The Bose 301 Bookshelf Speaker - The Speaker for the Rest of Us!

[@TheBoomerConsumer]

The Audiophiles many hate on them, but these speakers pack a punch and sound terrific

[@demusicaes]

Thanks for your quick response; according your comments are these comparables with monitor speakers?

[@soundscapefusions3101]

@@demusicaes Would not really compare them to monitors which can be super critical and very revealing, I have some Mackie cr4 and these are super tight and fast monitors with punchy bass great for mixing ,the Bose is warm sound more jazz feel and for relax listening.

[@jlrliriano]

Definitivamente fué el final de la Bose 301 serie V. Compré estos altavoces y quedé totalmente decepcionado, para mi de la serie 301 el que mejor reproduce sonidos es el Bose 301 serie 3

[@kurtwolter3984]

I’ve owned Klipsch, B&W, Elac, Focal, and others. The 301 is great for very spacious background music. I currently have a pair on end tables with a couch in between in our 3 season room. Nice enveloping sound for chilling out. Haters gonna hate. Never gets old.

[@TheBoomerConsumer]

Love mine, audiophiles be darned

[@brooklynknightss]

I have the bose 301 series 3 bought them brand new about 30 years ago!! I still run them and love them!!!!

[@cinque8335]

Excellent review I’ve had a pair for 15 years still going strong and the sound review is dead on. Great speakers

[@giottodiotto1]

I just recently bought a pair of 301 series4 in mint condition ( no bass woofer tot) been running them on a very small Chinese fosi sound T-20 amp ( with tubes in the preamp) and these sound MARVELOUS, detailed,spacy,non- fatiguing, and when I crank the little 25 watt amp up, LOUD, truly a remarble set of speakers, even today!

[@TheBoomerConsumer]

Very nice!

[@martincraig2013]

I heard these speakers (either series 1 or 2 square style) demoed back in the '90's at a department store. I thought they sounded incredible comparing to everything else that you could also demo. I finally bought a pair on Facebook and picking them up tomorrow. Hope they are as good as I remember.

[@akrocuba]

I really don't understand why people hate Bose. I've been listening to music/etc since I was a kid in the 70's and I think Bose 501's, 701's and 301's sound great. Just my humble opinion. Also, I wouldn't spend $100,000 on speakers....just sayin'

[@BobSmith-mz1uo]

The reason people dislike Bose is because they market themselves as the highest level audiophile equipment (and the most respected name in sound) and charge prices accordingly. It's HOGWASH. Bose speakers are not designed to be neutral. There are designed to accentuate certain frequencies over others and shape the sound so that it is pleasing and enjoyable to many people. Is this a crime? No, and anyone who enjoys the sound of Bose should buy them and enjoy them-- that's all that's important! Just understand you're paying top dollar for speakers that aren't designed to be neutral, flat, or accurate. Therefore, they cannot be the audiophile quality that they claim they are--at least if you consider highest level audiophile quality as being the most accurate speakers. If you just like the way they sound and are happy with that, then they are fine.

[@midcenturymodern9330]

With somewhat boosted bass and treble, these speakers max out at ~60Watts/channel. The 160W specified on the back is pure fantasy. As far as I can tell, they are 6-Ohm speakers, so they can play nice with 4 and 8-Ohm power amps. From my measurements, the frequency response is approximately 38Hz - 17.5kHz. For a bookshelf speaker, this is incredible! The upper midrange (2.5kHz-4.5kHz) is attenuated. That is why these speakers sound so mellow or sometimes "muddy" with certain genres of music. If you are looking for accurate and true to the source "purist" speakers, look elsewhere, but if you want mellow, pleasant, and non-fatiguing speakers that sound genuinely nice, these are the ones to get. I have a pair of these playing in my home office for 9+ hours a day, and they are just wonderful.

[@rodneybjornstad9016]

I have had a pair for maybe 18 years I also own four other sets Big fancy speakers But I think I’m going to bring these with me Leave others When I move to Arizona for a year

[@bertfripont1545]

I own the Bose 301 IV, and they sound really good to me. I combined these speakers with a sub (Yamaha YST-SW800) and the receiver is the Sony STR-DB870QS. Some say: No highs, no lows, it must be Bose. I equalised the treble up and added a subwoofer. It is all great to me for the price I payed. Soundstage is as wide as the universe. By the way, if you want deep, thumping base, add a subwoofer. I love these.

