Technical Details
- Complete system designed for those who want to add their own DVD player and other hi-def sources
- ADAPTiQ® system customizes sound to your rooms unique characteristics
- Bose® link enables a whole-home entertainment solution, even outdoors
- Video upscaling uses the highest resolution capabilities of your TV, up to 1080p over HDMI
- 4 Direct/Reflecting speakers, horizontal speaker, Acoustimass® module, media console, display
Product Description
The Bose® Lifestyle® V20 system changes the face of component home theater. It offers a versatile foundation for all your audio and video sources, including those with HDMI. Add your own Blu-ray DiscTM or HD-DVD player, and enjoy exhilarating surround sound for movies, music, sports and more. This system features compact Direct/Reflecting ® speaker arrays, each only 4½" high, and a horizontal -channel speaker that complements flat-panel TVs. A powerful Acoustimass® module reproduces emphatic low notes that add depth to your movies and music. The unique system design lets you hide more equipment. There's no need for a large, complex receiver and a multitude of remotes. All you see and interact with is an elegant display panel. A well-labeled media console simplifies your component connections and tucks neatly away. The entire system is controlled with an intuitive universal remote. So you receive synchronized audio and video at the press of a single source button. And what you see is as crisp as what you hear. The Lifestyle® V20 system features automatic video upscaling so movies and sports always use the highest resolution capability of your displayup to 1080p over HDMI. Now think about the unique qualities of your room. The size, shape, textures and other elements affect the sound you hear. The ADAPTiQ® system was developed to analyze your room and then adjust the Lifestyle® system for a consistent, high-quality performance each time you listen. But the benefits don't end in your main room. Built-in Bose® link technology can distribute the system's audio to other rooms. Add compatible Bose products, and enjoy your music almost anywhere, even outdoors.
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Customer Reviews
"Techy guy who wanted 1 Remote Simplicity (and some good sounding surround sound)" 2009-12-20By
Mark Gabryjelski (NH)
OK, so all I wanted was a great surround system that would accept an optical cable to throw out surround, and did NOT want to have a large receiver sitting under my TV for just that only purpose. The Display being separated from the Media Unit is awesome. I have an Xbox 360, Comcast Tivo (yes, Tivo from Camcast), and an Apple Mac Mini hooked up to a 52" Samsung LCD (1080p) TV, and just wanted surround sound. I was not evening looking for a remote...no remote shipped with any system actually works, right? I was still looking for a 1 remote control solution. (more on the remote later)
Forget the fact that I paid $1700 for this...I know would still pay the $2,000 for it. I know Bose can be pricey.... If you are looking at this, you're considering it too. I would do it again, even without the sale price.
It sounds damn good. It blows away any of those all in one's you see out there for $1,000 or less. I'm sure that at some price point, an all in one will sound better, but I'm sure it will cost a pretty penny. There is even good bass. Can I get more rumble with at 'proper' 8" or 10" subwoofer? Yes, if I want to, but LIstening to Rush, Moving Pictures sounds PERFECT! (had to up the Bass to a +8 to make this sound like that).
Surround is good, bass is good, TV pass thru (for video) is good...even the remote is more than I expected.
Points:
Ships with (just about) everything you need: HDMI, components, composites, & speaker cables, remote, IR transmitters, batteries.
Speaker wires: 3 x 20', and 2 x 50'
Wishes:
it came with speaker stands/mounts. But, most high-end systems don't, and look what it DOES come with. OK, I can give some slack here, but the stands/mounts were $30 (MSRP) each. Found them online for less than 1/2 of that.
REMOTE
Now, I was ready to go buy a true universal remote (Logitech, or old Harmony remotes), but was going to try the Bose remote first.
Waited until I had a few hours, because I had to re-run my HDMI cables. Took the Xbox360 and Comcast Tivo, removed them from the TV, and hooked them up tot he HDMI in on the Bose. Bose is now connected to the TV over HDMI. Played with the remote settings, and was surprised as anything when it worked EXACTLY like I wanted it to. Thought I would have to run the IR Emitters....nope. PLEASE...take your time with the remote settings. There are a LOT OF CODES for your to search through. Don't stop at the first one just because the power on/off feature worked. Write down what worked, and keep moving down the list. Took me 7 working TV codes to find the one where the menu button actually brought up a working menu. Took me 3 tries to find the right Comcast Tivo code. I figure this is why people have problems with the remote's universal feature (that they stop on the 1st working code). The remote is Radio Frequeny for the Bose controls, and will do IR for the other components without requiring the IR Transmitters.
