Opinions on the Bose 901


A friend of mine just gave me an old pair of Bose 901 Series IV. All the foam surrounds have crumbled, but the cabinets and the EQ are in decent shape. A foam surround kit plus the dust caps is less than $90 USD at ( www.partsexpress.com ).

I am pretty much set with my Swans M1 near field system--it rocks, especially after adding a 3000W ONEAC 220V isolation transformer. I am looking at using the Bose as HT speakers or as a background music system--I like to have music all over while I cook...

I am seeking unbiased opinions as to how I could use these speakers in a 2 channel HT setup:

The Series IV has a third contact between the (+)and the (-)(is it a ground?) which was used with the Bose Receiver's "spatial control". It allowed changing how much energy was sent towards the inside or outside reflecting surfaces--it was like a fader control, but from inside to outside.

If I use them for HT, I could use a homemade preamp that would allow such control and the 901's could become a "virtual center channel" by shifting the energy balance towards the area between the speakers. I think this could offer a neat movie viewing effect in the absense of a Pro Logic, THX, DTS, 5.1, 7.1, 10.2 or a 15.3 decoder.

A false gypsum wall could be constructed for having my 27" Sony WEGA flush and provide a good reflective surface for the 901's.

I will appreciate any constructive input.

Thanks,

P/A
psychicanimal
The bose are truely an interesting design meant to create a mix of direct and reflected sound before the days of digital time delays. Unequalized, they have a haystack response as you would expect from the size of the driver, relatively flat from about 150-1kHz. Very substantial EQ is used which translates to a requirement for power at loud listening levels (200W/ch). You might give them a try as rear speakers in an HT system since they should really spread the sound around the room. In this application, you might even try them unequalized just to see what happens. Have fun.
Did anyone here ever get to play with the "spatial control" slider in a Bose receiver? Seems to me that no one else knows...

Someone in AA posted that he recones them for $150. Not bad.

Hello Psyc> My only experience with the 901's was an a/b test done back in 1979 against large original Advents (which I bought). The 901's seemed to have a fuller sound at high volumes but were no match for the Advents at a normal listening volume. BTW my normal listening volume is generally higher than the typical persons so I'm saying you really had to crank the 901's to best the Advents. They may do ok for you especially in HT mode and if you crank them. Then again you might recone them and try them. If you don't like them sell them on Ebay probably at a good profit since everyone knows that great sound and Bose are synonymous
Art, I think you don't get it about the 901's. This is what Bose has posted about the 901's on their website: "Only live sounds better." Anyone seconds that? Show of hands, please!

If they only knew I don't want to use them for music listening! Just for HT "splash" effects...

Although, I've read in other forums that some guys have mounted JBL Pro Audio compression horns atop the 901's...My Proton dual mono amp and some ASL $99.00 10W tube monoblocks, an el cheapo pro audio electronic x-over and a self powered sub and we've got a party! A LOUD PARTY! It would sound decent, I'm sure.
OK, 1st, doing the surrounds on these is a lot harder than it looks, in my opinion. I do a fair amount of surrounds, I say the larger ones are easier to do, far easier. I am currently doing a set of 901's for a guy that got "frustrated" and made a mess on the first few. If you decide to do this, write me and I will share with you my caveats.
The spatial control I have played with on the reciever, I am regretfully old enough to have used them new, and I am trying to restore a dead one at the moment. Diffuses the sound stage for lack of a better word,making it broader, and if there is anything a Bose does not need, its to have its sound stage broadened or diffused. Bose used to make a statement about how music would sound "larger than life". Thats all fine and good, but I never wanted it quite that large. I kinda think of the Bose as the 1st unintentional surround sound receiver. They are beautiful pieces though.
I think in a HT situation 901's could actually be pretty good, especially for the ambient noises of day to day living that also gets portrayed, their broad spread of sound could actually make a movie quite involving.
I think it might be fun to give it a try in the situation your describing