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Bose 601 "owner" opinions please

Ishmael said:
I have a pair of Series 1 601s which needed to have the 4 woofers refoamed, they now do a nice job of re-producing the music, whether rock, classical, human voice, etc. Very quality craftsmanship in their construction, unlike the Series 4 which had smaller tweeters and cheap very breakable plastic tweeter grills. I am very happy with these speakers. Though of note on the Series 1 cross over is the inclusion of a small incadescent bulb in the circuit, which I understand was done to protect the tweeters as 50 watts per channel is the most the manual says to run them on without a fuse in the speaker line, which the bulb takes care of as I understand by simply getting brighter rather than letting the tweeters be damaged by excesss power.
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I've missed a couple deals on 601 speakers, though none were Series II. Still keeping my eye open for a pair.
 
I have a pair of Bose 601 series 1's and love them.
They have been in service 36 years for me.

Back in 1977 a buddy of mine had the 901's with a monster amp
and WOW they shook my bell bottoms at 17 years old

Then I knew I needed a pair but not the funds to do so,
took out a loan and got the 601's

I have some moody blues comming trough them now as I type.

Now back to that 70's monster amp that my bubby had. Got to
have it all these years later, and realy let them sing before
the curtin goes down.

Rock on to all the old folk out there.
 
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I always liked the look of the Series II. First heard them in a HiFi shop in the 70's playing John Williams' Star Wars score. I remember the soundstage was awesome and it seemed the music was coming from everywhere and not just from in front of me. I was very very impressed but sadly they were WAY out of my price range. I'd love to have a set today. I'd say go for it even if they need work, they're worth it. I agree with the Series IIII being not anywhere near as terrific as the Series II.
 
I had a pair of Series I that I recently sold, I have a nice pair of Series II, that I will not part with. They are becoming very hard to come across and I believe they are among the best speakers Bose has produced during their best years...

I think a reissue of these classic speakers is in order :yes:
 
passed up a pair with original tags still on them, woofers of course needed refoam, and rather dirty....60 bucks.

I just cannot bring home another pair of speakers.
 
onwardjames said:
passed up a pair with original tags still on them, woofers of course needed refoam, and rather dirty....60 bucks.

I just cannot bring home another pair of speakers.
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Dang, old thread of mine. Further dang, I'd snag those in a heart beat, if I only lived in Kentucky. Dang.
 
left work (sneaked out) and snagged em for 50 bucks. All four woofers need refoam, plastic grills are not screwed down, but intact. Very VERY dusty, a few wasp nests, a little mold.

Damn. Here I go again...
 
Looks like they had been in storage for a VERY long time. There is a scratch on front left veneer, nothing huge, but otherwise quite minty. Tiny peeling on corner vinyl, typical. Otherwise, no water bucking, no holes, nothing out of place.

Copa, I do NOT need these. Perhaps we can figure out something. I know you spoke highly of these.
 
onwardjames said:
Looks like they had been in storage for a VERY long time. There is a scratch on front left veneer, nothing huge, but otherwise quite minty. Tiny peeling on corner vinyl, typical. Otherwise, no water bucking, no holes, nothing out of place.

Copa, I do NOT need these. Perhaps we can figure out something. I know you spoke highly of these.
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You crazy person you. I would love to but shipping would be prohibitive for me. You should be able to flip those for a nice profit, given the condition you've described. Wish I could take them off your hands.
 
It's cool, man. I'm a lousy buyer/seller. I always pay too much, and receive too little, so flipping is not my thing. I've sold a few pieces, but always at a fair price. What will end up happening, is I will get these going, and then justify keeping them.

Foams are ordered, and now I got to figure out what that glass fusey looking thing is on the crossover. One is clearly burnt, other is okay.

Anyone suggest any caps for a recap? Looks like an 8uf and a 6uf...if my eyes are still working..
 
wmgwizard said:
I am on my second pair of series I.
Aside from re foaming, pay special attention to the crossover. There is a 3.6 ibm resistor that breaks a lead off right at the body and a fuse/lamp that goes bad. Maidsound can supply these parts cheap and fast.
Many people who bash the lack of high end probably listened to a set with broken crossovers. Ditto with imaging.
The "stereo everywhere" concept used here is evident in the fact that standing in front of the left speaker you can still hear the right speaker. They fill the room with sound. When properly set up the soundstage is three dimensional, more so than most other speakers I have heard, but I haven't heard everything.
I don't kn1ow about fancy measurements none of us will ever take but to my ears they sound just fine.
Let your ears decide, if you don't like them they are easy to flip.

Bill
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Bill, please tell me more about this fuse/lamp thing...one of mine is clearly burnt (assuming a thread this old still has a follower named bill, lol)
 
I have a set of 301 series II that were my main speakers for about 20 years. I loved these speakers until I found out on the internet that they suck.

I also have a set of 501 series IV.

Right now the 301s aren't being used but the 501s are. For a long time in the 90s I was using the only the 501s and 301s. A few years ago I started auditioning other old speakers- the 301s I think compared favorably- I thought the 501s didn't. After I moved my setup, the 501s really improved to where I moved them- So right now, the only reason I'm not using the 301s is because I have enough speakers hooked up.

Regardless of what I've read on the internets, I still like my Bose speakers.
 
onwardjames said:
It's cool, man. I'm a lousy buyer/seller. I always pay too much, and receive too little, so flipping is not my thing. I've sold a few pieces, but always at a fair price. What will end up happening, is I will get these going, and then justify keeping them.

Foams are ordered, and now I got to figure out what that glass fusey looking thing is on the crossover. One is clearly burnt, other is okay.

