A minor rant concerning Bose 901's.

[markw]

No, I'm not going to say they suck. In fact, when properly positioned in the right room with enough power to drive them and playing suitable music they can sound quite impressive.

But, what galls me is that when some newbie (gotta love 'em) gets hold of a pair of 901's and plays them without the equalizer, whether they know they need one or not, and waxes eloquently about how wonderful they sound, how can I take anything they say seriously?

I mean, the equalizer in the early 901's added about 18 db of boost in the low end! You know the 901's sound like an old Radio Shack Flavoradio with the equalizer.

So, when they say something sounds good, how can I really take their word on something? I have to believe they are falling for the hype instead of what their ears really are telling them.

but, as hard as it is, I generally bite my tongue and keep my opinion to myself.

 

[Adam]

I don't think that you (or anyone) should take any statements about what someone likes as applying to what you'll like, so I agree not to take opinions as facts. They like it, and good for them. It's all relative, IMO - the 901s probably sound incredible compared to what the person had before, so that person likes them. That doesn't mean that they are falling for the hype - they could actually really like them.

Regarding liking things without a great deal to compare to, that is true about my NHTs and my SVS. However, I don't care if anyone else likes them or not...I love them.

 

[Davemcc]

My step-father has a pair of 901's with the equalizer. I don't have the heart to tell him that there are budget speakers around today that sound better. He's happy and I don't want my Mom mad at me.

 

[gmichael]

Kids think that McDonalds is a 5 star restaurant. Does it mean that they fell for the hype, sure, but they still like the burgers. What else do they have to compare them to?

 

[markw]

Adam, I'm not criticizing their preferences.

I don't think that you (or anyone) should take any statements about what someone likes as applying to what you'll like, so I agree not to take opinions as facts. They like it, and good for them. It's all relative, IMO - the 901s probably sound incredible compared to what the person had before, so that person likes them. That doesn't mean that they are falling for the hype - they could actually really like them.

Regarding liking things without a great deal to compare to, that is true about my NHTs and my SVS. However, I don't care if anyone else likes them or not...I love them.

Have you ever heard 901's without the required equalizer?

I'm just pointing out that running 901's WITHOUT THE EQUALIZER their performance is seriously hobbled. Their own ears and common sense should be telling them that there is a problem with them.

Virtually any other properly functioning speaker sounds better athem in that case.

To come on exclaiming how great they are sets off warning bells in my mind as to their point of reference to be judging audio gear in general.

 

[Adam]

I might have come across poorly, Mark. Sorry if I did. I wasn't trying to say that you were putting down their preferences. I was just trying to say that people's opinions on gear are just that - opinions - regardless of what gear it is. I don't put any more stock in someone saying how great a set of Paradigms are than someone who waxes eloquently (excellent phrase, btw ) about Bose. That might just be me, though.

 

[son-yah-tive]

I have to admit, it's kinda funny. But Adam is right, if it sounds fine to them, but that may be just an initial start up. Then reality sinks in later. I never, ever, knew anyone who had 901s, to run them without the EQ.

 

[NicolasKL]

I don't think that you (or anyone) should take any statements about what someone likes as applying to what you'll like, so I agree not to take opinions as facts. They like it, and good for them. It's all relative, IMO - the 901s probably sound incredible compared to what the person had before, so that person likes them. That doesn't mean that they are falling for the hype - they could actually really like them.

Regarding liking things without a great deal to compare to, that is true about my NHTs and my SVS. However, I don't care if anyone else likes them or not...I love them.

In general I agree with you but not when it comes to 901s without an equalizer. When I was 17 I worked at a deparment store in the electronics section and we had a pair of 901s without an equalizer and they sounded HORRIBLE. Not just "oh, they're not great, but they're not terrible either." Totally horrible. Like they have virtually no output at all below about 400 Hz. I couldn't figure out why they sounded worse than the 20 dollar car audio 5x7s (not an exaggeration) that were 20' away, it wasn't until years later that I found out 901s need an EQ and realized that these didn't have one.

Unless "what the person had before" was a paper cone attached to a paperclip and run through the grooves of an LP by a disinterested monkey, an unEQd 901 can't sound better.

I can't imagine anyone would think unEQd 901s sound good. They sound like what I imagine a bakelite tabletop mono AM radio from the 50s sounds like.

And keep in mind this is coming from a 17 year old that had a pair of Cerwin Vega D3s that were powered by a Technics amplifier/tape deck combo that probably crapped out about 5 watts per channel, and I thought those sounded amazing. I didn't exactly have the highest standards.

 

[Adam]

Ahhhh, I'm starting to understand better now. Thanks.

 

[Halon451]

I saw a pair of 901's in a pawn shop the other day (I sometimes stop in and look for used tools, etc.). They were asking $800 for the pair... I was tempted.

 

[Seth=L]

I saw a pair of 901's in a pawn shop the other day (I sometimes stop in and look for used tools, etc.). They were asking $800 for the pair... I was tempted.

I'd be tempted too. I'd do one of two things: Point and laugh at the Pawn Broker while hunkered over - or - I'd intentionally damage the speaker somehow knowing that whoever bought it wouldn't know the difference.

