The Bose Acoustimass 6 is one of the most iconic 5.1 home theater speaker systems, the tiny cube speakers immediately attract people’s attention. These stylish-looking satellite speakers also surprise people with the way they sound. In order for Bose Acoustimass 6 to sound their best, they will require matching AV receivers to push them to their limits.
You might be wondering which AV receiver will be the best for this Bose speaker system. There is a way to find out, and firstly we must learn more about the sonic characteristic of the Bose Acoustimass 6. With more understanding of how they sound and what are their merits, we will then be able to find the right AV receiver which we will be sharing with you a list of them later.
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Sonic Characteristics and Merits of Bose Acoustimass 6
One of the greatest strengths of the Bose Acoustimass 6 is its size which allows them to fit in nicely in any home. You can place the cube speakers on tables, cabinets, TV stands, etc., and they don’t really stand out until they start singing. They also look stylish and modern enough to be part of your house decorations. Due to their low profile, aesthetically matching them with AV receivers is rather easy. The powered Acoustimass module has a small footprint as well, the slim build of this sub allows it to be easily hidden behind furniture or tuck away to the corner where it can use the walls to further boost its bass performance.
More Details at Amazon – Bose Acoustimass 6 Home Entertainment Speaker System
The five Virtually Invisible Series II cube speakers use a 2.5″ Twiddler and the compact powered Acoustimass module has one 5.25″ woofer. Comparing Bose Acoustimass 6 to its bigger brothers does make them look less powerful and might need the support of an additional active subwoofer to supplement the bass. Still, the low profile and compact size make them the best HT speaker system for listening rooms with space constraints. The Bose Acoustimass 6 is suitable for small-sized rooms and at best, a medium-sized listening room.
The dialogues and vocals are always clear when it comes to the Bose Acoustimass system, the 6 series is no exception as it effortlessly delivers the voice with crystal-clear quality. The powered Acoustimass module does its job of seamlessly blending in the low frequency and making the tiny cube speakers sound big on their own. The five Virtually Invisible Series II cube speakers are able to reproduce a sound field bigger than expected. Still, the imaging is not really focused and subtle details are not as clear as the vocals.
This is why it is best to place the Bose Acoustimass 6 into small listening rooms where they are able to sound their best. The low-end performance of the Bose Acoustimass module has that full-bodied mid-bass reproduction but does lack the impact and that thunderous deep bass delivery. Adding another active subwoofer will help to significantly improve the overall bass performance, digging deeper into the bass extension. The recommended power requirements of 10W-150W per channel (4 to 8 ohms) do indicate that the Bose Acoustimass Series 6 system is quite power-hungry. These requirements will filter down the potential AVRs to high power output AV receivers that can connect up to 2 subwoofers.
The Bose Acoustimass 6 is just simply amazing, for such a small speaker system, they could actually fill a small listening room with ease. Some other satellite speakers even with the support of a subwoofer, can’t even produce such a big lively sound field. This is a well-made home theater speaker system, there are flaws as well but for the size, we can’t really complain much. It is time for us to start sharing with you the best AV receivers you could go for and use them to drive your Bose Acoustimass 6 home theater speakers.
Bose Acoustimass 6 Specifications
- Speakers: Five Virtually Invisible Series II cube speakers, and a powered Acoustimass module.
- Power Handling: 10-150 Watts
- Nominal Impedance: 4/8 Ohms
- Dimensions of Cube Speakers (H x W x D): 95mm x 83mm x 84mm, 3.7″ x 3.2″ x 3.3″
- Weight of Cube Speakers: 0.45kg (1.2lbs)
- Dimensions of Acoustimass module (H x W x D): 414mm x 206mm x 566mm, 16.3″ x 8.1″ x 22.3″
- Weight of Acoustimass module: 12.2kg (27lbs)
Best AV Receivers to pair with Bose Acoustimass 6
One of the best AV receivers to pair with your Bose Acoustimass 6, will be the Onkyo TX-NR797 which is 9.2 channel 4K UHD AVR. Onkyo AV receivers were recommended at one of Bose’s sites and this is why the more modern TX-NR797 will be a great match for the HT speaker system. An AV receiver with ample power to drive your cube speakers and two subwoofer outputs where you can use one of them to connect to a more powerful active sub. The Onkyo TX-NR797 also has the latest sound formats such as Dolby Atmos, IMAX Enhanced, and more.
