I've had my Nestorovic 5AS speakers for over 20 years and have never even thought about getting speakers since. Too bad Mile Nestorovic is gone. I sometimes wonder who will die first, me or the speakers? |
The best speaker I've heard, and the reason I got into this ridiculous hobby, was the Avanti II from Audio Physics. I demo'd the speaker using a cd that I had dozens of times and, in fact, was listening to in the car on the ride to the store. Hearing the disc through the Avanti was like hearing a completely different recording and hearing it for the first time. The word magical gets thrown around a lot in this hobby, but that experience was transformative for me. Once I heard the Avanti, there was no going back to my Sony receiver. The experience was akin to the first time I got to really drive an E30 M3. After that experience, getting back into my RX-7 seemed like a punishment. The great thing about this hobby is that there is equipment out there to suit everyone's taste. While I bemoan the degradation of audio quality brought about by the proliferation of iPods and crappy earphones, I also think it is great that high end manufacturers are having to diversify their offerings to bring some of the high end magic to a lower price point. I only wish that more people could experience what I did when I heard the Avanti. |
I talked to Jeff Dorgay of Tone Audio and he told me that he's not going take off the fiberglass grilles or do any mods on these Bose 901's, for this review on the 901's.
So this review on these 901's are not going to be on the same 901's that I have been raving about on these forums !
My Modified 901's with the teflon tape on all the plastic parts on the back side of the 901's, are much better sounding speakers, so we may never see a magazine or online reviewer do a review on a Modified Bose 901 speakers that now sounds "Damn GOOD" turned around backwards and only 12 inches off the floor.... |
I've heard a bunch at a wide range of price points that I could probably live with pretty happily if I had to but none to date that make me think any less of my OHM F5s, series 3 as the best sound day in and day out to me. |
So far,the latest version of the JMR Offrande Supreme. |
Hifisoundguy, no one can argue with tastes differing. |
Tbg , I can say the same thing about a lot speakers out there BUT we ALL have different tastes and we ALL hear things differently and.. that's what makes this hobby so great and SO.. "entertaining" for ALL of us !... |
Hifisoundguy, I am not a Bose basher. I just cannot understand those who praise them. Especially, anyone who would claim them the best speakers they have heard. |
Tbg , this news could be GOOD news for some 901 owners out there and very BAD news for all the "BOSE BASHERS" OUT THERE... .. ... |
Wynnosu, I had a very similar experience which has left me entirely close minded about Bose. I liked the Magnepan Tympanies also until I heard a six foot wide mouth on a female singer. |
Wynnosu , these Bose 901's are some of the most revealing speakers on the market and I found out by doing few tweaks to them they really come alive and sound amazing !!
You need to take OFF ALL these "fiberglass" grilles because I have never heard speakers that sounded better with the grilles ON and sure not grilles made of fiberglass !!
On the backside of these 901's where most of the speaker drives are, there's a lot plastic parts that are sticking out...those ports and other plastic parts that just COLORS the SOUND WAY TOO MUCH !! After I covered all these plastic parts with teflon tape you don't hear this anymore!...maybe covering these plastic parts with non-hardening modeling clay would be better, I don't know.
What I found very important with these 901's was using GOOD interconnects and speaker cables, just as important as "set-up", maybe MORE important!.. and the best cables I have found was Crimson R.M. Music Link cables. These cables are so GOOD with these 901's that it's like Crimson custom made these cables just for these 901's !...
We all think that the "stock" pair of 901's are better than the new Magnepan 1.7's.
And we all think two pair of modified 901's "STACKED" with all the grilles OFF and teflon tape on ALL the plastic parts sticking OUT are as GOOD as my friends Quad ESL 2905's !!
After hearing two pair of these modified 901's "stacked" it's very addictive and very hard going back to listening to just one pair...ever again !!...
We will NEVER get a magazine review on these modified 901's "stacked" BUT maybe some of the 901 owners out there will try this and let us know what they think about it....
