Just heard some Bose 901's!

mhardy6647

There have been numerous "wide soundfield" loudspeaker designs over the years.
Some of them ludicrous (the BSR/ADC abominations made famous by Drew A. Kaplan's DAK "Thunderlizards") and others pretty good (DCM timewindows and the first generation of the late Roy Allison's eponymous loudspeakers, e.g.).



DSC_5796a by Mark Hardy, on Flickr

heiney9

"Oh, that's the way, uh-huh uh-huh
I like it, uh-huh, uh-huh
That's the way, uh-huh uh-huh
I like it, uh-huh, uh-huh
That's the way, uh-huh uh-huh
I like it, uh-huh, uh-huh
That's the way, uh-huh uh-huh
I like it, uh-huh, uh-huh"

H9

steveinaz

If you like listening to music, you may like the 901; if you like listening to equipment--you'll likely hate them. This is all I can bring from my 14yr experience with them. They're not great at any 1 thing, but their good at many things, at least in my opinion. They need a larg'ish rectangular room, they need lots of power, and patience with setup.

Wish I could deny liking them, I like eating lunch with the cool kids; just giving my insight/experiences with them (Series VI).

heiney9

Not true (for me) Steve, I enjoy the music better on better gear, period!

SDA's have their detractors, but I absolutely love mine. I am looking for something different than those that think the 901's sound good, that's all. Maybe in their day they had a good sound, but their sound (to me) doesn't stand the test of time, nor was it all that good it their day.

H9

P.s. But we have all modded our SDA's to bring closer to modern day. I still don't care as much for the early SDA's with the SDA tweeters. I would go without SDA's before I'd own those.

K_M

As I said above, not sure I would for sure buy them, but they are highly listenable in some way, that simply made me enjoy them.

I think it goes beyond the technical stuff and all that, and is simply enjoyable.
Some listen for the sake of listening to equipment, and expecting this or that from the sound, but really do not focus on the enjoyment of the music or the experience.

My neighbors also have the 3-2-1 system, and from things I read it should be total crap.
Not saying it was great, but it was also very decent overall and again quite listenable and enjoyable.

I am able to enjoy the technical aspects of good speakers, but at times I feel that maybe those aspects take foreground over simply enjoying music.

Not saying I am going all out Bose, but as much as the SDA are over hyped, Bose also seems to be also unfairly Bashed.

We have an old big console stereo in our basement, and several vintage speakers. Each is very enjoyable at times, "despite" them all having an older sound and not being the last word on anything.

I find enjoyable hard to explain. Simply being better technically, is not the key for me.

pitdogg2

heiney9 wrote: »

"Oh, that's the way, uh-huh uh-huh
I like it, uh-huh, uh-huh
That's the way, uh-huh uh-huh
I like it, uh-huh, uh-huh
That's the way, uh-huh uh-huh
I like it, uh-huh, uh-huh
That's the way, uh-huh uh-huh
I like it, uh-huh, uh-huh"

H9

If you do a little dance....I'm a gonna.....

K_M

DSkip wrote: »

K_M wrote: »

Some listen for the sake of listening to equipment, and expecting this or that from the sound, but really do not focus on the enjoyment of the music or the experience.

I've never liked this statement. Everyone is listening for the experience. Some want to experience the music while others want to experience a lifelike reproduction of the performance - something that is absolutely transcendental.

We have had guys over, that kept commenting on aspects of the sound, but not the music.
It is like they are disecting the sound into how it is reproduced, but not simply listening to the music.
Hard to articulate, but some of the best times I simply got into music, were not with our better equipment, but at outdoors with our big Pa speakers playing or in one of our cars, simply listening and enjoying.

Maybe guys are more technical about it. Not sure.

heiney9

So listening to your favorite song like it's coming out of a closed shoe box gives you the same pleasurable, aural, musical experience as it does on a really nice rig that accentuates all the instruments and vocals, etc.??

Really? Sorry that doesn't fly with me. I'd rather not listen. One of the main reasons I mostly listen to talk radio in the car.

