Bose Acoustimass AM-5 SE-5 501X 5 Series I inside

Introduced in 1989, it was available under various namings.

  • Two 6″ low frequency drivers inside the bass module
  • 4 Ohms nominal impedance (some say 6 ohm)
  • 100 w maximum (continuous power handling)
  • 15 w minimum power requirement
  • 19.2 cm height
  • 32.1 cm width
  • 51.3 cm depth

Bose 501X

Bose 501X vs AM-5

First, the whole system was named 501X, the bass module and the speakers were named 501X. There are now available in the wild, combinations of 501X and AM-5 bass module/satellites, but it is unclear wether they were sold like that, or combined by the owners.

Bose 501X System specifications

  • 48 Hz..20 kHz Frequency Response
  • 150 Hz Cross Over Frequency
  • 165 W Peak Power Handling
  • 4 Ohms Nominal Impedance

Bose 501X Cube Speaker Specifications

  • Speakers: 5.7 cm (2 1/2″) Full Range, Shielded Magnet (4 pcs)
  • Dimensions: 91 mm x 91 mm x 117 mm
  • Weight: 2.3 kg total for 4 pcs

Speakers are fixed inside the cube speakers using a single screw in the center of the magnet pole, the four corner holes of the spaker frame being used only for alignment and sustaining. Later, when they replaced the name 501X with AM-5, the speakers are fixed using four corner screws.

Bose 501X Bass Box Specifications

  • Speakers: 16 cm (6.5″) Woofer (x2)
  • Dimensions: 320 mm x 510 mm x 180 mm
  • Weight: 9 kg (19.8 lbs)
  • Internal Design: Tandem Tuned Bass Box (USA Patent No 4549631)

The 501X bass box uses two round plastic speaker wire connectors for the amplifier connection inputs and two rectangular wire connectors for the outputs. The AM-5 acoustimass haves all four connectors of rectangular shape.

Bose Acoustimass AM-5 vs SE-5

The differences between AM-5 and SE-5 is only the satellites. Both version satellites feature four 2.25″ magnetically shielded midrange drivers ( replacement p/n 128735).

AM-5 Cube Array

  • Dimensions: 18.7 cm x 11.7 cm x 9.2 cm
  • Two 2.25″ Twiddlers, shielded (p/n: 128735)
  • Capacitor EL,BP, 85’C, 50V, 10%, 4.5 uF

SE-5 Stereo Targeting Array

  • Dimensions: 10.9 cm x 12.3 cm x 9 cm
  • Two 2.25″ Twiddlers, shielded (p/n: 128735)
  • Capactitor 100V, 4.7uF

Bose Acoustimass AM-5 Black

Bose Acoustimass AM-5 White (rare)

Bose Acoustimass SE-5 Transparent Plexiglass

Bose Acoustimass Transparent, Earliest Plexiglass, before SE-5 naming

Bose Acoustimass AM-5 Powered (Acoustimass Powered Music System / Bose Lifestyle 10)

It was sold under the name Lifestyle 10 Music System, between 1990-1994. Other names known/used for this system are Acoustimass Powered Music System and Bose AM-5 Powered. Model Number for the Lifestyle 10 assembly is 614810. Model number for the Acoustimass is 2683-2. Link to Bose Support website.

Bose Acoustimass AM-5 / SE-5 Speaker

6″ Woofer Replacement Bose part number is 133411, and they should be replaced in pairs.

Bose Acoustimass AM-5 / SE-5 Crossover

Replacement part number for the crossover assy was originally 130487, but was later replaced by 196456. Some components of the crossover are:

  • 2 Capacitors:
    • EL,BP,50V,20%, 15uF
  • 4 Capacitors:
    • EL,BP,50V,20%, 33uF
  • 2 Inductors
    • 300 uH
  • 2 Resistors
    • WW, 5W, 10%, 3.3 ohm
  • 4 Lamps
    • 24 VDC, 2.5A