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A chart with frequency response would help a lot but I was not able to find it. After that I had to adjust the whole equalizer range (by ear) to get a balanced sound. Anyway, it sounds great, clear. I was a bit disappointed with the low bass level. I have to boost low frequencies about 8 dB to get them to the proper level.
We have 2 pair we have been using for 5 years in a 23'x16' LR and 28'x14' kitchen and they still sound like new. I am convinced that the reviewers calling these "cheap" or "tinny" sounding have never listened to them. Well made wall mounts as well. We are adding a third pair in the dining room and a 4th on the porch. If you want unabtrusive speakers to provide clean and spacious background music with a decent base response these are perfect (Eagles, Carley Simon, Joni Mitchel, Miles Davis etc). If you want speakers to play at volumes you need to shout over and rattle the fillings out of your teeth (Zep, AC/DC, Sabbath), look elsewhere.These are perfect if mostly used for providing background mood music in rooms when entertaining, such as for the holidays.
I have my speakers laying on their sides (bookshelf style) and the Bose provided rubber feet to stabilize the speakers were missing from the package. The Bose 161s do a very good job as surround speakers for (in my case) a typical sized family room. I called Bose customer service, and they very quickly and politely handled my call, and sent the rubber feet, express mail at no charge. Without the feet, the speakers rock from side to side. I've used them for several weeks now as side surround speakers. In my setup all of the bass is directed to the two large front speakers and the subwoofer, so the 161s just need to provide clear neutral sounding support - which they do very well.My order was fulfilled by JR Music (through Amazon) and the speakers were shipped and arrived in a few days with no delays.These are odd shaped speakers with compound curves.
To me, Bose are one of the State-of-Art brands who are specialized in speakers for mids and high frequencies with a very reliable wide of clear, shiny and high fidelity sounds, but I must accept Bose haven't a very reliable subwoofer's line 'cause I've heard most of those subs and it can't reach the best in deep and power for bass sounds, there are just the perfect company for the small boxes of tweeters and mids but no for truly bass power, neither for home theater experiences specially for that action movies with tons of explotions everywhere.Back for 161 speakers, I bought them for replacing in my home theater system my old front Technics towers that were more specialized in mids and mid-bass sounds, in the moment of proof the 161 I was totally amazed. Are many people expecting to find in the Bose line some speakers who came with gold, diamonds and very finest bringing from the Amazon jungle wood boxes.
I've heard Harman Kardon, JBL, Jamo, Infinity, Polk Audio and more speaker brands and Bose is in the same quality level, including MK and Boston Acoustics that are my other speaker brands.So if you want quality for the correct price, just go for it but, If you are expecting better sound and high fidelity technology for a cheapest price belief me, I can't recommend nothing. Or is necessary buying more expensive sound systems.
I've read some critisism for the Bose 161 speakers at the moment when the reviewers are saying they can't have enought bass sound, and the same I'm reading for those that are writting about the "cheapper" components for Bose brand with its expensive prices.Let's start. Of course no.
Just try with the Bose 161 and you'll find high fidelity sounds in the mid-high frequencies, no more. The Bose 161 are just surround speakers, that is the fact and don't search or try to find any kind of deeper bass frequency expecting a BOOM inside them, these little boxes have inside two 2 1/2" tweeters and so in that way it makes a very firm and strong mid frequency.
For first time I've heard the perfect complement for my other speakers (I have two MK rear surrounds, one Boston Acoustics for center and a 12" Sony sub that shakes the room with very deep and powerful bass as I ever expect), in my Technics amp I could make the proof for movies and music and I'm very happy to say, the 5.1 Dolby Digital and DTS sounds never sounded better than ever, and for music I proved with the Esquivel CD "Latin-Esque" (that comes with a large variety of stereo and cuadraphonic changes) and I'm absolutely pleased with the 161 Bose boxes, now I can enjoy incredible high fidelity sound in home without innecesary high volume and any kind of noise, just the necessary to hear the absolute one.Then, is this technology that can make the Bose 161 sounds in that way "cheap".
These would be well served as rear speaking in a 5.1 system or in small rooms where loud volumes are not needed.The speakers were a bit smaller than I expected. They are clean, but not loud enough for our large training room full of people. The included brackets were easy to use and are plenty stable.Overall I am pleased with the quality of the sound of these speakers. We use these in a professioanl training environment, matched to an 80 watt HK amp. They are the main speakers.
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