I am wondering what the rms power rating of the new L1 Compact is compared to the bigger L1 model?
I have been hearing different power ratings being mentioned on various sites eg, 70 watts & 250 watts.
Can you confirm please!!

Can anyone tell me what power in watts the L1 Compact is, there is nothing in the user manual about this. I'm trying to find this out before i purchase one?

Hi ScotAL,

Welcome to the forum.

The L1 Compact produces approximately 6-9 dB less overall output than that of the L1 model I or L1 model II system. This is directly attributed to the fact that the L1 Compacts loudspeaker array is only a fraction of the size, therefore sound drops off more quickly with distance than that of the L1 model or model II system. The horizontal coverage of all systems up close is very similiar.

To help us understand if the L1 Compact would work for your application I would ask the following:

How do you intend to use the system?

How large of a space are you trying to provide sound for? Audience size etc.

Are you playing for a captive audience or in a noisy environment with competing activities?

The reason why we dont provide specs in response to the question "how many watts is the system" is because it can be misleading to customers. The system is designed so all components (input, amplifiers, loudspeakers)work as efficiently as possible. The end result is a system that is able to get very loud.

The best way to know if the system will work for you is to get a demo or try it in your owm environment.

Look forward to learning more.

Neil

Hi Neil,

Thanks for the reply.

I'm new to this kind of technology, i use a conventional speaker system, where i have bass bins and top cabinets placed at each side of the stage.
I have a small band setup of : keyboards/Vocals, Lead guitar/Vocals and a Female Vocalist, using backing tracks through a stereo mixer.
The venues that i play are for a dancing crowd appoximately 100 to 200 people.
I want to be able to cut down the size of the rig i'm using to a smaller system.
I have been checking out what people are saying regaring using the L1 compact or using 2 of them.
Most of the time i play to people up to 100, and play some weddings and functions that are larger.
Would i get away with using 2 L1 compacts for the larger venues, and just using one for the smaller venues.

Regards

ScotAl

bose L1® Compact is better than the traditional speakers because you can hear clear and loud sounds in any direction and even if your near to the speaker you can hear and talk to each other.
i suggest you buy 1 compact then try it first before you buy 2 compact.


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Hi dj ernie,

Do you think from your experience with the L1® Compact, one will be enough for the size of venue and crowds i play to.

Also, do you think it will be better to use a T1 instead of a conventional mixer.

Regards

ScotAl



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quote:

Originally posted by ScotAl:
Would i get away with using 2 L1 compacts for the larger venues, and just using one for the smaller venues.

Regards

ScotAl

ScotAl,

The L1 approach works its best when each player has their own system. Some performers can share but it is best to minimize this when possible to achieve the best results. It does sound like the L1® Compact system(s)would work nicely for your application.

In addition to providing 4 input channles the T1 ToneMatch audio engine is also equipped with custom ToneMatch presets, integrated effects, dynamics processing, and USB connectivity making it a very powerful tone shaping device.

Thanks neil

Hi,
Thanks for all your help. After many thoughts, i have decided to purchase two L1 Compacts's just now, and add a T1 tonematch later on.

Regards

ScotAl


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quote:

Originally posted by ScotAl:
Hi,
Thanks for all your help. After many thoughts, i have decided to purchase two L1 Compacts's just now, and add a T1 tonematch later on.

Regards

ScotAl


Edit L1c → L1 Compact
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congrats! good decision

Hi,
Finally got round to trying two compact's this weekend. I have to say, i wasn't impressed.
Using a stereo mixer(good quality soundcraft) with balanced leads, I couldn't get a decent level on the vocal channels before the red lights kept coming on. Also, i couldn't get the level of the backing tracks up to meet the vocals, as soon as this happened, the full red light would come on.
The mixer outputs go straight into the line inputs on the compacts with the tonematch preset switched off. The master levels on the compacts are halfway and the master faders on the mixer are set to unity, 0db.
Any thoughts on how i'm not able to acheive more level without clipping, i assume that when these red lights come on, it compresses the system.

Hi ScotAl,

Well, I'm really sorry you weren't impressed.

The setup sounds okay from your description.

Almost no one has reported being unimpressed with the levels.

Yes, red means you're going into limiting: it shouldn't sound bad, but it's a warning that you haven't much room to grow in level.

Could you talk a little more about the environment in which you were testing and the goals you have in terms of applications for the Compacts?

Ken

Hi Ken,
Sorry for complaining like this, i'm really hoping the system works out.
The venue on Saturday was probably the smallest i do, up to 100 people seated as well as dancing.
It's a rectangle room roughly 80 x 40, the stage is slightly raised about a foot high.
My goal is to get a happy medium between the vocals and music. I felt that the start of the gig was ok until more people started to come in.
I couldn't get the level up on the system.
On the desk i added about 1 notch of bass to the backing tracks(80hz) and the red lights were coming on, this was our first set.
on our second set, i had the eq flat on the backing track channel on the mixer, and used the graphic on i-tunes to boost the lower frequencies(65hz to 125hz) by about 2db.
I know it's not ideal setting the compacts up in stereo, but it suits the purpose of my band(Using backing tracks).
Also just before i go, do you think the levels will be better if you use a Tonematch, connected to one compact, and then daisy chaining the other compact.

I hope this answers a few more questions.

Look forward to your thoughts

ScotAl

Sad to hear that your not that satisfied from my experience i use L1c the Compact indoor and outdoor and all i hear is compliments. maybe you can try to experiment with the system. try to use your ipod and experiment with the input and output and the gain level.


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When I started using the L1 model II I used a Soundcraft mixer and found it unsatisfactory. I exchanged it for a Mackie and it works much better. Maybe Soundcraft and Bose are just not compatible.

