Bose 901 rebuild - NO FLAMES, PLEASE!

[blakstar36]

Hello, all

I know that the subject of this speaker model is quite "flammable", but please bear with me as I explain...

I recently refoamed a set of series III 901 for a good friend who had bought them new in 1978 and was about to throw them out. Rather than do that, I offered to look at them, as I (rightly) guessed that the only thing wrong was the surrounds.

I had replaced surrounds before, so we all know this is not that hard. With the exception of 18 speakers to repair, the repair was just that - easy. After completing the pair, he was delighted to have his speakers back, and I ended up getting a free dinner at his restaurant as payment (I did this just for the experience, so didn't mind spending the $25 on the surrounds and "eating" the cost, so to speak..)

After completing them and checking them out at his place, I decided to look through EBay for a set that needed work that I could rebuild for myself. I finally won a set of series 1 that were listed as "needing work" - well, I wanted a project, so I managed to get them for $60 without the equalizer (which I could always buy later). These will be powered (eventually) by my circa 1985 Carver receiver.

One speaker is perfectly fine with good surrounds and no driver issues. The other is a different story - I have 6 of the drivers that are either completely "frozen" or are scraping on the coil. The surrounds are the original cloth, and are in good shape, considering the age.

So, my question is this: I have looked around and realized that PE has replacments, but NOT for the series I and II (turns out the series I and II used 8-Ohm drivers as opposed to the series 3 and up, which use 1 Ohm).

Does anyone know of any other dealer that may sell replacements for this series? Or, maybe, there is a replacement for them that I don't know about available at PE?

I know this is a very touchy subject between people, and I really don't want to start a flame war. If it makes any difference, I'm doing this more from an emotional attachment to this speaker (a long story for another time), and just want to be able to get these going.

Thanks all for your input...

JP
Blakstar36

[martyh]

Hey,

Look this is a DIY site, which, if I recall correctly stands for Do It Yourself. So to that end I have absolutely no problem with you asking for assistance in repairing a Bose set - we do it for Advents, Klipsh, Cervin Vega, etc., yet it seems that any mention of Bose will rile up a few around here anyway.

While I don't have an answer for you, I do hope you continue to use this site for advice and support.

I wish you well!

Marty

[Steve Henry]

Maybe...
http://trade.audioasylum.com/ca/list...-singles/27119

[lunchmoney]

Maybe...
http://trade.audioasylum.com/ca/list...-singles/27119

Weird. Why would someone go through the trouble of installing new surrounds, only to sell them for $20?

[johnnyrichards]

No PE direct replacement that I am aware of.

I don't know if these guys have exactly what you need, but they might be able to point you in the right direction.

[blakstar36]

Hey,

Look this is a DIY site, which, if I recall correctly stands for Do It Yourself. So to that end I have absolutely no problem with you asking for assistance in repairing a Bose set - we do it for Advents, Klipsh, Cervin Vega, etc., yet it seems that any mention of Bose will rile up a few around here anyway.

While I don't have an answer for you, I do hope you continue to use this site for advice and support.

I wish you well!

Marty

Thanks, Marty - I wrote the subject in bold hoping that this posting wouldn't lead to the usual love/hate Bose threads that seem to happen everywhere else.

JP
Blakstar36

[blakstar36]

Weird. Why would someone go through the trouble of installing new surrounds, only to sell them for $20?

I agree - I found that site when looking, as well, but it seems a little "shady".

[Steve Henry]

http://cgi.ebay.com/BOSE-901-REPLACE...#ht_500wt_1156

[Sydney]

Bose has a support forum:
http://bose.infopop.cc/eve/forums/a/frm/f/76010377

[Paul Carmody]

http://www.parts-express.com/pe/show...number=290-922

[rhubarb9999]

Once you get the drivers fixed, ditch the noisy Bose EQ and replace it with something like the Behringer DSP1124. Build your own curves. If you look around the net, you can find the actual boost/cuts for the Bose EQ and go from there.

http://gainclone.com/Karlson/index.php?topic=57.0

[blakstar36]

http://www.parts-express.com/pe/show...number=290-922

Hey, Paul

Those are for series III and up. The series I and II used 8 ohm speakers with 4 mounting holes.

Thanks, though....

JP
Blakstar36

[blakstar36]

Once you get the drivers fixed, ditch the noisy Bose EQ and replace it with something like the Behringer DSP1124. Build your own curves. If you look around the net, you can find the actual boost/cuts for the Bose EQ and go from there.

http://gainclone.com/Karlson/index.php?topic=57.0

Thanks, I'll take a look at that once I get these guys going...

[jim85iroc]

This place here may be an option as well:

http://www.newfoam.com/kits.asp

Their website looks sketchy, but this is a B&M store in Rochester NY that I've been to many times. The owner is highly knowledgable and I've purchased surrounds from him in the past. He may be a good resource for getting what you need.

[ligs]

I refoamed all 18 of series 3 Bose 901 drivers a while back. Once you learned the trick( I used cloth pins for centering the vc, 4 for each driver) it was relatively straightforward. Resurrounding drivers may help those drivers that have scraping vc but the stuck ones may be problematic. I have seen vintage speakers with magnet shifting out of allignment. In this case you have to buy new ones or resurround old ones. If I were to rebuild another pair of 901 I would choose series 3 or higher because the newer ones are more efficient and use less power. Series 1 and 2 are sealed the newer ones are vented.

[dwigle]

You may be better off looking for a series III set with EQ on ebay with drivers in better condition. You may spend a couple hundred on new drivers.

I bought a pair of series III in near mint condition for $200. I hung them in the corners of the patio by the pool 4 years ago and they're still going strong.

[carlspeak]

Check the Bose forum over at www.classicspeakerpages.net discussion groups. There's a guy there who calls himself soundminded. He's a brilliant audio engineer who's modded his Bose system very nicely. He's also helpful. Check the last few posts.

[philiparcario]

I read the newest posts of the coner dude my guess is he is real I would contact him and ask for a price for 9 8ohm pieces. I would ask if you could buy 3 at a time since you are short of cash. his posts are below and date back for years. tell him you get paid every 2 weeks.

If he says he will sell you 3 at a time 2 weeks apart. send him payment for the first 3 and when you get them and they are good buy the next three.



http://db.audioasylum.com/cgi/search...sortOrder=DESC



http://trade.audioasylum.com/ca/list...es/27119#email

[AMC]

Have you contacted Bose about getting them re-coned at the factory? Some manufactures will do this relatively cheap.

[ligs]

Check the Bose forum over at www.classicspeakerpages.net discussion groups. There's a guy there who calls himself soundminded. He's a brilliant audio engineer who's modded his Bose system very nicely. He's also helpful. Check the last few posts.

Carl,

Can you please provide the link to this guy. I don't have any Bose 901 right now(sold mine) but there are few things about the drivers which intrigue me. 1. Each driver uses a rolled-up paper cone like that in Yamaha 10 NS you can clearly see the straight seam . 2. s-like foam surrounds. 3. soild-core wiring for all drivers. 4. 91.5 db sensitivity.