handsome looks; great on midrange sounds.

very poor sound stage; no base and weak highs

I tried these speakers for 20 days hooked up to HK seperates and overall was NOT impressed. The sound stage was too wide, the bass response was very weak and the highs were strained. But they sounded great when I ran a Jimmy Hendricks cd, and would not even get rattled at high levels.
This excellent result with Hendricks may be due to Hendricks using these speakers (older version) while recording some of his music, or so I was told. For other kind of music they were just so so. I spent hours moving and adjusting but could never get the 901's to sound good (yes, I tried reversing them). I ended up settling for JBL L-7's; what an amazing difference and been happy ever since. Don't waste your money on these, there are plenty of better sounding speakers for $1,200 or even less.

Similar Products Used:

Infinity; JBL L-7

They were free

Very heavy

I found these on the street in midtown Manhattan four weeks ago. Given that my wife would not let me buy a new system, I set out to refurbish these 901 series fours and hook them up to my Mac 1900 also picked up on the street. Having survived the refoaming process and the necessary rewiring due to the cheap internal wiring which broke as I attempted to unwrap each driver connection, I have been initially pleased with the overall performanc of these speakers. They do seem to lack something in the high end which I am compensating with a pair of low budget Aiwa bookshelf speakers. I am looking for meaningfull feed-back from objective readers who might offer suggestions as to how I can improve performance given the equipment I have or with a minimal investment. I am not currently using speaker stands but I am using a series 5 EQ. As a relative outsider to this kind of dialogue it is intriguing that there is such a polarized offering of oppinions. Reminds me of radical (left and right wing) politics.

Similar Products Used:

None

marketing. I bought into the hype and was dissappointed.

expensive, sound horrible. Went with Paradigm

After my wife and I decided to upgrade our rec room in the basement, we decided to go with Bose 901's. System is all Onkyo, with the main amp being an M-504. We listened for about a week and decided they were worse then the old Cerwin Vega's we had before. Returned the speakers and went to a small shop in the downtown area, and was shown a wide variety of excellent speakers. We are now happy with a set of Paradigms, and have had many comments from our friends who come over for social events such as parties, football, cookouts, etc.
I would not recommend these to anybody, especially for the price you pay. I paid about the same for the Paradigms and have a lot more quality to show for the money. Why would somebody pay even a few hundred for a speaker that virtually has no bass, and what little bass does come out is very distorted. Midrange is overpronounced and has no clarity, and highs are muted. Cymbals sound like they have towels on them. Yes, we set up the speakers per Bose official instructions, and even called the store for advice. Returned the stands and speakers after one week of unsatisfactory performance. Very overrated speaker, stay away. I am thankful for "The Higher Ground" Audio for helping us out and giving us a much better selection of quality speakers. Much accolades to Don !

Similar Products Used:

Cerwin Vega, JBL, Boston Acoustics, Paradigm, Polk

Big company

Poor quality, low value for money

Having sold Home and Car stereo for over a decade, I still laugh at the people who come in to our store and ask for Bose, even though they have never actually listened to them before. They don't even want to hear other speakers. When we ask them why, they just say "the ads say they are the best, and Paul Harvey says so too". Nobody who works in our store buys bose, as they are just horrible. We can get any speaker at cost, so price isn't an issue for us when we buy for ourselves. The only way we get Bose is when Bose gives us promotions to sell more product, and then we sell the free speakers to anybody who wants them. Luckily, the fanatical Bose followers eagerly buy our speakers at near retail ! So I guess from that standpoint, I can't complain.

I own NHT myself. The Bose speakers that are out now are the same design as the early 80's (301, 901) just made with cheaper components and cheaper material. Better sound through research? Better than what?? boombox? barely. Research? what research? same speaker for over 20 years!

I guess just don't fall into the propaganda advertising trap that is the Bose machine !

Similar Products Used:

Mission, BIC, Polk, American Acoustics, Boston Acoustics, KEF, Energy, et. al.

NONE

No Bass,No highs, No Anything!

Now that i sold my 901's a month ago on ebay i can leave a true review. These speakers are $1100.00 over priced.When i first hooked the 901's up to my system i thought i was doing something wrong. They sounded like 9 coffee cans. The equalizer helped a little bit but it still sounded like 9 coffee cans and cheap coffee at that. I don't want to bash Bose but really these speakers SUCK! Muddled sound with no midrange and highs that were absent no matter what kind of music i played thru them. If you arethinking of buying a pair go and get them but do yourself a favor and listen to other speakers in the price range of the 901's if you do you will not be leaving the store with the 901's.

Similar Products Used:

Radio Shack

good when played loud

lack of definition.
hard to place.

Nice sound when pushed almost to it's limits.
Speaking about limits, I fried two drivers in each cabinet with my Phase Linear 400 amp. Just can't take the power for
a long period of time.
At low volume, there isn't much in the world of good listening.
I recently bought a pair of KEF reference threes. What a difference. Takes all the power that I can give them, with much more detailed sound.
I think that the 901's are better for outdoor use.
These speakers are way over priced.

Similar Products Used:

none

Highs and mid frequencies. they wont take all the space in your living room like those others speakers .

Need Heavy amplification, careful instalacion.

