Ian, was this a Model 1 experience? As in, were you A/B'ing a Single Model 1, then a Double Model 1?

This was using two Model II systems...we tried the single system, and then hooked two of them up.

The difference between using one, and then using two (in stereo) was amazing.

I was not very impressed with the arranger through a single Model II.

I will be probably be buying two L1 Model II systems in the early spring when I go back to personal gigging.

Sounds with stereo effects, either as main voices, or in the accompaniment parts were the most affected.

To me it is the best of both worlds...great coverage, AND stereo.

I would still use my two Yamaha MS60S for restaurant work, as I want the sound to stay within a certain area...the Bose would be used for everything else.

I think it would be a great investment.

Ian

Ian
I sold TWO Bose Mod I systems to the Big M Casino boat . My wife works on the boat and uses That system every week. The poles are 10' apart and in Stereo. Yes there is a noticeable difference and if you are sitting in the right area a BETTER sound But she is less than 5 feet between both of them. I am not claiming stereo is not good in small venues. I don;t think I would sacrifice PA quality and fidelity in order to achieve a stereo signal. In other words a great clear and even mono signal is better to me than a weak uneven low powered,limited freq range stereo system.

My wife would LOVE another tower. LOL And if I can get a deal from Bose like Yamaha delivers I may get her a Mod II tower. Yes they sound better wider and especially using stereo EFX which opens up the sound stage. She pans at 11-1 Just enough to keep the sound centered with some space. NO hard panning. Now the big question is is the difference worth $2000?

Thats the question I need the answer to to be comfortable buying a second pole. The portability remains the same four more Small pieces to carry. I think we should try a second Bass module first because stereo is less important to here then a big sound. She unrealistically believes a second tower will make her louder. I believe another SUB module will do the same thing. I tried two in the store and it makes all the difference in the world.

We sell the Ms-50DR system, for the DTexpress drums. I prefer them over what comes with the Tyros. but the Tyros speakers are custom mounted and do a fine job for home use and I imagine as live monitors at a venue. We did not buy them though. I plug into my trashy Monitor Ones and Subs LOL.

So the answer is yes they do sound better. $2000 better? Jury is out on that. and yes she uses them in in stereo at her gig out on the salt water in the sea air...So I know they will hold up. Our system only gets used for in town work in places without a house system (and sometimes in places with a crappy house system).
And yes she would love another tower and I may buy one for her. The stuff pays for itself. If I do, of course, I will let you know "how great two are in Stereo and how could I ever have thought otherwise" LOL



[This message has been edited by Kingfrog (edited 02-24-2009).]

Its a principle that cost me a lot of money to learn. I trust it now.

the SPECS tuned me off. 30 Hz response on what i thought was a 10" driver was bad enough but to find it listed for an 8" driver.....Thats all I needed to see. Sorry.
Specs SHOULD mean somthing. Peak Power means jack. I pass on anything advertised using PP watts too without hearing them.

In some areas Brand still means somthing. That said I LOVE my Vizio TV....But I would not have bought them if I had not seen them on another opinion. I did buy a Panasonic Plasma though based on opinion and reputation.

I have owned Mackie product and yes it is rock solid and trust worthy as are Bose and other premium branded goods,

Fran,
Sounds good. Looks like you found a reasonable cost (that's an understatement!) set of speakers that you like..Nuf said. That's what matters.

It's all about the sound to me and each of us may prefer something different.

Without a proven long term track record, I probably would not take them to gig without backup....But tht's only MHO.

Let's don't praise these too much here (they might raise the price) :-)

Lee

Hard to sidestep an issue you can't even SEE, I guess...

Look, I wouldn't put anything down unheard (features are another thing, but SOUND is sound. I loved the Audya's demos, and said so immediately). It's not like I haven't heard a pair of Monitor One's before... Got some friends with them. Thing is, for mastering purposes, it's MUCH harder to get a consistent response with a sub. I prefer a speaker that doesn't need a sub to sound full range. That's those 824's forte. I can't count the number of times people ask me 'where's the sub?' And I'm running them flat, no boost. Straight out the MOTU, into the 824's. I highly recommend them as your next monitor.

I don't care what specs say. Most of them, even some of the best (you ever look at what the ohmage is for Mackie SRM and power amp specs? ) are close to fiction. It's just gobbledygook for people without ears. I don't buy anything without listening and trying out. It really doesn't matter what the specs say. But if Fran can get these things to sound decent with the Master EQ and Comp on on a G70, that's not bad...

I'm not going to order a pair, but if I see them in a store, I'm for sure going to at least check them out.

The 824 MkIIs are on my shortlist. I am spoiled with a Sub though. I like listening to my reference CDS with a Sub. I have two Subs with Bose 701s in my living room. I have one in the car (stock). I am not sure I could enjoy playing without a Sub. But I probably will put the Sub on a Sub mix on the 1604 so I can mix using just the Mackies and bring the sub in for tracking and general listening and patch the Mackies directly to the Firebox. .

Specs do matter to me. I bought the Alesis based on price and trade reviews at the time. I would not buy the Alesis Powered MkIIs. Yeah I'm a Mackie fan but the fact that Greg is no longer involved and they moved their assembly offshore gives me pause.
The 824s are VALUE speakers nowadays when compared to Adams and even the Event fare.
Back in the day they were expensive...

BTW whats wrong with SRM350 Specs...They look fine. Nothing jumps out as unrealistic. Input impedance? for a line level seems ok.
The 824s are said to reach 35Hz on the low side. Is that your experience? Where do they drop off. 35 seems pretty low for an 8" driver even in a Bi Amped reference Mackie monitor. Does a certain port placement affect that. Or will they deliver 35Hz suspended on a rope in the middle of a room LOL

I couldn't help myself. I ordered a pair. Don't need 'em, but I might leave them in the van for backup, if they are as good as Fran says, and I have no reason to believe they won't be.
Rest assured, I will review them for you, good or bad.
Ian, you're going to make me hook up both of my L1s just to hear what they sound like together aren't you? If I ever have them both at home at the same time, I might try it.
DonM

I may order a pair of the speakers Fran spoke of when I get to hear them...they'd be a great back-up, as well as a nice little bump up from my Yamaha MS60S.

What always put me off from buying the Bose L1 was the stereo issue...I know it doesn't matter to some, but stereo does have me spoiled, especially when it comes to hearing effects on my sounds...guitar delays, and rotary speaker, as well as the ubiquitous Electric Piano stereo pan.

I think you'll fall in love with the difference when using two Bose in stereo...the other cool thing, is that you can use the panning to more extreme settings and not end up losing the sweet spot.

Using two Bose is not that much more difficult than using a pair of cabinets and the subsequent monitors...and they will still take up far less stage space than the latter setup...only stickler would be the price for some, but consider that many pay far more for their arranger keyboard alone, and most wouldn't keep it as long as they would a PA system.

When it sounds right to me, it always makes me play better and enjoy the gig so much more...I remember when I first started using the two Yamaha MS60S after years of just using a single keyboard amplifier speaker combo.

You like emulating guitar; me too, and although you do a much better job of it than I, I love the effect that stereo has on the DSP, especially for pedal steel, and Strat/Tele type sounds.

I'll be looking forward to your comments, both on the stereo Bose, and the speakers that Fran discovered.

Ian

If Fran says they sound great ....
believe me they are GREAT!