One of the most uniquely designed stereo loudspeakers and the way it delivers music to our ears is so different from traditional speakers. The Bose 901 music presentation has a scale that belies its size and easily impresses us with its spacious soundstage. It is no wonder the 901 stereo speakers have garnered so many fans over the years, all thanks to their unique stereo sound reproduction.
The large and expansive soundstage is one of Bose 901 strong points, the bass performance is rather exciting as well. The low ends have weight and punch but the powerful performance mainly comes from the midbass region. We do find the bass reproduction is more than ample for most music genres though. Still, as punchy as the midbass response is when it comes to subsonic bass delivery, the Bose 901 does start to show its limitation. This is as expected from most loudspeakers and if you want speakers with full-range sound reproduction, they are going to cost you a lot.
More Details at Amazon – Bose R 901 Series VI – Walnut
Not everyone has a treasure chest of gold who can afford to buy a pair of expensive full-range speakers and fortunately for folks like us, we can choose to integrate an active subwoofer into our sound system. This is certainly a more affordable way to get full-range sound reproduction from your stereo setup and you can still keep using your Bose 901 speakers. We are planning to share with you a list of the best subwoofers which you can pick and match with your Bose 901. Before you start checking out the list, you should finalize your subwoofer requirements first as they will influence your choice.
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Your Subwoofer Requirements
As the Bose 901 is already proficient in delivering that visceral midbass punch, we should not be looking at midbass modules unless you want even more impact and slam. We should be looking at subwoofers efficient in delivering subterranean bass frequencies to complement the Bose 901 speakers. If you are interested in bass output and volume, you might want to go for subwoofers with the ported cabinet design. If you prefer accuracy and tight bass control, sealed cabinet subwoofers would be a better choice.
You should also go with a sealed cabinet subwoofer if you mainly listen to music. For listeners who mainly watch movies or are bass fanatics, ported subwoofers will be a better option due to their higher bass output. You might want to work out a comfortable amount you are willing to use and invest in an active sub. This will help set a price requirement and filter out subwoofers that exceed your budget. The higher your budget, the more subwoofer choices you can choose from so you might want to save up first if currently, you are facing monetary constraints.
A high budget also means you can aim for a larger and more powerful subwoofer. This is important if you have a large listening room as small subwoofers are not ideal choices. You should only choose compact size subwoofers if you have limited available space. Different subwoofer models have their own frequency range and you might want to set a requirement of how deep you need the sub to reach down into the bass extension. For instance, you require a subwoofer capable of reaching down to 20Hz. A powered subwoofer will take up a permanent spot in your home, you might want to talk to your loved ones to see if they are okay with it. Please list out more subwoofer requirements on your own and when you are ready, kindly check out the best matching subwoofers below.
Best Subwoofers to partner with Bose 901 Speakers
Rythmik Audio F12SE is an exceptional sealed subwoofer to go for and match with your Bose 901 stereo speakers. This award-winning subwoofer is made for audiophiles who prefer bass quality over quantity and will be great for music playbacks. The bass performance is articulate, fast, and agile. The Rythmik Audio F12SE is also capable of going below 20Hz bass extension and uses a Class AB amplifier (370W RMS power). If listening to music is your main entertainment then the F12SE will be a fantastic subwoofer partner for you.
SVS SB-1000 Pro is another amazing sealed subwoofer and has a friendlier price tag than the Rythmik Audio F12SE. It is an ideal subwoofer partner for listeners who mainly use Bose 901 speakers for music playbacks and has a frequency response of 20Hz-270Hz (+/-3dB) which is enough for most music genres. The amplifier is really powerful for an entry-level sealed subwoofer and it could go up to 820+ Watts (Peak). The SB-1000 Pro’s agile and tight bass performance will match well with your Bose 901.
More Details at Amazon – SVS SB-1000 Pro Sealed Subwoofer
The Klipsch R-12SW is one of the best ported subwoofers to match with the Bose 901 speakers especially if you have a tight budget. It is extremely highly rated and has garnered plenty of praise from its satisfied users. This is a 12″ ported subwoofer and has a dynamic power of up to 400 Watts. The overall bass performance of the Klipsch R-12SW is cleanly delivered and it is tightly controlled as well. The level of bass performance we are getting from this ported sub is well worth every single penny invested.
More Information at Amazon – Klipsch R-12SW Subwoofer
For listeners who prefer ported subwoofer but want more bass accuracy and tighter control, then you might want to take a look at Yamaha HS8S. This is a studio subwoofer made for professionals who require precise bass responses for their work. Yamaha HS8S is agile and can cleanly deliver subsonic bass frequencies with accuracy. It only has an 8″ bass driver but is still able to produce very deep bass frequencies. The compact size is ideal for tight spaces and definitely an excellent choice for your Bose 901 stereo speakers.
More Information at Amazon – Yamaha HS8S Studio Subwoofer
If you want exciting bass performance without breaking the bank, the SVS PB-1000 Pro will be an amazing choice for you. This is a powerful 12″ ported subwoofer that uses a Sledge STA-325D amplifier, providing it with 325 Watts RMS and up to 820+ Watts of Peak power. It is capable of delivering subterranean bass frequencies of down to 17Hz. The bass output and impact of the PB-1000 Pro will match well with the Bose 901 bass performance, adding more weight and punch. The rumbling of the subterranean bass frequencies will provide even more excitement during movie playbacks as well.
More Details at Amazon – SVS PB-1000 Pro Ported Subwoofer
The Polk Audio PSW10 is one of the best budget subwoofers and its price point is very friendly to our wallets. PSW10 is incredibly highly rated and will be a worthy subwoofer partner for your Bose 901 speakers. It has a 10″ bass driver and is been powered with up to 100 Watts of peak power. Polk Audio PSW10 will be an excellent budget subwoofer for music playbacks due to its bass accuracy and control. It really has an impressive bass performance for the money and at this price point, we have nothing to complain about.
More Information at Amazon – Polk Audio PSW10 10″ Powered Subwoofer
To Sum It Up
We highly suggest choosing a subwoofer that can produce subterranean bass frequencies of down to 20Hz and below with prominence since the Bose 901 speakers are lacking in this area. Still, you might want to hear them out first before making your final decision. The subwoofers shown here are well worth your time to hear them out and you should arrange to audition them inside your own home together with the Bose 901 speakers.