Hello, ScotAl! Something I'd like to clarify with your description:

quote:

Originally posted by ScotAl:
...Using a stereo mixer... with balanced leads, I couldn't get a decent level on the vocal channels before the red lights kept coming on. Also, i couldn't get the level of the backing tracks up to meet the vocals ... the full red light would come on. The mixer outputs go straight into the line inputs on the compacts with the tonematch preset switched off. The master levels on the compacts are halfway and the master faders on the mixer are set to unity, 0db...

(bold added above).

Does this mean that you are using more than one mic and running all the mics through the mixer?

If so, then the balancing of the vocal and backing tracks should be purely a function of settings on the input channels on the mixer; that is, the mixer settings to achieve "balance" can be initially determined without pushing the overall sound too loud (i.e.: with the Master turned down a ways).

2) When you say 'balanced leads' -- does that mean you are connecting 1/4" TRS cable from the Left Main Out of the mixer to Channel 2 1/4" input (ToneMatch switch off) of one Compact and another from the Right Master Out similarly to the other Compact?

3) The mic channels ... are you running them panned to the center? You might try running them panned alternately Right and Left, rather than centered. That can actually help the overall perception of the vocal by eliminating any potential for "dual mono" phase cancellation.

As to getting adequate overall volume:

When you were getting "Red lights" on the Compacts, with the mixer Master Outputs at "0db" ... where were the mixer input channel levels and/or the "output indicators" on the mixer? (If you could identify the specific model of mixer -- or a link to info -- that might help.)

Try this: turn the Channel 2 volume control on the Compacts all the way down. Then, play a backing track with the mixer input channels and master output set at their "normally real loud" position -- with no 'overload' or 'peak' indicators showing on the mixer, but with good, solid 'output indicators' --- You may be hearing almost nothing from the Compacts at this point, but you should essentially be running the mixer "full out".

Then slowly turn up the Master on the Compact Channel 2 up. It should get really quite loud before you see the Red light come on.

If that all works out fine, there is one possible 'refinement' you might want to consider -- but having the specific model of the mixer will help with describing that 'refinement' (which is to possibly run the mics through channel 1 while the backing tracks go through channel 2 ... but if you can do that really depends on the mixer specifics).

Hello again Scot,

Thanks for the additional info.

The scene you describe of about 100 people, some dancing, some probably trying to converse sounds like a very lively environment, with lots of background noise.

It sounds like you're wanting to pump a lot of sound into that environment, to drive and keep up with the liveliness.

From what we've heard so far, I don't think you're far off of your goal. Adding a T1 would be good for getting ToneMatch presets on your vocal microphones but I don't think you should expect to be able to play louder because of the T1. More clear and natural, but not necessarily louder.

I agree with Dan's suggestion of hard-panning vocals either all the way left or all the way right. That will help with clarity.

Can I assume that you've got bass and drums on your backing tracks? Anything else?

Also, what were you using before?

Was it good for horsepower put too much to lug around and set up?

Ken

Hi There,

Thanks for more comments on this.
I have also tried hard panning on the mixer, but didn't like the sound that way, i felt that the backing and vocals felt separate and didn't gell, sound wise.
The type of band we are, we put out a stereo sound for a dancing crowd. It's maybe asking a lot from the small system to handle live keyboards, electric guitar, three vocals & bass & drums from backing tracks.
The portability of this system is great, compared to the big mackie rig i'm using at the moment.

Could there be an incompatibility with the mixer i'm using.

Any thoughts please!!

Scot

ScotAl, this may not be an option for you, but IMHO, it sounds like 2 full-size L1's (model 1 or 2) with B1's would suit your needs. Try them for 45 days.......You'll be glad you did! I don't work for Bose.

Hi There,
I'm trying to weigh up the options. Portability, cost, if the system can do small to medium size venues with plenty of volume, when required.

I maybe need to check out the bigger L1 system instead of the compact.

I need the same horsepower that my mackie rig gives me at the moment, without the backache.

quote:

Originally posted by ScotAl:

Could there be an incompatibility with the mixer i'm using.

Any thoughts please!!

Hi Scot,

Just a few thoughts!!

I don't think incompatibility is an issue, at least on the technical level. Most any mixer will work, though there could be considerable difference in preamp quality and EQ circuitry from one mixer to the next, so artistically you might be better served by a different mixer.

If you were happy with this mixer in previous setups, it should be fine in this one. Keep in mind that the Bose system is very likely to have a different eq than your previous system therefore the values on the mixer's controls will not neccessarily tranfer to the Bose Compacts, and there is an outside chance that even with some tweaking you will not be totally satisfied. However, I 'think' that with a little time you can probably adjust to the Bose sound if you approach the endeavor with a mind open to the clarity that the Compact offers.


Start with eq flat and adjust by ear not sight. It is often easy to twist a knob to a value that we have used before and then think the system is not doing it's job when in reality we have reverted to what used to work. I say we, but I am thinking me, I know I have done this!

I encourage you to keep working with the panning of vocals and instruments if possible. This process will lighten the load on each Compact as well as improve clarity. The dispersion of the sound from the Compact is so much wider and will reach deeper into an audience with less volume than the system you have previously used, but it takes a little while to adjust to this difference. Because you can't be on the stage, and in the audience at the same time, it is hard to accept that your sound is really reaching those who are removed from the immeadiate stage area.

There remains a possibility that the Compact won't have sufficient bottom end to suit your desire for satisfying dancers, but many of the dj's have grown to like it in some situations / venues so don't give up right away, you might be pleasantly surprised if you get everything mixed in it's own space.

In the end you have to decide whether it works for you or not. I do feel that if you were not impressed at first, you haven't managed to get the best from the system yet.

I have used the Compact in large and small venues, loud and quiet, inside and out, it continues to impress me as an over achiever at each gig.

O..