Bose 901 ???

[Bran Kulez]

I am setting up a dedicated listening room with limited space and am considering the Bose 901's for their compact design (I also like the way they look). The amp running them would be a Marantz 1200 (integrated) with about 100 watts per channel. I would like to stick with the early versions (early 70's) because the rest of the equipment in the room is also of that era.

Has anyone out there had any extensive experience with the 901's?

[duficity]

The 901s had a great recommendation from consumer reports but little love in the audiophile community. It is designed on the premise that most of what you hear in an orchestral hall is reflected sound, so it has 8 rear firing 4" speakes and one front firing for localization. They come with an equalizer to get decent bass.
If you like diffuse sound, they might be ok. If you like realistic, pinpoint imaging and frequency response, I would look elsewhere.

[Bran Kulez]

I do most of my listening in the living room with headphones or my Dynaco A25's and me forming a nice little triangle. I find this the best way to listen.

The room where I'm considering the 901's will be shared by the little lady and I, so a more diffuse sound is what I'm after.

[josephazannieri]

Yo branku62:

I guess that I am going to join the andti-Bose 901 hordes. The issue with the Bose 901 is that it shoots most of the sound against the back wall, meaning that you will get what is basically mush, rather than any kind of image. If I were in your shoes I would get more conventionally designed speakers. But before you try anything else, take your Dynaco A-25's and move them into the larger room and play them spaced more widely apart and with tweeters about head high when you are sitting down, or about 2 1/2 to 3 feet off the floor. I think you may find that you like them that way, and that they will give a "more diffuse" sound set up this way, so long as they are a couple of feet from walls. You can build or improvise stands from 3/4 inch plywood and a couple of 2 x 4's. You may decide on other speakers that will work well, depending on your taste.

The real problem with the 901's is the same as the problems with a lot of Bose gear, which is too many half-solved engineering problems. The 901's don't work right without the special Bose equalizer to bring up the bass and the high end, and this will tend to increase distortion in bass and high end from your amp, because you are wasting power driving the equalizer, rather than using it to drive the speakers. I heard Bose 901's many years ago, when they were new, and I didn't like them even then. They were mushy and lumpy.

I recently inherited a set of Infinity P362's and a set of Infinity RS76 speakers, and I think either one would be suitable for a larger room, with the RS76's giving a better low end for most popular music. P362's cut off about 40 Hz. I normally build my own speakers, but I did experiment with these speakers just to see what they sounded like, and they were OK. Of course, they may not be to your taste.

And that, of course, is FWIW. My opinons and a buck will get you a cup of senior coffee at McDonalds. And good luck from the old coffee drinker,

Joe Z.

[d334578]

Oh noooo, a Bose thread

[jackfish]

Nose Bose, pleeze.

[BruceEmbry]

I have to drive right IN!

I have had my Bose 901's since 1977. In the mid 80's I had to replace all of the drivers due to Rot. Ok they still play and play fantistic. My Wife and I are currently watching the closing of the Olimpics with the audio piped through the 901's up front, VCS-10 in the middle and the Bose 140s in the back.

The turntable which I still listen to a lot is a Dual 1245 with Denon DL-304. Front amplification is provided by a Denon 755. And center and rear amplification comes from Marantz 4070 IA.

When chosing the Bose I went to a many audio salons and listen to just about every loudspeaker system available in 1977. I chose the Bose because the way that they made music sound. As a matter of fact, they don't add their own sound, it's just the music.
The Bose 901's requires proper set-up. They also demand a lot out of the audio system.

John Lenon is now live in my living room!

[Bran Kulez]

Thanks Joe Z. for your insight. I certainly don't like mushy music so I will give the A25's a try in the new room, they are about the right size. I brought home a Pair of JBL L88's from my office but they are way too big for the room.

BruceEmbry, I appreciate your input. I'm always on the lookout for vintage gear so if I find a pair of 901's for a fantastic price, I may give them a try.

[flavio81]

I will chime in.

The idea (on the 901) of directing a lot of sound to the rear and a little bit of sound to the front is a GOOD idea. In fact a VERY GOOD idea for some styles of music that helps make the speakers "dissapear". I do achieve the same effect but using rear speakers and special signal processing.