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When I read the comments about the Bose 901s, I thought it must be sarcasm. I remember being in Sound Associates in Bowling Green, Ohio in about 1974. We went there to listen to the Infinity QRS speakers with Audio Research and GAS electronics, along with a Linn LP12. After some listening, a salesman I wasn't familiar with came into the room and asked if we would like to hear the Bose, which were suspended from the ceiling,
When he switched them on, my friend and I looked at each other like, "OK... what's the joke?" They were, without question, the worst "high end" speaker I had heard then and until this day. I'm not an electrical engineer, but how someone would expect a relatively small box enclosure with nine equally sized midrange speakers to reproduce the entire audio spectrum seemed an impossible task.
I will NEVER forget that experience.
On the plus side, the Magnepan Tympanis, back in 1978, were probably the speakers that really got me started in high end audio. Matched with an Audio Research D-79 and SP-6 pre, again with a Linn table, was audio nirvana at that time. Probably would still sound pretty decent. |
Gandme, I sure this would be tied to the number of each speaker sold, but what is the causality? Would you buy something because it was popular? |
Has anyone ever taken score on this thread...the top 10 speakers from this post? |
Zu Definition Mk4 that I currenly own. I have owned over 300 different speakers over the last 30 years. |
Venture speakers. ANY venture speakers. Why? Smooth, detailed, dynamic, allow the the finest electronics to strut their stuff. And most importantly, they allow an emotional connection AND and analytical connection to happen. Pure music with Venture speakers and S.O.T.A. electronics. |
Altec Model 19's powered by a powerful Marantz Tube Amp. Amazing at all sound levels and with any kind of music you want to throw at it. |
Hey. Any of you heard of John Fuselier? He made many different speaker configurations. One of them was called the Model 9, and Fat Julian told me he made less than 10 pairs. I listened to Julian's pair in his shop in Roswell, GA in the early 80's, and bought them on the spot. Still have them. Amazing imaging. |
It has always surprised me that the DeVores don't get more attention. |
Right now, my Thiel CS2.4 are really making some wonderful music... Best I ever heard, well maybe not, but by far good enough to forget about that. |
A few weekends ago I was in NYC stepped in to the Stereo Exchange. They demoed a pair of DeVore Silverbacks that I thought were truly incredible. They sounded so good that however many thousands they cost, didn't shock me or seem too high. The woodwork was also impressive. I have begun saving my pennies. |
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Luckdog- Pls give us a break and UNDO THE CAP LOCK KEY!!!MAKES IT VERY HARD TO READ. Capish? |
FOR A PLANER TYPE SPEAKER....MAGNEPAN TYMPANI 4A SPEAKER. CRAZY SOUNDSTAGE. IVE OWNED ONE FOR TWENTY YEARS!FOR A DYNAMIC SPEAKER VERTEC SPEAKER DESIGNS ARE THE BEST! |
A COMPANY OUT OF GRASS VALLEY CALIF IS OWNED BY THE WORLDS LEADING SPEAKER DESIGNER . IT IS CALLED VERTEC. IT HAS DONE OEM WORK FOR SOME OF THE HIGHEST REGARDED SPEAKERS OUT THERE. THE OWNER WAS THE LAST JBL DESIGNER BEFORE IT WAS SOLD FROM MR THOMAS. MAINLY DESIGNS DYNAMIC SPEAKERS BUT IS REKNOWN FOR HIS ABILITY TO DESIGN THE BEST X OVERS OUT THERE. IN MY OPINION....GUY DESIGNED A X OVER FOR A MAGNEPAN TYMPANI 3A EIGHT PANELED SPEAKER MARKETED BY AUDIO RESEARCH. HE WAS ABLE TO TURN A SPEAKER THAT NEEDED TO RUN ON TWO 100 WATTS PLUS BEEFY AMPS TO BE ABLE TO RUN ON A SINGLE 10 WATT AMP. I HAVE A SET OF UNIQUE SPEAKERS IN MY THEATRE THAT RUN GERMAN, DANISH AND FRENCH SPEAKERS ALL IN A UNIQUE ROCK ENCLOSER. IF HE WERE TO MARKET HIS OWN SPEAKER LINE HE WOULD BE WORLD FAMOUS. HE DOES BUILD SPEAKERS ON AN INDIVIDUAL BASIS THOUGH FOR CUSTOM PROJECTS. |
The original Revel Ultima Salons. They would have been much nicer sounding if when I heard them they had some real amplification driving them. |
There were two rooms across from each other at CES 2012 that were clearly the best sounds at CES. One was the BMC suite with their new speaker and the other was the Lansche 7 with Ypsilon electronic. The BMC had dynamics like compression drivers but with great imaging. The Lansche/Ypsilon had very smooth and full range performance. The first was the Ferrari and the other a Bentley. I have the Tidal Contriva Diacera SEs and would love to have either of the other two for comparison. All clearly the best around. |
