Hey, folks. I review speakers and drive-units and thought I'd share a recent review/test I completed of the Bose 901 Series V. It would take me an inordinate amount of time to copy/paste it all here so to save my sanity I am sharing the link to the review on my site:
Bose 901 Series V Speaker Review
I'm proud of this one. Lots of work and time went in to creating this. About 20 hours so far. But I learned a lot and hopefully others will, too.
Bose 901 Series V Speaker Review
I'm proud of this one. Lots of work and time went in to creating this. About 20 hours so far. But I learned a lot and hopefully others will, too.
Uh, you know this is a diy site, right?
Also, you may receive a bit of backlash so I hope your armour is thick.
Also, you may receive a bit of backlash so I hope your armour is thick.
wow, I copy/pasted it for a closer read.
lots of good work there.
as a full range driver, I think it can be a fun side trip.
basically area of a 12", but better dispersion, but combing from the rear drivers.
I thought I read that amar tested a symphony as almost 90% reflected sound, so that is how he came up with 1 driver at you, 8 drivers away.
lots of good work there.
as a full range driver, I think it can be a fun side trip.
basically area of a 12", but better dispersion, but combing from the rear drivers.
I thought I read that amar tested a symphony as almost 90% reflected sound, so that is how he came up with 1 driver at you, 8 drivers away.
Dude. Your signature has a link for a roofing consulting company. You know this is an audio site, right?
I think the community here will appreciate seeing data for a well know speaker. If not, that’s fine. But so far, so good. 😉
really cool review ! - bet it took a lot of work.
FWIW here's my old measurements of the Series I 901 outdoors (no EQ) and contours available from its EQ box. The first series had a closed box and drivers had cloth surrounds. A more refined front driver might help.
(-wish I had done 2-tone "modulation distortion" testing per PWK)
FWIW here's my old measurements of the Series I 901 outdoors (no EQ) and contours available from its EQ box. The first series had a closed box and drivers had cloth surrounds. A more refined front driver might help.
(-wish I had done 2-tone "modulation distortion" testing per PWK)
“This speaker displayed significant distortion when pushed in to the mid-90’s at my listening position.”
And that is with 9 x 4” drivers run wide open or basically a single 12” driver.
I’ve wrestled with full range drivers and distortion.
Run wide open sitting 10’ away, I had trouble with a 3” open baffle, 2x4”, 4x4” focused array (2' across 2' deep open backed box), 8” (sealed and open baffle), 9 x 4” focused array, even a 12” full range.
Just 1 x 8” (not stereo) worked ok at 7’ for 1 pair of ears, but I couldn’t live with the dispersion or lack of bass past 7’.
A single 12” (not stereo) with a bunch of eq worked well for low volumes.
The 12” crossed at 150hz went insanely loud (all 80 watts), but I didn’t like the phase wrap through the crossover point (below voice but right in the bass guitar and drums +their harmonics).
I had a gut feeling that 4 or 5 x 12” full range run wide open can work due to the increased output and the tight high frequency dispersion preventing combing from the lower / higher drivers. But now you have the horizontal dispersion of a 12” (super tight).
ug
And that is with 9 x 4” drivers run wide open or basically a single 12” driver.
I’ve wrestled with full range drivers and distortion.
Run wide open sitting 10’ away, I had trouble with a 3” open baffle, 2x4”, 4x4” focused array (2' across 2' deep open backed box), 8” (sealed and open baffle), 9 x 4” focused array, even a 12” full range.
Just 1 x 8” (not stereo) worked ok at 7’ for 1 pair of ears, but I couldn’t live with the dispersion or lack of bass past 7’.
A single 12” (not stereo) with a bunch of eq worked well for low volumes.
The 12” crossed at 150hz went insanely loud (all 80 watts), but I didn’t like the phase wrap through the crossover point (below voice but right in the bass guitar and drums +their harmonics).
I had a gut feeling that 4 or 5 x 12” full range run wide open can work due to the increased output and the tight high frequency dispersion preventing combing from the lower / higher drivers. But now you have the horizontal dispersion of a 12” (super tight).
ug
FWIW, a friend pointed me to the replacement bose drivers sold by PE here:
Replacement Speaker Driver for Bose 901 4-1/2" 1 Ohm
I pulled up the spec sheet to get the FR. And look at that...
Replacement Speaker Driver for Bose 901 4-1/2" 1 Ohm
I pulled up the spec sheet to get the FR. And look at that...
Interesting reading. I never heard Bose 901 speakers, but the description really reminds me the impression I got from my version of Claudio's 34c9 speakers (My 34c9 (omnidirectional full range with 3FE22) build) These also rely a lot on reflections (and need a subwoofer) and the effect is just great. The measured in room curve is also pretty good.
So, juke box (good sound everywhere) vs a monitor (close / near field, minimal room interactions).
Fascinating read. Brought back many memories of when I was lent an original pair of Bose 901s in the early 1970s. Initially, they knocked my socks off for many of the reasons you point out here. However, they rapidly palled and I returned to my AR bookshelf speakers when I realised I was listening to my music less and less each day. Listening fatigue was the Bose 901 killer for me, something I’d not come across before.
That's cool. It's amazing how even poor sounding speakers can bring back such fond memories. I always say that sometimes nostalgia simply outweighs accuracy and sound quality. I think for many, this speaker fits that case.
Here's a YT video I made discussing the subjective and objective merits of this speaker:
Bose 901 Series V Review - YouTube
Bose 901 Series V Review - YouTube