unique design ,play very loud , ok bass and they sound very good with right setup and do not use them in small rooms !

equaliser because you have to by an amp with many tape possibilities

I see that there are a lot of people who subit revews here that probebly hasen't got the set up right here, whitout proper set up the 901's aren't to god .But if you want a speaker witch hadels any kind of music and plays at the loudest and is small they are just the speaker for you .
they may not be the best in the world but for this price you don't get any better speakers . and the people who complains about the design of the 901's , I can understand It but when you by sutch a special speaker ,you either love or hate it .

Similar Products Used:

there are no similar products like the 901 only the other direct reflecting speakers from Bose

hit hard. flat frequency reponse.

they aren't perfect, but they're as good as anything else in the 1000 to 2000 dollar price range

ok mr. humes. I came to this sight to see reviews of various audio equipment. happened upon the bose page because i own a pair. What a shock!

1. ive seen the exact same post, word for word, as mr. humes. under 12 or so different names in 5 different review sections. get a life.

2. let me just correct some misconceptions. flat frequency response is unheard of in the speaker industry. And don't give me any crap about paradigms, because you've got to pay over 3 grand to get the particular pair of those with "near" flat frequency response. We're talking about sub 1500 dollar speakers.

3. i don't have a fav. speaker. If I want to hear a flat frequency response, ill listen to my 901s. If i want to hear an impressive soundstage i'll listen to the paradigm reference studio 40s or 60s. but neither speaker is even close to perfect. they each do a couple things really great and everything else average.

I only hope that the other review boards on this site are not plagued with the same borderline retards as this one.

Similar Products Used:

none

Space-agey looks.Although the sound lacks personality,most people who want this speaker also lack some aspects of personality."Background" music that floats around the room while the housechores get done is very important,so why knock the 901? Art is for every man at his own level - It's the imagination that counts!

Would have been OK twenty years ago..?

I really wailed into Bose 901 (when I mistakenly put a review of this little marvel of technology into the "901 series 7" category),and now I feel the pangs of conscience for the ruthlessness with which I attacked the little candy-colored clown called Bozo! Gosh,I can't help feeling like that kid on my block who used to stick a firecracker in a frog's butt,and then would light the fuse,or would pour salt on snails and watch them foam away. So,let's put things in perspective here:The 901 is no longer the sort-of good value it might have once been,but it is not a horrid-sounding speaker if you would stop being lazy,utilize the given shape of the speaker,and stick it up in the ceiling-corner pointing down at you from above...now,that's not tooooo much trouble to go to in order to get good sound from a speaker,is it? This design deserves more than one star for each category,that's for sure! There,now I feel better.

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B+W,others.

Smooth sound,Great looks,Very good price!

Time to place speakers in just the right spot.
Need to take the time to find the proper placement for the speakers (sweet spot)

Once i found the sweet spot for the speakers the sound has been unreal. They rock and sound second to none. The price of these speakers makes this a true buy. Would recommend to anyone who is looking for a high end speaker at a middle of the road price.

Similar Products Used:

Paradigm. Ohm. Klipsch

Sound fairly decent

overpriced

The first time I saw a Bose 901 I was impressed. The first time I heard a bose 901, I was impressed. The first time I had to repair a 901, I was utter blown away. If you could ever get the chance to open a 901 up and replace a speaker, you would not believe the components inside. The cheapest, flimisest cone speaker I have ever seen. I mean these speakers give old radio shack transistor radio speakers a run for thier money. Maybe $4-6 per speaker? Times 9 equals 30-50 bucks? And how much are these? And money is where I'm bugged. You would think for the price you pay, Bose would fill the box with quality materials. Instead they know they sound good, and instead fill them with market hype and a HUGE mark up. Thievery. Would you feel ripped off if you paid $45,000 for a new car and discovered that the manufactor only spent $8,000 to produce it? Save your coin, donate your bozes to your kid brother, go to the magnepan site and drop $500 there. enjoy your mercedes for the price you paid.

Similar Products Used:

advent, magnepan

While I will agree that their sound is not for everyone, it certainly isn't trash. Every time I've heard a set of Bose, whether it was in a store demo, home, or an auditorium, I have always come away impressed with how they made the music come alive. From the AM5 to the 901's, they are all impressive. They do have their weakness, but for the person who just wants to enjoy music without critiqing it, they are great. One guy mentioned the 901's had 8 drivers in front and one in the back. Geez, no wonder they sounded bad. Turn the damn thing around. Anyway, to equal out the ratings from all of the anal retentives, I will give these 5 stars. I know there are other speakers out there that are better, but there are also many more that can't compare.

Spacious spread-clean in mid range

Weak in dynamic range, efficiency, bass

On first hearing them, they were placed on top of two other speakers: Bozak concert grands, and Altec Voice of the theatre. Since I was relatively naive then, in 1969, I didn,t realize that the sound was actually coming from the Bozaks. The salesman knew I couldn,t afford them so he sold me the 901's. Of course when I got them home they didn't sound anything like the ones I heard in the salon. I powered them with 60 watts rms per channel, so it wasn't the power deficiency. Get it. These speakers could be built BETTER by anyone with a minimum of woodworking skill, for one fifth the price, and they would probably sound better.

