The Bose® 901® Series VI Direct/Reflecting® Speaker
System
Owner’s Guide
November 21, 2001
AM195438_03_V.pdf
Safety Information
WARNING: To reduce the risk of fire or electric shock, do not expose the 901® active equalizer to rain or moisture.
CAUTION |
RISK OF ELECTRICAL SHOCK |
DO NOT OPEN |
CAUTION: TO REDUCE THE RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK, |
DO NOT REMOVE COVER (OR BACK). |
NO USER-SERVICABLE PARTS INSIDE. |
REFER SERVICING TO QUALIFIED PERSONNEL. |
AVIS |
RISQUE DE CHOC ÉLECTRIQUE |
NE PAS OUVRIR |
ATTENTION : POUR RÉDUIRE LE RISQUE DE DÉCHARGE |
ÉLECTRIQUE, NE RETIREZ PAS LE COUVERCLE (OU |
L’ARRIÈRE). IL NE SE TROUVE ÀL’INTÉRIEURAUCUNE |
PIÈCE POUVANT ÊTRE RÉPARÉE PARL’USAGER. |
S’ADRESSER À UN RÉPARATEUR COMPÉTENT. |
These CAUTION marks are located on the bottom of your 901 active equalizer:
The lightning flash with arrowhead symbol, within an equilateral triangle, is intended to alert the user to the presence of uninsulated dangerous voltage within the system enclosure that may be of sufficient magnitude to constitute a risk of electric shock.
The exclamation point within an equilateral triangle, as marked on the system, is intended to alert the user to the presence of important operating and maintenance instructions in this owner’s guide.
CAUTION: To prevent electric shock, match wide blade of plug to wide slot, insert fully.
Additional safety information
See the additional instructions on the Important Safety Information page enclosed with this owner’s guide.
Please read this owner’s guide
Please take the time to follow this owner’s guide carefully. It will help you set up and operate your system properly, and enjoy all of its advanced features. Save your owner’s guide for future reference.
For your records
Serial numbers are located on the bottom panel of each 901 speaker and on the back of the active equalizer.
Loudspeaker Serial Numbers: ____________________________________________________
Active equalizer Serial Number: __________________________________________________
Dealer name: __________________________________________________________________
Dealer phone: _______________________ Purchase date: ___________________________
We suggest you keep your sales slip and warranty card together with this owner’s guide.
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Contents
Where to find…
Contents |
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Where to find… ............................................................................................................. |
3 |
Warranty period ............................................................................................................ |
3 |
Customer service .......................................................................................................... |
3 |
Setting Up |
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Before you begin ........................................................................................................... |
4 |
Unpacking the cartons .................................................................................................. |
4 |
System compatibility .................................................................................................... |
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Choose the support for your speakers ......................................................................... |
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Choosing the location for your speakers ...................................................................... |
6 |
Speaker connections .................................................................................................... |
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Equalizer connections ................................................................................................... |
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Testing the speakers and equalizer ............................................................................ |
12 |
Using other equipment ............................................................................................... |
13 |
Using your 901® Series VI speaker system |
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Playing your speakers ................................................................................................. |
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Adjusting the sound .................................................................................................... |
15 |
Equalizer compatibility ................................................................................................ |
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Connecting additional speakers ................................................................................. |
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Maintaining Your 901 speaker system |
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Cleaning your speakers .............................................................................................. |
17 |
Troubleshooting .......................................................................................................... |
17 |
Product Information |
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Technical information .................................................................................................. |
18 |
Accessories ................................................................................................................. |
18 |
Bose Corporation ..................................................................................... |
inside back cover |
Warranty period
The Bose® 901 speakers and active equalizer are covered by a limited 5-year transferable warranty. Details of the warranty are provided on the warranty card that came with your system. Please fill out the information section on the card and mail it to Bose Corporation.
Customer service
For additional help in solving problems, contact Bose customer service. See the inside back cover for Bose customer service offices and phone numbers.
A free booklet is available: Guide to Optional System Connections for Bose 901® Direct/
Reflecting® Speaker Systems. Ask for part number 149393.
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Setting Up
Before you begin
Thank you for purchasing the Bose® 901® Series VI Direct/Reflecting® speakers. They represent the best in Bose Corporation speaker design and engineering and will give you many years of listening pleasure.
