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Bose PA

JonnyAngle

JonnyAngle

Dropping Acid Pedal Etching .com
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Nov 24, 2008
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#1
We use 2 Bose towers for our PA system. I know, I'm less than thrilled, but setup and teardown are much easier. The subs that come with the system don't really cut the mustard, even with the bonus subs added. I have a GK BL250 amp and the 2x10 cab and a 4x10 cab. Is there any reason why I should plug into the PA?

Cliff notes:
Blose PA system sucks for bass... is there any benefit to having the bass through the main mix and my amp, instead of just using my amp?
 
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#2
One of the bands I play in is starting to use the Bose II for weddings and banquet hall/party gigs. The bass, drums and lead guitar do not go thru the Bose. All vocals (everybody sings lead & backup), acoustic guitar and keyboards go thu the Bose. We have had problems hearing ourselves but never a problem being heard! And yes the bass absolutely suxs! But that's OK, I use a Carvin Bx112 combo (300w) and have been happy with the results.

The Bose System is not designed to provide chest thumping lows and earsplitting highs. It does take some getting use to because of the way the sound disperses off axis.

Hope this helps.
Russ
 
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#4
One of the bandleaders I work with has this system, with four towers and eight (I think) subs. I'm generally not at all a fan of Bose products, but this rig works. I've run through the system a couple of times, and it adds some nice reinforcement. It's usually supporting four singers, a couple of horn mics, and occasionally keys, guitar, and drums. Setup & teardown times are certainly nice and short.

Is it worth running a line from your amp? If you've got enough subs in the system, and venue is large enough to warrant reinforcement, it's worth a shot to see if it works for you. If it can appease a serious cynic like me, it might do so for you too. :D
 
#5
The bose subs are not designed for rock music. They are the same as the accoustimass module in the home stereo speakers. (2) 6.5" speakers. They will NOT reproduce bass at the volumes required for playing even a quiet rock show. For an accoustic set, they should work wonderfully. They're made to simply add a little bass to the tower mains. Use your amplifier, and don't bother miking or running into the p.a., as it wouldn't add any significant volume at all, and may damage the system.
 
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#6

The band I joined last year uses the Bose towers, and I was less than thrilled at the prospect. Wasn’t happy with the bass at all. But then I tried setting the built-in filters to flat instead of one of the recommended settings for mics or guitars. That made a HUGE difference. Suddenly there was plenty of low end.

Also, don’t use the 1/4” inputs. They introduce a nasty hump at 50 Hz.

We’re using a Mackie 16-channel mixer, feeding our three towers via the mic inputs. With the filters set to flat, we had to add a parametric EQ to tame a nasty spike in the 4 kHz range that was always on the verge of feedback and made the vocals sound nasty. Since then it’s been smooth sailing. I do use a personal monitor to hear myself a bit better, however.

Sure, they aren’t going to get rock-concert levels, but they’re sufficient for the venues you’re using them in, then you should have no problem getting plenty of bass once you zero the filters.

Regards,
Wayne A. Pflughaupt
 
#7
I know this is a old thread but what the heck. I played with a band that used two L1 model 1S with the b-2 bass mods and we ran everything threw it, bass, drums guitar, keys and singing. The instruments were turned down it was more for support to the backline. It worked great, and if you set them up right you don't need monitors. Whoever said it is right don't look for chest thumping bass or kick, but what you do get is good clean sound reinforcement and clear vocals that truly cut threw. I own one myself and am looking to add another one. I've used mine at a small club, and it was fine for just the vocals kick and guitar, two would have been even better. Even throw my bass rig can carry any club I've played, but I don't try to fill the room just the dance floor.
 
#9
I understand your point, and most people that I know would agree with you, but for what I want it works. I want a more balanced sound more so than chest thump, that's not to say you can't have both with a more traditional setup, but at the end of the day, if you are the band leader and people start to disappear or have to leave, it is a lot easier to pack and load the Bose L1 1S B2 than the more traditional stuff
 
#10
Has anyone tried to mix the Bose with a normal sub. I mean daddy a active sub to the mixer. If so I would like to hear how you did it. I have a Mackie 22 channel mixer but it doesn't have sub out and I want to know how to add a sub so I can use my L1 S1 b2 and have separate sub to carry the lows
 
#11
We have been using the Bose system in our Country band for 3 years. Here's what we bring:
2 tower thingy's
2 large Bose subs
2 smaller Bose subs
2 of those mini-amps that drive the subs
We recently got an additional sub and I have no idea the make...but it adds bass (yay!).

