Blog :: Technologies :: HDTV :: Bose® Introduces its Lifestyle® V20 and V30 Home Theater Systems
Bose® Introduces its Lifestyle® V20 and V30 Home Theater Systems
The Bose Corporation has unveiled their brand new home theater systems the Bose Lifestyle® V20 and Lifestyle® V30 . Bose created the new Lifestyle® systems for consumers with existing DVD players other components like: Blu Ray or HD-DVD Players, Playstation 3, Xbox 360, HD Cable/Satellite boxes and iPod Docks. The Lifestyle® V20 and V30 share most of the same features as the Lifestyle® 48, 38, 35 and 28 systems with a few major upgrades.
Inputs
One of the biggest changes from the traditional Lifestyle® Systems is the addition of two HDMI inputs that are able to accept a full 1080p High Definition signal. The Lifestyle® V20 and V30 have a total of 4 total video inputs all with the option of using Composite Video , S-Video and Component Video along with the two that can use HDMI . With this setup, users will have the option of viewing High Definition on all four video inputs (if component and HDMI are used in each). Bose has also included 5 audio inputs all with the ability to use Analog Audio and Fiber Optic Audio , with one input that can use a Digital Coaxial connection. The additions of HDMI and more fiber optic inputs will give users the ability to maximize their home theater experience with extremely sharp 5.1 digital surround sound and High Definition Video.
Appearance
The appearance of the Bose Lifestyle® V20 and V30 are significantly different from the original Lifestyle® systems as well. The media console is very sleek and much smaller than the typical bulky home theater receiver. It is also able to be hidden away due to the addition of an elegant Digital Display Panel. The Digital Display Panel is 3 inches high and just under 9 inches wide which allows the user to set it on a shelf or on top of an Entertainment Cabinet. The tiny display allows you to store the rest of your home theater system and its components out of sight because the remote control works through the display not the media console itself. The way Bose has set up the actual display on the display panel is very similar to the way you see it on current Lifestyle® models.
One Button Simplicity
The Lifestyle® V20 and V30 systems act as more traditional receivers because they have both audio and now video inputs on the back panel. This gives the V20 and V30 the ability to control both video and audio inputs as one unit with a single remote control. Once you have your other components programed into your Lifestyle® Remote, all it takes is the touch of a button to get the right video and audio sources to play together. This eliminates the need to use several remotes or to change the TV input to match your audio source.
Video Upscaling
This is another great feature of the V20 and V30 Home Theater Systems. The Lifestyle® V20 and V30 will also upscale the video quality of your components to the highest resolution that your TV can display, all the way up to 1080p. This feature will drastically improve the users viewing experience.
Vintage Bose
Bose still utilizes many of its patented technologies in the new V20 and V30 Home Theater Systems. Here are some of the well known Bose technologies and electronics devices that they have incorporated:
- AdaptIQ
- BoseLink
- Jewell Cube Speakers (Lifestyle V30)
- Direct Reflecting Speakers (Lifestyle V20)
- Acoustimass Module
- AM/FM Stereo
- TV Power Sensor
- One Year Limited Warranty
The Bose Lifestyle® V30 and V20 systems give the consumer a user friendly, customizable home theater system with amazing theater quality sound and picture. You can enjoy a complete high definition experience that is second to none and not have to worry about how it looks in the room because it can be stored out of sight. Bose really hit one out of the park on this one, this system has all the capabilities of a high-end receiver but can automatically maximize the picture and sound by itself giving you one incredible home theater experience.
Posted in HDTV, Product Announcements, New Products
October 18th, 2007 at 8:23 am
Thanks for sharing this information! That system sound amazing to me and it looks very stylish. The question is only how much it will cost. Any ideas?
October 19th, 2007 at 7:31 am
Paul,
The Bose Lifestyle V20 costs $1999 and the Bose Lifestyle V30 costs $2999. We have them both on our website and if you purchase from us you will receive Reward Dollars to use towards a future purchase on our site($150 in Reward Dollars for V30 and $100 for V20).
October 29th, 2007 at 2:35 am
What is the $1000.00 difference between these two products. From what I have been able to read, the cube speakers are slightly different, but all other components are the same. If that is the case, are the speakers really that much different? And if so, how are they different?
Thanks for you help,
Andy
October 29th, 2007 at 8:14 am
Andy,
Good question. Although they are both good speakers, there are two main differences that make the Jewell Cube Speakers (V-30) better than the Direct Reflecting Speakers (V-20). First of all the Jewell Cube Speakers are considerably smaller and fit in better with home decor. Even with their small size the Jewell Cubes pack a bigger punch because of their titanium drivers used to project sound that fills the room. The V-20 uses paper drivers that still sound good but if you are looking for the best,the V-30 with Jewell Cube speakers is the way to go because of their aesthetics and sound quality.
October 31st, 2007 at 4:02 pm
Hi, when I phoned Bose they said the V30 operates on mains voltage from 110V to 240V, but when I downloaded the user manual there was no reference to mains voltage. Can you confirm that you can take this unit outside the US and that it will operate on 240V ( both the power supply as well as the Acoustimas unit)?
November 1st, 2007 at 8:14 am
Matt,
As far as we know the V-30 only works in the U.S. If you talked to Bose and they said otherwise then it is probably true. We do not sell outside of the U.S. so we are only concerned with our products working inside the U.S.
November 11th, 2007 at 8:43 am
I currently own a Lifestyle 28 system that was prof installed w wiring routed through ceiling and walls. If I wanted to purchase a v20 or v30, could I use the media console with my exisint speaker setup? Is the connection from the new media console to the acoustimass module the same as the connection from the LS 28? Given that my system is wired and hidden, I don’t want to pull apart the existing setup and would like to switch out the LS 28 media center for the new media console.
November 12th, 2007 at 9:34 am
Will,
The V20 and V30 has an almost identical setup to the Lifestyle 28 Series 3. The V20 speakers will be exactly the same as the Lifestyle 28 Series 3 speakers. You will be able to switch out the media consoles, but get the V20 because the only difference between the V20 and V30 are the speakers. Since you will be using your old speakers you will save yourself $1000 dollars by getting the V20.
