OK, this is going to seem strange, but please bare with me...

Helping someone move their AV equipment into a closet, as well as making some other changes. We purhased a MX-800 remote control to control all the IR equipment from the main room.

In short, their audio system is an older Bose system with RF control only. It's not currently in their budget to replace this. We're trying to control all their equipment with the MX-800, but it does not learn RF functions - only IR. We didn't realize that the Bose unit was RF only.

We have a spare Sony receiver to use, but somehow need to interface that with the Bose system. We thought of going through the video out or minidisc out of the Sony receiver into an input of the Bose unit and using the MX-800 to control the Sony receiver, but that gives us no volume control - which is what we're looking for.

We thought of going from the amplified speaker outs of the Sony receiver to an input on the Bose system, which does give us volume control, but I think is unsafe due to the 2 levels of amplification that are occurring.

Anyone have a solution to this??? I know the Bose system should just be replaced, but it's not in the cards right now. We only need stereo/Pro Logic.

Im trying to focus on either finding a way to get the MX-800 to control the Bose system, or get the Sony receiver to control the volume on the Bose system.

I'm assuming there's no way to hook the Bose cubes/sub directly to the Sony receiver reliably.

I'm at a loss.

Anyone?

Check out the C-1024 bose IR/RF system at BlueDo.com
It looks like you send it IR and it transmits Bose RF.

[Link: bluedo.com]

~~ Good Luck ~~

That looks awesome! But it is a Lifestyle 5 sysetm, so looks like it doesn't work with it... :(

Does the Sony have variable L+R pre outs?

If no pre outs, you could get device to tap line level signal off of the amplifier outputs. Used all the time in car audio to feed a sub amp input off of the rear speakers. You could loose the Bose head unit and just plug the Bose bass module audio cable into the Sony. Then you would use the Sony IR codes to control volume and switch inputs.

The only issue would be the third plug on that cable, the Bose system control. The Bose manual says that the system will not work if it is unpluged. I suspect it is just a contact closure to turn on the amps in the bass module. You could try jumping the contacts of the control plug(at your own risk ;)) to see if the system turns on(sound comes out). If that works you could perminantly short it, or put the leads across the contacts of a 120V relay that is pluged into the switched AC output of the Sony. When the Sony turns on the Bose amps power up.

This message was edited by WireNut on 05/21/04 03:52.

It doesn't have pre outs unfortunately...

Not sure what you mean about 'you could get device to tap line level signal off the amplifier outputs'.

Could you explain more?

Thanks!

Build your own:
[Link: hut.fi]

Or buy one premade...

[Link: partsexpress.com]

That one is pretty cheap, but its the first one I found on a google search. Very common in the Car stereo world.... But the technology will work in home systems just fine. Just make sure to get one rated for the power of your sony receiver. (ANd try to find the RMS rating, not sonys inflated 200 watts a channel or whatever it says on the front of the unit.

That looks really cool... I believe the Sony receiver is over 50w, though - does that matter much?