The installation and operating principles of this system are significantly different from those of conventional speakers. To obtain the best possible performance and avoid problems, please take the time to read this guide.
CAUTION: You must have a Bose 901 active equalizer for a complete 901 speaker system. The use of 901 Series VI speakers without the 901 Series VI active equalizer will result in improper performance. The use of graphic or parametric equalizers, instead of the Bose 901 equalizer, will result in unsatisfactory performance.
Conventional graphic and parametric equalizers may be used in addition to, but not in place of the Bose 901 active equalizer. However, the use of such additional equalizers is not recommended since it will not improve system performance. For adequate performance you must use the 901 Series VI active equalizer with these speakers.
Unpacking the cartons
A complete Bose 901 Series VI speaker system consists of three matched components: two 901 Direct/Reflecting® speakers and a separate 901 Series VI active equalizer. Two cables are included to connect the active equalizer to your receiver or amplifier. The 901 speakers and equalizer are packed in three separate cartons. Carefully unpack your system, saving all packing materials for possible future use.
Inspect the speakers and equalizer. If any part appears damaged, do not attempt to use the system. Repack the speakers and equalizer in their original cartons and notify your authorized Bose dealer immediately.
Note: Now is a good time to record the serial numbers of each speaker and the active equalizer. Please write them on your warranty card and in the spaces provided on page 2. The serial numbers are located on the bottom of the 901 speakers and on the back of the equalizer.
WARNING: Each speaker carton weighs over 35 lb (16 kg). Use good lifting practice to avoid injury.
WARNING: To avoid danger of suffocation, keep the plastic bags out of the reach of children.
Figure 1
What comes in the three cartons:
• Two 901 speakers
•One 901 active equalizer
•Two equalizer cables
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Setting Up
System Compatibility
Bose® 901® Series VI speakers and Series VI active equalizer work with your stereo components to produce a superb music system. The active equalizer is an integral part of the system and may be connected in a variety of ways, depending on the components you have. The two most common methods are described in this guide. Using different components may require different connection methods. More information is available by calling Bose Corporation. Ask for the free booklet, Guide to Optional System Connections for Bose 901 Direct/Reflecting® Speaker Systems, part number 149393.
Your 901 speakers are designed to work compatibly with receivers or amplifiers rated from 10 to 450 watts per channel. In this guide, the term receiver is used to refer to an integrated preamplifier and power amplifier (which may also contain an AM/FM tuner). The term amplifier is used to describe configurations involving separate preamplifier and amplifier components.
Most receivers have a TAPE MONITOR connection. The 901 active equalizer is most commonly connected to the tape monitor connections on the receiver. If you plan to connect a tape recorder, use the set of inputs and outputs located on the back of the 901 active equalizer marked TAPE RECORDER CONNECTIONS.
If you have recently purchased a home theater receiver, you may be considering using your 901 speakers for the front channels. Your home theater receiver must have accessible PRE AMP OUT/MAIN AMP IN connections for the front channels if you are to use your 901 speakers in this way. These may also be called the ADAPTER or SIGNAL PROCESSOR connections.
Installation steps
Follow these steps, in the order below, to install your 901 Series VI speaker system.
1.Choose the best locations and support for the 901 speakers (page 6).
2.Connect the speakers to the amplifier or receiver (page 8).
3.Connect the 901 active equalizer to the amplifier or receiver using either the TAPE MONITOR or PRE AMP OUT/MAIN AMP IN connections (page 9).
4.Test the system to see that the audio signal is correctly processed by the active equalizer (page 12).
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Setting Up
Choosing the location for your speakers
Choose locations for your 901® speakers that use the walls to best advantage by reflecting sound throughout the listening room. Refer to the drawing on page 7.
Guidelines for placement
Place the speakers along the same wall (see Figure 3):
•4 to 12 feet (1.2 – 3.6 m) apart, with the V-shaped rear of the speaker between 8 and 18 inches (20 – 45 cm) from the rear wall. Do not aim the V toward a corner.
•18 inches (45 cm) of clear space around the sides, top, and bottom of the speakers.
•at least 2 feet (60 cm) from sound-absorbent furnishings.
•18 to 48 inches (45 – 120 cm) from the side and rear walls.
•18 to 36 inches (45 – 91 cm) from the floor or ceiling. Do not place the speakers exactly halfway between floor and ceiling.
