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Best Loudspeaker Ever Made - Bose 401

115.70.177.30
Posted on November 14, 2010 at 04:22:56
mosfetaus
Audiophile

Posts: 30
Location: Perth
Joined: May 3, 2009
 Aarrghh! This will ruin my credibility... wait, I havn't got any credibility, cool.
I bought my first pair of 401's waayyy back in 1992 and they served me for many years, taking all that my old 190w (into 4) Technics amp could deal out to them. I sold them in 1998 and always missed them.
I'm a lot older now and have gone through a myriad of B&W, MA, AE, Elac speakers, but my memories of my old 401's were so fond, I bought another pair about a year ago to play with in my second system. Grand old 1994 models. I've ran them now on the end of NAD, Denon, MusFid and now CamAud and I have to say, I'm sorry for all the people out there who are so stuck up that they won't have a bar of Bose. The 401's were beautifully powerful, clear, ENTERTAINING speakers and in my home, still are (just have to sit a pair of nice heavy B&W's on them to stop the top wood panel from vibrating).
There - I'll never have credibility in the nut house now. So be it - freedom of speach!

 

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OK, I'll be your first (and perhaps only) supporter., posted on November 14, 2010 at 05:45:39
1973shovel
Audiophile

Posts: 10117
Location: Greenville SC
Joined: February 25, 2007
 Not because I'm a Bose fan. I haven't heard any Bose speakers since I went to listen to a pair of 901's at a dealer's in the early 1970's.

(I'm not going to count the biker bar I used to hang at in the mid 1980's, which had many 901's scattered about, all hanging by chains from the ceiling. They were turned 180°, with the eight drivers facing the crowd. There, 'LOUD' was the main goal.)

No, I'm going to support you because you bought what you like, what lets you enjoy your music. Forget "accuracy"; forget "audiophile status".

If a pair of Bose 401 bring you more musical pleasure than anything else you've owned or listened to, then screw what anybody else thinks about it.




 

RE: Best Loudspeaker Ever Made - Bose 401, posted on November 14, 2010 at 07:41:07
IEaudiodude
Audiophile

Posts: 2814
Location: So Cal
Joined: February 11, 2010
 I would say "nobody's" opinion matters, just yours and the bad opinions are just "shite" I'm not a Bose guy but I do like the look of the 401's and I used to really enjoy the 7 or 8 pairs of 901's circling the room with the volume cranked way up at The Griffith park Observatory Laserium show the 20 or 30 times we saw it . I think they have their place just like any other speakers. Everyone seems to have something negative to say about the company .One thing for sure, they are geniuses at marketing.
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Freedom of "speach" for trolls!, posted on November 14, 2010 at 10:41:25
keith_d
Audiophile

Posts: 9057
Joined: June 15, 2002
 And especially for infantile, unimaginative trolls.

 

RE: Best Loudspeaker Ever Made - Bose 401, posted on November 14, 2010 at 10:45:58
AudioDwebe
Audiophile

Posts: 1910
Location: Pacific Northwest
Joined: November 12, 2001
 Glad to hear you're enjoying your Bose.

I, too, have been a Bose fan for the better part of my adult life, having owned the following: 301 Series II; 601 Series II; 901 Series VI (twice), and have to admit that I still like them quite a bit.

I've got several "audiophile-approved" speakers in house, but that doesn't stop me from enjoying the Bose, too.

What I really like about them is that they don't require much by way of electronics, cabling, location, etcetera for them to sound, well, pretty darn good.

I really get a kick from reading all the Bose bashing that goes on most any forum where someone says anything good about a Bose product. I figure my audio life will always have at least one Bose product in it. For now, it's the 901's.

Cheers.

'Dwebe
"Man, that mouse is Awesome." - Kaemon (referring to Jerry, of Tom and Jerry fame)

 

Soooo, the flat Earthers live yet . . . nt, posted on November 14, 2010 at 16:21:51
Brian A
Audiophile

Posts: 6206
Joined: July 19, 2000

We'll have to agree to disagree about global warming until the next global cooling scare comes along

 

Glad you like them... , posted on November 14, 2010 at 16:29:32
genungo
 There's one in every crowd.

 

RE: Best Loudspeaker Ever Made - Bose 401, posted on November 14, 2010 at 20:45:25
hahax@verizon.net
Audiophile

Posts: 4306
Location: New Jersey
Joined: March 22, 2006
 The Bose 901, the speaker that didn't even do what the designer said it did and, in deed, it couldn't.

