Bose 901 Direct/Reflecting Speaker System - Walnut Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I owned a pair of 901s in the early 80s, they are excellent speakers in term of dynamics and their ability to fill a room with sound. Back then I used Phase Linear equipment to drive them. Phase Linear was designed by Bob Carver and were considered entry level high end at the time. Paired up with the 901s they produce some of my best memories of music. As I grew older and purchased a home with an open floor plan their limitations started to become more apparent. These speakers use reflected sound waves to produce a wide sound stage and excellent imaging, in an open area this effect is loss and you experience what others have called no highs or lows. The equalizer can compensate for some of this but not entirely. My advice is to carefully consider where you will use these speakers and if they fit the environment they can sound spectacular. They are not everyones cup of tea but they just may be yours.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Bose 901 Direct/Reflecting Speaker System - Walnut

The introduction of the revolutionary Bose 901 speakers in 1968 redefined the phrase high fidelity. For the first time, a speaker was capable of reproducing music with much of the impact, clarity and spaciousness of a live performance. Today's 901 speakers incorporate some 350 enhancements over the acclaimed original. 901 speakers work by reflecting most of the sound off walls and other flat surfaces, instead of aiming all the sound toward you, as conventional speakers do. With Direct/Reflecting speaker technology, anything you listen tofrom the latest DVD audio to your favorite vintage recordsacquires lifelike realism, because the speakers reproduce the natural concert hall balance of direct and reflected sound. The result is what we call Stereo Everywhere speaker performancestereo performance that is clear and lifelike everywhere in the room, instead of in just one "sweet spot." You'll experience balanced sound throughout the listening environment, no matter where you sit or stand. Just as you enjoy beautiful music reproduction from these speakers, you can also experience thrilling home theater effects from your home theater components. These speakers are an appropriate choice for use with your surround sound receiver, and can be used in conjunction with other Bose home theater speaker options.

Click here for more information about Bose 901 Direct/Reflecting Speaker System - Walnut

Polk Audio TSi200 Bookshelf Speakers (Pair, Cherry) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Hard to believe these are "bookshelf" speakers., February 12, 2009
By Dr John Ficarro "Dr John" (Hollywood, SC USA) - See all my reviews
I decided to upgrade from my $400 range Pioneer home theater 5.1 package. At the moment I have a Yamaha RX-V663 receiver and a pair of cherry TSi 200s. With just these two speakers, the listening experience far exceeds what you here from the typical $300-$600 complete home theater packages you would typically find at Best Buy or Costco. Although I have the rest of my sytem on order, I could be happy if I only had these speakers. If you are a music lover, these will keep you happy.
That said, I should point out that my taste in music leans toward all things acoustic. Listening to a range of music from bluegrass to string quartets to full symphony, these have great clarity and you can hear every instrumen. Drum sounds are tight and even without a subwoffer, the mid-range / bass sounds really good. And vocals (think Nora Jones, Alison Krauss, or the gravelly voice of Dave Von Ronk), are handled with ease.
And if you like the look of speakers with the grille removed, get the cherry. It certainly looks like real wood veneer and the construction just oozes a look of quality.
The sky is the limit with speakers, but at $300 for the pair, these will make your ears as happy as speakers costing a lot more. These have very clear treble, I didn't notice any boominess in the midrange, and bass response was nice and tight. Based on these speakers, I expect that movies with effects should be amazing when the rest of the speakers arrive.


Click Here to see more reviews about: Polk Audio TSi200 Bookshelf Speakers (Pair, Cherry)

The Polk Audio TSi200 bookshelf speaker is the best performing bookshelf speaker in the TSi series; great for use where high quality audio is needed. The dual 5.25-inch mid-bass produce rich and warm sounding making your music and movies sound their best. The new TSi Series is a quality-built, affordable line of high performance loudspeakers for music and home theater. The TSi Series boasts a stylish look that complements today\'s flat screen technology, with wood grain finishes, piano black top plates and pewter trim rings. Built for value and sound quality, the TSi Series is a great introduction to high performance sound.

