Bose 901...Series VII???

2

Comments

  • Hilbert
    Hilbert Posts: 316
    edited December 2008
    My brother tells a story of his time in the army in Korea: a buddy was blasting four 901s on the roof of the barracks, and interfered so badly with a general's retirement ceremony being held a block away, that MPs came to the barracks and forced the guy to turn the music down. Or maybe off.

    After such an inspiring testimonial how can anyone continue to criticize Bose?

    How many RTi A9s would it take to achieve the same result? ;)
  • skrol
    skrol Posts: 3,330
    edited December 2008
    So what you are saying is that they are worth buying just to annoy the neighbors. OK.
    Stan

    Main 2ch:
    Polk LSi15 (DB840 upgrade), Parasound: P/LD-1100, HCA-1000A; Denon: DVD-2910, DRM-800A; Benchmark DAC1, Monster HTS3600-MKII, Grado SR-225i; Technics SL-J2, Parasound PPH-100.

    HT:
    Marantz SR7010, Polk: RTA11TL (RDO198-1, XO and Damping Upgrades), S4, CS250, PSW110 , Marantz UD5005, Pioneer PL-530, Panasonic TC-P42S60

    Other stuff:
    Denon: DRA-835R, AVR-888, DCD-660, DRM-700A, DRR-780; Polk: S8, Monitor 5A, 5B, TSi100, RM7, PSW10 (DXi104 upgrade); Pioneer: CT-6R; Onkyo CP-1046F; Ortofon OM5E, Marantz: PM5004, CD5004, CDR-615; Parasound C/PT-600, HCA-800ii, Sony CDP-650ESD, Technics SA 5070, B&W DM601
  • Hilbert
    Hilbert Posts: 316
    edited December 2008
    Actually I was joking.

    Furthermore it wasn't "the neighbors" who were annoyed, it was a General. Well worth annoying.
  • sucks2beme
    sucks2beme Posts: 5,555
    edited December 2008
    The same could be done with a cheap quad of Cerwin Vegas.
    If you're looking for loud on a budget, thats the way to go.

    Bose are Bose. I heard both JBL 100's and 901's with better quality gear.
    The JBLs were better. The JBLs 100's aren't all that great after
    spending time with better speakers. The 601's were better than 901's
    in my opinion, too. They were all better than those nasty Sansui
    or other cheap Japanese speakers that haunted most barracks at the time.
    Just loud and cheap. Welcome to the 70's. 30+ years later, we still
    have Bose hanging around.
    "The legitimate powers of government extend to such acts only as are injurious to others. But it does me no injury for my neighbour to say there are twenty gods, or no god. It neither picks my pocket nor breaks my leg." --Thomas Jefferson
  • skrol
    skrol Posts: 3,330
    edited December 2008
    Sansui! A friend of mine has a set a long time back. I think they had a 21" woofer or something insane like that.
    Stan

    Main 2ch:
    Polk LSi15 (DB840 upgrade), Parasound: P/LD-1100, HCA-1000A; Denon: DVD-2910, DRM-800A; Benchmark DAC1, Monster HTS3600-MKII, Grado SR-225i; Technics SL-J2, Parasound PPH-100.

    HT:
    Marantz SR7010, Polk: RTA11TL (RDO198-1, XO and Damping Upgrades), S4, CS250, PSW110 , Marantz UD5005, Pioneer PL-530, Panasonic TC-P42S60

    Other stuff:
    Denon: DRA-835R, AVR-888, DCD-660, DRM-700A, DRR-780; Polk: S8, Monitor 5A, 5B, TSi100, RM7, PSW10 (DXi104 upgrade); Pioneer: CT-6R; Onkyo CP-1046F; Ortofon OM5E, Marantz: PM5004, CD5004, CDR-615; Parasound C/PT-600, HCA-800ii, Sony CDP-650ESD, Technics SA 5070, B&W DM601
  • Hilbert
    Hilbert Posts: 316
    edited December 2008
    The aforementioned bro' returned from Korea with a couple of Sansuis the size of suitcases. He still listens to the radio through them, one aimed at the bathroom and the other at the rest of the house. Stereo imaging is not high on the agenda. For 30 year old speakers purchased in a PX 12,000 miles away, they're not bad.

    Although, of course, they're not Bose either...:)
  • dougy
    dougy Posts: 182
    edited February 2011
    I turned this thread up as I was searching for info about a rumoured 901 Series VII from Bose. Funny reading it now in light of the fact that the Mo-Fi's I had when I started this thread were replaced by Klipsch LS2's, the LS2's were replaced by Energy RC50's, which were repalced by Polk LSi9's, which were replaced by RBH MC6CT's, which I do still have. They are in a secondary system. My main 2-channel rig's speakers are...yup, you guessed it: Bose 901 Series VI! And have been for well over a year now, with no plans to change. (That Series VII thing would be tempting though, if they come to pass.)

