kenneth

Overall Rating
 3 of 5

Value Rating
 3 of 5

Used product for
More than 1 year

Visitors rate this review
4.00 of 5, 2.00 votes

Price Paid:  $170.00 from Bose outlet store

Summary:
I bought these speakers to use as surround speakers, but have resently been using them as mains in a 5.1 setup. Set up on decent stands and with a sub. crossing over at around 90hz,the sound is decent enough. Sound from both movies and music is nothing special though. A little shrill on top frequencies. I think they worked better as surrounds where there limited bass and highs are less noticable. But for the price a good surround speaker or a so so main speaker.

Strengths:
price. Good surround speakers

Weaknesses:
Lackluster sound, limited dynamic range

Similar Products Used:
other bose products, infinity, yamaha.

Price Paid:  $200.00 from MOORES

Summary:
My family and I are very pleased with the performance of the the Bose 201's and the Bose Corporation. We used the speakers as rears for our surround system, which consisted of an Onkyo 575x receiver, Bose 501 fronts, a Bose VCS-10 center channel and a JBL SUB 6. Whether listening to cds or 5.1 dvds, the 201's always fulfilled or exceeded our audio expectations. We have since upgraded our system (another review), which gave our 201's and the JBL SUB 6 a new home, with my son and his small venture d.j. service. His system also consists of a Yamaha RX-V495 Receiver, Realistic mixer and Denon c.d. players. The bottom line for us is that we purchased an extremely versatile speaker system. I would love these in a dorm, on stage or in any living room. A very good value at any price I have seen advertised.

Strengths:
These speakers provide enough rear channel to fill the entire back of the room with realistic effect instead of any "spot effect". With my son's d.j. service (mostly school dances), he has gotten only positive comments from the participants. The ultimate compliment to the system came during a sound check before a Christmas concert, when a teacher came into the gym looking for a "live" piano. It turned out only to be an excellent reproduction throuh his 201's. Enough said.

Weaknesses:
Bass could be a litle deeper (not much of a concern with the sub).

Similar Products Used:
Mirage MBS Bipolars as rears and sides. Bose 501's as rears and fronts.

Price Paid:  $225.00 from nex

Summary:
Well it has been four months since my last review. I bought the Bose 201 as a compliment to my 601, which are part of my home theatre, and I thought that they sounded good, but they are certainly not made to be alone, like a good pair of bookshelf speakers. I recently bought a pair of Axiom bookshelf for about fifty dollars more. Let me say this The 201’s don’t even come close to the build of the Axiom for the fifty-dollar difference, and I can understand why Bose chose not to have the grill made removable. So I do understand the negative comments, but as a home theatre system the 201 don’t have a critical role to play, they just provide the background. For this purpose alone I feel that I have paid too much. I have done a lot of research because I wanted to get my home theatre system right the first time, and now that I have had my system up and running for nearly four months I will say that it is not an easy task finding the right components to create the Ideal system. And I wasn’t aware of what I was missing until I bought the Axiom millenniums, which are highly, rated for their build and their fidelity. I will say this, “the 201’s cabinets are made of cheap plastic and the binding post are not of gold, they’ re okay sounding for rear speakers, but trust me they are not worth the money I paid. For fifty dollars more you can have Axioms 3ti, which have a substantially better build, offer three color choices, gold post, and a removal grill so you can see what it is that your paying for. No matter your choice you still need a power sub like my 10’’ Yamaha subwoofer (YAM-YSTSW320) to get your walls to rock like when I listening to Bach’s great organ pieces, and trust me nothing less than 10” of down firing power will due. My CD’s and DVD’s are played now a by dual scanning Sony CD player utilizing an optical cable that runs into my Denon 2803 receiver. This arrangement gives me the best of both worlds. I get true symphonic reproductions, and a top-notch home theatre system that rumbles my walls, and has me leaping for cover when explosions go off, Holy Moly!

Strengths:
The company's name

Weaknesses:
Not a real value for the cost.

Similar Products Used:
Axiom's 3ti

Price Paid:  $225.00 from nex

Summary:
Wow, I tell you these bose's sound fantastic. I don't know what some of the negative comments are about. I have donet allot of research because I wanted to get it right the first time. I'm stationed in Italy and have attended over 40 symphonies and as many opera’s. Believe me when I say that my house sounds like a concert hall. I can hear every single instrument as if they where playing in my home. I didn’t pay much more than 1500 dollars for my system, which consists of two Bose’s 601, Bose center channel, two Bose 201’s, for the rear surround, and a powered 10’ subwoofer by Yamaha. My cd’s are played on a Sony play station with an optical cable running into a $500 dollar Denon receiver. I tell you I have the best of both worlds. I get my symphonic reproductions, as well as top notch home theatre that rumbles my walls, leaps my out of my seat, and has me doggying bullets and laser blast, holy moly!

Strengths:
Crisp sounds all around me.

Weaknesses:
None yet!

Similar Products Used:
Infinity and Polk audio.

Price Paid:  $218.00 from Boscovs

Summary:
I don't know what a lot of people are complaining about these for. I think they sound great.. plenty of power for my small room and the vocals are clear. I listen to a lot of psychedelic music with weird noises and stuff andthese speakers bring them out great. great deal. highly recommended

Strengths:
good size for a bookshelf nice design clear, crisp sound great deal

Weaknesses:
none