Some thoughts on Bose 401 speakers

Krosya

Well-Known Member
Hi All,
This is my first thread here. May not be very popular, as there seem to be not that many Bose fans here, but I'd try anyway.
Some background. I'm sure I dont qualify to be called an expert on any of this, but I do like to listen to the music - all kinds, really, as well as trying different (mostly vintage) speakers, receivers, etc.
I also like to keep things on a budget, which means - most of my electronics usually come from CL, Thrift stores, etc. Slowly I have managed to put together a couple of small systems that I'm pretty happy with. But periodically I like to stir things up - switch out speakers or amps and such. Which means if I come across something interesting I might just try it. My latest toy - a pair of Bose 401 brown/wood colour speakers (they also came in black, I understand). They are in great condition, everything works.
I have never owned anything Bose in a past and based on many comments here and other online places, I was not sure at first if I should even get them. But condition and the way the look - their shape peaked my interest, so I thought I'd give them a try.
They are connected to my Pioneer SX-780, and I also have Pioneer SG-9500 EQ and Pioneer PL-400 TT hooked up to it. Before I had some bookshelf speakers connected to this set up - Pioneer BS-22's and they sounded pretty well overall. Now I have these new to me Bose 401's in place on BS-22's.
They (Bose) sure are a different animal. Sound is different, not as clearly bright as with the Pioneers. And one thing I noticed, - when Bose speakers are positioned as recommended in a manual - sound was OK, but something was missing. Almost like they were playing "against" each other, instead of in harmony.
I checked the wires - all were plugged in as they should. Then I started playing with the positioning of the speakers. From past experiences I learned that different speakers "like" to be positioned differently - some more/less distance from the walls, different toe-in to get the best sound. So I started experimenting with that.
I guess, it hugely depends on any given room's acoustics - as to how speakers will sound. I suppose this applies even more so with the Bose's reflective design.
And this was apparent pretty much immediately. However, what was funny is that they sounded much better with the side with a one woofer and tweeter pointed to the back wall. (Usually ported side should face the back wall). this was (as speakers are triangle shape - looking from the top) causing a side with just one woofer face the room and port facing the side wall. I guess, the whole idea of reflectivity of the sound actually works.
Sound got better, by a good amount. Yet, interestingly enough, they sounded better in some parts of the room but not others. So, I started tweaking orientation of the speakers - which way they would point. Each adjustment would bring somewhat different results - some better, some worse.
Yet the best results I got when I broke all the rules - one speaker I left pointed tweeter side to the back wall, yet the other - tweeter pointed towards the other speaker. When you look at them this way - looks odd - but they do sound very good now - sound seem to have a very good stereo effect, nice clean sound, good soundstage - all reflected off the walls. Low end , of course, is not as deep as my JBL speakers with 12 inch woofers, I have with my other system, but otherwise - very good sound. I'm actually rather surprised - as I read lots of unfavorable reviews of Bose speakers. I tried this setup with different types of music - from Ohio Players to Led Zeppelin to Coltrane. All sound very pleasant. Just took a while to find just the right orientation, thinking outside of the box, so to speak. Makes me wonder if this is why people often dont like Bose - maybe they didnt take time to set them up for the best sound.
Thoughts?
 
Yes...

I have a pair of 301 series two that I use in a four speaker setup. I have them to complement a pair tower speakers that have fifteen inch woofers and adjustable crossovers. The combination of direct and reflective sound in the same space is quite the experience. So many traditionalists just wish to put one speaker on each side of a rack of equipment and angle the speakers a bit and think that's the best there is. I found out also that angling a Bose speaker towards the wall and towards the opposite part of the room instead of directly towards where a person sits while listening creates a fuller sound stage. Then when using all four speakers the music just has more personality, depth and perception of detail.
 
I agree that room placement with most Bose are important. It is also a PITA to figure out how they sound best.
 
