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

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

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

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.

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

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.

Customer Service

Not yet needed. But I did have a question and it was answered in less then 24 hours. Not bad.

Similar Products Used:

I've previously used Bose 601, 301, 201

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.

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.

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.

Customer Service

Excellent Bose customer service and advice on the phone. They even answer their email queries.

Similar Products Used:

Jantzen Electrostatic speakers.

Compact
Well defined bass and treble
Very natural
Small but dragon in sound
Good looking

Heavy

Hi there,
Got my Bose 901 nearly 1999 and paired it with Onkyo Grand Integra and tell you it is really fantastic. First I just put it on top of my bed and test it. At weak sound input I can hear clear sound and was impressed this I usuall do when testing speakers. Then I give I a boast enough that my room mates went out to hear the sound and tell you all wondered how it sound and all of them give a very satisfying comment that would I think fit with how much it cost. But one thing they and even me hae not known that it would sound so good even at a very power. You won't plug your hear even at high sound level because of the smoothness of sound. Very well defined bass and treble really. The more wonder I heard when I installed it properly. Guys listen before you believe me.

If you are critic on audio then I recommend Bose 901.

Thanks.

Similar Products Used:

Speakers used:
Yamaha
Canton
Akai
Phillips
Peavey

Tested speakers:
Klips
Montarbo

Base
clarity
natural sound
dispersion
power
everything

none just need to be placed right

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

Customer Service

first class

Similar Products Used:

bose 301 and acoustic wave speakers/system

I think somebody else described their sound as "natural" - Maybe not from a critical aspect, but I would agree with the overall effect/sound as being very natural and "spacious".
Impressive volume and power-handling capabilities, if that's your bag in this price range.

Forget about Home Theatre
Needs very specific placement/setup
Linear response? Hah - LInear, shminear...

Purchased Series III in 1977 and was happy with them until surrounds disintegrated in 1999 - Bose swapped them for a Series VI. At that time I spent a year listening to other speakers and components and finally settled on some PMC FB1s (which have since been upgraded with the 1+ tweeter and accompanying crossovers and insulation). I gave the VIs to my sister and helped her set them up in her family room.

I love my FB1s but I did love the old 901s, too. Completely different sound, of course, but completely different philosophy and target market, too. I'm now hooked on the sound of the monitor-base FB1s, which I've integrated into a nice little PMC/Arcam home theatre setup. I do still enjoy listening to the VIs when I'm visiting my sister but only after checking any hi-fi snobbery at the door.

I would actually recommend the speakers for the "listening experience" (stress "when properly placed/set up"). Yeah, maybe they don't compare well to a pair of Revels or Wilsons or Thiels or PMCs from a critical aspect, but my PMC FB1s may not compare well to a lot of competitors, either. If I get too hung up on comparisons it won't be possible to enjoy anything because there's always going to be something bigger, something "better" ("better" in quotes because so much of listening is subjective).

The question you need to answer is, "Do you enjoy listening to them?" Listen and make your own decision. Ignore what so-called audiophiles tell you. "Beauty is in the ear of the beholder(?)"

There is no product hype associated with this product. In fact, there's a huge negative hype perpetuated by hi-fi snob wannabes. With all that bad press, there's a reason these are still big sellers, despite almost total lack of product advertising - People enjoy listening to them.

I love a good red wine but that doesn't mean I can't like beer as well. I love my current wife even though she isn't the best cook, doesn't have the biggest breasts, and isn't in line for a big inheritance.

Similar Products Used:

JBL L100, EPI 200, PSB Stratus Gold, Paradigm Reference Studio 100, Allison 10, Klipschorns (friends' systems)
PMC FB1+

Fantastic, sound .Can play very loud.Only live sounds better!

Easy to drive,need high power,high curent amplifier.Anything else is compromise.

These speakers are exellent if they are properly placed and amplified.Room acoustic is also very inported.In first time i use integrated amplifier with 2x100w rms and i was unsatisfy with sound at higher volume levels.After that I by old Rotel RB-5000 power amplifier with 2x500w rms and the sound was fantastic! I want to recomande these speakers to everybody, in first place people in USA becouse these speakers cost in Europe more than 3000 $!!!

Customer Service

Excellent

Similar Products Used:

None

Can play very loud and clear.Quality drivers,can take lots of power.

Placement is critical in some rooms.Equlizer bas bosting need high power amplifier with lots of curent.

These speakers are dificult to drive with low powered amplifier. They need amplifier with minimum 250-300w rms to give full potentional.In first time i drive him with Sony receiver str-da 1000 es with 2 x 100w and i was ansutisfy, expesaculy at higher volume levels.After that i by old Rotel rb-5000 power amplifier with 2 x 500w and result was fantastic!

Good bass, Good look, well made

lack of Trebble and Bass. However, If crank up the Volume - Then these will not become a weakness

I did have a pair of DALI-IV and the foams were damaged. So I was looking for a pair of speakers and come across the BOSE 901(IV). I got to say I was first attracted to it because of the unique design. As I do more researchs and reading regarding to the design - It sounded good - So I bought an old pair from the trading post. They were in an original conditions - They were because I could not open the cover to inpect the speakers at the time of buying - I bought them anyway - and soon after that I discovered the covers were rivetted to the wooden frames.

It took me a great deal of time and care to remove the covers - to discover that all the speaker foams were gone. It cost me an extra $100 (Aus) to replace all the foams (3 days). I use the Harmon Kadon P640/ Pioneer CD player with the Bose 901 speakers and I think they sound fantastic. However, I need to crank up the Volume a bit to drive the speakers and to get some decent bas out of them.
Since then, I got myself another pair of speakers - Dali Blue Serioes - 6006 - made in Denmark. I run them side by side with the Bose 901 and compare. I fingd that the Dali sound clearer - The Bose sound much warmer (and great for Jazz).

Personally, I like the Bose. Then I came a cross another pair of Bose 901 series VI and Luxman pre-amp/amp C-M383. + Bose eq (for A$2500) - and I got to say - they are the best - I paid myself a visit to my friend who is a sound engineer who owns Klissch (wrong spelling ?) speakers (almost $10,000 worth) and listen to them - They sound great - but I think the Bose 901 still sound much better somehow - I am now so glad that I own 2 pair of Bose 901

Very open and in many ways "natural" sounding. Look very cool.

Power hungry. Unrealistic soundstange and imaging..., colored or distorted at frequency extreems. Difficult to place in the room.

These are not audiophile grade speakers. What they have is a super- midrange that reflects everywhere- not good for imaging or soundstage. Perhaps they are good for home theater, where sound effects are more important than two channel realism. Don't get me wrong- I loved these speakers for many years. As my hearing became more experienced and my equipment of a better quality I moved on to budget audiophile: Vandersteen (good choice to retain the "openness" of 901's while still getting a good soundstage & image) and ACI Saphire speakers (more neutral and excellent imaging- nice soundstage but very directional - tiny sweet spot) for the same money.
I believe you should get what sounds good to you. -It's just not a good idea to try to impress peers that you are knowledgable by argueing for bose 901's making the audiophile grade for sound transmission! But if thats the sound you like- do it!

Similar Products Used:

Vandersteen, ACI, B&W, Snell, KEF