What is a good placement for the 901 series VI speakers? I've heard the backwall is half the distance to the sidewall

SOURCE: Bose 901 series speakers to Bose 901 Equalizer

There is no direct connection between the 901's and their Active Equalizer. It is designed to be inserted between the source and the DEDICATED amplifier driving the speakers. Typically, this would be in a Tape Monitor loop on a receiver.

Tape Rec/Out to EQ In; EQ Out to Tape Play/In on the receiver. If you have a tape deck(s), it(they) would go into the back of the Bose EQ as if it was the receiver and you would use the Tape and 1/2 buttons for selection.

Or,if you have access to any other point that doesn't use the Tape Monitor, like a Pre Out/Main In jumper set, place the Equalizer there. That way it's always in front of the speakers and doesn't take up the Tape Mon.

Flip in the Tape Monitor and leave it on or the speakers will not receive the essential ACTIVE Equalization they require for proper frequency response. DO NOT place non-901's onto any amp using the Active EQ.

Like any speakers, the 901's will attach to the speaker terminals in the conventional manner.

SOURCE: latest model surround receiver for bose 901 speakers VI

I can think of no reason any amp pushing 120 watts would not work with 901-VI's. They're very efficent and will probably play louder and cleaner than you would ever need. As I recall, my old series IV's have no maximum amplifier rating specified, but I did blow up a bridged Carver M-400 Cube (pushing 400 watts to one speaker with a DVD-Audio of Yes - Fragile cranked dangerously high) with them. I'm convinced my speakers are indestructible in any home application.

Keep in mind that whatever you decide to use as your control/amplifier section, a pair of 901's need a dedicated stereo amplifier. I suspect you're thinking surround sound so a receiver with separable preamp/amp channels, due to the Activbe EQ, would be needed and as far as I know they don't exist. A separate stereo amp for the 901's was my solution. I run a Carver AV-406 (5-channel amp) for my 901's in Front, 2 Subwoofers and the Rear Surround channel, with the Active EQ between the receiver and the 901's amp channels. My receiver controls everything and just drives the Center and Surrounds.

Modest amps would work but at very loud volumes may go into clipping, which is bad for any speaker. 120 clean watts is good. I'm using only 110W for mine.

A Carver M-200 is a fine, efficient amplifier that would have you cooking just fine (2x100W).

SOURCE: Impedance on my Bose 901 Series VI

there 12.9 ohms. there bose speakers not a wallmart if you want a lower impendance then run them in parralell brigde of a bridgeable amplifer/receiver

SOURCE: I have a set of 901 IV with no equializer, I am

It will work, but theoretically less than 100% optimally as far as frequency balance; it would be a whole lot better than not having one at all.

Now, if you're contemplating using 901's in a multichannel environment, you have but to ask and I can provide that solution, too. Clue: you'll need a separate 2-channel amp for the 901's.

SOURCE: How do I connect the

If you get a second amp for the 901's you can have your cake and eat it in front of the TV too.

http://www.retrevo.com/support/Yamaha-RX-V850-Receivers-manual/id/320bh027/t/2/

Two solutions:

ONE: dedicated 901-RX-V850 stereo-analog-audio only:

If you want to have the Yamaha also support non-901's as the second set of Front Speakers, put the Active Eq in one of the three selectable Tape Loops. That way you can dial the 901 EQ out of the equation and select the 'normal' speakers for your Dolby Surround video experience.

Now imagine this:

TWO: 901's for the Front on a 100wpc stereo amp, your RX-V850 or a nice digital AVR driving center and rear, maybe 'normal' fronts, too

Get a nice 100wpc amp with its own volume control on eBay and slave it off the Yam. Remove the Front Pre-Main jumpers and place RCA Y-splitters in there so the pre-main connection out is maintained but shared with the Active EQ, which is in series with the 901's dedicated amp. Use the new amp's volume to match the 901's to everything else and you just have to turn it on or off to enjoy the 901's along with or instead of the 'normal' front speakers. You could even just disable them at the Yam.

Now for some boilerplate I created to get your creative juices flowing ij case you have a digital AVR in mind for the future:

Having a 901-based multichannel setup myself, I would highly recommend getting the Full Monte for video listening (below)...

In that case a separate stereo amp for the 901's would work. I run a Carver AV-406 (5-channel amp) for my 901's in Front, 2 Subwoofers and the Rear Surround channel, with the Active EQ between the receiver Front L&R Outputs and the 901's amp channels. My receiver controls everything and just drives the Center and Surround speakers.

You could get by with just a stereo amp for the 901's. A Carver M-200 is a good efficient amplifier that would have you cooking just fine (2x100W). Run it with the Active EQ between the receiver Front L&R Pre-Outputs ** and the 901's amp channels.

** Front Pre Out (or one of your analog Tape Outs) >>> Bose EQ Amplifer IN, then
Bose EQ Amplier OUT >>> new amplifier IN.

Then set the new amp's volume control (if it has one, mine doesn't) to something HIGH and run through your speaker setup routines on the Yamaha. After levels and distances are set the Yam will be the boss of the 901's. I recommend sharing or directing any LFE with them. With 901's don't even need subwoofers but they don't hurt.

I've done this in my own setup once. Turn the 901's around so the rear faces point into the listening area. Crank up Master and Commander and when the waves are crashing or cannon are firing you WILL FEEL A BREEZE from them. Now THAT is multi-media!