Enjoy
"Not as good as I thought" 2009-09-18By
D. L. Michie (tx)
I purchased the Bose v-20 a couple of weeks ago. I have a PS3 for blu-ray, a new Samsung LCD, and Direct TV HD DVR hooked to the bose. The remote didn't initially work with anything until I figured out how to change it to IR. I had to search on line for a solution. The biggest problem is that when ever I change chanels on the Direct TV HD DVR the Bose goes "dead" for a minute or 2 and then will come back on. It really is annoying. The sound is ok but not great. I have the surround sound up almost all the way and I still am not super happy with it. My room is about 20 x 25 but that should not be a problem. Since I have my components hooked up using HDMI and I am having problems switching channels and losing sound I'm going to try hooking my Direct TV HD DVR to the bose v20 with component and see if that works, of course I will have to change sound hookup also.
I think there is a problem with Bose HDMI inputs, but I'm not technically proficient enough to know how to verify this.
Also, I wish that there were more HDMI inputs, 2 is not enough now days.
I did send a note to bose asking them questions and they responded quickly.
I have multiple bose products and I have to say this is the first time I'm not 120% satisfied.
I also find that the sound isn't as loud as I would like. I don't think there is enough power. Bose told me to disconnect everything and re-do the connections in a specific order. But, it is a lot of work to get to everything.
I think the system is great overall, but overpriced. I am still about 80% satisfied with this system, but am really thinking about returning it. I saw an amp that sells for $900 that has 6 HDMI inputs and it seems like it might work better than the bose. I'm going to give it another weekend after I make all the new connections and then if I'm still not satisfied I will return the system - which will make me sad because I really wanted Bose.
UPDATE: After about 3 weeks I got tired of trying to get this system to work the way I wanted. Bose support told me to hook my DVR directly to TV with component and just running sound through the Bose to get best picture and sound - I tried that but it still wasn't giving me sound I expected. The surround speakers just didn't have power to give me good sound. After much work and lots of frustration I returned the Bose and purchased a Denon AVR 890 and got back over a $1000. The Denon is a pain to set up, but the sound is so much better I can't believe it. Bose really let me down. I always trusted them and felt if I spent more I would get more, but in this case it wasn't true. Oh, by the way the Denon has 5 HDMI inputs. Come on Bose, you need more power and more HDMI inputs. The Bose is really for small rooms.
"Mine works great" 2009-09-12By
J. Chad Davis (Texas, USA)
I received my Bose sound system several weeks ago, took an afternoon to hook up everything, and could not be more pleased. I have a mid-sized house (~2400 square feet) and the system will deliver sufficient volume that music or soundtracks, including dialogue, can be heard throughout my home. I also use the system to play my music wirelessly from my home computer and get excellent results. The stereo sound quality is terrific and, after using the AdaptIQ to adjust the sound, is very well-balanced. The room where I watch television is about 30 x 20, so those with larger rooms might need to consider a different system, but this is one is more than adequate for that space. I am particularly pleased with the surround sound and am getting excellent results from DVD's that have good audiotracks; the resolution between the dialogue and the sound effects is particularly satisfying after having used my TV speakers for a few months.
In short, if you have an average-sized room, this system should deliver everything you want from a theater system, and is expandable with other components (either from Bose or other parties). Although it is not cheap, I found it to be the right price for the right results that I wanted. Others who are considering items in this price range should definitely consider the V20 system.
"Its just not what I expected" 2009-08-27By
Maggie K. Yu (portland,OR)
I bought this system 6 months ago, replacing my older Bose acoustimass 10 Series II with a Yamaha htr-5460 what a disappointment. By no means I am a music expert but Im guessing the speakers are fine. The amp is what Im thinking is lacking. It does not fill the room with warmness like the AM10 had done in the past with music. And as for movies well lets just say I have not jump out of my seat in a long time. On the plus side the amp is very easy to tuck away and I planning on installing this system in my room.
"Bose lifestyle 20 - Overpriced" 2009-08-17By
J. Velez (Florida, USA)
We bought the V20 a few weeks ago and after paying a not-so-modest amount for it PLUS the separate wireless receiver for the back speakers and spending a few hours hooking it up and calibrating; it comes as a dissapointment that the quality of the sound that it delivers is nothing like the demonstrations they gave us at the Bose store; yes, it sounds good, but no, it is not worth two grand. After a week of trying to like this system, we decided to take it back to the store and bought instead a Sony system for less than half the price which already included the wireless component for the back speakers, an iPod dock and even a blu-ray player and the best part is that it sounds infinitely better than the Bose system. Needless to say, we are way more satisfied with sony than with bose.
All Reviews