After finding the right position/alignment for these Bose speakers - I really love the sound! Been playing all sorts of music today all day (what a way to spend a day off) - and Queen, Sade, Stones, Aerosmith - all sound sweet! I think I'm beginning to see what Bose concept is all about. These speakers can go very loud and hold their own too. Another plus - as sound travels from room to room - I have more of an open floor house design - from other rooms they sound very good as well. Seems like some experimenting is paying off!
 
I agree that room placement with most Bose are important. It is also a PITA to figure out how they sound best.

That experimentation can be half the fun... Like to try a pair of original 301s with the "variable flap thingy" to see how they would work/sound in the space I have available to work with. No room to try 901s even if I found a cheap pair.
 
I've never had Bose yet but my curious nature made me download this from the net one day just in case. Part of the owner's manual for Bose back in 1979, a room placement guide. IIRC these are 301's. See fig. 4 Here ya go
~Dave~
Bose 301 room placement.png
 
Hi All,
This is my first thread here. May not be very popular, as there seem to be not that many Bose fans here, but I'd try anyway.
Some background. I'm sure I dont qualify to be called an expert on any of this, but I do like to listen to the music - all kinds, really, as well as trying different (mostly vintage) speakers, receivers, etc.
I also like to keep things on a budget, which means - most of my electronics usually come from CL, Thrift stores, etc. Slowly I have managed to put together a couple of small systems that I'm pretty happy with. But periodically I like to stir things up - switch out speakers or amps and such. Which means if I come across something interesting I might just try it. My latest toy - a pair of Bose 401 brown/wood colour speakers (they also came in black, I understand). They are in great condition, everything works.
I have never owned anything Bose in a past and based on many comments here and other online places, I was not sure at first if I should even get them. But condition and the way the look - their shape peaked my interest, so I thought I'd give them a try.
They are connected to my Pioneer SX-780, and I also have Pioneer SG-9500 EQ and Pioneer PL-400 TT hooked up to it. Before I had some bookshelf speakers connected to this set up - Pioneer BS-22's and they sounded pretty well overall. Now I have these new to me Bose 401's in place on BS-22's.
They (Bose) sure are a different animal. Sound is different, not as clearly bright as with the Pioneers. And one thing I noticed, - when Bose speakers are positioned as recommended in a manual - sound was OK, but something was missing. Almost like they were playing "against" each other, instead of in harmony.
I checked the wires - all were plugged in as they should. Then I started playing with the positioning of the speakers. From past experiences I learned that different speakers "like" to be positioned differently - some more/less distance from the walls, different toe-in to get the best sound. So I started experimenting with that.
I guess, it hugely depends on any given room's acoustics - as to how speakers will sound. I suppose this applies even more so with the Bose's reflective design.
And this was apparent pretty much immediately. However, what was funny is that they sounded much better with the side with a one woofer and tweeter pointed to the back wall. (Usually ported side should face the back wall). this was (as speakers are triangle shape - looking from the top) causing a side with just one woofer face the room and port facing the side wall. I guess, the whole idea of reflectivity of the sound actually works.
Sound got better, by a good amount. Yet, interestingly enough, they sounded better in some parts of the room but not others. So, I started tweaking orientation of the speakers - which way they would point. Each adjustment would bring somewhat different results - some better, some worse.
Yet the best results I got when I broke all the rules - one speaker I left pointed tweeter side to the back wall, yet the other - tweeter pointed towards the other speaker. When you look at them this way - looks odd - but they do sound very good now - sound seem to have a very good stereo effect, nice clean sound, good soundstage - all reflected off the walls. Low end , of course, is not as deep as my JBL speakers with 12 inch woofers, I have with my other system, but otherwise - very good sound. I'm actually rather surprised - as I read lots of unfavorable reviews of Bose speakers. I tried this setup with different types of music - from Ohio Players to Led Zeppelin to Coltrane. All sound very pleasant. Just took a while to find just the right orientation, thinking outside of the box, so to speak. Makes me wonder if this is why people often dont like Bose - maybe they didnt take time to set them up for the best sound.
Thoughts?
I hope you don't mind if I ask what they cost you.
 
