Circa 1977 I owned a pair of Bose 901s. Then I powered them with a Yahama receiver with fairly low watts. Sounded good to me then; although I didn't have much experience listening to anything else. There is a Yamaha CR600 for sale on ebay for a little over $100. 30W/channel. There is also a 30W/channel Pioneer SX3600 on ebay for something like $190. Pioneer was my very first receiver as a teenager. Loved that thing. If you want power though (and it seems you do with a handle morwatts) I would recommend you try a used NAD C375BEE integrated amplifier. It is conservatively rated at 150W. It will comfortably do more. You will hear some folks knocking NAD products; I have had good success with this particular model. My boys now use the 375BEE in a music hall TT set up connected to PSB Imagine T speakers and it produces plenty of power. There is one currently listed used for $1,000 on Agon, which seems a bit on the high side to me. I bought mine here used almost 6 years ago for $900. Happy Hunting.
Please...dont flame me (Bose 901-Series I help)
OK,
So I absolutely understand the angst that these particular speakers/brand can elicit.
However, these particular speakers (the series I in particular) have always been on my bucket list since my pre-teens. They were my first exposure to anything resembling high fidelity, thus, I have always wanted a pair.
Now in my mid 40’s...ahem....I had a pair dropped in my lap for no $$$. Cherry condition, original drivers and original EQ (crossover).
My quandary is this, I only have this Yamaha RX-V461 multi media receiver to drive them. On paper, the RMS per channel is 100WPC. The issue is, I just do not feel like the speakers are getting enough juice to really make them sing.
Placement and listening room requirements are met, and in all honesty, the sound pretty damn good at high volume. Its just that I get the feeling that the receiver gets a little winded and sounds a little artificial to my ear.
I am hoping that swapping in either a power amp (using the Yamaha as a pre-amp) or an analogue "Beast" vintage receiver will warm up and fill out the sound at all volume levels.
I have this rig set up as a secondary, "just for ----- and giggles" rig. Currently using an MP3 player as a source, with plans for a single CD player here shortly. I used a friends CD player as source prior, so the issue I am thinking is indeed the amp.....i think.
I am hoping that someone here could give me some ideas as to what to look for as a good match up for these speakers. Cheap is good, "sleeper amps" are always a joy, so if there is a little known but desirable rig (think Realistic STA-2100) I am all ears.....haha....get it? All ears.....?
So I absolutely understand the angst that these particular speakers/brand can elicit.
However, these particular speakers (the series I in particular) have always been on my bucket list since my pre-teens. They were my first exposure to anything resembling high fidelity, thus, I have always wanted a pair.
Now in my mid 40’s...ahem....I had a pair dropped in my lap for no $$$. Cherry condition, original drivers and original EQ (crossover).
My quandary is this, I only have this Yamaha RX-V461 multi media receiver to drive them. On paper, the RMS per channel is 100WPC. The issue is, I just do not feel like the speakers are getting enough juice to really make them sing.
Placement and listening room requirements are met, and in all honesty, the sound pretty damn good at high volume. Its just that I get the feeling that the receiver gets a little winded and sounds a little artificial to my ear.
I am hoping that swapping in either a power amp (using the Yamaha as a pre-amp) or an analogue "Beast" vintage receiver will warm up and fill out the sound at all volume levels.
I have this rig set up as a secondary, "just for ----- and giggles" rig. Currently using an MP3 player as a source, with plans for a single CD player here shortly. I used a friends CD player as source prior, so the issue I am thinking is indeed the amp.....i think.
I am hoping that someone here could give me some ideas as to what to look for as a good match up for these speakers. Cheap is good, "sleeper amps" are always a joy, so if there is a little known but desirable rig (think Realistic STA-2100) I am all ears.....haha....get it? All ears.....?
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- 15 posts total
I bought the 901 series5 in about 1984. I had an old SAE 501 amp driving them with about 250 watts per speaker max. In my opinion the 901 speakers did not sound better with more power, just went louder and filled the room with loud sound. I anchored them from the ceiling and put them on pedestals. Both configurations gave me similar results. Although a revolution in design for surround sound (I think Bose was attempting to recreate the live concert sound) the speaker had many limitations. Interestingly Dr. Bose really spent much of his earnings on another revolution in car suspension (shock adsorption) in cars. But he did not succeed in getting it adopted into the industry. A shame really because the design was crazy good... https://www.extremetech.com/extreme/259042-bose-sells-off-revolutionary-electromagnetic-suspension |
- 15 posts total