Unpacking Instructions; Design Features ; Installation - Bose 301 Owner's Manual

1. INTRODUCTION
Thank you for purchasing the BOSE Model 301 Direct/Reflecting®
speaker system. Your Model 301s are the product of many years of
BOSE research and dedication to the art of bringing superb musical
reproduction into your home.
PLEASE TAKE TIME TO READ THIS MANUAL CAREFULLY. It will
help you obtain the full benefits of the Model 301's unique design.
2. UNPACKING INSTRUCTIONS
Two Model 301 speakers, marked "Part 1" and "Part 2," are
packed in a single shipping carton. Unpack both speakers care-
fully, saving the carton and packing materials for possible trans-
portation or shipment at a later date.
If either of the speakers has visible damage when you unpack it,
do not place the damaged speaker(s) in operation. Repack the
speaker(s) in the original carton with the complete packing
material and notify your dealer immediately.
WARNING — DO NOT HANDLE THE SPEAKERS BY THE FOAM
GRILLE. GRASP ONLY THE CABINET WHEN MOVING OR
PLACING THE SPEAKER.
3. DESIGN FEATURES
The BOSE Model 301 Direct/Reflecting loudspeaker incorporates
several features that make its operation and placement different
from other loudspeakers. The exceptional performance of the
Model 301, to a great degree, can be attributed to Asymmetrical
Design, the Direct Energy Control, and a Dual Frequency Crossover
Network.
ASYMMETRICAL DESIGN The Asymmetrical Design of the
Model 301 provides a high proportion of reflected sound at high
frequencies and contributes to the exceptionally spacious stereo-
phonic reproduction. To provide balanced spatial properties in
stereo reproduction, the Model 301 stereo pair is designed so
that the speaker used on the left-hand side of the room (this
speaker is called "Part 1") is a mirror image of the speaker on the
right-hand side (this speaker is called "Part 2").
The Asymmetrical Design and mirror image construction of the
Model 301 are shown in Diagram 1 (page 5). The tweeters direct
most of their energy toward the side walls of the room. The side
walls reflect high frequency energy uniformly throughout the
listening area, resulting in a stereo image extending from one wall
of the room to the other (Diagram 2, page6). The advantage of
this design is that minimum reliance is placed on the rear wall of
the room for providing reflections. This maximizes the flexibility
of placement of the loudspeaker.
DIRECT ENERGY CONTROL This control, located at the top of
the cabinet, allows you to select the proportion of direct to re-
flected sound at high frequencies to produce the optimum spatial
characteristics for your particular room.
If, for example, the side walls of the room are absent, too far away,
or covered by absorbing material, ' the control can be set to provide
predominantly direct sound at high frequencies. A predominance of
direct sound results in a stereo localization of sounds primarily to
the area between the two speakers. Sometimes this more "inti-
mate" sound is preferred for soloists and small groups.
If a reflecting side wall is present, and a more spacious sound
presentation is desired (such as for an orchestra), the control can
be set to provide a larger proportion of reflected sound at high
frequencies. This results in sound that actually extends beyond
the spacing of the speakers.
DUAL FREQUENCY CROSSOVER NETWORK Contrary to tradi-
tional design philosophies, the crossover network of the Model
301 deliberately overlaps the response of the woofer and tweeter
by over an octave, and adjusts the amplitude and phase response
of the woofer and tweeter to provide exactly complementary
*Any surface that feels hard, such as wood, glass, wallboard,
plaster or brick, is a good reflector. A soft surface, such as
acoustic tile, drapery, or upholstered furniture, will absorb sound.