I had a friend years ago when I was a freshman in high school (I think that was the time period. I'm going on 71 and long ago things are a little fuzzy.) Anyway, he invited me over to hear his new stereo: Marantz receiver built when Saul Marantz was in charge, a dual 1219 turntable with Shure V15 cartridge, and two Bose 901 speakers. All crammed into a tiny bedroom along with his bed, a dresser, and a couple of chairs. He put on a recording of Also Sprach Zarathustra and turned it up. It was glorious! After we listened to the whole album, he put on Iron Butterfly's In-A-Gada-Da-Vida. We reveled in the sound of the organ and drums (He played drums in our high school marching band). It was so wonderful. After all that, I went home and looked at my Montgomery Ward stereo with drop down turntable, plastic speakers with 2 tiny cones, and just cried. I went over to his house as often as I could to hear a REAL stereo. It didn't hurt that I also had a crush on his younger sister who was a year younger than me (He was a year older than me). Sigh. Those were truly magical days. PS: His sister had no interest in me at all. 😢
My story is nearly identical to yours (71 as well) except he had a rare CM Laboratories CC-50S integrated amp instead of the Marantz receiver, and an Empire 999VE cartridge instead of the Shure. Same music selections, along with Grand Funk and Sly Stone. Amazing experience! No sister there though, just an older brother who could not care less about audio.
Saul sold the Marantz name to Superscope in 1964 before any Marantz receiver ever came out. He only designed separates. I've met him and was a Marantz Rep.
Amar Bose's true strength lay in his ability to think outside the box, and the Bose 901 speakers stand as a testament to his innovative approach. While the 901s were far from perfect-they were overengineered, complex behemoths-they were undeniably groundbreaking. They achieved their primary goal of immersing listeners in sound and creating a rich, ambient experience. As a bit of a Bose fan and an admirer of Amar Bose's vision, I’ve always appreciated the company’s commitment to pushing boundaries. This pattern of forward-thinking innovation has been a hallmark of Bose's history. Their noise-cancelling headphones, for example, transformed the way we think about personal audio, setting a new standard for the industry. Similarly, the Wave systems, though not flawless, left a lasting impression-who could forget the astonishment of hearing such deep bass from a compact, all-in-one system? Beyond consumer products, Bose's research projects further highlight the company's pioneering spirit. The Bose/Lexus electromagnetic suspension system, for instance, remains almost legendary, appearing to this day as if it were pure magic in motion.
@@stimpy1226just googled it, that thing is huge in comparison. Again no audiophile understands why the waveradio sold so well, it was the size and ease of use. Best present my 80yo grandmother ever got. It’s not my thing but I’m not everyone else.
@cunawarit Oh, how delightful it is to encounter such unbridled enthusiasm for Bose and its rather misguided innovations. While I appreciate your attempt to celebrate Amar Bose's creativity, it seems you’ve fallen into the trap of conflating clever marketing with genuine audio excellence-an all-too-common misunderstanding among casual listeners. Let’s begin with the Bose 901 speakers, shall we? You describe them as “groundbreaking” and “immersive,” but that’s rather generous, isn’t it? While it’s true that they were designed to produce an ambient sound experience, this approach comes at the cost of clarity, detail, and accurate reproduction. The complexity of having nine drivers-each attempting to create a coherent soundstage by reflecting sound off walls-is a classic case of overengineering. What you perceive as innovation is actually a convoluted solution to a fundamental problem: the inability to produce high-fidelity sound in a straightforward manner. Now, about your praise for Bose's noise-cancelling headphones. While they may have set a standard for consumer convenience, their audio quality is often overshadowed by other brands that prioritize sound fidelity. Many audiophiles would tell you that a true understanding of personal audio goes beyond simply eliminating external noise-it’s about delivering an experience that is rich and engaging. Many competitors offer headphones that not only block noise effectively but also provide a depth and clarity that Bose products simply cannot match. As for the Wave system, I must say it’s rather amusing that you would bring that up as a point of pride. Sure, it produces some sound, but let’s not confuse “deep bass” with “good sound.” It’s like claiming a toy car is a high-performance vehicle because it has flashy paint. In reality, the Wave system is a compromised solution that attempts to deliver quality sound while sacrificing fidelity-something a true audio enthusiast would never settle for. And the Bose/Lexus electromagnetic suspension system? That’s an interesting diversion, but it has little relevance to their audio products. It’s as if you’re trying to compensate for the inadequacies of their sound systems by pointing to unrelated engineering feats. Just because Bose has succeeded in one area doesn’t elevate their audio products; in fact, it highlights how disconnected they are from the world of high-fidelity sound reproduction. In short, while I can appreciate your fervor for the Bose brand, it’s evident that your understanding of audio is quite limited. True audio excellence requires an appreciation for nuance, clarity, and precision-qualities that Bose products, despite their clever marketing, simply do not deliver. Perhaps a deeper exploration of the high-fidelity world would help you distinguish between effective marketing and true sonic artistry. Until then, your admiration for Bose will remain a charming yet misguided perspective in the vast landscape of audio.www.youtube.com/@cunawarit
Weird that Paul answered a question that wasn’t asked. Oh well, people still want to talk about this museum piece that nobody owns anymore for some unknown reason…
@@scrambaba He does that a lot. Reads the question, then goes off on a tangent, then when he comes back to answer he's forgotten key details about the question and answers something else.
