Bose 901 Review Well Done.

A very entertaining, well-written article. Just another reminder why I chose a career path as a hifi peddler and speaker nerd, rather than a wordsmith.

I am working on an article (to be released shortly?) in defense of 901s from the unique perspective of one who has turned the speakers (and EQ) inside out and performed some significant performance mods. I also want to get "real" and disclose that there is just so much you can do with "mid-fi" 4 1/2" drivers slinging 89% of the signal off (untreated) back/sidewalls. The Bose 901 design is the polar opposite of my patented design. That being said, "getting things out of the way that make them sound worse" did reveal some nuance, delicacy, and focus that compelled me to strap myself onto the listening chair for an extended period of time and genuinely enjoy the experience.

The new Bose/Mac relationship got my wheels turning. How about a set of $45k Mac901s with 9 x 50 watts of onboard active amplification, DSP, and audiophile-grade full range (up to 20 kHz) drivers? Optional pedestals? Of course. This time with amplified compact subs/passives with useable output below 20 Hz. I’d trade of couple of cars I don’t drive very much these days for a set.

OP,

Havent heard these and have no desire to, based on my current contentment with my system and prior experience with older iterations. That being said, I am always skeptical when someone joins this site and their first post is a shill....

I own a pair of Lifestyle 901s, these are basically series VI speakers with the amp and equalizer built into the base of one of the speakers.  They are very rare piano black and mine are in minty condition bought new in 1999.  They sound very good for some kinds of music if they are properly set up.  They require a solid, clear wall, meaning no obstructions.  I prefer 16" distance to the back wall and 3' or more to side walls. They sound similar to sitting in the back of a large hall.  This works for orchestral pieces, particularly classical, but don't expect to be able to locate a soloist.  If you like the intimacy of a jazz quartet and are not worried that you can't locate the individual performers, 901s sound fine.  They are tone accurate.  So the alto can be differentiated from the tenor, for example.  If you listen closely you may even be able to hear the difference between the Steinway on the right from the Bosendorfer on the left.  But the difference between the Steinway B and the Steinway D?  No.  Oh, the the pianos will sound big, BIG, wide as the room big. Everything sounds big.  If you like your Ella to sound 10' wide these are the speakers for you.  Those who claim Bose 901s have no bass must have been listening to ones being played without the equalizer in the circuit.  Minus 3 db at 34 Hz is the measured fact.  The nine 4" drivers on each side have roughly the equivalent cone area of one 12" driver.  In summation, Bose 901 speakers are good sounding speakers, in many ways spectacular ones, circa 1970.  They fill the room with pleasant sound.  Wanna have a party?  They are difficult to set up correctly, however, and they cannot be considered serious audiophile speakers in 2025.  

Salesmen that didn’t carry the brand would recite ’no highs, no lows, gotta be Bose’. Anyone that ever heard them set up decently knew better and it says more about the person labelling them than it says about the speaker.

The 901 VI driven by an old Realistic STA 235b receiver was the last system I owned that I completely enjoyed! Like a car or truck system after the upgrade, I’m not analyzing the sound because I’m too busy enjoying it. That’s what the 901 is.

Back in 70’s, I thought the ADS 810 was better in every way than the similarly priced Bose 901 & heard them side by side several times. I’ll bet they’re still better & would buy them used today before over a new  pair of 901’s. I actually thought the 301 was the best speaker Bose made.