[@RB-xm3ed]

Have had mine since 2002. Used them with an Onkyo and later a Yamaha. Bose always showed their demos with jazz or classical but they do well with rock and dance too. I put them through a beating in my early 20’s. Still sound great in 2023 though the vinyl veneer are starting to peel on mine.

[@8474Starscream]

Great review / demo. I was given a pair which were mint. Placed them in the garage as rear speakers paired with Technics A51 I picked up at a garage sale Mint for $20.00 each. Bottom line the garage sounds AWESOME. Great speakers!

[@h2o2970]

Bose sounds great for everykind of music. Im audiophile listener. Have b&w.,focal chorus, kef, klipsch, bose beats all!!

[@TheBoomerConsumer]

So many audiophiles disagree with us on that, but I love the sound of mine

[@danmartinez5502]

That's like comparing a BMW TO a Ford Focus

[@soundscapefusions3101]

I am same listened to and have had many different speakers, I still like my 301s have wondered for years why,must be that reflect sound energy?.My cousin who is a photographer mentioned he always bounced his lighting of walls onto subject he was photographing he never had light direct onto subject as it would be too intense and spoil shoot so he said the same thing may be happening with the reflected sound not as intense maybe.

[@jeffreydsouza1837]

I have the Bose Am-5 series 3 and I’m using them for over 20 years now , still the same sound , fantastic 👌👌👌..I ❤️Bose 👍🏼

[@TheBoomerConsumer]

Very nice!

[@edikalivingston1714]

Love the sound on these speakers!

[@morphshag]

I have a pair of these, my first pair of “nice” speakers and you’re right. It depends what you’re trying to listen to. I’m early 40’s. I have a very strange wide taste of music. When listening to electronic music like dubstep, drum and bass, grime, they are not very impressive and my JBL sound 5 sound way better and far more suited. When listening to blues, classical, funk, or anything with “real” instruments they come alive and sound great! I have mine paired with the a mid 90’s SONY component stack and the power output of my amp is a great match. Listening to audio from Minidisc is just so clean and clear.

[@Harryd06]

saw these in a venue they were loud and pumping out some serious bass too, love how crisp and high the tweeter plays

[@Sankara2000]

I think the problem is that Bose never claimed that they make high end audio equipment. (They always claim: "Audiophile-Level" or "Audiophile-Grade". These are also targeted like the luxury stuff to a certain people caught in-between. And, the Bose audio quality is also like the analogue warmth debate- a certain kind of distortion that many music listeners tend to prefer. Bose knows it is a matter of taste and not specs. The issue with Audiophile COmmunity is that, we don't know if they listen to the equipment or the creativity in the music or enjoying the music IMHO Peace

[@soundscapefusions3101]

I have these 301s my own preference is to have front tweeters to outside edge as per previous 301 mk2 advice .Bass levels plentiful for me no need for sub for me and music I listen to.

[@mcgreedy01]

The Bose 901s are perhaps the best speakers I’ve ever heard for just relaxing back and enjoying music.

[@TheBoomerConsumer]

Totally agree!

[@dmptcb]

I still have my 901 6 and I just changed all the 28g wire inside and it was all aluminum wire and I changed it 12g copper and no binding post the original binding post were all metal so sound was degrading thru those post with the 901 s no binding post are needed if wired with all 12g strand copper wire and the most important thing since the 901s use 9 drivers at 1 ohm each they can handle 450 watts plus a channel and I have 400 going into them now and they are AMAZING NOW also since Bose stopped making them years ago is only going to get more valuable for the older 901s they are already near the price of them when they were new and mine are 1989 and no foam rot they are In perfect condition for the age

[@PabloJurkiewicz]

I agree, combined with a good sw they shine as a star!

[@IKEMENOsakaman]

Powerful!

[@RossLongos]

title sounds like the first mac. :D watching and learning here. :D good day to all.

[@tonyaudiotest]

bose 301 better than bose 251? louder? what is better: bose 301 and bose 251 or bose 201 and 251??

[@tonyhSRQ]

The 301s sound best for the cash, Well 2nd best. Number 1 is the B.I.C DV-62si with efe upgrades.