The Bose 301's (Series 2, circa 1990) was their best design. A 2-way design, but two real tweeters, physically aimed in genuine direct-reflecting directions and one end of the cabinet open, with a ported 8" woofer. With a sub and a little EQing I've heard them sound really good. Damnedest thing is, they really did have a huge soundstage. I'm not convinced about any other models.
I had 301s also, but not the version you mentioned. However, a college friend did. The addition of the second tweeter really did open the sound up for the better. I was particularly fond of the 601s for the same reasons you initially noted. They had ten inch woofers and were the upgrade I was looking for.
I like the 301 series 4 myself, would like to hear series 5, all 301s sound good though to me, I agree, probably my pick of the group. Haven't heard 10.2 yet though.
I always thought the ingenuity of the Bose 901 pretty fascinating, but I have yet to hear them do anything terribly special. I think for many they work, (they have a fan base, for sure) perhaps for those folks they have them set up better placed than how I have ever heard them. My sound preference is with ribbon or electrostats.... Years ago a friend brought over his pair of 901s with the eq as he thought my room would be ideal for them (nice solid back wall). We played them for an hour with his special eq that went with them. Afterwards I put my Quad ESL57's back in place and we listened again to the same tracks. It was a fun day. The following week he sold the Bose 901's.
Bose technology accepts highly focused low value gains through loses that nobody in their right mind would accept. Wow factor long enough to sell the damn thing. Now they own McIntosh. Lord help us.
Decades ago, mid 70s, was in search of upgrades for my original Advents. Audition music: Copland's Fanfare For The Common Man with larger than life tympani & bass drum & gong, Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture with massed cannon and real church bells. Started at a Klipsch dealer and a pair of Heresys WOW (for my small living room) for S .... & giggles lets hear the K horns. Jaw drop, SUPER WOW. Bought a pair. [ you aren't the only one that can wander off the direct path] Before the Klipsch dealer we listened to a pair of Bose 901s. These were THE only speakers that DID NOT BREAK UP. Effortless. My logic told me the reflected sound while fun didn't put me in a direct sound field. but those 9 4" drivers sucked up the power.. Thanks, keep wandering.
Now that Bose owns McIntosh, future amplifiers will have 8 rear firing VU meters, and one in the front. The attached Bose speakers will have drivers that spin left and right in their mounted speaker holes to adjust volume and tone, and the actual music will come out of the amplifier heat sinks rather than the speaker cabinets.
I still use a pair of 901 Vl in a third system with a Harmon Kardon receiver and a HK CD. They're set up in a room with nothing between them or to the sides, just as they were meant to be. I found them at an estate sale marked down later in the day for $200 incl the equalizer. I do like them for live CD concerts at moderate volume. Different strokes for different folks 😊.
An acquaintance who worked at an upscale hi-fi store in the Detroit area in the early '70's bought two pair of 901's and stacked them one on the other. They were powered by a McIntosh Mc2300, a huge, heavy monster that put out 300 watts RMS effortlessly. While they would play loudly, with this set up and power they actually had a fairly decent sound. My friend went on to get a pair of McIntosh ML4 speakers and then a second set to stack them (It helped that he could get these at cost). Eight woofers per side - and a second Mc2300 - the house shook.
My dad and I bought ours at Pecar Stereo in Detroit, too. I still have my Series I and love them. I now use a Deer Creek dedicated EQ and a REL subwoofer.
The only place I have ever heard 901s where college bars in the 1970's and always played at some insane volume through an array of Mcintosh Amps. I always thought they were never so much for the listening experience as they were for the party atmosphere.
I agree completely. In the bar from the good old days they were hung from the ceiling by chains and fed with a bazillion watts of Crown amplification. I have never heard triple digit SPLs that clean. It was shocking.
Magnepans are dipole meaning the rear sound wave hits the back wall and is reflected while the main front sound wave is direct to your ears. Somehow the imaging is superb.
Once upon a time long, long ago (about 1970), I was in the US Air Force and went to the audio club at Ramstein AFB and bought the latest and greatest at the time; a pair of 901s, an AR turntable (don't recall what cartridge) and a Marantz 2270. I loved the now long-gone system then. (Wish I'd kept the 2270, now worth a good deal more than I paid for it.)
When you turn the sound up on Bose 901s, they ROCK - For and Aft. In all seriousness, Bose demonstrates that you can equalize almost anything. I had 901s that were pretty good in my system (driven by a McIntosh amp that I still have) and with some placement tinkering they sounded great.
