--- product_id: 1148873 title: "161 Speaker System (Black) - Ideal for Stereo or Home Theater use" brand: "bose" price: "$278.15" currency: USD in_stock: true reviews_count: 13 url: https://www.desertcart.us/products/1148873-161-speaker-system-black-ideal-for-stereo-or-home-theater store_origin: US region: United States of America --- # Articulated Array for 360° sound Compact 5"D x 11"W x 4.2"H size 100W max output power 161 Speaker System (Black) - Ideal for Stereo or Home Theater use **Brand:** bose **Price:** $278.15 **Availability:** ✅ In Stock ## Summary > 🎶 Elevate your space with sound that surrounds and impresses. ## Quick Answers - **What is this?** 161 Speaker System (Black) - Ideal for Stereo or Home Theater use by bose - **How much does it cost?** $278.15 with free shipping - **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship - **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.us](https://www.desertcart.us/products/1148873-161-speaker-system-black-ideal-for-stereo-or-home-theater) ## Best For - bose enthusiasts ## Why This Product - Trusted bose brand quality - Free international shipping included - Worldwide delivery with tracking - 15-day hassle-free returns ## Key Features - • **Powerful Yet Compact:** Small footprint with 100 watts max output—perfect for desks, bookshelves, or wall mounts without sacrificing sound quality. - • **Durability Meets Clarity:** Automatic protection circuitry ensures reliable performance without distortion, so your speakers last longer and sound cleaner. - • **Flexible Placement Options:** Includes custom mounting brackets and rubber feet for versatile setup—tailor your sound environment to your lifestyle. - • **Immersive Sound Everywhere:** Articulated Array drivers deliver balanced, spacious audio throughout your room, not just in one direction. - • **Seamless Home Theater Integration:** Designed to blend flawlessly with Bose VCS-10 and Direct/Reflecting systems for a premium surround sound experience. ## Overview The Bose 161 Speaker System is a sleek, compact pair of bookshelf or wall-mount speakers engineered with Articulated Array technology to deliver rich, balanced sound across your listening area. With 100 watts max power, automatic driver protection, and compatibility with Bose home theater setups, these speakers offer versatile, high-quality audio for music and movies in small to medium rooms. ## Description Product Description Enjoy rich, full sound from music or movies with this compact pair of sleek Bose speakers. Whether placed on a desk or bookshelf or mounted on a wall for use as surround speakers, these speakers are designed to deliver balanced, spacious sound with minimal or moderate amplifier power (10 to 100 watts per channel). Automatic protection circuitry keeps the speaker drivers from being overdriven, heightening the speakers' reliability without interfering with your listening. Bose 161 speakers in black If you'll be using them in a home-theater capacity, keep in mind that they're designed to blend seamlessly with the Bose VCS-10 center-channel speaker and any Direct/Reflecting Bose speaker system. Unlike conventional speakers, which radiate sound in a single direction, these speakers use Articulated Array driver positioning and Stereo Everywhere technology to deliver balanced sound throughout your listening area. Further, Bose's two 2.5-inch proprietary Twiddler drivers per speaker move more air from their small enclosures than similarly sized conventional drivers, creating a sound you'd expect from much larger speakers. Be sure to use the proper gauge (or thickness) of wire or speaker cable for the length required to run the distance between your amplifier and your speakers. If the length is 30 feet, use a minimum of 18 gauge (.75 mm), use 16 gauge (1.5 mm) for 45 feet or 14 gauge (2 mm) for 70 feet. Supplied custom mounting brackets offer a range of placement options. What's in the Box - Left speaker, right speaker, mounting brackets, self-adhesive rubber feet, user's manual. From the Manufacturer A versatile pair of compact, high quality speakers / Ideal for rear channel, second room or main speakers in small rooms Review: Nice sound for your home theater. - I get a kick out of questions that think these speakers have bluetooth or an amp built in. But they are designed like old school bookshelf speakers. They need some form of amplification and your home theater receiver would work perfect. You could also use them with a bookshelf stereo receiver and whatever you drive them with, they are very flexible. They include buttons for the bottom or sides to place them on a shelf. The nicest thing about these is using the wall mount. Lots of adjustment when mounted vertically or horizontally and even include screws for the most common mounting substrates. I bought the white ones since my walls are white. Right now, I'm using on my computer that is being used as a home theater. Originally I was using a set of speakers that sounded