Hi I'm a collector of a high-end speaker systems in my country and when I going to Hawaii to study a University I need a sound systems that can accompany me every night after that I decided to go to Bose store the company that produce a tiny speaker I like the simple speaker so easy to carry when I move to another apartment but after that I listen every speaker in there I find it the 701 speaker have the better sound than the other kind of speaker the sound is very clear is like a high-end speaker systems with a pure bass from the speaker it self is not like the another tiny speaker which their bass comes from a saperate sub-woofer I dont like it I prefer to Bose 701 is my chooise no speaker can beat this speaker in this price trust me I already listen a lot of kind of speaker from a low end until a high end speaker this is the best deal if you want to save your money because this speaker no need a expensive equipment try this you will never regret

Just thought you might want to hear from someone who has some "REAL" experience with BOSE speakers.
I personally have 2 sets of Bose 901's (a series 4 and 5) and a set of AM 5's.
I have an "old" friend who has 2 sets of Bose 601's (series 2 and 3).
I also have a "new" co-worker who has a set of Bose 701's.

Having said that, I have also read most of the reviews and would agree with alot of things that have been said by both the "Bose Bashers" and "Bose-defenders". Here are my 2 cents worth on Bose speakers....

1) Bose speakers rely on gimmicks. You cant deny that. The "x01" line rely on "direct/reflection"...the "x.2" relies on "stereo everywhere" (cross speaker cancellation) and the AM 5,10,etc...are basically a satellite/subwoofer combo.

2)The sound from a pair of Bose speakers is "different"...and thats what bothers alot of people. You have to be accustomed to the sound. I'm not saying that its necessarily good...just different. And because its different you will find people who don't like that kind of sound. I prefer the 901's spaciousness...my friend who owns 601's dislikes the 901 sound. I personnally dont like the .2 line. and so on...

3) Bose is OVERPRICED. nuff said. refer to 4) below. (Both pairs of my 901's were purchased for half price...nowhere near list/retail price)

4) Bose USED to be good. Back in the days of the "sub-astronmical $$$" audio days, Bose competed with component rack stereo packages (ie. pioneer,etc...) and no-name brands of speakers that were all basic "box" shaped. Bose had a reflecting design that broke away from that boxy shape and gave them a "unique" marketing angle. Then Bose introduced the AM5's and I had never seen as many "Satellite/Subwoofer" combos enter the market to copy them as back then (1986). As stated in comments before, then Bose just sat still and let the Marketing Hype "less for big $$$" take over...They realised that they could sell lots of AM-type speakers for big $$$ and make a Huge profit(I find their Lifestyle series a joke cause it costs big $$$ for a little teeny weeny system)...and their Bose wave radio was a total joke ("Wow this radio sounds almost as good as a $600 radio!....hey wait, it DOES cost $600 WTF?" Im talking Canadian $ after US conversion) Once on the Marketing hype, Bose build quality just went down the drain...I cannot even believe the difference in sound the new (cheap)AM5,10's etc...in comparison to the original AM5's (and my AM5's dont even compare to my 901's)

5) Bose dont really sound THAT bad. You almost NEVER hear a Bose speaker on GOOD Audiophile equipment. How many of you audiophile people go and audition Bose speakers on KRELL or Mark Levinson equipment? I'm in the process of upgrading my system after 15 years...I've just replaced my $800 amp/preamp combo with a $5000 combo...and wow BIG Difference!! My 901's sound great...and thats just one pair!! One set of 901's and the AM5's are justing sitting IDLE on the floor now. I've been auditioning for "Audiophile" speakers in the "3,000-12,000" range and each time i return home after auditioning new speakers I'm always surprised that my 901's still sound "respectable".

(I think I've settled on the new B&W Nautilus 802's ($$$!!) even tho BUZZ kindy tried to disuade me...thanks but no worries BUZZ...I NEVER pay list :) )

Okay Bose History lesson is over...now back to Your Original 701 question...

a) If you have the familiar 601's that i know...you have what I think is the BEST speaker Bose made. The 601's were not far off the "conventional" sound and they were nicely sized and were produced in the days of good Bose build quality.
b) Dont upgrade to the 901's. The 901's are EXTREMELY difficult to setup correctly...Ideally, you should suspend them from the ceiling in a room with lots of space, and a square/rectangular room shape is a MUST. The 901's also MUST use a special speaker Equalizer or they sound AWFUL. The 901 Eq boosts the low and high frequencies to balance the fact that 8 of the 9 drivers are facing the wall. The EQ colouration is VERY noticable on AUDIOPHILE quality equipment. This EQ also wreaks havoc on including the 901's in a home theater setup cause you must use the EQ on the 901's without affecting the rest of the surround channels. nuff said.
c) the present day 701's dont compare with your 601's and I think you'll be disappointed in them. The 701's are MUCH smaller than the 601's and dont come close. The woofer is enclosed in a chamber completely inside the box (much like a KEF reference series speaker).

So my recommendation is go find a pair of 601's on the used market...they are cheap...I saw a pair for $400 cdn. I could ask my friend if he wants to sell his 601's but i think you know the answer :) Good luck!!

Great

None

I agree with Jerry. People who write bad reviews here must have bought other speakers. In making these speakers look bad it makes them feel better about what they spent their money on. We are all sorry you didn't get a good speaker like the Bose 701 and we understand your need to make yourself feel better. I have been stuck with bad buys too in my life (and never admit it).

