These speakers have good bass and are very good i would consider if you like floor shaking heart pumping bass

none

These speakers are very good

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Altel lansingtons these are better

Inexpensive, good sound,

Frequency Range

I have had my Bose 201's for several years now. I bought a top of the line Onkyo A/V receiver a few years back and attached my Bose to them. I was living in a small room so I didn't have room for big floor speakers. The sound was okay so I bought a subwoofer. It helped. Last week I bought a DVD player with the digital optical output link. I hooked it up to my stereo, poped in a CD and voila. I have never heard something so crisp and clear. It was amazing.

I also bought Monster cables and the HTS700. The HTS700 is supposed to clean up the noise in the power lines. I can't say what did it, but I have a really clear, crisp sound coming from these 201's. I listen to dance, rap, R&B, Jazz, Classical, New Age and sometimes alternative. It is a very good sound. Okay, they ain't perfect. The music is clear but it does not fill the room. So, I am going to go out and get me a set of satellite speakers and another Center Channel. The 201's are good for the price. Be very careful with your setup. Many many speakers sound like crap with a mediocre receiver and cd player. Hook up the digital optical link and if your speakers are crap, you will notice immediately.
For price, 4 stars. For sound 4 stars

Strong midrange, wide soundstage

Slight lack of deep bass, rolled-off highs, complete lack of imaging

I once owned a pair of these speakers (Series III), and they served me fairly well for a couple of years. The 201's were the first speakers I ever purchased. So, they were a starting point for me. I do admit to falling for the hype of Direct Reflecting technology, and it wasn't until later that I discovered other speakers in the same price range, such as Celestion 15i, Mission 731i, and B&W DM302, that were much more musical and vastly superior to presenting the illusion of a live performance. I understand why some hate Bose, but rest assured that most who claim to hate Bose so much only do so because they believe it will give them some sort of phantom credibility as self-proclaimed connoisseurs of audio. These speakers, at least the Series III, are not really that bad. In fact they were quite good in a couple of areas.

Firstly, they presented a very wide soundstage, no doubt attributed to the tweeters facing outward. This enabled the 201's to shine on orchestral music.

Secondly the 201's midrange wasn't too shabby. It's probably a little too strong for most tastes, but it kills the higher-priced and much inferior Bose 301.

However, this speaker's tweeter-out design, which was in theory supposed to fill the room with sound via Direct Reflecting technology, is flawed because it rolls-off the top end. High strings and high woodwinds sound a little faint. Grit and grain do show up at higher volumes too.

Also, this Direct Reflecting technology hinders the effect of presenting a "live performance" because it offers absolutely no imaging. Performers are as far from tangible as can be. Vocals are strictly L-R in unison as opposed to outfront and right down the middle, like a good imaging pair of speakers. The irony here of course is the fact that Bose Direct Reflecting technology is supposed to emulate a live performance.

Lastly, the 201's lack deep bass, but then again, they are only bookshelf speakers.

I did find it curious that Bose refuses to state any specs regarding their speakers' frequency response. Could it be because those specs aren't impressive?

In conclusion, these speakers aren't bad, but they aren't the world beaters that Bose marketing claims either. Yes, they are overpriced. There are other speakers in the $200 price range (or a little higher) that are far superior because they utilize tried-&-true, age-old, and proven designs, as opposed to over-hyped hype. Just keep in mind that everyone has to start somewhere. These speakers could be the place to start for most as they were for me. Listen carefully, and listen AT HOME before making a definitive decision to purchase ANY speakers.

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Celestion 15i, B&W DM302

sounds good in stereo

sound fair to bad in surround

I brought these speakers to use as my main since I live in a apartment. Listening to them with music I paid 300 years ago for some fisher speakers. I think they are good with music. The problem is when you look at movies with them. The left speaker tend to be very weak. The little fisher surround speaker can out perform them. I have a yamaha 490 and just recently bought a yamaha 596 and for music great. The problem also is they are at times too bright with surround movies and have a tency of not getting the effect right. I have monster cable on them and sometimes recieve the information too slow. I learn they are not for movies but still if I pay $200 for them and I get better service for a pair of use fisher for 50 dollars, they could do better

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fishers

Clear highs, strong mids, decent bass

see below

Why are so many of you trashing these speakers? Some of you talk like you are *true* audiophiles, but no true audiophile would purchase a pair of booksheld speakers like these in the first place (unless they were to be used for his/her's teenagers to have parties with when he/she left on vacation or something). I can't help but feel you are regurgitating terminology and opinions you have read, rather than actually listening.

Paper cones suck? Are you truly daft?

