Model AV18-AV38-AV48 Media Centers

* Media Center
* Tray
* Controls

Media Center: [edit]* World: 05.01.08
* Japan: 85.01.03

released 2011

Tuner: 01.03.00
VS2: 05.00.18
Bass:

* LSPS I & II: 07.08.01
* LSPS III: 02.01.00

DVD

* 1712: XB10 or 1B10
* 1802: 1B22

AV38/AV48

* Operating Guide v1
* Operating Guide v2

uMusic

* uMusic system guide
* uMusic+

## History

### Series 1

In 2001, Bose released the first version of its DVD-based *Lifestyle* systems. Using the AV28 media center.

### Series 2

In 2004, Bose came out with the Series II *Lifestyle* systems, the AV18, that added a progressive scan DVD player, CD player, AM-FM radio, improved acoustics, AdaptIQ technology, the ability to connect up to 14 additional rooms of music, as well as a universal RF remote that operates any audio/video device connected to the media center. The Acoustimass bass module is the same for each model. They all have five speakers that provide the direct/reflecting sound that Bose pioneered, except for Lifestyle 18, which came with single cube speakers. Bose also added two new systems, the 38 and the 48 (using the AV38 and AV48 media centers), both with the ability to store music (uMusic). uMusic is called "an intelligent playback system" because it ranks the music stored on the system by one's listening habits, and is supposed to learn one's musical tastes.

### Series 3

In 2006, the Series III systems were released. The only difference was a redesigned center channel, which was made horizontal, and an Acoustimass bass module that was 30% smaller than its predecessor. The model lineup did not change. The *Lifestyle* 18 system, while not discontinued, was not made public during this series.

### Series 4

In 2007, Bose updated select versions of its Series III systems to include an external video selector called the VS-2, while the remaining Series III product, the Lifestyle 18, was re-introduced to the public market. On 24 May 2010, Bose discontinued all but the *Lifestyle* 48 IV in the United States, and all but *Lifestyle* 38 IV and 48 IV in the rest of the world.

## Connecting to a modern HDTV

*Main article: Connecting a Lifestyle DVD Media Center to an HDTV*

Please follow the instructions here to find out the best way to connect your media center to a modern HDTV.

## Upgrading to an AV35 Control Console

*Main article: Upgrading to a Lifestyle AV35 Control Console*

Depending on your LSPS subwoofer you *might* be able to upgrade to an AV35 Control Console. This control console, while it does not support 4K, ARC, or CEC, it does support lossless audio formats and has multiple HDMI inputs built in. You can easy to use an AV35 control console with a 4K TV and a HDMI splitter to ensure you have the best sound and video possible with the system.

If you want to upgrade to a newer system, you can check your local Bose dealer and see if there are any trade-in options available.

## Features

### Component adapter

Lifestyle DVD media centers support Component video using custom external Component adapters. The version below with the **Yellow** on the Composite plug is for the AV18/38/48 media centers. However, some "series 2" adapters did include a black composite plug.

The instructions given below are from Bose's website.

#### Component adapter v1 vs v2

If using the component video adapter, be sure the correct adapter is connected:

AV28 and AV18/38/18 media centers use different component video adapters. Be sure to use a "version 1" adapter with a AV28 media center and a "version 2" adapter with AV18/38/18 media center. Check which adapter you have by looking at the male composite connector on the adapter (the connector that plugs into the yellow **Video OUT** jack on system console):

* If this connector is **black**, follow it to the opposite female end: If the female end is **red**, it's version 1; if the female end green, it's version 2
* If this connector is **yellow**, it's version 2

#### Using a version 1 component video adapter with an AV18/38/18 media center

When using a version 1 component video adapter with an AV18/38/18 media center, be sure to connect the adapter as follows:

1. Connect the **blue** female end of the component video adapter to the **red** male end of the component video cable
2. Connect the **green** female end of the component video adapter to the **blue** male end of the component video cable
3. Connect the **red** female end of the component video adapter to the **green** male end of the component video cable

### Remote

The RC18T1 & RC38T1 remote are universal RF remotes. The RC18 works with the AV18 media center and the RC38 works with the AV38 & AV48 media centers. There are two versions. The American remote and console operates at 27Hz while the rest of the world's remote and console runs at 40Hz.

Sometime in 2006 Bose released an updated version of their remote adding new functions and occasionaly some new buttons to the remote. There are two versions. The 27Hz version has the bottom buttons labeled as Red & ABC. While the 40Hz version has the bottom buttons colored RGYB.

*RC18T1-40*

.

.

