Bose Lifestyle Stereo and Home Theatre Complete System from Sea Ray 52

[ranger58sb]

If it came out of a 52DB then the MSR has a separate SA3 amplifier, an unpowered subwoofer, two jewel Cube speakers, and a Bose Personal Music Center remote.

Well, ours is a 58DB, but what you describe sounds plausible. Think I remember seeing two "boxes" of some sort under the master berth, and we have two Jewel Cube speaker pairs mounted on the bulkhead on either side of the TV. There were approximately 374 remotes down there for various stuff (TV, Bose I think, Direct TV box, DVD player, etc etc etc.).

Nothing much working, of course... which is partly explaining why troubleshooting hasn't been all that easy. Don't know what to expect, from where... and tracing/identifying cables hasn't been completely possible yet (partly due my other fix-it priorities).

The TV that was in the MSR was a replacement for the original... and I've since replaced it (moved it to the bow stateroom) with the TV that came to us in the saloon. (Which was flawed when we got it, somehow it fixed itself over the winter of 2021-2022.) Stand-alone mode, for now; I think we've watched that approx twice over the last year, so not a high pri.

-Chris

 

[ranger58sb]

The Sub in your salon is the pic of the inputs I posted above in post #36, that sub is where you can connect the cubes too and have 5.1 surround sound, if you don't already.

??

Your pic in #36 is a passive sub (PS48), yes? Not the bass module that comes with the LS 48, right?

We had 5.1 in the saloon when we got the boat, until the LS 48 system went south in Summer '22. But I'd expect the bass module in our saloon would be a powered Acoustimass of some sort according to the LS 48 manual.

??

Of course I'd find it easier if the serial number look-up on the Bose site actually worked...

The Sea Ray build sheet lists a Stereo Receiver and that serial number resolves to an LS 48 (once I removed the space in between Sea Ray's numbers and letters) made between 2004-2006. Then it lists a Base Module, an Acoustimass, and a Stereo Amplifier... but serial numbers for those don't resolve at all. I've come to loosely interpret all that to as LS 48 and Acoustimass in the saloon, and a stereo amp (SAx?) and bass module or some sort in the MSR. (I can sorta get eyes on parts of the bass thingy in the saloon, but can't see inputs or labeling or anything like that.)

(I've been trying to use what I think is Bose terminology for the Bass Module thingy; apparently they don't call these subwoofers? At least one description says 2x woofers... They may or may not have crossovers? Et cetera. I don't much care about the distinction; my real focus is on getting stuff that's present in the boat to WORK, not on what the whole thing might sound like.)

-Chris

 

[Skybolt]

??

Your pic in #36 is a passive sub (PS48), yes? Not the bass module that comes with the LS 48, right?

We had 5.1 in the saloon when we got the boat, until the LS 48 system went south in Summer '22. But I'd expect the bass module in our saloon would be a powered Acoustimass of some sort according to the LS 48 manual.

??

Of course I'd find it easier if the serial number look-up on the Bose site actually worked...

The Sea Ray build sheet lists a Stereo Receiver and that serial number resolves to an LS 48 (once I removed the space in between Sea Ray's numbers and letters) made between 2004-2006. Then it lists a Base Module, an Acoustimass, and a Stereo Amplifier... but serial numbers for those don't resolve at all. I've come to loosely interpret all that to as LS 48 and Acoustimass in the saloon, and a stereo amp (SAx?) and bass module or some sort in the MSR. (I can sorta get eyes on parts of the bass thingy in the saloon, but can't see inputs or labeling or anything like that.)

(I've been trying to use what I think is Bose terminology for the Bass Module thingy; apparently they don't call these subwoofers? At least one description says 2x woofers... They may or may not have crossovers? Et cetera. I don't much care about the distinction; my real focus is on getting stuff that's present in the boat to WORK, not on what the whole thing might sound like.)

-Chris

No pic #36 is the panel of the PS48 powered sub and is what you have/had in your salon. And is what is being called the "Acoustimass".

I am guessing the AV48 is the stereo receiver and the stereo amplifier is the SA2/3 power amps for the zone(s) like your Master State Room (MSR).

