Bose 901 any good? [Archive]

Serendipity

01-12-2009, 07:10 PM

So - I heard the Bose 901 Series VI yesterday in a 2 channel setup similar to mine and I'm really confused.

Now, over the past year I've been on 3-4 audio forums and the general consensus is that "Bose sucks." However, I did not hear anything about the 901s that were especially bad. In fact, they didn't sound bad at all with classical music.

What's up with that? (I'm just trying to be open minded about demoing speakers and even though many do not like Bose I decided that I should hear them for myself first.)

heiney9

01-12-2009, 07:19 PM

http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?t=71330&highlight=bose+901*

http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?t=66220&highlight=bose+901*

http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?t=56708&highlight=bose+901*

http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?t=44419&highlight=bose+901*

http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?t=23671&highlight=bose+901*

http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?t=13632&highlight=bose+901*

http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?t=4748&highlight=bose+901*

A 2 minute search reveals that this subject may have been discussed before.

H9

Serendipity

01-12-2009, 07:23 PM

Fongolio

01-12-2009, 07:26 PM

Someone said the "B" word.

heiney9

01-12-2009, 07:27 PM

Okay, but that still doesn't explain what I am hearing....

You are a fast reader......you read all those threads and posts? I am seriously not trying to be an a** I thought the posts which involve the 901 would be provide helpful info in addition to what might be added here in this post.

Bose tend to be a catalyst for the fireworks so not sure what type of "answer" you will get.

Bose, IMO, has never sounded real. Greta high volume party speaker like Cerwin Vega's............serious music......forget it, IMO.

H9

heiney9

01-12-2009, 07:29 PM

Okay, but that still doesn't explain what I am hearing....

The 901s sounded very natural and smooth with classical music. As a classical pianist I have come to appreciate this kind of sound and I didn't think the 901s were bad at all with regards to this.

You have to be kidding? Piano and it's timbre is the hardest to reproduce accurately.

Hey if you like em............you like em.

Serendipity

01-12-2009, 07:33 PM

You are a fast reader......you read all those threads and posts? I am seriously not trying to be an a** I thought the posts which involve the 901 would be provide helpful info in addition to what might be added here in this post.

Bose tend to be a catalyst for the fireworks so not sure what type of "answer" you will get.

Bose, IMO, has never sounded real. Greta high volume party speaker like Cerwin Vega's............serious music......forget it, IMO.

H9

I was actually reading old threads before you posted.

Serendipity

01-12-2009, 07:36 PM

You have to be kidding? Piano and it's timbre is the hardest to reproduce accurately.

Hey if you like em............you like em.

Why? Piano sounded accurate on the 901's, especially in the midrange.

Also, steveinaz's opinion of the speakers is very similar to what I noticed - they are not bright at all.

Pauly

01-12-2009, 07:39 PM

Serendipity

01-12-2009, 07:42 PM

Everyone has their own set of ears... All the Bose i have ever heard sound flat with no "life" behind them. Might be why the Classical sounds good on those. Not much mid range nor low end to really get the full effect. Just crank up the Treble on some Polks and call it a day.

Pauly

You have a point there. Piano shouldn't sound bright like what I'm hearing with my Definitives - it should be accurate. On my setup there is a bit of harshness in the upper midrange and the Bose didn't exhibit that.

dkg999

01-12-2009, 07:45 PM

The 901's do sound good, right up to the point where you realize what you are missing ;) I had a pair for several years. It's the best that Bose has to offer. If you like them, buy them and don't make any apologies.

For a serious party speaker the Bose 801 commercial series could really rock a dorm party. I had a set of those driven by Crown DC300's I believe if my memory is correct.

heiney9

01-12-2009, 07:45 PM

Why? Piano sounded accurate on the 901's, especially in the midrange.

Also, steveinaz's opinion of the speakers is very similar to what I noticed - they are not bright at all.

They can't be bright because they use full range speakers.....no tweeters. Or the tweeter's are 3" paper cones which by design don't produce very accurate highs

Serendipity

01-12-2009, 07:48 PM

Why does this sound more accurate then? Pardon my ignorance, but the brightness I am hearing on the Definitives when listening to classical piano is not present on the Bose???

heiney9

01-12-2009, 07:51 PM

Why does this sound more accurate then? Pardon my ignorance, but the brightness I am hearing on the Definitives when listening to classical piano is not present on the Bose???

In all honesty it's either an upstream gear issue, room issue, recording issue or a combo of all three.