I had the opportunity to hear the 901’s back in the 80’s. The only thing I can remember is how loud they were. My ears back then were not as developed as they are today but to me it seemed like they would be good for parties or nightclubs because it was just this immense wall of sound, which would work just fine in those environments. However, I agree that these speakers did have merit and perhaps even so today but they are definitely not for critical listening but if you just want to fill a room with sound for sound sake, these speakers will do the job.
I well remember the Bose 901s, but I have no recollection of hearing them. I was a fan of AR-3a speakers at the time (late 1960s-early 1970s). What you say about possible problems with the rear wall applies to Magneplanar, too, and maybe Quad ESL. I like Magneplanars. I still have a set of working MG-1b, and a non-working set of 1.6QR. But my current system is seven each identical Hsu Research HB-1 Mk 2. The entire system costs much less than a pair of your Aspen FR5. I'm sure the Aspens would mop the floor with the Hsu speakers, but I get great soundstage -- the speakers really disappear. And, there's almost zero chance I'll ever see or hear the Aspen speakers to form an opinion about them.
the best sounding 901 systems (yes, more than one) we setup were "backwards" facing with the 8 drivers facing you and using a 31 band or a parametric eq.
You went there. Your speakers have drivers at the back. You are just a bit more subtle about it. 😂 I have dipole speakers too. Open driver + boxed woofer. Dipole is great! 🎉
I wonder why there are moving the Octave Records studio into the factory building? To save money? Didn't they spend a huge amount of time, effort, and money to build the current studio just a couple of years ago?
For set up of Bose 10.2, download the Bose manual and follow that. All Bose speakers require totally unconventional setup. My recommendation is sell the 10.2s and buy Bose 901 series 2, 5 or 6. With their matching equalizers. But first check the 901 manual to see if your room will work with them (probably not😢)
When I was young I had a neighbor in another apartment that had 901s while I had Dalquist DQ-10’s. The comparison even by my neighbor’s acknowledgment was that her speakers or for Doodoo
Bose 301, the best of the family for me. 601s are good as well. 901s are just are a really cool speaker though but...not as cool as their stands😂! The stands were the best part.
I waited too long. Visiting you and your IRS speakers was on my bucket list and now the opportunity is lost. He who hesitates is lost.... So sad to hear they are not at your company any longer.
I DJ'd parties & clubs with Bose professional speakers & they are great for that.. but for home stereo audiophile sound they're not great. Good for home theater but NOT 2 channel Listening. I think if I read it correctly on Instagram is that Bose is releasing a limited anniversary edition of the 901s as part of promoting their acquisition of McIntosh & Sonus Faber next year. Save your money & purchase the mighty Aspen series 👍💯 A little plug for Paul 😊
901s were a thing in clubs in the '70s. when hung near concrete ceiling-corners playing R&R cranked loud they were accurate... sounded like R&R playing loud in a club.
I liked the Bose 10.2 series 2 speakers better than the Bose 901 series 6 in my system. The 10.2 sounded better with the speakers reversed, the right one on the left and the left on the right side. Of course none of the passive Bose speakers could match my B&W M801series 2 in my listening room. The real surprise is how good some of the Bose powered speakers sounded when driven by a high quality source.
I hit another PS Audio vid and got a beer story! Almost choked on my gulp of coffee Paul. LoL. edit: I had a pair of 301's as a supplementary pair to some monster towers I had back in the day. Were much more efficient than the towers at low volume and did a decent job of "filling the room" for parties where precision was not the goal.
I'm from the generation of the 901 and I'm going to be honest, they were absolutely the worst sounding speakers I heard at that time. To make matters worse was the price they were charging, can't convince me they sound good no matter what genre of music you listen too.
I have a pair of 40 year old Bose 301 II that serve as my mains for my home theater and music(Yamaha TSR700 7.1). I hear the details outlined in Paul’s Picks. My channel wallpaper shows them. Per spec, 12” from the back wall and 18” from the sides. Incredible soundstage. Mono tracks emanate from in between the speakers.
Still have a pair of Series 2's going strong in my workbench/man cave. I loved them as the main front channels in a 5.1 for movies and music for years in my apartment before I upsized. 👍🎸
The LS60s are an incredible system in a box. If i were starting over, they would be high on my list with a pair of subs. Love the british racing green on the Lotus edition.
@@JC-lk3oy I use those in my dining room and they really are awesome for any room where you don't want to collect boxes with many wires hanging around. Paul is often talking about synergy between components and he is very right about the point but if you want the truly maximum synergy for your Dollars, best is a well engineered active speaker, as you can optimize a streamer, DAC, amplifiers and speaker as one unit to work together for best audio fidelity against the price of the product. PS Audio has all the competencies to make a remarkable active speaker e.g. an active version of the FR30, but question is if PS Audio wants to stay in a mode of milking the cow of traditional audiophile thinking or lead the way of tomorrow.
you have to name it correctly now it's not Bose it's Bose McIntosh😊 what is this projected thing you patented! like a horn? companies use speakers on the back of their cabinets you do with your new speaker what's the difference? well if you use the Bose 901 system as a cancellation behind on one side closest sidewall would be beneficial I don't know if anybody has wired it up like that.
