Our goal in creating quality speakers has always been to come as close as possible to the sound quality of live music. To do so, we consider the physics of live sound and how people actually hear it during a live performance.

Pioneering Bose engineers took their instruments into concert halls to measure how sound actually gets from the musicians to the listeners' ears during a performance. They learnt that the sound of live music is actually a combination of reflected and direct sound. Most of what we hear reflects off the walls, floor and ceiling before it reaches our ears, giving live music much of its character.

This research advanced the field of physical acoustics and led to a new understanding of the ratio of direct to reflected sound needed to reproduce the impact of a live performance. From it we developed the revolutionary 901® DIRECT/REFLECTING® speaker system in 1968 — still the flagship of the BOSE® loudspeaker line.

The technology in DIRECT/REFLECTING® speakers continues to deliver a balance of reflected and direct sound in a wide variety of BOSE® home audio products — from bookshelf and floorstanding speakers to our latest LIFESTYLE® systems for home cinema and music.  

Not exactly what you need? Here are other options to consider.

For this technology in an all-in-the-box home entertainment solution, see our LIFESTYLE® systems.    For a five- or six-speaker system that works with your existing components, see our ACOUSTIMASS® speaker systems.    For BOSE® quality sound in a single-piece music system, see our waveguide systems.