The Best Speakers in the World!

The Bose 601 Series II.

At least that’s what I thought about 36 years ago.  To this 21 year old at the time, I truly believed that to be the case.  Back in those days, unless you had access to a high end stereo shop, you were not aware of many other offerings.

But anyhoo…so my girlfriend at the time was kind enough to purchase me a pair.  I had them for about ten years until I split from my ex-wife and somehow she ended up with them.  

Having not heard them in damn near a quarter of a century, I always had a soft spot in my heart for them.  The looks, the sound (though I didn’t remember the sound, I just know I liked them) and knew some day I’d want to pick up a pair.

That someday happened just this past week.  Found one locally in really good shape and priced right so even though I’ve got a ton of other speakers, thought, “What the hell?” 

Brought them home and cleaned them up a lot.  There was so much caked on dust.  I think the previous owner had them stored away in a garage somewhere.  One of the tweeters has a small hole, which I can easily repair at some point.

Set them up; hooked them up; prepared to be enthralled in the luscious sound.  Except it wasn’t at all.  They actually sounded pretty bad, like the lower frequencies were missing.  Touched all the woofers and they were moving, but these sounded quite anemic.  

I didn’t listen before buying.  But i probably would have chalked it up to the room/equipment it was in and bought them anyway thinking they’d sound different once back home.

i can’t figure out what’s wrong with them.  I’d get it if the drivers buzzed or distorted, but they don’t.  Or if it was just one speaker with the low bass output.  That I’d understand, as well.  But both speakers sounding the same?  I don’t get it.

They have dual 8” drivers per cabinet so the bass should be abundant.  I’ve got a few other Bose speakers in the house (not any cubes) and they all have plenty of bass output.  But not these.

So I got to thinking.  Can something in the cross-overs cause a reduction in bass output?  I get it that it’s probably unlikely to have both speakers’ cross-overs having the same issues.  

Then I thought maybe the woofers were replaced at some point, as opposed to being re-foamed, and the owner put in the wrong woofers (possibly not as efficient as the originals).  I’ll have to text the previous owner and ask him.

Any thoughts on what could be the cause of this anemic bass?  

Snide remarks are welcome, as well.

Thanks,

Mamoru