[@carloscatalan8295]

ENG: I have 3 pairs of Bose 301s (2 pairs Series III and 1 pair Series IV), the series IV I have them in conjunction with a pair Fluance SX6, the basses and sub basses are excellent with the Bose (I do not need SubWoofer), and with the Fluance the mids and highs a marvel of sound... ESP: Tengo 3 pares de Bose 301 (2 pares Serie III y 1 par serie IV), los serie IV los tengo en conjunto con un par Fluance SX6, los bajos y subbajos son excelentes con los Bose (no necesito SubWoofer), y con los Fluance los medios y agudos una maravilla de sonido...

[@kennethward4985]

A shame they stopped making these, I have heard them and always wanted a set, but I have too many speakers already, lol

[@arri275555]

I worked for the company on the retail side from 03-06 while I was attending college. This was the last series of the 301s and I miss the fact they are not being made anymore nor most of their stereo line. I also miss the 601 series 4 and 701 series 2. It was a great company to work for because they really appreciate us. Those were definitely good times

[@soundscapefusions3101]

I contacted Bose when I noticed 301 and 201 no longer for sale on Amazon ,told stereo speakers no longer being made alternative spks systems instead.

[@kennethward4985]

@@soundscapefusions3101 I would have never bought them new, they were never worth the $329. they were asking. And Bose products rarely go on a decent sale.

[@soundscapefusions3101]

Oh well as I have said before it's all about personal taste it's ok to not like them and go elsewhere for spks,just as it's ok to buy from new,its all personal choice.

[@davidmorgen4558]

Do they have crossovers & a Voice coils or should they be Upgraded if so have you or any one reading this post attempted to do so..& no I dont mean GR.Research upgrade either ...just curious?

[@coolelectronics1759]

picking these bad boys up for free tomorrow they just need new foam and a badge is missing Will they work with my yamaha RX-V371? I currently run that amp pushing a pair of klipsch kg2s. I wonder if these would be an upgrade to those. I am curious to find out what I think of them once I have the new foams in. I already have a nicer higher end sony sub in this rig so bass shouldn't be an issue. Most of my speakers were free so Im only going by what I have observed since I started hifi in 2017. I have become a fan of klipsch do to there full and ritch sound and love the horn tweeters that makes the high end stand out on highhats, shakers, effects etc. But I also have grown to love every infinity speaker I have owned so far. rs4001 3ways towers free, and the rs1 2way bookshelf 4bucks at goodwill needed foams. What kind of tweeter is in these?

[@ValThor-g2c]

Good speakers. I like KISS and KISS sounds good with these speakers. KISS ALIVE! is best.

[@demusicaes]

Hi, Thanks for the video.I would like to know, Do you think they work properly , to hear vinyl records in a small room? I´m looking for a consistent and no intrusive bass. Regards.

[@TheBoomerConsumer]

Yes, absolutely

[@dmtdgptlqm]

@@TheBoomerConsumer Thaks for answer me. Unfortunatelly ; I didn´t buy these ones due to someone bougth the 301s was looking for earlier. however I found a pair of a Bose 2.2 .do you know about these?

[@lpubecker]

I have an Yamaha R-S500 Stereo Receiver paired with the 301 and a behinger fbq 1502 equalizer, and yet I feel like something is missing like the bass you mentioned, could you recomend a good sobwoofer for this setup? Should I lose the equalizer? I'm really lost trying to squeze the most out of these speakers. Thanks in advance!

[@carlosandresjaramillovicto7167]

Yo necesito lo mismo un suwofer para estos yo tengo 2 pares de 301v

[@lpubecker]

@@carlosandresjaramillovicto7167 I bought a klipsch subwoofer r-10sw to pair with my Bose 301, Its perfect now.

[@chandanagunawardana9472]

Hello, Can I connect these to Yamaha 1840 reciever. And how. Please help.

[@andrevanrooyen8459]

I have over 40 Bose speakers.for over 25 years now, i HAVE NEVER CARED WHAT ANYONE HAD SAID.EACH TO THEIR OWN, BUT ACCORDING TO MY EARS, WHICH IS ALL THAT COUNTS, BOSE SPEAKERS GIVES THE MOST BEAUTIFUL SOUND, I HAVE 201 301 IV AND V 701 SERIES I AND 11,401,VCS 10,BOSE 6.2,...601,SOME MANY MORE, THEY THE BEST END OF STORY...............