 

RE: Freedom of "speach" for trolls!, posted on November 15, 2010 at 04:51:17
IEaudiodude
Audiophile

Posts: 2814
Location: So Cal
Joined: February 11, 2010
 Trolls ??? where are the trolls ? I looked all over the asylum and didn't see a thing ...............
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RE: OK, I'll be your first (and perhaps only) supporter., posted on November 15, 2010 at 05:37:34
IEaudiodude
Audiophile

Posts: 2814
Location: So Cal
Joined: February 11, 2010
 My buddy has his sitting on those funky mushroom stands instead of hanging up ,We brought them home from The Federated Stereo store. And almost 30 years later and a re-foam job he still has those things. He likes his Bose !
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What's that got to do with me likin' them?, posted on November 15, 2010 at 07:50:53
AudioDwebe
Audiophile

Posts: 1910
Location: Pacific Northwest
Joined: November 12, 2001
 nt
"Man, that mouse is Awesome." - Kaemon (referring to Jerry, of Tom and Jerry fame)

 

RE: Best Loudspeaker Ever Made - Bose 401, posted on November 15, 2010 at 09:33:31
Brian Cheney
Manufacturer

Posts: 1524
Location: N California
Joined: May 26, 2000
 Bose speakers measure far from flat. But there is a reason for their popularity: people like their sound. It's not accurate, but quite pleasant to listen to. Some of the smartest psychoacousticians on the planet had a hand in their development.

 

I'm all for free peaches! (nt), posted on November 15, 2010 at 10:36:13
Pat D
Audiophile

Posts: 12506
Location: Fredericton NB
Joined: June 20, 2000
 .
-----
"A fool and his money are soon parted." --- Thomas Tusser

 

I have friends that thought Bose were the BEST, posted on November 15, 2010 at 16:27:18
Brian A
Audiophile

Posts: 6206
Joined: July 19, 2000
 One was a real Bose snob. He knew I built up a stereo system that cost tens of thousands of dollars but still thought his Bose was better. Well he came over to my house and I put on his favorite CD, Diana Krall. I set him in the sweet spot and when the music started, he just sat there unmoving, eyes closed, FOR THE ENTIRE ALBUM. All I could get out of him was that my system was indeed better than Bose.

Another friend of mine thought Bose had the best surround sound systems. We went to a local Bose pusher. I told him to listen for male voices. He realized that sure enough, Bose cannot reproduce them with their "jewel" krapers, er, speakers. I played my surround system for him. He now agrees, Bose blows.

We'll have to agree to disagree about global warming until the next global cooling scare comes along

 

You didn't just say you like them, troll. You said they were the best ever., posted on November 15, 2010 at 19:53:34
keith_d
Audiophile

Posts: 9057
Joined: June 15, 2002
 That is the ones you claim to own....

 

The right meds can help psycho acousticians, posted on November 15, 2010 at 19:54:37
keith_d
Audiophile

Posts: 9057
Joined: June 15, 2002
 Been great progress over the past couple of decades.

 

RE: I have friends that thought Bose were the BEST, posted on November 15, 2010 at 20:16:52
Bill the K
Audiophile

Posts: 8383
Joined: June 3, 2006
 I have some wealthy doctor friends who do not want to compare.They know Bose is the best.

They play them loud during their tea parties.

Cheers
Bill

 

RE: Best Loudspeaker Ever Made - Bose 401, posted on November 16, 2010 at 02:19:18
mosfetaus
Audiophile

Posts: 30
Location: Perth
Joined: May 3, 2009
 Well I didn't think this post would get any replies, the title was very tongue-in-cheek of course (my sympathies to anyone who did'nt get that).'Entertaining' was one of my key words. I'm glad there are people out there who are open enough to be able to 'enjoy' listening to music through speakers and not obsess about 'accuracy', 'truth', 'uncoloured sound' (like I said, the top panels of the 401's sure add colour if I don't sit something heavy on them), 'imaging', bla bla. Der, I know they're not 802D's or AE1's, but the 401's did have a particular sound that got me and I still love it today. I've also got some series IV 301's and they sound like crap (to me, don't wanna offend anyone), but they're cool to muck around with.
Anyway, sorry to detract, I'll let everyone get back to talking about 'real' speakers now...

 

RE: I have friends that thought Bose were the BEST, posted on November 16, 2010 at 10:31:55
IEaudiodude
Audiophile

Posts: 2814
Location: So Cal
Joined: February 11, 2010
 hmmmmmmm not all "teaparty" people listen to Bose speakers. Some of us know that Magnepan is the best for the party hehehe.
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Ya might wanna read what's said..., posted on November 16, 2010 at 12:02:14
AudioDwebe
Audiophile

Posts: 1910
Location: Pacific Northwest
Joined: November 12, 2001
 before making silly accusations and such.

