Fed Ex delivered it at noon, so I unpacked it and took it to my tandem job at 1:30pm. In the first room I set it up on the floor to my left. It sounded OK, with a strong bass, but not very loud uppers. I came to feel I should have put it on a chair. In the second room I set it on a chair slightly behind me to the right. What a difference; big strong sound. I set channel 1 at about 12 o'clock and the sub volume at about 10 o'clock and that seemed to fill the room even a little stronger and louder than I would with my Compact. There were no complaints from either room, in fact there were a surprising amount of compliments - but then, this was my first time in the second part of the facility.

All in all, I'll have to try it a couple more times before I decide if it beats the Bose Compact or not. I definitely want to put the speakers up on a pole and I'll probably want to try that 'stereo' thing people talk about. I will say, that I could be very happy using this system if I didn't have the Bose. They are close; the Nano was about half the price of the Bose, so if $$ is a consideration, the Nano could be your go to mini system.

I heard the Nano last spring in a couple outdoor situations and was impressed enough to want to try one of my own. My first impression is: it's great. I want to take it to one of my regular places and do an actual side by side comparison, but I think that right out of the box, the Nano makes that s950 piano sound much better than the Compact. Vocals were good and clear, and overall keyboard sound was solid. It wasn't the identical sound of the Compact, but I'd have to say they come close to each other.

I was wondering if I would like the Nano or if I'd be sending it back or even selling it. That won't be happening. this is a solid piece of equipment that I'll be keeping for a good while. I want to thank Frank V. for the great price and service...

OK,I asked this question on Don M's post, but I'll ask it again here: Would it possible and advisable to tandem a Nano with a Compact? What would be the disadvantages? Which would be the best way to wire it? If you wanted stereo? What do YOU think?

Sure, just take the line out of the Bose L1 compact and feed it into the input of the Nano - it should work just fine.

Gary

I carry my Barbetta in the van as a back-up. If I arrive at a venue and feel that it (the venue) is too large for the Bose Compact alone, I daisy the Compact with the Barbetta. You may have to ensure that they have enough space between them (I walk off 5 to 7 paces) as to not cancel sounds and it’s a good idea to plug them both into the same power source/surge protector to avoid hum. It’s easy to plug one amp on one side of a stage and the other in a separate receptacle at the other, but it may cause an annoying hum.
Ciao,
Jerry

We have one HK Nano 300 and a pair of Bose Compacts. We've had the compacts for close to two years and got the HK Nano last summer.

Just a couple of things:

1. The HK Nano has more bass response and to my ears anyway, overall a fuller frequency response...highs to lows.

2. The HK Nano took some tweaking at first to get the sound I like...especially with the bass. The HK Nano does have the ability to tweak sound...with the Bose Compacts...we get what we get.

3. The Nano appears to be just as powerful as a Compact...but then we rarely play to audiences over 75 and in smaller more intimate settings.

4. One big advantage for the Nano is that it has two inputs for stereo keyboard inputs and one for vocal or an instrument. The Compact has one input for instrument. If I'm going to do a solo gig, and use one speaker, it's the Nano.

5. When my wife plays as well(bass and vocals) we have used (1) two Compacts or (2) She uses a Compact and I use the Nano on the keyboard and then run my vocals from the Tyros.

6. The Compact has a preamp for vocals, the Nano doesn't.

Re: putting the Nano up on a chair. That holds true for us anyway with the Compacts and the Nano. Both sound better if they are put up at waist level. However, in small rooms, we put both the Compacts and Nano on the floor.

We are keeping both the Nano and the Compacts. Really, both are very good speaker systems for what we do..mostly smaller venues.

We may go to a second Nano, not sure yet. It may take a year or so to see if we would switch over from the Compacts to two Nano's.

One thing for sure, there is getting to be a number of really good amplification choices out there.

If you already own both, I would try to combine them of course. But as I said in an earlier thread, I was absolutely thrilled when I combined my Nano 300 with a pair of db technologies K300. These very compact speakers (only 12pounds weight per box) have only very reserved bass, but outstanding, clear mid and high frequencies, so everything which still sounds slightly muddy via Nano 300 (and probably Bose compact) in the mid frequencies shines with clarity via K300. For my part, it is the perfect combination if you do not need more bass than the Nano subwoofer can deliver.

I have used both in stereo (2) on stage The Bose compact & Nano 300 systems......for smaller venues they were fine I give the nod to the Nano for versatility....but my intention was to only use One PA system for all my jobs and I certainly do so many different scenarios every week and they were ok and covered smaller 50 -75 or so pp,.....but in no way could I ever use either system for my bigger jobs at 200-450pp of which many of my gigs are.. so I researched and tested many more systems and now I am very happy with what I have .....and it certainly serves my needs on stage in so many ways sound wise & versatility.
Good luck with what ever you choose.....& remember its NOt the Pa it's what you put thru it that counts..

take a look at the Maui systems also as an alternative to Bose C or Nano 300....or The Nano 600 could be a choice also.

Actually, the Bose L1 compact has four inputs, one is a mic input with a two-band EQ system, a standard 1/4-inch mono input, a 1/8th-inch stereo input and a stereo RCA input. With the exception of the mic input, the other three can be used for various instruments, I-phones, etc... I had a guy with his guitar plugged into my compact, while I plugged into the RCA using a 1/4-inch adapter cable from my keyboard to the RCAs. It ain't rocket science.

