HUGE Spacious Surrounds - The

A different, multi-band stereo EQ (probably active) may help boost original 901 drivers better than the stock EQ.

Or, that, plus, possibly adding two or three high end tweeters. 1 up front and 2 on the rear panels. Balancing this modification and 901 location is critical.

My listening area is 30 x 30 feet. When I toed-in the RF-7's in mono as a dual-centers, the difference was huge compared to the smaller RC-7. It corrected driver height problems and smaller soundstage problems common with smaller center channel speakers (usually placed above or below the screen on a stand).

I started looking at other "front mains" for surrounds. The 901's design simply jumped out. Proper placement is tricky.

I prefer a very full, lush, clear analog sound. My fronts have sealed 15's, three 6 inch mids and six tweeters in each cabinet, perfectly balanced, powered by built-in 300+ watt amps.

My smaller, in-ceiling surrounds are definately lacking equal depth and spaciousness throughout the room.

Comments or suggestions? 901's overlooked by audiophiles as surrounds? Thank you.

Hi Eldartford,

The Behringer DEQ 2496 is one I am considering. I have a Fostex stereo recording EQ that may work. Were you able to enhance the 901's treble and bass responces better? Especially, adding that sparkle mentioned by Knownothing? I can add a nice sub (REL Storm II) just for the surrounds and cross it over just above the SVS Ultra 13 through my AVP2 +6 processor, if needed.

Soundsbeyondspecs....Most equalizers would not have the range necessary to make the 901s flat. I use the parametric function of the DEQ 2496 to insert a broad and deep multioctave cut through the middle octaves. Then I run the automatic room EQ (which is added to the parametric eq) to maker things flat. I have found it best to roll off the lows below about 30 Hz...those little drivers can do just so mugh. The highs don't quite make it to 20KHz, but neither do my ears.

Note that my Bose 901s are in a huge swimming pool room with highly reflective surfaces all around. I make no gaurantees about how they will sound in a normal room.

If your ears make it close to 20 kHz, you are doing better than most!

Eldartford: I could connect only the 901 surrounds from the AVP's pre-outs to a Yamaha reciever with ARC. Then, route the pre-amp signal to the AMP 5 and to the 901's.

The ARC may flatten the 901's out. A EQ, analog SLM and calibration CD may help further manual accuracy by ear.

Hung by their feet from a 45 degree vaulted ceiling, the main 8 drivers should reflect directly downward throughout the listening area. They could definately sound good if the 901's components have the inherent potential for excellent surround sound qualities. Given that I believe 901's probably have different sound qualities within reach using better equalizing/calibration equipment than the stock EQ. Properly shaping the sound with the system and room is the trick.

Knownothing: I believe 20Hz has three 56 foot wavelength impulses per second!

http://www.mcsquared.com/wavelength.htm