mosfetaus

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
More than 1 year

Visitors rate this review
5.00 of 5, 1.00 votes

Price Paid:  $0.00

Summary:
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!!

lizardkitty

Overall Rating
 3 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
More than 1 year

Visitors rate this review
1.00 of 5, 1.00 votes

Price Paid:  $0.00

Summary:
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

Juz-10

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
3 Months to 1 year

Price Paid:  $0.00

Summary:
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

Price Paid:  $100.00 from 2007

Summary:
i got these off a mate cheap they are the black 401s not teak
i heard they were rare
i thought ill have em to sell on and make a bit of extra cash
but i had to try em out first
i have a marantz sr5200
and my good old paradigm monitor 7s still like new may i add lol
and a pardigm ps1000 sub

i was impressed by the bose 401s and the mid volume was crystal clear and picked up everything thrown at them
lower volumes were pretty good aswell
but when i turned them up to a quite high volume they had a fit they couldnt cope with the power comin at them and started to distort alot ( i was playing heavy metal though )
so switched to a dvd and they coped no problem at the volume you would normally watch any film i used the matrix as its a good film to use as a sound test
over all i rate them very good especially for the age of them

Strengths:
nice size speakers
sound is good and clear at normal volumes
and they look ok too

Weaknesses:
very expensive to repair if needed
cant cope to good at high volumes
look crap with the covers off

Similar Products Used:
none ive never had anything bose before
ill stick to paradigm

Price Paid:  $15.00 from garage sa;e

Summary:
Somebody said it right in an earlier review that these speakers are "schizophrenic". They are designed to sit in the corner of the room, but they don't seem to work in a way that maximizes the direction of the speakers.

They are defintely made for low level, middle of the road listening. They have pretty good mid range, pretty good high range, but little bass.

I plan to hook up a little sub-woofer (sony's) to get some bottom out of them.

If you take the time to position these speakers, their quality and all day listenablility will impress you over time.

Strengths:
Good mids and highs.

Good all day listenability.

I paid $15 for these at a yard sale, so I'd say they were a very, very good deal.

Weaknesses:
Not much bass.

Probably shouldn't drive these speakers too much.

Similar Products Used:
Klipsch's, my favorites.