Both of those sub's have crossover networks in them to filter the bass to the sub portion and the upper audio spectrum to the actual speakers.

The passive sub only has two speaker inputs and two speaker outputs. The passive sub should be what is in your MSR, where the SA2/3 amp is located and power's those speakers.

All of that is driven by the AV48. That is the stereo receiver. The Acoustimass sub is what powers the salon speaker and also has a crossover network in it. There are also zone amps, the SAx's, that are only stereo and as mentioned drive your MSR passive sub and most likely your cockpit zone as well with a second SAx amp.

All of this can be confusing, especially when dealing with Bose. Love their equipment but not their terminology. They were once the leaders in audio, but priced themselves out of the market.

 

[ranger58sb]

No pic #36 is the panel of the PS48 powered sub and is what you have/had in your salon. And is what is being called the "Acoustimass".

I am guessing the AV48 is the stereo receiver and the stereo amplifier is the SA2/3 power amps for the zone(s) like your Master State Room (MSR).

Both of those sub's have crossover networks in them to filter the bass to the sub portion and the upper audio spectrum to the actual speakers.

The passive sub only has two speaker inputs and two speaker outputs. The passive sub should be what is in your MSR, where the SA2/3 amp is located and power's those speakers.

All of that is driven by the AV48. That is the stereo receiver. The Acoustimass sub is what powers the salon speaker and also has a crossover network in it. There are also zone amps, the SAx's, that are only stereo and as mentioned drive your MSR passive sub and most likely your cockpit zone as well with a second SAx amp.

All of this can be confusing, especially when dealing with Bose. Love their equipment but not their terminology. They were once the leaders in audio, but priced themselves out of the market.

Ah. Thanks, all that helps. PS is Powered, not Passive. Got it. My reading comprehension failure, earlier. Duh!

Our Lifestyle 48 docs (manual, etc.) all only say Acoustimass... no mention of other useful model names/numbers. The Jewel Cubes we have are pairs, in both saloon and master, as described for the LS48.

The serial number in your pics is slightly similar in format to the "Bass Module" serial number on our Sea Ray build sheet. Our number is sequentially much higher, but we have "5307" in the same position as the underlined 5307 on yours, and we have an AS suffix (although separated from the number by a space).

Nifty! Progress!

I don't find any Product Support on the Bose site for a PS48.... but now that I know what I'm looking at, the illustration and follow-on connection instructions begin to make way more sense: 9-pin at the Media Center, RJ-45 jack at the bass end, audio input cable unclearly illustrated...

Is that one of those Cable A or Cable B things?

What do the dip switches do? The manual is silent on that...

I agree, their terminology seems to be all over the map. And they apparently never met a model name or number they couldn't supersede in about 6 months.

-Chris

 

[Skybolt]

... I don't find any Product Support on the Bose site for a PS48.... but now that I know what I'm looking at, the illustration and follow-on connection instructions begin to make way more sense: 9-pin at the Media Center, RJ-45 jack at the bass end, audio input cable unclearly illustrated...

Is that one of those Cable A or Cable B things?

What do the dip switches do? The manual is silent on that...

The audio input cable for the PS48 is the 9 pin din to rj45, which also has the spdif(surround sound) signal in it.

The other 9 pin din's are for the SAx amps, which are the zone(s) and are configured by the dip switches. I have the manual but need to scan that page in, if you have the manual the dip switches are clearly defined as room a, b, c etc. and the remotes are also programmed to match.

From what I can see there are a few different manuals for each component. A user and a setup for each.

Not the best pic's but this may help:

 

[ttmott]

Ah. Thanks, all that helps. PS is Powered, not Passive. Got it. My reading comprehension failure, earlier. Duh!

Our Lifestyle 48 docs (manual, etc.) all only say Acoustimass... no mention of other useful model names/numbers. The Jewel Cubes we have are pairs, in both saloon and master, as described for the LS48.

The serial number in your pics is slightly similar in format to the "Bass Module" serial number on our Sea Ray build sheet. Our number is sequentially much higher, but we have "5307" in the same position as the underlined 5307 on yours, and we have an AS suffix (although separated from the number by a space).

Nifty! Progress!

