Bose or Harman/Kardon?

[heavyfuel]

I'm torn. I have my heart set on the Bose Acoustimass 10,

http://www.bose.ca/controller?url=/shop_online/home_theater/home_theater_speakers/acoustimass_10/index.jsp

Problem is I didn't know that all the speakers ran off the sub, and Sunday I already spent a few bucks on 12 gauge wire and my living room is already all wired up and ready for speakers. So I saw this H/K setup which is more plug and play direct into the receiver,

http://www.harmankardon.com/EN-CA/Products/Pages/ProductDetails.aspx?PID=HKTS 30BQ

But the Bose setup seemed to sound soooo much better in the store, so I am looking for opinions as to whether or not the Bose setup is really worth the extra money or if I should just get the H/K's and not have to re-wire my living room. I almost feel like I'd be settling if I went with H/K but then again I don't know enough about audio. Thanks in advance.

I'm also open to suggestions about any 5.1 packages up to $900.

[Street_Soldier]

Energy Take 5.1 Classic

http://www.futureshop.ca/en-CA/product/energy-energy-take-classic-ii-5-1-speaker-system-take-classic-ii/10151145.aspx

http://www.energy-speakers.com/na-en/products/take-classic-5-1-overview/

http://reviews.cnet.com/surround-speaker-systems/energy-take-classic-5/4505-7868_7-33310963.html?tag=lia;rcol

[ChappedLips]

Bose :rofl:

Listen to street soldier and don't waste your money on some stupid brand name. Look at a bunch of other stuff before you make your purchase.

[Str1der]

Originally posted by heavyfuel
I'm torn. I have my heart set on the Bose Acoustimass 10,

http://www.bose.ca/controller?url=/shop_online/home_theater/home_theater_speakers/acoustimass_10/index.jsp

Problem is I didn't know that all the speakers ran off the sub, and Sunday I already spent a few bucks on 12 gauge wire and my living room is already all wired up and ready for speakers. So I saw this H/K setup which is more plug and play direct into the receiver,

http://www.harmankardon.com/EN-CA/Products/Pages/ProductDetails.aspx?PID=HKTS 30BQ

But the Bose setup seemed to sound soooo much better in the store, so I am looking for opinions as to whether or not the Bose setup is really worth the extra money or if I should just get the H/K's and not have to re-wire my living room. I almost feel like I'd be settling if I went with H/K but then again I don't know enough about audio. Thanks in advance.

I'm also open to suggestions about any 5.1 packages up to $900.

Skip the BOSE. It's pure marketing hype.

H/K makes great gear, but honestly you can assemble a better setup for less money than that Home Theatre in a Box offering. That 8" subwoofer will not deliver.

[Mitsu3000gt]

Everything BOSE makes is usually OK but is worth maybe 1/4 of what they charge.

HK is decent, but for those prices you could build a WAY better HT by avoiding home theater in a box types. Might end up slightly over budget but you will get something that is many times better.

Also for your speaker wire, you don't need 12ga for anything you're looking at. 16ga-18 is more than enough.

You should not be paying a penny more than this for your wire:

http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=102&cp_id=10239&cs_id=1023904&p_id=4045&seq=1&format=2

or

http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=102&cp_id=10239&cs_id=1023903&p_id=2823&seq=1&format=2

Energy Take Classic is a decent HTIB, as is the Paradigm Cinema Series, but for ~$1000 you're better off buying piece by piece and you can build something WAY better.

If you must buy a HTIB, get the Energy or Paradigm and forget the BOSE. Also the subs in these systems will be VERY underwhelming unless your room is extremely tiny. You also don't need 12ga.

If, however, your only goal is to have better-than-TV sound, then just about anything will do, but you might as well do it properly if you're willing to spend the money.

[heavyfuel]

Originally posted by Street_Soldier
Energy Take 5.1 Classic

http://www.futureshop.ca/en-CA/product/energy-energy-take-classic-ii-5-1-speaker-system-take-classic-ii/10151145.aspx

http://www.energy-speakers.com/na-en/products/take-classic-5-1-overview/

http://reviews.cnet.com/surround-speaker-systems/energy-take-classic-5/4505-7868_7-33310963.html?tag=lia;rcol



Originally posted by Mitsu3000gt
Everything BOSE makes is usually OK but is worth maybe 1/4 of what they charge.

HK is decent, but for those prices you could build a WAY better HT by avoiding home theater in a box types. Might end up slightly over budget but you will get something that is many times better.

Also for your speaker wire, you don't need 12ga for anything you're looking at. 16ga-18 is more than enough.

You should not be paying a penny more than this for your wire:

http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=102&cp_id=10239&cs_id=1023904&p_id=4045&seq=1&format=2

or

http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=102&cp_id=10239&cs_id=1023903&p_id=2823&seq=1&format=2

Energy Take Classic is a decent HTIB, as is the Paradigm Cinema Series, but for ~$1000 you're better off buying piece by piece and you can build something WAY better.

If you must buy a HTIB, get the Energy or Paradigm and forget the BOSE. Also the subs in these systems will be VERY underwhelming unless your room is extremely tiny. You also don't need 12ga.

If, however, your only goal is to have better-than-TV sound, then just about anything will do, but you might as well do it properly if you're willing to spend the money.


Thanks for the info! That Energy setup seems to check out pretty good, might just go with that. This isn't the first place I've heard Bose were a good product but over hyped. As for the wire, I just went to Home Depot and got 75 ft of 1.46$/ft 12 gauge, I know it's overkill but it's already all set up and I dunno I guess I wanted beefier wires just for the look. Great link/info for the next setup tho!

EDIT: It was $1.46/m not ft

[Street_Soldier]

Check out

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/

Lots of reviews on lots of differnt setups. I was looking for a HTIB a few months back and the general consensus i got from reading countless threads is that for $1000 or less your best bet is the Energy Take Classics.

Like Mitsu3000gt said the sub won't be loud enough for a decent sized room.
The Take 5 Classics also come in a 5.0 setup and lots of people upgrade to the 10" sub.

I have a small condo and the 8" is more than fine for me.

[heavyfuel]

So, I went with the Take 5.1 system, picked it up yesterday at Future Shop in Northland. Very very impressed so far! Thanks for the advice Street_Soldier, much appreciated!