A bit different from the run of Series I and Series II that I usually see, I got to fix up this Bose 901 Series IV Active Equalizer which was sent to me from Austin, TX. The Series IV was sold from 1978-1983 and its construction reflects this.
The PCB on this model is single-ended, so can be completely removed from the chassis.
This unit came to me with one channel dead. The standard service for the Bose 901 Series IV Active Equalizer includes replacing the electrolytic capacitors and op-amp chips by default for best performance. Other parts are replaced as needed, but Bose used stable resistors and high quality, stable, true film bypass capacitors in this device so there’s no benefit to a wholesale parts replacement like on the Series I/Series II.
The 901 Series IV is the first of the active equalizers to use op-amp chips instead of discrete transistors. In this case they’re LF353N op-amps; Bose used the LF335N, TL072, or 4458 op-amps interchangeably and the schematic and service manual allow for any of those chips. Very nicely, they’re all socketed – these early op-amps weren’t that reliable and often developed noise and distortion over the years.
The electrolytic capacitors in this equalizer were about a decade better condition than the ones on the S1/S2, but they were universally bad.
I use a variety of manufacturers for premium replacement parts depending on what’s in stock at any given time; in this case it’s getting all Nichicon Gold capacitors. Every single one of the originals had high ESR and was changing in value.
These were definitely causing some issues – most likely, noise and distortion, although since they would have degraded over time it might not have been obvious. This capacitor, though, was the specific one which caused the channel to go out. It’s measuring only 157 pF, nearly open.
In contrast, a good new cap:
And some residue on the board:
I replaced the op-amps with RC4558s.
Then it was on to bench testing!
There we go! With it checking out on the scope, now I moved on to a frequency response and live listening tests. The curve came out textbook:
The Series III/IV share an interchangeable curve and it is very different from the Series I/II curve.
And back together!
Fully serviced, this should last a long time to come. The Bose 901 Series III/IV speakers have foam surrounds which can degrade, so that’s worth watching out for, but this equalizer is back to top shape.
RETROVOLTAGE 
IMHO: 4558 is not good choice for replacement. First of all it is slower: Slew rate of 4558 – 1V/us, 353 – 13V/us. So 353 sounds more energetic. Second – 4558 has bipolar input, otherwise 353 – FET input which sounds more clearly.
Today I finished repair same eq. I replaced all caps to Nichicon PW (in power supply) and Elna Silmic II. Also I replaced all ceramic caps to np0 (c0g), DIP sockets and outlets to gold-plated bronze.
Thanks for this fantastic information, I have a series iv eq which developed an annoying squalk through the LH speaker as it powered down. I suspected and was considering cap replacements, this has given me the confidence to give it a go. I also plan to replace the TL072 op amps as suggested. My foam suspensions had all perished but thanks to Simply Speakers, these have now been replaced. In response to Fernando, my 901s never had good bass, call it sacrilige but I added a sub…just for those rock ‘n’ roll moments…
I did re caped my 901 series IV EQ because one channel stoped working.but i noticed that now the speakers sound a bit too bright. now to get some bass I need to crank the LF slider all the way up. and before recap I had decent bass I used good quality Nichicon audio grade caps and 4558 op amps