Finally heard BOSE L1 and QSC K12's

[Kevin Kelly]

Finally stumbled into my local Guitar Center last weekend with iPod in hand wanting to hear both of these setups.

I found the L1 system (1 stick, two bass bins set up) and asked a salesrep if he could help me out. I have heard multiple horror stories about these systems being set up improperly at GC's, so my expectations were low indeed. They sunk even lower when I mentioned to him that I'd like to hear the system with it set to the preset "58" (that seems to be the one that most BOSE users that are dj's use...am I right?) and he replied that there are no presets with the original L1 system...just the Tone match system.

Sheesh...strike one....

I showed him how to set it to 58...I plugged in directly to the system - no mixer or eq'ing as far as I could tell - and away we went. Both bass bins on and just one L1 stick and I was very impressed. I have no idea what settings the remote was on...I won't bore you with what everyone has said over and over...clear sound, plenty of thump (with just two bins...I could only imagine 4 bins as I would probably end up buying) sounded great.

We then went to the K12's and at first listened to just them with no Ksubs....they sounded fine but I was expecting more I think. They sounded a bit bright to me and after listening to them eq'd flat, we tweaked things a bit and they sounded better. (using an external mixer...not the knobs on the back of the speaker....I asked him to have all of those "flat." He did keep both the tops and the subs on "heavy bass" or whatever that setting was.) We then added 2 KSubs and the system sounded much better. I did not hear any of the "limiting" or "bottoming out" on the subs that others have heard but we may have not been pushing the system to the max. I was thinking that if there were 2 L1's and 4 bass bins that I would be heaing just a much thump as in the KSubs.

Overall I think I preferred the BOSE set up to the QSC set up...obviously not an apples to apples comparison but these are the two setups that I've been torn between. Being able to shell out about the same amount of $ up front and pay the rest off on the BOSE over 6 months with no interest makes that option very attractive to me. It wasn't a scientific A/B test but it worked....

 

[Fred Wright]

The true test for your purposes will be at a venue filled with people. A setup in GC won't tell you what you really need to know.

 

[DJ JohnThe1]

Not a Bose fan here, but I would certainly take the Bose over the QSC K series. Heard the K series in Atlantic City over and over at each meeting and I really could not find anything impressive at all.

 

[SoftJock Rick]

I still think we should arrange a speaker shootout...

Not a sales event, just an informal gathering, where folks could bring their speakers, set them up in the same room, and run the same source through them.

All the DJ shows are biased, because folks are adverting and selling (same with the stores). They either run source material that they know sounds good on a particular setup, or they have no clue what we as DJs do.


I would suggest we setup a few throughout the country, in different regions.


Some might ending liking speaker A, some speaker B, etc. I think it would be a great experience. As long as there's no marketing/selling going on, and just listening to other real DJ's existing setups in the same room...

 

[ahoustondj]

I still think we should arrange a speaker shootout...

Not a sales event, just an informal gathering, where folks could bring their speakers, set them up in the same room, and run the same source through them.

All the DJ shows are biased, because folks are adverting and selling (same with the stores). They either run source material that they know sounds good on a particular setup, or they have no clue what we as DJs do.


I would suggest we setup a few throughout the country, in different regions.


Some might ending liking speaker A, some speaker B, etc. I think it would be a great experience. As long as there's no marketing/selling going on, and just listening to other real DJ's existing setups in the same room...

You'll have to exclude Val because there won't be any prisoners taken or left standing!

 

[ahoustondj]

Finally stumbled into my local Guitar Center last weekend with iPod in hand wanting to hear both of these setups.

I found the L1 system (1 stick, two bass bins set up) and asked a salesrep if he could help me out. I have heard multiple horror stories about these systems being set up improperly at GC's, so my expectations were low indeed. They sunk even lower when I mentioned to him that I'd like to hear the system with it set to the preset "58" (that seems to be the one that most BOSE users that are dj's use...am I right?) and he replied that there are no presets with the original L1 system...just the Tone match system.

Sheesh...strike one....

I showed him how to set it to 58...I plugged in directly to the system - no mixer or eq'ing as far as I could tell - and away we went. Both bass bins on and just one L1 stick and I was very impressed. I have no idea what settings the remote was on...I won't bore you with what everyone has said over and over...clear sound, plenty of thump (with just two bins...I could only imagine 4 bins as I would probably end up buying) sounded great.

