Combining Bose AM5's with ? New system

[nickkis]

First apologies if this is in the wrong area, this is indicative of how confused I am right now.

I've 'inherited' the Bose AM5 and am about to move house. I currently have no stereo system at all, just these speakers (they aren't the power module version if that helps?, which was enquired about when I visited a store today).

So requirements...
I'm not at all bothered by DAB or Home Cinema at all... barely watch tv let alone films and don't need to be blown from the chair when watching Bridget Jones
CD's a plenty
Have loads of music on my PC and would like to put this through my new system wirelessly if possible (I appreciate loss of sound quality with MP3's but will take this for convenience factor)
I have fairly good ears for sound so I do want good quality and am prepared to pay to a point but I'm not an audiogeek
White or silver is good for the new lounge (black if it must be and can go in a cupboard.. its a girlie thing)
Would ideally like to be able to pipe music into my bedroom which is next door to the lounge but this isn't an absolute must.
Budget.. lets start around the £800 mark.

Hope I've covered everything, sorry if I've posted in the wrong section and please go slowly with me :D

[nickkis]

Nobody have any recommendations for me?

[senu]

Im sure there are more informed people here.
I only reply because I own the AM5s too and procastinated a lot before buying them.
I dont think the system you use them with is as crucial as how your ears percieve the synergy and what sort of music you like.

I have used them with an aging Aiwa midi combo with good effect ( at house parties and in church) and also with a mid range Arcam Amp with a Linn CD player.
I also have a pair of old Mission 753 speakers ( stereo + 6.1 when required) driven by a Yamaha 604 AV amp and Arcam 92 cd player.

The point is that these are different systems. The Bose are on speaker B. on the current setup with the Yamaha AV amp Comparing them to the Mission setup they sound quite mid range heavy with good amts of treble but a bit bass light( not unpleasantly).

On thier own they are very good for soul music, jazz funk, acoutics , vocals, so a fairly "polite" amplification suits them fine. They can go decently loud when needed to do so but are not your average rock/ ragga type speakers

I hope my little insight is helpful as Im aware its nothing specific.
Perhaps one of the mid range Denon Systems would be suitable (Ive seen them demoed as such at a hi fi show recently).
When I bought I mine I did several demos in the shop with systems similar to mine and on the day of purchase I went in with my amp ,cd player and a few cds : The shop was very ok with that!

[hornydragon]

2 main issues £800 will buy a very nice stereo system without using the AM5s

now while the AM5 look nice they dont IMO sound very good i suggest you go to a local dealer demo a £400 stereo system, a £600 system and a £800 system see how much difference you hear, what you do which may be nice is buy a stereo for £600 for the lounge nice CD player AMP and Speakers and use the AM5 in the bedroom as your PC speakers (fancy PC speakers!) connecting PC to Stereo in bedroom can be done depends on how much of your budget you want to allocate some links for you to have a look at (are the AM5 white? or black?)
Amp/CD system to run AM5 (overkill IMO) http://www.creative-audio.co.uk/ARCSOLO.htm
great CD/AMP combo http://www.creative-audio.co.uk/rokrok.htm
As the "look" seems important to you check out Cyrus Kit http://www.cyrusaudio.com/content.asp?ContentID=21
Other end of your budget http://www.eu.onkyo.com/indices/index_com_en_42260.html

for MP3 connection http://www.slimdevices.com/ and http://www.rokulabs.com/products/soundbridge/index.php (do you have WiFI network? wireless internet?) if not add £70 for a WiFI router for ADSL (BT broadband via phone line) £50 if you use Cable service (ntl/telewest)



PS where are you.

[senu]

The Arcam, Roksan and Cyrus systems are way too "rich" for the Bose AM5s IMO.
The Onkyo is probably best suited to it as all the other systems are likely to have their intrinsic sound quality "muted" by the Bose's.
From my limited experience the Am5s' have their own "sound" which is pleasant but a bit narrow on full frequency range.
All the mid to higher end amp/ cds comos / systems need more neutral and " full bodied" speakers to show how good thier electronics ( sonics) are.
I have to agree that the AM5's do look better than they sound but this is only in comparison to conventional well made speakers of similar cost or slightly more,
I like them