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Bose 161 Speaker System (Black) - ideal for stereo or home theater use | 
 enlarge | Brand: Bose
Category: CE
List Price: $158.00
Buy Used: $125.00
You Save: $33.00 (21%)
New (10) from $147.99
Avg. Customer Rating:  28 reviews
Color: Black
Media: Electronics
Autographed: No
Memorabilia: No
Shipping Weight (lbs): 10
Dimensions (in): 8 x 25 x 7
nv: Each speaker: 4 1/8"H x 11"W x 5"D (10.6 x 28 x 12.7 cm) 3 1/4 lbs. (1.5kg)
Warranty: 1 year warranty
MPN: 161BK
Model: 161
UPC: 017817282994
EAN: 0017817282994
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Features:
| • | Versatile speakers for music and movies | | • | Use in bookshelf or wall-mount applications | | • | Articulated Array speaker design |
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| Editorial Reviews:
Product Description
Beneath the sleek exterior of each 161 speaker resides the technology that makes these speakers so versatile. Two proprietary Twiddler drivers in each enclosure help the 161 speaker rival speakers of much larger size. Articulated Array speaker design positions those drivers to provide a large, consistent sound field so you can enjoy Stereo Everywhere speaker performance from almost anywhere in the room. In your dorm, office or living room, youll enjoy the rich, full musical performance these small speakers can provide. And they are also an ideal choice for home theater applications. Connect them to your existing home theater system and enjoy Bose sound from your favorite movies. With custom mounting brackets, these elegant speakers offer a range of placement options throughout your home or office.
Amazon.com Product Description
A versatile choice for both listening to music and appreciating the sonic splendor of big-budget blockbusters, the Bose 161 multipurpose speaker system offers topnotch sound in an elegant package. Unlike conventional speakers, which radiate sound in a single direction, these speakers use Bose's Articulated Array and Stereo Everywhere technologies to project sound throughout the entire room, so listeners in the corner can appreciate the same subtleties as those in the middle. In addition, the proprietary Twiddler drivers (two 2.5-inch drivers in each enclosure) make the speakers sound much larger than they actually are. The end result is a consistently impressive sound field that simulates the cinema experience. Meanwhile, the speakers' actual size--they measure 11 inches wide by 4.12 inches tall--belies their big sound, so you can store them easily in compact locations, such as small dorm rooms or crowded offices. They even come with mounting brackets for installing on a wall or ceiling. The speakers' sleek black housing also blends into practically any décor. Additional features include magnetic shielding, which protects your TV from video interference, and automatic overdrive protection. The speakers are computer tested for quality and reliability and carry a five-year warranty from Bose. What's in the Box Left speaker, right speaker, mounting brackets, self-adhesive rubber feet, user's manual.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 23 more reviews...
 This Speaker Stuns Its Audience March 18, 2006
32 out of 34 found this review helpful
Admittedly I'm a music lover, not a technophile. I'm more interested in Charlie Watts than I am in watts per channel. But my ear is well tuned and I know what sounds good. It would seem that there is some Bose backlash out there; perhaps in response to the Rolls Royce reputation it's carried through the years. I don't know, and frankly I don't care.
I will tell you that I bought my pair not as part of a surround system but as bookshelf speakers for my small home office and I couldn't be happier. They're attractive, have a low profile, and provide total range at all volumes. I tested them in the store with CDs that had lots of challenging highs, sizzling cymbals, that sort of thing. The definition was clear as can be. When you crank them up the sound holds together beautifully, no mud, no distortion. I find that solo piano is another good way to test speaker clarity, I went with The Koln Concert by Keith Jarrett and the results were mesmerizing.
As far as bass response is concerned, good grief, what's the fuss? Even at low volumes I can hear Mingus plucking the strings, when I listen carefully I can even hear him dropping ironic hints. As to the higher register, that's where the clarity of these speakers really shines, Stephanie Mills soars and swoops like an angel.
Then of course there are those irresponsible moments when I simply must blow off a little steam. Out comes the Coltrane, Ayler, Dolphy, Hendrix, Winter, Tower Of Power and up goes the volume. The desk toys start dancing because everything in the room is vibrating. Even then, these unassuming monsters deliver like tomorrow might never come. I've held minority opinions in the past and I'll hold another here, as far as I'm concerned these speakers are fantastic and actually under-priced.
In line with expectations March 16, 2005
19 out of 21 found this review helpful
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.
Bose 161's October 19, 2002
16 out of 24 found this review helpful
Bose continues to impress with these speakers. While a little weak in the bass area as it sounds sort of muffled, that could just very well be the poor quality speaker wires I have. Yet, when I lower the bass, I hear pristine clear quality music. I have not yet hooked up my receiver to my television to hear the sounds of a movie. Being a college student, these are an excellent buy for a speaker upgrade to a sound system, or being added to a work in progress home theater system. The only complaint I have besides the muffled bass is that the speaker wires tend to come out a lot and I have to keep putting them back in. Once again, this could just be the poor quality speaker wires I have. Once I purchase better ones, I will update my review as to whether the bass is improved or not. Overall, a very good speaker, but until I purchase the new speaker wires, I cannot upgrade the quality of the Bose 161's.
Incredible how people rate without testing December 22, 2004
15 out of 18 found this review helpful
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.
 Just plain bad, even for Bose January 2, 2005
13 out of 31 found this review helpful
I watched Spiderm-man on a Bose set of speakers in 5.1. This consisted of the vsc-10 center, bose towers (i dont remember the model number, but its the one with the tweeter that point the wrong way and woofers in the backside), and these Bose 161 for surrounds.
The sound coming from the center speaker and these speakers was so unbearable at high volumes, that me and my friend agreed it would be best to turn them off and just watch the movie in stereo. They both sounded very muddy and resonance comming off the plastic construction was quite annoyting. Theyre both cheap feeling in construction and i would not be surprised if they both used the same woofers inside (the center and these).
When you are buying these speaker, you are basically buying from the bottom of the barrel of what Bose has to offer, which is really bad, considering how mediocre their more expensive offerings sound.
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