So, you want to buy a speaker system, to listen to music, in your room? What questions do you think are the most relevant to ask?
For instance, do you like the sound of the speakers? Will they fit in your home? In this review, I have listed what I think are the most relevant factors I would look out for, and tested to see how Bose 301 Speakers stand up to scrutiny.
1. Brand Value: Bose is a highly recognized brand, across the world.
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2. Dispersion of sound: Bose 301 Speakers are sold on the USP of “anywhere stereo”. By this, the manufacturers are probably trying to tell a prospective buyer that the speakers will deliver the same sound, no matter where they are placed in the room. The sound quality is good, given that these are bookshelf speakers.
3. Esthetics: This is not a strong point, but having said that these speakers are unconventional in more ways than one. They are larger than conventional bookshelf speakers and may require a stand, to place them on.
4. Add-ons: They come with 8 inch woofers; other speakers can also be added. I recommend pairing them with a more powerful subwoofer (150W+) especially if you want to watch DVD’s or listen to Hip Hop or Rap, not to mention jazz and classical.
BOSE 301-V Stereo Loudspeakers
The 301-V series speakers employ the renowned Bose magic, in the form of Direct/Reflecting speaker technology. These versatile bookshelf speakers bring a lifelike spaciousness to movies and music. The combination of direct and reflective sound mimic a live performance, whether it’s cinema or concert. The speakers stand alone, mightily, but they also work well with a center channel speaker (the Bose VCS-10) to recreate a true cinema experience. Stereo targeting tweeters, a rear-firing tweeter, spatial dispersion lens and an 8″ woofer fill a room with sound without filling it with cabinetry.
5. Clarity: It is reasonably good, bringing out detail in the music.
6. Price: The 301 speaker series is relatively inexpensive, especially by Bose standards. They offer the attraction of owning a high-recognition brand for a low price.
7. Stand-alone Quality: Many speaker systems of recent times are designed to be part of a larger speaker system. Although they deliver their best, with a sub-woofer, they are originally intended to be stand-alone stereo systems.
8. Amplifier Requirement: The sound shows drastic improvement when the speakers are paired with amplifiers of 200 watts and over.
9. Bass: The bass has punch, though it’s not very deep.
10. Integral Sound: The individual speakers appear to fade under the effect of the “everywhere stereo” sound. To that extent, the stereo imaging is adversely affected.
11. Speaker Placement: For best results, they need to be placed at ear level, or a bit away from the walls to allow the sound to bounce around the room.
12. Customer service: Bose stores are ubiquitous in the United States. So, you should reasonably expect to be able to find one in your vicinity.
13. Flipside: Many complain of excessive treble. Not everyone is likely to be happy with the “retro look”, the use of paper cones in the speakers, or the bass getting a little unresponsive at the lowest frequency range.
These speakers are likely to perform reasonably well if you use a mid-range receiver delivering more than 60 watts in a moderate-to-small-sized room. They represent good value for money, if you are on a limited budget.
Are Bose 301 Speakers Better Than Conventional Speakers?
These speakers are bookshelf speakers. They can also be mounted on walls. The first advantage they provide is that they are flexible in terms of the space they occupy. They are compact and don’t occupy floor space.
Unlike this, conventional speakers take up a lot of space, and can clutter up your floor, if your room is moderate in size.
Another advantage of mounting Bose 301 speakers on walls is they will need fewer filters than conventional speakers as the number of components in the path of the signal would also be smaller in number, than in the case of conventional speakers.
The cone would also move less, thereby insuring that there is less distortion in sound production. As Bose 301 speakers sell on the USP of “everywhere stereo”, this is an added advantage.
For best results, insure that the impedance and power of the speakers are compatible with that of the amplifier. I assume that your room size should be moderate to small, if you have opted for the compact Bose 301 speakers rather than conventional speakers.
As stated earlier, an amplifier with a power rating of 200 watts per channel should prove an excellent choice with Bose 301 speakers.
In the case of conventional speakers, once they are installed, you will find it difficult to change their position, if you find that they are not giving you optimal performance. Unlike this, Bose 301 speakers are very flexible, as they are ultra portable.
Having said that, the speakers will give better satisfaction if they are placed a bit away from the walls, thereby allowing for the sound to bounce around your room.
Do They Deliver “Anywhere Stereo”?
The company was founded on the “Anywhere Stereo” premise, when the founder, Amar Bose, then a student of MIT, bought a pair of speakers, about fifty years ago, and wasn’t satisfied with the sound, which in his opinion lacked ‘psychoacoustics’.
He used his technical know-how, to devise his own set of speakers, and that gave rise to his company, Bose Corporation’s motto of “Better Sound Thorough Research”. In keeping with this principle, the company is said to spend over $100 million, every year, on research.
Name Your Link are bookshelf speakers, and deliver good sound dispersion. However, acoustic satisfaction is subjective, in that different listeners look for different modes. Critics are likely to point out that the system is better suited for background music rather than serious listening, where the tonal quality of each instrument is differentiated from one another, and that of each instrument is differentiated from that of the singer.
In other words, they are likely to bemoan the loss of stereo imaging. In fact this is a casualty of the “Anywhere Stereo” effect, which is aimed at satisfying listeners, regardless of where they are, in the room.
The manufacturers recommend the use of an amplifier system that delivers sufficient power, so as to optimize one’s listening experience. Also, proper placement of speakers, allowing room for the music to bounce off the walls is likely to lead to a more satisfying surround sound experience.
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