I am a musician and have recorded in some of the best studios around - not just in Toronto - but also in New York, Paris and London - including Abbey Road. Want to know something interesting? All of these studios use very expensive ($15,000-25,000+) monitor speakers for playback purposes when recording. ALL OF THESE SPEAKERS FEATURED PAPER CONES. Same goes for mastering facilities.

In an age when manufacturing synthetic materials to replace more conventional materials is becoming commonplace, there is a reason why manufacturers still use paper cones - they sound good.

So just what exactly do you expect for approx. $175 US? A perfectly balanced speaker with no flaws, capable of producing perfect responses at all frequencies? All in a 15" x 6" long box?

Better do some more reading then.

The rest of us will simply enjoy our perfectly capable Bose 201 speakers. If I feel the urge to experience audio perfection, I'll just bring my CDs to the studio when next I record there and enjoy their system. It only cost them about $225,000 to outfit their sound system. Maybe you should try reviewing that.

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Infinity, JBL, Polk

Strong Hypnotic Effects...not from the speakers, but from the Bose Marketing Dept.

Wish these Sounded good.........

I used to think these were good speakers, but I was obviously suckered into the Bose marketing trap. Now that I've listened to some real speakers, I realize what a huge waste of money these speakers were.

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Acoustic Energy, Mission, B&W

They, despite what certain "audiophiles" will tell you, sound good.

You only get what you pay for. Also, direct/reflective design limits flexibility of speaker placement.

I think that some people ruin their ears on ultra high quality gear and become unable to enjoy music on anything but the most expensive, accurate systems. The simple truth is that 90% of people could hook up a pair of 201's to their stereo and be happy. They may not have good extended range, but neither do the $150 recievers that most people will be hooking them up on. (What kind of idiot would buy a top notch amplifier and then spend a scant $200 on speakers?)

My 201's are positioned a foot away from the rear wall at ear level (sitting down), with the tweeters pointed IN and the woofer pointed out. (They sit on top of some large tower speakers that were home-made about 20 years ago.) Both sets of speakers are hooked up to the now discontinued Nakamichi AV-500 that I bought from Best Buy for $300. While this is no hi-fi rig, it sounds good. Good enough for anyone who doesn't want to burn $10,000 so that they can listen to a CD once a week.

You anti-Bose "audiophiles" should take your own advice and just listen with your ears--not your snooty, nitpicky, hi-fidelity egos.

By the way, for all you normal folks:

1.)Anyone who listens to stereo music with a sub-woofer does NOT have an educated ear.

2.)Anyone who listens to stereo music on a surround sound system is definately not, by any stretch of the imagination, an audiophile.

3.) I bet that half of the anti-Bose "audiophiles" have the bass and trebble settings turned most of the way up (as well as having the "loudness" turned on) on their recievers.
Their bass rumbles clearly down to 5 HZ; their trebble will shatter windows; but, they can't just sit down and listen to music. They have to listen to the texture of the sound. They are bothered that there is some mild attenuation of the signal at 8300 HZ. They are not happy people. Don't become one of them. Just buy a pair of 201's and listen to the MUSIC not the nitpicky details.

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Other cheap speakers.

I've had these speakers for a few years now. They are great! I don't know what other people are smoking when they say that Bose blows. I think they are excellent. I guess you have to understand, some people are poor, and they can't afford good speakers. So they feel that they have to make fun of good speakers. It's like if you drive a pinto, sure your going to make fun of a Lexus. "No Highs, and Lows, it must be Bose" they say. Well get some hearing aids. They sound great. I can shake my room. These speakers sound natural, crisp and clear. Check them out. You will really be amazed.

I have been using Bose 201 IV for about a year now. I have them hooked up to 40 watts and they sound excelent. The bass shakes my room walls and floor(10'x 8'room) and voices are clear. I have them set in my headboard which has two sections that the speakers fit into with 1" in the back and 2 1/2" of room left on the side.

Modest Price, Durablity, Wow factor

Low sensitivity, port noise, phanton sound stage

Ok guys, Most of you are just bitter because you bought into the Bose name just like I did. These are not terrible speakers and make a very decent second system....to which mine have now been relegated.
I bought these right out of high school and were my first "new" speaker purchase. For the price they compete well and most others in this price range won't impress the uninitiated (the wow factor, as in "Wow, you have a pair of Bose!")
When pushed to their physical limits the small port creates a LOT of air noise, but my pair has been pushed to their limit many times and still do not have any rattles or the like. While my budget has allowed me to move on to bigger and much better things. My dorm days with my Bose will always have a place in my heart.
I would say if you can pick up a pair of these used for your in coming freshman they will not be disappointed. They are more then loud enough to get them in trouble and they are practically bullet proof.
If you have a real job, save your money and don't fall for the marketing.

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old KLH model 8's