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"Rodney Dangerfield" Bose 901 II

I once connected a series 4 eq to a pair of junky single driver speakers (the sort of thing that would go with a low end all in one system). It actually made them sound almost good.
 
turn them into a full range line array??

Nice find getting the early series 901s - at least you won't be re-foaming 18 drivers!

I've always wondered what they would sound like if you took the 9 drivers and put them in a line array -facing you!
 
I have a pair of 901s (don't know what series) that are going to be, uh, modified when I find the time (and money) to do it.

The grills are probably attached in such a way as to render it impossible to remove them without damage. No big loss.

As I understand it (which is barely), the EQ serves to take the peaks and dips out of the stock driver response, then add whatever signal boosting to create that distinctive sound. Note: 'distinctive' does not have positive or negative implications. If you like the way they sound, more power to you.

I THINK the drivers in mine are paper with foam surrounds. I'm planning to replace all the drivers with Vifa or similar, plus add a tweeter. And switch the front to rear to face most of the speakers (including the new tweeter) forward.

If there's room, I'd like to replace the single driver (which would now be facing rearward) with a larger one, like 8" or 10". The box volume and space limitations may dictate driver size.

The crossover network could get, uh, entertaining. I'll probably bi-amp them so I can simplify the crossover setup, and put some of my extra receivers to use...

Happy Listening!

c.
 
Well gentlemen,
Strike 1
Went back to the thrift yesterday and today after work and no EQ..........
heavy sigh........ Oh well.

Strike 2
Told my wife about my thought's regarding hanging the 901's from the ceiling in our bedroom (just like the old club/bar scene) She "respectfully" requested that I not do that.

Strike 3
Yet to come. The night is young!

Adios!
RC
 
If you want to not repair the drivers in 901s, and I don't know why you would, I think the best full range not expensive raw drivers you could slap in there would be Tang Bangs. Maybe something better in the front, but the 8 in the back, those little Chinese drivers aught to work great.

I am thinking on getting another pair to toss on top of the rack to use as the center channel in the HT. The Shahinian Obelisks are just too damn good to keep up there.
 
Bose 901s, Series II

The key to sucessfully enjoying your new Bose 901s, Series IIs is room speaker placement, as well as obtaining the Bose Series I or II equalizer.
If the 901s aren't properly set up to reflect off the back and adjacent walls
of the room properly, the soundstage will not be pleasing. This is probably the reason many don't like the sound of 901s. Set up properly in a room with good acoustics and with good sounding powerful amps , you will be amazed by the soundstage. You'll think you're front & center, a few rows back from the stage at a live concert. There are many fine speaker systems to be had, but none give the illusion of a live concert sound in a live hall as the Bose 901 Series IIs do. I've been listening to my pair for almost 30 years. And I've been told that
having 2 pairs of 901 IIs set up sounds even better, believe it or not! :thmbsp: :thmbsp:
 
Don't know how rare they are, but you might also be on the Lookout for The Bose Receiver.

I think the Model Number is 550.

I believe it had a Built-in EQ for the 901s.
 
How about this?
Click to expand...

Oldschool, thanks for the head's up on the EQ (e-bay) I spied it 2-days ago and it was $15.00, I see its gone up since then.
Maybe I can sneak in before the end of auction without driving it up much more. :D

Ive heard about the 550 here in post's on AK but I have never seen one Raycomics, I absolutly will be looking for one of those also.

Ahh, The thrill of the hunt!
 
Holst said:
I thought I saw someone here at AK giving away a 901 eq, a series III I think. There's a big dif. between the I's and II's and the rest of their ilk, so I don't know how different a III eq would turn out to be. The first two versions lacked the ported enclosure of III on up.
Click to expand...
Anybody giving away a series III/IV EQ, please send me a PM. :D
 
you done good. . . atta boy

If you can't talk your wife into having them hanging from the ceiling, get rid of them. In a moderate size bedroom with a good amp you will be suprised.
Top of speaker @ 14" or so from ceiling and same diatance from point to the wall, 25% from the corner per side and enjoy. Locate the EQ that is designed for the series you have, they are different and BOSE sells them for (gulp) $200.oo.

I have a set of VIs plugged into a SX1250 with a 50" Plasma in the center.
It's not surround sound but will lift the hair on the back of your neck and sounds like nothing else @ the price you paid for them...

Properly setup and powered, they are impressive. I've had 901's for decades and although they get the love hate deal all the time, go for it and make your own decision.
pc
 
For the 901 to operate as designed, the active EQ system is necessary, as has already been mentioned. However, if you find you can live without it, I would recommend doing so. On my system (h/k 730 (as pre-amp), Kenwood L-07M power amps), the active EQ introduces noticeable background noise in the form of hiss. With the active EQ out of the chain, the system is dead quiet, and only when the volume is turned up nearly all the way is the the slightest hint of noise. With it installed between the pre amp and power amp, there is noticeable noise.

Of course, if you plan at playing your system at louder levels, the hiss level from the active EQ is acceptable. But I typically listen to my system very quietly, and I routinely had to turn up the volume higher than I liked to overcome hiss.
 
If you put the EQ in the tape monitor loop (BEFORE the volume control) instead of in the pre-out/main-in loop (which is AFTER the volume control), you can oftentimes "get around" the noisiness of the EQ, for the most part. Yes, it's there... but when it's in the tape loop, when you turn down the volume control, you ALSO turn down the EQ hiss...

The best solution? Given "infinite money", get a pair of serious 31-band EQs such as White studio-grade units, or something like a DBX Driverack system. RTA and EQ the suckers flat with those, and pitch the little Bose EQ box. Admittedly, it's SERIOUS money (as in potentially more than the speakers!), but it WILL flat-out be the BEST those speakers will EVER sound...

Regards,
Gordon.
 
Doucanoe, you have a PM.
Click to expand...

Hey guy's, just a update.
jbpollack went to the trouble of locating me a 550 but it wasnt the right model for my series II's. (Thanks Jeff your a good man!)

I will find me a EQ for these dog's sooner or later im sure. Hooked them up though using a PSE Studio 1 pre-amp and they didnt sound half bad. Now Im going to start refinishing the cab's and hopefully by then I will have found a reasonably priced EQ. Im convinced that finding this or as GW suggested a more aggressive EQ is really going to make a difference.

In the mean time they might make their first appearance as background speaker's at my daughter's grad. party using the PSE. :naughty:

if anyone stumble's across a series II EQ let me know!
Thanks Dude's!
RC
 
dont know if you're still looking. this one came up in my search for local speakers, weird. the current price looks a bit steep to me, but they could be rare enough to justify it.
 
$76 is a good price to pay for a Bose 901 Series II EQ. I've seen them go for up to $150. Occasionally Bose (the factory itself) sells reconditioned EQs for $170. Give them a call & ask.
 
dont know if you're still looking. this one came up in my search for local speakers, weird. the current price looks a bit steep to me, but they could be rare enough to justify it.
Click to expand...

Hey Dingus, Thanks for the lead. A day or so left on the auction so I will watch for a while. Im not sure where it was at when you found it on the bay but she's up to $102.00 now! I missed a few so far that sold for around 75-$100 but I keep looking. Looks like a solid seller though. I guess a shouldnt get too greedy because I only paid $28.00 for the 901's. $125.00 to $150.00 for speak's and EQ really isnt the end of the world to own my own pair of the "Highly regarded and well respected" classic. lol :thmbsp:


Thanks Nitrous Im going to check that out also!

RC
 
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