just fine but wanted a different mounting configuration. They replaced a set of speakers that were desertcart Choice ones and a bit less expensive but when I hooked up the Bose 161's there was a real sound difference. The first difference was that voices were "muddy" on my old speakers in comparison to the Bose. So much so, that I found that I did not need the volume turned up as much on a typical movie or TV show. I know that some of the Bose TV sound systems/sound bars promote that as a feature. Even with these budget speakers, it's evident that it's part of the Bose sound and one I do like. Second of all, my older speakers had fine separation from right to left. Same a pretty much every bookshelf speaker out there. The Bose 161's seemed to give the same separation but sounds were more localised. Kind of hard to describe, but had a more 3D where you could point at the sound and my ears and eyes can follow the motion in an action movie. And even the depth to a show that I had never found with my old speakers or any other ones I have. It was a surprise which makes every show just a bit more enjoyable. Now, I know everybody wants a speaker with a lot of low end bass. And if that's what you want, you should have the equalization knobs on your receiver for that or in your device manager on your computer to get the sound you need. Out of the box, these Bose speakers are going to give you a natural sound. You can adjust frequencies as you need with the option of adding a subwoofer to your system. But on their own, they are not going to shake your room or get you tossed from your apartment. But I don't think they were ever designed to be a 901 or 602 replacement. Those are definite lease busters and need an amp to back them up. These are a quality speaker system for home and home theater use. Priced right with the flexibility to position them where you want. Also no need for speaker stands and mounting is included. All you need to buy is speaker wire. Most likely since Bose didn't know the length or color you need. I hope you get a chance to listen to these Bose speakers and add them to you home theater. I've been using them for about a month and a half and pleased with them. The only downside is that the other speakers I have are going to need to be replaced. Since I have 3 subwoofers kick'n around here, this could get pricey. Review: HT setup... bose 201's front, VCS-10 cenre channel and bose 161's for rears. Polk Audio PSW505 sub... tied up by Onkyo Tx-SR608 - I just did my HT setup... Man i cant sing enough praises for all the components... I don't get the muted sounds on Bose claim.. i can hear everything loud n clear... each dialogue is as clear as it gets... don't have to strain to hear em anymore... The tonality of the mid range... to the sharpness of the highs... its just beautiful. 201's are a bit bigger than i thought they would be... but look amazing once set up... and sound real good too... They dont have enough base you say... n i'd raise my sub to you (albeit briefly... it's heavy you know ;) ) but what clarity of sound.... it really makes the sound pop... All the Bose's put together make a real good sound stage. Now on to the non bose components... Kudos to Polk audio for the woofer... it's a bit too loud for my taste... so its turned down to about 1/3'rd of its max o/p...but amazing difference the 12" sub makes. Setting up was a real breeze... plugged in the lfe n adjusted the volume to my taste... The Onkyo receiver is a real amazing piece o tech for its price... Audessy 2EQ (the auto sound setup) is really easy to do... sets up the speakers just right... i tried tweaking my setup... but outside the sub (set to put out a wee bit too much) it had everything nailed... Just an FYI... my living room is 15" x 15" ## Features - Versatile speakers for music and movies - Use in bookshelf or wall-mount applications - Articulated Array speaker design ## Technical Specifications | Specification | Value | |---------------|-------| | ASIN | B00006I53A | | Additional Features | Bass Boost, Wired Speakers Mounts Sold Separately | | Antenna Location | Music,Movies | | Audio Driver Type | Dynamic Driver | | Audio Output Mode | Stereo , Surround | | Best Sellers Rank | #145,399 in Electronics ( See Top 100 in Electronics ) #15 in Satellite Speakers | | Brand | Bose | | Built-In Media | Custom brackets | | Color | Black | | Compatible Devices | Laptop, Desktop, Television, Projector | | Connectivity Technology | 3.5mm Jack, RCA , XLR | | Control Method | Touch | | Customer Package Type | Frustration-Free Packaging | | Customer Reviews | 4.4 out of 5 stars 1,191 Reviews | | Enclosure Material | Plastic | | Global Trade Identification Number | 00017817282994, 04969929010827 | | Impedance | 8 ohm | | Is Waterproof | FALSE | | Item Dimensions D x W x H | 5"D x 11"W x 4.2"H | | Item Weight | 1500 g | | Manufacturer | BOSE | | Material | Plastic | | Model Name | 27027 | | Model Number | 27027 | | Mounting Type | Shelf