I've been using the Bose L1 for a few years and I'm very happy with it. I like the sound, the portability and the look. No big complaints.

Over the last year or so, I've been diagnosed with a degenerative arthritic condition which effects my upper spine and neck areas. This isn't going to get better, only worse and slowly but surely the amount of ibuprophen, pain meds, etc. are ticking upwards. I don't take meds for it every day, but when I'm gigging a lot, which I am this year-even more than usual-the pain gets pretty bad.

Its been mentioned to me by my physician that anything I can do to lighten the strain on my back will have a real benefit to it.

I'm seriously considering switching from the Bose L1 rig to a double Bose Compact set-up.

I'm curious if those who are using this set-up can share their pros/cons? I know it will be lighter, I know I'll enjoy "some" stereo separation, I know for those smaller gigs where the L1 has been overkilll, a single compact may be highly effective.

My concerns are...(Some of which may be unfounded...)

1) A lack of low-end...
2) A lack of overall power/volume compared to the L1...
3) Resale appeal of the L1...

Thanks to anyone who weighs in...

There is certainly no lack of low end!
Two Compacts will easily handle 100 to 150 people.
I've gotten good value for all the Bose products I've resold.
Weight and ease of setup is wonderful.

Hi Bill. Have you considered just (2) powered monitors? Much less handling and lightweight. Then for your big gigs, you could add the sub.

You could do that but Compacts sound better, probably weigh less and already have subs!

Don- What do you think the quality/output from a single Compact would be? I've heard a Bose Compact once live by a keyboard guy with vocals in Cincy a few years ago and it was pretty bad. The vocals were dry as a bone, and it sounded like a big transistor radio. Obviously, with the Tonematch & TC Helicon Liverack, the vocals should sound fine. If I'm wanting to keep the power and volume from my current setup, am I probably looking at two compacts and not just one?

Jim- No, not really...can you be more specific as to what you mean?

Thanks!

don't listen to anybody here take your keyboard go to the store hook up both systems play them at performance volume and make a educated decision.

Wow, I think that was me!!!! Anyway, I didn't like the Bose Compact because of that reason. The Alto ($225 ea) are full and stereo. The 3x sounds plenty powerful. Not sung for 2 1/2 years, so I might sound thin in that dept, who knows.

Bill, I have no problems using a single Bose L1 Compact - the overall quality is superb, lots of bottom end, and I've used a single with audiences to 100 with plenty of headroom to spare. Keep in mind, though, the L1 Compact has no EQ/Tone controls for the main input - and just a 2-band EQ for the separate mic input. My audiences tell me that my vocals sound better than they have in decades, and I can only attribute that to the combination of my S950 vocal processor, the TC Helicon Harmony-M vocal processor and the Bose L1 Compact.

All of the EQ settings are done at the keyboard, which is also where my mic inputs as well after going through my TC Helicon Harmony-M. I've only done a handful of larger parties where I needed to use two compacts and believe me I could have blown the walls out of the place. The bottom end was so intense on some line-dance MP3s I played I was worried that it was too much. I fired up an MP3 of Moves Like Jager and the DJ in the next hall came in to see MY system - he was so impressed that he ordered a pair of compacts the next day, and called to thank me.

As for taking the keyboard to the store - NAH! I can't think of a worse scenario than a cluttered music store, especially a GC, which is the only place I know around here where you could audition one. The acoustics, noise, etc..., couldn't be worse. Fortunately, Bose, when buying direct, and most GCs has a no questions asked return policy, which will allow you to use the product in a live situation and make a valid evaluation under the right circumstances.

The last time I checked, you were using a Tyros2 and L1 Standard and single bass unit - I assume that's still the case. Overall, that's a pretty heavy rig to lug around every day of the week. If this is still the case, you may wish to talk with the folks at GC. They gave me a great deal, traded even up for my L1 Standard that I had used for 4 years, for a new L1 Compact. I sincerely believe you will love what you hear, but if not, you can always return the compact for a full refund, even after using it for a month.

If you're still lugging around that heavy, bulky T2, I would seriously consider switching to the PSR-S950, which I believe is pretty close to a T4 in many respects. It's very light, not at all bulky and easy on an old man's back parts.

Good luck with whatever you decide upon,

Gary

Music store is NOT a good environment for testing most things.
Compact has no effects, so you will e.q. and add effects from the keyboard or T1, or a mixer.
Be aware that the T1 is NOT stereo and very difficult to rig it around to use with two Compacts (or two L1s). I had great success with a small mixer, around $140., instead of the costly and limited T1.

Don-

Currently, I'm using a Tyros 2, with vocals running through a TC Helicon voicelive rack unit....all running into a Bose Tonematch which then runs to the large floor amp / stand unit of the Bose L1...

Will I be able to still use my Tonematch mixer?

How would I set all this up to run in stereo?

Thanks guys---good information/feedback...