 "Stop Bose Bashing! 301 Speakers are phenomenal!" | 2009-10-03 |
| - Reviewed By User: A260QZGUYWDP72 |
A few years ago, my wonderful wife, (she truly is!) bought me a pair of BOSE 301 speakers in cherry from Crutchfield. Her hope was that I would stop using the very large Optimus Pro 4000 speakers I've had for years. First off, speakers and headphones, and in fact all electronics some would say, need to be broken in by many hours of use. I've been into high-end audio for 35 years now, so I've learned a thing or two.
The BOSE 301 speakers are the best they have ever made. Better than the 901s. They need to be positioned correctly so that the "Direct-Reflecting" drivers can do their thing.
In our case, I have them mounted on wall-mounted TV stands that have them adjacent to the large solid-wood TV cabinet. They are just over 8" from the wall, about
5" from the side of the cabinet and about 40" from the side walls. The front tweeters are aimed exactly at the center seat to watch the TV. (Note the cabinet, which almost reaches the ceiling is exactly centered on the wall.)
This is not the main stereo. The living room has the 250 WPC separates stereo and is NOT set up symmetrically like the family room is. So, the 301s just wouldn't do.
However, where they are, they sound FANTASTIC! LPs especially sound great. Today I played an old QUAD LP of the 1812 Overture and chose Dolby Pro Logic for it. It
blew me away! After that I played a surround SACD and was even more impressed. 301s rock!
All-in-all, the sound stage the 301s put out, even in stereo, is wide and deep. It extends well beyond the physical width of the speakers location. So, to truly enjoy YOUR 301s try my set up. I found two brand new conventional TV wall mount stands on eBay that seem tailor-made for the 301s.
In closing, they must be set up symmetrically so that the sound can truly bounce off the walls and ceiling. Then you sit front and center, crank it up and try NOT
to smile! |
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| "Best speakers for the money.. Period" | 2009-03-17 |
| - Reviewed By User: A201BX15FIX08A |
| I Thought I was doing good with a set of Infinity speakers. I always liked Bose products from listening to them in the stores where they have sound rooms setup. I took a chance and bought a set of these and it was amazing. After plugging these in and putting on a cd, it was like you could almost see the music coming out of the speakers !! The highs were very crisp and you can hear every detail of the music that somehow gets lost in other speakers. I was so impressed that I immediately trashed my infinitys ( I actually gave them away )( I couldnt stand to listen to them anymore ). Buy a set of these and you will be telling the same story to someone else !! I dont think you have to be an audiophile to know what kind of sound you like hearing !!! |
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| "This is a review of the previous series 4 speakers" | 2009-01-21 |
| - Reviewed By User: A27I7RM1VKFGL7 |
| After reading reviews on the series 5 speakers, I had to put in my two cents on the previous series 4 speakers that I own. I bought mine 9 yrs ago. First of all, these speakers sound awesome! I have considered buying a subwoofer a few times and then thought, why? These have such impressive bass for an 8" subwoofer speaker that there is no reason to buy a seperate sub. I have been using these speakers for the last 9 yrs with my home theater system and watching any action movie is an incredible experience. I have never turned the volume on my receiver past 5 and I only have a 70 watt per channel receiver. I bought a Pioneer receiver when I first bought these speakers and the setup sounded awful. I returned it and bought a Yamaha and the difference was beyond words. I use the digital optical audio port as that gives the best possible sound. Anyone who has a negative review might simply not have enough clean wattage to drive these great speakers. I also use the VCS10 center channel speaker and the rear speakers are the previous version of the 161's. I can't remember which model they are. Everything I have read about the series 5 says they are even better than the series 4. I have no intentions of replacing any of these speakers until they die and when they do I will buy the newest versions with no hesitation. Give them a try and I know you will not be disappointed. |
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| "The 5.1 System Bose Should be Making" | 2008-12-30 |
| - Reviewed By User: A2BQYS24G621B5 |
| Bose is marketing their products wrong and I can see why so many people don't like them. The Lifestyle and Acoustimass systems are overpriced and don't do the job. Solution: Front L/R speakers = Bose 301. Center = Bose VCS-10. Surround L/R = Bose cube speakers (come with Lifestyle and Acoustimass systems, but if you call Bose tech support, you can order then separately... or eBay). Subwoofer = Polk Audio PSW110 with the crossover set at around 90hz. Sorry Bose, your subs are no good. Amplifier = Yamaha HTR-5940 (read the manual and set it up right!). This is what Bose should be selling. It sounds AMAZING! |
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| "Awesome" | 2008-09-05 |
| - Reviewed By bestbookseller_delaware |
| These are the best speakers I have ever heard and I have tried a lot. You will be blown away. They are much better than Bose 201 so worth spending extra bucks. I have hooked them to an onkyo receiver as the front channel speakers. I also tried Bose center channel VCS10 but it's crappy. |
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 "Bose 301 - Great sound if placed right!" | 2008-09-02 |
| - Reviewed By User: A3PK2D4YNLQE8K |
There has always been much controversy over Bose 301 speakers. Some claim they are the best while others decry everything about them. Personally, I'm not a hardcore audiophile but I can't stand $159 all-in-one units that sell in department stores, which it seems is what most people own. I've always owned decent equipment; speakers by EPI, AR, KLH, and now Bose 301s. I've had a lot of exposure to Bose equipment since the mid-70s and I don't buy into the hype that Bose is best. I hate some Bose products - like the Wave radio. No, Bose isn't the best, but Bose is unique.
It is imperative that 301s are placed as Bose recommends. If you can't do that, don't buy them. In my small living room, my huge 3-way KLH speakers were just firing sound into the carpet and furniture, as well as taking up floor space. I bought a pair of 301 Series IV ( virtually the same as Series V ) used from Ebay for $125. When I received them, I placed the 301s on top of the KLH speakers to test them. Switching back and forth between the two sets of speakers, it was obvious that the overall sound of the KLH speakers was superior. After mounting the 301s on the wall, the sonic magic took place. The sound filled the room better than the KLH speakers ever could. I love that "spacial" thing. You can hear both channels wherever you sit in the room. Cymbals and tambourines bounce off the walls and suspend in the air, recreating the ambiance of a live concert. You'll need to crank up the bass some and watch the treble; it can get harsh. I already had a 7 band per channel equalizer ($15 on Ebay)and it really helps to tame some of the odd tonal curves of the 301s. These speakers are sensitive to what is put into them. Bass performance can be a problem. If the bass is recorded just right, it will sound good coming through the 301s. If not, they can sound thin or boomy, depending on the input. I added a cheap Yamaha powered subwoofer to my system to add more deep bass at any volume. You also will need a receiver of at least 80 watts per channel. 301s aren't real efficient. And, they sound best at moderate to moderately loud volume.
Certainly, Bose 301s aren't critical audiophile speakers. In fact, they are "trick" speakers. However, with these speakers placed correctly, and a little help from a subwoofer and an equalizer, I now have the best sound system ever. It's lively and spacious. It rocks the house. You don't have to sit in one place to listen. Despite a few shortcomings, I love the sound of these speakers. And, they sound infinitely better than any department store stereo.
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