Within these guidelines, remember that the closer the speakers are placed to a reflective surface, like a wall, the more bass is reproduced.
Choose the support for your speakers
You may place 901 speakers on a table or shelf. You may also use Bose® floor pedestals, or suspend the speakers from your ceiling. Refer to Figure 3 on page 7.
To set the speakers on a table or shelf
Although each speaker weighs 35 lb (16 kg), a suitable shelf or table must be able to support 140 lb (64 kg). Keep an adequate distance between the speakers and the rear wall as listed in “Guidelines for placement” above.
To stand the speakers on the floor
Use only Bose pedestals (PS-6) as floor stands. They are designed to provide the proper support and are available through your authorized Bose dealer. Please read the pedestal attachment instructions before making any speaker connections. Four pilot holes on the bottom of each speaker (see Figure 2, hole set A) are pre-drilled for the purpose of anchoring the speaker to the pedestal.
To suspend the speakers from the ceiling
Use these guidelines to ensure safe suspension of your 901 speakers. Three steel support chains are recommended. We cannot specify the ceiling attachments. The type to use depends on the type of building construction.
CAUTION: Do not mount on surfaces that are not sturdy enough, or that have hazards concealed behind them, such as plumbing or electrical wire. If you are unsure of your ability to install these speakers, contact a qualified professional installer.
Note: The speakers hang in an inverted position, with the terminal connections facing up. Carefully rotate the Bose logo 180˚ (so it appears right side up) before hanging the speakers.
Figure 2
Pedestal (A) and ceiling mount |
B |
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(B) pilot holes |
A |
A
A 
B 
A
B
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Figure 3
Mounting guidelines
Setting Up
Hardware needed for ceiling suspension
•Screw hooks support the chains at the ceiling. They must have at least a #10 wood thread with a shank diameter of at least 3⁄16 inch (4.5 mm). They should be long enough to go through any plasterboard and still have at least one inch (25 mm) of thread left to penetrate a wood beam. For a masonry ceiling: use only high-quality metal expansion masonry anchors that fit the thread of the ceiling hooks.
•Chain: diameter should be at least 5⁄32 inch (0.135 in. or 4 mm).
•Screw eyes with S hooks attach chains to the speaker and must have at least a #10 wood thread with a shank diameter of at least 3⁄16 inch (4.5 mm) or larger.
•All hardware (screw hooks, chain, screw eyes, S hooks) must have a manufacturer’s safe-load rating of 40 lb (18 kg) or more.
General notes on ceiling suspension
•Suspend the speakers 18 – 36 inches (45 – 91 cm) from the ceiling; do not mount them flush to the ceiling.
•To ensure an accurate stereo image, the distance from the floor should be three to ten feet (1 – 3.5 m). Be sure the speakers are no less than 18 inches (45 cm) from the floor. Do not suspend the speakers exactly halfway between the floor and ceiling.
Note: If the speakers are more than 10 feet (3 m) from the floor, we suggest you lengthen the chain supporting the rear of the speaker. By doing this you will allow the rear of the speaker, housing eight of the nine drivers, to be angled slightly downward.
Step by step procedure for ceiling suspension
1.Ceiling: Anchor at least two screw hooks into a rigid structural ceiling support (beam, joist, or masonry anchor). Drill pilot holes into wood using a 1⁄8 inch drill bit (3.7 mm), if necessary.
2.Speaker: Use the three pre-drilled pilot holes (see Figure 2 - hole set B) on the bottom of each speaker. Use a 1⁄8 inch drill bit (3.7 mm) to enlarge the pilot holes to accept the #10 thread screw eyes. Drill to a depth of 1⁄2 inch (12 mm) in the speaker cabinet. Do not drill completely through the cabinet.
Note: Contact Bose® for more information on suspending speakers. See the inside back cover for phone numbers. For details on your specific ceiling construction, consult a qualified building contractor or professional installer.
18 – 36" (45 – 91 cm) |
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4 – 12' |
18 – 48" |
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(1.2 – 3.6 m) |
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(45 – 120 cm) |
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8 – 18" |
– (20 – 45 cm) |
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4 – 12' |
18 – 48" |
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(45 – 120 cm) |
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(1.2 – 3.6 m) |
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18 – 36" (45 – 91 cm) |
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