November 17th, 2007 at 7:22 pm
I have a Lifestyle 28 II and the acoustimass module is on the other side of my (large) living room. It is connected with boselink extension cable (through the attic and down the wall), bose wall plate and speaker wire adapter kit. Nearby are 6 SA-2 / SA-3s driving in-ceiling / outdoor bose speakers (throughout and outside of the house). My question is, if I purchase the V30, what will I have to replace other than the 28 II, its speakers and acoustimass. Can I leave the new V30 acoustimass in the same place as the 28 II acoustimass and will I have to pull different wiring to it?
November 19th, 2007 at 10:07 am
Scott,
All of your speaker wiring and the speaker wire adapter kit will be fine. The only thing you are going to have to replace is the Bose A-Link Cable that connects the wall plates between your Acoustimass module and the Media Center. Bose has changed these cables and the old one will not work with the Bose V30. If you buy the V-30 from us you will get $150 in Reward Dollars that you can use to buy your Bose A-Link Cable. Follow the links I have provided to see these products.
December 7th, 2007 at 2:57 pm
I have a V-20 installed thru the walls in my livingroom and planning on buying the V-30 for my bedroom. The question is; If I can put the jewel cubes on the V-20 (livingroom) so I dont have to mess with the intallation, and the double cubes on the V-30(bedroom)? Are they compatible? What would I need if something in order to do it? Also, does the image loose detail if I connect my 1080p bluray via HDMI thru the V-20 and out to HDTV?
THANK YOU!!
December 7th, 2007 at 3:45 pm
Giancarlo,
Yes switching the speakers out will work but there are three things you are going to need to do.
1)Buy five AC-2 Adapters ($4.99 each), you will need these because the Bose Lifestyle V30’s Jewell Cube speakers have a unique connection that will not work with regular speaker wire. The AC-2 Adapters will allow you to plug the V20’s regular speaker wire into the V30 speakers.
2)Either cut the ends off of the V30 Speaker wire or buy Monster speaker cable. The V20’s Direct Reflecting speakers do not have the same connection as the V30’s Jewell Cubes as I mentioned above. The Direct Reflecting Speakers (The currently in your living room) connect by using bare speaker wire. The new speaker wire you will get with the V30 will have plastic tips on the end’s that wont connect to the Direct Reflecting speakers so you will need to cut them off and connect them using the bare speaker wire. If you are uncomfortable doing this, then we have a variety of custom speaker cable that will work also.
3) Switch the Acoustimass Modules(Subwoofers) also. It is a good idea to keep your speakers with their correct Acoustimass Modules.
If you follow these steps you will have no problem switching out the two systems speakers. I have provided links to the products you will need.
To answer your second question, No, the image from your Blu-Ray Disc player will not loose detail when connected to the V20 and to your HDTV. The V20 and V30 Systems will enhance your picture not degrade it.
December 10th, 2007 at 2:19 pm
i currently have 20 gauge speaker wire installed behind walls for a 5 speaker home theater setup.how will i be able to incorporate the v20 system,pertaining to speaker and subwoofer connections.do i need to get any accessories.
December 10th, 2007 at 4:18 pm
Sunil,
Unfortunately 20 gauge speaker wire will not work with the V20, you will need at least 16 gauge to get proper sound. If you do decide to get new speaker wire and get the V20 the only accessories you will need are the Bose UB-20 Wall/Ceiling Brackets to mount your speakers on the wall. If you are going to do an in-wall installation, I suggest the Bose Professional Install Kit which will allow you to hide all wires (including the subwoofer) with wall plates that connect to your internal speaker wire.
December 13th, 2007 at 5:06 pm
I was just wondering how long the speaker wires are that come with the V20 system? And what can you purchase to extend them
December 14th, 2007 at 8:52 am
Chrys,
The Front Speaker Wires that come with the V20 are 20 Feet long and the rear are 50 Feet long. There is nothing to buy that will extend the length of the factory speaker cable. If you need more than 50 feet, we can do custom length Monster speaker cable for you.
December 17th, 2007 at 6:57 am
Does the V20 power pack come with 110 and 240 Volt input? I need to know that if I buy a V20 from you that I can use the system in the UK (my company doesn’t know if my spell in Raleigh is going to be 1 year, 2 or 3 yet - but I don’t want to find myself buying a Bose system that I can’t use!).
December 17th, 2007 at 10:09 am
Robert,
The V20 would not work in the UK plugging it straight into the wall. However, there are power converters available that you could plug the V20 into, and then it would be fine. If you are going to go this route, make sure you get a converter for the Media Center and for the Acoustimass module.
December 19th, 2007 at 9:37 pm
Very interested in post #7 above and your reply (#8 above). I have LS 35 and my Jewel speakers were professionally installed including the wire buried in plaster. If I bought the V20 (to save the $1000 vs the V30), could I connect my existing Jewels and Acoustimass to the V20’s media center?
December 20th, 2007 at 8:42 am
Matthew,
Instead of going through all this trouble, I would suggest getting the Bose VS-2 Video Enhancer. It costs $299 and will allow your Lifestyle 35 to accept HDMI and upscale your video sources. It will basically give your Lifestyle 35 the same functionality as the V20 or V30 and takes about 10 minutes to set up. You will save a lot of money this way and be able to enjoy HDMI and Video Upscaling.
December 20th, 2007 at 9:57 pm
Nice! I didn’t even know that Bose had that product. Althought, I have a LS 35 Ser I; on the product write up on your site, it says, “the VS-2 Video Enhancer works seamlessly with all Lifestyle® DVD home entertainment systems except for Lifestyle® 18, 28 and 35 Series I systems.”
