The 901's are the crappiest speakers I've ever heard. All you get is midrange, midrange, midrange. The bass, coming from a sub is boomy and uncontrolled (at least in the store where i listened to them). The hi's simply don't exist. If you want to buy a goob sounding speaker i'd look somewhere else if I where you.

First, I have to admit that I once owned 901 and never regret it since it was my first audio experience and it taught me so many things. High end audio is a matter of taste, I know that and, indeed, music reproduction has also been perceived in various ways depends on each distinctive individual likes to hear. Some may think the low-fi sound with huge vocal and boomy bass produced from speakers especially when they can play loud enough to drive normal listener goes nut is what define hi-fi or high fidelity, in case they don't know, performance.This is absolutely fine by me if they think this kinda music reproduction is the best of what they're looking for in musical enjoyment.I have nothing against that at all, O.K. this 901 is definitely a perfect match for them and I respect that. But if one day those of you get tired of this cosmetic sound from 901 and need something sonically honest with your ears, do yourselves a big favor with the same money you spent for your Bose, try listen to speakers like NHT 2.5i, B&W 604,Epos 14 or vandersteen 2ce, for instance,these speakers are priced in the same range as Bose some even cheaper. Then try to convince yourself what's that Bose has that can rival these speakers and what you have been listening to all these years, especially for 1,400 bucks. Is it time to redefine your hi-fi music reproduction?

Silky smooth sound quality. Deep distortion free bass output.

Require specific placement to realize full potential. Minimum 250 watt RMS amp (my observation).

Speakers are the one component that are PURELY subjective, and aside from power handling capabilities--specifications are largely meaningless. My point? Quit reading reviews and go LISTEN to a set. Thats what Bose is all about. Grab some of your favorite CD's, go to the showroom, sit down, get comfortable, and LISTEN. Thats it, close your eyes...sound good don't they. Forget the Hype, forget specs, forget the "I Love Bose" "I Hate Bose" crowd and go LISTEN. I've owned many "flagship" speakers, some I loved, some were just "OK", but I've owned my Bose 901's for 13yrs, and everytime I put on some music---its like the day I bought them...rich, smooth, airy, solid. GO LISTEN.

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AR, Infinity, Polk Audio, Paradigm

Very smooth sound across the spectrum. Distortion free, solid bass that's not over-emphasized.

Special placement required. Need alot of amplifier to truly appreciate.

I'm VERY confused regarding a number of reviewers complaining of "weak" bass output?? I've been an audiophile since the age of 13 (I'm 38 now) and have had some of the best equipment available, and nothing has approached the "listenability" (for lack of a better term) of my Bose 901 series VI. I was skeptical of earlier models (series IV) as they sounded really "nasal" to me, but when I auditioned the series VI...I was sold. I've had my set now since 1988 and trade them for anything, regardless of price.

If your looking for that "club" muddy/boomy bass, you need not apply here; these baby's are for the true audiophile who wants to hear the music as it sounded during recording. Smooth highs, dead-on mids, and deep, solid bass notes.

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AR9L, Infinity RS-3, Polk Audio

Sound OK loud.

Sound horrible at low to mid volume.

To be honest, I haven't listened to a set of 901's in years. As I remember though, they didn't sound quite as bad as everyone has said they do on this website. However, what I do remember is that most of the stuff I'm listening to now sounds much better. But I'm not writing this review to solely bash the Bose, it's more of a cautionary warning. As I remember, these speakers only approach decent sound when their cranked. Direct-reflecting is not a great design if you need to play the speaker at a low to average listening volume. If you live in an apartment, do not purchase this speaker under any circumstances! I had a friend with a pair who lived in an apartment and they always sounded like crap because he had to play them at low volume. When he turned up the volume so they would have some sonic respectability, he was in danger of being evicted. Mind you they have to be very loud to achieve that semblance of sonic respectability. If you want something that sounds awesome loud, but will also play music wonderfully at low volume for less than the cost of the Bose, try Klipsch or any other speaker with a high sensitivity rating.

Lastly, I remember a party that we threw outdoors with a DJ we hired. He had a pair of 901's. As he was setting up the speakers, I noticed he was positioning them just as if he was doing it in his home. I kindly reminded him that we were outdoors and that he might want to turn them backwards so we could hear the music. He laughed at me and then continued his setup. Needless to say he was swinging them around not long after he turned the tunes on.

Caveat emptor!

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I have listened to these speakers for quite sometime. My friend that I hang out with owns a pair and is quite content with them I might add. He is also a computer programmer and spends much of his time poised over his little keyboard listening to MP3s from his tiny computer speakers. This is how I have come to my theory of why he likes his Bose speakers so much. He enjoys the time he spends on his computer so much and the detailed sound that his tiny computer speakers put out that when he listens to his Bose home speakers, he is reminded of his tiny computer speakers and it makes him happy. That is my theory. Or perhaps he just has bad ears and can only detect vibrations, like an earthworm.

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stereo in hospital elevator

If you apply enough equalization to two tin cans on a string, you can claim a pretty good frequency response. The same is true of nine four inch drivers, each of which is reputed to have a wholesale replacement cost of about $4.00. In my humble opinion, the sound of the Bose 901 is not really BAD. It does lack high end definition, imaging is practically non-existant and it requires that you add an active component to your system, but the overall sound is "decent." The real problem with the 901 is similar to the problem with the Bose AM5--it costs too darn much for what you get. These days, if you go somewhere other than a Bose dealership, you can buy some pretty nice speakers for $1,400. The 901s just don't measure up for the price.