I don't find any Product Support on the Bose site for a PS48.... but now that I know what I'm looking at, the illustration and follow-on connection instructions begin to make way more sense: 9-pin at the Media Center, RJ-45 jack at the bass end, audio input cable unclearly illustrated...

Is that one of those Cable A or Cable B things?

What do the dip switches do? The manual is silent on that...

I agree, their terminology seems to be all over the map. And they apparently never met a model name or number they couldn't supersede in about 6 months.

-Chris

I have never heard the Acoustimass module in a Lifestyle 48 system called a PS48; maybe that's what it is from a part number aspect.....
Post 30 explains the A and B cables.
The DIP switches are to set up zones (called Room Codes) and remote uniqueness. My boat neighbor would find his system operating when he came to his boat and likewise I did on mine. It ended up his and my RF remotes were the same security code.

 

[ttmott]

Oh, and as a side note - much of the setup on the Lifestyle 48 must be done through the television. If your TV is more modern and only has HDMI connections then the setup can't be done. Purchase a cheap S-video to HDMI converter to get the setup picture on the television.

 

[ranger58sb]

The other 9 pin din's are for the SAx amps, which are the zone(s) and are configured by the dip switches. I have the manual but need to scan that page in, if you have the manual the dip switches are clearly defined as room a, b, c etc. and the remotes are also programmed to match.

Post 30 explains the A and B cables.
The DIP switches are to set up zones (called Room Codes) and remote uniqueness. My boat neighbor would find his system operating when he came to his boat and likewise I did on mine. It ended up his and my RF remotes were the same code.

OK, I remember the house code issue with our remote. Different from that manual, Orlando, but essentially similar. I never got as far as zones or anything in the MSR; the system crapped out before I had time to mess with that.

And now I understand the cable descriptions in Post 30, thanks for that too.

-Chris

 

[ranger58sb]

Oh, and as a side note - much of the setup on the Lifestyle 48 must be done through the television. If your TV is more modern and only has HDMI connections then the setup can't be done. Purchase a cheap S-video to HDMI converter to get the setup picture on the television.

Couldn't do the setup through the TV at the time. Can't remember all the reasons why. The TV that was there was grossly misconnected, though, so much of what should have been available wasn't. Including TV sound through the amp, etc. But possibly maybe only HDMI connections to it...

Anyway, at that time I could only control the system using what could be made visible in the Display Window on the Media Center. PITA.

I eventually sorted out TV sound through the Bose system, but then the amp stopped working altogether so I moved on to Plan B. After discussion with Bose about potential repair, was it worth it, etc.

This has all been very helpful, guys, thanks for talking me through it this far!

-Chris

 

[Skybolt]

Couldn't do the setup through the TV at the time. Can't remember all the reasons why. The TV that was there was grossly misconnected, though, so much of what should have been available wasn't. Tncluding TV sound through the amp, etc. But possibly maybe only HDMI connections to it...

Anyway, at that time I could only control the system using what could be made visible in the Display Window on the Media Center. PITA.

I eventually sorted out TV sound through the Bose system, but then the amp stopped working altogether so I moved on to Plan B. After discussion with Bose about potential repair, was it worth it, etc.

This has all been very helpful, guys, thanks for talking me through it this far!

-Chris

So I have to ask, if your Main unit of the Bose Lifestyle (AV48) is shot, are you getting that fixed or did you find another one? Otherwise all of this is meaning less.

If you do get it fixed or have another one. This will help with the video setup on an HDMI only tv:

Amazon.com

 

[ranger58sb]

So I have to ask, if your Main unit of the Bose Lifestyle (AV48) is shot, are you getting that fixed or did you find another one? Otherwise all of this is meaning less.

I hadn't intended to get it fixed. Partly 'cause it seems reasonably obsolete, partly 'cause it seems like maybe not worth any extra $$$ attention. The Bose repair guy I spoke with -- who seemed to very much have a clue, extensive troubleshooting attempt by phone -- didn't sound encouraging. And other folks here seemed to confirm they just eventually get to end of life stage.

