®
TM
®
The Bose 601 Series IV Direct/Reflecting
Speaker System
Owner’s Guide
October 25, 2001
AM257731_00_V.pdf
Contents
Setting Up . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Unpacking the speakers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Attaching the speaker grilles. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Placing the speakers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Choosing the speaker cord . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Running the speaker cord through a wall or under a floor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Preparing the speaker cord . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Making the connections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Checking the connections. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
For use in home theater . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
For rear or surround speakers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Setting your surround sound receiver or amplifier . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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Reference Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Troubleshooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Technical information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Customer service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Cleaning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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Warranty
Bose® 601TM Direct/Reflecting® speakers are covered by a limited five-year transferable warranty. Details of the coverage
are provided on the warranty card that came with your speakers. Please fill out the information section on your card,
detach it, and mail it to Bose.
For your records
The serial number is located on the label on the back of each speaker.
Serial numbers:
Dealer name:
Dealer phone:
and
Purchase date:
We suggest you keep your sales slip and warranty card together with this owner’s guide.
©2001 Bose Corporation. No part of this work may be reproduced, modified, distributed, or otherwise used without prior written
permission. All trademarks referenced herein are the property of Bose Corporation.
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3
Setting Up
Introduction
Your 601TM Direct/Reflecting® speakers re-create a natural balance of reflected and direct
sound energy for a lifelike, spacious performance. As with all Bose® products, their design is
meant to bring you high-quality concert-like sound.
Figure 1
A natural balance of
reflected and direct sound
energy.
Unpacking the speakers
Carefully unpack the contents of the shipping carton.
• Individually remove each speaker.
• Retain the packaging material for possible future use.
• If either speaker appears damaged, do not use it. Repack both speakers in the original
carton and notify your authorized Bose dealer immediately.
WARNING: To avoid danger of suffocation, keep the plastic bags that wrap these speakers
out of the reach of children.
WARNING: Each speaker weighs 30 lb (13.6 kg). Use good lifting practice to avoid injury.
Figure 2
Package contents:
• 1 left speaker
• 1 right speaker
• Owner’s guide
• 2 front speaker grilles
• 2 rear speaker grilles
Front speaker grilles
Rear speaker grilles
Left speaker
Owner’s guide
Right speaker
Attaching the speaker grilles
Each speaker has both a front and a rear protective grille. The rear grille is the larger of the
two. To attach these grilles to your speakers, line up the top curve of the grille so that it
matches the curve of the speaker. Align the pins on the back of the grille to the mounting
holes on the speaker cabinet and gently push the grille straight on.
CAUTION: Do not place objects into any opening on the speaker cabinets.
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Setting Up
Placing the speakers
The product label on the back of each speaker indicates LEFT or RIGHT. For best acoustic
performance, place the left speaker on the left side as you face your speakers and place the
right speaker on the right side.
Keep the speakers 6 - 15 feet (1.8 - 6 m) apart and at least 10 inches (25 cm) from side walls
(see Figure 3).
It is important not to block the acoustic components at the rear of each speaker. To avoid
this, place each speaker at least 8 inches (20 cm) from the wall behind it.
8" minimum (20 cm)
Figure 3
Ideal speaker placement
10" minimum
(25 cm)
6 - 15 ft
(1.8 - 6 m)
Note: Bose® 601TM speakers are not intended to hang from walls, or to stand on shelves or
tables. They are designed as floor-standing speakers only.
WARNING: To prevent personal injury, do not place your speakers in high-traffic areas where
they can be accidentally knocked over.
Note: To prevent interference with your TV picture quality, place each speaker at least 2 feet
(.6 m) from your TV screen.
Figure 4
Place each speaker at least
2 feet (.6 m) from your TV
screen.
2 ft
minimum
(.6 m)
2 ft
minimum
(.6 m)
Choosing the speaker cord
It is important to use the proper gauge (thickness) of speaker cord. Standard zip cord (2-con-
ductor, 18-gauge or .82 mm2 wire or larger) is recommended for most applications. You can
find this wire at most electrical and hardware stores.
If the length of speaker wire extends more than 20 feet (6 m) from a receiver or amplifier, refer
to “Wire recommendations” on page 9 or contact your authorized Bose dealer for more infor-
mation.
Running the speaker cord through a wall or under a floor
Make sure you have enough cord to reach from the receiver to each speaker. For in-wall
installation, check your local building code requirements. Before proceeding, you may want
to contact an electrical installer for information about your local building or safety regulations.
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Setting Up
Preparing the speaker cord
Speaker cord consists of two insulated wires. The insulation around one wire is marked
(striped, collared, ribbed, or may have writing on it). This marked wire is always positive (+).
The plain wire is always negative (–). These wires correspond to the red (+) and black (–) ter-
minals on the speaker, receiver, or amplifier.
Note: It is sometimes difficult to distinguish wire markings. Inspect both wires carefully.
To prepare the ends of the cord, strip approximately 3⁄8 to 1⁄2-inch (10-12 mm) of insulation
from both wires. Then, twist the bare ends of each wire so there are no loose strands of wire.
WARNING: Never use broken or frayed wire, as damage or electrical shock may result.
Making the connections
Connect your speaker wire to the SPEAKERS A or MAIN (front) left and right speaker outputs
on your amplifier or receiver. See your receiver owner’s guide for any additional information or
instructions.
CAUTION: Before making any connections, turn off your receiver and unplug it from the AC
power mains. Failure to do so may result in damage to your system.