*RC38T1-40*

*.*

*.*

### Audio Format Support

**All** of the systems mentioned only support **Dolby Digital 5.1**, **DTS 5.1**, and **PCM 2.0**. So you will get the same audio quality using an Optical or a Digital Coax cable. So change all audio settings on your 3rd party devices to **Bitstream** or **Dolby** or **DTS** and *avoid* PCM or LPCM sound options.

#### Download files

* Bose Firmware
* uMusic updates
 **AV48** | Lifestyle 48 series I-IV

#### Media center updates release notes

Below lists the software updates released for this media center.

 **050107** | **2010** | **Enhancements**
 **050106** | **2009** | **Enhancements**
 **050105** | **2009** | **Enhancements**
 **050101** | **2009** | **Enhancements*** uMusic+ functionality (Lifestyle 38 & 48 only)
* Service Data screen added
 **030305** | **2008** | **Enhancements**
* Audio delay adjustment added
 **020101** | **2006** | **Enhancements*** Remote control code version 2
 **010400** | **2005** | **Enhancements**
 **010300** | **2004** | **Enhancements**
 **010100** | **2004** | Initial release

#### uMusic update DVD's

uMusic used a licenced a copy of the Gracenote CD database to recognise and import CD information into its system.

Bose mailed a DVD free of charge to registered users with an updated "Gracenote CD database", *typically*, on a biannual schedule, from 2004 until 2014, ending with version 01.02.01. These updates allowed for the uMusic system to identify newly released CD's.

The uMusic update also included all other updates found on uMusic Lifestyle & 321 Update CD's. Keeping those systems fully up-to-date.

### Hidden menu

Bose has a hidden menu. You can obtain system information from the Media Center Display

1. Turn the media center off.
2. On the console press and hold the ENTER button on the media center.
3. While holding down the ENTER button, each additional press of the **STORE** button will show additional information. See the list below.
4. Once you are done viewing the information, release the ENTER button. If information is still being displayed press the POWER button.

 Viewed on (    AV18  ) console displays steps 1 - 21, 26-30
Viewed on (AV38/AV48) console displays steps 1 - 3, 5 - 30
1. House Code: (code)
2. TV Power: (on/off)
3. Video output:       Without VS-2 (NTSC  Progressive ->  NTSC  Component ->  NTSC  Composite+S -> )                   (\*MULTI Progressive -> \*MULTI Component -> \*MULTI Composite+S -> )                   (\*PAL    Progressive ->  PAL Composite+S ->  PAL  Component   -> )                   [Use the volume buttons to cycle through options]      \*\*\*With VS-2 ( NTSC  Interlaced -> NTSC  Progressive -> )                   (PAL    Interlaced -> PAL    Progressive -> )                   (MULTI Interlaced -> MULTI Progressive -> )                   [Use the volume buttons to cycle through options]
4. \*Hotel Control: (off -> on) (Available only on AV18)                       [Use the volume buttons to cycle through options]                       (Max volume is set to the current volume setting)
5. Flash Commit [press volume up twice to save settings and reboot]
6. Console software: (version)
7. Console variant: (#)                       [AV18=1; AV38=6; AV48=11] USA                       [AV18=2; AV38=7; AV48=12] S. America                       [AV18=3; AV38=8; AV48=13] EU                       [AV18=4; AV38=9; AV48=14] Asia & Pacific                       [AV18=5; AV38=10; AV48=15] Japan
8. Bass Box software: (version)
9. \*\*Bass Box EQ: (#) [00=Jewel Cube {or LSPS I-II Bass}, 01=Single Cube, 02=Double Cube]
10. Tuner software: (version)
11. Console serial number: (s/n)
12. \*\*Bass Serial number: (s/n)
13. Main Board serial number: (s/n)
14. Tuner serial number: (s/n)
15. DVD Region Code: (#)
16. DVD Drive: (firmware version on first line)                 (DVD model number on second line)
17. Main Board Functional: (test results)
18. Tuner Board Alignment: (test results)
19. IR Blaster: (version)
20. \*\*\*VS-2 Serial number: (s/n)
21. \*\*\*VS-2 Firmware number: (version)
22. Hard Drive: (firmware version on first line)                   (DVD model number on second line)
23. Hard Drive Self Test: (test results)
24. Gracenote Database: (version)
25. Ethernet Address: (Address)
26. \*\*\*DRC Timing: #x##
27. \*\*\*\*MDU Mode: Off -> On
28. \*\*\*\*Transition Color: Green -> Black
29. \*\*\*\*Snow reduction: Off -> On
30. \*\*\*\*Ghosting Reduction: Off -> On

\*    Included with Console firmware 02.01.00 and greater (Remote Extensions upgrade)\*\*   Included with Console firmware 02.02.00 and greater (Series III)\*\*\*  Included with Console firmware 03.01.00 and greater (VS2)\*\*\*\* Included with Console firmware 05.00.00 and greater (uMusic+) (no version 4 was created)

## Progressive scan DVD/CD player

Progressive scan was added with these media centers.

