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Last year, Bose Corporation generated an annual sales of US$3.6 billion, according to research and database company Statista. And although there was a drop in sales compared to 2019 ($4 billion), the company’s sales are still rocketing.
Among their extensive product line that’s contributing to the company’s revenue is their speakers, particularly the Bose Virtually Invisible 191 Speakers.
Known for their sound quality, the Bose 191 are great speakers that not just make a great addition to a home theater system but are also keeping up with people’s needs for Zoom video conferencing due to the pandemic.
But is it really worth investing your money into? Do they really bring an immersive overall sound experience when mounted into a ceiling or wall? All these we’ll answer in today’s post.
So, keep reading our in-depth review of the Bose Virtually Invisible 191 Speakers to learn everything you need to know before you buy!
Table of Contents
TLDR: Review of the Bose Virtually Invisible 191 Speakers
Product Description
User Experience: Special Highlight to Articulated Array Speaker Design
The Bose Virtually Invisible 191 Speakers are designed for flush-mount placement in ceilings or walls. They are extremely easy to install and the sound system is clear in a way that it keeps you on your seat when you’re watching movies.
In terms of music, the sound is balanced even in a wide listening area, unlike traditional home audio speakers that often radiate the sound only in a single direction. This is all thanks to Bose’s Articulated Array speaker design, where full-range drivers (2.5”) are precisely positioned so they can deliver lifelike sound.
Design
These compact, flush-mount speakers have both rectangular and round grilles that they blend into a room beautifully. Your guests may not even notice that there are speakers mounted if not for the sound performance.
Installing these Bose speakers is easy since it has already been pre-wired. But just in case you are unsure, you can always read the manual to walk you through it step-by-step. If you are not inclined to DIY works, ask for assistance before you drill your holes.
What Makes it Stand Out: Balanced Stereo Sound
Aside from the Articulated Array speaker design and Stereo Everywhere feature, these surround sound speakers are built with proprietary ported enclosure technology. As a result, it delivers a consistent and smooth low-frequency response.
The enclosures are there to balance easily during installation in your ceiling or wall so you can use both of your hands when connecting the speaker wire.
Reasons to Buy
- Great sound quality
- Seamless design / ultra-slim bezel
- Realistic or balanced stereo sound
- Good speaker performance that delivers spacious sound coverage
- Easy to install, the very small hole required to install
- Consistent sound coverage that radiates sound in one direction but fills the entire room
- Proprietary enclosure technology ensures that the audio is confined in the listening room
- Equipped with proprietary Bose technologies
- Grille frames are paintable, making them easy to match to your living room or listening room decor
- Interchangeable speaker grilles
- Can be mounted to the sides of the TV, as a center channel above, or as a home theater system
Reasons to Reconsider
- The surround speakers are non-returnable.
- The base of these speakers may not be as boomy as other high-end speakers, but I would say boominess also depend on imaging, precision, and clarify that Bose 191 possesses
- Could have been better with a subwoofer
Is it worth it to try?
If you want a speaker that is not meant to be seen (non-obtrusive) but is meant to be seen, then the Bose Virtually Invisible 191 is worth trying. Aside from being invisible speakers, they also allow a premium listening experience for movie nights and gaming.
-Click here for the best place to get them from
In-Depth Review of the Bose Virtually Invisible 191 Speakers
Specifications
Power Rating: 100w
Impedance: ohms
Sensitivity (0 VU): 88 dB (2.83v/1m)
Frequency Response: 10Hz – 200kHz (-3 dB)
Mid Frequency Driver 2.5″ Full-range Drivers
Ported Dual-port molded
Connection: Nickel-plated brass connection terminals
Finish and Grille Color: White- Invisible – Paintable
Dimensions (WxHxD) 13-1/4 x 7-7/8 x 3-7/8″
Weight 4.5 lbs. (each)
Packaging Info
Package Weight: 13.75 lb
Box Dimensions (LxWxH): 17.25 x 15 x 12″
In the box
2 Speakers, rectangular frames attached
2 Rectangular speaker grilles
2 Round speaker frames
Template
Rectangular paint shield
Round paint shield
2 Round speaker grilles
No accessories included.
Sound Quality and Durability
The Bose Virtually Invisible 191 in-wall or in-ceiling Speakers has a good sound quality compared to most conventional speakers. It has two full-range drivers that are effective at dispersing a balanced sound all throughout the room and not just one sweet spot.
Furthermore, the mids and highs of these speakers, although you may want to invest in a dedicated subwoofer if you are someone who values a good bass. The surround sound components also help produce deeper low-frequency performance and make sure that lower frequencies will be directed into the intended listening area and not in the adjoining rooms or in other rooms.
Additional Speaker Features
To produce great sound, the speakers also utilize the Stereo Everywhere® feature. As I mentioned earlier, this helps the speaker produce balanced surround sound even in a wide area.