Anyone suggest any caps for a recap? Looks like an 8uf and a 6uf...if my eyes are still working..
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The lamp works kind of like a varistor. As more power is fed, the lamp lights up AND changes resistance (increasing), and sparing damage to the driver in series. Based on input from others (Bose and RS Mach Two owners) the lamp does it's job well, however, I'm thinking that the lamp degrades (as lamps do) and the resistance, unfortunately increases, diminishing low power performance. Based again on posts, the difference can be significant. The ones used in RS speakers are 12v 27w (if I recall correctly). I wouldn't be surprised if the Bose is close, maybe even the same. These lamps are still available through many sources.

Hope you'll post your thoughts on them after you've given them sufficient listening time. What series are they?

Post an image of the networks, if you can display the values of the caps. Those are fairly common values, shouldn't have trouble getting those.
 
TheGoldenBoy said:
I have a set of 301 series II that were my main speakers for about 20 years. I loved these speakers until I found out on the internet that they suck.

I also have a set of 501 series IV.

Right now the 301s aren't being used but the 501s are. For a long time in the 90s I was using the only the 501s and 301s. A few years ago I started auditioning other old speakers- the 301s I think compared favorably- I thought the 501s didn't. After I moved my setup, the 501s really improved to where I moved them- So right now, the only reason I'm not using the 301s is because I have enough speakers hooked up.

Regardless of what I've read on the internets, I still like my Bose speakers.
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Still debating fixing my 501 (I think series II) speakers. I have a post started (old) but till I find correct (or suitable) replacement woofers, this project is dead in the waters. Tweeters are still present and functional. One cabinet was horribly modified to fit a 12", in place of the 10" woofer. Real hack job.
 
I found my pair as a guy was clearing out his parent's house. I knew what they were and offered $20 for a foam rotted, sun bleached filthy set. Got them home the drivers worked so I ordred the foams and went to town on the cabinets with a deep cleaning and a application of Olde English Walnut Polish and viola I had what looked like $600 series1 601s.Sound was fantastic, very bass heavy ,not as placement critical as the 901s are and they do like power which was no problem I have an Adcom 555. As the series went along I think build quality and sound really suffered but if you found a clean pair of 601s I would get them.They also have a switch on the rears to diflect the sound up and off the walls if that's what your room needs.So for $20, 30 for the foam kit some time and therapy it was well worth it.I eventually sold them on C/L for $185 real fast when I came across my Polk SDA 2Bs.
 
alarmme said:
I found my pair as a guy was clearing out his parent's house. I knew what they were and offered $20 for a foam rotted, sun bleached filthy set. Got them home the drivers worked so I ordred the foams and went to town on the cabinets with a deep cleaning and a application of Olde English Walnut Polish and viola I had what looked like $600 series1 601s.Sound was fantastic, very bass heavy ,not as placement critical as the 901s are and they do like power which was no problem I have an Adcom 555. As the series went along I think build quality and sound really suffered but if you found a clean pair of 601s I would get them.They also have a switch on the rears to diflect the sound up and off the walls if that's what your room needs.So for $20, 30 for the foam kit some time and therapy it was well worth it.I eventually sold them on C/L for $185 real fast when I came across my Polk SDA 2Bs.
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While I'm no longer actively shopping, the positive reviews have me thinking NOT to pass up any "deals" if they should fall in my lap. So to speak.
 
Copa1934 said:
The lamp works kind of like a varistor. As more power is fed, the lamp lights up AND changes resistance (increasing), and sparing damage to the driver in series. Based on input from others (Bose and RS Mach Two owners) the lamp does it's job well, however, I'm thinking that the lamp degrades (as lamps do) and the resistance, unfortunately increases, diminishing low power performance. Based again on posts, the difference can be significant. The ones used in RS speakers are 12v 27w (if I recall correctly). I wouldn't be surprised if the Bose is close, maybe even the same. These lamps are still available through many sources.

Hope you'll post your thoughts on them after you've given them sufficient listening time. What series are they?

Post an image of the networks, if you can display the values of the caps. Those are fairly common values, shouldn't have trouble getting those.
Click to expand...

I had read these are easy to refoam....shimming unnecessary. Last set of speakers I did ended up rubbing. DCM TF-350's...which shattered my confidence, as I have refoamed 6 or 7 pair of speakers, with no problem. I think the DCM's had sagged for too long. Anway, hoping I don't ass this set up.

If I replace one, I'm going to replace both. I appreciate your input, 12 volt 27watt is what the RS speakers are.

Can anyone here attest to the Bose ratings? I tried Bose directly, no help.

I will definitely post a write-up once I get them going. Honestly, I don't need these, I got so many other pair, but for 50, hell yeah. :D
 
TheGoldenBoy said:
I have a set of 301 series II that were my main speakers for about 20 years. I loved these speakers until I found out on the internet that they suck.
Click to expand...

That's the problem with listening to idiots on the internet. There's nothing wrong with the 301's.
If there was, your ears would have told you so.
 
Okay, I hooked my pair up....seems both the front left tweeter and the back right tweeter on BOTH PAIR aren't working. I found, god knows how, on the interweb, a schematic. Looks like those two are linked.

As I stated before, one of those lamp fuses (Part number 114462) are definitely burnt, the other looks to be good.

Sure hoping I don't have to replace 4 tweeters. Woofers were good too.
 
HAHA, zombie THREAD!!!

So, I've been enjoying my Bose 601 series II's I restored for awhile now. I refoamed, scrubbed and washed all the plastic bits and grills, filled in the slight scratch on cabs, and replaced the resistors, which had broken and pulled loose from the housing.

I saw poly caps, so I did NOT recap.

Was this a mistake? I remember reading the woofer naturally rolls off, and didn't figure poly caps would need replacing.

Anyone able to chime in with some experience on this??

And for anyone who says Bose sucks, I disagree. These are very enjoyable, if atypical speakers.
 
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