Bose 901 DIRECT REFLECTING SPEAKERS User Manual
The Bose® 901® Series VI Direct/Reflecting® Speaker System
Owner’ s Guide
Safety Information
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.
WARNING:
To reduce the risk of fire or electric shock, do not expose the system to rain or
moisture.
CAUTION
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.
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.
For your records
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.
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.
2
©2001 Bose Corporation. All rights reserved. Bose, Acoustimass, Lifestyle, Personal and Wave are
registered trademarks of Bose Corporation.
Where to find…
Contents
Contents
Where to find…............................................................................................................. 3
Warranty period ............................................................................................................ 3
Customer service.......................................................................................................... 3
Setting Up
Before you begin........................................................................................................... 4
Unpacking the cartons.................................................................................................. 4
System compatibility ....................................................................................................5
Choose the support for your speakers .........................................................................6
Choosing the location for your speakers ...................................................................... 6
Speaker connections ....................................................................................................8
Equalizer connections................................................................................................... 9
Testing the speakers and equalizer ............................................................................12
Using other equipment ...............................................................................................13
Using your 901® Series VI speaker system
Playing your speakers................................................................................................. 14
Adjusting the sound .................................................................................................... 15
Equalizer compatibility................................................................................................ 16
Connecting additional speakers ................................................................................. 16
Maintaining Your 901 speaker system
Cleaning your speakers .............................................................................................. 17
Troubleshooting .......................................................................................................... 17
Product Information
Technical information.................................................................................................. 18
Accessories.................................................................................................................18
Bose Corporation .....................................................................................inside back cover
Warranty period
Customer service
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.
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.
3
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:
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:
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:
avoid injury.
WARNING:
children.
You must have a Bose 901 active equalizer for a complete 901 speaker system.
Now is a good time to record the serial numbers of each speaker and the active
Each speaker carton weighs over 35 lb (16 kg). Use good lifting practice to
To avoid danger of suffocation, keep the plastic bags out of the reach of
Figure 1
What comes in the three
cartons:
• T wo 901 speakers
• One 901 active equalizer
• T wo equalizer cables
4
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 r eceiver, 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.
Setting Up
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).
5
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:
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:
Carefully rotate the Bose logo 180˚ (so it appears right side up) befor e hanging the speakers.
Do not mount on surfaces that are not sturdy enough, or that have hazards
The speakers hang in an inverted position, with the terminal connections facing up.
Figure 2
Pedestal (A) and ceiling mount
(B) pilot holes
6
B
A
A
A
B
A
B
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