Were the Bose with your system in your room with the same recording?

Serendipity

01-12-2009, 07:52 PM

Same recording, driven by an Onkyo AVR and Onkyo CDP similar to what I am using.

madmax

01-12-2009, 07:54 PM

Serendipity

01-12-2009, 07:57 PM

Every speaker has its strong and weak points. Its up to us to figure out what we have to have and what we can give up. The 901 is producing a strength your Definitives don't excel at. Listen longer with more stuff and you will figure it out.

Thanks. Like stated before, I've seen lots of posts stating that "Bose sucks" but when I heard the 901s for myself, they weren't that bad.

Overall the Definitive BP10B outperforms the Bose, IMO. However, I like the fact that the Bose aren't as harsh with piano.

Serendipity

01-12-2009, 08:01 PM

In all honesty it's either an upstream gear issue, room issue, recording issue or a combo of all three.

It may be a room issue, as my piano sounds bright in the same room. The speakers used to be in the living room though - I've moved my Definitives to the basement and it's still bright.

Pauly

01-12-2009, 08:04 PM

Thanks. Like stated before, I've seen lots of posts stating that "Bose sucks" but when I heard the 901s for myself, they weren't that bad.

Overall the Definitive BP10B outperforms the Bose, IMO. However, I like the fact that the Bose aren't as harsh with piano.
Get a speaker switch, hook up both. When you listen to Classical switch to Bose, Anything else switch to the Def's. Grab a beer, sit back and enjoy. Then call it a day. :)

Pauly

Serendipity

01-12-2009, 08:08 PM

Get a speaker switch, hook up both. When you listen to Classical switch to Bose, Anything else switch to the Def's. Grab a beer, sit back and enjoy. Then call it a day. :)

Pauly

I'd like to, but midrange is the only thing I like on the Bose. On the Definitives the detail, imaging, and soundstage is MUCH better.

Serendipity

01-12-2009, 08:13 PM

What could I do to help tame the brightness of the Definitives? When they were upstairs they were very bright, and my piano (in the living room) is also very bright sounding.

I've always thought it was because I have a crappy piano :(

hoosier21

01-12-2009, 08:13 PM

appadv - the DTs are bright to you, the Bose are not bright, you think they sound good, then to you the Bose sound better, what is the big deal.

Others here and everywhere else (many others) have heard the Bose 901 and do not like what they hear, simple.

Why why WHY.... f*ck dude nobody here knows, it's your ears, trust them for what you want from YOUR speakers.

hoosier21

01-12-2009, 08:14 PM

Get a speaker switch, hook up both. When you listen to Classical switch to Bose, Anything else switch to the Def's. Grab a beer, sit back and enjoy. Then call it a day. :)

Pauly

can't forget the Bose EQ that is required, add push in the tape mpn. button :)

Pauly

01-12-2009, 08:16 PM

can't forget the Bose EQ that is required, add push in the tape mpn. button :)

DOH! :rolleyes:

Serendipity

01-12-2009, 08:16 PM

I'm looking to make the Definitives sound a little less bright - they already have more detail and great imaging compared to the Bose - its just that one thing that I don't like.

Pauly

01-12-2009, 08:18 PM

I'd like to, but midrange is the only thing I like on the Bose. On the Definitives the detail, imaging, and soundstage is MUCH better.

They are BOSE, not a well rounded speaker (Can i say that?). Call it a day :D

Pauly

Serendipity

01-12-2009, 08:20 PM

In this thread I posted pictures of my setup:
http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?t=70062

Since then I have added carpeting in the back of the room and a large foam mat in the front - but the sound is still bright.

Serendipity

01-12-2009, 08:36 PM

What else should I be doing with regards to the room issue?

treitz3

01-12-2009, 08:43 PM

http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=34289&d=1216046367
Are we still talking about this room?

hoosier21

01-12-2009, 08:48 PM

you can add resistors to the tweeter

here is a great little tool
http://www.diyaudioandvideo.com/Calculator/LPad/

Serendipity

01-12-2009, 08:48 PM

treitz3,

Nah, the other room....

