When it comes to speakers the audio quality is obviously most important, but depending on where you want to use the equipment, the design aesthetics are pretty important as well. A pair of big, impressive looking speakers will certainly draw attention, but these do not always fit the decor of a room.
If you want impressive audio quality coming from a pair of speakers that discreetly blend in with your decor, then the Bose Virtually Invisible 191 speakers are a very good choice. As the name suggests, these are the type of speakers that, when mounted correctly, will leave your guests wondering where the music is coming from.
In 60 Seconds:
Sound Quality
All too often it comes down to a compromise when it comes to choosing discreet speakers with good sound quality. Bigger speakers obviously offer the best sound quality, but they are usually also very present. A big pair of speakers installed in a tasteful, contemporary living room tend to stick out like a sore thumb. Smaller speakers, on the other hand, can be tucked away out of sight but you might end up with a tinny sound that won’t do your music or movies justice.
To get the most out of these Bose speakers you will ideally want two pairs as well as a subwoofer, but even on their own they perform admirably. Thanks to the “Stereo Everywhere” technology from Bose, these speakers allow you to hear balanced audio no matter where you are in the room, which is not something all speakers can do. The Bose speakers have two full-range drivers, using what they call an “Articulated Array” to deliver audio that can fill a room. The angled drivers are much more effective at dispersing the sound throughout a room instead of just hitting one particular sweet spot. The highs and mids from these speakers are very nice but, like I mentioned earlier, you will want to add a dedicated subwoofer if you really care about good bass.
Bose Virtually Invisible 191 Speakers Design
The Bose Virtually Invisible 1919 speakers have been designed to be as unobtrusive as possible. Big, bulky speakers might be great for a bachelor pad or man cave, but not a tastefully decorated living room. With the flush-mount design of the Bose speakers you can install them in a ceiling or wall and not sacrifice any valuable floor space or draw attention.
As the speakers have been designed to be inconspicuous, they have a very basic look. The speakers ship with a rectangular as well as circular grille so you can choose which to use to blend in the best with your wall or ceiling. The grilles are also designed to be painted, so you can really match them up with walls or ceilings. When properly installed the speakers will be hidden in the wall or ceiling with only the grille visible. A nice thing about the design of the speakers is that they come with enclosures that focus the audio into the listening area without bleeding through into adjacent rooms.
Durability
As the Bose Virtually Invisible 191 speakers are designed to be used safely tucked away inside a wall or ceiling, there shouldn’t be any issues with durability. There are some special considerations when using these speakers in cold climate regions and you will have to take care not to install the speakers upside down, but overall installation is relatively straightforward. The speakers come with a 5 year warranty, but with proper installation and care they should last you a long time. And there is no risk of someone tripping over the wires or knocking the speakers over.
Features
As the Bose 191 speakers are optimized for in-wall use they require a bit more time to set up than typical speakers. The owners guide will walk you through the steps of installing the speakers properly and as long as you can follow instructions you will have everything set up in no time. Along with your two speakers you get a template that helps with the installation as well as two rectangular speaker grilles and two round speaker grilles. The speakers have rectangular frames attached, but you get two round speaker frames separately, which you can attach if you want to make use of the round grilles. You even get a round and rectangular paint shield to aid you if you plan on painting the grilles to blend in with the color of your walls.
Installing these speakers is obviously easiest in a room that has been pre-wired, but the owners guide will walk you through all the steps. If you are not DIY inclined you might want to ask a friend for assistance before drilling holes in your wall, though.
Pros and Cons
If you are looking for discrete speakers that do not compromise on sound quality you really can’t go wrong with the Bose Virtually Invisible 191 speakers. Bose is known for great products and the 191 speakers are no exception.
Bose Virtually Invisible 191 Speaker Pros
- Discrete speaker design that blends in with your wall or ceiling
- Proprietary enclosure technology
- Includes Bose Stereo Everywhere speaker performance
- Interchangeable speaker grilles
- Great sound quality
Bose Virtually Invisible 191 Speaker Cons
- Installation is a bit more tricky than free standing speakers
- Price is a bit more expensive than free standing speakers
The Bose Virtually Invisible 1919 Speakers are not for people that that are not comfortable with performing a bit of DIY. To properly install these speakers, you are going to have to cut into your walls or ceiling, but it is certainly worth the effort. The Stereo Everywhere technology is perfect if you don’t want to spend hours trying to figure out the optimal placement for your speakers and the proprietary enclosure technology is great if you want to ensure that your audio is confined to the room where it is intended to play.
