The Bose Acoustimass 15 is a classic and was once the talk of the town when traditional speakers reign supreme and satellites are almost none existent. Nowadays, speakers’ designs are getting more creative, and having as little footprint as possible is highly sought after. You can say that the Bose Acoustimass 15 was ahead of its time but one thing didn’t change, and that will be the need for a high-quality AV receiver to power them.
We are fortunate that there are more and more options to choose from but it can be confusing at times, where you are not sure which AV receiver to go for. In order to get the right matching AVR, we must first find out more about the sonic characteristics and strengths of the Bose Acoustimass 15 home theater speaker system. With a better understanding, we will then share with you a list of the best AV receivers to go for.
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Sonic Characteristics and Strengths of Bose Acoustimass 15
We can only imagine how stylish it was when they first came out, the ultra-compact cube speakers and the slim design of the powered Acoustimass module. The innovative design of the cube speakers may not look as sleek as their modern counterparts but due to their low profile, you can still easily fit them anywhere in today’s modern home without any worry that the Bose Acoustimass 15 might disrupt your house interiors. The cube speaker array is made up of two 2.5″ (6.35cm) Twiddler speakers and the powered Acoustimass module has two 5.5″ (14cm) woofers.
If you want more bass output from your powered Acoustimass module, you can easily place them nearer to your walls. The Acoustimass module may look slim and compact but it is quite heavy and you should be cautious when moving it around. The cube speakers on the other hand are extremely compact and light, allowing you to position them almost anywhere in your listening room. The power requirement has a very wide range, it starts from 10W, all the way to 200W per channel (4 to 8 ohms). We shouldn’t go for low-powered AV receivers though, satellite speakers can be demanding when it comes to power.
More Details at Amazon – BOSE Acoustimass 15 Series II
As expected from the powered Acoustimass module, it is the key to making the cube speakers sound bigger than their size. The low-frequency production, especially the mid-bass, is warm and bold, which contributes to creating the presence of a spacious sound field. It is not as rich in details and textured though but can be easily solved by integrating another powered subwoofer. It is recommended to have an additional sub that can produce the subterranean level of bass as, without it, your home cinema experience won’t be as exhilarating.
Getting another subwoofer will also help to cover a larger portion of your listening room, providing that weighty presence of a live performance/concert. This will also help to deliver a more fun and entertaining movie/music listening experience. The vocals and dialogues are clear, but the overall sound reproduction can be a bit more detailed. Playing at high volumes, the Bose Acoustimass 15 doesn’t make you cringe which is good if you want to have a longer listening session.
All in all, the Bose Acoustimass 15 serves its function as a fun-sounding system that is incredibly compact and suitable for listening rooms with limited spaces. It should feel right at home in a small listening space. The Bose Acoustimass 15 cube speakers are able to hit high levels of volumes without much distortion but will require a substantial amount of power from your amplifier. We have the information we need, it is time to introduce to you the best AV receivers you can get your hands on and to pair them with your Bose Acoustimass 15 home theater sound system.
Bose Acoustimass 15 Specifications
- Speakers: Five cube speaker arrays (two 2.5″ Twiddler speakers), and a powered Acoustimass module (two 5.5″ woofers).
- Power Handling: 10-200 Watts
- Nominal Impedance: 4/8 Ohms
- Dimensions of Cube Speakers (H x W x D): 157mm x 78mm x 102mm, 6.2″ x 3.1″ x 4″
- Weight of Cube Speakers: 1.1kg (2.4lbs)
- Dimensions of Acoustimass module (H x W x D): 355mm x 190mm x 590mm, 14″ x 23.3″ x 7.5″
- Weight of Acoustimass module: 24kg (53lbs)
Best AV Receivers to pair with Bose Acoustimass 15
The Yamaha AVENTAGE RX-A780 is one of the finest AV receivers that you can go for and match with your Bose Acoustimass 15 speaker system. Yamaha receivers are well-matched with Bose speakers and also well-accepted by the Bose owners too. The AVENTAGE RX-A780 is a 4K AVR that goes up to 7 channels and allows 2 subwoofers to be connected. This Yamaha AV receiver uses YPAO – R.S.C. to calibrate your speakers so to achieve optimum sound reproduction in your listening room. The transparent and detailed sound quality of the AVR also complements your Bose Acoustimass 15 speakers.
