Bose 901 - Series 1 Keep or sell

[Bob Kontak]

Originally Posted by TimT

Not sure if they would extend that sort of support to a forty year old product, but they sure impressed me..

That's awesome. I could at least call their tech support to see if they are still savvy with respect to the old units.

They may have interesting insight.

I am itching to hook these up but need to bust them open first.

[Bob Kontak]

Originally Posted by peteremsley

i guess those are the "air horns"?

sr71

I don't have those.

[Bob Kontak]

Originally Posted by Crowbob

They are speakers. The sound is what matters. Posers think otherwise.

Jeebus, they catch smack on the web. But for me, with my Acoustimass Series 1, non AC driven sub, they should be ok as a replacement.

[Don Ro]

A close friend had a new set back then. They could be played super loud, which is what he liked.
We all were impressed with how they filled the room, etc., but I liked (like) upper end quick transients, and they lacked that, so they were rather pedestrian to me.
When I got my Infinity Servo Statik (Electrostatic panels & bass commode) system and we heard such marvelous crystal clear highs, he sold his Bose 901's and began a multi-year search for the "ultimate" speaker.
I was never impressed enough to consider a set. I would, however, do as you're doing...research a rebuild (cost permitting) and keep them - just for the hell of it.
Good luck.
.
Edit: From the looks of the photo above...maybe screens are Velcro attached?

[stevej37]

Here's a review that is interesting..We Review the Bose 901… – Reviews | TONEAudio MAGAZINE

I've had speakers re-foamed at a local business at a very reasonable price. If they haven't been done before...they will need it at that age. I had a pair of 501's refoamed...sounded like new again. The 901's, also are reflective speakers, making room placement a little more difficult...which I'm sure you know.

[Bob Kontak]

Originally Posted by Don Ro

When I got my Infinity Servo Static (Electrostatic panels & bass commode) system and we heard such marvelous crystal clear highs, he sold his Bose 901's and began a multi-year search for the "ultimate" speaker.

Here's my pal's set of Infinity Quantum 2's in his garage wasting away. I bet these have the electrostatic jobbies you speak of.

I don't have room for four F250's in my shop.

[enzo1]

Hang from the ceiling, they will swing. Ah the good old days, Ha!

[creaturecat]

i got rid of mine. i have never missed them. not in the least.

[Don Ro]

Bob,
Some info on those Q2's...also the Servo Statik system that I had.
.
Infinity

[Max Von]

I had the great privileged to work at Bose on "The Mountain" back in 1979 or so. I was a college drop out and needed a job. I worked on the 901 driver line and did everything from reworking driver housings, burning in spiders, to sealing dust caps with the black epoxy and testing in the booth. Fantastic company and great people.
There was a rumor that the six or so tractor trailers out back had 901's with straight 120V's running through them for days.
I used to enjoy breakfast with Dr. Bose every once in a while.
They had a Christmas special for employees that included a set of 301 speakers, a turntable and a receiver for about $125 bucks.
They had an employee lottery for the new automobile Bose system under development and I was one of the winners but had a 1967 VW convertible bug that they said was too old.
Wish I didn't know now what I didn't know then.
Great speakers to say the least.

[Rikao4]

[QUOTE=Bob Kontak;9307448 If you are not a discerning audiophile but like loud music without ear bleeding, would these be cool for the long run?[/QUOTE]

For the memories ..
Oh yes...

Rika

[Bob Kontak]

Originally Posted by stevej37

Here's a review that is interesting..We Review the Bose 901… – Reviews | TONEAudio MAGAZINE

I've had speakers re-foamed at a local business at a very reasonable price. If they haven't been done before...they will need it at that age. I had a pair of 501's refoamed...sounded like new again. The 901's, also are reflective speakers, making room placement a little more difficult...which I'm sure you know.

Thank you for this link. I read every word.

Room placement will be interesting. I have a 50' x 15' garage with 14' ceilings. I can make fake corners.

