Introducing the Bose L1 Pro Family

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steve149

steve149

Shine on you crazy diamond
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Sep 26, 2011
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Runs $1200, $1800 and $3100 per system (roughly) ...

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L1 Pro Portable Line Array Systems | Bose Professional

Dialed in for pure performance, L1 Pro portable line array systems give singer-songwriters, mobile DJs and bands legendary 180-degree horizontal coverage, plus extended bass response with a unique RaceTrack woofer design.
pro.bose.com pro.bose.com

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Representative pricing at Sweetwater ...

bose l1 pro | Sweetwater

View all results for bose l1 pro at Sweetwater — the world's leading music technology and instrument retailer!
www.sweetwater.com www.sweetwater.com
 
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I just saw this a few minutes ago.

Few initial thoughts:
It's nice the smaller one has a mixer port.

Nice that there's a mixer app.

Bluetooth... everyone's adding that

But beyond that, I'm not really sure what differences between these and the compact, L1s, and L1m2.

Not sure what the difference between B1, B2 and the new Sub1 and Sub2.

They were probably due for a product update.
 
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Scott Hanna said:
I just saw this a few minutes ago.

Few initial thoughts:
It's nice the smaller one has a mixer port.

Nice that there's a mixer app.

Bluetooth... everyone's adding that

But beyond that, I'm not really sure what differences between these and the compact, L1s, and L1m2.

Not sure what the difference between B1, B2 and the new Sub1 and Sub2.

They were probably due for a product update.
Click to expand...
Looks like they made the new subs more universal .. even usable on other systems. Interesting to see if the oval "racetrack" drivers sound good or muddy. Otherwise, you're correct .. looks more like a cosmetic refresh and a basic mixer section.

... oh .. and a price increase .. :)
 
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steve149 said:
Looks like they made the new subs more universal .. even usable on other systems. Interesting to see if the oval "racetrack" drivers sound good or muddy. Otherwise, you're correct .. looks more like a cosmetic refresh and a basic mixer section.

... oh .. and a price increase .. :)
Click to expand...

I believe that sales of this new line up will be lack luster compared to the previous line. I have a few reasons for this:

1. Pandemic - 2021 is going to be a horrible year for Professional Audio system sales
2. Many Bose people will just keep on truckin with what they already have for a LONG time to come. Some will retire with what they currently use. With others, by the time they are ready to "upgrade" and buy newer sound system, this new line up will be 5 to 9 years old, and they may look at even newer choices, OR wait until the NEXT refresh comes out at that point.
3. We could be looking at the next few years being weak for Pro Audio sales, not just the now through 2021.

I believe this line up will not be nearly as popular as the previous generation was. Just my opinion.
 
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Why?

Why a rectircle woofer as opposed to the tried and true round?

I am skeptical, at best.

Damn, Bose, if you gonna go big, go big properly.
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DJ Ricky B said:
I believe that sales of this new line up will be lack luster compared to the previous line. I have a few reasons for this:

1. Pandemic - 2021 is going to be a horrible year for Professional Audio system sales
2. Many Bose people will just keep on truckin with what they already have for a LONG time to come. Some will retire with what they currently use. With others, by the time they are ready to "upgrade" and buy newer sound system, this new line up will be 5 to 9 years old, and they may look at even newer choices, OR wait until the NEXT refresh comes out at that point.
3. We could be looking at the next few years being weak for Pro Audio sales, not just the now through 2021.

I believe this line up will not be nearly as popular as the previous generation was. Just my opinion.
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I suppose many will. I would have no problem staying with my L1m2's.

If I do come across some nice new features that would be nice, I'll consider upgrading. I'll probably wait until they have a good sale and/or the resale market goes up for my current stuff.

The app would be nice I suppose.

I'll also consider buying it used from someone else.
I've bought s1pro's, T4, compacts, B2, a few model 2, and some model 1's used. I'd rather buy used stuff I know is good than new stuff I am unfamiliar with.
 
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steve149 said:
Looks like they made the new subs more universal .. even usable on other systems. Interesting to see if the oval "racetrack" drivers sound good or muddy. Otherwise, you're correct .. looks more like a cosmetic refresh and a basic mixer section.

... oh .. and a price increase .. :)
Click to expand...
I know I'm a Bose fanboy, but Id be shocked if they sound muddy. I've heard people complain about lack of bass, but even the haters never mentioned that clarity was an issue. It's probably the thing I like best about my stuff now, the clarity. I'll gladly give up extra bass for a clean crisp sound. As far as bass goes, I hardly ever put my B2's on the plus setting. I think it's overkill and doesn't help the music sound better. I believe they just did it for people who believe more bass automatically means better sound. Of course, I'm not doing clubs or huge school dances with these things either. Typically, Weddings 200 and under. I'd probably use a different system if I was doing a lot of school dances.
 
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Each model seems to be a good 15-20% higher than competitive boxes and I don't see any stellar features to justify it. Maybe Bose is moving towards an always on sale model.
 
