Bose 901's with Onkyo A9755B

Greg,

I read your post tonight and realize that you may probably resolved the issue by now. However, I'll share what I know, as I have a lot of experience with Bose 901s (Series V) that I have owned and cherished since 1985. I'm not an electronic equipment expert, so I'll share my information in plain ole and simple english as I know it. To make it short, I reviewed the amp owner's manual provided in your link and see that it has a 'tape monitor loop' that is 'one' of the required options to use the EQ. I also noticed that the amp has a 'Main In' connection for bridging another power amp; however, I do not see a 'Pre-Out' connection. Based on my knowledge and experience with 2 Yamaha amps/receivers I own, I don't see how you can properly connect the EQ without the Pre-Out feature on the amp. HOWEVER, you should be good-to-go with the tape monitor loop. As a matter of fact, my owner's manual for the 'Series Vs' recommends that users connect the EQ in the tape monitor loop 'if connecting additional 'non-Bose' speakers to the amp. The other 'direct' connection (pre-out/main-in) connection for the EQ warns against using non-Bose speakers. The manual provides a bit of rationale for using the tape loop connection but I won't go there--not interested nor does it make any sense to me. All I know is that your tape monitor loop should work with no problems. The key is to 'reverse' the RCA jack patch cables for "playback and record" on the EQ and amp while keeping the 'tape' button on the amp engaged at all times. You should be able to manipulate all of your input 'devices' (CD player, tuner, etc.) with the amp's main source switch(es). As I said, I'm not expert but I've never had any problems with my 2 Yamaha stereo systems. Hope this information helps. HR. Williams, Schertz, TX.

Here is how I hooked up my used Bose VI Equalizer with no manual using a Kenwood receiver and Pioneer amp. ( I read some of these instructions and none worked.) First I had to ignore some of what was written on the Bose back panel. I connected jacks from my receiver Output directly to Bose Input under where it reads "Amplifier" on the back. Then I connected jacks from Bose Output under Amplifier to my amp Input for Receiver. Then two strand peaker wire from my amp speaker outputs to Bose speaker.
It rocks loud, now the Bose equalizer adjusts bass, treble, has a button for two levels of bass that works although you have to listen closely for the difference.
The extra Tape recorder jacks (right side if looking at back of Bose equalizer) can be used for phono, CD, TV, etc. and the Monitor button on the front can be used to switch from receiver to that component. Button out is Source (receiver), button in is other component chosen. But I assume you would have to hook that extra component to the Tape Recorder side of the Bose Input, then go to from Biose Tape Output to your Amp Input for Auxillary and then switch from one to the other at front of Amp. That's switching twice for one component, but it enables use of Bose equalizer as recommended for their speakers.Good luck.

Did you buy the 901's new along with the eq? If you did then I wouldn't suspect it to be the eq. If you bought it used, it sounds like the eq. I have had two of them go bad. Are you cutting the bass up on the Onkyo? Do you have the speakers placed correctly, like 18" from the wall? These speakers don't have a lot of bass unless they are placed correctly against a wall. They really sound best in a corner. You should get a difference when you move the opts on the eq though. Hope this helps some

The use of 901's in any digital AV receiver setup for anything EXCEPT STEREO listening through the 901's alone requires you to have a separate amplifier for them and to avoid having to use a Tape Monitor.

That is because if you activate any Tape Monitor circuit at all, you will kill any digital sources. That is a function of AV receivers in general, nothing to do with 901's. However, you can still draw the Front Left and Right signals out of any Pre-Out (with a Y-cable set, looping the Pre Out directly back to the Main In) or Tape Out jacks (remembering to NEVER activate that monitor on the receiver), go into the Active EQ's Amplifier Connections; then Out of the EQ's Amplifier Connection to a separate amp and attach the 901's to that amp. This way you won't introduce proprietary and potentially damaging Active Equalization back into anything in the AV Receiver with its conventional speakers.

The AV Receiver can still drive the Center, Surrounds and the Sub(s) as it is designed. This is how mine is wired.

Come to think of it, you could still have conventional Front L&R speakers on the AV Receiver, but why? Maybe one would prefer the 901's for music and some other speakers for surround. Level matching with the 901's to conventional front speakers would only be possible if the separate amp has its own volume, but it would work. Maybe I'll try it someday. None of my current amps has volume.