Bose 161 Speaker System vs Bose 301-V Stereo Loudspeakers

The Bose 301-V is the better speaker for a main stereo or home-theater front pair. Its 8-inch woofer and 2-inch tweeter with the Spatial Dispersion lens give real bass and a wider sweet spot than the 161's two small full-range drivers. The 161 is a compact, wall-mountable surround or secondary-room speaker with a sealed-in ABS cabinet and five-year warranty. Owners of both praise the Bose house sound, but the 301-V is the one that fills a room; the 161 is the one that disappears on a wall.

• Choose the Bose 161 if you need small wall-mount or bookshelf speakers for surround duty or a secondary room and have limited amplifier power.
• Choose the Bose 301-V if you want a main pair for music or movies with real low end and a wider listening area.