plateau ST Series 30 Speaker Stand Black ST 30 B $139.99 Time Remaining: 5h 16m Buy It Now for only: $139.99 |
 VTI DF Series Center Channel Speaker Stand DFC $59.99 Time Remaining: 1d 3h 49m Buy It Now for only: $59.99 |
 Wood Technology Solid Hardwood Ebony FGH Series 8 Speaker Stands FGH 8 E $59.00 Time Remaining: 13d 6h 52m Buy It Now for only: $59.00 |
 Wood Technology Solid Cherry Hardwood Series 16 Speaker Stand FGC 16 $83.99 Time Remaining: 13d 6h 52m Buy It Now for only: $83.99 |
 VTI RF Series Speaker Stands 19 RF19B $112.00 Time Remaining: 19d 11h 37m Buy It Now for only: $112.00 |
 OmniMount Elo Series Height Adjustable Satellite Speaker Stands ELO B $49.00 Time Remaining: 20d 16h 56m Buy It Now for only: $49.00 |
 VTI UF Series Speaker Stands Black 19 UF19B $112.00 Time Remaining: 18d 10h 57m Buy It Now for only: $112.00 |
 Plateau RT Series 23 Speaker Stand Black RT 23 $129.99 Time Remaining: 18h 13m Buy It Now for only: $129.99 |
 Wood Technology Solid Cherry Hardwood Series 21 Speaker Stand FGC 21 $85.99 Time Remaining: 13d 6h 52m Buy It Now for only: $85.99 |
 Wood Technology Solid Hardwood Ebony FGH Series 36 Speaker Stands FGH 36 E $99.00 Time Remaining: 17d 20h 27m Buy It Now for only: $99.00 |
 Plateau ST Series 23 Speaker Stand ST 23 B $129.99 Time Remaining: 1d 19h 7m Buy It Now for only: $129.99 |
 Lovan Millennium 2 Series Glass Speaker Stands Black 24 L ML2CB 6824 $239.98 Time Remaining: 9d 22h 40m Buy It Now for only: $239.98 |
 X Video Rocker II Series Black Movie Music Gaming Chair w Rails Arms Speakers $208.99 Time Remaining: 22d 21h 35m Buy It Now for only: $208.99 |
 Plateau SR Series TV Stand with Optional Speaker Stands SR V 65 X $779.99 Time Remaining: 9d 3h 53m Buy It Now for only: $779.99 |
What is the best kind of receiver to use for a Bose Acoustimass 5, series III speaker system?
I like a lot of R&B with heavy, yet sharp bass... These are fantastic speakers and I would like to get the most out of them without damaging them with a substandard receiver.
The owner's manual says that the system is designed for use with recievers/amplifiers 'rated from 10-200 watts per channel with 4-8 ohm impedance.
I have no idea what that means!
Personally I think Bose speakers are overated and overpriced and I'm not alone -- see link), but since you have them here is my input to your question.
These speakers have small satellite speakers combined with a larger passive subwoofer. The mid and high frequency sound (directional) is reproduced by the satellites while low frequency (which is non-directional) is reproduced by the subwoofer. They are relatively inefficient speakers ... which means they need more power than more efficient speakers to generate a comperable volume.
The 10-200 watt range (4-8 ohm) means that they can handle fairly powerful (and expensive) amplifiers, but don't need big power to provide reasonable listening levels. That said, almost any amplifer on the market will drive them. The 4-8 ohm reference is the impedence (resistance) they present to the amplifier, but once again this is standard and any half way decent amp will work.
One thing to keep in mind is that volume (loudness) is not linear with input power. The ear responds logrithmetically, meaning that a small increase in loudness will be perceived for a doubling of input power. Really loud music is in the order of 105-110 decibels (db, a measure of loudness). If this, for example takes 200 watts of power to generate, 3 db lower volume will require half (100 watts), and 3 db less half again (50 watts). You can calculate for yourself that moderate volume (e.g. 60-70 db) will require a small fraction of the 200 watts required for 105-110 db.
The point is that a nominal 100 watt amplifier (ignoring the question of differences in "types" of watts) will drive these speakers to moderately loud volumes, and any more will simply cost a lot more and yet only deliver slightly higher volume with rapidly diminished sound quality (since distortion rises as the small speakers are driven harder).
I won't recommend a particular receiver, although a 50 -70 watt NAD or Harmon-Kardon would be a good choice.
Hope this helps.
BMW 5 Series Speaker Upgrade 1/4 -BSW Stage I -E39 '99-05