Similar Products Used:

Bose 501

Sound: no distortion, these sound like the actual instruments. Also, great midrange and no false bass. Real bass.

Loads of people who do NOT own them posting fasle reports.

When I upgraded from Bose 301s to 901s, I was shocked at how "cold" the music sounded at first. The 301s added spice to the music. Once I got used to the 901s, I realized that only the old Double Advents sounded remotely as good. The best midrange I have ever heard, and the bass is there only when it is in the music. It shakes the floor when it is in the music. Kind of freaky: no bass and then all of a sudden, wow! These speakers add absolutely no coloring to your music. You hear it the way you would hear live music.

If you love bass modules, with their greatly distorted sound, avoid the 901s. If you love the sound of real violins and piano, then you will love the 901.

I have no idea why people hate these so, but none of them, you will notice, actually own them. I think they listen at showrooms where the seller determines volume, and other characteristics. I dunno.

I listen to: classical, rock, folk, Brasilian (all kinds), and loads of solo piano. These actually sound like there's a Steinway Model A in the next room!

Similar Products Used:

Advent, Double Advent, Bose 301

Potential....

Finnicky

I've owned my 901s for over 10 years. Always wanted a pair and when I finally could afford them, I bought them. I had them in a reasonably small room, carpeted, low ceilings and few windows, on pedestal stands on either side of the TV with 201s as rears. They sounded GREAT. All my friends raved about them. At parties, I'd play them loud and people would lay around until 2-3AM just to listen to them. Home theater was even good, though dialogue was muddled. But, I'll never forget that arrow in Robin Hood whizzing by my ear...

I simply loved these speakers

Then I moved and it all went downhill from there. Set them up in a larger carpeted room with a cathedral ceiling and I noticed considerable degradation of sound. I tried multiple locations but I could do nothing to get that sweet sound back. Sound was acceptable but I longed for what I had previously. I have since moved into an even larger house and have them in an even larger open area with carpet, hardwood, 20 ft. ceiling and a wall of glass. They sound even worse. Though I run the TV through them, I rarely use them at anything but low volume.

Now, I simply hate these speakers. Quite frankly, I have no interest in seriously listening to music through them except as background music. I recently ordered a pair of NHT Super Ones to use with my computer in my 10 X 10 office, primarily with mp.3 music and will probably try them in place of the 901s in the main living area just for kicks. I hope they rekindle my interest...

I am not an audiophile. I'm not sure why things are as they are and I am considering hiring an audio consultant to assist me. I may try the 901s in my bedroom which is smaller, has a lower ceiling and less glass. I long for the olds days when the music was sweet..

In summary, I know these speakers are capable of producing boht great sound and poor sound. That is the explanation for the inconsistent reviews you are reading on this site. If you are considering buying these speakers, audition them in your home first. I loved them, and now I hate them. I hope I can love them again, but if not, there are plenty of other fish in the sea....

pleasant background

inaccurate, lack of detail, no real bass, poor stereo image

20 years ago a friend lent me a pair of these while he went away for a summer. Was impressed at first. Seemed full and room filling. Symphonic. But then I noticed that everything sounded too similar and that the stereo imaging was quite weak.

An audiophile friend took me to hear the early Dahlquists, Vandersteens, and GNP speakers. I suddenly learned everything I was missing. I actually found the Bose 301s to be a better value. Small speakers that didn't hurt my ears.

Since then it has become clear to me that the 901s are driven both by marketing and their success with the vast majority of people who simply like background music. It takes some effort to arrange and carefully listen to good equipment. Most people don't have the patience and like listening to music while exercising or cooking. For this, it works fine, although Bose still seems a bit pricey. You'd be better off with Cambridge Soundworks at a lower price. Heard the latest incarnation of the 901s a few months ago and had my views confirmed.

If you want real stereo, and want to hear a reasonable facsimile of the original recording, go to a high end store and listen. If you haven't done so before and the store is good, you will hear real stereo and subtle, natural sounding detail along with real bass. However if you think Cerwin Vegas are the best, then maybe the Bose 901s are a step up.

Even if you like the Bose effect, I recommend you listen to speakers from Ohm and Shahinian. Both are omni designs (like the 901s), but both are infinitely better than the Bose while giving you some of the bounce-off-the-wall sound that Bose lovers like. They will be reasonably accurate, have good stereo imaging, a fair frequency balance, while working well even as background.

Especially for those who think they like the Bose, take my advice seriously and listen to speakers which do the Bose effect the right way.

Similar Products Used:

Ohm Walsh 5 and Shahinian Obelisks, also, Thiels, MLs, Dahlquist, etc.