Upgrade from Bose 161

[Thomasbeau]

I have a pair of Bose 161 speakers as my rear surrounds. After reading everyone's thoughts on Bose I'm sure there is a better choice as these seem to lack dynamics. I am looking to upgrade them but I need to keep the price under $400 pair. Anyone have any suggestions? I will use these with my Onkyo 605.

Thanks

[callas01]

what front speakers do you have?

[Thomasbeau]

Bose 301's in the front. Also Polk CS10 center channel.

[callas01]

Originally Posted by Thomasbeau

Bose 301's in the front. Also Polk CS10 center channel.

to match your center, the Polk Monitor 60s would be fine, and the Monitor 30s for surrounds would be ok also.

If you want to step us to some better speakers, Some Energy RC-10s or PSB B25s or B15s. Energys can be found on vanns.com, and saturdayaudio.com for the others. These speakers will need stands. They have some nice ones at audioadvisor.com for about $50

[Thomasbeau]

Thanks

[progers13]

I agree with callas. I had a pair of Bose 301's as my surrounds for several years. They worked ok as mains when I had a smaller system, but I didn't realize how much they held back my surround experience until I swapped them out for relatively inexpensive Sony bookshelf speakers. Since you have a Polk center, you really should look to match your entire front soundstage with the Polk Monitor 60's or TSi400's. The Monitor 60's go for $150 each (shipped) from newegg.com, and the TSi400's go on sale about once a week for $200 each (shipped). You could then upgrade your surrounds to the Monitor 30's or TSi100's to complete your matched soundstage.

When I was speaker shopping, these Polks were one of several that I listened to before finally buying my eD speakers. Since I had the Bose 301's, I can confidently say that the Polk speakers will be a satisfying upgrade for you.

Links:

Towers (fronts)
Monitor 60's (cherry)
Monitor 60's (black)
TSi400's (cherry)
TSi400's (black)

Bookshelf (surrounds)
Monitor 30's (cherry)
Monitor 30's (black)
TSi100's (cherry)
TSi100's (black)

If you go with a pair of Monitor 60's for the front and a pair of Monitor 30's for the surrounds, you can upgrade and timber match your entire soundstage for $409 shipped. That is right in the budget you have to work with, and I think you'd love yourself for doing it.

[Thomasbeau]

Thanks a lot, great comments!

[Thomasbeau]

I ordered both the Monitor 60's and the Monitor 30's this morning. Can't wait for them to come in. Thanks for the help!!

[Fors*]

Originally Posted by Thomasbeau

I ordered both the Monitor 60's and the Monitor 30's this morning. Can't wait for them to come in. Thanks for the help!!

Congrats, I have both the 60's and 30's and have been happy with them. I actually have the T90e's (Europeana version of the 60's), but they both are good performers, particularly for HT use.

[Thomasbeau]

Finally got the system back up and running with the 60's and the 30's. Awesome!! Blows the Bose 301's away by a mile. I love this setup now. Thanks for all the help!!