A newer (and less expensive alternative) to the Bose systems is the Fishman SoloAmp, with a street price just under 1k. Check out the product videos:
http://www.fishman.com/products/details.asp?id=106 2008 Summer NAMM "Best In Show" Winner!
Portable and Powerful
Designed for the singer/songwriter, SoloAmpTM provides exceptional sound quality and coverage in a wide variety of venues. 220Watts of clean, lightweight power drives a line array of six custom high-excursion speakers and a soft dome tweeter. This unique combination delivers incredibly full sound, ultra-wide dispersion, and deeper sonic penetration than the common speaker cabinet. Better yet, the enhanced bass response of the custom-designed speakers means there's no need for a subwoofer!
It's a P.A., and an Amp.
With SoloAmp, the performer and audience hear exactly the same sound, meaning there's no need for separate wedge monitors or a combo amp backline. And because SoloAmp is voiced for the singer/songwriter, acoustic instruments and vocals are projected with superb depth and clarity.
The Ultimate in Portability
SoloAmp weighs only 25lbs*, ships complete with a padded bag equipped with wheels, and includes a rugged speaker stand. Set up takes less than a minute, with only one trip to the car! And full-digital universal power means SoloAmp is ready to travel anywhere in the world.
Features Performing Musicians Demand
Fishman didn't make SoloAmp this portable by scaling back on features or tone. In fact, they've included all of the award-winning elements of the Loudbox family, and added a unique Monitor feature designed to revolutionize an acoustic duo's ability to hear each other on stage. SoloAmp is also equipped with two mic/instrument channels featuring high-quality preamps, each with 3-band EQ, phantom power, built-in reverb, effects loop, and feedback-fighting notch filter and phase controls.
Specs
* Compact Line Array = Ultra wide horizontal dispersion & deeper sound penetration
* Two Mic/Instrument Channels
- High-quality preamps
- 3-band EQ
- Phantom Power
- Independent Reverb level
- Effect Loop
- Feedback-fighting Phase and Notch filters
* Drivers
- Six 4' mid-woofers, patented dual gap, high excursion design, neodymium magnets (200W)
- One 1' neodymium soft dome tweeter with level control (20W)
* Auxiliary Stereo Input with Level control
* Four Digital Reverb effects with master level
* Balanced XLR D.I. outputs for both channels and main mix
* Unique Monitor I/O for improved on-stage ensemble monitoring
* Mute with remote footswitch input
* Tuner Output
* Ships with Stand and padded Carry Bag (w/ wheels)
* Dimensions: 41.5' H x 5.6' W x 6.6' D
* *Weight: 25 lbs without Stand, 35lbs with Bag and Stand
The original designer of the SoloAmp (Jack Campbell) sold the concept to Fishman back in 2005 and is unhappy that they took so long to get it into the marketplace (Fishman kept making changes). He is releasing his original design at Winter NAMM in '09, which will be called the BagAmp and sell for under 500.00 (half the price of the Fishman product). His recounting of the entire SoloAmp saga can be found here (this guy is quite the character as you will discover!):
http://www.aboutjack.com/soloamp.shtml In the Acoustic Guitar Forum (you should read all 3 pages of postings) he discusses his work with line array speaker systems and compares the Fishman SoloAmp to the Bose L1 (which he once owned):
http://www.acousticguitarforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=128706 I plan on using the Fishman (or BagAmp) system with my Line 6 PodXT Live & Variax guitar setup (mostly acoustic and clean electric guitar), as well as a TC Helicon Harmony-G vocal harmonizer. I may incorporate occasional keyboard parts as well. If I purchase through Samedaymusic, I'll have 60 days to put it thru its paces just to make sure it suits my needs. The SoloAmp is supposed to be released sometime this month (August). Cant' wait!
Michael