Review ob Bose LI compact and LI type II

[gtangring]

Hello friends, long time no see.......


Report on the Bose L1 compact and L1 type II.

www.bose.com/controller?url=/shop_online/speakers/portable_amplification_systems/l1_compact/index.jsp


A friend of mine aquired a Bose L1 type II system for use with his
digital drumset (only a bedroom player...). Having read a little about these system
I decided to try one so i borrowed his setup for my last gig which took place in a
quite big hall, 60 * 30 meters or so and about 5 meters to the ceiling.

I also decided to skip the guitar amp this time so my rig was; Guitar, samson wireless,
yamaha magic stomp (the AC30 amp sim setting), zoom 508 for echoes Strachans programs into
the Bose LI. For backings I used my iphone straight into the LI. The whole rig could be carried
by myself alone if I had chosen to do that. Setting up in less than 5 min.............

The sound check was totally stunning! More than enough to handle this big venue and I did not miss
the stereo one bit which I had expected to do. The sound is almost uf the same loudness and quality
no matter where you are in the hall. I walked round in the room using the wireless and was in constant
amazement!

I had quite a few comments from the audience about the clarity of the sound without being deathening
and quite a few asked me where the sound was coming from...........

I decided that the LI type II was a bit of an overkill so I have now bought a LI Compact which I have already
tested in a hall the size of a medium sized pub and the result was as stunning, the less powerful Compact system
sounded exactly the same as the big type II, and the whole room was filled with sound. Even easier to carry......

The whole setup also does itself justice as an integrated part of my living-room where it sounds equally good at
low sound level.

I will probably use my VOX vtx 60 but only to use the amp modeling, won't need it for monitoring so I will
kill the speaker with an earphone-plug.

Anyone else tried this system?

Goran

(link edited by Bill, I hope to the correct page :-))

[Deleted]

Hi Goran,
Thanks for the review but when I enquired about the L1 COMPACT several suppliers agreed it would be ok for small pubs and coffee houses etc but if you were putting;
Backing Tracks PLUS Pod for guitar instro's PLUS vocals you would need the L1 type II for clarity of three input items, but its price was around 3 times more. Have you any further observations on this as a user now.
Tony

[noelford]

I have a Bose L1 Compact arriving tomorrow for demo purposes and will post here, later this week, after I have given it a good try out.

[Deleted]

very interesting bit of kit. I would be interested in further comment
George.

[gtangring]

Yes, the compact is mostly suitable for smaller venues, but I can't see a problem with feeding multiple sources into it´as that in effect is totally the same as playing cd's and that certainly is not a problem.
I have played all kinds of music instrumental and vocal through it with equally super results. But - even in larger venues - when you play "guitar-karaoke" like we shads-nerds do, let's face it, it's rarely comparable to a concert situation but more often than not a bit of background entertainment. (There are always listeners and not-listeners, of course). And even if it is a concert-type event, people tend to be quiet during concert numbers, so in many cases the Compact will do. The dispersion of the sound is so good that everybody will have good listening experience.

That said, the type II is superior of course but more than twice the price. The compact does it for me in most venues I will encounter.

[noelford]

My demo L1 Compact arrived today but I have only had time to try it out quickly in the garage. First impression? STUNNING!

Tomorrow I am taking it up our village community centre to give it a full throttle work-out.

I really have high hopes that this relatively lightweight piece of kit will replace three heavy amps (guitar, foldback and pa) and make life a lot easier.

[Deleted]

Hi Goran,
Thanks for the in depth review on this, very interesting.

To Noel,
Hope you and yours are well, I shall be most interested in your report with the trial, I must say I haven't heard a negative comment as yet on the performance.
Regards Tony

[noelford]

I'm buying one!

Excellent, room-filling, clear sound. Even made the poor acoustics in the community centre sound good.

Plenty loud enough for me - only wound it up just past the halfway point.

It's not heavy, sets up in a flash, and sounds great when used with my Line 6 Pod X3 Pro. BTs sound very good, too.

[Deleted]

Hi Noel,
Thanks for the observations and I can see why you are made up with it. It would seem these units are becoming so popular.
Tony

[nighthawk]

Hi all, for those of you that were not at last years get together Rodd "big bose man" had his L1 there I believe it was the typeII (I'm sure Rod will correct me if I'm wrong). It sounded fantastic and was man enough to fill the venue even at half volume.Just wish I could afford one.

Les

[gtangring]

Isn't it always about money.......?

['Big Bose Man']

Hi Les,

Yes, your perfectly correct, it was the Bose L1 MkII that I brought along to the Get Together earlier this year.

I did mentioned to some of the members at the Get Together that I did have a Compact but upgrade to it's Big Brother for no other reason than having heard it I wanted one.

I am in a similar situation to Noel - I only ever play small local charity events, friends parties etc and our local Hospice. The Compact is a fabulous piece of kit, more than adequate for the type of venues where I play BUT I just had to have the Big fella!. Can't justify the purchase and I know it's probably overkill - but what the heck - wouldn't change it for anything else.

Les, don't forget to post your Christmas wish list to Santa (and give a copy to Sue).

Very kind regards,

Rod.

[George Lewis]

Hi All,
Just received mine ... amazing and much more suitable for small venues than than the 1200W total overkill Behringer PA I usually use.

Aussies put off by the Bose Australia price ... PM me ... ordered 11PM Monday from NY .. arrived Wagga 11AM Thursday, picked up Friday, 30% less than Aus price !!

Thanks Goran for drawing our attention to this.

cheers
George