Bose Llifestyle 5 Music Center

I just found out that my Bose Lifesyle 5 requires that I have a powered subwoofer. I am pretty new to the Bose purchasing scene so I am starting out with the Lifestyle 5. I have an Acoustimass 5 sub, passive (see what I've learned), and the music center doesn't work. I tried the headphones and can hear sounds so i am assuming that I need the poered sub. My question is: Is there another way to utilize what i h ave to make the system work? Thanks

Check out my post here (I suspect it'll get more traffic over in Tips and Tricks than this thread will.)