I owned Bose 901 series II, III, IV and V. The best sounding were the II. The series II drivers were in a common space and it was damped with some kind of stuffing, The later 901's had cabinets made of plastic, with each driver in a separate vented undamped cabinet. The result was a harsh unpleasent upper midrange,, probably due to interal reflections and resonance.
Sorry didn't provide the final Dirac results! I recall it was as you might expect to be with full range 4.5" . The before measurent was nice and flat across the midrange with serious downturns at bass and higher frequencies. Dirac evened it out really well! Better sounding than with the standard equalizer by a big margin. By memory anyway. If you have Bose 901s adding a Minidsp DDRC24 is highly recommended.
If you turn them around with the 8 speakers in front of you, you won't believe your ears such brightness and more stereophonic effects are to hear. Try it and be astonished
I have a pair of series 1's from 1969 hanging in my front room with a PhaseLinear 400 amp. Its been a few years since I actually turned it on. Maybe I should examine the edge suspension.
I have Bose 901 VI w/EQ that have been in there boxes since 1985. I would love to connect them to my new Sony STR AZ 5000 for old times sake. It has preouts but no tape loop (the way I used to connect them. Can you help me figure out how to set them up? Id appriciate it very much.
Hi! Probably the easiest way to get the equalizer in the loop would be to find/buy an additional stereo amplifier and use it for the Bose 901s with the equalizer between the right and left preamp outputs of the Sony receiver and the Bose equalizer.
Thank you for the quick reply! I had a feeling that was going to be the only way to go. I'm looking at the Emotive BasX A2. I've never had separates so shaky on making the proper connections.
Easy to connect I would say. One set of RCA patch cords from the front right and left preamp out of the receiver to the input of the Bose Eq. The another set of RCA patch cords from the output of the Bose EQ to the inputs of the new amplifier. Connect the 901s to the speaker terminals of the new amplifier. Don't connect anything to the front right and left speaker terminals of the receiver. Should be good to go!
Own a pair of Series VI from 1988 (or so). Quick question - how did you wire the DIRAC in ? it appears your retained the Bose EQ, so looped in just after the Bose EQ ? Would probably utilize with my old Onkyo receiver (also circa 1988, TX-108).
I did not use the Bose Equalizer at all. Just in the video to show the whole original 901 system. The Minidsp DDRC24 with Dirac would go between the amp and preamp in a similar fashion to the Bose Equalizer. I was super happy with the results. Dirac can really work magic IMHO.
Yes the Series three version of the 901 was ported and they continued to be ported until discontinued. Back in the 70s I thought the sealed version like the pair in the video sounded better than the Series 3. Improved efficiency was achieved in the series 3 however.
I ave Bose 901 VI RESPEAKEREd 3 times this time ROCKVILLE 4 INCH COPASED 1 INCH TWEETER MARINE SPEAKERS SO 18 SPEAKERS IN EACH BOX NO TRUBLE WITH TH HIGH OR LOWS WITH GRAPHIC EQUALIZER
I’m a long time 901 series 6 owner and I’ve been looking at a lot of reviews because of Bose being in the news with buying Mac and Sonis Faber. With all sincerity you all fail. The 901’s are designed with specific placement requirements, which none of the reviewers follow, and then most proceed to crap all over the speakers. One I saw even reviewed them without the equalizer. In this case you have glass back walls and no side walls. If you like the sound more power to you, but it’s not a fair representation of the speakers.
The first series like those in this video required more power whereas later models (series 3 and later) were more efficient, but I thought the early series one and two sounded better. I would say in an average room 100 watts per channel would be adequate.
@SupercalibrationsInc How is that you could do this video and not give us a sample of hearing them or showing us the correction from the MiniDSP?
I owned Bose 901 series II, III, IV and V. The best sounding were the II. The series II drivers were in a common space and it was damped with some kind of stuffing, The later 901's had cabinets made of plastic, with each driver in a separate vented undamped cabinet. The result was a harsh unpleasent upper midrange,, probably due to interal reflections and resonance.
Would be nice to hear the speakers with the latest tech boost .
A good midway solution, is to have the factory eq upgraded. Better opamps and caps make a huge difference.
