Hi, everyone.

I was thinking the other day about the Bose 802 and the necessary complexity introduced by an external processor when being used with an external power amplifier. Those 4" full-range drivers need quite a bit of EQ to do their thing, but when properly EQed, they have a sound that's less fatiguing than typical multiway loudspeakers with horn-loaded midrange and high frequencies. So there's definitely a reason to approach sound reinforcement loudspeakers in that way, but the complexity and cost of the loudspeakers and the external processor can be prohibitive.

What I propose is that Bose should consider an active, internally-powered, internally-processed version of the 802 loudspeaker, to eliminate the external processor, but still deliver the same clear sound with deep bass that the 802s were capable of. The 402 could also go active, too. Perhaps a companion active MB4, or Panaray MB12/MB24 could be offered in conjunction, to fill in the low end beneath an active 402 or 802. This would create a product offering to appeal to those for whom the L1 system is impractical, but for whom the complexity of the current 802 systems is too much to wrestle with.

I'm interested to hear what the Bose guys think about this -- it seems like the 402 and 802 would be the perfect place to apply active internal power and processing.

20 years ago Bose made a speaker similar to what you describe: the acoustimass professional powered speaker. It had 6 of the 802 type drivers and a 12 inch bass speaker in an acoustimass enclosure. It had an internal 650(i think) watt amp and active eq. it retailed at 3500 per speaker and weighed about 70 lbs.
I bought a couple and used them for quite a few years. They sounded great for their size.
rwj

Rory, I'm just guessing here... but seeing Bose's lineup now, it seems that the L1 and the Panaray are positioned to take up the 100pax and up crowd simply because they are line-array systems.

For large venues and open areas, line-arrays (for me) are the way to go, so there simply wouldn't be any reason to develop a standard point-source system anymore.

I would agree to a hybrid L1/Panaray system in which the L1 sections could be mounted like the Panaray, but the PS1 section could come in a 4U rack version or something.