Bose 901

[Por_sha911]

Have you looked into Cerwin Vegas?

[Bob Kontak]

901 Series 1 had a fabric speaker surround. I just gave away a set with equalizer for $75.

They were not all that.

Suspect equalizer could have used refreshed innards which kits are available for.

[jyl]

Browsing CL. Lots of random speakers turning up. If it's not "interesting" then my budget is more like $150...

Seeing Polk towers for $100. Two 6.5" drivers, single dome tweeter, vent.

Klipsch R41 bookshelfs for $100. Klipsch floor speakers seem to start around $180, I do like the look of the horn tweeters.

No interesting Cerwin-Vegas turning up locally.

Lots of JBL listed, hard to weed out the PA stuff.

Speaker kits start around $290 for a floor set.

I'm no longer an audiophile, but do think it would be cool for the kids to have a decent, and most important, interesting system if we can do it on a small budget.

I'll give them my old NAD 5120 turntable. My dad is going to give them an old receiver, specs unknown.

I'm guessing 90% of the listening will be from an iPhone or laptop jacked into the receiver.

My son was listening to some Chet Baker just now, so it's not all rap and hip-hop. He tells me Chet Baker gets sampled a lot in "lo-fi", whatever that is.

[KFC911]

Yer a cool dad John

[PCA7GGR]

Still listening to the pair of Kilpsh Heresy horn loaded speakers I got back in the 70s.

Replaced the crossovers a few year back.

[Rtrorkt]

I’m still running my Time Windows driven by Yamaha M4

[frosty2]

Have a pair of 901’s suspended in my garage and I do have the equalizer and have them coupled to a circa 70’s Pioneer receiver and a Sony turntable and cassette player.
I like the sound, the garage has 10’ ceilings so suspending to Bose specs was doable
And they fit right in with a seventies vehicle theme 😁

[KFC911]

LOL....my largest Polk SDAs are gathering dust in a bedroom....but if I put 'em in the garage ...

I won't have room for the Carrera....wah!

Can ya hang 170lb speakers.....hmmmm

My $3k Polks (back then) were what I drooled over in the 80s....have three sets....even the baby apt ones are beasts....and are classic imho.

The SDA crossovers, upgradable drivers (12 each)....an audio DIYer's dream....no foam either.

I paid a fraction of retail for all of mine used...had the smallest (apt size) pair for nearly 3 decades....

I miss Ian on these threads

[crb07]

No highs, no lows, must be Bose?

I think there are better sounding speakers out there. For the money it’s hard to beat some of the older Klipsch speakers.

[msk1986911]

Originally Posted by PCA7GGR

Still listening to the pair of Kilpsh Heresy horn loaded speakers I got back in the 70s.

Replaced the crossovers a few year back.

+1 on the Heresys....I've had mine since 1985...still going strong.

Mike

[L8Brakr]

When I left for college in August of "79, I had a pair of 901's, a Kenwood receiver pushing about 75 WPC, and a JVC turntable loaded into my Firebird Formula. Was a big hit in the dorm. Was it as pure as the Infinity system I really wanted......no. But it rocked and I still have the speakers in the garage.

I think they would be great for an affordable student apartment. Can't tell you how many times I was asked to bring the music for a party, grill-out, or pool get together. Just turn them around and let them do what they do. Perfect for pointing out the windows as well.

As for the equalizer, yes its absolutely required. Compared to some of of the other vintage choices listed here, which I also admire, the 901's are actually reasonably sized.

[cmccuist]

I just bought a pair of 901’s series V with the equalizer for $150. They don’t need a refoam yet, but if they did, I would get this tool:

901 refoam tool

[KFC911]

Originally Posted by L8Brakr

When I left for college in August of "79, I had a pair of 901's, a Kenwood receiver pushing about 75 WPC, and a JVC turntable loaded into my Firebird Formula. Was a big hit in the dorm. Was it as pure as the Infinity system I really wanted......no. But it rocked and I still have the speakers in the garage.