Starting with "I sold the Infinity's" straight into the "Bose 901's?" Ouch... Talk about insult to injury! Sorry Paul, I can't bring myself to watch this.
Every Bose system is painful to listen to, because they accentuate the highs and the lows to mask the fact that their speakers sound like shit, which then makes listening fatigue set in VERY quickly. Additionally, because the speakers are such cheap shit speakers, there is no detail, so they never feel loud enough, and you always feel like you're missing parts of the sound stage. In my experience, the better the speaker, the more detail it has when played at very low volume levels. If you have a speaker that sounds amazing when played at a low volume, it will sound astounding when played loudly.
I had a similar problem, with some 90s era Techniques speakers. They lacked detail... so I would crank them as loud as possible, to try to feel satisfied. The day I finally got a pair of Audiophile grade speaker... I was instantly Disgusted with the Techs, and sent them to the Curb. While the techs would play Louder... than my EPI 100v speakers... The EPIs sounded SO much better, that I was in Nirvana... not caring that they couldnt match the same volume levels. I liken it to Ice Cream. If you buy the cheapest stuff (watered down, less flavor, not very creamy in texture... ) ...you feel like you have to eat a lot of it, to feel somewhat satisfied. But with the really Good stuff... you only need a few spoons worth... and you feel completely Satisfied. Ive never heard the 901's. However, I did by one of their Bose radio/cd systems used at a thrift shop, for like $30... for curiosity sake. Like you said... some of the Worst quality drivers in them. Missing details. Over-Exaggerated + Artificial sounding bass. Its Just plain Awful, what it does to good music. I did find a larger pair of Bose speakers (series III ?) that had like 10" woofers in the bases, for dirt cheap, at another thrift shop. But I was barely able to test them, because the foam rot blew right out of the woofers. When looking at all of the drivers that needed to be re-foamed.. and for sub-par audio quality... I just put them in storage, and never messed with them again. I also flirted with the idea of replacing the cheaper drivers, with superior ones... but, It just seemed like an expensive gamble, that likely wouldnt pay off very well. The EPIs do sound good at lower volume levels. However, because they are a Sealed speaker... you really want to play them at medium to higher volume levels, to get the best Bass performance out of them. Once you do crank them, they are pure Magic. Ive never heard anything that compares to their Depth + Width of a 3D Soundstage. They do what Bose claimed to be able to do... in a far Superior way, without the need to bounce sounds off of walls. And unlike Bose... they have Deep, Punch, and Natural Sounding Bass... with Highs that are superiorly Detailed.. Revealing Everything in the recordings, with pretty much zero micro-distortions.
The worst.....nah, lots of other garbage out there. But, for as expensive as they were, clearly one of the worst values, especially if sound details meant anything to the listener.
If your goal is to entertain alot of guests who aren’t standing in the center sweet spot, then they’re one of the best. Not every consumer has the same burning passion to sit in the dark alone and listen to Diana Krall
My formidable teenage years etched an image of 901s hanging off the wall via fishnets from a basement ceiling. 70's basement party aesthetic. I remember the mythical "𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘭𝘦 𝘶𝘯𝘭𝘪𝘮𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘱𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘳".
![แข่งเพิ่มน้ำหนักใน 24 ชั่วโมง!! [Ver 2025]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/20xn0g6k-ec/mqdefault.jpg)
I had a friend years ago when I was a freshman in high school (I think that was the time period. I'm going on 71 and long ago things are a little fuzzy.) Anyway, he invited me over to hear his new stereo: Marantz receiver built when Saul Marantz was in charge, a dual 1219 turntable with Shure V15 cartridge, and two Bose 901 speakers. All crammed into a tiny bedroom along with his bed, a dresser, and a couple of chairs. He put on a recording of Also Sprach Zarathustra and turned it up. It was glorious! After we listened to the whole album, he put on Iron Butterfly's In-A-Gada-Da-Vida. We reveled in the sound of the organ and drums (He played drums in our high school marching band). It was so wonderful. After all that, I went home and looked at my Montgomery Ward stereo with drop down turntable, plastic speakers with 2 tiny cones, and just cried. I went over to his house as often as I could to hear a REAL stereo. It didn't hurt that I also had a crush on his younger sister who was a year younger than me (He was a year older than me). Sigh. Those were truly magical days.
PS: His sister had no interest in me at all. 😢
You are quite a story teller, you managed to make me nostalgic for memories that aren't my own. :)
Funny how stuff like that happens.... good memories just the same.
My story is nearly identical to yours (71 as well) except he had a rare CM Laboratories CC-50S integrated amp instead of the Marantz receiver, and an Empire 999VE cartridge instead of the Shure. Same music selections, along with Grand Funk and Sly Stone. Amazing experience! No sister there though, just an older brother who could not care less about audio.
Saul sold the Marantz name to Superscope in 1964 before any Marantz receiver ever came out. He only designed separates. I've met him and was a Marantz Rep.