More Details at Amazon – YAMAHA AVENTAGE RX-A780 7.2-Channel Network AV Receiver
The Onkyo TX-RZ840 is another ideal AV receiver to pair with the Bose Acoustimass 15 speaker system. It is a very powerful AVR that can easily drive your Bose cube speakers. It is also a UHD AVR that supports 4K/60p and HDR (HDR10, Dolby vision, BT.2020, etc.), furthermore, allowing you to connect up to two active subwoofers. Onkyo AV receivers are well-matched for Bose speakers and their sonic characteristics are better suited for movies. With the Bose Acoustimass 15 partnering with the Onkyo TX-RZ840, the receiver will provide a livelier home cinema experience. The Accueq feature of TX-RZ840 is neat especially if you are planning to add a second powered subwoofer.
More Details at Amazon – Onkyo TX-RZ840 Smart AV Receiver with 4K Ultra HD
Sony STR-DH790 will be an impressive amp partner for your Bose Acoustimass 15, it is a 7.2 channel 4K HDR AV receiver that is highly rated by satisfied owners and also well-match with Bose speakers. When it comes to movies the Sony STR-DH790 is punchy and dynamic, giving you that excitement. For music, it is equally impressive as well, with an emphasis on clarity. The three DSPs further improve the accuracy of the latest sound formats such as Dolby Atmos and DTS:X. The video processing prowess of the Sony STR-DH790 is top-notch too. At this price point, it is definitely a bang for one’s buck.
More Details at Amazon – Sony STR-DH790 7.2-ch AV Receiver: 4K HDR, Dolby Atmos
Then again when it comes to visual prowess, it is still hard to beat an 8K UHD AV receiver like Denon AVR-X3700H. For an exhilarating home cinema experience, the visuals are very important and this is where the advanced video processing of 8K/60Hz comes into play. The sound quality also plays an important role and the Denon AVR-X3700H is able to process the latest 3D sound formats such as Dolby Atmos, Dolby Atmos Height Virtualization, DTS:X, IMAX Enhanced, and more. The 9-Channel amplifier of this AVR is also powerful enough to power your Bose Acoustimass 15 effortlessly.
More Information at Amazon – Denon AVR-X3700H 8K Ultra HD AV Receiver
The Denon AVR-X3700H is an incredible all-rounder but if the music listening experience is absolutely critical then you definitely need to check out Marantz SR6015 a powerful 9.2 Channel AV receiver with impeccable musicality. The warm and smooth sound quality of the SR6015, not to mention, plenty of details and tight bass control. With the built-in Audyssey technology, the AV receiver will calibrate your Bose Acoustimass 15 to sound its best in your listening room. The Marantz SR6015 is able to process 8K/60Hz and also 4K/120Hz, it is an AVR that is more than worthy to pair with your Bose Acoustimass 15 sound system.
More Information at Amazon – Marantz SR6015 9.2 Channel 8K AV Receiver
As mentioned earlier, it is highly recommended to partner with another active subwoofer as this will significantly improve the overall sound quality. You might want to check out either SVS or Rythmik Audio as both of them builds high-quality subwoofers at affordable prices. Klipsch subwoofers are highly rated as well, you can check out Klipsch R-100SW for a start. If you are planning to get power amplifiers instead of an AV receiver to drive your Bose Acoustimass 15 then the Emotiva power amps will be the ideal choice. When it comes to price-vs-performance, Emotiva power amplifiers are quite hard to beat, Their entry-level 5 channel power amplifier BasX A-500 is well worth a look.
More Information at Amazon – Klipsch R-100SW 10″ Subwoofer
To Sum It Up
Once you have shortlisted the AV receivers, you should arrange for an audition with them along with the potential subwoofers (if any) you will be getting. The mentioned AVRs are all worthy of your time and effort to hear them out. It is recommended to demo the AV receivers at your own home so to get a more accurate result of how they will actually sound. You should also review the video quality while you are auditioning the sound quality, if you like them both then that particular AV receiver will be the one for you.
