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My expectations Bose 901 and setup

L

Lombardo

New Member
I’ve had a pair of 901s for many years powered by my Pioneer sx950. I have the equalizer connected correct via manual instructions and it sounds decent. But like they say dissatisfied with lows and highs.

I must’ve been drinking when I decided to buy a Pioneer 3 way crossover just spontaneously, or maybe I had this plan all along.

I want to power the 901s with a more powerful amp (maybe. Spec 2 or similar) and a pair of in-ceiling speakers with my sx950 and a powered sub woofer Then use the crossover to fine tune the settings to my liking. At least it will make for an interesting science project?

What are your thoughts? Please before telling me I’m better off finding an sx1250 or a different pair of speakers just try and resist the temptation to fulfill your desire to tell people how wrong they are. Let just try to stick to the parameters stated here.

Thanks.
 
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Have you checked the 901's recently? the multiple tweeters are prone to surround rot, maybe that is causing them to not sound good. Your current Pioneer should be plenty (85 RMS) for them
 
The required power really is a matter of playback expectations. The big bass boost really sucks up the power.

I have a pair of 901 Series VI powered by a Yamaha P2200 and its easy to have the meters full right, so to speak.

Out of curiosity, I played them at a level of 80-85dBa at distance of ~13ft from the speakers. The meters on the Yamaha P2200 amp were bouncing upwards of 100W. It was certainly more than a library-like playback level, but by no means an ear-bleeding level.

The intent was to use them with a HK PM650. While it sounded fine it was immediately obvious more power was called for. And, while the P2200 (240 wpc) generally serves nicely, I am going to try even bigger amps out of curiosity.
 
whoaru99 said:
The required power really is a matter of playback expectations. The big bass boost really sucks up the power.

I have a pair of 901 Series VI powered by a Yamaha P2200 and its easy to have the meters full right, so to speak.

Out of curiosity, I played them at a level of 80-85dBa at distance of ~13ft from the speakers. The meters on the Yamaha P2200 amp were bouncing upwards of 100W. It was certainly more than a library-like playback level, but by no means an ear-bleeding level.
Click to expand...
Yes I’ve read many times that they do sound better with more amperage. But also I intend to separate the highs and lows via crossover into speakers better adapted to them and use the 901s for the full range mid-lows mods and mid-high.

what are thoughts about this? Moreso than amperage concerns. But even concerning amperage the spec 2 would be more than sufficient.

Thanks
 
As a 901 Series II owner since about 1974, I offer the following:

Do you KNOW the eq is doing all that it should? It IS possible it needs a recap/rebuild.

Over the years I have run mine with a series of low to mid power receivers. Volume had never been a problem...Sansui 3000, Sony Strv35, Onkyo TX 8210, Allied 395, Technics SA200, Pioneer SX525, Sansui G3000.

They are never going to reproduce the low organ pedal in Also Sprach Zarathustra, however if placed correctly should sound like a band is playing in the next room, not just a good stereo.

Good luck with your experiment. In a similar vein once, I used mine without the eq along with a pair of Optimus 1's that need recapping badly and it sounded very good...not like a Bose system, but very good.
 
Yes I’m trying to use as intended to feather in highs and lows to other amps and speakers.

The manual shows connecting the crossover via pre amp in and out. Then connecting amp to the crossover and powering a pair of speakers while still powering a pair of speakers via receiver amp. Additionally I want to feed a powered sub With the low side of the crossover and run all three with the two amps. The crossover should give me the ability to control the frequency of my receiver amp and my dedicated amp. (Excuse my lack of proper terminology)

Hopefully you get my gist. Here’s a picture of the setup in manual.

What I’m not 100% on is the Bose equalizer and how or if it can be use in line as necessary.

whoaru99 said:
Can you clarify your intent of the crossover?
Click to expand...
 
Lombardo said:
I’ve had a pair of 901s for many years powered by my Pioneer sx950. I have the equalizer connected correct via manual instructions and it sounds decent. But like they say dissatisfied with lows and highs.

I must’ve been drinking when I decided to buy a Pioneer 3 way crossover just spontaneously, or maybe I had this plan all along.

I want to power the 901s with a more powerful amp (maybe. Spec 2 or similar) and a pair of in-ceiling speakers with my sx950 and a powered sub woofer Then use the crossover to fine tune the settings to my liking. At least it will make for an interesting science project?

What are your thoughts? Please before telling me I’m better off finding an sx1250 or a different pair of speakers just try and resist the temptation to fulfill your desire to tell people how wrong they are. Let just try to stick to the parameters stated here.

Thanks.
Click to expand...

Are your speakers placed correctly? They need a lot of space around them to function best. Also, what series do you have? The original and Series II models are best. And yes, Bose 901 speakers like lots of power, as in they can work fine with 200 watts/channel. And they are not efficient. You really need separates.
 
Bill Ashton said:
As a 901 Series II owner since about 1974, I offer the following:

Do you KNOW the eq is doing all that it should? It IS possible it needs a recap/rebuild.

Over the years I have run mine with a series of low to mid power receivers. Volume had never been a problem...Sansui 3000, Sony Strv35, Onkyo TX 8210, Allied 395, Technics SA200, Pioneer SX525, Sansui G3000.

They are never going to reproduce the low organ pedal in Also Sprach Zarathustra, however if placed correctly should sound like a band is playing in the next room, not just a good stereo.

