I just got back from my first gig using my new Bose. Before I give my review let me bring everyone up to speed on why I bought the Bose L1.

For those of you who don't know me. My wife and I perform the resort circuit with a program called "the Mikey Maestro Show" (some video clips can be seen at http://www.youtube.com/kidconcert )

We are entering our 3rd season contract. We perform in 2 different locations at the current resort. During the nice weather we perform outdoors by a bonfire on the inner perimeter of 6 wings of rooms. It's a pretty large area. It's about 175' x 150'. On the rainy nights and winter months we perform in a ballroom that is surrounded by wood and glass petition doors. The room is about 80'x60' and fits about 200-300. There are 4 different heights to the ceiling. It's an acoustical Nightmare!

Over the past 3 years I've tinkered with several Pa configurations. I play other venues that almost any system would work fine. However this particular resort has always been a challenge to get good sound.

Last year I purchased a Jbl PRX 515 setup with a Mackie 1202, Lexicon mx200 effects and a driverack px . I bought this for the nights we would use it outdoors.
It sounds great outdoors. Great punch and power as well great overall sound.

I bought a smaller peavey pr12 setup with a yamaha emx512sc powered mixer with internal effects to use in that ballroom. I hated It and regretting buying it for that room.

Before I bought the JBL I went to a local guitar center to try The Bose Model 2. I wasn't that impressed with the overall sound in their soundroom. I'm not sure the salesman had set it properly because it seemed thin and not that powerful.The vocals sounded horrible and the thought of paying 3300.00 with a 2nd bass module seemed nuts.

After posting my original thoughts on the bose back then, I began talking to many synth Zoners who were happy, Frank from audio works, Gary Diamond, Don Mason and others. I also talked to some who didn't like the bose as well.

I went on using my current systems when Steve Molnar began telling me he was considering a Bose. I told him my thoughts after hearing it that 1 time at GC and tried to talk him into buying a Jbl PRX CAB. A few weeks later he told me he pulled the trigger bought one. He raved about it...
I wanted to know if we heard to different PA's because i wasnt impressed the first Time! He was kind enough to invite me to a senior gig he had in my area to hear it for myself. It was shocking!!! I was amazed how great it sounded. It was crystal clear.

I Immediately began wondering how it could work for me at the indoor ballroom. I got on the phone and had long conversations with Frank from audio works who even offered to loan me his for a gig.( He's the Best!!!!!) (I passed on his offer because I'd hate be responsible if an accident occurred, But Thanks Frank) I spoke to Hammer on the forum and Don Mason some more. They swore by it. I went to a different guitar center and gave it another whirl! Much better the second time around. Then the icing on the cake was when StephenM invited me to his home to play his Korg pa2xpro through it. My Teacher friend got me an education discount and I paid 2000 with and extra bass module and express shipping. I sold the Peavey system on craigs list.

FINALLY,,,,,!!!!!!!!!! The Review!!!!

I Played with it on wednesday in my house and was impressed. I brought it to the resort tonight to play that bad acoustic ballroom. I didn't know what to expect. The setup was very quick and easy. It took me about 40 minutes to properly tweak the gain staging. I couldn't get it to stop clipping. I finally got that resolved.

I plugged a Sennheiser E935 mic directly into the Tyros 2. and plugged my tyros into channel 1 of the power stand.

I plugged a creative zen mp3 player into channel 2.

The power stand trim on the keyboard channel was set to about 2Pm. The trim on the remote was set to about 1pm. and my keyboard was set to about 3pm. and the master on the remote was set anywhere between 12-2pm.The bass was set to 3pm and the highs and mids were set to 12pm. The Tonematch was set to 55 by stephen M's recommendation.

I set the power stand and subs in the right top corner of the ballroom. I selected the style Kool Funk ( Ladies Night) by kool and the gang to really see what 2 bass modules would do. OMG! I could not believe how much bottom it had. It had that same bass punch as the JBL. I was blown away!! The volume was cranking! It was so darn crystal clear I was speechless. My voice hasn't sounded this good through a pa since I can remember. I had my wife stand in several locations all over the ballroom and she said it completely filled the room. That room which has given me trouble for 3 years just may have been slayed! The crowd filled in (about 100 people or so) I've noticed on some occasions some small children had put their hands over their ears due to the sheer volume. This wasn't the case all night. It was crystal clear and not peircing. This room has always been an acoustical mess but it handled it so well. Two men came up to me after the show and said Is all that sound coming out of that little thing? One was a Dj who said he researched it when it first came out but had never got to hear one. The other just said That speakers sounds amazing!!

So my closing thoughts are to sell the big JBL system and purchase another L1 with an extra sub an I should be ready to take on any gig. I do have to say it's a Gorgeous piece of engineering.

Thank you StephenM, Frank, Don Mason, Gary Diamond, Bill in Dayton, Hammer, Ian, and anyone I left out!!!!

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God Bless,
Mikey

www.mikeymaestro.com
www.myspace.com/kidconcert
www.balloonanimal.com
www.jokevid.com
www.youtube.com/kidconcert

Hey Mikey,

Glad to hear you're excited about an expensive purchase

Zuki do you have a Bose system yet? with all your gigs I would think you'd be the first in line to have one.

Mike good luck.

[This message has been edited by Dnj (edited 05-09-2009).]

No thanks. Been there, done that. The Pods 10s are good enough.

Just think... you could buy an Audya with the difference between a stereo Bose PA and a pair of Podium's

Which would make the most difference to your act, if your current PA is adequate?

If you played through a stereo Bose system Diki, you'd understand what the fuss is about.

Having the Audya and playing it through a cheap set of podiums that can only fill a room by making the ones in front, as Mikey says, "put their hands over their ears" does not seem to be a sonic improvement.

Besides that, having heard the Audya demos, other than the very realistic drums (which may be important to a few, I guess), it has no edge on the T2/T3, or the G70 and Korg PA for that matter.

Ian

Mikey, That's great to hear you love the Bose. I know you spent lots of time doing the research before you made the buy, look like it's paid off. Best of Luck with it. BTW, thanks for sending the additional on staging that you recevied from Bose tech support.

Mike call me Tuesday, I want to hear about it

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www.AudioworksCT.com
203.876.1133

Mikey,
Happy to hear the Bose system is meeting your expectations. It will be difficult to go back to speakers on poles. I have rarely used two B1's for an indoor gig. The system has served me well for several years, from private living-room parties to football stadiums and everything in between.
Ciao,
Jerry

Really???

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God Bless,
Mikey

www.mikeymaestro.com
www.myspace.com/kidconcert
www.balloonanimal.com
www.jokevid.com
www.youtube.com/kidconcert