    The 901's have come and stayed because they simply sound better than anything I've ever had in the room they're in. And that includes klipschorns and B&W 703's. They sound like music, not like hi-fi.
    THE MAN-CAVE 5.1 CHANNEL A/V RIG
    Sony KDS-60A3000
    a/d/s/ HT-400LCR (3)
    a/d/s/ HT-300 (2)
    Velodyne DLS-4000R (2)
    Pioneer Elite VSX-55TXi
    Pioneer Elite DV-47Ai
    Sony BDP-S300
    Sony SLV-779HF
    DirecTV HD sat. receiver

    MAN-CAVE 2-CHANNEL RIG (shares sources with a/v system)
    Adcom GFA-5500
    Bose 901 Series VI
    NAD C-165BEE
    Slim Devices Squeezebox Classic
    TEAC CD-RW890
    Technics SL-BD20D w/ Audio-Technica P34
    Akai HX-A3X
  • leftwinger57
    leftwinger57 Posts: 2,918
    edited February 2011
    back in the day when the series 1s were paired up to a Marantz receiver ,that was the stereo match for that time. As most of you guys know placement of those things is uber critical and people would drill holes in them and hang them from their ceilings.That's the good memory of those speakers. They were and always will be overpriced and after time there are way to many drivers to replace after rot out.
    2chl- Adcom GFA- 555-Onkyo P-3150v pre/amp- JVC-QL-A200 tt- Denon 1940 ci cdp- Adcom GFS-6 -Modded '87 SDA 2Bs - Dynamat Ext.- BH-5- X-Overs VR-3, RDO-194 tweeters, Larry's Rings, Speakon/Neutrik I/C- Cherry stain tops Advent Maestros,Ohm model E

    H/T- Toshiba au40" flat- Yamaha RX- V665 avr- YSD-11 Dock- I-Pod- Klipsch #400HD Speaker set-

    Bdrm- Nikko 6065 receiver- JBL -G-200s--Pioneer 305 headphones--Sony CE375-5 disc
  • jon s
    jon s Posts: 905
    edited February 2011
    Better
    Off
    Somewhere
    Else...
  • virtualdean
    virtualdean Posts: 286
    edited February 2011
    dougy wrote: »
    I turned this thread up as I was searching for info about a rumoured 901 Series VII from Bose. Funny reading it now in light of the fact that the Mo-Fi's I had when I started this thread were replaced by Klipsch LS2's, the LS2's were replaced by Energy RC50's, which were repalced by Polk LSi9's, which were replaced by RBH MC6CT's, which I do still have. They are in a secondary system. My main 2-channel rig's speakers are...yup, you guessed it: Bose 901 Series VI! And have been for well over a year now, with no plans to change. (That Series VII thing would be tempting though, if they come to pass.)

    The 901's have come and stayed because they simply sound better than anything I've ever had in the room they're in. And that includes klipschorns and B&W 703's. They sound like music, not like hi-fi.

    Your opinion is the one that matters, Dougy..
    I too have a set of VI's, in storage. stands, equalizer, great condition. I thought they sounded fine. I can take it up to richter level 8..it seemed like.
    I now use rtiA9's ...IMO they sound way different like apples and oranges..\
    I don't want to play a loud levels, I want to hear the definition, clarity...etc etc ad nauseum..

    For what its worth, I doubt Bose is going to do anything with the 901's.
    They have been milking the cashcow that is the 901's for decades.

    Bose has gone whole hog into the HT arena with a large assortment of small plastic sht boxes with assorted subwoofers.. So sad..:smile:
  • maximillian
    maximillian Posts: 2,142
    edited March 2011
    But, but, but the reviews on Amazon say they are great:

    http://www.amazon.com/Bose-Direct-Reflecting-Speaker-System/dp/B0006B5V6G

    :biggrin:

    I have a relatively new friend who works for Bose. Fortunately we have not had a conversation about audio yet. Here's to hoping it's just a workplace for him.
  • styx
    styx Posts: 37
    edited March 2011
    I found a mint pair of 901's IV @ a yardsale for $35 a several years ago. I traded them a few years later for a set fo Klipsch RF-3's. I think having the right room and placement is critical for 901's, which I had neither.
    Styx

    Condo: HK-3490, HK Bridge II, HK BTA-10 Polk TSx500T's
  • DON73
    DON73 Posts: 516
    edited March 2011
    I was able to snatch up my first pair of ADS L710s from a young college lad who needed the money to help with the purchase of 901s.:biggrin::biggrin:



    Back in the 70s Sansui speakers at least gave you a lot of hardware for your money.
    TO ERR IS HUMAN. TO FORGIVE IS CANINE.
  • thuffman03
    thuffman03 Posts: 1,325
    edited March 2011
    I had a set of 901's and never could get them to sound good. The only good thing was I was able to sell them for more than I paid for them.
    Sunfire TGP, Sunfire Cinema Grand, Sunfire 300~2 (2), Sunfire True Sub (2),Carver ALS Platinum, Carver AL III, TFM-55, C-19, C-9, TX-8, SDA-490t, SDA-390t
  • Slyder01
    Slyder01 Posts: 115
    edited March 2011
    skrol wrote: »
    Sansui! A friend of mine has a set a long time back. I think they had a 21" woofer or something insane like that.