I went to my buddy's house over the weekend. He spent $5000.00 on his speakers. I told him they were so great, so really great. I was thinking, wow, my bose 701's sound this good, if not better. I went home and listened and they do.

Bottom line, if you own the speakers, review the speakers. And, the bottom line is these are great speakers.

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All of them

could serve as a good example what to avoid in sound reproduction

everything - bad construction quality, ugly and dirty bass and terrible midrange, especially on this price, disqualify this speaker from any further consideration of audio characteristics

I have heard and read a lot about Bose and I visited their web page where they talk about all their technologies etc. I rely admire Bose scientific approach, I truly respect all their investments in research and new technologies, but for God's sake, why in the world don't they just try and listen to some music?

Symply discusting. Absolute waste of money and time.

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KEF (who can actually be everyone's teacher), B&W, Tannoy, many others.

None whatsoever

EVERYTHING!!!

One phrase....."THEY SUCK~~~"
several reasons....
1) Over priced
2) Can't produce midrange
3) Cheap material
4) Over priced....(Did I mentioned it before?)

For those ppl who likes to pay for extra $$$ for THE RECYCLE PAPER....get bose
Else get a real speaker, such as JBL, or Polk....where your $$$ actually goes for the material they use.

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JBL

None what so ever

just read the reviews

My parents bought me these speakers. I really don't use them often and really wish they would have let me pick out a set of speakers. The bass is boomy, boomy like a wooden spoon on a metal bucket. The smeared midrange blends nicely with the very soft highs. I say soft because you can barely hear the high notes. I had to pretend that when I graduated that I was impressed that they bought me Bose speakers. Well needless to say they are not even hooked up. I keep telling my dad that my Phase tech's sound better and that is why my rear speakers are now in the front. Two thumbs down to Bose. They make lousy speakers.

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KLH's Polk's Cerwin vega, many other cheap speaker

Alternative technique, looks

Bassresponse on low level playback

I own these speakers for quite a long time now. I must say that they sound best when playback volume is high, bassresponse increases dramatically in that case. These speakers need power! I think they sound better than the 901's but, as with all speakers, it's a matter of taste. It's a decent speaker, but to my opinion a bit overpriced.

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Linear Phase, Bose AM 3-I and 5-II

good marketing

deceives non educated listener

I am a former Bose owner who was proven wrong. I was fooled into thinking that the 701's then the 901's were the greatest until I learned about sound. I will no longer defend Bose.
Those of you who defend Bose should consider this. Do you hear bass notes, or do you hear one general bass sound? Sure it vibrates, but so does a vibrator. The highs ,especially in the 901's and 701's sound over emphasized. Think of this...the 901's need an equalizer box. That right there should tell you something should'nt it? This shows a real weakness. Look at the woofers. There is glue running down and dried. How can that allow for proper vibration? Plus, most music is in the midrange and Bose mids sound terrible. Hear any other set of speakers at this comparable price and you will hear music and not some paper reconstruction and noise. I now own Mirage and the difference in sound is like night and day. I also now use Anthem amps which sweeten them nicely. Thank God i finally got educated. Oh and if you own a sony receiver and think you know what you are talking about...the rest of us skip your review because we know that you don't know what you are talking about!

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bose 901, mirage om-7( these rule)

sounds okay, nothing special

price, midrange

First I'll say that I am not a "Bose Basher" and given the popularity of Bose speakes I decided to do some serious review of these and other Bose products. I have basically reached the following opinions:

1. Bose speakers are not the best speakers out there. They are not even close to being the best. However, they are not the worst either--not even close in that category as well.

2. Bose speakers are incredibly overpriced for the sound quality that you get. And I mean incredibly overpriced. Any of the speaker brands listed above will get you much better value for the dollar. (I don't particularly care for Infinity speakers but compared to Bose, I'll take them hands down).

3. Bose (the company) has really done a fabulous job marketing its speakers and unfortunately has duped much of the public into thinking they have a stellar product. In reality, I would characterize their products as slightly lower than "middle of the road" and certainly a very bad value.

So, if you are in the market for some speakers, don't just go to Circuit City and listen to the high school kid selling stereos tell you about how wonderful and "top of the line" Bose speakers are. Do yourself a favor and go to other stores (in particular smaller specialty stereo shops) and listen to other speakers. I have a feeling that a lot of people who buy Bose speakers actually think there is something "cool" about telling and showing friends that they have "Bose" speakers. But, if that is what you think, you won't get anyone who owns quality speakers (ie. Vienna, Tannoy, Paradigm, B & W, Canton, PSB, etc.) excited when you parade them into you listening room. They will probably be polite and just say, "Those are nice. How much did you pay?" And then they will probably feel sorry for you because for what you spent, you could have gotten something of real quality rather than a so-so speaker.

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Tannoy, Vienna Acoustics, Paradigm, B & W, Infinity

Deep bass. Sparkling highs. "Live" sound.

Too dependent on placement.

These speakers are fantastic and a great value. Listening to "Live" recordings gives me the chills with the 701s. Classical as well as R&B and Jazz sound stunning. Don't miss this one. Bass response is unsurpassed in a speaker that costs under 1k for the pair. Just be sure you have the room to put these speakers in the proper place for maximum enjoyment (ask the sales person.)

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Infinity IL-50, JBL S412P, KEF Q55.2, Paradigm Monitor-9.