Mount | | Number of Audio Channels | 5.1 or 7.1 | | Number of Batteries | 1 Lithium Ion batteries required. | | Number of Items | 1 | | Series Number | 27027 | | Speaker Maximum Output Power | 100 watts | | Speaker Size | 6.5 inches | | Speaker Type | Bookshelf | | Specific Uses For Product | Home Theater, Music, Movies | | Subwoofer Connectivity Technology | Wired | | UPC | 017817282994 | | Unit Count | 1 Count | | Warranty Type | Limited | | Water Resistance Level | Not Water Resistant | | Wireless Technology | No Wireless Communication Technology | ## Product Details - **Audio Output Mode:** Stereo, Surround - **Brand:** Bose - **Connectivity Technology:** 3.5mm Jack, RCA, XLR - **Mounting Type:** Shelf Mount - **Speaker Maximum Output Power:** 100 Watts ## Images ![161 Speaker System (Black) - Ideal for Stereo or Home Theater use - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/61ZYHnlzvUL.jpg) ![161 Speaker System (Black) - Ideal for Stereo or Home Theater use - Image 2](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71QOQSOTMAL.jpg) ![161 Speaker System (Black) - Ideal for Stereo or Home Theater use - Image 3](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/61alaxG+H2L.jpg) ![161 Speaker System (Black) - Ideal for Stereo or Home Theater use - Image 4](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/31GNfu9gewL.jpg) ![161 Speaker System (Black) - Ideal for Stereo or Home Theater use - Image 5](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/61ONDg9QlSL.jpg) ## Available Options This product comes in different **Color** options. ## Questions & Answers **Q: Can these speakers be used with an older sound system of cassette player, cd player, receiver, turntable? The sound system is about 30 years old.** A: I have mine connected to my turntable, tape deck, CD player and receiver, all of which are minimum of 20 years old or older and I have no problem. I take into consideration that these speakers are not top of the line Bose, but they do pretty well. I'm happy with them. **Q: If I use four speakers, two in front and two in rear, will that give better perfomance in big room?** A: I have two in the front and two in the back and the sound is just great I can hear so clearly **Q: can I hook them up sidewards on the corner walls?** A: I don't now if the original question is the same as mine but I'll throw in my question...have a couple old rectangle shaped Infinity speakers that are mounted up in the corners near the ceiling. They're on mounts that have a 4 way pivot so I can point them right into the middle of the room where the listener will be most of the time. The Bose 161 has a 2 way pivot mount so I can either do up and down or side to side depending on which direction I mount it. What's the best way to mount this speaker for the best sound in the middle of the room? **Q: Will this speaker work with an old realistic sta-78 stereo receiver?** A: Yes, these use standard speaker wires and would work well with any receiver. Charles ## Customer Reviews ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Nice sound for your home theater. *by R***1 on May 2, 2018* I get a kick out of questions that think these speakers have bluetooth or an amp built in. But they are designed like old school bookshelf speakers. They need some form of amplification and your home theater receiver would work perfect. You could also use them with a bookshelf stereo receiver and whatever you drive them with, they are very flexible. They include buttons for the bottom or sides to place them on a shelf. The nicest thing about these is using the wall mount. Lots of adjustment when mounted vertically or horizontally and even include screws for the most common mounting substrates. I bought the white ones since my walls are white. Right now, I'm using on my computer that is being used as a home theater. Originally I was using a set of speakers that sounded just fine but wanted a different mounting configuration. They replaced a set of speakers that were Amazon Choice ones and a bit less expensive but when I hooked up the Bose 161's there was a real sound difference. The first difference was that voices were "muddy" on my old speakers in comparison to the Bose. So much so, that I found that I did not need the volume turned up as much on a typical movie or TV show. I know that some of the Bose TV sound systems/sound bars promote that as a feature. Even with these budget speakers, it's evident that it's part of the Bose sound and one I do like. Second of all, my older speakers had fine separation from right to left. Same a pretty much every bookshelf speaker out there. The Bose 161's seemed to give the same separation but sounds were more localised. Kind of hard to describe, but had a more 3D where you could point at the sound and my ears and eyes can follow the motion in an action movie. And even the depth to a show that I had never found with my old speakers or any other ones I have. It was a surprise which makes