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Submitted by
Brian Chew
a Casual Listener
from Date Reviewed: March 28, 2011
Bottom Line: I just scored a pair of these speakers today at a thrift store for only $27.99+tax!! The grills were completely intact without any wear, rips, or holes. None of the speaker domes were "pushed in". The speaker cabinets have just a few tiny, tiny scuffs. (Nothing a black sharpie pen can't fix/hide.) When I walked by these speakers the first time, I noticed a man was already "clearly interested in them". He had removed a few of the foam grills to look at the speakers. That's when out of the corner of my eye, I noticed the BOSE logo. I thought to myself... "Aw crap!! I got here minutes too late!!". I went around the corner and down the aisle that was parallel to where the speakers were on the floor and the man was gone! So I made my way back to the speakers and looked at them myself. They were not priced but one of the speakers had "X2 AS IS". I located the manager and asked her how much the speakers were. She told me that they worked and they were $39.99 with 30% off. SCORE!! I'll take 'em!! Brought them home and connected them to a little "bookshelf" stereo system (just to see if they worked) and they sound great!! Awesome pickup!!
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Submitted by
lzufelt
a Audio Enthusiast
from Date Reviewed: August 16, 2010
Bottom Line: I worked as a Bose sells rep in West Germany (5 stores) and I can tell you that the Bose 401 speakers were some of the best sperakers that I have ever listened to and that says alot due to the amount of speakers that I worked with over the years. I had an DBX mk 400 amp with 400 watts and I hould turn up the volume to as high as I could and leave the room for about 40 min or untill someone came into the store and after 2 years they were sold for about $25 less than retail market price. The 301 and 201 I did the same thing and they rocked. I would put on Deep Purple Led Zep, The Who they never sounded better at such a high volume. Kick up the jams. I put the 901's with the 401 in a home theater and when laser disk first came out with Star Wars OMG what a sound. If and when my basement gets fixed up next year I will try to fine a pair of 401's as part of my theater.
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Submitted by
mosfetaus
a Audio Enthusiast
from Date Reviewed: October 27, 2009
Bottom Line: Bose 401 was part of my first real hifi system when I bought them wayyyy back in 1992. I always loved them and was never unhappy with their sound. First I drove them with a NAD 25W Power Envelope amp and they really rocked. After a couple years I got a somewhat more serious amp, a Technics suvx920. That mother pumped out nearly 200 watts of REAL music power into 4 ohms which is what the 401's are. I ran them with that amp for the next 4 years and they soaked up everything the Technics could through at them and spat it all back out with aplomb (without making my ears bleed). One night I had them cranking at a party and had the police knocking on the door telling me my neighbours had complained - my nearest neighbour was about 20 metres away!!!!!!!! SADLY I sold those speakers and have since moved onto many others, trying out everything I can. My memories were so fond of the old 401's that I recently started searching ebay for another pair and guess what - I got myself a pair once again about 4 months ago, they're circa 1994 models in still brilliant condition. My anticipation of what I would hear when I first fired them up was huge, hoping I would still be impressed after all these years and different systems I have gone through. Well let me just say this - I'm still massively impressed, they sing better than I ever remembered!! I've got a pair of 301's at the momennt as well and the 401's destroy them in every way. The 401 was truly one of Bose's greatest creations and I obviously recommend anyone to give them a go if you ever get to score a pair. Please don't take any notice of the Bose bashers. After owning 2 pairs of 401's over a period of 17 years and countless other speakers, I know what I'm talking about!!
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Submitted by
lizardkitty
a Audio Enthusiast
from Date Reviewed: July 24, 2009
Bottom Line: I bought my 401's at a thrift store for 40 dollars WOO HOO ! I used them as my main speakers in a 5.1 set up and was very happy with them. They really didn't deliver vey loud sound that would blow you away but certainly sounded clear and deep. They don't compare to a large set of mains with 15" inch woofers in them, they just can't match the volume. Lady Luck shined on me again and I got a pair of Infinity SM 155's with 15 inch woofers, I compared them to the 401's and they lost ,no contest.. I upgraded to a Pioneer Elite reciever and a KEF 300 wat sub ' earthshakingly awsome' and a pair of 301's for my rear channels. MY 401's now are my middle channel in a 7.1 suround set up and work extremely well their. They definetly add to the suround effect when placed properly. This I know wasn't in mind when they made them but, as middle channel speakers in 7.1 may be there best place. These are very good speakers for a small room or as I use them now but if you want to rock a larger room 20 feet square or bigger these are not it. Well worth 200 if you can find them but I would'nt pay more than that. Truly a very versitile speaker that sounds a little above mid grade in quality. Let me talk a little more on them as middle channel speakers. I think you would have to spend a considerable amount of money to match these. The reflecting characteristics for suround fill every space in the middle of my room. These have created a sweet spot almost everywhere especially with the 301's in the rear. Bose makes excellent sounding speakers. I think those that like to bash Bose have no clue whatsoever on setting equalization as is needed for any setup. No two rooms are alike. PEACE
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Submitted by
Juz-10
a Audio Enthusiast
from Date Reviewed: April 12, 2009
Bottom Line: Price Paid $9.99 from Goodwill
I have had these speakers for almost a year..I was shocked to see them at the goodwill in perfect like brand new condition, for so little money..at first I was not very impressed with them..not much sound out of them took alot of power to get them to sound good...they are 4 ohm speakers, and i had been running them with a set of Bose 22s i had...the first set up I ran them with was my Sony STR-DE425 as the front speakers...they sound terrible and flat no definition at all...then I ran them on an older SCOTT 510A (early 90's)..and they sounded much better they had great mid-bass and pretty good mid-highs...no highs, no lows though..even the 22s that they were hooked up with had better definition and clarity...the 401s seem to re-direct the sound so you hear things (especially in the mid bass) they may or may not be there..I also tried them as the fronts (w/out my 22s)..on my phillips all in one home theater(which can run straight 4ohm speakers ) and they sounded aweful....I have tried other speakers on the same set ups, as the Bose 401s and they all sounded better...Until..I got a new (old) receiver...an Allied 435 from the late 60's ( built by Pioneer)..and it can run straight 4 ohm speakers..so after trying out all my older speakers (nothing fancy..) i decided to give these Bose 401s a listen to...and they blew my mind...So much clear bass..so much definition..such clarity in the highs..no distortion even at moderate volume playing .....And Justice for All..they fill the room ...about 400sqft...with beautiful full sound...The Allied really woke the Bose up..and now they are my Favorite speakers...they handle Bass almost as well as my 15 inch Fishers...and are much much clearer...
maybe I got lucky , maybe the receiver is that much better (it only has about 15 watts RMS )..or maybe they are just great speakers...i don't know..but I am very happy with my cheap Bose speakers
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