It's funny Dennis, you're experiencing all the emotions/questions I asked MYSELF before we tried out the system.

1. God, is this little skinny thing ENOUGH?
2. Will it fill a whole room??
3. Should I bring a back-up P.A. system???

lol

Look, we're a Duo that play Leagues Clubs, RSL's, Surf Clubs (some pretty decent size venues) and for the TWO of us there's PLENTY of power.

Here's the thing:

All the stuff I read on the Bose Forums (you REALLY should go and have a read of those forums btw - a fabulous, valuable, interesting, friendly, practical place) is actually true. It's a different kind of loud .

It doesn't HURT anyone if they get too close.
There are NO hotspots - the sound is even EVERYWHERE you go in the room.
The clarity is crystal.
You WILL run too loud at first, because you'll be used to a conventional P.A.
(WE'RE still running too loud at some gigs)

You have to get used to this concept.
It's a scaled down Line array (Basically) NOT a point source speaker.

There was a "discussion" about this in the "Bose L1 Model 2 cases" thread (which I deliberately kept away from) which was comparing a point source speaker to the Bose.

Apples and Oranges.


Mate, there's plenty of power. The most I have ever run the system (I estimate) was at 5 out of 10.

Here's a quick run down on what you MUST be careful of:

1. GAIN STAGING - this system, more than ANY other P.A. I have worked with needs the Gain and level settings carefully sound checked.
Basically it's recommended that you turn the Power Base Master Volume to 12 o'clock. Then you set the trim on the T1 (the ToneMatch engine - mixing desk - you ARE getting that aren't you? - I certainly would!) speak/sing into the Mike/play your instrument at PERFORMANCE level.
Trim each channel until you get some red - then back off slightly.
When you're happy with that, set the sound level (knob below Trim) for each channel.
Then (especially if it's a big room) set the Power base level to maybe 8 or 9 out of 10. Quite frankly I have ours running at 10 - no problems yet. Then set the Master sound level on the T1 (Mixer).

2. About PLACEMENT: Place the tower behind you at LEAST 7 feet away (Bose says 7-8 feet). Remember, if it's too loud for you, then it's probably too loud for the audience, because it's NOT a point source speaker.
You do NOT have to crank this thing to reach the back of the room like a conventional speaker - seriously.
If you can't place it behind you due to lack of depth of the stage area (we often have that problem) you can set it up slightly in front of you (Maybe slightly to the side so you're not obscured by the tower) - you CAN use this as a traditional FOH speaker placement wise. You WILL hear very well (including vocals) and still not need a monitor.

Get to the venue as early as you can and set up - you will only need to do this a few times at the most before you get it.

(We also set the Bose up at home and played around - I highly recommend that).

We made up our minds after the 2nd gig.
We didn't buy the system and pretend to justify the money spent, as other people suggest most Bose owners do.

We had the option to bring it back - no money spent and stick with our old P.A.

Ours is NOT going back.