Customer Reviews

Bose 161 Speaker System (White) - ideal for stereo or home theater use

5 star:		(45)
4 star:		(18)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

We bought several pairs of these 161 speakers when they were first introduced a little over a year ago. We use one pair for the surround speakers in our theater system, and a pair in each of the other rooms of our home.

Although we are longtime Bose fans, we decided to audition these in an audio store as we had been disappointed in a Bose center channel speaker we had purchased previously, (based on reputation, we didn't listen first!). We were favorbly impressed in the store and have been very pleased with them in our home. Regardless of room decor, the speakers produce clean, stereo sound. (Its possible to identify orchestral instruments and their location!)

These speakers are very linear above 80-90Hz, to the audible limits. They drop off rapidly below about 80Hz. Bass frequencies are adequately reproduced for orchestral music but will need to be augmented for heavy bass or special cinematic effects. (sub-woofer)

These speakers are intended to be wall mounted and are easily installed with the included brackets. They do not sit well on a shelf!

I'm not usually a huge Bose afficianado, but I use a pair of Bose 161 speakers as my rear surround speakers and they're great! I have much larger speakers for my L, R and center - and the 161s compliment them perfectly. I can hear very detailed sound coming from them - perfect for effects in movies.

I'm not sure I'd use these as my primary speakers in my living room, but for surround applications, or small stereo needs, they fit the bill perfectly. They're attractive, solidly built, and easily mount to walls using the included wall brackets.

The sport of Bose bashing aside, keep in mind these are relatively small enclosures with two 2.5 inch drivers that can crate a rear sound stage much larger than their size might suggest, and can do so without being overly fussy about placement. There always seems to be someone out there who sets their surround settings to "large", pumps up the bass, then complains that two 2.5 inch drivers in small vented plastic enclosures "have no lows", and that the sound is distorted. Neither the VCS 10 center channel or the 161s will play ear-busting levels -- the trade off of small drivers in small enclosures, and the theatre surround settings and bass management must be set accordingly. Doing this, the Bose 161s (especially when paired with the VCS 10) can produce clear focused dialog and convincing surround effects in smaller rooms. Can you do "better"? Sure, larger enclosures, with bigger drivers can play louder and lower but that doesn't mean the Bose don't deserve consideration on the basis of good performance given their style and size. If you can throw a little money at the issue and want really exceptional performance from relatively small speaker enclosures, consider the Legacy Audio Victoria speaker system with a very good multi channel theatre amp and separate processor like those offered by Adcom or Parasound.

DO NOT listen to the 2 reviews giving these speakers a 1 rating. As you can see they aren't directed to this product, meaning those 2 dudes who claim to know audio greatly, haven't even tested these out. They say Bose is based on 1960 technologies and use cheap materials, but then tell me why people who have owned Bose speakers for over 25 years still have them and work like new? Tell me also why my 3 year old Bose Mediamates, my over 1 year old Bose Quietcomfort headphones, my less than 3 months old Bose Wave Music System, my less than 8 months old Bose Freestyle and Bose Companion 3, all sound like new and perform like new, even after I've pushed them way further than what they are meant to do with my A/V receiver. Also tell me if they use "cheap untreated paper" for their drivers, why did I look inside my Bose Freestyle's speaker and found an almost plastic material on the drivers? And if their sound is sooo old from the 60s, why does it sound so rich, full, clear, crisp, lifelike and bassy?

Outside of that, these speakers are great and VERY cheap in price. Anyone who says these should be any cheaper is insane. They do a heck of a job, and Ive tested them a couple of times in many stores. The only reason I havent bought them yet is because I dont have enough money to also buy the Bose 601 Towers, and the Bose VCS-10 Center Channel Speaker. For now I'll keep my Bose Freestyle, which is really a 2.1 but sounds just as if it was a 5.1 speaker setup. Also for the bass, I understand youd like more bass, but that is a subwoofer's job. These have nice and enough bass for their purpose and size. Anyway, you can't expect much bass at all from the Rear Channels, the bass is mainly on the Center, Left and Right channels. Remember Bose CLEARLY says these aren't main/front speakers, they are surround/rear speakers. You can use them as main ones but make sure to have a sub if you want deep vibrating bass, or get other Bose speakers such as the 301s. Bose, the best in sound.

If you have plenty of bass these speakers will work on either the front or rear channels. I have them on both the front and rear channels and have a 10" JBL powered sub and a Klipsch center channel and I am very happy listening to music or watching a movie or t.v. My room has a tile floor and is 17ft.X20ft. and the receiver is the 5.1 channel Yamaha HTR-5440 with only 65W RMS and there is plenty of volume (I only turn it up 1/4 of the way) and bass (sub volume is 3/4 of the way up).

These speakers are really intended for use as surround speakers. I recently upgraded my 5.1 receiver to an Onkyo 7.1 with 100 watts per channel. I've been using Klipsch speakers L/R and Center and Boston for the side surround in my existing set-up. My home theater room is not large, about 13 by 20. I thought it would be nice to add the two rear speakers to my existing surround set-up. I am a professional musician and a movie buff. Quality as well as versatility are both critical for my listening. My son (also a musician) already uses Bose 161s for his surround set-up and recommended them. I have not been disappointed. I tested them with some of my THX encoded DVDs and as rear channel speakers they fit in seamlessly.

I can't testify to the performance of these speakers as primary speakers. Some people have used them this way with apparent success, but Bose really did intend these as surround speakers and for those on a budget or dealing with limited space they are ideal for the intended purpose. As surround speakers I rate them 5 stars.

Ok to all the "audio buffs" that have written reviews on this proudct one word "Cheap".

Ok you take a 2.5" main speaker and expect true bass?!? What planet are you living on?

I purchaced these speakers to replace my old JBL surrounds that did the exact same job! Back up the other speakers as a rear surround. The clarity is surpassed by brands like Harmon Kardon and Pioneer Elite, but dont expect to shell out only 150$ for a pair of those. They run around six to seven hundered dollars per speaker!

First you cannot buy a speaker to do a job it was not intended to do. The speaker has a true sound that makes you feel warm and cosy. At 100W peak RMS you can turn it up and hear the high end just sing!

If you want Bass get a subwoofer, or a pair of mains with a couple of big woofers. Or do like I do and get both :) But if your looking for a quality proudct that will last and give you a clear tone and low distortion(like none) then get these speakers.

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. 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.

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. 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"? Of course no!!! 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? Or is necessary buying more expensive sound systems? 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. Just try with the Bose 161 and you'll find high fidelity sounds in the mid-high frequencies, no more.

I'm just amazed at how these speakers fill the room with sound. Both classical and hip hop sound great. I have them hooked up with a subwoofer which really makes them great.

I am convinced that the reviewers calling these "cheap" or "tinny" sounding have never listened to them.

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. 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. We are adding a third pair in the dining room and a 4th on the porch.


Well made wall mounts as well.