Bose 301 Series II speakers any good?

westmassguy

mhardy6647 wrote: »

http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?19965-virgin-post-Early-Polk-history-question&p=195919&viewfull=1#post195919

http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?25734-Model-Nine&p=460691&viewfull=1#post460691

http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?123228-The-Polk-Audio-Monitor-Series-Model-9-and-Model-9A&highlight=bozos

Interesting, but I was referring to the LDL 749:
http://modesto.craigslist.org/ele/4350204254.html
http://www.leagle.com/decision/1971853340FSupp513_1766

mhardy6647

Yeah, I know (and yes, I remember them, too)... I was just updating you on the Polk side of the story, since you didn't seem to be familiar with it.

DracoAmericanus

30 bucks? not bad, I do admit to having some Bose speakers, I am the original owner of the 201 series II I bought as demos and i still have one, it's mate was destroyed in a house fire, I ended up getting a mint set at a pawn shop for a 6.1 experiment. I had used them in collage and they worked very well for that. I also have the 4.2 series II in my current system and sadly i must admit to using an acoustimass system for my computer speakers but in my defense the bass module is the clear acrylic version not sold to the public and a second normal module i saved from the trash lol. The AM series i think sound horrible but it's fine for World of Warcraft

westmassguy

mhardy6647 wrote: »

Yeah, I know (and yes, I remember them, too)... I was just updating you on the Polk side of the story, since you didn't seem to be familiar with it.

I think everyone was hopping on the direct/reflecting bandwagon back then.

mhardy6647

westmassguy wrote: »

I think everyone was hopping on the direct/reflecting bandwagon back then.

Indeed :-)

The DCM timewindows mined somewhat similar ground (and rather successfully, I'd opine, too). Indeed, they got more and more complicated with every subsequent rev. Then there were the various MicroAcoustics array speakers, some fairly bizarre (remember the MA Dodecahedrons?). Epicure (EPI) had a rather 901-esque speaker system early on as well, although I cannot remember the mdoel number and Huy Powell's "Humanspeakers" site is down, at least this morning.

Sort of back on topic :-) I want to state explicitly that, as westmassguy has noted, the early versions (at least) of the Bose 901 were good loudspeakers. They required (and could tolerate) mammoth amounts of power "for best results", and they don't do the 'pinpoint imaging' that would more recently become the fashion in loudspeakers, but they can fill a space with sound in an impressive way... there's something to be said about that.

... and they've been in production for decades, like just a few other products in the high-fashion, here today gone tomorrow world that is hifi -- like a handful of other loudspeakers (Altec Duplex - now made by Great Plains Audio - and the Klipschorn are two others that spring to mind).

But, yeah, the 301 and its little brother (201) were decent, straightforward speakers that do nothing wrong and today are relative bargains in terms of vintage hifi. Ain't nothin' wrong with that!

westmassguy

mhardy6647 wrote: »

Indeed :-)

The DCM timewindows mined somewhat similar ground (and rather successfully, I'd opine, too). Indeed, they got more and more complicated with every subsequent rev.

Sort of back on topic :-) I want to state explicitly that, as westmassguy has noted, the early versions (at least) of the Bose 901 were good loudspeakers. They required (and could tolerate) mammoth amounts of power "for best results, and they don't do the 'pinpoint imaging' that would more recently become the fashion in loudspeakers, but they can fill a space with sound in an impressive way... there's something to be said about that.

... and they've been in production for decades, like just a few other products in the high-fashion, here today gone tomorrow world that is hifi -- like a handful of other loudspeakers (Altec Duplex - now made by Great Plains Audio - and the Klipschorn are two others that spring to mind).

But, yeah, the 301 and its little brother (201) were decent, straightforward speakers that do nothing wrong and today are relative bargains in terms of vintage hifi. Ain't nothin' wrong with that!

You haven't heard a pair of 901s with one of my equalizers, to really hear what they are capable of. It can be jaw dropping.

mhardy6647

Bring a pair up sometime ;-) You can't be that far away from me.
I've got a nice room...

You'll have to bring your own amp, though - there's nothing in the house with more than a hair over 100 wpc, and most of the good ones are in single-digit territory!

... again, to the OP, sorry for the thread-jack we've unwittingly orchestrated!

westmassguy

mhardy6647 wrote: »

Bring a pair up sometime ;-) You can't be that far away from me.
I've got a nice room...

You'll have to bring your own amp, though - there's nothing in the house with more than a hair over 100 wpc, and most of the good ones are in single-digit territory!

... again, to the OP, sorry for the thread-jack we've unwittingly orchestrated!

Would if I could. My Continentals are rare, fully restored, and semi permanent where they are.

cnh

I remember auditioning some 901s in the late '80s. Mhardy is quite right they filled a reasonably sized showroom with sound. And I do mean FILLED IT! Probably more than any other speaker in the room. They did rock and other concert-level sound quite well at phenomenal sound pressure levels.

cnh

TennMan

Before hearing SDAs, Bose 901s were the best speaker I had ever heard. They were setup properly in the listening room of a high end dealer called HiFi House. I don't remember what they were powered by. It's been a looong time ago. I'm sure it was top of the line gear.

Schurkey

Hundreds of years ago, two of the regional roller skating rinks (remember them?) each used four Bose 901s. They were likely Series III in one rink, and Series IV in the other. One rink powered them with a "Flame Linear" 700, a monster-amp at that time. I have no idea what the other rink used for amps, CD player, and turntables. Both rinks are long-gone. A crying shame.

I've always believed that the 901s were the best PA speakers ever developed. They're wonderful in large-group settings.

Yeah, I've got a pair of Series V in the garage, for sound-reinforcement (covers up the swearing) as I work on cars or other "garage projects".

voltz

I gave my old Bose 401's to my neighbors who moved into their vacation house in Crested Butte. Rachelle says he uses them all the time now and really loves the sound.