[@johnbauknecht6434]

Thats probably becauae you dont know your head from your ass how did you get thru life buting bose thinking it was better go to any audio shop and listen justen listen youll find out bose blows

[@cshell2001]

I have these sound lovely but are quite sensitive blown twice, not sure if my amp yamaha as500 is too powerful for them

[@TheBoomerConsumer]

Interesting I have mine paired with a Pioneer SX-D7000 a 120 watt receiver and no problem with that. There is also supposed to be a protection circuit built into these speakers. I also have the Yamaha AS-501 amp myself.

[@cshell2001]

@The Boomer Consumer thanks. I'm going to going to have the speaker and cable checked.

[@Dubmayer]

Whats the point of a listening example over KZbin?

[@TheBoomerConsumer]

There’s not and that’s why I no longer try to record sound from speakers any longer.

[@Eefegg]

The first time ive ever goten to do that

[@sweatpassion]

Gr8 speaker i got 301 s5

[@Mattyboy88979]

No binding post are you joking im in shock

[@bro5035]

Gracias por el video muy interesante yo tengo estos Bosé 301 y son una maravilla todo producto de Bosé sueña genialmente bien

[@Nemo.57]

“Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools” Romans 1:2 It’s applicable for Bose hating self proclaimed audiophiles because millions like Bose.

[@Jessbbq]

Can you use them for Dolby atmos speakers?

[@RB-xm3ed]

Yes but they are better as front or surrounds.

[@ruuu48]

Hello , what is a affordable amp to power these speakers? Thanks

[@TheBoomerConsumer]

You might look at the Sony STRDH190

[@ruuu48]

@@TheBoomerConsumer Thanks for your reply..

[@tbamagic]

Just bout a pair in woodgrain cabinets that look like they just came out of the box. Paid $25 for the pair.

[@moe_lester2374]

what amp do you use

[@TheBoomerConsumer]

NAD 316BEE V2

[@nealefrancis9094]

Series 3 sound best ,

[@Eefegg]

First

[@danielrhoden2973]

See how long you can listen to them without getting a headache and tension in your shoulders. Twenty bucks says you'll turn them off in less than two hours due to your brain trying to resolve so much out of phase information.

[@markvandenberg7572]

Talk rubbish you fool.I listen to mine all day.Never get tired of them.

[@danielrhoden2973]

@@markvandenberg7572 I speak from a lifetime of experience and education. If you think your gimmicky Bose give you good sound, you are the only fool here.

[@ajaywaghela730]

You are delar sir

[@TheBoomerConsumer]

?

[@hakeemmuhammad710]

Speakers terminals plastic

[@danielrhoden2973]

Horrible gimmicky crap. It took decades to arrive at some kind of stereo SOPs. And these are from the any gimmick that will sell era. Laying a speaker on it's side produces two different arrival times at your ears which will wash out and ruin any chance of a stable stereo image. That "spacial lens" is no more than decorative trim to make a cheap tweeter look more impressive. Plastic in front of a tweeter will also ruin any chance of good sound. You typically only see them on the cheapest of home theater speakers. Any $99 modern day bookshelf speaker will slay these when it comes to stable stereo imaging. The other major flaw is that because of the phasey "comb filter" effect of the design you will get listener fatigue very quickly. Think of them as a washed out "impressionist painting" image versus a modern day design having an HD image.

[@TheBoomerConsumer]

Hi Daniel, you would be happy to know the Bose discontinued them. Personally I like them for background listening.

[@danielrhoden2973]

@@TheBoomerConsumer They we're my first HiFi mistake at 14 years old in the '80's. 🙂

[@holliday.]

I got a pair of these for 50 bucks. Beat the speakers I had before. :P

[@danielrhoden2973]

@@holliday.you should have saved up an extra $12 and bought a pair of new Dayton's. Or used PSBs. 🙉

[@kurtwolter3984]

Go back to bed, Biff.

[@danmartinez5502]

Overpriced junk for those that are hard of hearing. Muddy

[@TheBoomerConsumer]

Not anymore. They’re discontinued

[@kurtwolter3984]

What would you recommend? Maybe something at Dollar Tree?

[@danmartinez5502]

@@kurtwolter3984 Klipsch, and something else that has a good soundstage