Since Tom's comment about Jewel Cubes with simple RCA plugs, I've more recently thought about just replacing the Media Center with another A/V receiver of some sort. Regain AM/FM, connect the Jewel Cubes to that if it'd work... and that's driven by the JCs being visible. If they weren't visible, I'd be ignoring the whole thing altogether. (Plan A had been simply to remove the JCs and cover the holes with Starboard. Maybe a new Plan C could be replacing those with some other brand/model of satellite speakers.)

And/or if there were a way to also salvage the bass module, fine, wouldn't mind that. If I could ever get hold of it from it's cubby hole. Otherwise it seems like it could be a decent boat anchor.

-Chris

 

[Skybolt]

I hadn't intended to get it fixed. Partly 'cause it seems reasonably obsolete, partly 'cause it seems like maybe not worth any extra $$$ attention. The Bose repair guy I spoke with -- who seemed to very much have a clue, extensive troubleshooting attempt by phone -- didn't sound encouraging. And other folks here seemed to confirm they just eventually get to end of life stage.

Since Tom's comment about Jewel Cubes with simple RCA plugs, I've more recently thought about just replacing the Media Center with another A/V receiver of some sort. Regain AM/FM, connect the Jewel Cubes to that if it'd work... and that's driven by the JCs being visible. If they weren't visible, I'd be ignoring the whole thing altogether. (Plan A had been simply to remove the JCs and cover the holes with Starboard. Maybe a new Plan C could be replacing those with some other brand/model of satellite speakers.)

And/or if there were a way to also salvage the bass module, fine, wouldn't mind that. If I could ever get hold of it from it's cubby hole. Otherwise it seems like it could be a decent boat anchor.

-Chris

So yeah, the components can be reused to some degree. My plan is to use the whole system and omit the AV48 at some point. I am trying to keep my boat and additions in with Sea Ray's way of doing things (at that time). I am unsure about the AV48, but it does have an optical surround sound input (S/PDIF) which would be perfect for my use.

The AV48 receiver can be had on EBay for ~200 on average. The speakers are almost 100 each and the amps 200.

In looking for the cables I needed, I came across some modifications for using the speakers/amps/sub on their own without the AV48. As the AV48 is seriously outdated but believe it or not, that unit plus four cubes and a center speaker with sub is still selling for ~1000 on amazon and the like. And component parts and cables are all over ebay.

In the colder months I am going to play around with this system and install it on the boat. But the AV48 is in question as to whether that is needed or not. Depending on what mods I find I may just update that portion of the system.

 

[ttmott]

So yeah, the components can be reused to some degree. My plan is to use the whole system and omit the AV48 at some point. I am trying to keep my boat and additions in with Sea Ray's way of doing things (at that time). I am unsure about the AV48, but it does have an optical surround sound input (S/PDIF) which would be perfect for my use.

The AV48 receiver can be had on EBay for ~200 on average. The speakers are almost 100 each and the amps 200.

In looking for the cables I needed, I came across some modifications for using the speakers/amps/sub on their own without the AV48. As the AV48 is seriously outdated but believe it or not, that unit plus four cubes and a center speaker with sub is still selling for ~1000 on amazon and the like. And component parts and cables are all over ebay.

In the colder months I am going to play around with this system and install it on the boat. But the AV48 is in question as to whether that is needed or not. Depending on what mods I find I may just update that portion of the system.

For your use - Works well on my boat. Forget about using the DVD in the Lifestyle 48 or any other video output from the Bose system other than for setup. Resolution is poor.

 

[Skybolt]

For your use - Works well on my boat. Forget about using the DVD in the Lifestyle 48 or any other video output from the Bose system other than for setup. Resolution is poor.

Yeah, except for setup, as you mentioned, I have no use for the svid stuff. Thanks for posting your setup schematic.

Still plan on decoding the pinouts and using in another setup possibly.

 

[ranger58sb]

So yeah, the components can be reused to some degree. My plan is to use the whole system and omit the AV48 at some point.

In looking for the cables I needed, I came across some modifications for using the speakers/amps/sub on their own without the AV48.

AV48 is the model name/number for the "Media Center"? In the same way PS48 is the model name/number for the "Acoustimass"?

I'm hoping the Jewel Cubes (at least) are approx. 90% "generic speaker" and can be controlled by signal processing in about any new A/V receiver. In the same way we're using our 40-year-old Technics and Pioneer speakers for great surround sound in our family room at home. (And for "furniture" too, they make decent side tables.)