I never said anything was "the best ever".

The OP felt that way about the speakers. But, if "HE" does, so what? Who are you, or anyone else for that matter, to disagree with "HIS" opinion?

Would like to hear what you've got to say, so please do respond.

"Man, that mouse is Awesome." - Kaemon (referring to Jerry, of Tom and Jerry fame)

 

No, Bose 901s were, posted on November 17, 2010 at 10:51:17
jedrider
Audiophile

Posts: 15166
Location: No. California
Joined: December 26, 2003
 I built a pair myself from plans. They were sure good rock-n-roll loudspeakers. Only after getting into Jazz, I realized that I liked a soundstage and didn't need to listen to music at such loud SPLs. Then, the Bose weren't so good sounding. Of course, the materials I used were far superior to what you could buy -- because 901s weren't priced high-end back then -- come to think of it, NOTHING was priced high-end back then! Truly a golden age ;-)

 

He has an opinion. I have mine. What? You don't know what a troll is all of a sudden?, posted on November 17, 2010 at 10:58:23
keith_d
Audiophile

Posts: 9057
Joined: June 15, 2002
 "Best Loudspeaker Ever Made - Bose 401"

Besides, it's an obligation in a democracy to ridicule bullsht like the above. Or your pathetic followup to me.

 

RE: He has an opinion. I have mine. What? You don't know what a troll is all of a sudden?, posted on November 17, 2010 at 15:16:11
AudioDwebe
Audiophile

Posts: 1910
Location: Pacific Northwest
Joined: November 12, 2001
 Let me guess: Your boyfriend/girlfriend dumped you for someone who had a pair of Bose speakers? Hurt your feelings, did they?

"Man, that mouse is Awesome." - Kaemon (referring to Jerry, of Tom and Jerry fame)

 

RE: Best Loudspeaker Ever Made - Bose 401, posted on November 17, 2010 at 19:19:35
Classical_Confab
Audiophile

Posts: 98
Location: Chicago
Joined: February 20, 2004
 Maybe the 401's were decent, I have no knowledge. But I do think that Bose has always been a suspect outfit based on their fairly cheaply made electronics that were always outrageously overpriced. No authoritative audio review publication ever gave their products consistently good reviews. I never see Bose produvpcts reviewed or seriously considered for recommended components in Stereophile. The Bose name is actually snickered about here in their editorials.

 

RE: Best Loudspeaker Ever Made - Bose 401, posted on November 17, 2010 at 20:59:44
esande
Audiophile

Posts: 1663
Location: Washington, DC
Joined: December 27, 2008
 A lot of people like that Wave system. They haven't really heard anything better and it's convenient. If it makes them happy that's perfectly fine with me.

Not everyone is willing to go to a $15K plus audio system to listen to music. I'm not even interested in converting them. It's not an interest or a hobby for them.

Whatever, they may get off on other things. Everyone is crazy in their own way. I make it a habit not to bash other people's preferences.

:-)

 

Wait a minute there, posted on November 17, 2010 at 23:08:36
Brian A
Audiophile

Posts: 6206
Joined: July 19, 2000
 The problem with Bose is it is way overpriced. And sounds like crap, though ignorant listeners think it sounds good. The boomy one-note bass seems to be real neat. You could drive a truck through the gaps in the frequency response of their "jewel" home theater systems. And the parts costs of those "jewels" is under a dollar.

The only thing that costs more than Bose and sounds even worse is Bang and Olufsen. The systems look fantastically good while sounding fantastically bad.

You can pay half as much as you would for a Bose system and get something that would sound much better if you wanted. A 15K system would be on another planet than Bose and cannot be compared.



We'll have to agree to disagree about global warming until the next global cooling scare comes along

 

RE: Wait a minute there, posted on November 18, 2010 at 03:00:16
mosfetaus
Audiophile

Posts: 30
Location: Perth
Joined: May 3, 2009
 Hey Mr Ignorant - have you ever connected a pair of old 401's up to a mid-high end amp and had an open minded listen? Do you know what you're talking about before you call 'other' people ignorant? When a lot of people hear the name Bose, they seem to think Lifestyle systems. I've never heard one of those and I won't comment because I'm not ignorant. I'm referring to old school Bose - the old early 90's 401's and series II or III 301's, not jewels or home cinema systems!

 

RE: Wait a minute there, posted on November 20, 2010 at 10:16:45
hifidave2006


 
One doesn't need to listen to these Bose speakers again to know they are crap. Just like one doesn't need to drive a Ford Fiesta to know it's junk or shoot up heroin to know it's addicting and really bad for you. Bose are garbage. If you like them that is great. However, most of us on here know better.