Figure 5
Wiring schematic
L
R
L
R
Right speaker
Left speaker
Receiver
Unscrew the hex knobs on the terminal posts (Figure 5) located on the back of the left (L)
speaker. This reveals a small opening through each post where the wire goes.
1. Insert the marked wire into the red (+) terminal. Insert the plain wire into the black (-) ter-
minal.
2. Tighten the knobs to secure the wires.
3. Connect the other ends of the wire to your receiver or amplifier.
A. Attach the marked wire at one end to the red (+) terminal.
B. Attach the plain wire at that end to the black (–) terminal.
4. Repeat steps 1, 2, and 3 for the right (R) speaker connections.
Note: Now is a good time to record the serial numbers of these speakers on page 3 of this
guide and on your warranty card.
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Setting Up
Checking the connections
Check all the connections from the receiver to the left and right speakers. Make sure all the
wires are connected in phase (+ to + and – to –).
Correct any wiring problems before you plug in your receiver and turn it on.
CAUTION: 601TM speakers incorporate an automatic protection circuit, which guards against
most kinds of damage from electrical stress or overload. This circuit activates at high volume
levels to reduce output, causing a slight decrease in volume. You may also notice light com-
ing from inside the speaker cabinet. This is normal operation and indicates that power input
may be exceeding safe levels. Sustained listening at these levels is not recommended.
For use in home theater
Your speakers are fully compatible with all surround sound formats. They may be used as the
front left and right main speakers, or in larger more powerful systems as full-range surround
channel speakers.
For rear or surround speakers
For use as the rear or surround speakers, connect your speakers to the “Rear” or “Surround”
speaker outputs of the receiver or amplifier. For use with digital home theater systems, we
recommend trying both “Large” and “Small” settings to determine the best performance with
your receiver or amplifier. See your receiver owner’s guide for any additional information or
instructions.
Setting your surround sound receiver or amplifier
After making the connections, you may try any additional surround sound modes that your
receiver may have. These modes may have different names depending on the manufacturer,
such as, ACTION, MOVIE, THEATER. Select the settings for music, movies or both that sound
best in your listening environment. See your receiver/amplifier owner’s guide for additional
information on selecting settings.
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Reference Information
Troubleshooting
If you are experiencing problems with your 601TM speakers:
1. Turn off the amplifier or receiver and check all the connections between the speakers and
the amplifier or receiver.
2. Check your amplifier or receiver owner’s guide, since other components may be the
cause of the problem.
3. Use the chart below as troubleshooting guidelines. If this does not solve the problem,
contact your authorized Bose® dealer to arrange for service. Refer to the address list
enclosed in the product packaging for correct phone numbers.
Problem
Possible cause
How to find out
Solution
One speaker
doesn’t play, or
sounds distorted.
Amplifier or receiver Switch the LEFT and If the previously
channel, speaker, or RIGHT connections “broken” speaker
speaker wire may be on the back of your now plays properly,
defective.
speakers.
and the other one
does not, one chan-
nel in the amplifier
or receiver, or that
speaker wire is
probably defective.
If the original
speaker still does
not play properly,
call Bose or your
retailer to arrange
for service.
Both speakers do
not play, or sound
distorted.
Amplifier or receiver Disconnect the
may be defective.
Reconnect the
amplifier or receiver speakers to another
from the speakers.
amplifier or receiver
that works properly.
High sound volume The automatic pro- Lower the volume. If Return the volume
drops suddenly.
tection circuit has
activated to protect your speakers’ auto- level; avoid
it returns to normal, to a reasonable
the speakers from
electrical stress or
overload.
matic protection cir- extremely high vol-
cuit caused the
ume settings.
sudden drop. This
volume reduction
protects the speak-
ers from electronic
stress and overload.
No bass or dimin-
ished sound quality. of-phase.
Wiring may be out- Check connections. Adjust connections,
They should be in if they are out of
phase (+ to + and – phase.
to –).
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Reference Information
Technical information
Features
• Direct/Reflecting® speaker technology
• Stereo Everywhere® speaker technology
• Proprietary bass reproduction
• Automatic protection circuitry
• Syncom® computer quality control
Speaker driver complement
• Two 61⁄ " (16.5 cm) woofers
2
• One 2" (5.1 cm) ferrofluid tweeter per cabinet
Compatibility
Compatible with A/V receivers and amplifiers rated from 10 to 200 watts per channel, rated
from 4 to 8 ohms.
Power rating: 100 Watts IEC
Finish
• Graphite gray
• Light cherry
Dimensions/Weight
32"H x 8"W x 13.75"D (81 cm x 20 cm x 35 cm)
Each speaker weighs 30 lb (13.6 kg)
Wire recommendations
Based on maximum frequency response deviation of 0.5 dB
Gauge
Length
18 (0.82 mm2)
16 (1.3 mm2)
14 (2.1 mm2)
12 (3.3 mm2)
20 ft (6 m) maximum
30 ft (9 m) maximum
50 ft (15 m) maximum
80 ft (24 m) maximum
Customer service
Cleaning
For additional help in solving problems, contact Bose® customer service. Refer to the address
list enclosed in the product packaging for correct phone numbers.
Wipe the 601TM speaker cabinets using a dry cloth. Do not use solvents or chemicals. Do not
allow liquids to spill on, or objects to drop into the speaker grilles. You may vacuum the grilles
carefully; the drivers are directly behind the grille cloth. No other maintenance is required.
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Reference Information
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October 25, 2001
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©2001 Bose Corporation, The Mountain,
Framingham, MA 01701-9168 USA
257731AM Rev.00 JN10652
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