I was praising my Bose system on another forum and received some harsh criticism.

How would you respond to this?:

i hate to break it to you but BOSE achieves what they do with sound by flattening the frequency range. like someone above me said, "no highs no lows". bose isn't expensive, it's overpriced. it's like starbucks, on in every mall. get in front a true audiophile setup and then you'll hear what clear, clean audio sounds like.

Hi pdk,

Oh Boy, have I been where you are!
Actually, I'm still there.
The struggle with non-believers is never ending.

Probably best to just keep it to yourself.
I've tried reasoning with those people, but there is no winner in that battle (as with any war).
Just be glad you've been saved, and let it go at that.

P

Sadly, some people actually get a real high out of downing someone else's moment. It doesn't matter whether it is a cruise (Oh, that a bad cruise line), a car (that company has problems) or someone's audio equipment or coffee choice.
These people truly have a problem with anyone's happiness. They need to put down the other person and boost themselves up.

They are just sad and should be walked away from. There is nothing you can say, since they "are in the know".
Be thrilled with what you have and the knowledge that you are working with some of the best equipment in it's class and respected names in the world.
End of discussion.

Drumr is right. Just let it go and move on. Be satisfied that you have the best sound going.

Here's a joke about a critic that may lighten your worries a bit.


A man walked in to Joe's Barber Shop for his regular haircut. As he snips away, Joe asks What's up? " The man proceeds to explain he's taking a vacation to Rome.

"ROME?!" Joe says, "Why would you want to go there? It's a crowded dirty city full of Italians! You'd be crazy to go to Rome! So how Ya getting there?"

"We're taking TWA," the man replies.

"TWA?!" yells Joe. "They're a terrible airline. Their planes are old, their flight attendants are ugly and they're always late! So where you staying in Rome?"

The man says "We'll be at the downtown International Marriott."

"That DUMP?!" says Joe. "That's the worst hotel in the city! The rooms are small, the service is surly and slow and they're overpriced! So whatcha doing when you get there?"

The man says "We're going to go see the Vatican and hope to see the Pope."

"HA! That's rich!" laughs Joe. "You and a million other people trying to see him. He'll look the size of an ant. Boy, good luck on THIS trip. You're going to need it!"

A month later, the man comes in for his regular haircut. Joe says, "Well, how did that trip to Rome turn out? Betcha TWA gave you the worst flight of your life!"

"No, quite the opposite" explained the man. "Not only were we on time in one of their brand new planes, but it was full and they bumped us up to first class. The food and wine were wonderful, and I had a beautiful 28 year old flight attendant who waited on me hand and foot!"

"Well, I bet the hotel was just like I described."

"No, quite the opposite! They'd just finished a $25 million remodeling. It's the finest hotel in Rome, now. They were overbooked, so they apologized and gave us the Presidential suite for no extra charge!"

"Well," Joe mumbles, "I KNOW you didn't get to see the Pope!"

"Actually, we were quite lucky. As we toured the Vatican, a Swiss guard tapped me on the shoulder and explained the Pope likes to personally meet some of the visitors, and if I'd be so kind as to step into this private room and wait, the Pope would personally greet me. Sure enough, after 5 minutes the Pope walked through the door and shook my hand. I knelt down as he spoke a few words to me." Impressed, Joe asks, "Tell me, please! What'd he say?" "Oh, not much really.

Just "Where'd you get that awful haircut?"

LOL! Tom.

My first gig with my brand new Modell/2 bins/tonematch.......I was setting up and the chef comes out of the kitchen......"he walks towards the stage and see's "Bose" on the stick. Hump,,,"bose, over priced he says, did you ever see what they charge for those little radio's? So I just said......"if size meant anything then Elephants would rule the world"......give it a listen to and then see how you feel. I do a sound check and he says......."wow!
Nuff said.

Hi PDK

If you are happy with your sound that is all that matters.

I'm happy that I'm getting the sound I have always wanted without having to hire someone to get it for me.

