Would you couple your Bose L1s to a powered speaker?

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DJMN

New DJ
Feb 6, 2007
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Northern Minnesota
Is this even possible?
Would you do it?


This question is embarassing since I dont know the answer! So please give me slack on this. I was honestly worried to even post this thread. :sqembarrassed:
 
Then what would be the reason behind spending $4,000 on speakers??

I'm sure you could use a couple of powered speakers to help out the Bose if needed....

But...If your thinking what i think your thinking....I would not. Proper rig for the gig!!!
 
Follow along with me if you will, and please with no judgement! I just want to work through this idea.


So looking at purchasing a second Bose system, PRIMARILY for my second dj setup. It dawned upon me, that possibly....I could use both L1s for a bigger event.

Hence..the question for adding bass.

I am open for all possibilities..so walk along with me, and steer me in the right direction.

Any poster who comes into this thread and responds in a non-constructive, negative way will be reported! I was embarassed to ask the question out loud, and I don't need judgement on an issue that is kinda silly but theoritcal. Thanks
 
Adam.
A School dance is a school dance.

Kids love loud music with TONS of bass. Yes...Maybe you could get by with a couple of L1's...

BUT, If your looking at taking a big piece of the school pie around your area,
Is "o.k." really going to cut it??

It's a well known fact that the Bose lacks in low end. And to expect satisfactory results in a school gym with them just really doesn't make any sense to me!

What was the "other" guy using for sound???
 
So could you hook up some powered subwoofers...not the bass bins and achieve that low end?

The L1 tops would be way more than enough. (For most events that I would do) This I know.
 
Yes...

You could run some nice powered subs along side of your Bose L1's

I think Mike Early was running some QSC single powered 18's with his.
As have numerous others..Who liked the L1's but were not impressed with
the B1's
 
Yes...

You could run some nice powered subs along side of your Bose L1's

I think Mike Early was running some QSC single powered 18's with his.
As have numerous others..Who liked the L1's but were not impressed with
the B1's

See the B1s work well for most of my weddings! But they would not do an school dance adequately.


I am thinking if this could work temporarily..it would get me through til at least next fall. And if it works out..then I could purchase an actual school speaker system.

I've got two Proms in April..both the same night. Both under 100 students.

So I thought, that since I was buying a second L1 system for double bookings for weddings this summer....I could compromise and use both L1 systems for the one Prom, and add some bass. Whether rented, or just purchased.

The other Prom I figured I could use my Mackie 1530s...adding the 1501's.

Or...with such small schools...could use the L1's and add a bigger sub to each setup?

Many options.
 
Adam: Most certainly you can add a powered sub to a L1 system.... and yes, definately you would want to run two L1 systems together assumeing both came with 2 bass bins placing the bins together and using Preset 58 will give you maximum bass response which by the way goes much lower than most subs but... and we all knew there'd be a but... these bass bins no matter how low in frequency response they can go do not reproduce the SPL levels (the bass you feel) that standard subs can even though standard subs typically don't go as low....

Where am I going with this.... well if you want to feel the bass then I would add a powered Sub in conjunction with the Bass Bins and the L1 stands have an output that will allow you to take the audio out to a single sub.

With that said.... I'm not so sure it's even necessary to run a Sub with a Dual L1 with Quad B1 setup unless you want or desire chest pounding bass. But, believe me when I say this the B1's run as a group of 4 coupled to one another on Preset 58 is still a lot of bass that your ears will probably enjoy more even if it doesn't rattle your balls.
 
I wonder if you could add on an amp, a crossover, and a pair of passive 18" sub-woofers. That should rattle some gym lights! Besides, who needs lights anyway when you're trying to grind with your honey on the dance floor?

Seriously, I think it would be pretty funky to see a hybrid setup of powered and passive. :)

I think you've got your answer here, Adam. You can add on some powered bass bins for that extra oomf. Let us know what you end up adding. (Pics, please!) :)
 
I wonder if you could add on an amp, a crossover, and a pair of passive 18" sub-woofers. That should rattle some gym lights! Besides, who needs lights anyway when you're trying to grind with your honey on the dance floor?

Seriously, I think it would be pretty funky to see a hybrid setup of powered and passive. :)

I think you've got your answer here, Adam. You can add on some powered bass bins for that extra oomf. Let us know what you end up adding. (Pics, please!) :)

Ducky: You absolutely could do just that.... Bose designed the L1 system to be very flexible from addin additional Bass bins up to 2 per L1 and more by adding a Powerlite amp it is concieveable to have 4 bass bins on one L1 or 8 on a dual system... but wait there's more!

You can instead just add a powered sub (or passive + crossover + amp) if you like.

By adding a conventional sub the bass bins don't have to work as hard produceing the low end.... and the nice part is because they do go lower than most std subs you get added warmth and deepth to the bass that the subs produce..... NICE!

So now what would you pay?????
 
I was looking at one of the powered Yorkvilles myself if I needed extra Bass.
 
First I will admit that I do not know how the L1s and b1s are connected and where. If you want to use the sticks as Mid - Hi and something else for Bass, it may be possible if the output for the bass/B1s is actually coming from an internal crossover that separates the frequencies.
In a two way configuration, utilizing a Bose Controller (Crossover Network) I use a Bose 802 for Mid - His and JBL scoops for Bass and its a winning combination for me. As mentioned before in several threads/posts by Fred, line array has an advantage over conventional tops. This then is a combination of Bose and another brand, using the strengths of each. See Pic of mine here.
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Now if I was going to do a school dance my choice of system and power will be different. You will need throw and spread from your tops (I prefer to use separate mids and highs) and deep bottoms from your woofers.

The best answer of course will come from those who own L1s and B1s. This is unfamiliar territory for you and I understand your enthusiasm and concerns. Remember, its easier to step down with systems rather than step up if your main rig is limited in what it can do. You may need to go out and rent a rig for the school dance if you are only going to be doing them once in a while.
 

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You hear first with your eyes. Kids like to see huge stacks of speakers. They perceive the sound to be larger and louder. More of a concert/club feel.
 
You hear first with your eyes. Kids like to see huge stacks of speakers. They perceive the sound to be larger and louder. More of a concert/club feel.

Which is why I bought Bose.... guests come in and see this tall and sexy speaker and know just from looking at them that they will sound just as sensuous and sexy.... ;)
 
and the nice part is because they do go lower than most std subs you get added warmth and deepth to the bass that the subs produce..... NICE!

Where did you get that idea :sqconfused:
 
You hear first with your eyes. Kids like to see huge stacks of speakers. They perceive the sound to be larger and louder. More of a concert/club feel.

Bars were used to this mentality as well. Times are changing. Times are changing.

Adam,
When you are doing large gyms/spaces/venues/concerts indoor as well as outdoor there is no freakin' way the Bose L1 system can give you the SPL levels thats required for those applications. What are you going to do, buy 4 L1s and 8 B2s? For that kind of money you can buy a master system of many components from which you can have several size systems for small to large venues.
I am not a Bose hater, I own Bose (Hell, even my speaker stands have Bose written all over them). However, I do know its limitations. Can you use a van or pickup truck to move the contents of a house? You probably can but won't it be more efficient if you have a large truck and do it right with one trip?
I can understand those who buy the L1 system that want to specialize in just Weddings. However, when you have to duplicate such said system and add more components to achieve the sound you really want, does it really justify the cost? How interchangeable are those parts with other systems?
 
Have never plugged in a sub woofer, but I have plugged in an extra powered speaker. It was wireless and I wanted it to fill around a corner. Sounded fine, but only did it because all other equipment was in used that night.