 

Do you also like..., posted on November 20, 2010 at 23:45:00
Belgarchi
Audiophile

Posts: 390
Location: Texas
Joined: September 25, 2004
 ... cold duck 'champagne'?

Yves

(and root beer?
0

 

RE: Do you also like..., posted on November 21, 2010 at 08:15:20
nikos
Audiophile

Posts: 64
Location: New York
Joined: January 2, 2005
 Personally, I feel with a thread title such as this, you are intentionally trying to stir things up. Even if it is tongue in cheek.

To each his own.

 

I dont think Bose would have considered..., posted on November 21, 2010 at 08:34:51
Bill the K
Audiophile

Posts: 8383
Joined: June 3, 2006
 401 as the best.If they did,they wouldnt name it with a 4 number because 4 is considered an unlucky number in many parts of Asia.The smart marketing guys of Bose wouldnt make such a mistake.

Cheers
Bill

 

RE: Best Loudspeaker Ever Made - Bose 401, posted on November 27, 2010 at 12:01:12
kenbrady
Audiophile

Posts: 20
Joined: November 28, 2001
 I am pretty fussy and always liked the 501 and 601's. Entertaining is a good word and is a good criteria for sound systems. Also the 301 were a good little speaker with big hearts. The new stuff well better not say anything not worth saying.

ken

 

RE: Best Loudspeaker Ever Made - Bose 401, posted on June 15, 2017 at 18:14:56
Bartz
Audiophile

Posts: 1
Joined: June 15, 2017
 I just posted this elsewhere and found this thread so will throw my hat in the ring:
Just listening to some music through my 25 year old Bose 401's. I've owned them this whole time, they have been dragged around the country, worked hard, stored at times in likely substandard conditions. They have some chips, the Veneer is lifting in some places and there's some swelling of the particle board. I inherited some even older (likely 35+ years) 501's which took their place for a few years but an back to my old 401's. I originally ran them through a Luxman amp and now have the Yamaha RX-A2000. This amp continues to impress after 5 years especially since I've remembered the Direct Pure function which cleans up the sound so much.
Recently I was listening to a friend's $15000 Focal Utopia's and coming back to the Bose left me wanting, so I found myself in an audio shop listening to Focals in the 2-5k range plus some other offerings. I liked what I heard but coming home and listening to the old faithful and sure I can notice some lacking in the finesse of mid and high range but overall I'm still not happy to fork out $5k to replace them, I'd likely get away with $3k with a subwoofer.
So we all hear the "Bose is crap" line repeated over the decades, I'm not sure if current Bose floorstanders but know I never liked the older acoustimass type but these old crappy 401's have put a smile on my face for a quarter of a century.
So I guess I'm no where near an audiophile, I'd maybe argue I am as close as you can get but even though I'd love to listen to perfect sound I just can't see my way clear of spoiling my ears to the tune of $20000+ for a setup I might not be able to pick fault with.

 

RE: Best Loudspeaker Ever Made - Bose 401, posted on June 17, 2017 at 17:04:06
ricpan@verizon.net
Audiophile

Posts: 2
Joined: November 17, 2014
 I owned a pair of 901s back in the 70s and part of the 80s, never really liked them. I thought the 401s and 601s sounded much better.

 

RE: He has an opinion. I have mine. What? You don't know what a troll is all of a sudden?, posted on June 18, 2017 at 10:45:38
Jeffrey Lee
Audiophile

Posts: 708
Location: Louisville
Joined: September 24, 2002
 He's not a troll. Period. You need to go back to Internet school.

 

Why? revive a dead thread?, posted on June 18, 2017 at 19:12:15
bare
Audiophile

Posts: 1879
Joined: April 14, 2009
 This was a laughable claim.. 7 years ago. What's changed since?

 

RE: Best Loudspeaker Ever Made - Bose 401, posted on June 21, 2017 at 07:40:39
Bromo33333
Audiophile

Posts: 3502
Location: Ipswich, MA
Joined: May 4, 2004
 I have a pair of Bose 901's in our back room, and for 1960's and 1970's stadium rock reproduced at stadium scale, you'd be hard pressed to find to find that done better for anywhere near that price.

If you like your Bose 401's then they are the perfect speaker for you! They sold enough that there clearly are people that love them!
====
"You are precisely as big as what you love and precisely as small as what you allow to annoy you." ~ R A Wilson

 

RE: Why? revive a dead thread?, posted on June 21, 2017 at 13:08:51
Jeffrey Lee
Audiophile

Posts: 708
Location: Louisville
Joined: September 24, 2002
 Someone else revived it and I didn't notice it was an old thread, so I'm reviving it again to answer you. Weird.

 

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