yannaros

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
1 to 3 months

Price Paid:  $1500.00 from Bose

Summary:
Rotel RA 980 BX 2X100W Intergraded Amplifier
Monster cable Power line 2
Thorens turntable TD 166 MK VI ......

....Bose 901 VI's looked to be happy with that.....

Make sure you use a good Intergraded Amplifier and NOT a receiver

Strengths:
Grate sound

Weaknesses:
I am still looking

Similar Products Used:
Roister Steeles 150 W each. 4 Ohms (European speakers that I used for 20 years)

Gdoug

Overall Rating
 3 of 5

Value Rating
 3 of 5

Used product for
More than 1 year

Visitors rate this review
5.00 of 5, 1.00 votes

Price Paid:  $700.00 from over-seas post

Summary:
After reading some of these reviews I have to put my three cents in being a long time Bose owner. I first bought my 901s series IV in 1982 at anover seas Exchange for under $ 800 new, which I power with some Marantz Esotec amps which put out about 150 rms. I still have that system to this very day.(yes I gone through the re- foaming routine) I think I payed $20 for the refoam kit back in the early nintys and it took about 8 hours.

I believe the sound of the 901s is very rich and natural if set up properly in the right surroundings. They can sound poorly also if not set up right, or cluthered surroundings. They do need the 901 eq hooked up or foget it.The 901s have a different sound than most other speaker. I'd best describe the sound as more toward live and lots of midrange.You also need to play them a little louder then conventional speakers to achive any seperation. The 901s are not a speaker you need to sit in front of due to their reflective sound production, so any seats a good seat . I came across a pair of 901 series VI in the mid nintys and now run all four. To me the sound is similar between the IVs and the VIs . The VIs may sound a bit clearer but look sweeter. I am only using the EQ from the VIs . for all four, I could not tell any difference in the IVs.

As far as comparing the 901s to other brand speakers ,high end or not ,thats for your ears only. Ive had other speaker such as Paradigm monitors {which I still have}, Klipsch Belle, RTR towers. No mater what speaker you have there is always something better and everybody has different taste. All the speaker out there offer something different and lack something else. Bose being called an over priced speaker, well folks, tell me what speaker out there is not over- priced? I don't care what it's made out of. GOLD ? Ya right!!!
So in concusion I like the Bose 901s , they work for me but they're not for everbody.If you are thinking about buying a set I'd say look around and try at least four different brands of speakers (in that price range)in your own home including the 901s. You can always take them back. If the store does not have that policy shop else where. Cheers folks and happy listening

Strengths:
Clear natural rich sound (live) ,undestructible, Sounds very clear at high volume. You can hang them. Good resale value. Small in size

Weaknesses:
Needs proper placement to achive optimum sound. Does not have superb seperation especially at lower volume. Needs it's own outboard EQ.

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almc2242

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Value Rating
 3 of 5

Used product for
1 to 3 months

Visitors rate this review
2.67 of 5, 3.00 votes

Price Paid:  $136000.00 from Bose Store

Summary:
Bose 901 VI have been on the market for quite some time know. We read good and bad reviews. But I guess it's a question of many aspects that influence in every each individual opinion. These speakers are very boomy. Of course if you go to a jazz concert and listen to the digital drums. The moment that they step on the boom, you can feel it. Same with Bose 901. You can feel the music. Especially if you are running 250 watts RMS. The equalizer should be upgraded. But I guess it's a question of durability there. Positioning is critical. I started on the floor. The sound was strong but like it got confused (for a better use of an adjective) The side that did its work, reflection. The sound came in direct and powerful. The side that had some, lets put it, distortion of travel. The music was their, but like invisible and not direct and crisp like the other side which the flow of travel was clean and direct.

When placed on the sealing using the factory recommendation. The sound flows uninterrupted thought the room and it fills the air with the thunder of the bass. Treble also flows freely. But the sound still is not directed to the listener. It's shooting towards the other side of the room, directly. The best place is to put them shooting at a 45 degree angle on one side of the room. So it can direct the stream of music towards its listeners, not to the other side of the wall.

Strengths:
Good crisp bass, compact, durable (until now), and they are power hungry. The more the better. But like all speakers, they have their limit. Not very heavy which is good for when you are lifting them and installing them to the sealing.

Weaknesses:
They need to upgrade the equalizer. It should be a digital equalizer with more keys and digital out put.

Eliminate the lower stands. If in a party. People after a few drinks might thing that are a table and place drinks on them. Eventually spilling and getting them wet.

The stand doesn't have a good wire escape whole.

The five little rubber feet is too cheap for a speaker of this quality.

It should have a specific opening so the wire won't unbalance the speaker. Especially if you are using monster cable.

Bose should design an AMP specifically for the 901

Needs more high sound output

Similar Products Used:
I've previously used Bose 601, 301, 201

richardbckr

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
More than 1 year

Visitors rate this review
3.00 of 5, 2.00 votes

Price Paid:  $975.00 from Anderson Air Force B

Summary:
I'll admit that I'm a Bose fan. After more than 20 years of enjoying my 901 Series V's I think I'm hooked. I have moved these things all over the world and replaced amplifiers twice. I now drive them with a Sony STR DE-875. Don't ask me how but I did manage to wire the Bose equalizer through a tape circuit so all works well eventhough the Sony receiver is supposed to be a home theater system. In any case, the speakers are positioned as recommended in my vaulted ceiling living room and sound great. I think the large room enhances the low bass response and the mid and high range is clear for my ears.

I just spent the better part of two days evaluating new speakers in the 2,000 - 3,500 dollar range and in the end they could not equal my Bose.

Strengths:
Sound great with different electronics. Tough - can withstand frequent moving. Great value.

Outlived 2 pair of 301s. Bose will give you a price break on replacements. Call them.

Wood finish is easily maintained with good furniture oil.

Extremely good value for price.

Bose web site has owners manuals with set up instructions for those who purchase pre-owned speakers. Follow the instructions.

Weaknesses:
Speaker placement is critical to performance and so you must design your room around your speakers - but then that's probably the right life priority anyway.

Even for an old guy like me the retro look needs updating.

Not for home theater use.

Similar Products Used:
Jantzen Electrostatic speakers.

Price Paid:  $0.00

Summary:
I actually own Bose 301 speakers and they are 5 star why do people scoff 901 speakers because of their technology are you a dumbass? the sound matters and they combline direct reflect and acousticwave tech. I am 19 and my father has owned an Acoustic wave since 1993 in 2007 several years later and this goes for every year has sounded just as good as the day he bought it. The base is loud and you can barely hear yourself talk at volume 4 on the 85 watt system. 901 speakers combine both technologies the direct reflect from my 5 star 301 speakers and the acoustic wave from my dad's 5 star acoustic wave 15 year old system 901 speakers are 10 stars!! Use your ear to judge not ignorance of the brand or technology

Strengths:
Base
clarity
natural sound
dispersion
power
everything

Weaknesses:
none just need to be placed right

Similar Products Used:
bose 301 and acoustic wave speakers/system