 

[Halon451]

I'd be tempted too. I'd do one of two things: Point and laugh at the Pawn Broker while hunkered over - or - I'd intentionally damage the speaker somehow knowing that whoever bought it wouldn't know the difference.

My only question is I wonder who got bent over more in that deal, the pawn broker or the seller?

 

[Seth=L]

My only question is I wonder who got bent over more in that deal, the pawn broker or the seller?

99.99% of the time the seller, but mistakes do happen and certain pawn brokers have been known to leep before thinking. I've seen it happen, I might have done it once or twice (but never on a scale of those Bose).

 

[Halon451]

99.99% of the time the seller, but mistakes do happen and certain pawn brokers have been known to leep before thinking. I've seen it happen, I might have done it once or twice (but never on a scale of those Bose).

Well that's what I mean - in this case the brand name "Bose" might upset the normal balance, which is to say - both get screwed. You might have some pawn broker who sees the Bose name - end up paying a lot more for it than he should have - in this case, seller STILL gets screwed, because he probably paid $1300 for the things to sell them for $400 or $500, and they'll probably sit on the shelf forever, because people who go into pawn shops to buy things aren't typically the kind that can just spend $800 on a pair of speakers - even if they ARE Bose. Pawn Broker gets screwed.

 

[gmichael]

A 2fer in the screwing department?

 

[Seth=L]

Well that's what I mean - in this case the brand name "Bose" might upset the normal balance, which is to say - both get screwed. You might have some pawn broker who sees the Bose name - end up paying a lot more for it than he should have - in this case, seller STILL gets screwed, because he probably paid $1300 for the things to sell them for $400 or $500, and they'll probably sit on the shelf forever, because people who go into pawn shops to buy things aren't typically the kind that can just spend $800 on a pair of speakers - even if they ARE Bose. Pawn Broker gets screwed.

It's nearly impossible to determine how much the pawn shop paid for these speakers unless it's a big chain (cash america or ezpawn) or someone know's their 10 digit code. You certainly can't assume they have a lot in something because it's got a high price. Some pawn shops will do what the customer thinks will be a quick short term loan.

Say for example I need $50 to pay a bill, I take something far more valuable and just get a $50 dollar loan. I pay the bill and I plan to go back and pick it up when I get my next paycheck. My wife finds out the item I pawned where her mother's wedding ring that she gave to her before she passed away which had a .50 brilliant solitare set in 3 grams of 18kt gold. I try to explain to her that it was only $50 and I was getting it back but she got irrate and I lost control and hit her. I go to jail and she can't find where I stashed the pawn ticket. I sit in jail for more than 3 months, the ring is forfit, priced and put out for sale. Price tag says $1299 on it.

Moral of the story is, pawn shops that want to stay in business shouldn't price something according to how much is in it, but how much it is worth. A price tag of $800 on a pair of Bose 901s isn't out of the realm of impossibility and hugely depends on their condition. Some pawn shops like to have the haggle factor open as well. If a customer is genuinely interested in those speakers and offers $600 for them the pawn shop might take it. Who knows?, they might only have $300 maybe less in those speakers. To say that the pawn shop got hosed is pure speculation, not to say it doesn't happen. I've seen pawn shops sell things for under what they have in them, and without justification either. But 99% of the time the pawn broker gets his in the end, unless they are just terrible at what they do.

 

[jamie2112]

Seth you shouldn't hit your wife

 

[Seth=L]

Seth you shouldn't hit your wife

I forgot to mention, that was Alex's story told from my point of view.

 

[gmichael]

I forgot to mention, that was Alex's story told from my point of view.

You're Alex's bi... I mean.. wife?

 

[Halon451]

Say for example I need $50 to pay a bill, I take something far more valuable and just get a $50 dollar loan. I pay the bill and I plan to go back and pick it up when I get my next paycheck. My wife finds out the item I pawned where her mother's wedding ring that she gave to her before she passed away which had a .50 brilliant solitare set in 3 grams of 18kt gold. I try to explain to her that it was only $50 and I was getting it back but she got irrate and I lost control and hit her. I go to jail and she can't find where I stashed the pawn ticket. I sit in jail for more than 3 months, the ring is forfit, priced and put out for sale. Price tag says $1299 on it.

I was going to say you have a healthy imagination there kiddo, but then again - this is probably an all too common type of thing with pawn shops. Bottom line here is that it's all pure speculation - it's impossible to know all the many variables that led to the price tag and a pair of lonely 901's sitting on a dusty shelf at some no-name pawn shop, which by the way - was indeed a Cash America. But - I'm thinking a more likely scenario here is some guy realized his 901's were total crap - bit the bullet and sold them off for as much as he could get for them at his local pawn shop. I said $400 to $500 before, but in reality I don't think the pawn shop would have given him more than $200 for the pair - that's $600 profit for them, IF they can sell. I think out of curiosity I'll check in there once every so often and see if they're still sitting there - it's directly on my way home from work so not a big deal.

As a side, related note - I also noticed an old JBL center channel speaker I had sold to them more than 2 years ago (just wanted to get rid of it quick for some extra pocket cash), still sitting there collecting dust. Hells bells! I think those 901's have found a permanent home.