The speakers sound great or even better when used in two pairs of 191 speakers and a subwoofer.
Warranty Information
For a verified purchase of the Bose Virtually Invisible 191 in-wall or in-ceiling speakers, they will be covered with a limited 5-year transferable warranty.
Bose 191 Surround Speakers: Who is it best for?
These Bose Virtually Invisible 191 Speakers are best for people with well-decorated living rooms or those who don’t want to sacrifice their floor space or just don’t want to draw much attention by putting bulky speakers.
This is because the Bose Virtually Invisible 191 Speakers are designed to be unobtrusive so that they can just be flush-mounted in a ceiling or wall.
Best Alternatives to Bose 191 Speakers
If you’re looking for good alternatives to Bose in-wall speakers, then my top picks would be the following:
- Micca M-8S 8 Inch 2-Way In-Wall Speaker with Pivoting 1″ Silk Dome Tweeter
The Micca M-8S has a good integration between the woofer and tweeter that is achieved via a 12dB crossover network. It delivers natural and smooth sound, allowing an impactful listening experience.
This 8-inch in-wall speaker has an included template or built-in mounting tabs that make the installation of these speakers easy.
- Polk Audio RC65i 2-way Premium In-Wall 6.5″ Speakers
The Polk Audio RC65i is an in-wall speaker for your home theater system and also works well for outdoor placement. Polk promises its customers that you’ll hear seamless audio quality with this speaker.
True enough, it delivers the depth of music. It also features a 6.5” Dynamic Balanced woofer, as well as a 0.75” swivel-mount, tweeted for added detail and depth. For its design, it sports a polymer cone and composite driver baskets all put together to create wider sound coverage dispersion.
- JBL SP6CII 2-way, Round 6.5″ In-Ceiling Speaker
Just like Bose 191 Virtually Invisible speakers, the JBL SP6CII speakers are also suitable for wall and ceiling mounting. However, I say it’s one of the best alternatives to Bose 191 because this pair of speakers is more affordable.
Plus, the speakers are housed in a unique titanium-laminate cone with a rubber surround so it can deliver tight bass even for long listening sessions.
All of these speakers are space-saving, just like Bose 191 and you’ll be pleasantly surprised, family movie nights will be rocking with the sound quality they deliver.
Bose 191 Speaker Performance: What Do People Say About it?
Amazon
The Bose Virtually Invisible 191 gained a high rating on Amazon with one customer saying, “This is the second pair I have bought. I installed the first pair in a house that we built before the drywall went up. For our next house, I installed the second pair during remodeling…the instructions are very complete and carefully thought out.”
However, there were a few who said, “ I love Bose’s noise-canceling headphones, I’m not anti-bose. [However, when] I listened to the “push button” display, wow, the most expensive speaker happens to be the worst sounding. Lack of timbre, no treble, and no bass, mostly a “midrange” type sound, definitely not a full sounding system.”
YouTube
Christ and Ralph of the Crutchfield Video reviewed the Bose Virtually Invisible 191 in-wall or in-ceiling speaker performance. They said, “These are a great choice to add background music all throughout your house because they save space… Bose provides both rectangular wall grille frames and round grills.”
Meanwhile, TheProductGuideChannel reviewed, “These are the types of [Bose] speakers that, when mounted correctly, will leave your guests wondering where the music is coming from. [However,] they are not for people who are uncomfortable with performing a bit of DIY. [This is because] to properly install these speakers, you have to cut into your walls or ceiling, but it is certainly worth the effort.
In one Reddit thread for the budget-minded audiophile, a comment reads, “The 191 speakers are compatible with amplifiers or receivers rated 10-100W per channel/rated 4 to 8 ohms and are rated at 50W IEC continuous power handling; 6 ohms. So, the circuit will have an impedance of 2 Ohms.”
I also gathered reviews from other e-commerce websites where the Bose 191 is being sold and in forums. One said, “They look just as good as they sound. Would expect anything less from a name like Bose.”
Final Verdict: Should You Buy It?
Well, what can I say? Bose will not let you down with its Invisible 191 in-wall/ in-ceiling speakers. These Bose speakers are something I would use and would recommend to a friend.
True to Bose’s reputation, these Virtually Invisible speakers enable you to hear balanced audio, regardless of where you are in the room.
Bose Virtually Invisible 191 speakers may not stand out in a room visually, but they do acoustically. Their noteworthy performance will remind you that they’re actually installed in a room. Moreover, it enhances your game or movie-watching experience and it provides good value for your money!
A caveat, though, these speakers are a bit more expensive compared to the free-standing speakers. But, I would like to specially mention the Stereo Everywhere feature. One that is best for those who don’t want to spend so much time figuring out the optimal placement of their speakers since it can just be confined to a wall or ceiling where it’s intended to play!
-this is the cheapest place to get them from.
If you like this article, you might want to read our other reviews at SpeakerTune.com.
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