I have been using this speakers since 1993, and i love them. i do not think there is any other speakers like then in the world.
It is disturbing to read some of this reviews posted here by peoples who by their own admitions have never owned a pair of 901's.
Let me beging by telling you that this speaker is not for everybody.
if you listen to rock, dance music or any other type of music that contains a lot of bass,you migt want to get another type of speakers like the PB's.
If you are doing the installacion by your self,make sure you know a lot about acoustic placement,and the construction of your room.
this speakers works excellent when hanged from the ceiling and are placed using the exact measurements sugested by the manufacturer.
Make sure you use good speakers cables, like audioquest or kimber 8TC's.
I been using this speakers with the following equipments.
2- Mcintosh MC2205 USED AS MONO AMPLIFIERS. I get 500 watts from each MAC.
Kimber PBJ interconnect cables
Kimber 8TC speaker cables
TICE solo line conditioner and for the digital I am using a KRELL MD-10 Transport and Krell 64X DAC.
For 8 years my friends have come to my house saturday after saturdays and they allways have suggested that i should get speaker like the ones they have(B&W 801's),but I ask my self Why the allways keep coming back to my house to listen to great music?
If you are planning to purchase one of this speakers be prepare to spend a lot of money in amplification and if you like heavy bass please get a subwoofer. I recommend the any REL subwoofer they are excellent.
Ps. please forgive me for any misspelled words but i am at work and i have to do this realy fast.
thank you.
Ps. For all of you from hispanic heritage please try the new album by RAY Buena Vista Social Club Presents OMARA PORTUONDO it is great and the music is fab. great CD.

Similar Products Used:

b&w 601 series, NHT, PB's,

I picked this review because the other one is filled up. I would have to agree with the majority of the people. I am and 18 years old, and I love MUSIC. I've heard every model of Bose ever made; in houses and stores. I have to say for being top of the line the 901's lack as does the name BOSE. I have been a proud member of JBL products for years as my father also has. I think anyone considering Bose products (if under the age of 40) should stop considering and look for the patened west coast sound, in such speakers as CV, JBL, Infinity, B&W, MTX, Definitive, or I've even heard Pioneer speakers which sound better. The list goes as the price keeps dropping.

Seems to bring out emotions in people, both good and bad

don't know

I'm thinking about getting a pair of 901's so I thought I'd take a look at what others have to say. It's kind of funny reading the reviews. Lovers and haters. Very few in-between.

I used to own a pair of the 301's and 601's way back when. I remember them sounding pretty good. I don't think the soundstage was quite as precise and well defined as some other speakers but the sound was nice nonetheless. The build quality was tremendous.

I agree with what others have said in that these speakers aren't the best for all types of music. But then name me one in its price range that is.

I think that the Bose speaker isn't really made for critial listening. They're made for music lovers who have music on most of the time while working on a computer or cleaning the house or reading a book. In other words, they compliment your life. And for that they work great (from what I remember). They fill the room with sound.

As for comparing the speakers to a live musical event such as concerts and clubs and whatnot I'll take the speakers any day. Most live events I've been to the sound quality pretty much sucked. Loud drums, screeching guitars, bad seats at the symphony, etc. Don't get me wrong, I think live music is fantastic but the sound quality isn't the reason I go to a live event.

Currently the speakers of choice for me are Spica TC-60's. They sound pretty good thru the Creek integrated with Nordost speaker wires, Marantz CD player, and a Linn Axis with the Benz Micro Glider. A warm relaxing sound. I just recently changed speakers from the B&W Nautilus 805's to the Spicas because thru the N805's I couldn't just relax and listen to the music. Everything was critical listening. Every song I'd get up and adjust the speakers a half inch this way, 1/4 inch that way, and on and on. Don't get me wrong, the N805's are fabulous speakers and I'll never part with them (just swap them out once in a while).

I long for the days when I was a kid and just listened to the music and enjoyed passionately, just the music. As long as the music was good who cared about the stereo. I think I'll get the 901's for when I want to just relax and enjoy the music without all the audiophile b.s.

As for all of you out there who bought the Bose speakers and hate them I gotta ask: Why on earth did you buy the speakers? They must have sounded good somewhere before you forked out over a grand, right? Remember, guys, when you start ranting about how the 901's are the worst speakers you ever owned you make yourselves sound awfully stupid for buying them if you hate them so much. If they were a gift or you bought them at a yard sale for cheap make sure you tell the rest of us that or you make yourselves look and sound like a moron.

Similar Products Used:

301's

I find some of the comments on this review page somewhat remarkable. To the point that I wonder if we are infact talking of the same product. I intially was not drawn to audiophile products at all, but instead was a musician. Now I have moved on somewhat in my musical career, and have invested in some high quality audio equipment. One of my aquisitions has been a pair of Bose901's. They are 14years old. I paid $800 to have the drivers replaced, terminals replaced, and tested. I use these as my main speakers, with a WD Titan center and custom made rears using AR drivers. I listen to everything from jazz to classical to hardass guitar. To say that these speakers do not have unbelievable response and reproduction is ludicrous. For anyone involved in music, these are brilliatn speakers. For anyone with no idea regarding music, I find it hard for them to claim that to appreciate these speakers one must be tone deaf. unbelievable.