Hi,

Every so often, I think about the L1 and do some checking online, and then I move on. Frankly, I've never been a fan of Bose's consumer audio products (other than the noise-canceling 'phones). However, I am the pianist in a voice/piano duo --- really, for L1 discussion, a solo act. I play, he sings. Since all he's doing is singing, he can hold the mic and have quick reaction time to feedback. Good sound engineers are extremely hard to find and they don't come cheap. Last night was another night of heartbreakingly crappy sound. No more. My partner and I debated the matter deep into the night. We agree that we need to take control of our own destiny and that we can't afford an ongoing sound engineer (if we could even find one who can hear). My plan was to get a couple of Eons, or similar, feed 'em with my little Mackie board, and run an out to a headphone amp driving those little Shure earbuds to function as monitors (and this wouldn't even be a submix, just a mirrored signal of what the house would be getting). My buddy's persistent pushback to my hopeful pitch, was "yeah, but even if I can get with the eadbud thing, we're still not gonna know what the audience is hearing." Hard to argue with that. So, once again, I'm thinking about the L1 (II with T1). We seem to be the perfect ensemble for this product. We play small to medium-sized venues and our singer can hold the microphone. Seems tailor-made. Yet, I'm still doubtful. My brain can't get around not having to crank the thing to ear-splitting levels in order to be heard in the back of the room, and I still have to deal with my lack of appreciation for Bose's hi-fi gear (not said with any offense intended, just having to state it as a qualifier for me). I'm willing to purchase and really check it out for 45 days, but I wonder if I really even want to go that far. Plus, it will still involve shipping costs, etc).

Anyone here have similar reservations before purchasing? If so, please share.

Thanks to Bose for the forum.

I did, and I'll never ever go back to bad sound.

I was so frustrated with terrible sound and sound people who cost too much, that I thought what the hey, I'll give it a try.

I bought the system with the Musicians Friend card so I had 45 days to decide, and 12 months to pay it off. No shipping or Tax.

I ended up getting 6 extra gigs, in the first 2 months, due to having the system, and that along with a bonus for my 'real' job, I paid it off at the end of the 45 days.

I cannot express how much I love this system. I tell everyone that I talk to about it, and in all my advertising, and information on my website, and the event sites that I subscribe to, I have a blurb about the system being the best PA on the market for small to mid sized venues up to 1000 people.

I have used it in larger venues, plugged into the house system, and use it like my monitor system.

I won't do a gig anymore unless I am allowed to use my L1.

I know that there are other views on the system, but if you really give it a try, and listen, you will be very impressed.

A recommendation would be to get an additional B1, especially if you play acoustic guitar or keyboard, or play larger or outdoor gigs. The difference is subtle in the smaller venues, but you will notice it right away outside, or in 100 person or larger venues.

Good Luck,

I know you won't regret it.

Hi MLS,

How big are the places you play?

What kind of music are you performing and what kind of show do you put on?

What is the audience doing while you are performing?

This might give us some idea of the volume you will need on stage to reach your audiences.

Where are you? Maybe we can help you connect with an L1™ owner or someone who can help you get up close and personal with an L1™.

quote:

Anyone here have similar reservations before purchasing? If so, please share.

Interesting post. You caused me to think of the time before I finally decided to take a chance on the L1 system. I checked the forum here from time to time for almost a year before ever becoming a member. I'd read the comments, studied the info, read people's experiences, etc. and wondered if it was really worth the price, before I took the plunge. I was concerned it would not have enough power to handle our band's needs.

Then I got a chance to hear a local band play through a L1 system and I was convinced. Came home that night and ordered one the next day! If there is any way you can get to a demonstration or hear someone use one, I'd suggest you make an effort to do so. It's not your typical speaker on a stand sound blaster! Hearing is believing....

My reservations came AFTER purchasing. (Bought at Guitar Center with a 30 day return policy). Came close to returning the system (Classic L1) at the end of the 30 days, but this was from trying to use them like traditional speakers for a 4 person band.

I bought them in frustration over constant band complaints about not hearing each other. I had tried in-ear monitors but did not like the feel nor the sound quality of the in-ears. My job was both guitarist and running our sound board. Saw the L1's at the Guitar Center, read about them and decided to try them. The theory looks great. and actually is great with some practice.

Anyway - after a bit of learning curve, they turned out to be an excellent investment. I've since upgraded to 2 model 2's and 4 T1's.

quote:

My brain can't get around not having to crank the thing to ear-splitting levels in order to be heard in the back of the room

Depends on the room, how packed it is, what your listeners are doing, and where you place the L1.

What type of music do you play and sing and how tight is your space in your venues?

Jim Mead

Hello MLS,

Welcome.

In addition to the advice you'll get directly to your post, have you spend any time reading some of the other areas of the message board?

Most people feel there is a wealth of unfiltered information there, which is what I believe you are for.

My opinion is that there is nothing like being bathed in the same sound field as your audience. Nothing comes close. Are there things you have to learn depending on venue, genre, audience, etc? Usually, yes. But I think it is a small price to pay for the unified experience.

All the best,

Ken

Type of music? Classic rock covers mostly, but we have a pretty different slant on it. We're actually the keyboard/bass core of an original instrumental fusion band (for lack of a better word), but the bassist sings beautifully and we found that we can really reach audiences doing Motown-meets-ECM interpretations of songs like The Weight, Fire & Rain, etc. Plus some originals. I run the Ivory plugin for a base piano sound, and have a 58 on hand for the vocals. We do sometimes play for larger audiences in larger rooms where good sound engineering is present, but right now most of our gigs are restaurants/bars/coffeehouses/wineries, etc.

