Is there a big difference between sound quality with bose ls28 and a Yamaha 7.1 Receiver (mid to top of line)?

Question

Bose lifestyle series vs. Yamaha-Pioneer Elite- Receivers, etc.

Answer 1

It's not an apples to apples comparison.

Bose uses a single, over-sized tweeter in place of a normal speaker. The receiver module does equalization and tricks to compensate for this. Only this receiver/speaker combination work together and it's not expandable (Try hooking up a HD cable box to get 5.1 sound to the Bose - you cant).

Yamaha/Pioneer receivers are designed to drive many different speakers from lots of different companies.  Since they dont know the electrical properties of the speakers - they tend to be over-designed. You can hook 4 ohm electrostatic speakers to a Yamaha/Dennon/Pioneer, or a more traditional 3-way speaker (tweeter, mid-range-woofer) and they all work.

This "must be able to hook up to many different speakers" designa approach tends to make the receiver more robust and better sounding.

In general - the speaker is the most important part of the system and a generic receiver lets you pick the 'flavor' of speaker you prefer.  With Bose -  you get 1 choice: a plastic cube.

Answer 2

Yes, the Yamaha is a very good receiver and the Bose system is not.  Bose looks nice and the speakers are small but that is it.  The sound from the system is very much hype.  There is a reason that Bose will not allow it's systems to be compared side by side in any stereo shop.  They will always have their own area for listening.  Go to any high-end stereo shop (not BestBuy, Circuit City), I mean a real stereo shop and ask them as well.  The actual drivers that reproduce the sound in the little modules are very inexpensive.

The Yamaha is a good choice for receiver.  Let me know what stereo shops are in your are and I can give you brand  suggestions for listening to.

Try:  http://www.intellexual.net/bose.html

or  http://www.firstadopter.com/fa/archives/...

You can ask me any questions and I will more than happy to answer.

Answer 3

No comparison as the Yamaha receiver with a good set of speakers will SMOKE a Bose system for audio quality.

Bose is at a disadvantage in that they design from a form factor vs. form following function.

Your Bose system will cost $2000 anywhere as they fix their prices.

A $2000 budget will get you the following for a system:

http://www.crutchfield.com/App/Product/I...

http://www.crutchfield.com/App/Product/I...

These are both subjective and should be compared. You will find that almost always a system the same price as bose offers much more flexability allows for easier replacment or repair, works better with most other AV products.

Shop around you may get a better system for less.

Answer 4

By far Yamaha is better.  I sometimes wonder how Yamaha can sell their equipment so inexpensively and still make money but I'm not complaining!  

The Bose systems are for gullible people who don't mind spending $2000 for a $400 audio system.

Answer 5

With todays reciever you will not notice but a subtle difference in sq.  I prefer the yamaha personally, ESP the thx model with wifi capabilites.  The biggest difference in sq will come from your speakers.