## AdaptIQ

*Main article: AdaptIQ*

The key feature of the system is the ADAPTiQ audio calibration system, which allows for the system to adapt to the owner's personal living room environment. The system plays tones through each speaker and listens with a microphone headset worn by the user, and based on what it "hears", the media center will calibrate and equalize each speaker to compensate for any acoustic abnormalities in the room. In this manner, any *Lifestyle* system will sound the same in any living room as the professional demonstration.

## BoseLink out

*Main article: BoseLink*

Starting with Series II DVD systems, Bose included a new standard for expansion called *BoseLink*, which allows the system to expand to 14 additional listening areas and can connect to any other BoseLink device. There is also a wireless expansion option. Listeners use a radio frequency remote to communicate back to the main system, thus allowing it to control the volume and to select the audio source for that room.

## uMusic

*Main article: uMusic*

The *Lifestyle* 38 and 48 systems have intelligent music storage capabilities. The 48 has the ability to store 340 hours of music, while the 38 can store 200. The uMusic technology is branded as an "intelligent playback system" because it ranks the music stored on the system by one's listening habits (similar to a TiVo). This is influenced by utilizing the +/- buttons on the remote, or just by skipping and listening to tracks stored on the system. uMusic also makes connections between different artists using built-in databases called *Gracenote CD Database* and *AllMusic Guide*, by mood, instrument, or artist collaborations. Through these steps it "learns" one's musical tastes quickly, and chooses music accordingly.

## VS-1

*Main article: Lifestyle VS-1 Video Expander*

An external video selector called the VS-1 was sold as an accessory for Series II or III DVD *Lifestyle* systems. It added three more video inputs (3 Component, S-Video and Composite) and either Component, S-Video or Composite out to the TV. This allows the system to up-convert video signals (composite to S-video, S-video to component) to deliver the highest quality signal a TV can accept. and simplifies switching to a "one-button" process.

## VS-2

*Main article: Lifestyle VS-2 Video Enhancer*

An external video selector called the VS-2 was included with series IV lifestyle DVD systems and sold after market for series II or III DVD lifestyle systems. It gives 3 video inputs (featuring 2 HDMI 1.2a & 3 Component, S-Video and Composite) and either HDMI 1.2a, Component, S-Video or Composite out to the TV.

According to Bose with this device you can choose whatever input your external components support, connect it to the VS-2, and have the Lifestyle system switch both the audio and video by using your Lifestyle remote. It would also up-convert the lifestyle DVD player and any source up to 1080p if connected to a TV via HDMI.

The VS-2 has **no audio return** to the media center. So while it can accept full HDMI video **it does not accept HDMI audio**, requiring a separate audio cable (RCA, Fiber Optic or Digital Coax) from the 3rd party device to connect to the Lifestyles media center. The VS-2 includes HDMI 1.2a for video only. **It does not support** HDMI audio, CEC, or ARC.

## Speakers

*See also: LSPS I & II*
*See also: LSPS III*
*See also: Jewel Cube speakers*
*See also: Direct/Reflecting cube speakers*
*See also: Virtually Invisible cube speakers*

The *Lifestyle* 35 and 48 systems use the "Jewel Cube" speakers, considered by Bose to be its best speakers. The *Lifestyle* 28 and 38 models have the "Acoustimass Direct/Reflect" speakers. The 18 came with "Virtually Invisible" speakers.

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Listed in lifestyle update
2. ↑ XB10 is region free, 1B10 is region locked
3. ↑ 3.00 3.01 3.02 3.03 3.04 3.05 3.06 3.07 3.08 3.09 3.10 3.11 Bose.com Software and firmware versions
4. ↑ Seen on the 03.03.04 update CD
5. ↑ incorrectly listed as the VS-2 on the Bose.com Software and firmware versions list. The VS-2 was released around 3 years later with the Series 4 systems.
6. ↑ Bose uMusic Intelligent Playback System Flash Media Player Animation
7. ↑ Bose Lifestyle VS-1 Video Expander
8. ↑ Bose VS-2 Video Enhancer
9. ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20160303175631/http://www.4electronicwarehouse.com/blog/the-bose-lifestyle-vs-2-video-enhancer-is-a-must-for-all-lifestyle-owners.html The Bose Lifestyle VS-2 Video Enhancer is A Must for All Lifestyle Owners]
10. ↑ Connecting an audio/video device using the Lifestyle VS-2 video enhancer