I think they would be great for an affordable student apartment. Can't tell you how many times I was asked to bring the music for a party, grill-out, or pool get together. Just turn them around and let them do what they do. Perfect for pointing out the windows as well.

As for the equalizer, yes its absolutely required. Compared to some of of the other vintage choices listed here, which I also admire, the 901's are actually reasonably sized.

In '79....901s were everyone's dream . The big Kenwood under the frat house bar was a beast (size wise)....don't know the wattage....but enough !

Weren't 901s "fused" to protect them from being blown? How many speakers have I seen go down in a "sizzle" back then...underpowered amps love to clip like Floyd the Barber ....fuse 'em and turn it up...

[kach22i]

Originally Posted by jyl

They have a turntable (old Dual), they want a stereo. I think 901s would be cool and interesting and loud enough for the whole house situation next year.

I get the novelty of using antiquated technology by today's young folks.

If they go this route just to have that Facebook/Instagram moment to impress their friends then these are just props to amaze their friends. And should friends stop by to see the funny stuff their parents or grandparents used to listen to, then all the better.

No harm in that.

If this leads them to getting actually good sounding speakers one day, then why not make this lifestyle fashion statement today?

I say go for it, so they can laugh about it tomorrow.

Hung from the ceiling as ambient music or just as loud noise makers is fine as others have noted, but the pedestals make "the look" complete.

[speeder]

This thread has piqued my interest in speakers but not big ones. I searched CL for Klipsch bookshelf speakers but the model #s don’t seem to match the ones mentioned above(?)

Can someone more knowledgeable please tell me which if any of these are desirable and/or a good deal? Thanks.

These ones:

https://losangeles.craigslist.org/search/sss?query=klipsch+speakers&sort=rel&srchType=T

[cairns]

In 1974 I looked at Bose 901s and JBL 4311s. I went for the latter and they still sound great.

Notably JBL has reintroduced the 100 to excellent reviews.

[aschen]

Originally Posted by speeder

This thread has piqued my interest in speakers but not big ones. I searched CL for Klipsch bookshelf speakers but the model #s don’t seem to match the ones mentioned above(?)

Can someone more knowledgeable please tell me which if any of these are desirable and/or a good deal? Thanks.

These ones:

https://losangeles.craigslist.org/search/sss?query=klipsch+speakers&sort=rel&srchType=T

Kg series are good classic speakers to rock out with

Nice kg 3.5s should be in the 200 ish dollar range +/- for example


After that heresy/forte/corus/cornwell

400 to 800 on these

[RWebb]

used Allison 3's can be had and were meant to go in corners

changing the 901 will mess up it's F/R design, but you can refoam the drivers

remind them of the strict noise curfews...

[L8Brakr]

Originally Posted by KC911

In '79....901s were everyone's dream . The big Kenwood under the frat house bar was a beast (size wise)....don't know the wattage....but enough !

Weren't 901s "fused" to protect them from being blown? How many speakers have I seen go down in a "sizzle" back then...underpowered amps love to clip like Floyd the Barber ....fuse 'em and turn it up...

Not sure if it was "fused" or just something integral to the design. No external fuses on a 901. Maybe inside the cabinet, don't know.

I was at a hi-fi show in Atlanta in 77-78, and at the Bose room, the company rep. took an extension cord, cut off one end and tied the two wires to the speaker terminals.

He plugged the cord into a 110 volt wall outlet and the speaker produced an enormous drone that shook your innards. (I always assumed related to the 120hz of standard current). After 20 -30 seconds, he unplugged it and reconnected to the demonstration system. Sounded good as new. Never had the stones to try that with my own speakers.

Probably one of the reasons I bought Bose (guess he did his job, huh?).

To the OP. If you decide to go the 901 route, whatever receiver/ integrated amp you provide must have a tape monitor loop to hook up the EQ. Most vintage equipment will have one......most modern digital units don't.

[stevej37]

Originally Posted by L8Brakr

To the OP. If you decide to go the 901 route, whatever receiver/ integrated amp you provide must have a tape monitor loop to hook up the EQ. Most vintage equipment will have one......most modern digital units don't.

Very good/important point...I had forgot about that.