I picked up a second pair of the 401's in black, set my Son up with two pair on his Yamaha M65, we stood one pair atop another with all ports facing back, all drivers aligned and in the middle of the stacks top to bottom.
Used speaker terminals B and C so to series them on the amp. (8 Ohm load if I recall)
Sounds very clean and can be very loud!
He was happy!
 
I hope you don't mind if I ask what they cost you.

Well, its hard to say - they were a part of a much larger sale at the local garage sale, so based on overall deal - things I got vs what I paid - speakers didnt cost me much at all.
 
I have some 401 series 4 I use for surrounds. I keep trying different speakers but they just work better than any I've tried so far. One thing to note is the screws on the speakers themselves seem to want to loosen up over time. Double check them often. And they used some of the cheapest caps in the crossover I've sever seen. Well worth it to recap that crossover if you like them already. If you want them to really shine add a cheap sub to each one to take the load off the bottom and they get quite pleasant to listen to. Enjoy!
 
Thanks for the advice. It may be a good idea to do a recap, but I am pretty new to all this and have no idea what and how to do such a thing, so I think I'll leave it alone for now. I did check the speaker screws and they were just fine. Playing them some more - I think they really "like" certain music more - Queen and Jethro Tull sounded fantastic! (which is good, since I like them a lot), Sade sounds very nice too. Also, I noticed that they really show off if recording is poor or LP is worn out. On some brand new albums I have, - sound was crazy good, while ones that are well used - sounded clearly more muffled. This resembles my JBLs in that respect. One thing I can tell so far for sure - these are NOT terrible speakers as some people on the net claim that BOSE are. And they are definitely fun to play around with. AS many speakers ( as I read about them) - seem to be better for some things more than others. Its very hard or even impossible to find a speaker that id best for every type of music. Seems that Bose has it's own place in that world, which I guess, works for some but not the others. Maybe one day I will work up enough nerve to do some mods to them, but for now - I think they are just fine as-is.
 
I just thought I would comment on how much I enjoyed reading your posts and this thread - sounds just like me every chance I get and what a great way to spend a day off :beerchug:. Yeah good on you for ignoring the BOSE haters - never heard a pair myself but one day a pair, like you, will fall into my lap and will make my own bloody mind up about them in my living space, so sick of hearing "I heard a pair once......." Speakers react so much with the their source and amplification; more importantly within the room they are placed more than anything else. I have heard great speakers sound terrible one situation and wonderful as they were meant to be in another environment.

Rob :)
 
Don't confuse this with Bose bashing. Speakers that sound horrible in a generic average room are speakers that have severe design flaws. Speakers that make ludicrous placement demands are speakers with serious design flaws. Bose and Klipsch are chief among those in my book. I like dipole speakers a LOT, and they are certainly demanding in how they're placed, but some concepts are just lousy. Small Bose speakers aren't horrible if you want to feel out what dipole speakers can do, but if you really want to experience the concept executed well you need to hear some MartinLogans, Maggie's, Quads, or ESS AMT's. And that jazz Bose says about recreating the live listening experience is just a bunch of crap. Go listen to some live stuff on a pair of Focal Aria or better and you'll realize real damn fast all the sonic information to convey the depth of a live performance can be convincingly replicated by a conventional monopolar 6 sided box.

Absolutely agree ^^^^^^. My response/post was wildly exaggerate, however in saying that I was focused way more on the issues of:

- being supportive and acknowledging the OP's efforts, decision making and the genuine nature of his original post.
- personal experimentation over group-think doctrine - re: BOSE.
- personal experimentation regarding amps, speaker placement, etc to make the most from the speakers - audio experience.
- acknowledging his OP does qualify and meet the test that AK is a database of information on all things audio - his post was both relatable & informative (from a personal perspective).

