Short answer: the Børresen X3. It ranks #67 of 73 floorstanding speakers by sound quality (rated 3.0/5); the Bose 901 Series V ranks #73 (rated 1.9/5).
Why pick the Børresen X3: A 2.5-way tower built around a planar ribbon tweeter, a 4.5” mid-range driver, and dual 4.5” bass drivers, spec’d at 88dB/1W sensitivity into a 4-ohm nominal load (measured minimum impedance stays a friendly 6.1 ohms above 80Hz, so it doesn’t actually need much power despite the sub-90dB rating). The catch: A significant midrange suckout centered around 200-300Hz measures 8-11dB below the mean SPL, creating an audible hole in the mid-range that multiple independent listeners also flagged unprompted.
Why pick the Bose 901 Series V: Historically distinctive direct/reflecting architecture uses eight rear-firing and one front-firing full-range drivers to create a very large, room-filling presentation. The catch: Even with the required EQ, Erin measured only about 81dB sensitivity, grossly non-flat response, numerous impedance/resonance irregularities and very high distortion.
One note: the Bose 901 Series V is no longer in production and isn’t widely stocked new anymore.
Buy the Børresen X3. It is rated higher for sound quality than the Bose 901 Series V.
Still deciding? The full Passive Home rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| Børresen X3 | Bose 901 Series V | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $11,000.00 per pair | Discontinued |
| Ranked | #67 of 73 in Large Size Floorstanding Speakers | #73 of 73 in Large Size Floorstanding Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 25Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 34.5Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 50Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 55.8Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Drivers | Planar ribbon tweeter, 4.5” mid-range driver, dual 4.5” bass drivers | Nine full-range drivers: eight rear-firing, one front-firing |
| Weight | 121.3 lbs (55 kg) | 35.3 lbs (16 kg) each |
| Sensitivity | 88dB | Approximately 81dB/2.83V/1m with tested EQ setting (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Impedance | 4 ohms | 6.2 ohms minimum (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Dimensions | 50.8”H x 13.6”W x 23.9”D (1290.0 x 345.0 x 607.0 mm) | 21”H x 21”W x 12.6”D (533.4 x 533.4 x 320.7 mm) |
| Frequency Response | 35Hz - 50kHz (Manufacturer specified) | - |
| Recommended Power | 50W minimum | - |
| Country | Denmark | - |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 2.38 | 0.43 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 3.50 | 2.11 |
| DIY Kit | No | No |
| Bass Extension | - | Strongly dependent on supplied active equalizer and room (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| DSP | - | External analog active equalizer required |
Related Speaker Comparisons
How Børresen X3 compares with other leading options:
- Vandersteen Treo CT vs Børresen X3
- Focal Aria Evo X N°2 vs Børresen X3
- Dali Rubikore 6 vs Børresen X3
- Atlantic Technology 8600eLR vs Børresen X3
- Revel F226Be vs Bose 901 Series V
Prices on this page were last checked September 29, 2026 at 3:43 PM UTC. Product prices and availability are accurate as of that date/time and are subject to change; the price and availability shown on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
The Two Speakers In Full
Børresen X3: $11,000.00 per pair eBay
Pros: A 2.5-way tower built around a planar ribbon tweeter, a 4.5” mid-range driver, and dual 4.5” bass drivers, spec’d at 88dB/1W sensitivity into a 4-ohm nominal load (measured minimum impedance stays a friendly 6.1 ohms above 80Hz, so it doesn’t actually need much power despite the sub-90dB rating). Very wide, remarkably consistent horizontal directivity around ±70° gives an expansive, enveloping soundstage, helped by the reviewer’s pair measuring essentially identically to each other for tight image precision. A pronounced high-Q bass shelf centered around 80Hz (roughly 8dB above the mean level) delivers a punchy, attention-grabbing low-end thump at moderate volumes. Harmonic distortion is clean through the midrange at 86dB, and multitone distortion stays under about 3% even though the low end is handled by relatively small 4.5” drivers rather than something larger. Detailed, extended high frequencies when seated on the tweeter’s intended axis. Measured bass extension of 50Hz (-3dB).