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

My 2 cents:

I own a lot of Bose home and car stereo equipment along with the professional equipment. The Bose home/car equipment has a certain sound just like all audio components do. Whether you categorize that as 'clarity' or something else is your own opinion. I've mentioned this here a long time ago, but I am a recovering audiophile, having spent small fortunes on multiple components and assorted styli (if you're asking, you're younger than me) and speakers, etc.

My point is, I don't think the Bose home music equipment and the L1 branch of Bose are the same. I think of the L1 family as its own entity, an idea pursued to bring great sound to an audience AND the performer simultaneously. IMO they've succeeded. I also know that the audience is hearing it by the connectivity I can see and, is some cases, hear from them.

I would ask the fellow if he'd like to come over to this forum and register his complaints here. I think it would be a lively discussion and I'm 100% certain our community would be entirely respectful. Who knows? Maybe we'll learn something.

Tom. Funny. I love this kind of humor. I believe this kind of joke came out of the New York Jewish tradition. You might be interested in this great website Old Jews Telling Jokes.

I bought the L1 because I wanted a PA for my personal use, and did not want to have stands and wires all over my practice space. I liked that it was easy to set up, not too heavy, and plenty loud for what I use it for (unlike some other portable PAs out there from more traditional PA and amp manufacturers).

I did my research on what others said about the LI. There were many who seemed to enjoy it and who knew more than I, so I ordered one and listened to it myself. I then had the chance to compare it to a conventional PA in a challenging space and found it far superior in that venue. The EON solution was a muddy mess; I could clearly hear the vocals and guitars through L1 outside and even in the bathroom down a long hallway. In short, I have tried it, compared it, and I like it after listening to it myself.

I then explored the physics behind it and was fascinated. I have learned more about sound by reading this forum that I thought I would ever know. I think that a lot of the people who react negatively to Brand X have never tried it. I also think that many discount things that they just don't understand. Prejudice and ignorance are not in short supply in this world.

I had a self proclaimed 'sound engineer' from Boston, no less, tell me that constructive and destructive interference doesn't occur with sound and that there is just NO WAY that the L1 could work the way Bose says it does. I just shook my head and walked away.

In short, I wouldn't say anything other than 'have you listened to it?' Not what they think a Bose radio sounds like, but the actual L1. If they haven't, all I'd do is suggest they give it a try and THEN form and educated opinion.

I didn't think anyone actually said, "no high not lows must be bose," until some over opinionated, "sound man," took issue with me like I said something about his wife when I said I used them in rock clubs and they worked great.

Ok +20 gigs in bars and rock clubs, with great sound and nothing but compliments. Guess I and the audience and people outside the venue are all somehow tone deaf or something.

I just ignore guys like these now. Most are just technophiles who care more about the electronics and power rating of a sound system rather than if it actually sounds good.

All I had to do to convince myself was hear how it sounded. Nothing missing to my ear. That is except the shrillness from horns or the mushy sound from foldback monitors fighting against the mains.

quote:

"How would you respond to this?:

i hate to break it to you but BOSE achieves what they do with sound by flattening the frequency range. like someone above me said, "no highs no lows". bose isn't expensive, it's overpriced. it's like starbucks, on in every mall. get in front a true audiophile setup and then you'll hear what clear, clean audio sounds like."

Usually, I say something like:
"If you buy me this superior sounding thingy of which you speak I'll be more than happy to give it a try. Until then I'll keep using my L1...which I know is a superior sounding thingy.

That usually puts an end to anyone lecturing me about whose sound system thingy is the best.

Stu
p.s. I used to be an audiophile nut and I would read up on all the so-called superior-sounding music systems (this was hi-fi for the home mostly). The biggest problem with most of those high-end 'audiophile' systems was that you used to have to sit in a chair in 'just the right spot in the room' to hear the best sound. Imagine taking your L1 (or Compact) to a gig and asking your audience members to all sit in the center of the room!