December 21st, 2007 at 8:22 am
Matthew,
Sorry about that, I assumed you had a Lifestyle 35 Series III. Unfortunately the VS-2 will not work with any Series I except the Lifestyle 48 Series I. I have more bad news, the crossover points in the speakers from that model will be completely different from the newer models. Switching out the Media Centers may have a slight chance of working but I wouldn’t try it if I were you. If you still want a newer Bose system that will do HDMI, Upscaling and has the Jewell Cube Speakers you will have to get either the Lifestyle 35 Series IV ($2999), Lifestyle V30 ($2999) or the Lifestyle 48 Series IV.
December 23rd, 2007 at 2:12 pm
I’m thinking about buying a v30, how many watts does the system puts out, the sub woofer and cube speakers.
December 24th, 2007 at 9:35 am
Stanley,
Bose does not list the wattage on any of their systems. We do know that there is an amplifier for every speaker so it has plenty of power.
December 27th, 2007 at 4:12 pm
My Christmas present was a V30 system. Setup was easy, and painless! I am truly amazed at the quality of sound this system has. If any of you have any doubts, please don’t, I was skeptical about the system at first. I am blown away by the superb sound that comes out of these tiny jewel speakers. I recommend this system to anyone who loves to enjoy awesome sound! Go Bose!
December 30th, 2007 at 11:18 pm
can I use the v20 for my computer?
December 31st, 2007 at 2:26 pm
YB,
Yes you can use the V20 with your computer if you have a video and sound card installed.
January 5th, 2008 at 11:45 am
I have a 60′ Sony SXRD rear projection TV in a rather large basment shaped like a “L”. In your opinion would the Bose V20 or V30 be a good fit for this environment? Also, in your opinion is the new V30 Jewell cube speakers the way to go or would the V20 speakers do the better job. Also, would it be better to use the bose speaker stands for the front speakers or would it be better to mount them on the wall on each side of the screen. The screen is about 25″ from the wall where the speakers would be mounted. Any information would be appreciated.
Thanks Mike
January 7th, 2008 at 12:45 pm
Mike,
Understand that the only difference between the V20 and V30 are the speakers so it comes down to the sound quality you want. The V20 has Direct Reflecting Speakers with paper drivers that give off a sharp quality sound, the V30 has Jewell Cube Speakers which are smaller and use titanium drivers to give off a cleaner, crisper, room filling surround sound. The V30’s Jewell Cubes are the better speaker and you will notice a difference between the two. If you don’t mind spending the extra $1000 to get better sound, I suggest the V30.
Your preference should determine whether you want your speakers on the wall or on speaker stands. Bose Speakers mounted on a wall look great but will require a lot more work on your part (pulling wires, cutting into walls, etc). The Bose speaker stands do a nice job of hiding the speaker wire and will also look great. They will cost you around the same, it is up to you whether you want to put in the work to install them on the wall, or have a quick and easy setup with the stands. If you buy your V20 or V30 from us, you will get reward dollars to help you pay for your brackets.
January 7th, 2008 at 12:51 pm
I have one other question. If I put in the V20 or V30 system, will I still be able to watch the TV using the TV speakers and then have the ability to switch over to the bose system for surround sound 5.1 programming? Just wondered about that, the SXRD has great sounding speakers and I would still like to use them for non 5.1 programing.
Thanks again,
Mike
January 7th, 2008 at 12:57 pm
Mike,
It is possible but it would require a second audio connection from your cable or satellite box to your TV and you would have to mute the V20 or V30 and turn the volume on your TV up for it to work and vice versa. Honestly, the sound on the V20 and V30 is going to be much better than your TV even on non 5.1 broadcasts. You would be surprised how many broadcasts give you surround sound when you think they wouldn’t. It would be much easier for you to scrap the sound on your TV because you wouldn’t have to keep changing remotes and you would get much better sound from the V20 or V30.
January 8th, 2008 at 11:06 pm
I want to buy a v20 for my computer,can you tell me how to connect them and what kind of cable does it need
January 9th, 2008 at 8:52 am
YB,
There are different connections possible with different computers so I will give you a few examples of possible connections to a computer. A lot of this depends on what kind of video card you have.
Video:
1) HDMI - Newer computers have HDMI inputs on them. If yours has an HDMI input that would be ideal for you.
2) HDMI to DVI - Many computers both old and new use a DVI connection for Video Input, in this case you could get an HDMI to DVI cable and plug the HDMI side into the V20 and the DVI side into your computer.
3)S-Video and Composite Video - These are probably the most standard video connections available. Composite video uses a single jack that is always colored yellow, S-Video will be a circular input with several holes in the middle. These are the most basic video connections but are probably going to be your most typical video connections.
Audio:
1) 1/8 inch Mini to Analog Audio - This will probably be the connection that you use, plug the 1/8 inch mini into the headphone jack or the line out jack on your computer and connect the red and white analog audio side into one of the analog audio inputs on the V20.
2) Fiber Optic or Digital Coax - Unless you have a highly advanced soundcard (some apples also have them), these connections will probably not be available to you. But they are the best audio connections available because they are digital. If you do have these connections use them.
Again I am not sure what you have available on your computer. You should get your owners manual and look up the kinds of connections you have or look around on your computer because they are usually labeled clearly. I have provided links on our site to all the cables I have mentioned.
January 9th, 2008 at 5:23 pm
Would the Rocketfish wireless rear speaker product ($99) work with the v30 or do you recommend the Bose SL2 ($249)? Thanks.
January 10th, 2008 at 8:47 am
Rick,
I am not familiar with the Rocketfish Product you are talking about. Bose systems are typically designed to work with Bose products only. While other products might work with Bose systems, there could be compatibility issues that hinder performance. I would suggest getting the SL2 because it will seamlessly integrate with your V30 and is guaranteed to work with the system and make it sound great.
January 17th, 2008 at 9:34 pm
I bought a bose v20 yesterday,I want connect it for my PC,I have a creative x-Fi 5.1 sound card,I use the 1/8 inch Mini to Analog Audio ,but I can’t get a 5.1 surround sound ,only 2.1 sound,could you tell me how to connect it?
