Last night, the Bose PAS system debuted at a mid-size venue in Baltimore, one where I have been playing for about 2 years. The problem at this particular location is I perform in one room and the audience is in another connected room. The opening between the rooms is approximately 15 feet wide, and there is a drop-down wall from the ceiling, thereby creating the worst possible conditions for moving sound. It's almost like playing in one room and hoping the music can be heard in another that's filled with people who are talking loudly.

After setting up the system, I fired up the keyboard, then played a midi file and walked throughout the area to determine how the sound is carried. I did this before the crowd arrived. While there was some fall-off in volume at about 10 to 15 feet away when I passed through the opening, it was not as signicant as most other systems I've used. Additionally, the fall-off did not persist until I reached the other end of the second 80 foot long room where the bartender was watching a sports show on TV. At that point, the TV's volume competed with the Bose PAS.

I'm still not happy with all the instrument voice sounds--particularly the grand piano. Some of this could be my hearing, which is shot to hell from guns going off over my head while serving in the U.S. Navy. Most of the other sounds, especially the guitar and sax sounds, are excellent to superb.

As for the vocals, no system on the market today can touch the Bose PAS--it's beyond description. Everyone in the audience commented on how clear and crisp the vocals sounded and they all loved the music. The keyboard's styles come through very well, and sound nearly the same as the those coming from the keyboard's onboard speakers.

Hookup time is a bit longer than I would like, about 20 minutes to set up everything, compared to 10 minutes using the Barbetta Sonas and 12 to 15 mininutes using the Logitech Z-5500. I believe configuring the cables into a harness will solve some of this problem, thereby decreasing hookup time to 10 to 12 minutes.

Bottom line with the Bose PAS is the jury is still out and I have to take it on a few more jobs to be sure whether or not I'll keep it. My wife says it sounds much better than the Barbetta Sona 32-Cs, and I value her input in these matters, again because my hearing is shot to hell.

In comparison to the Logitech Z-5500 system, the Bose PAS obviously has considerably more power--about 250 watts RMS more. However, the Z-5500 will readily handle an audience of 100 to 125 people in most mid-size venues. I've used it on two occassions at the same place I performed last night with glowing reviews from the audiences. The fall-off was greater than the Bose PAS, but not to the point where it became a problem. Additionally, because it is full stereo, and has a significant amount of depth and quality with it's surround-sound speaker system, it really surpasses most systems I've used that were touted as high-performance PA systems, including the Peavey's that I've previously owned. The piano sounds with the Z-5500 are outstanding, which I can only attibute to the fact they are stero sampled, and the Z-5500 is a full-stero system. With the exception of a few individuals, all of the pro performers that have heard and usd the Logitech Z-5500 system will tell you that this little $350 U.S. sound system out-performs most $1,000 pro systems available from music speciality stores. If you buy the Z-5500, I suggest that you purchase it from an outlet with a liberal return policy. Then after trying it out, if you do not like what you hear, you can return it for a refund. This is the same policy I have with the Bose PAS system. If at the end of 45 days I do not believe it will do the job, which I hope to know long before that time, it will be returned to Bose for a full refund.

More to come,

Gary

Gary, thanx for the thorough review on the Bose PAS, sounds like the Logitec z5500 system is is more then enough for your venues.....good thing you have the 45 day return policy in place. Maybe you should buy another Logitec system for backup, sell the Barbettas, return the Bose and still have plenty of money to take your wife out for a good time!!

[This message has been edited by Dnj (edited 06-11-2005).]

You might want to get a couple of used wireless mics to plug into your keyboard or mixer. Then you can send a signal to some Z-5500's and put them in the other room.

This might be an option if you play at this venue often.

Beakybird

Gary,
Nail the Bose "pole" to the floor and hire a girl to do some pole dancing.
Neither the customers nor you will complain about the sound anymore.

Having nothing to say on the matter, this is the first thing that sprang to my mind. I am hoping I dont offend you.
Theodore

Larry,

At the price of the Bose PAS I can buy a half-dozen Z-5500 systems and still have a few bucks left over to throw a big party for most of the Synthzoners. In reality, that might not be a bad idea.

Theodore,

For the amount of money the music business pays I couldn't afford the pole dancer, but it would be one hell of an added touch to the act. Some of those old guys, unfortunately, would drop dead in their tracks if a pole dancer was added to the performance. The others would be shot by their wives just for watching her perform.

Gary

Oh, Gary! You didn't lose your humor...

So, do you think that the Bose PAS are worth the money? Well, I guess this special location you've mentioned is a hard nut for every PA system...