Keiko

01-12-2009, 08:52 PM

http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=34289&d=1216046367
Are we still talking about this room?
Oooooo....That's purdy! :cool:

Serendipity

01-12-2009, 08:53 PM

Oooooo....That's purdy! :cool:

Thanks!

hoosier21

01-12-2009, 08:58 PM

the other room has alot of hard surfaces too

you have work to do, get your read on about room treatments

Serendipity

01-12-2009, 08:59 PM

the other room has alot of hard surfaces too

you have work to do, get your read on about room treatments

Are you referring to this picture?

http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=34570&d=1217294941

heiney9

01-12-2009, 09:18 PM

Same recording, driven by an Onkyo AVR and Onkyo CDP similar to what I am using.

Same listening room?

treitz3

01-12-2009, 09:19 PM

Hard, reflective surfaces = bright. There is nothing present to absorb the higher frequencies. They will only reflect off the hard surfaces which in turn, makes the sound bright.

Serendipity

01-12-2009, 09:24 PM

Actually, that picture is somewhat outdated.

I've added a large carpet in the back of the room and lots of foam tiles in the front. But it still sounds bright.

treitz3

01-12-2009, 09:32 PM

Could you provide an updated pic.?

zombiemusic

01-13-2009, 02:23 PM

First off, always trust your ears first. The Bose 901's are very good speaker (make sure you have plenty of power, as the more you have the better they will sing). I do think that bose direct reflicting works best with classical pieces. because if you classical pieces live, the sound is coming to you from many directions. that is why concert halls are shaped they way they are. so if you are listening to that gengre of music then the bose might be what you want. Now on the vintage set I had (over the past forty years they slowly rotted into malfunction due to improper storage) I played everything from classical, to classic rock, to metal, I feel they handled anything from White Zombie very well. These are great speakers. Now other speakers will sound different, as all do, but just because of their unique design does not mean that they are not capable of reproducing the sound you want it to.

Again just make sure you have them properly placed, have enough power (150 or more clean and strong watts). And don't worry about what other people say, just trust your ears!

reeltrouble1

01-13-2009, 02:46 PM

Why does this sound more accurate then? Pardon my ignorance, but the brightness I am hearing on the Definitives when listening to classical piano is not present on the Bose???

I can relate to this app. No highs No lows, well, got to be Bose.

The Definitives are most definitevly in your face if you dig the forward sound they will suit the bill.

Bose should rename to Beans, because Bose's Beancounters are running that Building and every engineer in it, but hey they can give you an easy payment plan.

RT1

madmax

01-13-2009, 07:06 PM

I retired my set of 901's to the music room to play my B3 organ emulator keyboard through. I like them for that purpose because they do not have tweeters to output all the hiss and noise. (not using the eq)

engtaz

01-13-2009, 07:27 PM

All I can say is that I have heard them in a concrete block house and a wood frame house. All equipment was the same. In the concrete block the sounded very good. In the wood frame house they were in simple words bad. lacked everything. All I could surmise was they needed the reflections off of solid walls.

Hope that helped

curved

01-13-2009, 07:43 PM

The Definitives are most definitevly in your face if you dig the forward sound they will suit the bill.
RT1

I just got reading this thread and was thinking this throughout the whole thread. The Def's are absolutely on the bright side. I would recommend more power for them and/or get the resistor as mentioned before.

reeltrouble1

01-14-2009, 10:43 AM

madmax

01-14-2009, 02:12 PM

I heard them in a club back in the 80's (with wooden construction) with subs and they sounded awesome. Of course my ears were not trained back then. They must have had 10 to 15 pairs of them set up and 3000 watts to drive the whole mess, turntable as the source.

ND13

01-14-2009, 06:11 PM

The only Bose speakers that I've heard, that were decent for MUSIC, were the 501s and 601s(it's been a while, so I can't remember which was the better of the two...I think it was the 501s, but the 601s weren't too bad). I think I've listened to just about every mainstream speaker they've produced since about 1972 and the 901s remind me of PRO speakers. Great for a frat or keg party. Not so great for any type of critical listening. IMHO.

But as others have stated....If you like em, then who gives a fuck what others think. I sold every pair of LSis I've owned and preferred SRS2s, RTA 8TLs and the Monitor 7As to any of them. Yes I had over 300 high current wpc going to them and a Dodd MLP and ELP pres, too. Don't get me wrong, the LSi 7 and 9s are great speakers, I just preferred the vintage Polks over the newer ones.

Serendipity

01-19-2009, 08:12 PM

I just got reading this thread and was thinking this throughout the whole thread. The Def's are absolutely on the bright side. I would recommend more power for them and/or get the resistor as mentioned before.

Thanks, I'll be making changes to the room first but if that doesn't work I'm looking at a Parasound A21 for warmer sound.