As for the audience size capabilities, well, a lot depends on the audience composition, the venue configuration, and the type of job you are playing. With a pair of compacts, I have done several relatively large jobs with audiences to 300 and still had lots of head room. And, unlike conventional sound systems that have significant falloff beyond 50 feet, I was able to fill the venue with evenly distributed sound - no hot spots - no dead spots. I've never had a lack of bass, never had to place the system on a chair or table, never have a problem with distortion. Now, if I had to do a job with an audience larger than 300 people, I would probably chain my ancient Barbetta Sona 32SC to the Bose compact, place the Barbetta on a pole off to one side and hope no one decides to lean on it and knock it over. I hate pole mounted, heavy @ssed speakers.

Now, the big difference is with the Bose Compact you must set all your EQs with either the keyboard, or a mixer if you are using one. I no longer use a mixer, therefore all my EQs are set with the keyboard, and I really like it that way. There's never a question of whether or not a knob has been bumped or not set correctly. I have a half-dozen registrations that are set up just for various EQ settings at different venues - works great. One button push and everything is ready to go. Love it!

Good luck on whatever you decide upon,

Gary

Cass,
I own a pair of Nano 300's, bought from Frank of Audioworks in
Milford, CT. I really enjoy these speakers and use them in my
home only. The nice part of having them in your home is that you can adjust them to your taste and leave them alone. I have owned them since the first of the year and after tweaking them a bit
I am pleased with them. I have them on poles and are connected
by a cable from one Nano to the other, giving a very nice stereo
sound. Lloyd

Hi guys,

Just wanted to chime in,

Cass, I'm glad your happy, they are amazing little speakers that keep up with the bigger guys.

The Nano 300 does have a mic pre on board, just like the Bose, there's a switch right below the xlr input to swith it to a mic pre, but what most of my customer do, is they are either doing all their mixing on the keyboard itself and feeding into the stereo inputs, or using a mixer for vocals , so they can add effects and more eqing to their liking

Also I have on order the New HK Lucas Nano 600s, hopefully we are looking at a late December arrival, these guys will bridge the gap between small portability with big pa sound.


I also carry the LD Maui line, with is the Maui 11, Maui 28, and the Maui 44, all at a great price compared to the others.

Frank, what is your opinion on the Maui line in comparison to Bose or Nano 300?

Only time I ever use the mic pre on either one is when my wife borrows one to take to a church function, for announcements and speeches only.

It's very hard to describe sound in words.

The Nano 300 is $699
The LD Maui 11 $899
The Bose compact $999

For the money and sound the HK wins, I would say the LD is second because its $200 more, but has a different sound approach

the Bose 3rd, there are reasons but each has it's specific charm and flaws

You mean nothing is perfect!!??

Frank let me know when you get the 600 in stock and what my price will be I am interested I Really need for Christmas season but from your post it look like it not going to make it in till later message me when you have a chance .

Ron Johnson
www.musicforyourday.com

Frank, you have based everything on price. If that were the case, I would have never bought a Bose or a sailboat, and probably never got married.

Gary

C'mon, Gary, ... what did a license cost when you got married - $2 ??? ...

Gary ... I think Frank said "For the money and sound"

Frank knows what he's talking about.....Tony is correct.

Observation: for its size and weight, the Nano should be a charm to tote around. I find that picking it up is easy, but then the weight is not evenly balanced and the amp is hanging on an angle, like a diamond shape. If I use two hands it's simple, but with one hand I've hit a couple doorways and walls. But I'm excited to use it again; I liked the strong sound and the expanded dynamics. I hate to think that anything could be better than my Compact, but this HK has got me thinking.

Just kidding guys. I wouldn't part with any of them, regardless of the price.

Gary

EVERYTHING has its price ... $$$$$

Come visit me in the Florida Keys this winter - no charge for old friends.

Gary

We probably play for smaller(and older)groups that most of you...that said...

Tonight we played to a crowd(around 50)of seniors(70's and up). My wife used the Bose compact with bass and voice...worked fine.

I used the Nano 300 with the Tyros 4.

At first I had trouble getting enough volume. Then I realized that I had volume at 12 o'clock on the Nano...50% roughly. I put the dial at 2 o'clock..70% and had more volume than I needed or could use.

The styles sounded great...the Nano has a way of evening out the sound. However, voices sounded a bit mushy. Toward the end of the gig I realized I had the EQ at 50%..probably the issue.

Here's the thing. I've been practicing with the Tyros 4 sound system that came with the board. I think that's my mistake. I think I need to practice with the Nano.

I'm going to have to start practicing with the Nano since it has a lot more control of frequency range control...both it's blessing and curse.

When well tuned, the Nano sounds just great with my Tyros. But it takes a bit of fiddling with EQ. For instance, I have the bass sub at 20% most of the time.

The thing about the Compact is that a person just plugs it in and goes...again a blessing and a curse. Thing is, I was always disappointed with the bass end on the Compact...the Nano just kicks a...there. Also, if my Tyros is a bit harsh on the high end of the voices...there's not much compensating for that except for EQ'ing with the Tyros. The Nano, I can make quick EQ adjustments there without touching the Tyros controls.

My guess is that sound is a never ending issue.

Looking for that best sound. Anyway, the Nano is probably the ticket for me but I have to continue to see if I can get that sound I'm looking for.

Well, in any case, everything must have worked because we hadn't played there before and folks asked that we come back.

The Nanos prompted me to sell two Compacts. Love the sound. The Compacts are a little easier and quicker to set up, but not enough difference to matter.
Then I found another Compact in my garage. I sort of forgot I had it. It had a problem so I sent it to Bose for refurbishing. It's a great deal - $175. including shipping both ways and they put an additional one-year warranty on it. Got it back it less than a week.
Now I will either add a second Bose, and use them for my backup system, or sell the one I have.

Don, you need to take Captain Russ fishing.

Gary