bose 501 speakers

@yogiboy is correct.  Bose made the 601's.  I owned a pair from 1978 until 1998.  First generation 601's were great speakers IMHO much better than the 501's.   

A good description of what bose is here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EQ6RM3XMfKg&t=1502s

I would have to agree with Lance on this one,all those Ess speakers were much better to my ears also during the day.I know several people that still have them going in my area even after all these yrs.

Kenny.

I am pretty sure the 301's were around then. A fellow dorm mate had them when I went to college.
I have to say, they impressed me then, but after college, I heard the Vandersteen's. I haven't looked back since.
B

I walked into a Audio store around 1976 and had every intention of buying the Bose 501. I knew what I wanted. When I told the salesman he said sure but you should listen to this pair of ESS speakers for around the same price first. Well there was no contest and I left with the ESS. That salesman knew his stuff.

hi yogiboy. i had the 501's then the 901's. the 601's came after the 501's.

FYI: Bose also had the 601 from that era. A friend of mine owned them!
https://www.bose.com/en_us/support/products/floorstanding_speakers_support/601_series1.html

I considered adding a pair of 501's to my collection - but I already have too many vintage speakers!

An interesting speaker that I heard only once back in 1975. Sounded quite impressive then! Maybe much better than the 901 (all those small drivers, ugh!). At least the 501 has a decent-sized woofer (10 inch) for bass! The two left and right angled tweeters give a nice wide spread to the stereo image. They sounded nice and open to me!