quote:

Originally posted by epdarks Some of the sickest home setups in the "post your setup" thread are rocking the 301s...

that doesn't make them sound any better.

Do you have any personal experience with the 301s? If so please speak up.

I remember a seasoned DJ in our forum discussing the 301s as perfect monitors. Sorry I cannot remember the nick.

I have heard the 301s and they are pretty solid little units. Very loud.

The status quo on this forum is professional studio monitors, I get that... I'm just suggesting an cheaper alternative.

I'm not sure what makes him say that. Honestly, they could sound freaking pristine and they're still unsuitable for a bedroom DJ setup.



The midbass and tweeter don't even radiate on the same plane... so it's impossible to direct the speaker at you. The whole direct/reflected concept is completely different than what you want for a DJ setup. If you were really doing things properly, you'd put sound dampening material on the walls to REDUCE reflections... not buy speakers designed to reflect off the walls.

The concept is great... if you are not too close to the speaker and want to hear a "full room" sound... not what you want for mixing.

Bose also doesn't provide ANY frequency response data. 98% of speakers that lack frequency response data have twisted response across the frequency band. This is confirmed at http://www.positive-feedback.com/Issue17/bose301.htm

The typical consumer audio nightmare...

quote:

They have a prominent, artificially sweetened midrange that is undeniably appealing on vocals, jazz, and acoustic strings. The problem lies in how Bose achieved those characteristics—they rolled off the highs, goosed the upper midbass, and engineered the high-frequency driver enclosures for wide dispersion rather than phase coherence and imaging.

Yeah, I figured that was the eventual fate of the thread...

That said, 99% of listeners or DJs cannot relate to what you posted (I'm one of them).

Again, I'm offering the guy some options. I don't have the technical knowledge to attempt to make a counter argument, so I won't try. I've fallen in love with my $50 setup... I couldn't be happier... just trying to pass the love along. I thought for once we could have a "speaker" conversation, as the word is now unholy on this forum, but alas, the "monitors" dominate the thread.

I'm going to guess 60% of the people here understand acoustics

Seriously though, if you can be happy with a $50 setup, more power to you! I wish my taste in sound was that inexpensive

Even if the guy had the technical knowledge to retort he wouldn't because there is nothing anyone can say to defend Bose.

I love my beater setup which is a Bob Carver 1.5t running an old pair of Sansui 12" cabs, but buying that setup on the used market will set you back at least $600. Amazingly loud PA setup with great sound quality, but still they don't hold a candle to midrange studio monitors for bedroom use. They stay in the closet most of the time. And the amp leaks DC voltage intermittently when not under a musical load, so that's annoying.

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quote:

Originally posted by epdarks Do you have any personal experience with the 301s? If so please speak up. I remember a seasoned DJ in our forum discussing the 301s as perfect monitors. Sorry I cannot remember the nick. I have heard the 301s and they are pretty solid little units. Very loud. The status quo on this forum is professional studio monitors, I get that... I'm just suggesting an cheaper alternative.

yes.

they aren't.

volume doesn't determine quality. In this case, anything but. Bose gears all their equipment towards more defined mids, because they're designed for movies & vocals. People hear loud voices & overdone low bass & think it sounds good, because it's loud. They're cheaply made, and even though the company puts 100% of its 'profit' into R&D, it's R&D for home theater simulation--not studio use. Even as a home theater set-up, their units blow unless you have a 10x10 room with carpet, and have never heard anything else.

Those 301s aren't necessarily cheap. You can put in another hundred bucks or so and get yourself some pretty damn good monitors, even at regular retail outlets.

I don't own a pair of 301s, and I'm sure you guys are right, they are prob garbage. I'm fully aware of the rest of the Bose lineup and how nonsense they are.

The whole 5 inch monitor thing just doesn't appeal to me. There's no warmth in the sound (intended that way I know). No bass. I mean, where's the fun? Knowing you have a flat range? Knowing you paid huge money for speakers that are fit for Eric Prydz' production studio? Knowing you are one of few elite audiophiles? I'm not convinced... I just don't see a need for these things in every single home setup, as this forum suggests every time this thread pops up.

I don't know what you're listening to but I think my RP5s have plenty of bass. Maybe a little too much. I can hear them on the other side of my house and I've got like 4000 sqft.

___________________
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Kill the women. Eat the children.
It's just one of those days where you want to bend over everyone you know and kiss their ass goodbye with a big sideways boot.

Latest Mix

I love my pair of Tapco S8. They're like Mackie HR824s at 1/2 the price

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quote:

Originally posted by epdarks The whole 5 inch monitor thing just doesn't appeal to me. There's no warmth in the sound (intended that way I know).

Depends on the music. Most well-produced dance music sounds pretty sweet on flat speakers... especially a nice vinyl cut

quote:

No bass.

Rule one of a quality audio setup: expect bass? get a sub. high pass your mains. everything is happier and cleaner.

quote:

I mean, where's the fun?

Hearing what your doing on the decks without coloring, with responsive clarity? that's fun to me.

quote:

Knowing you are one of few elite audiophiles?

"elite audiophiles" generally go with tube gear and colored speakers that accentuate the type of music they listen to, etc. Audiophile and pro audio are very different worlds, to be honest. Honestly I laugh so hard at audiophiles it hurts... buncha flamers.