Sure there are some "situational" times when music played on a Bluetooth from a phone gets me excited, but that's about the situation, not the music. Like getting pumped to go see a concert and listening to some tunes on the way to the show. But again, that's about being with my buds or girlfriend and going to see an event.

Life is too short to listen to crappy hi-fi

H9

heiney9

DSkip wrote: »

K_M wrote: »

Some listen for the sake of listening to equipment, and expecting this or that from the sound, but really do not focus on the enjoyment of the music or the experience.

I've never liked this statement. Everyone is listening for the experience. Some want to experience the music while others want to experience a lifelike reproduction of the performance - something that is absolutely transcendental.

Yep!

K_M

heiney9 wrote: »

So listening to your favorite song like it's coming out of a closed shoe box gives you the same pleasurable, aural, musical experience as it does on a really nice rig that accentuates all the instruments and vocals, etc.??

Really? Sorry that doesn't fly with me. I'd rather not listen. One of the main reasons I mostly listen to talk radio in the car.

H9

I never said it was "the same" experience.
I said I was able to enjoy it.

You end up having very limited places to enjoy music, I end up being able to most of the time.

I find it simply icing on the cake to hear it well reproduced. I find it highly enjoyable, but not absolutely necessary to enjoy hearing music.

You say would rather "Not Listen" at all......Were you that way years ago??

heiney9

That's where I differ. No, years ago I didn't know what was out there as far as better sound and performance. But now I do, and I can't go backwards. Just like I could drink Skol vodka in high school, but now I prefer Grey Goose or Tito's. No reason at all to drink Skol if your tastes evolve for Tito's or Grey Goose.

I have more experience and I can afford to have nicer gear, why would I want to go backwards. If I "had" to have a mediocre system I suppose it would suffice, but I wouldn't use it near as much because I wouldn't enjoy it.

This is my hobby, I've developed certain preferences (on purpose) and that's where the enjoyment lies for me. Obviously it's different for you.

H9

voltz

^^^^
like all the cheap wine we drank growing up now if it aint dry enough I don't want it can't handle to sweet of wines or the $5 bottles.

K_M

heiney9 wrote: »

I have more experience and I can afford to have nicer gear, why would I want to go backwards. If I "had" to have a mediocre system I suppose it would suffice, but I wouldn't use it near as much because I wouldn't enjoy it.

This is my hobby, I've developed certain preferences (on purpose) and that's where the enjoyment lies for me. Obviously it's different for you.

H9

I was responding to you saying you are not able to even enjoy music, in a car, outside of your home etc.
I have preferences also, and do enjoy better sound.

I am luckily able to "turn that off" when I listen in a car, go to a bar or club, or someone else's house or listen to vintage stuff and so on.

Just out of curiosity, what are the Better speakers you own? If you do not want to mention them, that is cool also!

daddyjt

There was a time, in my early teens, when a pair or Realistic Mach II speakers were the most awesome thing I have ever heard. There was a time, a few years later, when a pair of Klipsch LaScallas were the best speakers I had heard. Then it was a pair of Polk SDA SRS. Then it was a full infinity RS V system.

Point is, the "best I've ever heard" is always a temporary title for me - it's the best, till I hear something better. I now have a pair of Legacy Focus 20/20 that are the best speakers for me... for now.

Incidentally, I acquired a very nice pair of Polk SDA SRS speakers, and I find myself considerably underwhelmed with them. I suppose it makes sense that you can never go back to that initial infatuation, once you move on.

mikeyb128

I won't forget the first time I heard a real 2 channel system, the band seemed to come from between the speakers, and the singer was locked dead centre. I even got up and Checked to see if the speakers were even playing, it seemed like some kind of trick to me, there was no left and right, it was like a stage was layed out before me. Very cool. I now enjoy this experience with my system.

I was listening to Joss Stone the other night, quite loud, and it was almost eerie how she seemed to be right in the room with me, dead centre, I could almost reach out and touch her, (I wish!) it was that close. Simply amazing.

