Bose acquires Mcintosh

[jpclyons]

Bose Reveals New 901 60th Anniversary Edition Speakers

Bose reimages its 901 speakers with a 12-pair 60th-anniversary limited edition. Fans enjoy the nostalgia, critics debate the direct/reflecting sound, but we'd love a demo to assess any real improvements.

www.audioholics.com

Since there is no mention of an EQ, which was required by all previous 901 models, these might look great, but sound awful. I could make a fiberglass body of a Lamborghini, but that would not be a Lamborghini. Now if the EQ was built in to the speaker…..

 

[gene]

Since there is no mention of an EQ, which was required by all previous 901 models, these might look great, but sound awful. I could make a fiberglass body of a Lamborghini, but that would not be a Lamborghini. Now if the EQ was built in to the speaker…..

The EQ box is in the photo and it is mentioned in the article. Sadly, it appears to be the same passive EQ from the original design and the same drivers too.

 

[TheMcRae]

So that is Mac and Sonus Faber down the tubes then. That really puts a full stop at the end of an era.

I have spent years listing to an MC 2300 with c33 (brought up to spec by the late, famous Terry Dewick) and 4 series 2 901's properly set up in a music room.

 

[isolar8001]

In the series "Only Murders In The Building" , Steve Martin's character has a pair of 901's in his posh apartment.

 

[Cos]

No one will ever question how AWESOME my photo editing skills are..........NOT I know this is political and I apologize, but I hold my opinion of BOSE on the same level as this guy......Also adding that I am not a liberal democrat or even a democrat...

 

[eljr]

Only thing ever “good” about McIntosh were the amps aesthetics and the bragging rights because everyone knew that they cost more money than other amps.

Like the B&W 800 Diamond series speakers - aesthetics and bragging rights for costing a lot more money.

I never bragged about my Mac mono blocks or 800 diamonds.
Rather
I enjoyed them.

Peace

 

[everettT]

I never bragged about my Mac mono blocks or 800 diamonds.
Rather
I enjoyed them.

Peace

Maybe he is referring about pride of ownership as much as "bragging". I enjoyed my Mc gear, but I wouldn't lift one now to save my life

Edit: I never had fault with any of McIntosh pieces, just no need for a 100+ pound stereo amp and definitely no need for a 160 pound 1.2kw anp in a day were 30 pounds of 1kw heatsinked class D is state of the art.

I imagine anyone could design a beautiful faceplate if it boiled down to aesthetics. With the difference in cost, the sky may be the limit.

 

[TankTop5]

Bose at one time had some of the best marketing in the audio industry but that has been a long time. If they brought that back I could see this purchase making sense. That said McIntosh and Sonus Faber are already in a ton of HiFi shops. Maybe they just wanted market share and think the economy is going to turn, buy low and sell high.

 

[highfigh]

The EQ box is in the photo and it is mentioned in the article. Sadly, it appears to be the same passive EQ from the original design and the same drivers too.

But, but, but, passive sounds better! Have you tested Bose 901s? I have a problem with a speaker that NEEDS such drastic equalization. Any speaker can sound good with some program material, but holy hand grenades! Have you heard them without the equalizer?

I hope they have improved the drivers.

 

[Tankini]

View attachment 71072
No one will ever question how AWESOME my photo editing skills are..........NOT I know this is political and I apologize, but I hold my opinion of BOSE on the same level as this guy......Also adding that I am not a liberal democrat or even a democrat...

All Waves huh. Today's BOSE isn't your MeMUMs BOSE.

 

[KenM10759]

Autoformers in the output stages in this day and age are silly. Why would you want an amplifier to deliver the same power in 8, 4 and 2 ohm loads and add all of that hysterisis to the output that isn't a problem for modern solidstate amplifiers. Build quality and aesthetics aside, I see little appeal to owning a Mcintosh amplifier product.

For me, adding to that is indeed the aesthetics. I can't tolerate the gaudy backlit green logos plastered together with the oversized blue meters. Oddly enough, a good portion of those who buy it also add to it posters and equally gaudy signs. All for amps of debatable performance and certainly questionable value.

I'll remain happy with my conservatively designed yet high functional Luxman gear.

Bose is another matter. Ethically, I can't stand them. My son worked for them in customer support, and was doing well when they shipped his job and that of some 350 of his coworkers to a subcontractor in the Philippines. I won't own any of their stuff.

 

[Tankini]

I never bragged about my Mac mono blocks or 800 diamonds.
Rather
I enjoyed them.

Peace

Both aren't bottom, mid, or even entry level, audiophile<analogy. Having monoblock MAC amps=owning a Bentley! <Another analogy. Craftsmanship is everything= longevity, reliability, incept-date mythology.

Than there are those who'll go with monoblock ATi and well, them amps are covenant, Or Bristol, Mark Livingston, PASS LAB amps. Seems though MAC has that appeal of heavy is the crown.