Bose is a household name when it comes to high-quality speakers. They specialize in audio output consistency and durability.
This is why we are reviewing the Bose 161 to check its performance as an indoor surround sound speaker.
In this post, we will discuss the features of the Bose 161 speaker system along with some viable alternatives.
Bose 161 Bookshelf Speaker System
Designed to look elegant yet stylish, this speaker system can easily fit inside your living space. The high-quality audio hardware inside it can easily enhance your listening experience. The hardware inside is able to project sound in a surround sound effect.
Alternate #1 : Yamaha NS-6490
Equipped with the latest audio hardware, this speaker system can output a variety of sound effects with consistency. The built-in woofer gives this speaker great power-handling and great frequency response over multiple volume levels.
Alternate #2 : Edifier R128
This speaker system is outfitted with Bluetooth technology which allows you to connect your multiple smart devices and TVs with it. The digital inputs enable you to connect your Computers and other devices without any disconnection or distortion. It also has a separate remote control for convenient use.
Quick Summary of the Main Product
The Bose 161 Speaker system is made to serve multiple purposes as an indoor speaker. It can be used as a pair of standalone bookshelf speakers or a stereo sound system for your home theater.
This speaker system from Bose is designed to project sound in a surround sound fashion. The stereo sound produced by the Bose 161 speaker system is because of the Stereo Everywhere Speaker Performance design.
Features and Benefits
Design
This speaker system from Bose is designed in an arc shape. It enables you to place this speaker anywhere in your room.
Build Quality
The Bose 161 speaker system is made from a durable combination of PVC materials. We noticed that its exterior is magnetically shielded.
Audio Quality
With its high-quality audio hardware, you can use this Bose 161 speaker system as your home theater.
Pros and Cons
- Custom mounting brackets allow you to easily place this speaker on your walls.
- Stereo Everywhere Speaker Performance hardware enables balanced audio output.
- The black color allows you to mount the speakers anywhere in your room.
- Built-in woofers project audio with consistency and clarity.
- This speaker system is only available in black color.
- The Bose 161 speaker requires third-party wiring for optimal performance.
Social Proof
Our experience with the Bose 161 speaker system has been quite fulfilling. To get a better understanding of this product, we decided to look into the customer reviews.
We found the majority of reviews to be positive. Although, a handful of them were critical regarding the complex wiring.
Many customer reviews praised this speaker system for its excellent sound quality and the ease to mount it on the walls.
More Recommendations!
#1: Best Audio Output Alternative to Bose 161 Speaker - Yamaha NS-6490 Review
This pair of bookshelf speakers from Yamaha is designed to project high-quality audio for extended periods.
We ran multiple quality tests on this speaker and concluded that it doesn’t overheat or distort sound even after regular use.
You can use these speakers as your home theater or just for a casual music listening experience.
Although this speaker system is high-performing, we found it quite difficult to mount it on the walls. This is due to the heavyweight of this speaker
Features of Yamaha NS-6490
- Sleek design
- 3-way speaker hardware
- Great frequency response
- Protective mesh grill
- Home theater compatibility
- Good power-handling
- No overheating
- Built-in woofer
- Mid-range bass driver
- Aesthetically pleasing
- Difficult mounting
- Bulky design
Best Audio Output Alternative Speaker
The best audio output alternative speaker is the Yamaha NS-6490. Because of the 3-way speaker hardware, you can use it for your home theater. Furthermore, it projects sound with no distortion for extended periods.
#2: Best Bluetooth Alternative to Bose 161 Speaker - Edifier R128 Review
The Edifier R128 speaker system is designed to provide you with a wireless experience for your bookshelf speakers.
We tested the sound quality of this speaker system and found that it performs flawlessly because of its built-in silk dome tweeter.
Furthermore, it allows you to connect your devices via Bluetooth, Optical, and Coaxial inputs. You can easily connect your laptops and smartphones.
Although this speaker has a remote control, the number of options you can control is limited.
Features of Edifier R128
- Bluetooth compatibility
- Multiple control dials
- Wireless remote control
- Silk dome tweeter
- Great sound output
- Easy to use
- Organic audio quality
- Good Bluetooth range
- Smartphone connection
- Woodgrain exterior
- Not magnetically shielded
- Weak mounting brackets
Best Bluetooth Alternative Speaker
The best bluetooth alternative speaker is the Edifier R128. It allows you to connect your smart devices wirelessly without any drop in audio quality. Additionally, it provides the option of coaxial and optical input for TVs.
Guide to Buy
Build Quality
The build quality matters a lot for a speaker system. It directly impacts many factors from durability to the overall performance. We recommend that you purchase a speaker system that has a highly-durable exterior. It will ensure that your speakers don’t get damaged by external or internal factors.
Price
The price of a speaker system directly contributes to the hardware quality and consistency. A high-priced speaker will get you the best there is in the market.
We suggest buying a pair of speakers that has a fair price with high-performing audio hardware. This way you will save some money and get a speaker system that will enhance your listening experience.
Mount Brackets
The ability to mount a speaker system contributes to versatility. Some speakers are highly convenient to put up on walls.
We highly recommend that you purchase a speaker system with adjustable mounting brackets. It will not only allow you to relocate your speakers easily but will also take little to no effort in setting up.
Wrapping Things Up
This brings us to the end of our review on Bose 161 Speaker System. We must say that it left quite a satisfying impression on us.
We found the design to be minimalist and optimized for better audio output.
Furthermore, the hardware inside is able to generate a wide variety of sound effects. We got a consistent quality of effects on all volume levels without any distortion.