More Details at Amazon – Onkyo TX-NR797 9.2 Channel Receiver with 4K Ultra HD
If your budget is tight, you can go with the Onkyo TX-RZ820 AV receiver instead. Even though is slightly more affordable than the Onkyo TX-NR797 AVR, it is still THX-Certified. The TX-RZ820 is a 7.2 channel 4K UHD AV receiver with a peak power of 250 Watts, which is enough power to drive your speakers, not to mention, you can connect up to 2 active subs via the dedicated subwoofer outputs. The tonal balanced sound quality matches well with the sonic characteristic of Bose Acoustimass 6, it is best to have a listen yourself by giving them an audition.
More Details at Amazon – Onkyo TX-RZ820 7.2-Channel 4K A/V Receiver
The Onkyo AV receivers listed are really good when it comes to sound quality but they do lack the visual prowess when you compare them to Denon AVR-X4700H. It is a 9.2 channel AV receiver that can process 8K/60Hz, providing you with incredible and beautiful home cinematic visuals. Furthermore, the Denon AVR-X4700H is also powerful, more than capable of driving your Bose Acoustimass 6 sound system and has all the latest surround sound formats as well, for instance, Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, and more. The built-in Audyssey room correction technology will be very useful too.
More Details at Amazon – Denon AVR-X4700H 8K Ultra HD 9.2 Channel (125 Watt X 9) AV Receiver
The Denon AVR-X4700H may provide you with powerful full-bodied sound quality but it can’t match the musicality of the Marantz SR7015. The coveted house sound of Marantz is extensively tuned by their veteran Sound Masters. This ensures the sound reproduction is cleanly produced with sweetness and warmth. Audiophiles who are critical about music will always go for Marantz and the SR7015 is one of the latest 8K 7.2 channel AVR with powerful amplification that can make your Bose Acoustimass 6 sing. This AVR also has the Audyssey built-in.
More Detail at Amazon – Marantz SR7015 9.2-Channel 4K Ultra HD AV Receiver
Not planning to get another subwoofer and don’t feel like investing too much on an AV receiver due to budget constraints, then the Yamaha RX-V385 will be just right for your Bose Acoustimass 6 speaker system. Yamaha AV receivers are usually well-match with Bose speakers due to their clarity and low-frequency grunt. The Yamaha RX-V385 complements Bose Acoustimass 6 pretty well and at this price point, this AV receiver is well worth every penny. We will recommend you to hear them out first before making any decision. It has quite a number of features which the noteworthy ones are Bluetooth and 4K pass-through.
More Info at Amazon – YAMAHA RX-V385 5.1-Channel 4K Ultra HD AV Receiver
Another AV receiver brand to look out for will be Sony but we suggest sticking with Onkyo, Denon, and/or Marantz though. Getting another powered subwoofer is recommended, and there are a few Bose owners who partner their speakers with Klipsch subs with satisfying results. You might want to check out Klipsch R-12SW subwoofer, it is a powerful 12″ front-firing sub with 400 Watts of power. Another brand of subs to check out will be SVS, a specialist when it comes to making high-performance powered subwoofers. You might want to start with their SVS SB-1000 Pro which is great for both movies and music playbacks.
More Information at Amazon – Klipsch R-12SW Subwoofer
More Information at Amazon – SVS SB-1000 Pro Subwoofer
To Conclude
The AV receivers listed are some of the best that you can match with your Bose Acoustimass 6 home theater speaker system. Each has its own unique merits and you’ll just need to see which one of them suits your needs the most. Just remember to audition them first before making any serious decision. Feel free to look for more AV receivers and hear them out, it is wise to spend some time sourcing for your ideal AV receiver.