January 18th, 2008 at 8:52 am
YB,
If you have followed the Bose Installation Guide correctly, then you probably have everything connected right. The reason why you are only getting 2.1 is your computers audio settings are probably set to only play in that mode. Try going to your speaker settings on your computer, once you get there you should see Speaker Volume and Advanced tabs. Click on the Advanced tab, once you are in that tab, there will be a pull down menu that gives you several speaker options. Select 5.1 surround sound and this should fix your problem. If it doesn’t, you might want to contact Bose Customer Support at 1-800-905-2138 to see if they have other solutions. Hope this helps you.
January 21st, 2008 at 11:47 am
My father recently purchased a V20 system for installation in his living room. His plan is to have the media center and other components (due to lack of any storage space) located inside a closet on the other side of the wall from the living room. We seem to have located the necessary accessories for extending and connecting the speakers, but we need to be able to extend the connection between the acoustimass and the media center as well as the connection between the Display ( the display is the only component aside form the tv and speakers to remain in the living room) and the media center. Which cables do we need to do this, and are they available in long lengths?
Thanks
January 21st, 2008 at 3:26 pm
Chad,
This arrangement can be done, here is what you will need. 2 Bose Single Destination Plates, 2 Bose Link A Source Cables, 1 Bose Speaker Wire Adapter Kit, and a Bose System II Cable (needs to be long enough to connect both Destination Plates.
Here is how you are going to need to do it.
1)Install one of the Destination Plates where your Media Center is going to be located and one where your Acoustimass Module will be located.
2)Connect the two Destination Plates with the Bose System II cable.
3)Connect the first Bose Link A Source Cable from the input labeled Main on your Media Center to the Destination Plate on the wall.
4)Connect the second Bose Link A Source Cable from the Destination Plate near the Acoustimass to the appropriate input on the back panel of the Acoustimass.
5)Connect your speaker wire to the Bose Speaker Wire Adapter Kit and then connect the speaker wire adapter kit to the Acoustimass using the appropriate connections. Install on the wall where the Acoustimass will be located.
Although we don’t have the product on our website to extend the Display from the Media Center, we have just recently received it in our warehouse. Call our toll free number 1-866-224-6171 to order the part. The rest you can order straight off of our site, I have provided links to all of the product pages above.
January 24th, 2008 at 5:04 pm
I am considering the V20 system. but I have a couple of questions. Can you listen to music and watch TV (with the volume down) at the same time? Such as watching football while listening to music or the radio broacast. And, do you recommend getting the power center?
January 25th, 2008 at 11:31 am
RT,
This can be done multiple ways, but we need to know what kind of source you have (cable box, satellite, etc.) in order to direct you what to do. Call our toll free number 1-866-224-6171 and talk to one of our custom install experts and they can help you create your desired setup. You can also buy the V-20 from us and earn reward dollars to spend on accessories for it. To answer your second question, absolutely get a Monster Power Center. Not only will it protect your investment it will improve the sound and video quality of your components by cleaning the power to eliminate outside interference.
January 31st, 2008 at 6:28 am
we’re looking into the v30 system or the lifestyle 48 series. is there any difference in the quality of sound or picture with v-30 being integrated or having to add the vs-2 enhancer onto the lifestyle system? (our next purchase is a hd tv)
January 31st, 2008 at 8:47 am
Beth,
The picture and sound quality of the two systems will be exactly the same. They both use Jewell Cube Speakers with titanium drivers and the Lifestyle V30 has a built in VS-2 whereas the Lifestyle 48 Series IV’s VS-2 is external.
The Lifestyle V30 was made for people who like to customize their home theater systems. It gives you one more video and audio input than the Lifestyle 48, features a hide-away media center, 5 digital optical audio inputs and the choice of turning one of those inputs into a digital coaxial audio input. The V30 is an ideal system for Blu-Ray or HD-DVD owners because it doesn’t have a DVD player built into it.
The Lifestyle 48 Series IV is good for people who aren’t going to have a Blu-Ray or HD-DVD player because it has a regular DVD player built into it. It also gives you the option of U-Music which gives you the ability to store 340 hours of CD’s onto its hard drive, the V30 doesn’t have this feature. It has one less video input than the V30 (because of the built in DVD player), 4 digital coaxial audio inputs and the choice of turning one of those inputs into a digital optical audio input.
These are both great systems, the decision is really based on whether or not you want a built-in DVD player and the ability to store CD’s digitally, or you want more customization flexibility with external components like a Blu-Ray or HD-DVD player and a hide-away media center.
I have provided links to both products in my response if you are interested in buying from us. If you do buy from us, you will receive $200 to use towards an additional purchase on our site if you buy the Lifestyle 48 and $150 for the V30.
February 13th, 2008 at 5:15 am
is the bose V20 system power supply multi sys 110/220.I travel over seas so this will be important to me.
February 13th, 2008 at 2:11 pm
Jim,
Sorry this system isn’t made to be taken overseas.
February 17th, 2008 at 7:36 pm
Does the Lifestyle V30 works fine with SL2 wireless surround link?
February 18th, 2008 at 9:19 am
Rod,
Yes the SL2 will work with the V30.
March 2nd, 2008 at 10:11 am
Looking to purchase the v30 and I have a couple of questions. Do you guys offer the same 60 day in home trial like Bose offers from their website. I do not think I will have any issues, but when you spend 3K, it is a nice feeling to know that you can try it out for a few days. The second questions I have is, my house is prewired and I already have a nice wall-plate installed (looks like the “niles” plates that you guys offer). Is there anyway to use my pre-existing plates?
March 3rd, 2008 at 10:08 am
Clay,
We do not offer the home trial, but we are a Bose Internet Authorized Dealer and offer the full manufacturers warranty.
If your speaker wire is 16 gauge or lower you can use them but Bose makes their own wall plates which you will need if you want the system to work with your pre-wire. Here is a link to the Bose Link page and here is a link to the Bose V-30 product page.
March 3rd, 2008 at 10:09 am
You stated the only difference between the V20 and V30 is the speakers. What about the sub woofer? Is that the same for both series or is it different for the V30?
