Product Description
The gold standard in stereo audio reproduction / Now redesigned, with even better performance / For music or home theater… More >>
BOSE 301-V Stereo Loudspeakers – Black
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Goes great with LCD tv’s…. Makes a great addition to a 5.1 system. Awesome sound, just what you expect from Bose.
Rating: 5 / 5
I was impressed with these speakers when I heard them in the showroom, but even after a lengthy break-in period I found them fatiguing. Other than that, the bass is weak and the build quality is unimpressive.
Rating: 1 / 5
Bose is a fascinating case study of what the power of advertising can do for products that are acknowledged within the audio industry as being cheaply made and technically outperformed by all of its competiters. Based on audio theories from the 1960’s and parts of lower quality than what can be bought at Radio Shack, Bose has built an incredible empire out of poorly designed products driven by a huge advertising budget creating an aura of “Bose”.
Consumers should do their research before shelling out money for Bose speakers. A google search will bring you to epinions or audioreview websites where you can find review after review, mostly negative, from buyers of Bose products.
The commonly accepted wisdom in the audio industry is that Bose makes low audio quality products and sells them at very high prices. In other words those Polk, JBL, Wharfedale or Infinity mid-fi products you can find at Amazon are usually higher quality at much better price points.
Compare the sound if you ever get a chance. Make sure you DO NOT depend on volume, in other words volume is a bad indicater of quality. Listen for the high and low notes and to the clarity of the music. Tough to do in a showroom at Circuit City or Best Buy, but even there the differences will show up. Bose attempts to prevent consumers from doing this by segregating their products away from the competition.
After this you might look at online audio magazines (do a google search), Audioreview (one word) and Audiogon. You’ll find whole NEW world of audio products such as PSB, Paradigm, Vandersteen, Quad, Sonus Faber, ACI and many more who’s products will put you on a much higher level of audio than you’d ever imagine. Usually these speakers are SEVERAL times more electronically sophisticated than Bose at the same price! What you won’t find in these websites of magazines are Bose articles. Bose just isn’t taken seriously by the industry.
Good luck and happy hunting!
Rating: 1 / 5
Let’s be realistic, any Bose ever made speaker was never a true audiophile speaker. But what makes this a great speaker. If you have read other reviews you have already noted the 301’s shortcommings. If you are looking for a wide and accurate soundstage look elsewhere. But lets say you are a party person or own a bar. Imaging and tonal response is less important here. You want a speaker that projects a wide soundstage and not be overpowering tonally as to inhibit good conversation but not to have a sound that is ignored. The Bose 301 is a good fit for this need. Though you might notice bass is a social environment higher frequencies will be drowned out by crowd noise. Here is where the 301 shines because they have sweetened up the mid range so you can here the music. The 301’s produce a sound that is simular to live performances. In short if you want accuracy 301’s are not for you but if you want a good sound in social situations buy the 301’s.
Rating: 4 / 5
Bose 301’s have a time-honored tradition that is trademark Bose. I have had several lines of Bose speakers and each has impressed me. However, as I mature, grow, and learn to appreciate finer details in audio and loudspeakers, I find that Bose is falling off. The quality of Bose themselves is still good, but I’m learning to discern what makes a speaker great and what makes a speaker just average. Take these 301’s. If you are fairly new to audio, then you will find them exceptional. But then again, a complete newbie would find almost any speaker that doesn’t distort, exceptional. So what’s great about the 301’s series 5? Well, I find them well suited for rear speakers in a 5.1 surround sound setup. They handle this function with accuracy and create a well-dispersed sound field that I find quite enjoyable. However, as main speakers, I just can’t get excited. The 301’s leave me disappointed and desiring more. Bass is tight, but porting seems too noticible. Midrange is flat and not as forward as I’d like. High frequencies are fine and probably the best quality this speaker has going for it. All in all, I would pass on the Bose 301 Series 5.
Rating: 1 / 5