Bose 901 no longer in production, end of an era

A friend of mine in the bizz' told me Bose is discontinuing the 901 after 48 years of continuous production. A 48 year run for a speaker is very impressive IMHO, maybe a record? My uncle had a pair hanging from his ceiling back in the early 70's. I think he paid more for them than he did for his beat up Opal. Back then, I thought they were the "shit." Now, you couldn't give me a pair. I can't deny that when it comes to marketing an inferior product, Bose is one of the best. Now the real question, does anybody care?

I do. Most importantly, it tells me that there is so little interest in home audio nowadays that maybe the production numbers of the 901 are so low that it's not worth making them anymore.

My Dad and I bought a pair in the late 1970's (series IV) and I loved them back then. I refoamed all 18 drivers for him a few years ago. I inherited them when he passed last year. The EQ wasn't doing anything so I had a tech go over it and replace all the caps and other aged components.

But, alas, I don't think I'll probably ever use them. I just wanted to get them working right; mostly out of nostalgia I guess. I'll probably end up putting them on CL for sale. They're mint.

The only other thing I'd use them for might be background music or maybe they'd be awesome surround speakers.....

Great story and sincere condolences for the loss of your father. They were very popular. I find a pair for sale at least twice a month and I live in a small market. Most are missing the EQ. Once the word is out I can see sellers trying to raise their asking prices. I guess you would have to say they are a unique piece of audio history.

You have to give them credit for being in production for so long. People obviously bought them or the party would have ended long ago. Bose makes all their money on headphones and OEM auto sound these days. I sincerely wish they would pack up the Pro division along with the 901's. I've never heard an event that wasn't ruined by Bose "PA" speakers.

No highs, no lows...

jblnut

48 years is not the record. The Klipschorn holds the record, having been in continuous production since 1946.

I believe the record holder for a single loud speaker component goes to the ALTEC Lansing model 601 / 604 type 15 inch Duplex. Thanks to Bill Hanuschak it's been in production since 1943. That also goes for several other ALTEC Lansing products Bill continues to manufacture.

I'm trying to think what exactly is the era that the Bose 901 exemplifies. You don't mean, do you, that it had anything to do with the marvelous technological improvements in audio reproduction in the last 50 years? Or do you mean it's like how some people might think blousy-sleeved pokadot buccaneer shirts defined the counter culture movement of the late sixties? Like that? Or maybe you mean how Dr. Bose nearly ruined Consumer Reports by suing the crap out them for a pretty right on critique of that POS, just as D. Tr__p nearly drove securities analyst Roffman into a grave because he correctly predicted that the Taj Mahal Casino in Atlantic City would sink the Tr__p yacht?

Perhaps it was just a typo and he just mean it's "the end or an error".

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Originally Posted by Ed Zeppeli

Perhaps it was just a typo and he just mean it's "the end or an error".

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:)

I read that several times and "saw" it as "the end of an error".
oh well.

The bait is out there but this fish isn't biting.:no:

The Model 901 premiered in 1968 and was an immediate commercial success, and Bose Corporation grew rapidly during the 1970s. Also of interest, the Bose 901 has been in continuous production since 1968 second only to the Klipsch Klipschorn speaker in longevity of continuous production.^[21] Bose ended production of the Bose 901 loud speaker with series VI on September 2016. I received this information from The Bose Corporation. I have 2 sets of the series VI and would not trade them for anything. I purchased my last set 3 days ago. I go to a lot of the high-end stereo shows and come home every time and listen to my speakers and smile. If they are set up correctly with the proper equipment, you would be smiling also.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by svollmer

I do. Most importantly, it tells me that there is so little interest in home audio nowadays that maybe the production numbers of the 901 are so low that it's not worth making them anymore.

My Dad and I bought a pair in the late 1970's (series IV) and I loved them back then. I refoamed all 18 drivers for him a few years ago. I inherited them when he passed last year. The EQ wasn't doing anything so I had a tech go over it and replace all the caps and other aged components.

But, alas, I don't think I'll probably ever use them. I just wanted to get them working right; mostly out of nostalgia I guess. I'll probably end up putting them on CL for sale. They're mint.

The only other thing I'd use them for might be background music or maybe they'd be awesome surround speakers.....

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