March 3rd, 2008 at 10:19 am
Peter,
The V20 and V30 share the same Acoustimass Subwoofer, the only thing different is the satellite speakers.
March 3rd, 2008 at 7:31 pm
I know Bose has a sound dock made for iPods, however, I have not seen mention of the compatibility of an iPod with the v30. Is it possible to connect an iPod to the v30? Thanks
March 4th, 2008 at 8:29 am
Seth,
It is possible to connect an iPod to the V30 and this can be done a few different ways. For the simplest and cheapest option you could buy an 1/8 inch mini to RCA cable which plugs into the headphone jack on your iPod and one of the Analog Audio (Red and White) inputs on the back of the Lifestyle V30. You also have the option of buying an iPod docking station that comes with a remote so you can charge your iPod while playing it. An iPod dock will also connect to one of the analog audio inputs on the back of the V30. I have provided links to both products above.
March 4th, 2008 at 8:30 am
Thank You. You also stated the 5 satellite speakers are the same ones as the Lifestyle 48 speakers( does that include all the series or only the newest series 4). If i get the v20 can i just use my lifestyle 48 series 3 speakers? Are they also the same with series 1 and 2?
March 4th, 2008 at 8:53 am
Peter,
The Lifestyle 48 Jewell Cube Speakers are the same that are found on all models of the Lifestyle 48. You cannot switch out the speakers from the Lifestyle 48 to the V20 because of the different crossover points in the speakers. The Jewell Cube and Direct Reflecting speakers are two totally different speakers and therefore are made to be run differently.
You are probably wanting to get the V20 so you can have HDMI capability and Video Upscaling. I think I have another solution for you, Bose makes a product called the VS-2 Video Enhancer that will give your Lifestyle all the capabilities of the V20 and V30. It is $299 which would save you quite a bit more money than if you got the V20 and you will be keeping the better speakers. The VS-2 gives you 2 HDMI inputs and an output, Automatic Video Upscaling over HDMI and One-Button simplicity so you only have to hit the input you want on your Bose remote to get the correct video and audio input. I have a VS-2 on my Lifestyle 48 Series III and absolutely love it. It will make your home theater experience both easier and better. Here is a link to the Bose Lifestyle VS-2 Video Enhancer if you are interested.
March 11th, 2008 at 10:49 am
A couple of questions: 1. Other manufacturers are now offering 7:1 sound, why did Bose stay with 5:1 for the V20 and V30 systems? Any idea? I’m getting ready to add a theater room to my home and I’m trying to decide on which system to go with and some are telling me to look at 7:1 systems but I’ve always been a Bose fan. 2. Will the UB-20 wall/ceiling mounting brackets work with the V30 Jewell Cube Speakers? If you’re spending $3000 for this system, why wouldn’t they include mounting brackets of some kind?? THANKS.
March 11th, 2008 at 1:41 pm
Tom,
I cannot speak for Bose on the 7.1 topic, but I can assure you that the V20 and V30 sound terrific and offer all the same qualities as larger systems. 7.1 is great but you have to take two main things into consideration, 1) Is your room big enough for 7.1? Unless you have quite a bit of space, you may find yourself overwhelmed by the 4 surround sound speakers. 2) Do you know how to properly engineer the two extra speakers in your setup. Sound and picture are meant to go hand in hand, you do not want to separate the sound from the picture by putting a heavy emphasis on rear surround.
For most home configurations, 5.1 is more than enough sound. Bose strives to make the best audio experience in the business, but they also like to keep things simple for their customers which is why they probably stuck with 5.1. If you really think that 7.1 is going to give you that much better sound then go for it, but I think you will be more than happy with 5.1.
To answer your second question, yes the UB-20 Brackets do work with the V30. You are also right about them not coming with the system but if you buy your V30 from us, you will receive $150 in Reward Dollars which will pay for the UB-20 brackets. Here are links to the Bose V30 Home Theater, and UB-20 Wall Bracket product pages.
March 12th, 2008 at 8:53 am
Hi, I purchased the Bose V20 system and now my electrician is telling me that the wiring is not coded to pulll through the walls and ceiling for mounting the speakers. Is this true and is there a way around this? I am from Massachusetts if that makes a difference in Code.
Thanks
March 12th, 2008 at 11:40 am
Dee Dee,
Your electrician is right, the stock V20 cables were not meant to be installed in-wall. I would suggest buying Monster In-Wall speaker wire that is at least 16 gauge. Monster cable is both durable and extremely high quality and perfect for in-wall installations. Here is a link to our Monster speaker cable page, again make sure the kind you get is at least 16 gauge and also make sure you get it long enough to cover all five speakers.
March 13th, 2008 at 9:48 pm
Hello, I recently purchased the V30 system. My playstation 3 and V30 are not communicating properly throught the hdmi interface. The V30 is playing audio at pcm 2.0 instead of dolby digital. Strange though the games play at 5.1 and sound great ,both Blu ray dvd’s and normal dvd’s both suffer this anomily. All the setting are correct, and still no 5.1 on dvd’s. Also the V30 , from what I understand is not able to decode true HD 5.1 surround sounds. I am not sure if anyone else has any information about these items but you seem very knowledgable about this product and your help would be greatly appreciated .Oh yea will the supplied speaker wire for the V30 be ok for in wall installation.
March 14th, 2008 at 10:20 am
Marshall,
If you do a search in Google for “playstation 3 pcm 2.0″ you will see a flood of other people with the same problem as you so I would say that this is a PS3 issue. The PS3 has a BD/DVD menu in the settings that allows you to choose if you want PCM or bitstream audio. The default will be PCM, try changing it to bitstream and see if that works. Try out a DVD, Blu-Ray and a game after you have done this to see if you get DD 5.1 with all of them. If this does not work, try calling Bose Tech Support and/or Playstation Tech support to see if you can get a different solution.
You are correct about the True HD thing, but honestly I think it would be hard for you to tell a huge difference between that and regular DD 5.1 anyway.
