Boston Acoustics A100 Series II

ajsankot

Hey guys are you guys big fans of the BA A100's? What is the difference between the series I and the series II?

Thanks guys

ajsankot

nothing?

hoosier21

maybe there are not BA experts here

did you try google?

ajsankot

I did I found a lot on the BA 150's I was just looking for more on the 100's. This forum is always great with knowledge in the audio world so I was just checking.

SteveNewman

Hi aj, I'll talk to you if no one else will!

I've only had my A100's for a week so I'm hardly an expert, but I'll share my initial impressions. I got mine through an ad on our local craigslist; I wasn't really looking for new speakers, but the guy kept lowering the price until finally I couldn't resist. I was expecting the foam woofer surrounds to be shot, but they were fine so I took them home.

I already had Advent 5002's which I basically liked, and compared to those I found the A100's to be very reticent in the bass, especially at low to moderate volume levels. They really need to be in a larger room and cranked up a bit before the full dynamic range evens out, and even then there is no hump in the mid-bass where a lot of speakers emphasize the kick-drum and electric bass in pop and rock music. However, I tried some pipe organ music that had notes down in the 30Hz range, and they will rattle the windows so the deep bass capability is there. But if you're looking for something with punch, they might be disappointing.

What I like best about the A100's is that with the Advents I was always more or less aware that the music was coming from the boxes, but the A100's present a more airy, spacious soundstage where the boxes disappear and you get the illusion of a live performance. They are especially sweet with strings. I've been pulling out and rediscovering CD's I haven't listened to in years, just to hear what they do with violins.

Anyway, that's my take. A terrific speaker for the price, if you understand their fortes and limitations. Usable for all types of music, but probably at their best with instrumental music-- classical and jazz, in my opinion.

Oh, and to answer your initial question about the difference between the Series I and II, I think the only difference is they changed the tweeter from one in a round mount to one in a rectangular mount, both soft dome, presumably because it sounded better. They also used the rectangular tweeter in the more expensive A150 and 200 models. Mine are the Series I with the round tweeter. I haven't heard any with the rectangular tweeter so I can't say if it really is an improvement or not, but probably it isn't a huge difference. I haven't had any success finding more information on the internet, so we're still waiting for a BA expert to weigh in!

schwarcw

Thanls for the writeup Steve and welcome to the Club Polk Forums. The A100's are very nice speakers. Very underrated.

ajsankot

thanks guys. I was wondering how people fancied them because this guy I know is offering some for $60 and says they are in awesome original same babied their who life 1 owner. I am big into all sorts of rock these days new and classic I didn't know how these speakers would work out in a 20 by 20 concrete frat room.

ajsankot

Hey I am going to pick them up for $50 on Sunday he is trying to get me to buy either his 150's or his 70's has any one head much on these guys?

Thanks again

SteveNewman

Go for it! $50 is a steal, just check the foam surrounds. Even if bad, you can get a repair kit for $25-$30, if you do the work yourself.

But you mean to say the man has A150's and A70's in addition to the A100's? Wow, he must have really been really been in love with Boston Acoustics. Make him an offer for all three!