We always get complimented on our sound. That we're edgy, almost loud, just right-well balanced for a Young Country band. We do weddings, private parties, clubs, civic gigs, you name it and we've put everything: drums, vocals, bass, acoustic & electric guitars through the Bose and get it working just right.
 
#12
woody357 said:
Has anyone tried to mix the Bose with a normal sub. I mean daddy a active sub to the mixer. If so I would like to hear how you did it. I have a Mackie 22 channel mixer but it doesn't have sub out and I want to know how to add a sub so I can use my L1 S1 b2 and have separate sub to carry the lows
Click to expand...

I'm not sure what the features you have on your board, but what I would do on my XAir is use one of the aux outs as a sub out. On that output, I'll put in a shelving low pass filter and cut everything above 100-150Hz. Then I select what I have running through the subs by using that aux. It's not ideal, but at least I don't have to use a crossover. In your situation, a crossover would probably do the trick, if your mixer doesn't have that capability.
 
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#14
jive1 said:
I'm not sure what the features you have on your board, but what I would do on my XAir is use one of the aux outs as a sub out. On that output, I'll put in a shelving low pass filter and cut everything above 100-150Hz. Then I select what I have running through the subs by using that aux. It's not ideal, but at least I don't have to use a crossover. In your situation, a crossover would probably do the trick, if your mixer doesn't have that capability.
Click to expand...
It was suggested I plug the Bose in the sub and that into the left out of the mixer
 
#17
WayneP said:
The band I joined last year uses the Bose towers, and I was less than thrilled at the prospect. Wasn’t happy with the bass at all. But then I tried setting the built-in filters to flat instead of one of the recommended settings for mics or guitars. That made a HUGE difference. Suddenly there was plenty of low end.

Also, don’t use the 1/4” inputs. They introduce a nasty hump at 50 Hz.

We’re using a Mackie 16-channel mixer, feeding our three towers via the mic inputs. With the filters set to flat, we had to add a parametric EQ to tame a nasty spike in the 4 kHz range that was always on the verge of feedback and made the vocals sound nasty. Since then it’s been smooth sailing. I do use a personal monitor to hear myself a bit better, however.

Sure, they aren’t going to get rock-concert levels, but they’re sufficient for the venues you’re using them in, then you should have no problem getting plenty of bass once you zero the filters.

Regards,
Wayne A. Pflughaupt
Click to expand...

I agree we run a Bose system and clearing the filters brings the subs to life I use my amp di out to the mixer and run 3 bose B2's no complaints.
 
#18
FWIW......
Been "forced" to use the BOSE stuff as the band that hired me in 2006 had one for each player. Use it in most places with only 2 "Bose B1 bass bins", larger places 3, outdoors either 4 or substitute a front-loaded 18" cab I have that pushes the low as far as BOSE tosses the mid/high. I've also used a 2x15 cab vertically that works well but requires a power-soaking volume control or severe EQ below 140Hz(BOSE xover frequency) due to the 2x15 being a lot more sensitive/efficient than the BOSE "bass" bins.

Using 1 BOSE system per player does(or should do) 2 things:
1) Teaches you to LISTEN to yourself, others, and the full band mix because that is what you and the audience hear
2) Teaches you to self-mix IF you learn to listen to the band as a whole.

Experiments outdoors here in the country/boonieland(side of my home facing into a 200 yard pasture) turned up to LOUD STAGE volume using mp3 player and wireless bass for testing:
2 BOSE bass bins: lows drop off very fast(20~30 feet out, on-axis) and become "polite" bass, sort of like a decent boombox
3 BOSE bass bins: lows go out about 5 additional feet
4 BOSE bass bins: lows out to about 40/45 feet and then get very "polite".
With the 18" sub plugged directly into the BOSE for lows: VERY nice, pants-leg--moving air up close and bass you can hear and feel out to 50 to 75 feet. Hear it much further than that. Probably my new "outdoor gig" BOSE rig if no FOH is provided. Bandmates(except drummer) may complain "you're too loud" with the 18....

YMMV.
Pros: easy gear move, no PA needed, no soundman or roadies needed, audience hears mostly what the band hears(self-mix).
Cons: lows drop off fast, gut-punch bass is non-existent, highs fall off starting at 12 kHz.
 
#19
I get the hearing the band mix comment. That's a plus. As a dude with constant tinnitus, I worry that the stage volume would be too loud for my liking. Do you users find that to be a hindrance?

Would love to hear some informed opinions. It sure is a lot less gear to set up and tear down.
 

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