Bose 901 Series V without equalizer

[Kingpin5]

OK, I've been watching out for some 901s. From what I've read and based on looks they are pretty good speakers. NOW, I seem to have read that the early 901 series have to have the equalizers. Is that true for Series V? or is it true for ALL 901s and do you have to have a Bose equalizer to run them? or will another brand of equalize work? thanks of the responses.

 

[janikphoto]

All 901's need to be EQ'ed, but you can get them in the ballpark by drastically adjusting your normal EQ.

 

[Northwinds]

All 901's need to be EQ'ed, but you can get them in the ballpark by drastically adjusting your normal EQ.

I never had luck doing that with a regular home audio eq. The parameters needed for boosting are not enough with a standard EQ which is usually 10dB +/- whereas the Bose EQ boosts something like 18-20dBs. You can make them sound better but they still sound like ass with a regular EQ compared to the Bose EQ designed to be used with them

 

[Farmhand]

Two EQs in series?

 

[Hermit418]

Two EQs in series?

No The original eq boosted the signals 20-30dB and no ordinary eq will work. The 9091 series speakers have followers w/o the eq they will not play well.

You will hear others claim they are this or that, bottom line if you can listen to them and still want them then decide. You can do far better with other speakers than those for the same money

Cheers
Hermit

 

[janikphoto]

My eq is a 12db boost, and like I said... it will ballpark it. I never said it would replace it. With that said, the Bose eq I had still didn't make them sounds amazing. Their claim to fame is that they sound "big", and these sounded big when eq'ed either way.

 

[Bill Ashton]

Real key is placement. One really has to have a plain flat wall to sit them out against. Do it right and it sounds like the band is actually playing in your room...do it not-so-right and they might sound like "meh" speakers, if even that good. Every few series have changed the equalizer, so you have to have the correct one.

 

[sheltie dave]

Without an equalizer they are 18 midrange speaker drivers.

 

[bshorey]

OK, I've been watching out for some 901s. From what I've read and based on looks they are pretty good speakers. NOW, I seem to have read that the early 901 series have to have the equalizers. Is that true for Series V? or is it true for ALL 901s and do you have to have a Bose equalizer to run them? or will another brand of equalize work? thanks of the responses.

Not only do you need toe Bose equalizer, but you need the right Bose equalizer for whatever series of 901's you end up with. The series I and II used the same eq, series III and IV used the same eq (I think), and I'm not sure of the later ones.

Series I and II also had cloth surrounds. Later series had foam surrounds, so keep that in mind too. If they haven't been serviced they'll be needing them at some point, if not already. It's an easy job, but time consuming for 18 drivers.

I wouldn't touch a pair without the eq.

bs

 

[jdmccall]

Words to the wise: Get the proper Bose EQ for the series of 901 you are using...or don't bother at all. And don't stick the EQ between preamp and amp. Connect it in tape monitor / external signal processor loop...unless you like hisssssssssssssssss, that is.

 

[Kingpin5]

Not only do you need toe Bose equalizer, but you need the right Bose equalizer for whatever series of 901's you end up with. The series I and II used the same eq, series III and IV used the same eq (I think), and I'm not sure of the later ones.

Series I and II also had cloth surrounds. Later series had foam surrounds, so keep that in mind too. If they haven't been serviced they'll be needing them at some point, if not already. It's an easy job, but time consuming for 18 drivers.

I wouldn't touch a pair without the eq.

bs

Words to the wise: Get the proper Bose EQ for the series of 901 you are using...or don't bother at all. And don't stick the EQ between preamp and amp. Connect it in tape monitor / external signal processor loop...unless you like hisssssssssssssssss, that is.

Thanks for the confirm. It is a solid advice.