Bose L1: yeah or nay?

[Gizmot]

if you want something that's light and easy to use, Bose may be worth considering. However, if you want accurate sound with power and impact, forget about Bose. The multiple small drivers they use cannot move enough air or provide the directional control necessary to do a real gig. Nice packaging and clever marketing cannot change the laws of physics.

 

[GregT]

If you do end up getting one, I would definitely get the B2 subwoofer; not the B1. I run everything into the T1 Tonematch mixer and into the L1 1s. It sets up quick and easy and it fills a room like nothing else I've had. I sold three QSC K12s and the K Sub to get the L1 1s. The B2 is extremely powerful for bass. I am only speaking from the standpoint of medium volume gigs. The QSC blew the Bose away for volume, but with the Bose, I can now hear myself sing. No monitor.

I don't quite follow Bose's directions because I like it more beside and behind me. Not directly behind. The Bose will never replace the power of a big system. It will not move the air. A lot of people love them. A lot of people hate them. I only go by what I hear and the way-increased compliments at the end of the night compared to anything I have ever used.

Once again, I don't play super loud but people dance so I do need good bass thump. I never even considered Bose all these years because of the lack of bass response with the B1. The B2 came out and I was in.

Keep In mind, I am doing exactly what a lot of people who don't like Bose admit they are best for. I am a one man band. But I do split my guitar signal three ways: two go into guitar channels and one goes through a compressor, a Boss OC3 octave pedal (drops it an octave and becomes my bass), and into a Sansamp Programmable bass driver. I use an Alesis SR18 drum machine and a microphone for vocals and harmonica. That is every channel on the T1! For my purpose, the Bose excels. If I were in a 4 piece band playing the same songs, I might end up with QSC again.

 

[4Mal]

Problem is that in rooms requiring dance volume, that Bose tower needs to be pretty loud and as it is your monitor, then your monitor may be way too loud. That to me is the primary drawback. If you had two out front as mains and two pointed back as side fills with a mixer driving them at reasonable monitor volumes, maybe .... But then you've spent a ton of money on a system that is frankly only OK sounding. A couple of K series on sticks, sub or not or PRX's on sticks and a couple of something similar pointed back. Is FOR ME... The way to go.

Snugger Songwriter stuff? The L1 works fine. Everything else, mkeep looking is my suggestion.

Love my Bose quiet comfort headphones and 901'Bs were cool in their day...

 

[experimental bassist]

If you do end up getting one, I would definitely get the B2 subwoofer; not the B1. I run everything into the T1 Tonematch mixer and into the L1 1s. It sets up quick and easy and it fills a room like nothing else I've had. I sold three QSC K12s and the K Sub to get the L1 1s. The B2 is extremely powerful for bass. I am only speaking from the standpoint of medium volume gigs. The QSC blew the Bose away for volume, but with the Bose, I can now hear myself sing. No monitor.

I don't quite follow Bose's directions because I like it more beside and behind me. Not directly behind. The Bose will never replace the power of a big system. It will not move the air. A lot of people love them. A lot of people hate them. I only go by what I hear and the way-increased compliments at the end of the night compared to anything I have ever used.

Once again, I don't play super loud but people dance so I do need good bass thump. I never even considered Bose all these years because of the lack of bass response with the B1. The B2 came out and I was in.

Keep In mind, I am doing exactly what a lot of people who don't like Bose admit they are best for. I am a one man band. But I do split my guitar signal three ways: two go into guitar channels and one goes through a compressor, a Boss OC3 octave pedal (drops it an octave and becomes my bass), and into a Sansamp Programmable bass driver. I use an Alesis SR18 drum machine and a microphone for vocals and harmonica. That is every channel on the T1! For my purpose, the Bose excels. If I were in a 4 piece band playing the same songs, I might end up with QSC again.

Thanks for the info regarding B2 vs B1.

Again, my experience was with a couple of the the original L1's and 2 B1's in a former band. I thought for the smaller gigs we played in they did rather well, and the audience and bar owners seemed especially pleased.

Also thanks for sharing your equipment scenario. I do consider the K12/Ksub as an option, interesting that you chose the Bose setup over those considering the QSC stuff is top notch.

I appreciate everyone's comments, and please keep them coming.

Quick, easy setup and teardown and minimum equipment is just as important as loudness for this particular application.

And for what it's worth I'm looking at this system exclusively for smaller venues (<100 folks).

I have access to a much larger PA system (mains,monitors,poweramps, a couple of small subs and a few mixers) via my band, and through my larger circle of musician friends a full blown festival rig or two would only be a phone call away, so for purposes of discussion I'm not concerned with expanding this particular system.

Which probably also explains why I've never have any PA of any kind of my own (at least since I was a teenager, I did own "a third" of a pretty epic-for-it's-time Sunn setup but that's another story).

It just hasn't been an issue until now that I'm looking at starting "my own thing".

Again, everyone's input and experiences is much appreciated, thanks!

 

[Jazzish]

I've used them for smaller Jazz gigs and a couple of outdoor pop gigs. Easy, portable, clear. Never a problem.

 

[GregT]

As far as the K Sub vs. the B2, the B2 will actually go down to the lowest note on a 4 string bass with ease. The K Sub will not produce the lowest notes very well. I've had both. If I ever needed to use QSC again, I would get the KW181 or something like that. Low end is just as important for a small gig or a medium volume show. I'm just not ever wanting to haul big equipment again. The K Sub is more like the B1 to me as far as frequency response is concerned.

On Talk Bass we have musicians from every spectrum. What I do only represents a small portion. I don't do big shows. For me a great turnout is 150 people. In my little one man band, I am guitarist, bassist, singer, harmonica player, and I push the pedals to start/stop/fill the drum machine. At the end of the night I am the roadie. My roadie likes the Bose.