The Bose 301 Series IV ranks #194 out of 221 total Large Size Bookshelf Speakers for sound quality. See all Passive Home rankings for every top pick.
Brand: Bose
Prices on this page were last checked October 14, 2026 at 2:38 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.
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#194 Bose 301 Series IV: $318 per pair Discontinued eBay
Pros: Bose’s long-running Direct/Reflecting bookshelf, with an 8-inch woofer that reaches 51.1Hz at -3dB in Bose’s own measurements, deep for an inexpensive box, and very even directivity (1.89dB variation in the directivity index) from its front and rear-angled tweeters. Measured bass extension of 29.7Hz (-10dB).
Cons: Discontinued and found used. The on-axis response is very uneven (1.29 band deviation), with the rear-firing tweeter adding reflected treble by design, so it scores 2.18 on its own and 4.26 with an ideal subwoofer, well below modern budget bookshelves.
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | about 29.7Hz (derived, log-interpolated between spinorama.org -9dB/-12dB points) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 51.1Hz (measured, manufacturer data via spinorama.org) |
| DIY Kit | No |
| Drivers | 8” woofer, two 2.5” tweeters (one front, one rear-angled) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 2.18 (spinorama.org) |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 4.26 (spinorama.org) |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
Frequency Response
How the Bose 301 Series IV measures across the audible range. A flatter listening window (the sound arriving straight at you) is more neutral: peaks sound forward or harsh, dips sound recessed. The estimated in-room response adds what a typical room does, and there a gentle, even tilt down toward the treble is ideal. Both curves are shifted so their 300 Hz to 3 kHz average sits at 0 dB.
Measurement data: spinorama.org, measured by the manufacturer.