    Yea sansui!! I did a job for a lady and took 50 bucks off for some sansuis.. I put them in my garage cause we use to party in there all the time. My sister in law had them cranked one night and one of them literally bursted into flames! We grabbed it off the shelf and you guessed it,, doused it with beer,,lol... We then proceeded to finish it off with a sledge hammer and then i took the woofer and ran over it with my truck,, Luckily we were in the garage at the time or it would have burned it down.. aaahhhhh,, the good-ole days
    Yamaha rx-a2000 AVR
    Polk csi5 Center
    Polk rt16 Main
    Polk fxia6 Rear Surround
    Paradigm Micro Rear Back
    Onkyo bookshelf Front Presence (for now)
    PSW 450 Front Sub
    DSW MicroPro 4000 Front Sub
    DSW MicroPro 2000 Rear Sub
    Samsung c6300 60 inch LED
    Sony BDPs370
    Room Size 15x30
  • Tombr
    Tombr Posts: 4
    edited September 2011
    I think when properly powered and placed the 901 S6 is one of the better bargins out there. If you buy a pair more than 12 years old have the EQ serviced or you may experience the missing highs syndrome. 20+ years old, bass may also suffer . Make sure your amp has a tape monitor loop to hook up the EQ. Or another way to feed it in the circuit. Your much better off running these with a good 50 to75 WPC integrated amp then a home theater receiver. They need current more than wattage do to the EQ's demand on the amp to produce bass. I have used an Arcam Alpha 8 (50WPC 8 ohms) in a large 29 X 15 room with very good results. I was very surprised this modest amp could drive these so well. I have them on 28" Sanus stands that are sand filled & screwed in.. Much better than the Bose stands. Place 901's 6 to 8 ft apart, 14" - 16" from a hard wall and they shine. If you have a couch or chair in between put sliders under the couch feet so you can easily move it for serious listening.
    On a side note in this room I have had Polk SDA SRS, Ohm Walsh 5, Kef XQ30 Boston A200, RBH1044se Theil 1.2 + A FEW MORE and I prefer the Bose to all mentioned..
  • DollarDave
    DollarDave Posts: 2,575
    edited September 2011
    Welcome back, Tombr.
  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 32,874
    edited September 2011
    Bose 201s, baby!

    bose1.jpg
    bose201iii.jpg

    I actually ran the 201s on my DIY (not by me) Angela/JE Labs SE 2A3 amp... and they sounded surprisingly good. MR was excellent, no kidding around. The 301s were/are even better; arguably the best sounding Bose product.

    Speaking of the (commercial) 801 (EDIT: make that 800)...

    p0063.jpg
  • stuwee
    stuwee Posts: 1,508
    edited September 2011
    RuSsMaN wrote: »
    901's are worth a listen. They can take tons of power and play plenty loud - and with the eq, and some spirits flowing, they aren't half bad for rocking the house. Other offerings, not so much, but the 901 has it's place secured in audio history - love it or hate it.

    Hell, Polk was even asked to copy it back in the day. Where do you think the Monitor 9 came from?

    Cheers,
    Russ

    I have to agree with Russ, for what they were, you could do a lot worse. No one with any sense would pay what they're asking for the new series, but plenty of nice used ones out there, if they need a refoam...RUN unless you like punishment :tongue:, then put on some assless chaps and get your gluegun nice and hot...

    I wouldn't get mad if someone gifted me a nice pair, they can be fun in the right room with the right tunes and the right beverages :wink:
    Thorens TD125MKII, SME3009,Shure V15/ Teac V-8000S, Denon DN-790R cass, Teac 3340 RtR decks, Onix CD2...Sumo Electra Plus pre>SAE A1001 amp>Martin Logan Summit's
  • Joe08867
    Joe08867 Posts: 3,919
    edited September 2011
    I have heard a few different 901 series speakers. The early ones are much better imho.

    I am actually a fan of the 701's myself. Not the Series ii but the originals.

    bose701lerpm4.jpg
  • Drenis
    Drenis Posts: 2,871
    edited September 2011
    Joe,

    I had Series I 701 towers for 8 years. They certainly did have bass but I didn't like there lack of mid-range.
  • Joe08867
    Joe08867 Posts: 3,919
    edited September 2011
    Drenis wrote: »
    Joe,

    I had Series I 701 towers for 8 years. They certainly did have bass but I didn't like there lack of mid-range.