If I could get my hands on the PS48-end of the JC cables -- even if only just enough to pull the RCA plugs from the backplane of the PS48 -- then I could run extensions from there to our entertainment center relatively easily. Voila! Solves a cosmetic issue, may or may not add a bit to surround quality in our saloon...

I could also see potentially rewiring amp-end (9-pin) connections to connect the PS48 to a new AV receiver. Some of the pin-out diagrams on the 'net seem to maybe be credible. Could maybe even bypass wiring the JC-to-PS48 bits, if they are instead connected directly to the AV amp anyway. Might or might not be able to control any/all base-focused internal signal processing the PS48 does; if so, good, if not, maybe anyway OK.

Once I ever get full physical access to the PS48, I could decide whether to replace it with a standard sub. I'd probably be inclined to do that unless sometime in the meantime I were to successfully re-do those Cable A amp-end connections. (I have access to the amp end of that cable.)

For your use - Works well on my boat. Forget about using the DVD in the Lifestyle 48 or any other video output from the Bose system other than for setup. Resolution is poor.

Yeah, another reason why I bagged the Media Center altogether, and just added a Sony DVD player to the mix.

Tom, did you make that drawing? Or was that a Sea Ray thing? I've not found anything so comprehensive like that already made up for our boat... just bits and pieces... so I'm expecting to have to draw it out myself...

-Chris

 

[ttmott]

The one I have is a PS48. I am not sure of the series. As you can see in the pic, there is 5 outputs for the speakers.

I am guessing that Sea Ray didn't connect the system up as a true 5.1 surround system. And that everything, all zones were stereo. But this unit can be 5.1 in the main listening area and stereo in the rest, at the same time.

The blue RCA's are for the front and the yellow are for the rear. Bad pic but they are powered and are labeled as "Output to Cube Speakers".


View attachment 153617

Orlando - the system is 5.1. Dolby decoded. But it all comes down to the source of the signal.

 

[ttmott]

AV48 is the model name/number for the "Media Center"? In the same way PS48 is the model name/number for the "Acoustimass"?

I'm hoping the Jewel Cubes (at least) are approx. 90% "generic speaker" and can be controlled by signal processing in about any new A/V receiver. In the same way we're using our 40-year-old Technics and Pioneer speakers for great surround sound in our family room at home. (And for "furniture" too, they make decent side tables.)

If I could get my hands on the PS48-end of the JC cables -- even if only just enough to pull the RCA plugs from the backplane of the PS48 -- then I could run extensions from there to our entertainment center relatively easily. Voila! Solves a cosmetic issue, may or may not add a bit to surround quality in our saloon...

I could also see potentially rewiring amp-end (9-pin) connections to connect the PS48 to a new AV receiver. Some of the pin-out diagrams on the 'net seem to maybe be credible. Could maybe even bypass wiring the JC-to-PS48 bits, if they are instead connected directly to the AV amp anyway. Might or might not be able to control any/all base-focused internal signal processing the PS48 does; if so, good, if not, maybe anyway OK.

Once I ever get full physical access to the PS48, I could decide whether to replace it with a standard sub. I'd probably be inclined to do that unless sometime in the meantime I were to successfully re-do those Cable A amp-end connections. (I have access to the amp end of that cable.)




Yeah, another reason why I bagged the Media Center altogether, and just added a Sony DVD player to the mix.

Tom, did you make that drawing? Or was that a Sea Ray thing? I've not found anything so comprehensive like that already made up for our boat... just bits and pieces... so I'm expecting to have to draw it out myself...

-Chris

I do drawings of everything on the boat that has been changed otherwise I'd be lost for future needs. BTW in the below is the Bose system drawing I did also.

 

[ranger58sb]

I do drawings of everything on the boat that has been changed otherwise I'd be lost for future needs. BTW in the below is the Bose system drawing I did also.

Nifty. I do too, but... you're WAY better than I am at it. Like at least one order of magnitude!

And I'm behind the power curve on this boat, too; had so much other stuff going on, haven't caught up with my schematics yet...

-Chris