every show just a bit more enjoyable. Now, I know everybody wants a speaker with a lot of low end bass. And if that's what you want, you should have the equalization knobs on your receiver for that or in your device manager on your computer to get the sound you need. Out of the box, these Bose speakers are going to give you a natural sound. You can adjust frequencies as you need with the option of adding a subwoofer to your system. But on their own, they are not going to shake your room or get you tossed from your apartment. But I don't think they were ever designed to be a 901 or 602 replacement. Those are definite lease busters and need an amp to back them up. These are a quality speaker system for home and home theater use. Priced right with the flexibility to position them where you want. Also no need for speaker stands and mounting is included. All you need to buy is speaker wire. Most likely since Bose didn't know the length or color you need. I hope you get a chance to listen to these Bose speakers and add them to you home theater. I've been using them for about a month and a half and pleased with them. The only downside is that the other speakers I have are going to need to be replaced. Since I have 3 subwoofers kick'n around here, this could get pricey. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ HT setup... bose 201's front, VCS-10 cenre channel and bose 161's for rears. Polk Audio PSW505 sub... tied up by Onkyo Tx-SR608 *by P***Y on January 14, 2011* I just did my HT setup... Man i cant sing enough praises for all the components... I don't get the muted sounds on Bose claim.. i can hear everything loud n clear... each dialogue is as clear as it gets... don't have to strain to hear em anymore... The tonality of the mid range... to the sharpness of the highs... its just beautiful. 201's are a bit bigger than i thought they would be... but look amazing once set up... and sound real good too... They dont have enough base you say... n i'd raise my sub to you (albeit briefly... it's heavy you know ;) ) but what clarity of sound.... it really makes the sound pop... All the Bose's put together make a real good sound stage. Now on to the non bose components... Kudos to Polk audio for the woofer... it's a bit too loud for my taste... so its turned down to about 1/3'rd of its max o/p...but amazing difference the 12" sub makes. Setting up was a real breeze... plugged in the lfe n adjusted the volume to my taste... The Onkyo receiver is a real amazing piece o tech for its price... Audessy 2EQ (the auto sound setup) is really easy to do... sets up the speakers just right... i tried tweaking my setup... but outside the sub (set to put out a wee bit too much) it had everything nailed... Just an FYI... my living room is 15" x 15" ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Great sound and good price *by E***N on January 29, 2011* I was able to buy this pair of speaker for $142 from Amazon which was a good deal given that Bose never have any deals for its products. I'm not a Bose fan. I'm not a sound professional but I like music and I listen to all kinds of music. If I buy something to plug in my old Pioneer receiver to enjoy music, I would never buy this pair. Let me tell you my journey to the purchase of these speakers. On a nice sunny day, I came to Goodwill store on Berry Road and saw Bose sub from the Bose Acoustimass 5 (just the sub). I bought it for $4 (four dollars) and was pretty sure that it would not work. Surprisingly, the sub still works pretty well with my receiver. Then I looked for its satellite speakers on Ebay, and surprisingly (again), the used old tiny satellites never cost under $100! Why should I pay for those used things more than many new speakers? Then another day, I found this pair, which is new, and price is not so different from the used satellites. I was delivered to my home with another big surprise: Vanns packed it in a 10 times larger box with a lot of foam inside. I plugged them in the sub and they sound great, crisp and clear I guess. As my experience with Bose products, it will last for years. Bose Acoustimass 5 subwoofer + Bose 161 bookshelf, anyone heard that? --- ## Why Shop on Desertcart? - 🛒 **Trusted by 1.3+ Million Shoppers** — Serving international shoppers since 2016 - 🌍 **Shop Globally** — Access 737+ million products across 21 categories - 💰 **No Hidden Fees** — All customs, duties, and taxes included in the price - 🔄 **15-Day Free Returns** — Hassle-free returns (30 days for PRO members) - 🔒 **Secure Payments** — Trusted payment options with buyer protection - ⭐ **TrustPilot Rated 4.5/5** — Based on 8,000+ happy customer reviews **Shop now:** [https://www.desertcart.us/products/1148873-161-speaker-system-black-ideal-for-stereo-or-home-theater](https://www.desertcart.us/products/1148873-161-speaker-system-black-ideal-for-stereo-or-home-theater) --- *Product available on Desertcart United States of America* *Store origin: US* *Last updated: 2026-08-03*