Home > Consumer Reviews > Bose Acoustimass 5 - Speaker System, ideal for stereo or home theater use - White

Nice mid range and highs however I quickly found that I will need an "extra" amp to power this sub to levels that seems decent

I was very pleased to see the price for this sound system affordable. I really enjoy the sound when watching movies!

Don't be fooled by the naysayers on the Bose speaker systems, especially the Acoustimass satellite systems. These speakers will blow you away for their size. I bought a Lifestyle system when they first came out back in 1994. I was amazed, and everyone who has never heard a LS system from Bose, is completely blown away by the sound from such a small package. The LS systems are overpriced UNLESS you need and want all their features (and then probably still given you could build your own theather system cheaper with "different" sound, but not necessarily better sound). You're paying for the SMALLNESS, not necessarily the BEST equipment.

These speakers we are talking about for this review my friend purchased after I got my lifestyle system back in 1994. She hooked them to an Okyio (sp) with about 100WTS per channel. Completely blew everyone out of the house, which was about 2000 square foot two story.

If you don't have bass, then I would advised investing in a amplifier with more than 10 WTS per channel. If you want to test the naysayers, just pick a set up and plug them in. If you don't like them, take them back. You will see that 99% of the people who bad mouth Bose have more to say about "Bose marketing, you suck" blah blah than the speakers themselves. Those who say they bought a 35 dollar set of speakers that blew these away are so obviously writing from simply hating Bose it's pathetic. If anyone can show me a set of 35.00 speakers that sound better to any random majority of people than these speakers, I'll send you a 1,000,000 check. But whoever takes me up on this, the reverse is true. You owe me 1 million if your random test fails you--so don't bother me.

Bose prides itself on spartan, small systems with VERY good sound, especially when you look at the size. And the bass in any Bose speaker system will not sound like your local low rider with a 20" bazooka sub in the trunk playing "Taste the Bass" CDs. In other words, you never get "boomie" loose sounding base from a Bose. They are very tight sounding, and if the CD calls for a "sub" frequency, you will REALLY hear it and feel it. Bose isn't into cranking up the volume gains and playing with frequency responses to get unnatural boomie, booingie bass that distorts the original music into a overpowering (headache inducing) Shiitey, boomie, boing, boing, boing sound. The Bose bass feels like someone patting your chest very firmly--tight, thump, thump like, very fast base response. Try the The Prodigy with the song "Diesel Power" and tell me these speakers don't thump. Yeah, right.

I am sorry to see the negative reviews on this board. I have had Bose speakers for more than thirty years. My first set, a pair of 601's is still functioning in a friends house. My 901 series VI blow away any home theater systems I've heard. With the direct reflecting sound, there is no need for center channel, rear channel. You just get realism in the listening experience that is unmatched. I have two sets of Acoustimas AM-5's and I am totally satisfied. I've had one set since 1991 and that is a tribute to the quality and longevity of the product. I purchased a second set when I finished my basement and they are nothing short of awesome. When I entertain, I almost always get a compliment on the sound of the speakers. Other reviewers have commented on the lack of bass. I would just say that you really do have to pay attention to the placement of the subwoofer. Bose intends for the subwoofer to use the floor as a platform to send the bass throughout the room. Placing the subwoofer nearer to the corner of the room sometimes will increase the bass. I have both of my systems set up with the subwoofer in a corner firing out at a 45 degree angle and the rooms are totally filled with deep rich bass.

I have always preached the gospel of putting your money in a good set of speakers. While your other equipment is important, the speaker system will make or break the quality of your sound. But with any speaker system, you have to finesse the placement for optimal results.

I have been very disappointed by these speakers. I have the series III ones. While the treble sounds fine, perfectly clear...this system has NO BASS! My husband recently bought a $35 set of 2 computer speakers and subwoofer and his setup sounds 10x better than mine!

Because the subwoofer feeds power off the stereo/reciever it's hooked up to, and does NOT have its own direct power supply or amplifier, it literally lacks power. This subwoofer is the biggest joke ever! I can barely hear the bass on most things, even with the volume cranked up.

Bose products are extremely overrated and overpriced. Do not waste your money -- buy something worthwhile (for a fraction of the price!), and make sure the subwoofer has its own amplifier/direct line to outlet.