Sorry didn't provide the final Dirac results! I recall it was as you might expect to be with full range 4.5" . The before measurent was nice and flat across the midrange with serious downturns at bass and higher frequencies. Dirac evened it out really well! Better sounding than with the standard equalizer by a big margin. By memory anyway. If you have Bose 901s adding a Minidsp DDRC24 is highly recommended.
You're recommending a minidsp DDRC24 AND Dirac?
...I have the NAD M10 with Dirac.
If you turn them around with the 8 speakers in front of you, you won't believe your ears such brightness and more stereophonic effects are to hear. Try it and be astonished
They were intentionally designed for the purpose of the eight speakers pointing at the wall so that you get the reflected sound.
I've a version of the 901's with only 8 speakers facing the audience as sound for live performances in smaller spaces that hold 100 or so people.
@@carbonunit57 yea..true. Try IT Out😊
I have a pair of series 1's from 1969 hanging in my front room with a PhaseLinear 400 amp. Its been a few years since I actually turned it on. Maybe I should examine the edge suspension.
no need... series 1 & 2 were not foam.
I have Bose 901 VI w/EQ that have been in there boxes since 1985. I would love to connect them to my new Sony STR AZ 5000 for old times sake. It has preouts but no tape loop (the way I used to connect them. Can you help me figure out how to set them up? Id appriciate it very much.
Hi! Probably the easiest way to get the equalizer in the loop would be to find/buy an additional stereo amplifier and use it for the Bose 901s with the equalizer between the right and left preamp outputs of the Sony receiver and the Bose equalizer.
Thank you for the quick reply! I had a feeling that was going to be the only way to go. I'm looking at the Emotive BasX A2. I've never had separates so shaky on making the proper connections.
Easy to connect I would say. One set of RCA patch cords from the front right and left preamp out of the receiver to the input of the Bose Eq. The another set of RCA patch cords from the output of the Bose EQ to the inputs of the new amplifier. Connect the 901s to the speaker terminals of the new amplifier. Don't connect anything to the front right and left speaker terminals of the receiver. Should be good to go!
Sounds easy enough! Thanks for the help! I'm excited to hear these speakers again! I'll let you know how it goes!
Own a pair of Series VI from 1988 (or so).
Quick question - how did you wire the DIRAC in ? it appears your retained the Bose EQ, so looped in just after the Bose EQ ?
Would probably utilize with my old Onkyo receiver (also circa 1988, TX-108).
I did not use the Bose Equalizer at all. Just in the video to show the whole original 901 system. The Minidsp DDRC24 with Dirac would go between the amp and preamp in a similar fashion to the Bose Equalizer. I was super happy with the results. Dirac can really work magic IMHO.
@@dallasdingle3462 Gotcha, understood and thanks so much. Have a good one ! Beautiful speakers.
Series 3 is when they ported the box yes?
Yes the Series three version of the 901 was ported and they continued to be ported until discontinued. Back in the 70s I thought the sealed version like the pair in the video sounded better than the Series 3. Improved efficiency was achieved in the series 3 however.
anch'io adotto l'equalizzazione ambientale con Bose 301...eccellente
So much talk and no demo???
I ave Bose 901 VI RESPEAKEREd 3 times this time ROCKVILLE 4 INCH COPASED 1 INCH TWEETER MARINE SPEAKERS SO 18 SPEAKERS IN EACH BOX NO TRUBLE WITH TH HIGH OR LOWS WITH GRAPHIC EQUALIZER
I’m a long time 901 series 6 owner and I’ve been looking at a lot of reviews because of Bose being in the news with buying Mac and Sonis Faber. With all sincerity you all fail. The 901’s are designed with specific placement requirements, which none of the reviewers follow, and then most proceed to crap all over the speakers. One I saw even reviewed them without the equalizer. In this case you have glass back walls and no side walls. If you like the sound more power to you, but it’s not a fair representation of the speakers.
no demo STF
Hi. I'm in the market for a set of BOSE 901s and I've heard that they really need a powerful amplifier to drive them. Is this true?
The first series like those in this video required more power whereas later models (series 3 and later) were more efficient, but I thought the early series one and two sounded better. I would say in an average room 100 watts per channel would be adequate.
As a student i had a pair of 901 II plus a Yamaha A-960 Amplifier, it played very well.
@@dallasdingle3462
Thanks for your reply.
Sorry I didn't get back sooner.
@@rhalleballe
Thanks.
That's very helpful 👍