On Jan 7, 6:52 pm, " wrote:
Bose Corp. introduced the 901 in 1968 (dunno which month). I offer the
following piece as a "tip of the hat" to that significant audio event
seeing that this is 40 years later. I thought that I had previously
published this but couldn't find it anywhere in the archives. Anyway
here goes, and I realize I might be setting the cat among the
pigeons!!!
. Back in the day (late 60s to late 80s) I was an impovirished
audiophile who spent a lot of time auditioning speakers that I could
not afford. These included the 901s, AR3as, AR LSTs, several large
Altecs (Barcelona and VOTTH), J-bells, large Rectilinears,and in the
late 80s, Fulton J-modulars (my candidate for the best speaker system
of all time) and the ML Hartley/Quad/Decca system. Except fot the last
2, what I heard from the Bose equalled or bested them all.
I requested a copy of their testimonial booklet and was shocked to see
what speakers people were trading in for the Bose 901. Everything from
Klipschorns to KLH 9s, in fact most of the big names of the day were
"embarrassed" in the booklet. Ok! It was advertising hyperbole,
especially when Bose told you to place the 901 on top of the biggest,
most expensive speaker that you could find and compare! Around that
time Bose had a hell of a lot of immitators. I always suspected that
my beloved AR LSTS was born out of the Bose emphasized need to have a
widely spread source of sound.
This said, the 901 (in all versions) does sound different from those
others. It has a huge sound, especially considering its size and
unbeliveable clarity and spaciousness. I have read criticisms that
complained it has no lows and no highs. I don't know what speakers
those critics heard but no lows would be the very last thing to be
said about the 901. Listen to the Zubin Mehta "Also Sprach
Zaruthustra" on London Decca. The opening organ pedal note is
reproduced with a power and authority that could make you wet your
pants. Same for the heart beats on the opening cut of Pink Floyd's
"Dark Side of the Moon". Now I know that there are subwoofeer systems
that can reproduce a blue whale's belch at the level of a nuclear air
burst, and this is fine for those who derive their greatest pleasure
from listening to blue whale's belches. But if you want to hear deep,
deep, powerful, bass from musical instruments especially electric
bass, organ or timpani, the 901 would give it to you.
When I could afford top quality speakers, room restrictions for the
901 caused me to look elsewhere. AR LSTs were followed by KEF 105.2s
and finally an ESL 63/Gradient system. By the time I got the 63s I had
a room that allowed more space at the rear and sides than even the
Bose demanded and the sound beguiled me away from any others on the
market. All of these speaker systems I currently have in my house.
No the Bose 901 is not the worlds best speaker (BTW I do not consider
those mega buck systems from Wilson Audio and other insanely designed,
engineered and priced efforts as part of normal audiophile activity),
and yes I believe for most music, the Quad electrostactics and a few
others of their ilk outshine 901s. But the hard edged sometimes
vicious disparagement of the 901s that you often read is uncalled for.
Bose put out a speaker in1968 that has stood the test of time and was
imitated by many.
ESTG/ A 61 year old, 41 year audiophile.
"...what in me is dark illumine; what is low raise
and support; That to the height of this great
argument, I may assert Eternal Providence,
And justify the ways of God to men."
John Milton " Paradise
Lost"
I think the issue with all the Bose haterade is Bose's philosophy.
They gave the consumer just what they wanted and they paid attention
to marketing. While all the speaker manufacturers were continuing
their quest for audio perfection, Bose said, "Who cares, so long is it
sounds good." When it came to imaging and soundstage, everyone else
was striving to produce an accurate left to right, and most
impressively, depth of a musical soundstage. Bose said, "eff it, we'll
just shoot the sound everywhere, accuracy and depth be dammned. If
you're sitting on the left side of the room and can hear right channel
information as clearly as if you're in front of the right channel
speaker, now that's entertainment
The speaker manufacturers hated them for their success because they
delivered to the not too knowledgeable consumer, most of whom assumed
that Bose was real hifi.
While I don't quite agree with the philosophy of Bose audio in the
home, the Bose philosophy in car audio is a match made in heaven.
Compromise audio engineering met the significantly compromised car
audio environment. Priceless.
CD