Tyler Acoustic Woodmere II...Tyler truly knows how to craft and build a work of art not only for the eyes but for the ears too. Truly a magnificant speaker with all the right balance and openess. Not only are his speakers that good, Tyler is great to speak with and is passionate about getting you what you want. Another Plus...ITS MADE IN THE USA!!!...Support our local Americans who make such wonderful products. |
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Stereo_phile, That’s outstanding. I’m sure that I speak for many when I congratulate you on finally finding a speaker that is synergistic with your other components according to your tastes. Happy listening. |
I own Revel Salon 2 and they beat Dynaudio Evidence Tempation, Kharma Grand Midis, Coincident Total Reference, MBL 111E easily as I owned these speakers as well. Further, I directly compared it to YG Acoustics Anat Ref IIs my friend has(around $150K and they claim best speakers in the world?) and my friend shitted in his pants. My speaker had smoother highs, better integration top to bottom with prodigious bass that was equal if not better than his mega buck self powered bass. There berylium tweeters are so smooth, extended and detailed, it has no problem replicating the highest notes and its harmonics with most demanding transients with ease. I used to get fatigue listening to other speakers I owned because of high frequency grit but I can comfortably listen and enjoy music for hours with these speakers. Salon 2 is a giant killer and by far the best value for high end speakers out there period. I've listened to Wilson Alexandria 2s at LA Audio and though it sounded good until they brought in other speakers to compare it to and you realize it sounded lifeless. So, unless you do A-B comparison on any these speakers under same conditions with same equipment and room or if you own the speakers in the same living space for quite sometime and you know the sound, subjective listening based on memory or in other room auditions and comments are absolutely meaningless. By the way I won MBL-9007 mono amps and MSB DAC IV as associated equipment. |
Original tannoy GFRs driven by marantz tube electronics |
Best I have ever heard came WAY back in the day, courtesy of Sound-Lab A1s, driven by some of the Atma-Sphere four-chassis monsters. I remember two things from that experience: the sound, and the heat in the room. |
"ToneAudio Magazine just ordered some of these Latest BOSE 901's to review very soon !..."
You have been crowing about this for weeks now here and on Audio Asylum. I will be glad when this review gets published so you can either have your day in the sun, or slither away.....
Shakey |
ToneAudio Magazine just ordered some of these Latest BOSE 901's to review very soon !... |
I used to be a BOSE FANATIC in the 80's but the only reason is because i could never AFFORD the INFINITY RS series which today is the best ever designed loudspeaker systems when infinity used to make high end speaker systems. They were revolutionary. Until I came across planars and electrostats and ribbon driven loudspeakers, I thought back then bose 901's stacked was awesome and always trying to figure out how come the BASS sounded so fake??? it's not even DEEP bass but mid scattered bass and as far as high extension? what high extension. I never really heard a piano sound like a piano and cymbals sound like cymbals. I heard more reverberation which I thought at the time as being TRUE ORCHESTRA when in reality it's like sitting in the back of the THEATER. when I heard magnepans, ohm walsh, ess heils, eminent tech, martin logans etc. That's when I found real good sounding speakers that are lifelike. Like most Bose fanatics, unless you experience REAL well made designs, you will continue in your DELUSION that bose is a great speaker, I certainly did until I got UNBRAINWASHED!
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Hifisoundguy, it is good that you stick to your opinion in the face of overwhelming evidence that others REALLY don't like the speakers you love; that takes real conviction. There is really no point in arguing about it, but I can guarantee you that no amount of tweaks would change anyone's opinion on the inherent qualities of the Bose speaker. That you like them is all that matters, but you won't get many converts (I'm sure you've noticed that by now). |
>>12-03-11: Hifisoundguy
I did some tweaks to my new Bose 901's that made them sound MUCH..BETTER !!<<
Such as disconnecting them? |
Hifisoundguy, and there will never be any agreement as whether you are right about this. I think not. |
Transaudio, everybody has different tastes and they will never be a speaker made that will please everyone.