I remember the sister- She had a mole right...
Amar Bose's true strength lay in his ability to think outside the box, and the Bose 901 speakers stand as a testament to his innovative approach. While the 901s were far from perfect-they were overengineered, complex behemoths-they were undeniably groundbreaking. They achieved their primary goal of immersing listeners in sound and creating a rich, ambient experience.
As a bit of a Bose fan and an admirer of Amar Bose's vision, I’ve always appreciated the company’s commitment to pushing boundaries. This pattern of forward-thinking innovation has been a hallmark of Bose's history. Their noise-cancelling headphones, for example, transformed the way we think about personal audio, setting a new standard for the industry. Similarly, the Wave systems, though not flawless, left a lasting impression-who could forget the astonishment of hearing such deep bass from a compact, all-in-one system?
Beyond consumer products, Bose's research projects further highlight the company's pioneering spirit. The Bose/Lexus electromagnetic suspension system, for instance, remains almost legendary, appearing to this day as if it were pure magic in motion.
Love those Bose wave radios 😂😂😂😂 the joke of the decade. Give me a Tivoli any day.
@@stimpy1226just googled it, that thing is huge in comparison. Again no audiophile understands why the waveradio sold so well, it was the size and ease of use. Best present my 80yo grandmother ever got. It’s not my thing but I’m not everyone else.
@stimpy1226 Thank you for the comment; your evident passion for Tivoli radios has been duly acknowledged.
@cunawarit Oh, how delightful it is to encounter such unbridled enthusiasm for Bose and its rather misguided innovations. While I appreciate your attempt to celebrate Amar Bose's creativity, it seems you’ve fallen into the trap of conflating clever marketing with genuine audio excellence-an all-too-common misunderstanding among casual listeners.
Let’s begin with the Bose 901 speakers, shall we? You describe them as “groundbreaking” and “immersive,” but that’s rather generous, isn’t it? While it’s true that they were designed to produce an ambient sound experience, this approach comes at the cost of clarity, detail, and accurate reproduction. The complexity of having nine drivers-each attempting to create a coherent soundstage by reflecting sound off walls-is a classic case of overengineering. What you perceive as innovation is actually a convoluted solution to a fundamental problem: the inability to produce high-fidelity sound in a straightforward manner.
Now, about your praise for Bose's noise-cancelling headphones. While they may have set a standard for consumer convenience, their audio quality is often overshadowed by other brands that prioritize sound fidelity. Many audiophiles would tell you that a true understanding of personal audio goes beyond simply eliminating external noise-it’s about delivering an experience that is rich and engaging. Many competitors offer headphones that not only block noise effectively but also provide a depth and clarity that Bose products simply cannot match.
As for the Wave system, I must say it’s rather amusing that you would bring that up as a point of pride. Sure, it produces some sound, but let’s not confuse “deep bass” with “good sound.” It’s like claiming a toy car is a high-performance vehicle because it has flashy paint. In reality, the Wave system is a compromised solution that attempts to deliver quality sound while sacrificing fidelity-something a true audio enthusiast would never settle for.
And the Bose/Lexus electromagnetic suspension system? That’s an interesting diversion, but it has little relevance to their audio products. It’s as if you’re trying to compensate for the inadequacies of their sound systems by pointing to unrelated engineering feats. Just because Bose has succeeded in one area doesn’t elevate their audio products; in fact, it highlights how disconnected they are from the world of high-fidelity sound reproduction.
In short, while I can appreciate your fervor for the Bose brand, it’s evident that your understanding of audio is quite limited. True audio excellence requires an appreciation for nuance, clarity, and precision-qualities that Bose products, despite their clever marketing, simply do not deliver. Perhaps a deeper exploration of the high-fidelity world would help you distinguish between effective marketing and true sonic artistry. Until then, your admiration for Bose will remain a charming yet misguided perspective in the vast landscape of audio.www.youtube.com/@cunawarit
@ajv802 Read and noted, categorized under 'opinion that overlooks their successes in the aviation industry.
The questioner said they had Bose 10.2s which are really quite different from 901s. They mostly radiate forwards with little use of wall reflections.
Weird that Paul answered a question that wasn’t asked. Oh well, people still want to talk about this museum piece that nobody owns anymore for some unknown reason…
@@scrambaba He does that a lot. Reads the question, then goes off on a tangent, then when he comes back to answer he's forgotten key details about the question and answers something else.
The Bose 301's (Series 2, circa 1990) was their best design. A 2-way design, but two real tweeters, physically aimed in genuine direct-reflecting directions and one end of the cabinet open, with a ported 8" woofer. With a sub and a little EQing I've heard them sound really good. Damnedest thing is, they really did have a huge soundstage. I'm not convinced about any other models.
I had 301s also, but not the version you mentioned. However, a college friend did. The addition of the second tweeter really did open the sound up for the better. I was particularly fond of the 601s for the same reasons you initially noted. They had ten inch woofers and were the upgrade I was looking for.