If you are going to do an in-wall installation with the V30 you need to get in-wall speaker cable, the V30 factory speaker wire is not meant to be pulled through walls. If you do choose to go this route you will need 5 Bose AC-2 Speaker Wire Adapters in order for the custom speaker wire to connect with the Jewell Cube speakers. The wire you get needs to be at least 16 gauge, here is a link to our custom speaker wire product page if you are interested in buying, we can do custom lengths.
March 14th, 2008 at 12:12 pm
Do you think its a good thing buying a power line conditioner to protect the V30? Does it really help to perform up to its full capability?
March 14th, 2008 at 1:14 pm
Robert,
Yes it is a very good thing because it will clean your power and protect your investment from being torched by a strong surge. Monster makes excellent Home Theater Power Centers, some even have T2 circuitry that help sense a surge coming and shuts your equipment down before it hits. Here is a link to the Monster Home Theater Power Centers if you are interested in browsing.
March 21st, 2008 at 11:25 am
Regarding responses #59 and #61: So I too will need to run the 16 gauge speaker wire from the 5 speakers to the Acoustimass speaker, but what about the conection from the Acoustimass to the media console and from the media console back to the front display unit? I want to have the media console in the back of the room along with DVD and Cable box. What about the factory wiring for that? Can that factory wiring be run (hidden) through the walls? (Construction will begin in 60 days for our home addition and I will be ordering when they break ground, but I’m trying to plan ahead.)
March 21st, 2008 at 1:52 pm
Tom,
Bose makes a Professional Installation Kit that allows you to hide custom wires and keep everything connected while giving it a professional install look. I highly suggest you get this product if you are going to do an in-wall installation with a Lifestyle system. It comes with the wall plates and cables you will need for in- wall installation of a Bose Lifestyle System. You also need to connect Bose System Cable between the two wall plates so get a long enough System Cable to connect the media center wall plate and the Acoustimass wall plate. Here is a link to the product pages for the Bose Professional Installation Kit, Bose System II Cable and Monster Custom Speaker Wire.
As for your question about the display unit, you really don’t need to have the display unit in the front of the room. Bose Lifestyle Remotes produce Radio Waves that can go through walls or anywhere in the room. You can save yourself the trouble of going through the wall by just leaving the display where you install the media center.
March 26th, 2008 at 7:07 pm
I recently purchased a Bose v30 but seem to be having a problem finding a working code for the universal remote to operate my panasonic plasma tv and philips dvd player. I have tried all code offered by the v30, do you have any suggestions? Thanks
March 28th, 2008 at 1:07 pm
Seth,
You need to contact Bose, sometimes newer TV’s are not put into the database but they might send you an update disc to add new codes.
March 29th, 2008 at 12:06 am
I am thinking of purchasing a Bose V20. My question is about speaker wire. You clearly state that such wire must be at least 16 guage. I have a 100 ft. spool of Monster XP XPMS clear coated from a few years back installing my previous system. There is no guage rating on the spool, and the Monster website does not list a guage rating, though it lists my brand. Any answers? I would appreciate it.
March 31st, 2008 at 10:43 am
Jack,
This cable will work fine with the V20. You will need to buy a Bose Speaker Wire Adapter Kit in order to connect the speaker wire to the Acoustimass. Here is a link to the Bose Speaker Wire Adapter Kit.
April 1st, 2008 at 3:01 pm
I have a question that I would like a frank and honest answer to: Are the jewel cube speakers on the V30 $1000 worth the price; are they THAT much better than the direct/reflecting? It seems we’re talking about the same system for the V20 and the V30, except for the speakers being offered. Thanks for all the insight on your website. I have spent considerable time reading it.
April 1st, 2008 at 3:54 pm
Ross,
Ok there are a few reasons for the $1000 price difference in the speakers. Let me first start by explaining the smaller differences between the two. The Jewell Cube Speakers are smaller than the Direct Reflecting Speakers and do tend to fit in better with home decor. Another difference between the two is the grille, the Direct Reflecting Speakers have a cloth grille while Jewell Cubes have a metal grille that gives it a more luxurious look. I am not trying to sell you on size and appearance, I am just covering all the facts, even the small ones.
There are two main differences that set the two speakers apart. Both have direct reflecting capabilities which gives you an advantage over a conventional speaker because it allows the sound to fill the room instead of being directed only to certain areas. Both also have magnetically shielded drivers to reduce outside interference. However, the Jewell Cube Speakers incorporate transducer technology and an integral cone with detached voice coil lead outs to give it a truer virtually undisturbed sound wave. Let me explain what both do.
Transducer Technology - Reproducing higher frequencies requires faster vibration of the speaker cone. For low distortion, the cone should move as a whole. But this increase in the rate of vibration causes irregularities in cone motion; the cone itself starts to flex. The larger the cone, the lower the frequency at which this phenomenon occurs. The smaller cone of the Jewel Cube speaker is less susceptible to this irregular motion giving it a smoother sound.
Detached Voice Coil Lead Outs - Most speakers have their voice coil lead outs mounted directly to the speaker cone which usually leaves a piercing somewhere in the speaker cone. This unevenly distributes vibrations near the piercing causing unbalanced sound. By having the voice coil lead outs placed outside the cone, the Jewell cube speakers produce consistent cone motion which greatly reduces distortion creating clearer sound from speaker to speaker.
So with the Jewell Cube Speaker, you will get smaller size, a metal grille and a cleaner more undisturbed sound. Now I won’t tell you which way to go, you have the facts and can decide if these things are worth it to you. Both are great speakers but the Jewell Cubes are Bose’s top speaker designed to produced the best possible sound.
If you are interested in buying, here are links to the Bose V20 and Bose V30 product pages on our site. If you buy from us, you will receive Reward Dollars ($150 for the V30 and $100 for the V20)to use towards a future purchase on our site. Hope this helped you.
