I have been researching systems for a long time and comparing performance and price.

On Price
At first, the system seems over-priced until the total system costs are included. It is true that if you consider amplified speakers, stands, mixer, and cables the Bose system costs more. However it wasn't that far out of line, and once you include the signal processing gear, the price is comparable.

On Form Factor
When space / portability is considered as a feature, then the cost is a bargain. It is impossible to get any PA system in the same space consideration without sacrificing sound quality and projection in a big way. Comparable coverage and portability requires 2 or 3 times the space (and corresponding hassle in setup).

On Larger Venues
When the auditorium (we play in churches, mostly) seats more than 300, the house system can take a line out from the L1 and supplement the sound as needed (we asked them to keep the eq flat). It is surprising how little is needed in this situation, especially if the room is well designed. The sound in these venues is usually much better managed and this seems to be acceptable.

On Smaller Venues
Playing 50-250 seat venues is pure joy. Typically, they have inferior sound systems and even worse sound engineers. Even if they have a decent system, depending on these sound engineers is scary... for good reason. I could go on and on, but where I have been even more impressed is in the less than 50 settings.

In these situations we typically wouldn't bother with amplification, but the simplicity of setup and the sound quality beg to be used. This past weekend I was in a medium sized room with about 35 people (eating, etc...). I played for some of the time without the L1, and when he L1 was turned on (just noticeable 5 feet in front of it), people commented, "It sounds like every place in the room is right next to you."

Can you put a price on that? Not for me...

On Sound Quality
Another comment heard several times this past weekend was, "It sounds like you, only louder." Even cranked up to its limits in a 300 seat auditorium, we had no problems being heard anywhere (it was a very challenging room). The dispersion of sound is amazing, and the quality of sound is consistent throughout the room, without killing the ears of me or the front row.

In a nutshell, if sound fidelity / quality is a concern, I don't know how you could go any other way. Seriously...we are primarily acoustic (blend of classical and folk) and are used to mixing ourselves when we play and practice, so getting that feel when performing in an amplified setting is priceless. The sound dispersion and clarity is second to none, and even in intimate venues where we would normally play without amplification, the system proves valuable.

So...I am sold and wouldn't go back to a "traditional" PA for anything.

To Echo that.

DITTO
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Can you put a price on that? Not for me...

I'm with you on that!

Do any other folks plug into your system?
Does your wife play also?
Reading your other posts, it sure sounds like a fun time taking the family on tour.

Welcome to our world!

I play guitar (a classical and a steel string - both fingerstyle), and I sing. My wife plays cello (and some violin), and my son (12) has just started playing the keyboard with us. Other kids (we have 5 total) contribute a little occasionally as well.

But mostly it is simply me and my wife...

Additional comments: I am delighted with the tone match presets on the T1...anyone try the NS cello pickups / tonematch presets? I am thinking about getting one of these for the cello...right now it is miked with an earthworks tc20.

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Other kids (we have 5 total) contribute a little occasionally as well.

That is so cool, you have much to look forward to!

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anyone try the NS cello pickups / tonematch presets?

I use the NS/Design bass presets for my NS WAV4 EUB. They allow me to get a close resemblance to my acoustic upright bass, but not 100%. I suspect they would work fine for one of the NS Cellos and that you would find them a welcome addition for at least finding a starting point for your final "tonal" balance that you might desire. Let us know if you get one of the NS cellos and try the presets with it. I'd be curious to hear your input. They have certainly helped me "dial in" my EUB!

I agree with all your observations. I too, am a very happy user of the L1. People keep commenting on how they could hear and understand everything sung. We have had some older "hearing assisted" folk comment that for the first time in a long time, they enjoyed a concert. It didn't blast them out and they actually could understand the songs!