Cons: A significant midrange suckout centered around 200-300Hz measures 8-11dB below the mean SPL, creating an audible hole in the mid-range that multiple independent listeners also flagged unprompted. The 80Hz bass shelf comes with the worst low-frequency ringing the reviewer says he has measured to date on a waterfall plot: it lingers well after the surrounding frequencies have decayed, giving kick drum and bass notes a boomy, one-note quality. Significant dynamic compression sets in as volume rises: bass output near 90Hz drops only about 1.5dB at 86dB SPL, but the loss grows substantially by 96dB and 102dB (around 26dB of total dynamic range), so the appealing bass punch measurably fades at higher listening levels. The upper-midrange and lower treble (2-4kHz) read soft and recessed unless the listener sits almost exactly on the tweeter’s reference axis, within about 15°: the manufacturer’s recommended setup (tweeter aimed above ear height, per their design intent) makes this worse rather than better for a seated listener at normal height. A crossover-related directivity kink between the tweeter and mid-range driver, visible in the vertical response, trades some pinpoint image precision for a more diffuse sense of envelopment compared to smaller two-way designs. Resonances appear in the impedance curve near 300Hz and 2kHz, coinciding with the measured midrange dip.
Full Børresen X3 review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 25Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 50Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Country | Denmark |
| DIY Kit | No |
| Dimensions | 50.8”H x 13.6”W x 23.9”D (1290.0 x 345.0 x 607.0 mm) |
| Drivers | Planar ribbon tweeter, 4.5” mid-range driver, dual 4.5” bass drivers |
| Frequency Response | 35Hz - 50kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Impedance | 4 ohms |
| Recommended Power | 50W minimum |
| Sensitivity | 88dB |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 2.38 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 3.50 |
| Weight | 121.3 lbs (55 kg) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
Bose 901 Series V Discontinued Amazon eBay
Pros: Historically distinctive direct/reflecting architecture uses eight rear-firing and one front-firing full-range drivers to create a very large, room-filling presentation. Erin measured a benign 6.2-ohm minimum impedance, so the raw electrical load is easier than many modern four-ohm speakers. The supplied active equalizer offers user-adjustable tonal balance and is integral to obtaining usable bandwidth. Measured bass extension of 55.8Hz (-3dB), with a measured sensitivity of 81dB.
Cons: Even with the required EQ, Erin measured only about 81dB sensitivity, grossly non-flat response, numerous impedance/resonance irregularities and very high distortion. Output above roughly 90-95dB at his seat became audibly poor; multitone testing reached only about 98dB before the distortion limit. The reflection-dominant radiation prevents precise imaging and makes results strongly room-dependent. It requires the proprietary equalizer and substantial amplifier power despite its benign impedance. Discontinued.
Full Bose 901 Series V review and specifications →
| Bass Extension | Strongly dependent on supplied active equalizer and room (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 34.5Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 55.8Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| DIY Kit | No |
| DSP | External analog active equalizer required |
| Dimensions | 21”H x 21”W x 12.6”D (533.4 x 533.4 x 320.7 mm) |
| Drivers | Nine full-range drivers: eight rear-firing, one front-firing |
| Impedance | 6.2 ohms minimum (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | Approximately 81dB/2.83V/1m with tested EQ setting (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 0.43 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 2.11 |
| Weight | 35.3 lbs (16 kg) each |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Bose 901 Series V vs Triangle Esprit Antal Ez
- Bose 901 Series V vs JBL Studio 590
- Bose 901 Series V vs Sony SS-CS3
- Bose 901 Series V vs JBL Stage 2 280F
- Bose 901 Series V vs Magnepan LRS+
- Bose 901 Series V vs Infinity Reference 253
- Bose 901 Series V vs Focal Aria Evo X N°2
- Bose 901 Series V vs Polk T50
- See all 24 comparisons