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Greetings from Frankfurt (Germany),
Sheriff ;-)

Sheriff,

I've tried three different sound systems at this location and so far the Bose has been the best in reaching out to the other room. As for sound quality, particularly for instrument voices, it will difficult to top the Logitech Z-5500. For vocals, the Bose wins hands down.

I hope to do some more tuning tonight and make the bose instrument voices sound better, especially the piano, which I tend to use more than any other voice.

Cheers,

Gary

Gary
By tuning,I assume you mean trying presets. There are about 80 to choose from.
Bernie

Gary. I'm from Balmore(Baltimoreese). Where do you play. I'll try to stop by and see you. Bob Lee

Bernie,

Yes, working with the presets, and also tuning the 3000s EQs to get peak performance from the right hand instrument voices.

Bob,

You have mail.

Gary

Hi Gary

Just wondering how the Bose sub compares with the z5500 sub. Same frequency range, sound, etc?? The Bose speaker is smaller isn't it?

I used my z5500 sub with my JBL's last night in a place that liked it loud and I'll tell you that little Logitech sub really, really pumps out some bass. It's really surprising for the size of it.

Scott,

The Bose sub is a bit smaller, and it does not move as much air because it's not a long-throw sub like the Z-5500. The 5500 really rocks, especially when you want a gut-thumping bass to kick-start the dancing crowd.

If I can find a few free hours this week I'll A/B them to see which one does the best. I suspect the Logitech will win out in this category because of the design.

I'm still tuning and tweaking things for the Bose, and the way it now sounds I believe I'll have everything the way I want it in the next few days. When I get done, I'll post the results and settings that work best for me.

Cheers,

Gary

Congrats with the purchase, those do look pretty nifty. Even with its "petite" speakers i hear it produces quite a bit of "big" sound. For this particular place that you play couldnt you daisy chain the setups? Have the Z-5500 in one, the Bose in the other. Well good luck with whatever you decide for it.

Phil

Phil,

The big advantage with the Bose PAS is the volume is nearly the same everywhere in the venue. I hope to put this to the real test next week if possible, at a hall that can seat 600 or more people. I'm going to offer to perform free for a group of about 250 line dancers, folks that usually rely on a standard sound system and CDs for their line dancing classes. If it works the way I believe it will, then the Bose will stay and the Barbetta Sona 32-Cs will go.

I don't know how Bose has been able to accomplish their nearly equal distribution of sound throughout the room, but it is absolutely incredible from both the entertainer and audience standpoint.

More to come,

Gary

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Travlin' Easy

I just got my B1 Bose bass module to AB it with my Z5500 sub( I bought my PAS with the intentions of using my existing one). As the tech guys at Bose told me,there is no comparison.I think it has to do with the crossover network.For me,the Z5500 sub was much more dominant on it's own system,as is the B1 on the Bose system.

Gary
You play out more in different venues and am looking forward to your assessment. As it stands now,I am goin 100% Bose and will sell my Z5500,or use it on my computer instead of my Z2200.
Bernie

Bernie,

What are you going to use as a backup system if the Bose fails. I was thinking along the same lines, however, as you know I have a backup for every piece of equipment--including the amps.

Gary

You have a point,my friend.
Bernie

Good luck with your hall gig, if it works how you plan and sell your Barbetta's let me know what your asking

Phil

Yesterday, I managed to solve the piano sounds problem by not using the PSR-3000's live grand piano, but instead using the GM grand piano and tuning it the way I wanted it to sound. It tok a bit of work, but it was well worth the effort. Additionally, I find that running the L/R out and the R out into two separate channels on the Bose PAS seems to provide me with a greater depth and quality of sound than just running from the L/R channel alone.

Next, I also changed both my overall EQ settings and mic settings to accommodate the Bose PAS, and now everything sounds great. As I said on the outset, every system is different and must be treated accordingly. Now I have two USER EQ settings saved in the PSR-3000--one for the Bose PAS and one for the Logitech Z-5500 system. Both sound excellent to myself, my spouse, my daughter, and most of all to my audiences.

I believe the important thing to keep in mind that the entire setup is a complete sound system, and each component must be properly tuned to acheive the ultimate performance. This includes everything from the mic right down to the PA's speaker EQs. Everything must be balanced just right, but keep in mind that some of this can change with differences in room configurations, overall venue size, crowd noise, etc. Nothing is written in stone, and there are no global settings with any of this equipment where you can just set it and forget it.

Cheers,

Gary

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Travlin' Easy

Interesting observation. Since I'm frequently running one Barbetta, I'm gonna give that a try and see what happens.

Glenn

Gary.....nice observations so your now happy with the PAS and will be keeping it as your main sound system now that you've EQ'd for different situations?

Donny,

At this point, it's definitely a keeper!

Gary

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Travlin' Easy