Double Bass Using the Bose S1 Pro

[JohnWT]

Before buying the S1 I looked on Talkbass for relevant info and advice but found none.
Maybe this will help someone else decide.
I wanted to get a bit more portable and, unable to get much info from Bose re the actual performance and specs of the S1, decided to buy it and try it.
Using it on a gig to amplify my double bass via pizzo pickup and preamp I thought it was okay but didn't have the bottom end or quite as good a sound over all as my wonderful but heavy homemade amp.
A singer came and sat in and I invited her to plug her mic into the second channel of the S1 but it didn't provide enough gain and we had to use a preamp. The S1 also doesn't provide phantom power so it's no good for some mics anyway.
On the next gig I used the S1 as a monitor that I could put on a speaker stand and move next to my ear while running a lead from the S1 line out to my old amp.
The line out proved to produce a very low level and noisy signal. That surprised me in a Bose amp but I was forced to classify it unusable and adopted the alternative of using a mixer that could output my bass signal to both the Bose and my other amp.
This also gives me a mic input that I can send just to the Bose.
If I'd known then what I know now I don't think I'd have bought the Bose.

 

[AGCurry]

Although I have several various Bose items (L1 Model 1, L1 Model II, F1, L1 Compact), and I think they're great for what they do, the S1 is simply inadequate for bass in large and/or noisy rooms. Sorry.

 

[Brad_Pearson]

The whole point of the S1 was to run on battery power for busking, which it does well enough, for acoustic guitar players and singers (who is going busking with a phantom powered mic?). In order to run off batteries, I'm sure they pulled some low end punch to conserve power.

I think the next generation of battery speakers will be an improvement, and may even become usable for bassists, we'll see.


Yorkville makes the EXM Mobile 8, a direct competitor to the S1. I haven't had a chance to try it yet. I am busking with an electric bass with the S1 this weekend. Should give me a good sample to compare the EXM 8 too eventually. Ill report back if it is any improvement.

 

[bobsax]

Seems like it would work well as a home stereo running Spotify or Apple Music .? What do you guys think of it for that? Then it can just be something you use on occasion with a bass guitar or maybe upright bass to boost the highs in low volume situation?

 

[Ric Vice]

I looked into both the Bose S1 and the Roland BA-330 for doing Storytelling in the State Parks. My conclusion it they would be great
P.A.’s but not with the Bass and voice. While the Traynor SB 106 is good for either but alas isn’t battery powered. So good luck with your
quest.