When putting together my surround sound system for my home, I had a dilemma. I already had a good receiver and CD player, along with a stereo VCR and television set. The only thing missing was a good set of surround speakers. There are so many choices out there ? how do you know where to start? Luckily, I found a display at my local Sam?s Club on the Bose Accoustimass 6 system. It sounded great in the store; it sounds even better in my living room.

Why Bose? We all know that Bose has a tremendous reputation for quality workmanship and outstanding performance. Even with those Paul Harvey commercials Bose has become synonymous with beautiful sound. So when I began to shop for the new speakers, I assumed the Bose was out of my price range. After all, those wave radios cost well over $500! Upon finding the Accoustimass 6 system for a reasonable price, I jumped at the opportunity. I was delighted to be able to get a Bose system that I can keep for many years to come.

The key to the success of the Accoustimass system is the size. These speakers are as advertised ? five cubes about the size of a coffee cup, along with a subwoofer (or ?bass module? as titled by Bose). The size allows the user to literally place these speakers wherever you wish. Unlike some systems, the center channel speaker is the same small size as the surrounds, meaning that you have great flexibility in placement with it as well.
Of course, part of the appeal of the Bose system is the sheer elegance of the speakers. These just look good, wherever you choose to place them. The speakers are available in either black or white (I chose black).

Along with the five cubes is the Bass module ? the point guard of the system. You see, all of the speakers feed into this module, which is where the magic takes place. The sound runs through the module, where it is divided between the five speakers for optimal listening. In short, the Bass module is the key to the sound of these speakers. It is just the right size to place on the floor next to your television set. The bass is subtler than you will find with many systems; you really don?t even notice this Bose module until you really need it. It gives a tremendous accent to the rest of your system.

Let?s talk about the real reason anyone would buy this system ? the sound. While I may not qualify as an ?audiophile?, I do know what to look for in a surround sound system. This package puts out a wonderful, full sound that blends beautifully. The surround aspect is particularly noticeable when watching stereo television or a movie. You can almost feel the sound coming from all directions. It sounds good when listening to music as well, but the separation is not as easy to detect.

If there is a drawback to this system, it is the lack of speaker mounts with the package. The Bose Accoustimass comes with all the wiring needed to set up the system, but does not include any mounting brackets. I opted to purchase stands for my rear speakers, and place the front speakers on my entertainment center. The stand cost about $100 for the pair, and they look great. The speakers blend in with my furniture, making people wonder where the great sound is coming from.

If you are looking for a new set of surround speakers, you should go ahead and shop for quality instead of price. This Bose set is one that I can keep for many years to come. It looks good, and sounds great. You might be able to get other sets for the same price or less?but it won?t be a Bose.