    I didn't have that issue but the room I had them in was pretty lively. The side firing Mids are one the weird parts about them for sure.

    I did like the Bass output. It wasn't as one note as most of the other Bose stuff is.
  • Drenis
    Drenis Posts: 2,871
    edited September 2011
    I had heard that the decision to redesign the 701's to their series II design like the 601's was due to customers complaining of too much bass from the original series.

    I've heard 901 VI & 701 I together and they blended nicely as the 901's picked up all the mid-range and bass that the 701's couldn't reproduce. Still though... Wish I had heard them on an actual amp back then.
  • Timothy Smith
    Timothy Smith Posts: 764
    edited September 2011
    DON73 wrote: »
    I was able to snatch up my first pair of ADS L710s from a young college lad who needed the money to help with the purchase of 901s.:biggrin::biggrin:



    WOW!

    That's like working your way through Katie Perry in order to get to Rosie O'Donnell.
    Norh ACA-2B tube pre, Sumo Andromeda SS amp. Magneplanar MMG speakers, M&K MX1250 Subwoofer, Pro-Ject RM1.3 Genie TT with Sumiko Pearl MM cart., Keces DAC, Cambridge Audio Azur 640c CD player
  • Joe08867
    Joe08867 Posts: 3,919
    edited September 2011
    WOW!

    That's like working your way through Katie Perry in order to get to Rosie O'Donnell.

    That right there is Signature Material.
  • skrol
    skrol Posts: 3,330
    edited September 2011
    DON73 wrote: »
    That's like working your way through Katie Perry in order to get to Rosie O'Donnell.

    That is destined to be a classic.
    Stan

    Main 2ch:
    Polk LSi15 (DB840 upgrade), Parasound: P/LD-1100, HCA-1000A; Denon: DVD-2910, DRM-800A; Benchmark DAC1, Monster HTS3600-MKII, Grado SR-225i; Technics SL-J2, Parasound PPH-100.

    HT:
    Marantz SR7010, Polk: RTA11TL (RDO198-1, XO and Damping Upgrades), S4, CS250, PSW110 , Marantz UD5005, Pioneer PL-530, Panasonic TC-P42S60

    Other stuff:
    Denon: DRA-835R, AVR-888, DCD-660, DRM-700A, DRR-780; Polk: S8, Monitor 5A, 5B, TSi100, RM7, PSW10 (DXi104 upgrade); Pioneer: CT-6R; Onkyo CP-1046F; Ortofon OM5E, Marantz: PM5004, CD5004, CDR-615; Parasound C/PT-600, HCA-800ii, Sony CDP-650ESD, Technics SA 5070, B&W DM601
  • arun1963
    arun1963 Posts: 1,797
    edited September 2011
    the 901+sub is fairly decent
  • steveinaz
    steveinaz Posts: 19,521
    edited September 2011
    The 901 VI setup I had for years (2 bridged soundcraftsmen amps for 600watts/rms) needed no sub whatsoever. You need a lot of amp, and a lot of room; and careful placement to capitalize on their strengths. The EQ is best run off of a loop circuit, rather than between the pre and amp---this makes a BIG difference. Most people who feel they "suck" obviously have not heard them in the right environment. While they are not "mind-boggling" or revolutionary, they can be quite a thrill with rock and jazz.

    Having said all that, I bought my series VI for $799, stands/EQ included during a big PX sale in Germany. I sold them 14 years later for $700. Not too shabby---and yeah, I'll say it...sometimes I miss those pups.

    All you stuck-up eliteist can stick it up your ****-cutter :biggrin:

    While most of you snot-noses were wiping your own excrement on the walls, and still peeing your diapers, I was rocking Black Dog at concert levels with a woodie. LOL!
    Source: Bluesound Node 2i - Preamp/DAC: Benchmark DAC2 DX - Amp: Parasound Halo A21 - Speakers: MartinLogan Motion 60XTi - Shop Rig: Yamaha A-S501 Integrated - Shop Spkrs: Elac Debut 2.0 B5.2
  • steveinaz
    steveinaz Posts: 19,521
    edited September 2011
    You smoking jacket, brandy snifter types that dissect music, rather than listen to it, wouldn't get it either. Damn kids. :biggrin:

    I think I'll buy a pair at full retail, just to piss some of you off.
    Source: Bluesound Node 2i - Preamp/DAC: Benchmark DAC2 DX - Amp: Parasound Halo A21 - Speakers: MartinLogan Motion 60XTi - Shop Rig: Yamaha A-S501 Integrated - Shop Spkrs: Elac Debut 2.0 B5.2
  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 32,874
    edited September 2011
    Pretty cheap for a high-end speaker is the 901. Price some Harbeth, Wilson Audio and Sonus-Faber speakers some time.