I like the 301 series 4 myself, would like to hear series 5, all 301s sound good though to me, I agree, probably my pick of the group. Haven't heard 10.2 yet though.
I can see the 901’s sounding good with a super tweeter and a subwoofer.
They’re definitely Monsters of the Midway.
I heard several pairs of the BOSE 901s. They were extremely room dependent. You were very right about them working best with solid bare walls.
I always thought the ingenuity of the Bose 901 pretty fascinating, but I have yet to hear them do anything terribly special. I think for many they work, (they have a fan base, for sure) perhaps for those folks they have them set up better placed than how I have ever heard them.
My sound preference is with ribbon or electrostats....
Years ago a friend brought over his pair of 901s with the eq as he thought my room would be ideal for them (nice solid back wall). We played them for an hour with his special eq that went with them.
Afterwards I put my Quad ESL57's back in place and we listened again to the same tracks. It was a fun day.
The following week he sold the Bose 901's.
Bose technology accepts highly focused low value gains through loses that nobody in their right mind would accept. Wow factor long enough to sell the damn thing. Now they own McIntosh. Lord help us.
Decades ago, mid 70s, was in search of upgrades for my original Advents. Audition music: Copland's Fanfare For The Common Man with larger than life tympani & bass drum & gong, Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture with massed cannon and real church bells. Started at a Klipsch dealer and a pair of Heresys WOW (for my small living room) for S .... & giggles lets hear the K horns. Jaw drop, SUPER WOW. Bought a pair. [ you aren't the only one that can wander off the direct path] Before the Klipsch dealer we listened to a pair of Bose 901s. These were THE only speakers that DID NOT BREAK UP. Effortless. My logic told me the reflected sound while fun didn't put me in a direct sound field. but those 9 4" drivers sucked up the power.. Thanks, keep wandering.
Now that Bose owns McIntosh, future amplifiers will have 8 rear firing VU meters, and one in the front. The attached Bose speakers will have drivers that spin left and right in their mounted speaker holes to adjust volume and tone, and the actual music will come out of the amplifier heat sinks rather than the speaker cabinets.
😂
You're so funny
I still use a pair of 901 Vl in a third system with a Harmon Kardon receiver and a HK CD. They're set up in a room with nothing between them or to the sides, just as they were meant to be. I found them at an estate sale marked down later in the day for $200 incl the equalizer. I do like them for live CD concerts at moderate volume.
Different strokes for different folks 😊.
An acquaintance who worked at an upscale hi-fi store in the Detroit area in the early '70's bought two pair of 901's and stacked them one on the other. They were powered by a McIntosh Mc2300, a huge, heavy monster that put out 300 watts RMS effortlessly. While they would play loudly, with this set up and power they actually had a fairly decent sound. My friend went on to get a pair of McIntosh ML4 speakers and then a second set to stack them (It helped that he could get these at cost). Eight woofers per side - and a second Mc2300 - the house shook.
My dad and I bought ours at Pecar Stereo in Detroit, too. I still have my Series I and love them. I now use a Deer Creek dedicated EQ and a REL subwoofer.
The only place I have ever heard 901s where college bars in the 1970's and always played at some insane volume through an array of Mcintosh Amps. I always thought they were never so much for the listening experience as they were for the party atmosphere.
were*
I agree completely. In the bar from the good old days they were hung from the ceiling by chains and fed with a bazillion watts of Crown amplification. I have never heard triple digit SPLs that clean. It was shocking.
Magnepans are dipole meaning the rear sound wave hits the back wall and is reflected while the main front sound wave is direct to your ears. Somehow the imaging is superb.
Bose 10.2 are floorstanders, quite different from 901s. They too fire in multiple direction though. Quite a different animal to setup.
Once upon a time long, long ago (about 1970), I was in the US Air Force and went to the audio club at Ramstein AFB and bought the latest and greatest at the time; a pair of 901s, an AR turntable (don't recall what cartridge) and a Marantz 2270. I loved the now long-gone system then. (Wish I'd kept the 2270, now worth a good deal more than I paid for it.)
When you turn the sound up on Bose 901s, they ROCK - For and Aft.
In all seriousness, Bose demonstrates that you can equalize almost anything. I had 901s that were pretty good in my system (driven by a McIntosh amp that I still have) and with some placement tinkering they sounded great.
It s just sad to hear that the IRS V s are gone. It was a joy to watch them now and then on your video s. I am happy for the new owner tho.
Very Good advice.The aboriginal 901s were great but very rare!
I had a pair of 901s back in the day. They sounded okay, setup was crucial though.
I had the opportunity to hear the 901’s back in the 80’s. The only thing I can remember is how loud they were. My ears back then were not as developed as they are today but to me it seemed like they would be good for parties or nightclubs because it was just this immense wall of sound, which would work just fine in those environments. However, I agree that these speakers did have merit and perhaps even so today but they are definitely not for critical listening but if you just want to fill a room with sound for sound sake, these speakers will do the job.
