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Bose 601 "owner" opinions please

Hofy said:
I bought a pair of 601 Series III new in 1988. To this day they are the worst purchase I ever made in audio. The bass was muddy, for what little there was. Imaging and soundstaging did not exist. I ended up getting rid of them to someone for $100.

There are far to many speakers that better these to even waste you time and money.
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A shame, because just a series before, and you'd not be saying things like this, I'm willing to venture.

I was astonished how much I grew to love these speakers. Series 2
 
Still trying to find the best place for the 601 ii in my place. My office area is Wierd shaped, vaulted ceilings. The bedroom is the same way. The living room is 15x25 with an 8 foot ceiling, but I already some some AR PS218s for the mains there. So far no good home :(
 
Series 1 and 2 sound the best. They also have cloth surrounds that dont rot. They have a better bass extension without even the eq, and the eq does a decent job of getting the treble ... their cabinet gives them a bit more bass. They are also higher snesitivity than the later ones.
3, 4 and 5 have varying levels of plastic in the cabinets and have foam surrounds that rots out @ varying rates. They also sound a bit lacking in spl and bass compared to the 1-2.
Brilliantly, the series 6 solves none of these problems.
Instead, it uses an injection mounded plastic chassis that uses MDF just as a pretty decoration.
It also has foam surrounds that rot at a far far far slower rate.

Yea 3<4<5<6 - but not to your ears. To your ears 3=4=5=6.

Anyway I have series 2's with water rotted cabs and I have genuwhine plywood speakerlab cabs, and I am doing a swap into that cab.

Sealed cabs rock. Even if its a 901 ... lol.

Cool.
Srinath.
 
srinath said:
Series 1 and 2 sound the best. They also have cloth surrounds that dont rot. They have a better bass extension without even the eq, and the eq does a decent job of getting the treble ... their cabinet gives them a bit more bass. They are also higher snesitivity than the later ones.
3, 4 and 5 have varying levels of plastic in the cabinets and have foam surrounds that rots out @ varying rates. They also sound a bit lacking in spl and bass compared to the 1-2.
Brilliantly, the series 6 solves none of these problems.
Instead, it uses an injection mounded plastic chassis that uses MDF just as a pretty decoration.
It also has foam surrounds that rot at a far far far slower rate.

Yea 3<4<5<6 - but not to your ears. To your ears 3=4=5=6.

Anyway I have series 2's with water rotted cabs and I have genuwhine plywood speakerlab cabs, and I am doing a swap into that cab.

Sealed cabs rock. Even if its a 901 ... lol.

Cool.
Srinath.
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Interesting you say the III, IV, V, VI aren't as sensitive. Part of the reason for the porting WAS to increase sensitivity. And most (all?) people say the Original and II are LESS sensitive and site that more power is desirable to drive them. Weird that your experience is so different from the norm.

I prefer sealed speakers over ported, while I own many of both. Sealed just seem to have a tighter bass, mid-bass performance to me. Once in a while it's nice to fire up the HPM's or Mach Two's for absurd bass, but for more "refined" music (Classical, Jazz, etc.) I'll typically listen to sealed (901, Mach One, AR3a, etc.).

I've read in a few posts now that there were early 901 VI that had deteriorating surrounds, and later that have non-deteriorating surrounds. I've read that replacement VI (and V?) drivers are the latter, non-deteriorating. I've read they have a coating of some sort on them, akin to what is on the Mach One and other vintage RS speakers. Sure would be nice if that were available today for other brands.
 
HomeBody said:
16001 views on the Bose thread. Currently spinning Ten Summoner's Tales

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KkLiFuRivzY
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From "The Police" to single artist. Amazing talent. I'll have to check out my Police CD's on the 601 when I've completed them.

I'm buying a pair of 301 drivers. I'll run tests using DATS (woofer tester) to see how they compare. I'll just have to figure out whether to use in the front or top firing position, one on each side. Definitely won't mount in one cabinet, that won't balance out well, I'm sure.
 
I can say that I have a geniune grasp on our term of listening fatigue. This model can run for weeks without a thought of changing media or volumes...the more I listen, and the more I study the 1st gen cabinet's nostalgia layout- well, you get my point. Very Very pleased and these are keepers indeed. Elegant, understated, timeless-
 
Holy smokes, run on Bose 601 speakers. I've never seen so many listings with such high bids before. Can't help but wonder if any AK readers are "biting".
 
HomeBody said:
I can say that I have a geniune grasp on our term of listening fatigue. This model can run for weeks without a thought of changing media or volumes...the more I listen, and the more I study the 1st gen cabinet's nostalgia layout- well, you get my point. Very Very pleased and these are keepers indeed. Elegant, understated, timeless-
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Yeah, some of my speakers can wear on me, particularly at louder volumes. I'd say this is certainly the case with the "bright" speakers. I never tire of my 901, Mach One or AR3a speakers.
 
Listening to Mister Magic...I laid in a +2Db @33Hz...then about -4Db @ 60, 100..and -6Db @190Hz on the EQ....Holy Cow Batman....the bass guitarist and the rhythm guitarist just stepped up on stage....and hear that horn bllllooowwwww!
 
onwardjames said:
Own it, and have yet to spin it. A sinker-inner, a few hot spots, or start to finish type album?
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I'm having a wee bit of trouble in you raising this question. Dig it up, take the shrink wrap off first. Open the CD main drawer (usually found in the front)...You may have the option to use your remote controller to open the drive bay door.....gently place the disc onto the exposed tray.....

Pour yourself a burgandy, fire a few candles up....



http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/showpost.php?p=7280728&postcount=37
 
Don't waste your money! I rebuilt a pair and had a hard time trying to get my money back out of them!!!....not impressed with the sound!
 
EQ on

Copa1934 said:
Interesting you say the III, IV, V, VI aren't as sensitive. Part of the reason for the porting WAS to increase sensitivity. And most (all?) people say the Original and II are LESS sensitive and site that more power is desirable to drive them. Weird that your experience is so different from the norm.
Click to expand...

Series 3-6 may have higher sensitivity when in the cabinet, but once you choke them with that EQ - no way. The 1-2 spkrs + the eq as a unit is more sensitivity IMHO.
Maybe its just that I am playing material that is to their strength too.
1-2 sound far better in any case. I also am not comparing them in the same space, and I have the 6's turned backwards cos they sound less muddled in that case.
Maybe I have a hand in the 6's poor SPL performance.
Cool.
Srinath.
 
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