April 3rd, 2008 at 5:46 pm
Quick question: I am interested in the V30 and its jewell cube speakers. I would only be mounting the surround speakers to the wall. The others would sit on top of my entertainment/wall unit. Would the UTS-20 universal table stands hold the left, right and center speakers? I would, of course, use the UB-20 wall/ceiling brackets for the surrounds. Thanks so much for your help. Your site is great!
April 4th, 2008 at 3:44 pm
Jack,
Yes the UTS-20 brackets will hold the center, left and right speakers. This setup will work fine,if you want to buy the brackets from us here are the links to the UTS-20 and UB-20 brackets.
April 13th, 2008 at 10:20 am
I am interested in the V30 to connect my ps3 through hdmi. In your answer #61 you said there might be a “handshake” problem between them (V30 will NOT output multichannel audio, just PCM 2.0). I’m spending $3,000 in the V30 so I wanna be sure it is going to work fine with the ps3. Do you know if Marshall (who wrote question #60) fixed the problem using your solution? Do you have customers with this configuration (ps3 + v30)? Thanks in advance for your help.
April 14th, 2008 at 9:11 am
Andrew,
The V30 and PS3 should work fine together. If you would happen to connect the PS3 to the V30 through HDMI and would only get 2.0, you could go into the PS3 settings and switch the default sound from pcm to bitstream and that should work. I don’t think you should have a problem, there are a lot of people who mess with the settings and screw up the configuration. Even if it doesn’t work right away for you (which it probably will) there are a few different ways to fix the problem.
If you are interested in buying the V30 from us, here is a link to our Lifestyle V30 product page. You will receive $150 in Reward Dollars to purchase cables, brackets, etc. on our site, and you will also receive free 2-day shipping.
April 14th, 2008 at 11:52 pm
i have the v30 connected to my ps3 via HDMI and when i watch a blu ray with the dolby true hd sound setting i get amazing sound from my system. When i watch a blu ray with uncompressed sound i only get the background noises and no dialogue or main sounds, do you have a solution for this little dilemna. thank you
April 15th, 2008 at 7:42 am
Adolfo,
The V30 does not support uncompressed sound, you should stick with the Dolby Digital.
April 17th, 2008 at 6:59 pm
How does the V20/30 work if you simply want to watch television and not use the home theater? Can you leave the amplifier unit off? Are the HDMI connections “pass through” or must I run additional RCA cables to the TV?
April 18th, 2008 at 7:31 am
Ross,
If you are using a cable/satellite box and it is connected to the V20/V30 you have to go through the V20/V30 to watch it since that is where the connection is made. If you are worried about volume levels there are different speaker settings you can choose that allow you to only use two speakers like a traditional television. Honestly if you turn down the volume really low you will still get crisp sound without without it being very loud. If I were you, I would always watch TV through the V20/V30 because you will get a better experience with the volume low or high. The Bose remote can also be used to control your TV, DVD player and other components so you don’t have to keep switching remotes. If you leave the Media Center (amplifier unit) off, anything connected to it will not turn on either, you would have to set up secondary connections from your components straight to the TV for this to work.
To answer your second question, you only need one HDMI connection from the V20/V30 to your TV for it to work correctly. Even if you connect other components to the V20/V30 through other cables (component, composite, s-video) they will all be converted and sent over the HDMI cable for a better picture.
April 19th, 2008 at 9:00 pm
I am having a few (what I hope are)minor issues with the V30. First, I tried every code for my Sharp Aquos LCD and none worked. Second, I hooked up everything as per the instruction guide. One DVD via HDMI, a cable box via HDMI, and HDMI out from the media center to the TV. When watching HD cable channels, my TV lists the display for the input at 720P. When I run the cable box directly to the TV via HDMI or component cable, it displays as 1080i. Finally, I have to point the remote directly at the display and sit real close in order for it to work. Any ideas?
April 22nd, 2008 at 7:44 am
Jack,
I think I can fix your problem. While the display for the V20 and V30 is a nice feature, it can be a little touchy. If it is too far out in front of all your other components it may not be communicating with them correctly. The reason I think this is happening is because your Bose remote is not picking up the TV code and you said you have to sit real close for it to work. The Bose remote produces radio waves unlike regular remotes so it can travel through walls or other objects. It should be able to work anywhere in the room no problem, so it probably is working but the display and your components are not communicating. Try moving the display to different locations, even try angling it toward your TV and components. This may get it to work.
The issue you are having with resolution can be fixed easily. Turn on your cable box, V30 and TV like you are watching cable. Here are the steps directly out of the V30 manual on how to change resolution.
1. On the Lifestyle® remote, press the Settings button
and see if (Video Resolution) is in the list
of menu options. If it is, go to Step 2. Otherwise,
the ability to access this option has been disabled
in the System menu, and you must complete Steps
A through D (below) to enable it.
A. On your remote, press System to display the
system menu on the HDTV.
B. Move right to (Video), then press ENTER.
C. Move down to Video Resolution and press
ENTER.
D. Choose Adjustable, then (on the remote) press
Settings.
2. Move down to the Video Resolution Button , then press ENTER.
3. Select a resolution, then press Exit.
This will allow you to toggle with the Video Resolution output to your TV.
April 22nd, 2008 at 8:23 pm
I have a V30 system and an Apple TV (media server). Is there a code for the Bose system to control the Apple TV? Thanks ( 0 :
April 23rd, 2008 at 8:26 am
Jon,
We do not have a list that details Bose remote codes, you need to call Bose tech support at 1-800-905-2138.
May 10th, 2008 at 4:14 pm
I made the big purchase (V30) and I’m getting ready to use my reward dollars for the wall brackets, but I’m still not sure on the need for the professional install kit and not use the Bose factory wire. Just why is it not good to use the wire provided with the system for an in-wall installation? Is there a fear that the wire provided will dry out and crack over time? My contractor will be insulating the walls with that new spray-in foam insulation, so these wires will become encased within it. Looking at the wires that came with the system, they look high quality, so I would like to know if I’d be making a major mistake if I went with the factory wire. Thanks.
