Expert: Bobbert - 10/11/2009

Question
Hi - I have an old like first gen Bose System with a really heavy subwoffer - I am ditching the old Bose main unit - base unit does not work and would like to hook up just the subwoffer to my Pioneer 60 inch HD.  The problem is the Pioneer has only one output the subwoffer (orange coaxial) and my old Bose sub wire has three inputs - 2 RCA jacks (1 - red and 1 white) and what looks like a externeal computer speaker wire = 3 wires.  Does someone sell a cross over kit from the 3 wires to just the orange coaxial?

Thanks for all your help -

Answer
No, you cannot connect the subwoofer to the television in this manner, the orange coaxial connection is a digital S/PDIF output, which requires a digital decoder (it will carry a two or six channel digital signal), and the subwoofer's inputs are likely either "straight" analog line-ins, or (more likely) an HPF or similarly adjusted input (Designed to work with the rest of the Bose system). Generally Bose components do not fare well when "parted out", as they're designed to work within whichever Bose system they ship with (with the exception of a few bookshelf speakers today, and a few floorstanding and bookshelf speakers from years past).

Honestly if higher quality sound is what you're after, I would suggest either going with a package home theatre (sometimes called a Home Theatre in a Box), or a proper A/V receiver and speakers.

-bob