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steve149 said:
Each model seems to be a good 15-20% higher than competitive boxes and I don't see any stellar features to justify it. Maybe Bose is moving towards an always on sale model.
Click to expand...

In my opinion, what makes it worth the extra are things like:

1)Dedicated customer service line serviced by people that actually use the system VS someone in a foreign country trying to read you a manual.
2) Build Quality. the stuff lasts.
3) service after the warranty. Fixing gear and or credit for old gear. I got $1200 off a new system from an 11 yo system that I'd bought used as was beat up pretty good.
4) Resale value.
5) Money Back Guarantee. 45 days. Still can't understand why others don't do this.
6)Customer brand recognition. I don't think this means a ton to most people, but I do believe it underscores the quality image when talking with customers. They know it's expensive gear.

I don't like paying full price for just about anything. I just bought some new headphones on prime day. Normally $350, they were $199. QC 35II Maybe now the newest model, bur excellent.
 
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Scott Hanna said:
In my opinion, what makes it worth the extra are things like:

1)Dedicated customer service line serviced by people that actually use the system VS someone in a foreign country trying to read you a manual.
2) Build Quality. the stuff lasts.
3) service after the warranty. Fixing gear and or credit for old gear. I got $1200 off a new system from an 11 yo system that I'd bought used as was beat up pretty good.
4) Resale value.
5) Money Back Guarantee. 45 days. Still can't understand why others don't do this.
Click to expand...
But these are also 15-20% more than the previous generation of Bose and there doesn't really seem to be something valid to point at. I agree there was a value to them over competitive models for some .. just not sure there is one now.

I also think the last version looked better overall .. except maybe the compact.
 
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steve149 said:
But these are also 15-20% more than the previous generation of Bose and there doesn't really seem to be something valid to point at. I agree there was a value to them over competitive models for some .. just not sure there is one now.

I also think the last version looked better overall .. except maybe the compact.
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Yeah have no idea if they are worth that extra yet. What price did you see for the 32? B&h said $1899, which doesn't seem right.
 
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Scott Hanna said:
Yeah have no idea if they are worth that extra yet. What price did you see for the 32? B&h said $1899, which doesn't seem right.
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Sweetwater has the 32 w/ Sub1 at $2700 and w/ Sub2 at $3100.
 
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steve149 said:
Sweetwater has the 32 w/ Sub1 at $2700 and w/ Sub2 at $3100.
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That might be priced at b&h without the Sub then, which is useless. And the Sub is pictured, so it's Sub-par marketing😄
 
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I'm sure they sound WONDERFUL. For the price they get for them, they should. Having owned a Bose L1 Model 1 system from 2006 to 2020, I can honestly say that the best two days with a Bose system are the day you buy it and the day you (finally) sell it.

Don't get me wrong, I got TONS of compliments when using my Bose system. I also moved more drinks off of the subs, drained more liquid out of the amplifiers/bases, shooed more women off of them (No, they are not stripper poles!) and panicked every time a kid stood in front of one playing at full volume.

I panicked even more when an adult would come anywhere near it. I loved the sound, but hated that it wasn't user-serviceable. When the only service option became "you can trade it in towards a new system", I moved on to other speakers.

The F1 system was supposed to be Bose's next big thing, but it never really caught on. These systems look nice enough, but Bose is incredibly late to the game and the features and styling aren't really innovative beyond the shape of the bass driver. It's a hard pass for me, but I don't have any events right now anyways.
 
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B-Sharp said:
I'm sure they sound WONDERFUL. For the price they get for them, they should. Having owned a Bose L1 Model 1 system from 2006 to 2020, I can honestly say that the best two days with a Bose system are the day you buy it and the day you (finally) sell it.

Don't get me wrong, I got TONS of compliments when using my Bose system. I also moved more drinks off of the subs, drained more liquid out of the amplifiers/bases, shooed more women off of them (No, they are not stripper poles!) and panicked every time a kid stood in front of one playing at full volume.

I panicked even more when an adult would come anywhere near it. I loved the sound, but hated that it wasn't user-serviceable. When the only service option became "you can trade it in towards a new system", I moved on to other speakers.

The F1 system was supposed to be Bose's next big thing, but it never really caught on. These systems look nice enough, but Bose is incredibly late to the game and the features and styling aren't really innovative beyond the shape of the bass driver. It's a hard pass for me, but I don't have any events right now anyways.
Click to expand...
Not a fan of the F1's. Too heavy. The model 2's seemed to have much less of the issues you mentioned, maybe because I'm able to put the bass unit nearer the tower. But I have had to tell women to not grab the pole. 😄

Nothing is perfect. Everything has trade offs. I still love my model 2's and probably will eventually move to the pro 32's. Probably not any time soon.
Back when I had the model 1's I would sometimes hide the bass units under the table to keep them away from drinkers. Probably will have to with the new ones too as the Sub 1 or 2 won't be able to be up close like the model 2
 
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