I have 5 bose jewel speakers. can I use one of them as center speaker? Second, can I use bose jewel speakers with Pioneer VSX-1020 AV receiver?

You are only given one answer from our Expert Ray with the brief answer 'No sorry'.

This is your VSX

REAR TERMINALS

HDMI 4 in
HDMI 1 out
AV (Composite) 2 in
Audio 1 in (assignable)
Digital Coaxial 1 in (assignable)
Digital Optical 1 in (assignable)
Monitor Composite 1 out
Preout 0.1ch (SW)
Speaker 5 ch out (FRONT, CENTER,
SURROUND)

and this is your Bose. Find the manuals for both and read them. connecting them

https://www.techwalla.com/articles/bose-acoustimass-9-speaker-system-installation

A: Glancing at the specifications of the Bose Acoustimass 10, the system is stated to be compatible with A/V receivers and amplifiers rated from 10-200 watts per channel, and from 4 ohms to 8 ohms. Aug 17, 2014

Q&A: I Have A Bose Acoustimass 10 System, What Receiver ...

It is a pity you don't have a newer one that can be connected via HDMI lead.

Try changing surround modes. You might be in 5 channel stereo mode.

901's will need dedicated amps, if that helps. You can only use the Zone-X pre-outs. Page 31.

Register and download the manual for free at retrevo.com

http://www.retrevo.com/support/Pioneer-VSX-33-Receivers-manual/id/23705bh447/t/2/

Did you remember to remove the shorting link on the MA BR5 speaker terminal ..When you biwire the speakers you should remember to loosen the speaker terminal nuts and remove the shorting link plate between the HF and the LF terminals or you will short the amplifiers two channels together through the link. And modern amplifiers will take a lot of abuse at low volumes but at high volumes the protection circuit will turn off the device.

You won't need the equalizer - just connect the speakers to the receiver's speaker output for the front.

This receiver has no pre-amp outs to drive the required separate amp the 901's need for you to continue to have multichannel digital audio. The reason: activation of a tape loop disables digital inputs. But they DID give you Front Height. Oh boy.

This works for all models of AV receivers when you want 901's as Front L&R speakers..

Get yourself a nice separate amp, draw the Front L&R pre-out signals from wherever you can find them. On many, there is a pre-amp out for every channel in case you want to run external amps for any channels. That is how my old Pioneer VSX-36TX is equipped. For others, you may have to borrow the signals from a typical Tape- or Adapter-Out RCA pair. Just remember, AV receivers disable digital inputs as soon as you switch in a Tape Monitor, so choose one you won't have to switch IN. The signal Out is always there regardless of the monitor state.

Patch the Active EQ directly off that point (Amp In from the receiver, Amp Out to the new amp). Run all the speaker level settings on the AV Receiver and rock on.

By all-in-one amplifier that handles the surround I think you mean all-in-one receiver or preamp. Amps are just big dumb muscular power supplies for speakers.

The source control and digital decoding could be handled by a modern AV receiver with multichannel analog outputs for driving separate amps or you could get a digital AV preamplifier/control unit functionally like this Adcom. Prepare for sticker shock.

http://hdtvdreams.com/Adcom-GTP-870HD-7.1-Multi-Channel-Processor/Preamplifier-GTP870HD.aspx

Understand that EACH PAIR of Bose 901's will require its own DEDICATED two channels of amplification AND someplace to jack in its Active Equalizer - between the line level source and the power amp.

Conventional speakers can probably run off the receiver's amplifiers since they don't/can't/must not have the Bose Active EQ in line with them.

Having a single pair of 901's plus a passive subwoofer or two in the same room for accurate 6- or 7.1 surround would require at least four stereo amps or some combination that adds up to 8 channels.

In my own system I have a Pioneer VSX-36TX Receiver (with 5 potential channels of amplification for Left, Right, Center, two Surrounds) doing light duty as the control and routing center but ONLY driving the Center (two Kenwood 777's) and Surround speakers (Bose 301's). I have a Carver 5-channel amp pushing the Bose 901 Front speakers (100Wx2), two dbx Subwoofers (110Wx1) and the Bose 301 Rear Surround speakers (60Wx1).

You could probably get by with a powerful 2-, 3- or 4-channel amplifier to push the 901's and subwoofer(s) as I did. It's the cheapest way out if you get a decent AV receiver. Once you set up the levels and delays the receiver does all the thinking and controlling for you.

i added the vcs 10 center channel speaker for 180 to "upgrade" to the 7.1 and bought a new pioneer vsx-91txh receiver on ebay for 515.

any pre-out should work. i believe the bose have a rca jack connector for attaching to the receiver. look at the new receiver connection diagram. any output that is rca designed for use by a recording device will send a signal that the 901's can see.
always check the manual on both before connecting for any precautions.
good luck
mark