Bose 901 Series VI Main / Stereo Speaker

In my opinion the Bose 901's have been given a bad rap by: 1. Persons who are prejudiced against the Bose Corporation (not without some reason); 2. Persons who have never heard the speaker, but have only heard ABOUT it from someone else who hates it; and 3. Persons who have heard the speaker in bad listening situations. #3's are legion, and unfortunately, the reviewer who criticized the way these speakers are set up in the Bose stores is correct: Bose is contributing to the unfavorable perception by setting up this speaker poorly in its outlets. Consequently, it is difficult for someone considering buying the 901 to hear the speaker in a commercial setting which will adequately demonstrate its abilities.
I believe this speaker can be a true audiophile product, if it is treated well. My suggestions are:
1. Ample amplifier power. This is not an efficient speaker, so in my experience anything less than 150 watts per channel is simply not enough to really hear what the 901 is capable of. The more, the better!
2. Hang the speakers if possible. In my experience, the 901's really shine when they are up in the air. Be sure to place them an adequate distance from the rear wall and the ceiling (consult the manual). Also, make sure the rear wall is large enough, and relatively unobstructed.

What will you get if this speaker is set up well? Coherent, life-like sound. The 901 is an attempt at the ideal in dynamic speaker design: ONE driver doing all the work. The lack of crossovers and different-sized drivers in this speakers sacrifices a little in frequency response, but IMO this is more than made up for by the seamless, integrated sound of the speaker. Some have criticized the 901's reflecting characteristic, claiming that it blurs details in the music. I think that, once again, there is a trade-off. While some detail might be compromised, I believe it is more than made up for by the spaciousness and the almost three-dimensional quality that the 901's reflecting capabilities brings to the music.
You owe it to yourself to really hear what this speaker can do. I have owned mine for years, have listened to speaker systems costing thousands more, and have never seriously considered owning anything else. Contrary to what others have said in these reviews, $1200 is pocket change in the world of quality speakers, and the 901's can be a bargain, if care is taken in selecting the associated equipment and placement environment.