I well remember the Bose 901s, but I have no recollection of hearing them. I was a fan of AR-3a speakers at the time (late 1960s-early 1970s). What you say about possible problems with the rear wall applies to Magneplanar, too, and maybe Quad ESL. I like Magneplanars. I still have a set of working MG-1b, and a non-working set of 1.6QR. But my current system is seven each identical Hsu Research HB-1 Mk 2. The entire system costs much less than a pair of your Aspen FR5. I'm sure the Aspens would mop the floor with the Hsu speakers, but I get great soundstage -- the speakers really disappear. And, there's almost zero chance I'll ever see or hear the Aspen speakers to form an opinion about them.
the best sounding 901 systems (yes, more than one) we setup were "backwards" facing with the 8 drivers facing you and using a 31 band or a parametric eq.
That would be more like the Bose 802.
but yes, they were 901s.
set more than a few up.
essentially🤷♂️ but still 901s😂
I had Bose 501 series 4. I loved them they had a ton of base and I think they had one of the best tweeters. Sold them last year for their size😊
a* ton
You went there. Your speakers have drivers at the back. You are just a bit more subtle about it. 😂 I have dipole speakers too. Open driver + boxed woofer. Dipole is great! 🎉
I wonder why there are moving the Octave Records studio into the factory building? To save money? Didn't they spend a huge amount of time, effort, and money to build the current studio just a couple of years ago?
For set up of Bose 10.2, download the Bose manual and follow that. All Bose speakers require totally unconventional setup. My recommendation is sell the 10.2s and buy Bose 901 series 2, 5 or 6. With their matching equalizers. But first check the 901 manual to see if your room will work with them (probably not😢)
When I was young I had a neighbor in another apartment that had 901s while I had Dalquist DQ-10’s. The comparison even by my neighbor’s acknowledgment was that her speakers or for Doodoo
You sold the IRS V's?!?!?😢
How sad...
I forgot the whole valuation of the 901s, since Paul let us know that they had finally sold the IRS V...
Bose 301, the best of the family for me. 601s are good as well. 901s are just are a really cool speaker though but...not as cool as their stands😂! The stands were the best part.
Best music to play with Bose 901s is Pink Floyd, "The Wall"
I waited too long. Visiting you and your IRS speakers was on my bucket list and now the opportunity is lost. He who hesitates is lost.... So sad to hear they are not at your company any longer.
I DJ'd parties & clubs with Bose professional speakers & they are great for that.. but for home stereo audiophile sound they're not great. Good for home theater but NOT 2 channel Listening. I think if I read it correctly on Instagram is that Bose is releasing a limited anniversary edition of the 901s as part of promoting their acquisition of McIntosh & Sonus Faber next year. Save your money & purchase the mighty Aspen series 👍💯 A little plug for Paul 😊
901s were a thing in clubs in the '70s. when hung near concrete ceiling-corners playing R&R cranked loud they were accurate... sounded like R&R playing loud in a club.
I liked the Bose 10.2 series 2 speakers better than the Bose 901 series 6 in my system. The 10.2 sounded better with the speakers reversed, the right one on the left and the left on the right side. Of course none of the passive Bose speakers could match my B&W M801series 2 in my listening room. The real surprise is how good some of the Bose powered speakers sounded when driven by a high quality source.
".. far better than bose ever will sound" - I hope you have a good lawyer Paul
Imagine being able to buy 901s or L100s and getting the 901s lol.
Couple of beer eases the pain… …God , unimaginable how much we can learn from Pauls channel….😂
Hey Paul, what is your opinion in Bose buying McIntosh?
Bose is resurrecting the 901 actually. Cool party speaker, thats about it.
The acquisition results may depend on the bottom line in a few years. Accounts rule.
You all know about Bose' latest acquisition right? Also the possible re-introduction of an updated 901 ! Lets get up to speed 😄.
If you have seen the prototype of the 901s, they look like a toilet tank out of the 50s....awful.
I hit another PS Audio vid and got a beer story! Almost choked on my gulp of coffee Paul. LoL. edit: I had a pair of 301's as a supplementary pair to some monster towers I had back in the day. Were much more efficient than the towers at low volume and did a decent job of "filling the room" for parties where precision was not the goal.
never understood the 901's , why not dipole speakers then ?
The Bose 10.2 are a lot different than the 901, you can look it up.
Watch out for the new McIntosh 901's!
I'm from the generation of the 901 and I'm going to be honest, they were absolutely the worst sounding speakers I heard at that time. To make matters worse was the price they were charging, can't convince me they sound good no matter what genre of music you listen too.
No highs no lows? Must be Bose!
I have a pair of 40 year old Bose 301 II that serve as my mains for my home theater and music(Yamaha TSR700 7.1). I hear the details outlined in Paul’s Picks.
My channel wallpaper shows them.
Per spec, 12” from the back wall and 18” from the sides. Incredible soundstage. Mono tracks emanate from in between the speakers.