May 12th, 2008 at 10:42 am
Tom,
The wire that comes with the Bose Lifestyle system is a good quality wire. The reason we offer the professional install kit is for people that want a cleaner look for the installation. Plus all the wire used is also UL approved for in-wall use.
June 19th, 2008 at 12:33 am
On the V20/30 system is any audio routed via HDMI?; or must all audio be routed though the analog rca or digital fiber/coax audio ports…
If it can support audio over HDMI, can it except a PCM 5.1 signal?
June 20th, 2008 at 11:09 am
Kasey,
The HDMI on the V20/30 will support a 5.1 signal through it. There is no need to run a separate audio cable like you would with the Bose Lifestyle 28,35,38, or 48 with the VS-2.
June 22nd, 2008 at 6:00 pm
I just purchased the Bose V30 system. I have my satellite/dvr connected via HDMI through the SBL/SAT input and my Vista Computer connected via HDMI through the DVD input. I then have the Bose Media Center connected to my tv via the HDMI tv output.
I am having issues with the video/audio from my computer. It is a Vista machine that is set up as a Home Theater PC to play music, movies, and act as a computer in general. For some reason, the Bose Media Center is sporadically picking up the video/audio from the computer.
It will work perfectly, and then I will change screens on the computer and then it drops the connection. I have had this computer connected directly to the TV via HDMI and it has worked flawlessly. For example, I can have a movie playing and it will work PERFECTLY. If I close that window and go to the regular computer desktop, the connection gets dropped and the Bose Display says “No Video Detected”. I have changed cables to ensure that it is not a cable issue. I have also plugged in the computer/HDMI cable into the CBL/SAT input to try to determine if it was the HDMI connector on the back of the Bose Media Center that might be defective. Neither seem to be.
There seems like there should be no reason for the Bose Media Center not to play nice with the Vista computer. It should simply receive a video/audio signal through the HDMI cable from any device and then push it onto the TV.
Two Groups of Questions:
1. Are you aware of any compatibility issues with computers? Is the Bose system confirmed to support a computer as an input device? What should I select in the set up window from the list of devices for the “DVD Input” since computer is not an option? I wouldn’t think it matters - I have cable selected now since that seemed to be the most generic. Is there a better option if it matters?
2. Also, does the Bose Lifestyle V30 work/can it be controlled via a Harmony 890 Universal Remote? I haven’t gone here yet since I am having basic troubles, but hopefully will if I get my computer issue resolved and I remember reading about this maybe being an issue with the Bose IR receiver and the Harmony IR remote not playing nice together.
Thanks so much in advance. You guys have a great website and appreciate any insight.
June 23rd, 2008 at 11:22 am
Jason,
It sound like you may be having a problem with the copyright guard from the HDMI cable. This gets to be pretty technical. I would suggest contact Bose technical support for this one. The phone number for them is 1-800-905-2138.
July 14th, 2008 at 4:56 am
Hi, I have a bose v30 and got few question about it,
Does is support PCM 5.1 and what version of hdmi has it got? Thanks a lot for your time.
July 15th, 2008 at 1:16 pm
Arun,
The Bose V30 system will support digital 5.1 decoding. The HDMI version is 1.3a.
November 11th, 2008 at 5:20 pm
I recently purchased Bose V20. During the installation the red sleeve for the positive speaker wire came off. How can I tell which one is positive and negative, both are colored black?
Thank you.
November 13th, 2008 at 8:55 am
Lito - The ribbed side cable is negative.
December 4th, 2008 at 2:22 am
Can you tell me what’s better: the Bose V30 or the Bose Lifestyle 35? If I choose the Lifestyle 35 can I run a Blu-ray player through it via the VS-2? And is there a difference in sound between the V30 and LS35? What about picture quality - if I use the VS2 on the 35 via HDMI will the picture be just as good as on the V30?
December 14th, 2008 at 6:57 pm
I purchased a Bose Lifestyle V20 and a Panasonic plasma TV and the system is connected to the cable system. The sound is great until I use my Bose headphones (both QC2 and QC3). I have to turn the volume up to almost 70 (out of 100) to get decent volume. The headphone connections are all tight and the batteries are fully charged. Can you think of a reason why the volume output is so low when the headphones are plugged in?
Thanks.
December 19th, 2008 at 1:25 am
I have a Bose V20 and the speaker wire that is pre-installed in the wall is 12 gauge. The 12 gauge wire is too large to fit in the speakers and the adapter kit. If I connect the 12 gauge wire to a smaller gauge, like a 14 gauge wire, will it effect the sound quality?
February 7th, 2009 at 9:46 pm
Hi, due to my room setup, I have a total of four inches from the top of my ceiling to the viewing portion of my TV. I would need to mount the center speaker (I think they are the same, but I’m looking at the V20) from the ceiling.
(1) Does the UB-20 fit the center speaker, and (2) will any portion of the TV be blocked considering, the height of the center speaker (2.38″) with it mounted on the UB-20?
Also, I have three HDMI required inputs (with the Bose media console only accepting two). I currently have a Oppo HM-31 HDMI 3 to 1 switch. Will I lose any quality if I run source via HDMI to Oppo via HDMI to Bose Media Counsel via HDMI to TV?
Thanks.
April 22nd, 2009 at 8:43 pm
I want to buy the Bose V10 and wanted to know: a friend of mine wants to give me his jewel cube speakers from the v30. Will this work or is the amp different, and will I need some kind of different wiring? Thank you.
May 12th, 2009 at 4:24 pm
Hi guys, I purchased a Bose V-20 and someone is selling me the jewel cubes (v-30) at a very low price. Is the only difference between the V20 and the V30 the speakers? If I connect the V30 speakers to the module that I bought (V-20) , does that mean I upgrade to V-30? Or there is another difference between the two V’s, thanks.
July 31st, 2009 at 4:46 pm
I have a Denon amp connected to a Bose 16 Acoustimass system and am planning on extending the sound to other parts of my house. Can the Denon amp be connected to the Bose v30?
September 19th, 2009 at 7:06 am
I have just placed an order for a V20, does the center speaker come with a wall bracket or not?