Good luck with your experiment. In a similar vein once, I used mine without the eq along with a pair of Optimus 1's that need recapping badly and it sounded very good...not like a Bose system, but very good.
Click to expand...

To be honest. No I don’t for sure but I do know they sound clean and full just lacking highs and lows as you and many other stated. To be it’s bothersome. Volume is NOT and issue. Just the same a valid concern and thanks for bringing it up. It would be worth to check my caps and give it a good cleaning.
 

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Bill Ashton said:
Over the years I have run mine with a series of low to mid power receivers. Volume had never been a problem...
Click to expand...

That's the perpetual dilemma we run into with arbitrary opinions about "loud" and preferences for volume. One guy gets along fine with 10, 20, 50 watts, or whatever. I'm running 240 and going to try 425 and 700. Usually, of course, I'm using much less than any of those but sometimes not. Power is always enough, until it's not. :)
 
So what do you think of my proposed new setup? I’m trying to get feedback on what people think of using the crossover and another amp for more power as you suggest. I don’t have an issue with my Bose fullness but you gotta admit the highs and lows are not the best. My intention is to use the Bose for a wide midrange and separate the very high and the very low as stated.
 
Lombardo said:
Yes I’m trying to use as intended to feather in highs and lows to other amps and speakers.

The manual shows connecting the crossover via pre amp in and out. Then connecting amp to the crossover and powering a pair of speakers while still powering a pair of speakers via receiver amp. Additionally I want to feed a powered sub With the low side of the crossover and run all three with the two amps. The crossover should give me the ability to control the frequency of my receiver amp and my dedicated amp. (Excuse my lack of proper terminology)

Hopefully you get my gist. Here’s a picture of the setup in manual.

What I’m not 100% on is the Bose equalizer and how or if it can be use in line as necessary.
Click to expand...

What they show in the manual, is using the SX-950 in a biamp configuration powering the lows (low pass of external crossover fed back to the SX-950 main in) and an external amp connected to the crossover high pass to drive the highs.
 
Lombardo said:
So what do you think of my proposed new setup? I’m trying to get feedback on what people think of using the crossover and another amp for more power as you suggest. I don’t have an issue with my Bose fullness but you gotta admit the highs and lows are not the best. My intention is to use the Bose for a wide midrange and separate the very high and the very low as stated.
Click to expand...


I think it's not a problem from a technical/connection standpoint if you have all the stuff to do it. I don't know what the end results will be however.

But, personally, if I felt I had to go to that extent to be satisfied with my 901s I'd probably just use different speakers. Yes, the highs are not quite as clear as some other speakers I have, and yes, the bass doesn't go as low as some subs I have. But, I find them satisfyingly listenable in their as-is state.

I don't know if this is the crossover you have, but it fits the description of Pioneer 3-way. If you don't have the manual here's a link. Should help with some of the questions....or maybe you know the connections and just asking for thoughts overall?

http://www.kallhovde.com/pioneer/sf-850-om.pdf

Depending on the range over which you use the 901s, you might still need that EQ between the crossover and the amp for the 901s. If you are using the 901s just for midrange, you might be able to get enough adjustment with a graphic EQ or maybe the controls on the crossover and not need the 901 EQ (even though it does have some effect across the board).
 
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When I tried to use my Bose eq with the 901's and the Op-1's, the sound was not pretty. At least in my manual, it discusses use with another eq...I left mine connected but with its tape monitor on the receiver off. If you cannot, won't hurt anything to leave your Bose eq out. Then you will just use the Pioneer 3 way as you intended.

Although you probably already have, make sure you go over your speaker loads so impedance doesn't fall too low...
 
Just looked at that link, pretty neat piece od equipment. It wouldn't have taken me many beers at Frankenfest to pick one up either!

Consider, I am a guy with a Pioneer reverb hooked in :confused:
 
You've probably seen a 901 curve, but here's an actual sweep through my Series VI EQ. Only a very small segment is somewhat "flat" in terms of tuning the speaker response.

index.php
 
whoaru99 said:
What they show in the manual, is using the SX-950 in a biamp configuration powering the lows (low pass of external crossover fed back to the SX-950 main in) and an external amp connected to the crossover high pass to drive the highs.
Click to expand...

Correct I intend to use the crossover to 2 amps, 3 if you consider the woofer has it's own. As intended as a 3 way crossover.
 
Bill Ashton said:
When I tried to use my Bose eq with the 901's and the Op-1's, the sound was not pretty. At least in my manual, it discusses use with another eq...I left mine connected but with its tape monitor on the receiver off. If you cannot, won't hurt anything to leave your Bose eq out. Then you will just use the Pioneer 3 way as you intended.

Although you probably already have, make sure you go over your speaker loads so impedance doesn't fall too low...
Click to expand...

Thanks Bill. So I assume the OP-1 is like a crossover? Ok I may do this. How would I check my speaker loads for impedance?
 
whoaru99 said:
You've probably seen a 901 curve, but here's an actual sweep through my Series VI EQ. Only a very small segment is somewhat "flat" in terms of tuning the speaker response.

index.php
Click to expand...
I really don't know what to make of this. My ears tell me not enough Highs and Lows. Not bad, but nothing very high or very low. Hearing more of the outer limits would make me happy. I don't intend to clip off all of the Highs, just the highest, and not all of the lows, just the lowest. The crossover is great at giving one the ability to clip off at various frequencies and levels so you have a pretty broad range. You can even just let it all flow through evenly and NOT clip off anything.
 
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