Get 14% OFF

Click here for more information about Polk Audio TSi200 Bookshelf Speakers (Pair, Cherry)

Bose VCS-10 Center Channel - Speaker, home theater sound for component systems - Silver Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I have owned the Bose VCS10 Center Channel for the past 3 years and have learned to live with it's sonic peculiarities and enjoy it's more positive aspects. I am one who finds the VCS10 actually better for listening to music than movie dialogue. I had 2 generations Bose 301's as front speakers (Series V) and surrounds (Series IV) respectively and was interested in maintain the "natural sound" characteristics for which Bose is well known. I must say that the VCS10 is lacking in lower range bass but not to a point of exceptional distraction. I do like the lack of piercing highs which the 2.5" drivers shy away from producing.
I also approve of the VCS10's styling and low profile on top on my CRT television set.
Strengths:
Low profile
Aesthetically pleasing
No piercing high notes
Does not draw undue attention to itself
Weaknesses:
Power Hungery Drivers
Often Muffled Dialog in Home Theater Mode
Hard to balance with rest of home theater speakers
Could use more bass!!!
Mid bass sounds "punchy" and at times and distorted when used for home theater music passages, eg. Titanic 1997 Irish Music by Galiec Storm in DTS 6.1

Click Here to see more reviews about: Bose VCS-10 Center Channel - Speaker, home theater sound for component systems - Silver

Special effects add excitement to the home theater experience, but the dialogue in a great movie is just as important. While your front and rear speakers process action and effects, the VCS-10 center channel works with your surround sound receiver to produce dialogue with rich, natural tones that seem to come directly from the screen. Each phrase can be lifelike and clear, so you dont miss a word. The VCS-10 center channel speaker is designed to complement your TV or entertainment center. Its patented Compound Loaded® drivers deliver clear, cinema-like dialogue. And Articulated Array® speaker design locks dialogue on screen and provides a large consistent sound field for a cinema-like experience. The VCS-10 center channel speaker features slim, sleek dimensions that complement your television or entertainment center. Picture distortion is prevented by the VCS-10 center channel speakers magnetic shielding. This center channel speaker is an appropriate choice for upgrading your component home theater system one piece at a time.

Get 12% OFF

Click here for more information about Bose VCS-10 Center Channel - Speaker, home theater sound for component systems - Silver

Polk Audio SurroundBar360° DVD Home Theater System (Black) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Observations
Pros: Built like a tank
Simple setup
Cool factor of 10
Cons:
Should have blue ray at this price point.
Frankly I think it needs a subwoofer, Tried it for a few days with a Polk subwoofer and without. Yes it sounds decent without a sub, but only decent, not great. I have yet to hear anything even close to 5.1 or any type of surround. Upon contacting Polk, I was advised that this bar was NOT (unlike the soundbar series) designed to be used above the tv only below with the optimal placement directly in the front of the tv. Frankly the soundbar sitting in front of a 56 inch tv looks horrible, under it it looks built in. Polk indicating that could affect the sound field. Well thats just cute, the whole POINT of this system was it was supposed to give you the 5.1 effect regardless of placement or your position in the room!
It is a nice system, could use a tad more volume, not amazing with the surround, even though the wide open setup I heard at best buy was nothing short of amazing, but in my 12 X 12 living room, far less than spectacular.
Finally save your money, at this price point the 360 is not ready for prime time. If you are looking for solid tight sound in a high end soundbar this is it. If you are expecting the results Polk claims you will be badly disappointed.My old 5.1 theater in a box $300.00 system sounded a tad better frankly.UPDATE:
After owning this a few months I must say it is a complete waste of money.
There simply is no separation in the soundfield regardless of the input signal.
I have tweaked this system to no end with lackluster results.
For a grand there is a endless amount of equipment that you could purchase that would put this system to shame.
Polk missed on this one, if your heart is set on one, wait a while as the price is certain to go down due to the LARGE amount of people disappointed in this system.
This is nothing more than a fancy expensive 2.1 system. Save your money.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Polk Audio SurroundBar360° DVD Home Theater System (Black)

Polk Audio SurroundBar 360-degree DVD Theater is a complete home entertainment system. It incorporates the enveloping sonic benefits of our SurroundBar SDA technology and our patented PowerPort bass venting technology with the convenience of a control console that is a DVD/CD player, amplifier, and an AM/FM radio. The SurroundBar 360-degree has sleek, contemporary design and simple, single-cable speaker hookup which makes it ideal for anyone who wants big, rich surround sound home entertainment without any of the hookup hassles of multiple speakers and wires. The SurroundBar 360-degree DVD Theater employs 8 drivers. A patented combination of signal processing and acoustical geometry produces the vivid three dimensional surround field that exists on the original recording. What you hear is essentially the same as if sounds were actually coming from all around and behind you.

Get 46% OFF

Click here for more information about Polk Audio SurroundBar360° DVD Home Theater System (Black)