[Bob Kontak]

Originally Posted by Don Ro

Bob,
Some info on those Q2's...also the Servo Statik system that I had.
.
Infinity

Thank you.

Will review in the morning. I do recall my pal walking away from the 901's post Infinity speakers. Not in a bad or mean way, just in a no comparison way. All were driven with McIntosh.

The 901's were relegated to garage speakers.

On the upside, that's what I got. A garage.

[Bob Kontak]

Originally Posted by Max Von

Wish I didn't know now what I didn't know then.
Great speakers to say the least.

That's what I need to hear.

I was heading this way regardless............

[aschen]

I think the reviewer was having a bit of fun being a bit audiophile contrarian to his enthusiast readers. 901s are a unique speaker in several ways, and alot of the Internet flack they get and Bose gets is justified. I think they probably make for pretty great room filling general music speakers. I think they are one of the very few Bose products that are appropriately priced. However if you are a sit down and listen to music kinda person, their are much better choices. They cannot measure well by the nature of their driver compliment. All the eq in the world can't give a 4" driver a good high frequency response. Most of the highest tech speakers now try to minimize the reaction with the room, the 901s try to maximize it. Lots of vintage speakers from altec, klipsch, etc are desirable but the hobbiests are more appothetic towards the 901s.

Not trying to badmouth them really, but there is alot more truth to some of the criticisms than audiophile snobbery. I like your set because they are old and old is cool

[Don Ro]

"I like your set because they are old and old is cool "
~~~~~~~~`
Old is cool when they're rebuilt "old"...IMO.
.
If I had those 901's and were restored, I use them in my garage for great garage sound.

[RKDinOKC]

Have some really nice dbx, Soundfield Model SF250s. Got them new in 81 right before dbx sold their name to that cheap DAK stuff. The neat thing is you can pretty much put them anywhere near a wall and they create a soundstage that you still hear perfect stereo anywhere in the room even sitting a foot directly in front of one of the speakers. They are designed so you hear the same volume from each speaker over the full spectrum no matter where you are in the room.

A few years ago the foam surrounds went. Took them to a couple of guys working out of a garage that had speaker stuff everywhere. They did a fantastic job and they sound like new and it was cheap too. Found them on the internet.

I've had surround sound since the 80's using the dbx for the left and right front speakers tp create a soundstage with no sweat spot, you can be anywhere in the room not just centered between the two speakers. They worked so well for years I didn't use a center speaker and you would swear there was a center speaker no matter where you were in the room. I have some Boston Acoustic bidirectional wall speakers for the rear. They work good, but if you get within 5 ft of either speaker the surround rear stage is broken and you hear the speaker you are closest to for the rear sound. Had to finally add a center speaker for dialog as most surround processors put movie dialog on the center channel and didn't offer setting up with just 4 speakers like they used to.

Honestly I would love to put a pair 901s on the rear channels. Indirect reflecting full spectrum speakers would be fantastic for the rear sound channels! That is pretty much what the rear surround is, reflected sound. And as far as the equalizer most surround systems will tune the environment to the available speakers automatically using test tones and a microphone. I think even a set of the 301 bookself speakers would do great.

[KFC911]

901s are loud azz rock 'n roll speakers, not audiophile quality...and there's not a damn thing wrong with that . They need gobs of power. One thing I Iove about my vintage Polks which in theory require precise room placement too....they don't, and neither do the 901s imo. If your garage isn't optimal, try turning them around so the eight drivers are firing forward and see for yourself.

I have a several pairs of Polk SDAs...170 lbs each, with 13 drivers....no foam . They rock regardless of room placement...listen to your own ears and rock on...

[Bob Kontak]

I pulled one panel off. Cloth surrounds are intact. In fact, don't even look tired.

Going to hook them up today.

[Don Ro]

It looks like you have a set of "new" 901's. How sweet is that?