The Bose 901 Direct/Reflecting speaker system is one of the most famous and divisive landmarks in audio history. Introduced in 1968 by Dr. Amar Bose, it had an amazing 50-year production run before being discontinued in 2017.
How They Work
Unlike standard box speakers that shoot sound straight at you, the 901 uses a unique layout to recreate the physics of a live concert hall. [1, 2]
The Drivers: Each wooden cabinet houses nine identical 4.5-inch full-range drivers.
The Split: Only one driver faces forward toward the listener, while the other eight drivers fire backward at the wall.
The Bounce: This sends 89% of the sound bouncing off your walls and leaves only 11% coming at you directly. [1, 2, 3, 4]