I have heard a lot speakers in my time and they still have not perfected the "Tweeters" yet !..
If you don't get the highs right it does not matter how good the midrange or bottom end sounds because it will just not sound right.. period !...
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Say, being new here, I have a question. Has Hi Fi Sound guy had a history of making fun of everyone here and Audiogon with Bose post and capitalized "mod" comments?
Brad |
Hifisoundguy, I first heard the Bose 901s in late 1968, I think right after they were introduced. My dealer said that I would want to trade my Advents in. I listened briefly and he asked if I wanted to trade. I said absolutely not. I said they bounce sound all over but sound nothing like a real performance. About six months later, he stopped carrying them. |
I did some tweaks to my new Bose 901's that made them sound MUCH..BETTER !!
I took off the front and back grills because these grills just COLORS the SOUND TOO MUCH !..
With these grills off these speakers sound cleaner and much more open and more realistic too !
Another tweak I did to these speakers was putting some self-adhesive foam insulation around the front speaker driver. Everything now sounds SOOO SPOOKY REAL now !!
These speakers now don't sound anything like they used to sound, it's a night and day difference now ! I think these 901's would get a lot more love if they only knew how good these speakers can sound with these tweaks !!
I now love these 901's with most of the speaker drivers facing the front wall !!... |
Don't disagree with Audio Zen, very few make their own drivers.
For me all about the drivers. Great drivers are still hard to come by.
Brad |
HALLMARK OF A GREAT SPEAKER. There are 4000 speaker companies worldwide. Ony 10% of those companies make their speaker cabinets and driver's in house. Out of those 10%/400 companies, only a handful rise to the top as the best sounding speakers, since they all use the same parameters. Very heavy multi-layered cabinets with internal ladder or cascading braces, isolated chambers for each of the drivers, and multiple crossovers with large power caps. Magico's top models use capacitors the size of a coke can. Awesome to look at. The final part is a damn good anechoic chamber with state of the art measuring equipment that will result in a razor flat frequency response top to bottom. When deciding on the right amount of amplifier power, find out from the engineers at the speaker company whats the maximum continuous power limit that the drivers and crossovers can handle and divide by two. If they say a 1000 watts, use a 500 watt amp. Remember, not short term peaks but continuous power. This will greatly reduce heat in the voice coils and crossover components and they will operate at cooler temperature's resulting in the best performance from your speaker and eliminate clipping. |
I'm using a totally upgraded ASR Emitter 2 Exclusive version blue and my digital source is an Ayre QB9 DAC with High Diamond interconnects and speaker cable. My analogue is an ASR Mini Basis Exclusive but only with a Thorens TD-145 turntable with a Grado mono mm cartridge and an old Pioneer Tuner from 1971 but in mint++++. I started running out of money at some point. |
Enjoy, GoofyF,
thats a nice set of speakers...out of curiosity...what amp are using to drive them? |
I own a pair of the Quad 2905's and they have exceeded any expectations that I may have had. I bought them because I listen mainly to Classical music and more specifically, to chamber music or music for solo instrument. I was initially concerned that I wouldn't be satisfied with their representation of full orchestra because of the lower end but I got over that old idea right away. I have a great system to go with it. Matching up speakers with amplifiers and CD players can be more an art than it is a science. I had to think of what type of recordings I played the most. If I listened to mostly rock or jazz I may have considered another speaker, possibly the Vandersteen 5's or even a classic pair of JBL's. |
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Hi Bifwynne,
Thanks for that...i helped my brother buy Paradigms floorstanders (Silver Signature) and they are very, very good.
As for Wilsons, they too need to be set up properly and with good electronics. Sashas will sound good with many things but not special. Watts can sound downright sterile with some equipment, and Maxx1 or 2's as well. Maxx 3s are exceptional speakers, and Alexandrias are world-class...but again, set up "so so" and you will be impressed but not for the money. Set up right, and most people will never forget the experience.
enjoy and pls post when you hear. |