It was his humanistic approach to audio and relying on very general audio norms like speaker placement, trying different amplification, respecting the design principle of Bose that got my attention. Yes there was an absence of 'high' technical knowledge (no insult to the OP or to people with high tech audio knowledge) but the all basics were right and he was putting together a system with love and attention was what I gravitated too.

You are right, a well resolved speaker will sound amazing in just about any environment, but this thread was not about any of that - it was one man, one day and his caring pursuit for a better audio experience and that was enough for me to be hooked to the story - regardless of mine, yours or anyone else's technical knowledge.

Is what you posted accurate - yes. Is any of that important - yes, just not in this instance necessarily within the context of this thread. My response to you is genuinely not intended to be disrespectful. Are there better speakers than Bose yep sure, are there worse yep sure - where we really diverge, I read the OP and relished the human experience, you read the original post and my comments as shortcomings in a knowledge base.

On a separate discussion, regarding speaker ownership, I hear what you are saying in your post and just wanted to comment or reaffirm that not all of us here on AK have the same audio goals. I read your post and it did give a small but never the less a wonderful insight into your preferred audio experience - and I mean that sincerely. Me personally, I treat speaker purchasing like I do a box of chocolates - I wanna get me a taste of everything. In 5 years I have (to me) a nice collection of speakers, one of my many audio joys is to listen to how different music is interpreted through different systems - I don't chase "a sound" like many do - could I sell everything and buy that one pair that will set my heart on fire (JBL L250 maybe) sure - but then I would miss the experience and personal knowledge I have gained and will continue to gain over the years. One speaker vs many, both approaches have there merits and disadvantages.

I want to buy a set of Bose 901's, I want to live with them, immerse myself in their sound, make personal comparisons against my other speakers. I want to know and understand them for myself and not rely on opinion as my perspective. Many will say life is to short to be wasted like that, give me the best of the best (whatever that means to them). Who knows, one day I might get sick of this journey and switch paths but for time being I am enjoying the view on this path. I will get my dream speaker or speakers one day - they might even be a pair of 901's :eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek: :D

Rob :)

Edit: I wanted to add before anyone replies - I know Toolguy mean't no insult - was just being informative.
 
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Thank you all for the comments.
As I said earlier, I'm pretty new to all this. Just recently I decided to put together a vintage system and as I'm doing it - I learn many things in a process. This site is where I get lots of info about things. But I also like to experiment with things and form my own opinions. After all - it's my ears that will have to bleed, right? lol.
I also like to stay on a budget - out of 4-5 pairs of speakers I have tried so far - non cost me more than $100. Most of my stuff comes from the garage sales, CL, Ebay, etc.
So, speaking of these Bose speakers - I realize, of course, that they are far from the best speakers out there. Plus base on many online comments I was even very skeptical about these, to the point I almost walked away. Yet since I was buying many other things at that garage sale - overall cost ended up being very reasonable, so I decided to give them a try. And I'm glad I did. I really like the looks of them - thats what really got my attention to begin with. And I do enjoy tinkering with them - position them differently - see how that affects the sound. I have never had a speaker that interesting, so for me it's a lot of fun. And also, since I dont have any experience with any of the above listed speakers/brands, nor do I have money or opportunity to try those - I work with what I got. Would I like to try those? Of course! But my budget doesnt allow me to spend anything even near $1000 on speakers.
Getting back on track here - these 401's are very eye opening experience to me. I never expected for them to sound so good ( to my ears) and to me it seems that the more I play them, the better they sound. I have JBL CF 120 speakers for my other system (I know - not even close to the TOTL), but they have very different sound and character, so having these Bose is even more fun as it gives me very different experiences in listening. Another thing - my amps and receivers are not all that powerful, so speakers I get can only be the type that would go well with lower powered amps. From what I read about some other speakers listed above - I'd have to upgrade my entire system, not just the speakers - something I have no desire or budget at this time. So, these Bose keep my ears happy, sound good for my taste and I dont have to spend too much money this way. And based on my so far limited time with them - most of the music that I like sounds good through Bose with a setup I have. WIll I change things one day - possibly, but these 401s will keep me busy for a while, I think. Just played Nightwish LP though them - sounds very nice too! So did Stevie Wonder - these speakers seem to work well for many types of music.
 