Still have a pair of Series 2's going strong in my workbench/man cave. I loved them as the main front channels in a 5.1 for movies and music for years in my apartment before I upsized. 👍🎸
You have 301's, my commiserations.
They go loud cos they have a lot of drivers to share the power, I suppose.
because*
Bose 901 is sort of the opposite of my KEF LS60 🤔
The LS60s are an incredible system in a box. If i were starting over, they would be high on my list with a pair of subs. Love the british racing green on the Lotus edition.
@@JC-lk3oy I use those in my dining room and they really are awesome for any room where you don't want to collect boxes with many wires hanging around. Paul is often talking about synergy between components and he is very right about the point but if you want the truly maximum synergy for your Dollars, best is a well engineered active speaker, as you can optimize a streamer, DAC, amplifiers and speaker as one unit to work together for best audio fidelity against the price of the product. PS Audio has all the competencies to make a remarkable active speaker e.g. an active version of the FR30, but question is if PS Audio wants to stay in a mode of milking the cow of traditional audiophile thinking or lead the way of tomorrow.
got 4 901s in 1 of my sound rooms 500 watts per speaker you want to talk sound stage try live stage
you have to name it correctly now it's not Bose it's Bose McIntosh😊
what is this projected thing you patented! like a horn? companies use speakers on the back of their cabinets you do with your new speaker what's the difference?
well if you use the Bose 901 system as a cancellation behind on one side closest sidewall would be beneficial I don't know if anybody has wired it up like that.
Eso fue un grandiosa solución jajaja
Starting with "I sold the Infinity's" straight into the "Bose 901's?" Ouch... Talk about insult to injury! Sorry Paul, I can't bring myself to watch this.
❄️
Bose 901 highly overrated
Every Bose system is painful to listen to, because they accentuate the highs and the lows to mask the fact that their speakers sound like shit, which then makes listening fatigue set in VERY quickly. Additionally, because the speakers are such cheap shit speakers, there is no detail, so they never feel loud enough, and you always feel like you're missing parts of the sound stage.
In my experience, the better the speaker, the more detail it has when played at very low volume levels. If you have a speaker that sounds amazing when played at a low volume, it will sound astounding when played loudly.
I had a similar problem, with some 90s era Techniques speakers. They lacked detail... so I would crank them as loud as possible, to try to feel satisfied. The day I finally got a pair of Audiophile grade speaker... I was instantly Disgusted with the Techs, and sent them to the Curb. While the techs would play Louder... than my EPI 100v speakers... The EPIs sounded SO much better, that I was in Nirvana... not caring that they couldnt match the same volume levels.
I liken it to Ice Cream. If you buy the cheapest stuff (watered down, less flavor, not very creamy in texture... ) ...you feel like you have to eat a lot of it, to feel somewhat satisfied. But with the really Good stuff... you only need a few spoons worth... and you feel completely Satisfied.
Ive never heard the 901's. However, I did by one of their Bose radio/cd systems used at a thrift shop, for like $30... for curiosity sake. Like you said... some of the Worst quality drivers in them. Missing details. Over-Exaggerated + Artificial sounding bass. Its Just plain Awful, what it does to good music.
I did find a larger pair of Bose speakers (series III ?) that had like 10" woofers in the bases, for dirt cheap, at another thrift shop. But I was barely able to test them, because the foam rot blew right out of the woofers. When looking at all of the drivers that needed to be re-foamed.. and for sub-par audio quality... I just put them in storage, and never messed with them again. I also flirted with the idea of replacing the cheaper drivers, with superior ones... but, It just seemed like an expensive gamble, that likely wouldnt pay off very well.
The EPIs do sound good at lower volume levels. However, because they are a Sealed speaker... you really want to play them at medium to higher volume levels, to get the best Bass performance out of them. Once you do crank them, they are pure Magic. Ive never heard anything that compares to their Depth + Width of a 3D Soundstage. They do what Bose claimed to be able to do... in a far Superior way, without the need to bounce sounds off of walls. And unlike Bose... they have Deep, Punch, and Natural Sounding Bass... with Highs that are superiorly Detailed.. Revealing Everything in the recordings, with pretty much zero micro-distortions.
I am a fan of EPI speakers as well. Bose is not even in the same league.
@@Nabeelco all very true as I learned over the years. I just dismantled my 301s and was surprised at how thin the wiring was etc....
...BOSE 🤣
Bose 901 is the worst speaker of all time.
If you don't like them, don't buy them.
The worst.....nah, lots of other garbage out there. But, for as expensive as they were, clearly one of the worst values, especially if sound details meant anything to the listener.
If your goal is to entertain alot of guests who aren’t standing in the center sweet spot, then they’re one of the best. Not every consumer has the same burning passion to sit in the dark alone and listen to Diana Krall
🤣
He hasn't got a clue.
Bose.
Crap.
Period.
My formidable teenage years etched an image of 901s hanging off the wall via fishnets from a basement ceiling.
70's basement party aesthetic.
I remember the mythical
"𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘭𝘦 𝘶𝘯𝘭𝘪𝘮𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘱𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘳".