Help me replace friends BOSE with better setup.

Way easy. Try some recent Bose threads, here's one and there's plenty more http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1394879

Oh, my personal way to spend that money might be, (yes, based on what I own)
AVR Pioneer 1121 $500
Epik Legend Sub $499 plus shipping ($100?)
5 Ascend HTM-200SE speakers $658 plus shipping ($50 I believe at 20/pr)

That will very much kick ass on that Bose system and there are different choices within the Ascend lineup for upgrades for front/center combos (but I use the HTM200SEs as L/C/R and they're fine with a good sub).

How big is his room and does he have a size limitation on speakers?

It would be very easy to spend $2K to get a much better system.

And does he have a WAF to contend with? (aside from room size but if the Bose V25 works in his room, my suggestion works way better but still might not be ideal).

Replace Bose with a better setup ? There is nothing better...

Better yet, Ascend CMT-340s across the front and the HTMs in the rear. Close to the budget

When it comes to budget hifi you have just gotta love Ascend Acoustics and their beloved loudspeaker designer David Fabrikant. You really can't do better "for the money" than a set of his loudspeakers.

NHT
Front, Absolute Zero
Center, Absolute Center
Surround, SuperZero 2.0
http://www.crutchfield.com/shopsearc...e+Speakers&o=p

Subwoofer, Epik
http://epiksubwoofers.com/legend.html

Receiver, Denon
http://www.accessories4less.com/make...eceiver/1.html
http://www.accessories4less.com/make...eceiver/1.html

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Another set
Front, Boston VS260
http://www.vanns.com/shop/servlet/it..._c=site_search
Center VS325C
http://www.vanns.com/shop/servlet/it..._c=site_search
Surrounds
SuperZero 2.0

Sub, Rythmik
http://www.rythmikaudio.com/FV12.html

Receiver, Denon 891 or 2311 ^^ from above

Over all I would agree that Ascend Acoustics Sierra would be one heck of a nice system to get and would be a top pick for me for under the 2k range, but I have to throw in another due to the fact I had a Bose Acoustimass 6 system, which I learn to hate fast, but

Anthony Gallo Acoustics 5.1 Nucleus Micro Home Theater System blew off my socks for 1430.00 with 5 speakers and a real sub, and is small like Bose if that's what your looking for then get some thing like a Denon AVR-2112CI and it will make a nice theater worth listening too.

Although, I won't list off a ton of different models, I'll throw out a few brands which all contain great speakers in each respective price range that I've listed below. Klipsch, Polk Audio, Infinity, JBL, Jamo, etc, etc...

Any pair of towers in the $400-$500 dollar a pair price range

$200-$300 dollars for a matching center channel

$200-$300 dollars for some bookshelf speakers for rears (These speakers are a flexible buy. Although all your speakers are important, you definitely don't have to go with super high-end speakers to handle your surround sound position and still get great sound. You could probably get away with a modest $100-$150 dollar pair of bookshelf speakers and still get great sound)

$500-$1000 for a mid-range to high mid-range receiver.

Any combination of normal size speakers, ie: towers, bookshelf and center will blow away any Bose package. Search the internet too for purchasing, beats the hell out of brick and mortar prices. Good luck. The above examples leave plenty of room to come in below $2,000, as well as some other examples people have already listed.

Help me replace friends BOSE with better setup.

5 Dixie cups and some string (seriously, it's better).

Jim

What about usage? Movies and gaming mostly, music mostly, good mix of both?

If he wanted Bose in the first place, it probably means he isn't interested in studio monitors, external DAC's, or anything like that. So I would say he'd probably be most satisfied with whatever speakers look most aesthetically pleasing, and being surrounded by as many of them as possible.

But if he really does want to get serious, tell him to go to a mom and pop shop and have them sample what 2 grand can get him. It will literally make the Bose setup sound like the stock ipod earbuds in comparison.

LOL

Bose are now considered stylish

Show him the NHTs like zieglj01 suggested. I would consider them stylish.

Also show him the Focal Chorus 705Vs.

And you have the bell look, with the VS260.

Anything will be better than BOSE...pick up an entry level Receiver (like Onkyo 609) and a set of PSB 5.1 speakers and you'll be in sonic heaven comported to BOSE...

Or..if music is what you want to hear, go 2.0 and get a good set of floor standers and a integrated stereo amp and your friend will wonder why he wasted good music on BOSE.

What about the HSU HB-1 MK2?

The Enthusiast 3 package comes in at $1600 +shipping.

Edit: Maybe get the Enthusiast 2 instead fo 5.1...

.. don't you guys get it?

He obviously wants speakers where people will KNOW he spent a lot of money on them. Nobody would actually buy a BOSE system otherwise.. Its the same reason its such a popular choice for luxury car audio ..

Then he should get Klispch since that has high value name recognition. LOL

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5134/5...490be3eb_o.jpg
http://www.lockwaresystems.com/SwanT700HT-256.html

I'm sure these would pass as a much more expensive set. ^_^

Considering those are probably over budget, these have been getting alot of attention recently

http://emptek.com/e55ti_clearance.php

You can find each part on the site. As far as a sub goes I'd say the F15 or the VTF-15h

Now we're talking

Many times, the less known the name, the more expensive
Consider: NAIM, KRELL, SIMAUDIO, Music Fidelity, ARCAM, NAD....how many of the BOSE posers have ever heard of these names?

"Bose posers" (I like that name) buy Bose exactly because of the name recommendation; they aren't impressed by little known brands.

Just Bosers to simplify

Well if he doesn't like the Focal 705s (umm, yummy) or the NHTs, how about:

Front and Rears - Aperion Versus Forte Satellites ($175 ea. qty=4)
http://www.aperionaudio.com/product/...96,20,840.aspx

Center - Aperion Versus Forte Center Channel ($350)
http://www.aperionaudio.com/product/...97,29,842.aspx

Subwoofer - Outlaw LFM-1 Plus ($549)
http://outlawaudio.com/products/lfm1plus.html

Receiver - Denon AVR-1712 ($399)
http://www.amazon.com/Denon-AVR-1712...0201209&sr=8-5

or

maybe some KEFs with the same subwoofer and receiver:
(this would be a hella nice setup for the price, if the styling was acceptable)

Front/Rear - KEF iQ30 ($399.88 pr. qty-2)
http://www.vanns.com/shop/servlet/it...iq30-black-ash

Center - KEF iQ60C ($349.77)
http://www.vanns.com/shop/servlet/it...q60c-black-ash


Good luck with your search.

Hey now! What's wrong with Klipsch?