The problem is that the 901 as a speaker itself is mediocre... That's the problem. And relies in an active equalizer because it's intrinsic frequency response is poor. BAD BAD BAD.

You can achieve the same direct/reflected effect, with much more quality, using 4 decent speakers and two amplifiers, having 2 speakers point to the walls, and 2 speakers point towards you, balancing the direct-reflected balance using the volume controls.

BOSE - Buy Other Sound Equipment

[Bran Kulez]

Thanks flavio,

I actually have several pair of Dynaco A25's, (a thrift store favorite) but how would I split the signal between the amps? Since each pair need their own volume control, I'm assuming you mean integrated amps.

[josephazannieri]

Yo branku62 and other speaker bouncers:

There is a quick'n'dirty way to achieve variable volume control on 4 speakers with only one amp. You can put an L-pad on each speaker whose volume needs to be reduced. L-pad will permit continuously variable volume control on that speaker from level equal to the other speakers down to zero. It permits experimentation without requiring you to buy an additional amp. Once you get the relative levels set, you should not need to make a lot of adjustments. You will probably need 2 L-pads. They will cost less than 10 bucks each. Parts Express sells them.

If you want the circuit I can draw it up, but you will need to PM me with an Email I can send it to because VE will not take drawings off my computer.

@branku62 as a fellow member of the Commander and Dictator Illuminati, I am aware of the secret meaning of your avatar. I am a '60's Hawkman myself. In hoc signo vinces!

And good luck from that quick'n'dirty old guy,

Joe Z.

[PeterW.]

I am setting up a dedicated listening room with limited space and am considering the Bose 901's for their compact design (I also like the way they look). The amp running them would be a Marantz 1200 (integrated) with about 100 watts per channel. I would like to stick with the early versions (early 70's) because the rest of the equipment in the room is also of that era.

Has anyone out there had any extensive experience with the 901's?

I have, and to turn a phrase:

No highs? No Lows? Must be Bose.

There are very nearly infinitely better speakers that will be far less difficult to place, do not *REQUIRE* equalization for even minimal fidelity and are likely a great deal less expensive. With respect to Amar Bose - those speakers are a masterful tribute to marketing hype and not the least bit worthwhile as an audio reproducer.

Your A25s are a far better speaker - and a far better investment. Perhaps not as appealing to the eye. But if you want a 'neat' looking speaker, look for a pair of AR LSTs or LST2s. Perhaps Maggie (Magnepan) MGAs (or any other older Maggies). Even the dreaded "white van" speakers will possibly be better for you than the 901s.

Other options:
Revox Piccolo or AR Athena (sub-sat system) - if you want a true full-range but compact system.

http://www.canuckaudiomart.com/image.ph ... &is_user=0

http://www.canuckaudiomart.com/image.ph ... &is_user=0

http://www.canuckaudiomart.com/image.ph ... &is_user=0

http://www.canuckaudiomart.com/image.ph ... &is_user=0

The first two links are Revox. The second Acoustic Research. I keep both - and they blow the socks off any Bose system, real or imagined, new or vintage.

Peter Wieck
Melrose Park, PA

[PeterW.]

I am setting up a dedicated listening room with limited space and am considering the Bose 901's for their compact design (I also like the way they look). The amp running them would be a Marantz 1200 (integrated) with about 100 watts per channel. I would like to stick with the early versions (early 70's) because the rest of the equipment in the room is also of that era.

Has anyone out there had any extensive experience with the 901's?

I will also suggest the "HAFLER CIRCUIT" brought to you by by David Hafler of Acrosound, Dynaco and Hafler fame. Link below - about 1/3 the way down the page:

http://gilmore2.chem.northwestern.edu/faqs.htm

Peter Wieck
Melrose Park, PA

[gofar99]

Hi, I second the Hafler circuit for getting the effect you want. I use both conventional and ESLs for varying types of music. ESLs (in my case Martin Logans) will certainly give you the sound field you seem to want, but I suggest they are not for small rooms. In a small space the Hafler circuit and 4 conventional speakers will work quite well. The rears need not be as full range as the mains, but personally I would have all four identical to avoid anomalies in the sound.