The 901s always get a bad review from people who consider themselves "audiophiles". When I place these speakers next to others and do a side-by-side comparison, people who usually bash the 901s are totally surprised and grudgingly admit that the Bose speakers "sound a lot better than they expected". The ones with a fair mind and smaller ego investment actually admit that they enjoy the sound. This includes comparisons with Polks, JBL, Dahlquist, KLH, Advents, and Klipsch. Sorry, folks. I've owned a lot of speaker systems, and I like the Bose 901s. Don't just go by heresay; go by your ears and a neutral critical attitude. They do, however, cost too much at retail, but nobody pays retail.

Too many people pay retail for Bose. $1,600 is about 3 times their value. I critisize 901's because if I listen to them in *any* setting except background music, or alone as an A/V setup [distracted by video] then I hate them. In an A/v setup, I have to listen to something else, the go back to the 901's and I say---OH yeah...it's missing a LOT!
If I pay attention to the 901's, they sound really grainy, like there is nothing above the midrange. The 901's have no tweeter, just a 4.5" cone that cannot produce clear highs like a well designed tweeter. And the bass? it sounds artificial. While it is softened by reflecting most of the sound, it still sounds fuzzy and blurry when trying to do low bass. [listen to Enya Longships, on Erinoco Flow, and Classical thunder [Telarc classic] or a good version of the main title to "Battlestar Galactica". The dynamics are scattered, the bass---just a weak blur. I am talking REAL bass, as these disks do get into the low bass, not mid bass from pop music.
For a FRACTION of the price of 901's, I bought some Signet Sl-280 mini monitors and a 12" powered sub. I heard MUCH more of the musical spectrum, and I only paid $875, not $1,600. The tweeters: I get an aluminum tweeter that is sweet and clear, not grainy. Strings are breathtaking. I have a very clear, natural midrange. And finally, the 12" powered sub just claws the basement and rattles everything. I CLEARLY hear information that the 901's don't even know is there to begin with.
For my money, and listening habits Bose is a waste. I am a casual listener without a need to overspend on hype. My ears tell me Bose cannot accurately hit the notes other speakers can. For $1,600 Bose should just destroy competition- but they just provide silly tricks. If I was buying Bose for a party or background I'd give them 2 stars [too much money]. But for all around use I give them 1 star because I hear how little they really do.

Twenty years of audiophiling I have and keen hearing too. Bose products are proof that clever marketing can move rotten products. Some of their products are below average. Some, like the Acoustimass, are downright dreadful. The 901s are somewhere in between.
As far as my ears are concerned, the 901s are terrible value and probably fall in the same league as the Omni Audio 12.3 or the Linear Phase scam speakers. Only difference is that they are legally not scams.

My sympathies to those who own Bose.

I bought a pair of used Series II because I remembered them from college and I am pleased with the effect, but would not call that effect High End Audio--its not.
The 901's produce a "wall of sound" and show no strain despite very high volume --and thus the sound is very impactful. This sound is not true to High End audio, it lacks highs and true low base, but, like the impact I get from Home Theater, it is awesome on some passages. And thus I am pleased.

So to those who say 901's are terrible speakers and those who think they are great High End Audio, I disagree with both of you.

Were they a car, the 901's are neither a refined Jag nor a bashed up Truck....they are more an aged Corvette--they go real fast on the straight away, but can't take many curves. Don't ask them to.

Three stars for effect. But I would not make them my main speakers.

The Bose 901s are the best I've ever owned. They are driven by Lexicon DC-2 and Krell KSA 100S.. It sound wonderful. Don't know why too many people hate it...The tops of: Vandersteens, NHTs, B&Ws, thiel... are boasted by the 901s really.
The 901s can cost more due to its valueable characteristic.... I love it.

nice design ,they play well over 110db in a large room , fills the room with sound and the bose quality .

hard to set and they need a big room to performe at its best .

I got my bose speakers from my dad ,they where from 1979 they sounded god even when they where 21 years old . so i decided to purchase new drivers . it wasent very different they where only more accurate then the old drivers .
i have tryed many other produckts like mirge om seris , b&w nautilus and bang olufsen penta lab . A ll these speakers where very god butt they coulden't beat the 901 .

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none

Wonderful sound field

Muddy Bass

I am amazed at the comments from those who dislike these speakers. Typical of any "rant" they attempt to come across as objective but soon slide into the character assasination mode. I love these speakers for the presence they add to the music. They obviously have their flaws but speaker evaluation is so tremendously subjective. If we could objectively evaluate the delivery of sound and have it apply to all comers then there would need be only one speaker manufacturer.

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Sound, Soundfield and Power handling.

Hard/difficult/time-consuming to be set up right. Lack of "low" bass.

Bose 901 is still a great speaker, but it does take a lot of work to set them up right. Most people don't take the time to work with them and therefore really don't know what they are talking about when they "put the 901 down."

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Klipsch, Verit, B&O + several others.

They image like my JVC boombox, have clarity approaching my Panasonic clock radio (tuned to AM), and are about as satisfying to listen to as the Audiovox set up I had in my first car back in '80. These speakers are worth about $150 (a pair) but at 10 times that price, Bose is hoping that the name alone (which carries much weight with those not too knowledgeable about speakers) will translate into sales. When you consider other speakers in this price range by KEF, B&W, NHT, Vandersteen, Thiel, and the like, its amazing that they even sell one of these a year! Oh well, Beta was better than VHS and the Mac is far superior to the PC -- the average consumer is ill informed...One speaker for Bose's marketing prowess, zero for how these speakers sound.

Very spacious sound. Especially good with classical music.
Rated to handle "unlimited" power in home use.

Need correct placement.

I have owned these speakers since 1981. They are series IVs.
I now also own Paradigm MK7Se3's and Reference 60's. The Paradigms are good speakers, but after all these years the 901's, when set up properly, are still my favorites. I find the comments about poor build quality to be laughable. After 19 years my 901's are still like new. I believe many of the anti-Bose reviews are made up without any actual experience with the speakers. Also, it's possible some of the people who did listen didn't have the equalizer set up properly, or worse, did't even know it was required. Anyway, I paid 700 dollars mail order in 1981 and it was the best audio buy I ever made.

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Paradigm