I'll keep my L1 thank you...

quote:

Tom. Funny. I love this kind of humor. I believe this kind of joke came out of the New York Jewish tradition. You might be interested in this great website Old Jews Telling Jokes.

Ken,

Great link! Thanks!

Tom

The cliche of "no highs, no lows, must be Bose" or variations on that theme seem to be ceaseless the the "its gotta be big to be good" crowd. I've stopped trying to "convert" such folk. I simply reply that it works well for me and our audiences. I have plenty of bass for our backing trax, the keyboard sounds very nice and I'm extremely pleased with the coverage. I then "marvel" at all the knobs, sliders on the mixer, note the EQ box(es) cables, and amps and audibly conclude that I'm sure glad I don't have to lug all that stuff around anymore.

Hey guys, I just want to say that since we started playing with the L1 system in March, two things have happened:

1. People haven't stopped raving about how good the sound is. - Fans & club owners alike have all been equally impressed with how clean & clear the sound is.

2. As a result, we're getting hired more & more & have also noticed that we're starting to develop more of a loyal following & fan-base. We see more of the same people coming out to our gigs & bringing more of their friends with them.

So in the end, I believe the proof is in the pudding. Out of all the rave reviews we've had, only one person has come outright & said that the Bose was not the right sound for us & that we should have a huge PA system & he was a producer that we ended up not working with in the end. One other person mentioned that they found the "look" weird, but whatever man, now you can see the band more! As for volume & headroom, we played to a REALLY noisy crowd last night at the Keystorm in Brockville, about 150 People partying hard & we rocked the house with it not even turned up to 1 o'clock. (Not just vocals running either - a FULL mix - Kick, Snare, Bass, Guitar, Keys, & 3 Vocals. (Had to use an external mixer for some of the ins) Most places we play, it hardly goes up past halfway & it's plenty loud & clear as a bell, & my ears aren't ringing at the end of the night. After four months & over 40 gigs, I still say it's the best investment I've ever made. It's paid itself off five times over already. My only beef is that it will feed if you set up too close to it. (Which is often the case) - Going to get a Behringer Feedback Destroyer to fix that tomorrow. And even more importantly only the 4 ins on the T1 Engine. If you guys could get an 8 or 12 input model with multi track USB recording capabilities so I could leave the mixer at home, MAn that would be sweet. No... I think it might even be perfection.
Peace - J.

Bonjour Jason,

I really enjoyed the music on your site. The sound is very good and the songs just what the doctor ordered. "Haley Camp: The trees" is my favorite, but then again I am partial to acoustic guitar...

The pictures are also excellent. Everything I have seen and heard on your sites (the studio is very well set up) shows a real attention to detail that needs to be acknowledged. It come through in the final product: real good music.

Do you sometimes come to Montréal?

Cheers,

Hey JF! Thanks man! I went to your myspace & really dug your stuff too man! We're originally from Montreal, so we come in whenever we can to play/visit. Maybe we can hook up & do some shows together sometime? We play a club in Ottawa called the Avant Garde Bar every first Tuesday of the month, if you & Guy ever want to come out & play with us there, just lemme know. As for us, we're playing in St Lazare this coming Sunday (Aug 2) & it's a fund raiser to help a friend raise money for experimental cancer therapy, so if you'd like to come out & see the show, it's for a good cause! They're also raffling off a Harley, so if you buy a ticket, who knows... lol Anyways, here's a link to the Facebook event just in case you're interested:

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=81015900674

I'll be creating one for the band's fanbase as well, I'll PM the link to you later. Thanks again for the kind words bro, & we look forward to meeting you soon!
Peace - J.

I was at a dinner two weeks ago and another musician "bandleader" was at the table and asked me what PA system I used because he was getting tired of lugging all his equipment. I told him "Bose" and you should have seen him shake his head left and right and lower his eyes and say the usual ..."no highs and lows. must be Bose". said.."Beware of the man who "knows he knows".I guess you have."two speakers on a stick. heavy and loud, and your still running with the rest of the crowd? He shut up.