Great sound stage and depth. Sonic precision. Bass prowess. Unmatched vocals. Absolutely neutral. Boldness and control. Visceral mid-bass impact. Unlimited dynamics. It just flaunts speed and detail. Simply one of the best speakers in the world, past, present, and to come.

Those idiots below who are blind in the presence of greatness and give this speaker a low rating.

This speaker is, after all, a Bose. Music can only be this good when science serves art, when Bose serves music. Coupled with Optimus reference (100 watt amplifier and 5 disc tray CD changer) front end, this is as good as it gets. Five stars!

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Other best speakers on the planet.

I don't own a pair.

Someone, somewhere DOES.....and has a slice of swiss cheese on top, with the optional ceiling chains suspending them for maximum room coupling optimization....and they LOVE them, though they have never listened to another pair of speakers to hear what they are missing: THE TRUTH.

Well, ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, kids of all ages.....I swore I wouldn't intercede between the sworn enemies in this forum (mainly the Anti-Bose establishment and the Pro-Bose Party) but the simple fact is, the ingenue (people who come here seeking knowledge and direction) can only see incessant mud-slinging from both sides and reviews aimed directly towards the extreme (Bose haters and Bose lovers) when in fact the only people unsure which side is correct is the amatuer. I just want to set an example that can be learned from and hopefully followed as a template for future reviews cast on this wonderful site. I have listened to the Bose 901's only twice. I don't remember the first time because it was before I had developed the drive for audio that I have today.(I was eleven or so then, and I am now twenty-three) The second time I listened to them was during one of those much hyped Bose demo's that was in an Incredible Universe store many years ago and I paid more attention. I noticed that the 901's had decent one note bass to be a conglameration of 18 4-1/2" drivers. I describe it as "one note" bass because the 50-60hz gush seemed to be the only bass emminating from the enclosure. The music played in this highly controlled demo seemed to sound okay, considering it was lacking information from the upper octaves as well as the lower octaves. Midrange and mid-bass seemed to be this pony's only trick, and a very expensive trick I might add. At $1400 there are numerous speakers that can shimmer in the treble and extend deep into the sub-bass region and still leave change in your pocket for cables and interconnects, and a box of Kleenex for anyone that may have let their thirty day return policy expire on their recent Bose purchase. In closing, I urge you (the pespective buyer) to try out the market, and read all you can about new speakers and new technology. The more you know about audio, then the better you will be when it comes time to make that purchase. Sound&Vision is an understandable magazine that makes audio less guess work and more of an enjoyable experience. I have found it usefull for the last 13 years in helping me learn about audio and video and keeping me informed of new technologies. The best advice is to trust only your own ears. The speakers you buy will hopefully be with you for a while, so even if a reviewer says good/bad things about a specific product, if it interests you, GO LISTEN TO IT YOURSELF!!!!! Take two or three CD's of choice to the local dealer of that product and try it out yourself. Find a shop that will allow you to control the bass and treble controls to your liking and audition the CD's at a familiar listening level. Listen for things in the music you recognize and also for things you aren't used to hearing in the music. By doing this, you will have a better understanding of what different speakers sound like and then you can make an educated decision about buying Bose. Look at the build quality of the speaker as well as the materials used to make the actual drivers in the speaker. If the drivers are of different materials chosen for their effectiveness in reproducing different sound ranges (Titanium or aluminum or silk=treble, polypropelene or paper or aluminum= midrange, and polypropelene or paper or aluminum=bass) then the speaker my indeed perform better than the Bose (paper throughout). You have to listen to your ears, and in order to do that, you have to actually listen to other speakers in the same price range to be able to compare them properly. I personally think that there are innumerable other speakers that perform better than the Bose 901's under and at the price point which these "speakers" are sold.

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A cheese grater and my cat's belly...(do the math)

All of the above!!!
Newer speakers are NOW catching on to the 901's Engr.
Reflective type, Which creates that WARM beatiful sound.

Requires Proper speaker placement.
Not likly to see on both sides of your TV.
Very Impossing Speakers.

These Speakers have be the FRONT RUNNERs for years-
The Technology created in the late 70's
is showing up EVERYWHERE TODAY!!!!
Competitors use to preach SEPERATION Left, right or whatever have you. But just like TUBE amps These speakers will NEVER GO AWAY!!!!
If you want to BASH these Icon speaker then speak of their
70's profile. They are Butt ungly and the correct size room is needed. Or I should say " their not for small rooms
like you'll find in NEWER homes.
I have a 20x24 entertainment room and I'll NEVER consider
replacing them.
Hear them, and Hear them in the correct invironment.
Then and only then will you appreciate the clearity, tone,
and warmth of these Icon of a Speaker.
Due to my 53 inch TV I have TWO speaker system.
Guess which ones I had first. Let me Tell you...BOSE 901
I can sell them today for over $700.00. (show me another speaker that can do that)
But I won't sell my SOUL...

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Mirage OM-6, OM10, Energy's
Any High END System that copies REFLECTIVE IMAGING.