Now that is listening to music! I listen to it in all forms, in the car, blue tooth speakers at work, ear buds with MP3. But at home, I'm spoiled with a great system, and I love it.

steveinaz

A music lover will enjoy a favorite song on a AM transistor radio. I'm not suggesting that hi-fi equipment doesn't enhance that experience--I'm just saying that you should invest in equipment that brings YOU enjoyment; regardless of popular opinion. This isn't a contest, it's a hobby. My current speakers are tonally warm, and have thin-wall construction; awful right? Speakers are about creating an illusion. I like my illusions warm, and couldn't care less if that's not razors edge accurate.

heiney9

Agreed, Steve.

heiney9

I can listen to music on other devices/situations, but I don't get the same level of satisfaction as dedicated listening on my main rig. My computer/office rig gives me great enjoyment as well, but I've also "built" that to my liking realizing I'm not trying to replicate the main rig. It's not just slapped together.

H9

honestaquarian

I see far too many people walk into different situations carrying biases that they cannot get past or let go of.Then they use those biases to bash those things or people whom they feel are not worthy.
Not everyone comes into every situation with the same goals,biases,experiences,needs or desires.
(*even though people have a natural tendency to assume that everyone else is the same as them. Just look at what DSkip said above.
" Everyone is listening for the experience. Some want to experience the music while others want to experience a lifelike reproduction of the performance - something that is absolutely transcendental. "*)

As a result of these unique personal characteristics different people walk away from said situations with a different take on what happened or what was experienced. Up to a point of course.
Example;
When I used to sell hifi gear I noticed that when men would bring their wives or girlfriends with them to listen to stereo equipment,the women would hear a difference between speakers or components right away and they were done. They would go and sit down and read a magazine or something.
Quite the contrary the men would sometimes spend HOURS trying to dissect not only what they heard,but also whether or not they heard anything and what it was and it's intrinsic value and if it meant anything to them overall and...................................................................................................Then eventually their partners would get antsy and kinda force them to either make up their minds or try again another time (*without them*) because they were ready to go.
I saw this time after time after time and time again with couples.
It became as predictable as the sunrise whenever I saw a couple come in to my store.
My point
Women have better hearing, but are not as driven by the technical aspects of this hobby-which is why most women aren't into this hobby.
Men ARE driven by the technical aspects of this hobby-which is why we end up having so many discussion/debates on different threads on this forum about what sounds better and WHY.
Women hear something that they like and enjoy and they are FINE with it and ready to move on to something else.
NEEEXT
Meanwhile men MUST KNOW WHY they like or dislike the sound and expend a LOT of time,money and ink dissecting it, researching it and debating it.

steveinaz

Another pitfall; more detail=better speaker. Some of the best speakers I've owned, started off a little "non-spectacular." Take it for what it's worth.

heiney9

I have no bias against Bose, Not my preferred sound by a long shot. I've been in this hobby 30+ years. I know what I like and I know what my preferences are. I seek out what my preferences are.

In fact I am extremely leery of a product that is "spectacular or has a single spectacular attribute right off the bat". Almost every time I tire of that singular attribute and move on.

Perfect example was the hand built chip amp I bought with all the best parts money could buy. It sounded great at first, but then I realized it had no musicality or life to it. It was dry, sterile and robotic. But everyone was talking these "new" single chip amps as the next coming. Black gate caps, Caddock resistors, Cardas connectors, torodial power supply. On paper and in person it looked fantastic......what a dud.

H9

Jimbo18

I haven't heard Bose 901's since 1972 or early '73. I remember loving them and wishing I could afford them. Seems like they were around $900 (not sure if that included the equalizer or not) at a time when I was making about $400 a month. Even eating Air Force chow and living in the barracks, I couldn't afford that.

Anyway, I would love to hear them now, set up correctly and properly amplified. I have enjoyed all the Polk's I have owned, but there's a nostalgia aspect to the Bose that I can't quite help but want to hear again.

Of course, my 64-yr. old ears aren't going to hear the same way my 20-yr. old ones did, but still, I would love to hear them now.

steveinaz

Jimbo; The series VI was a MAJOR upgrade to the series IV. I listended on a number of occasions in the early 80's to series IV, didn't like them at all. They were hollow and nasal in tone. The VI was a big step in the right direction, and the EQ also had a large amount of upgrades.