Thanks, everybody for the feedback. And I'll be sure to delve deeper in the site. (I did read Rick Turner's postings -- fascinating, as I was always intrigued by the Dead's Wall of Sound concept.

Oh, and ST: the audiences are either listening intently or some listening/some talking. We do have a way of getting people's attention. Our approach is pretty unique and anytime you have a great singer, people tend to focus in. Definitely not a dance scene with this duo.

Oh, and sorry for three posts in a row -- We're in Charlottesville, VA.

MLS, I too had not been a BOSE fan. I was not impressed with any DEMO or Product until I heard the L-1. I purchased through a referral specialist in PHX who was one of the first to use & promote this new concept. I have been a happy user ever since. In fact, I now am also a Referral Specialist as well. You may gain some feedback or insight from a pianist I met this year who uses a model I & was expressing his awe of the system when used at an out door event in Canada. Even he wasn't sure he could get enough coverage in this out door amphitheater arrangement that rose high above his platform which backed against the water. Lorne Matthews

Your story is very similar to many on here. I've sang in rock bands for most of my adult life. I was just on the verge on giving up on playing out because the, "house sound," was almost always awful and would just ruin the performance for me and sabotaged the sound of any band I was in.

My current rock trio uses two L1's and we sound great without hassle.

You will have no problem being loud enough without blasting on stage. I've even had a friends thrash band through mine and they were still loud enough, while being bareable up front. while they were louder than someone might want to tolerate who likes softer music, it was no where near as punishing as a traditional system up front.

I think if you give it a try you'll never go back.

P.S. I've never tried bose radios, the L1 was my first bose product after using traditional amps and PA's for years, the L1 sounded better than all of them to me.

quote:

Originally posted by MLS:
...I still have to deal with my lack of appreciation for Bose's hi-fi gear ...

This was my biggest qualm when I first ordered two Systems (with two B1's each) for our church. I had also always thought the Bose consumer gear as over-priced for what one got.

However, for the L1 (and, since, I've learned, too, the Pro Division), the price -- for me -- more closely reflects reflects the value. The price/value may not be "entirely there" ... but I haven't yet learned of any viable alternative for portable live performance amplification.

quote:

...My brain can't get around not having to crank the thing to ear-splitting levels in order to be heard in the back of the room...

As an engineer, I readily understood the concepts and acoustics/physics of how radically different the L1 design is and why it allows the stage sound level to be reasonable while still filling the room; for me, the only issue was whether reality "matched the design intent" -- which it does. That is a situation where reality fully met both expectation and 'advertising'.

Hi MLS,

Thanks for all the information.

It sounds as though the L1™ should be a good fit with what you are doing. It actually sounds pretty interesting and I'd love to hear you perform.

You might consider contacting a Product Demonstration Specialist. For details see: 45 Day Trial from Bose and Other Purchase Options. The first link on that page will take you to contact information. John Sweet is in Warrenton VA. (See VA - third from the end of the list). I just checked in google maps and it looks like he is about 70 miles away from Charlottsville, VA.

Back to the matter of sound.

The L1™ does really well in situations where you have the attention of the audience. You can deliver tremendous detail and nuance throughout the room. It is, I think, an appropriate reward for listeners' attention.


With respect to the volume.
From your description, you compel your listeners with your music rather than compete with them with your volume.

quote:

We do sometimes play for larger audiences in larger rooms where good sound engineering is present, but right now most of our gigs are restaurants/bars/coffeehouses/wineries, etc.

You will not need "to crank the thing to ear-splitting levels in order to be heard in the back of the room".

You will be able to perform at reasonable levels and be heard clearly at the back and the sides and in the corners of the room. The L1™ lets you do that. I know because I see it in faces of the audience when we play, and hear it in their comments after the show.

Hi:

quote:

"Anyone here have similar reservations before purchasing? If so, please share."

I did! Mostly it had to do with having the L1 behind you - and the claims that there would not be any feedback!

If the L1 would have cost a couple hundred dollars I would have simply gone out and bought one and taken the chance. But, because of its high selling price, it took me a year to pluck up the courage to buy one. However, I'm glad I did buy one!

I've said before, on more than one occasion, that if I didn't use an L1, I would stop playing to live audiences. And I'm quite sure I would.

And as you have observed, competent sound engineers appear to be in short supply.

Good luck,

Stu

This message has been edited. Last edited by: StuartD,

Wow -- the quick response on this board with so many thoughtful replies is pretty amazing. ST -- thanks, Warrenton is an easy drive (Richmond is slightly close and there's a GC there) and if John can give a demo and answer my questions, that sounds like a great place to start.

It occurs to me that our next gig is at a loud, noisy bar -- but yet, my favorite place to play. My home base (I used to play there weekly back in the day when I was a F/T gigging musician.) If any small place can get noisy -- it's this place. Would have to work it so my 45-day trial includes a night there!

ST, and anyone else interested: here's a link to the band's most recent album ('05). Beatles' "Rain" download is a good example of the duo I've been talking about: http://sokoband.com/recordings/two/rain/
Streaming tracks can be found under the "recordings" link.

It seems this post was very similar to mine...check out my findings, http://bose.infopop.cc/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/778102955/m/7611009305

...you wont be disappointed with the L1, you will never go back to conventional PA after using one and your singer will gain notes in his range.

Hi MLS,

If you click on the link at the bottom of my post called "Interviews with ToneMatch Partners" or if you like, click here you watch a cool interview with Rick Turner. It only takes a few minutes. He is VERY articulate and has a WEALTH of experience.

Ken

Thanks, Ken