I spent one night with a pair of 401's . It was an outside party that my friend was having . He had them things cranked all night and they handled every note . I brought Black Sabbath's We Sold Our Soul CD and those poor speakers I thought were gonna vibrate to death . Took out the Sabbath and put in something else and all was right . Tough , good sounding speakers considering the circumstances .
 
Well, here is another development. I thought that with some albums I was listening, low end sounded somewhat "muddy". Since these have rather small woofers, I thought that was the reason. But then I thought I'd take them out and see whats inside. Turns out, these speakers were packed pretty tight with polyfill. I'm not sure if this is how they were made at Bose, or previous owner did that, but for a ported speaker it seemed a bit too much. So, I took it all out and thinned it out some and re-packed, but with only 2/3 of the amount that was there. Wow! What a difference - even smoother and cleaner sound, tighter low end and improved mids. At least to my ear. I dont think I would take all of the polyfill out, but the way I re-arranged it seems to work very well. Need to do more testing, but I'm liking this change. What do you guys think about having polyfill in ported speakers and in this type of speakers in particular?
 
A little update - been playing with polyfill in my 401s. As I said before - when I opened them, they were pretty stuffed with it. I'm thinking that previous owner did that. Because - as I take out more and more of it - these Bose sound better and better. By now I took out about half of the amount of polyfill that I found in them and they sound even more musical, overall cleaner sound and low end improved, they seem to go lower and bass is tighter. As if they were suffocating before and now they opened up a good deal. However, I think I'll keep some polyfill in them, I'm afraid if I take all of it out they may not have enough low end - after all they only have small woofers in them. But for now - I'm very surprised how nice they sound. I had them hooked up next to JBL S38s (which is pretty well respected speaker) and they sound very similar. So I think some of these older Bose speakers, based on my experience so far, were actually very nice - well made with great sound. Makes me wonder why so many people dont like Bose. Maybe later they declined in quality, but at least my 401s sound very nice with all sorts of different music. I played some Al Di Meola and sound was very rich and full and detailed. Same with Dire Straits and Queen. So, I'd say if anyone comes across Bose 401s - it's worth giving them a try. Just may need to play with positioning them. I suppose different amps may make some difference too. But with my vintage Pioneer they work very well.
 
I'm no speaker guru so be forewarned! I find on some ported boxes it seems to help if you can find a magic point and stick to it. And it can be a lot of fun to experiment! Mine didn't have a lot in them and since I got them same as new it may be someone was playing with yours. What little is in mine is toward the bottom and I'd say about 1/3 of the speaker. But like I say I use them as surrounds so don't really expect much from them. The reason I say as new is because I got them on a deal from a buyout of a store that went out of business. I've heard or lived about all of these from the 901's, 701's, 601's and 501's. The only one I could live with was the 901's but didn't have the room or right amp at the time. Plus the 401's just seem like Bose got something right in this one. Not the best speaker but certainly a fun one to play with. I'm glad you're enjoying yours as too many pass them off just because they say Bose on them.
 
Thank you for the info - it's good to know that 401s did come with some polyfill stuffed in them. And I think it helps too. Based on my experience it does change the sound of the speaker. Now I think I either found that magic point or I am pretty close to it as far as the amount of polyfill goes. As I have said before - positioning of each speaker makes a very noticeable difference - I think more so than regular speakers. And you are right - it is fun to play with this. Makes you pay attention to a detail more.
 
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