We then went to the K12's and at first listened to just them with no Ksubs....they sounded fine but I was expecting more I think. They sounded a bit bright to me and after listening to them eq'd flat, we tweaked things a bit and they sounded better. (using an external mixer...not the knobs on the back of the speaker....I asked him to have all of those "flat." He did keep both the tops and the subs on "heavy bass" or whatever that setting was.) We then added 2 KSubs and the system sounded much better. I did not hear any of the "limiting" or "bottoming out" on the subs that others have heard but we may have not been pushing the system to the max. I was thinking that if there were 2 L1's and 4 bass bins that I would be heaing just a much thump as in the KSubs.

Overall I think I preferred the BOSE set up to the QSC set up...obviously not an apples to apples comparison but these are the two setups that I've been torn between. Being able to shell out about the same amount of $ up front and pay the rest off on the BOSE over 6 months with no interest makes that option very attractive to me. It wasn't a scientific A/B test but it worked....

Definitely the Bose over the QSC. I have heard both. If the Bose is going to be your ONLY system, I would be very careful. If you are adding it as another option I'd say go for it! If you are only doing small to medium sized weddings then also go for it!

 

[DJ SVO]

You'll have to exclude Val because there won't be any prisoners taken or left standing!

I thought you said your Wave radio would shame Val's sound system :sqerr::sqerr: what's up with that????

 

[SoftJock Rick]

I thought you said your Wave radio would shame Val's sound system :sqerr::sqerr: what's up with that????

He looked in the mirror, and the glare off the top of his head blinded him for a second...

 

[Scott Hanna]

I was very impressed with the k12's and sub I heard at the mobile beat. I would not get rid of what I use now, but if I didn't have that choice, I'd have no problem using the k12's.

But I'm happy where I'm at.

 

[Michael Doucot]

I still think we should arrange a speaker shootout

I agree Rick - I have left our doors open to anyone, anytime when we attend the annual Mobile Beat Show in Vegas.

I will push a little harder this year - It will be an open invitation to anyone that wants to be involved, however some ground rules must be established first. I'd like to ask everyone to chime in with thoughts on the following as well as any additional ideas or comments.

1. Do we do a shootout according to price category or by speaker type? ($2000 - $3000 category, $3000 - $4000, $4000 - $5000, $5000 - $6000, $6000 +) or (powered 12" 2-ways, 18" passive subs, etc)

2. Everyone should use the same input source, but should everyone use the dame demo tracks?

3. Blind test ,or should products be visible?

4. What processing if any should be allowed?

5. Should the various systems be gain matched to achieve the same volume (which would be ideal for listening just to the tone of the speakers), or should system SPL be a factor here too?

I am sure there are some other things I am missing here...let me know your thoughts and I will try to pull it off...THANKS!

 

[Kevin Kelly]

I was very impressed with the k12's and sub I heard at the mobile beat. I would not get rid of what I use now, but if I didn't have that choice, I'd have no problem using the k12's.

But I'm happy where I'm at.

Scott! Isn't that sacriledge!

 

[SoftJock Rick]

Mike,

You can't have a shootout -- you work for one of the companies.

Well, you could at MB or another show -- but there's no way for it to be unbiased.

My idea is simple -- there can be no selling, and all equipment is provided by working DJs. The host provides the source material. No processing, unless the equipment can't work without it's own built in processor/amp. If a processor/amp is involved, it will be set to flat response.

I believe that would be a fair, and unbiased test of the speakers.


My amps only have a volume control, and source selector switch. So, for passive, that's simple. For active, the CD player goes direct into a flat response system.

Blind would be a nice test, if possible. Cost is no object for comparison, as I believe the point is to enlighten, not sell.

 

[cclark65]

I agree Rick - I have left our doors open to anyone, anytime when we attend the annual Mobile Beat Show in Vegas.

I will push a little harder this year - It will be an open invitation to anyone that wants to be involved, however some ground rules must be established first. I'd like to ask everyone to chime in with thoughts on the following as well as any additional ideas or comments.

Perhaps you should contact other vendors to bring their stuff in and have a bunch of DJ's compare them.

Systems should be setup for "normal" operating conditions, such as yes, use the processor if it comes standard with the package.

 

[Michael Doucot]

Mike,

You can't have a shootout -- you work for one of the companies.

Well, you could at MB or another show -- but there's no way for it to be unbiased.

My idea is simple -- there can be no selling, and all equipment is provided by working DJs. The host provides the source material. No processing, unless the equipment can't work without it's own built in processor/amp. If a processor/amp is involved, it will be set to flat response.

I believe that would be a fair, and unbiased test of the speakers.


My amps only have a volume control, and source selector switch. So, for passive, that's simple. For active, the CD player goes direct into a flat response system.

Blind would be a nice test, if possible. Cost is no object for comparison, as I believe the point is to enlighten, not sell.

It was my intent for MB to host it...either way...that's why I am asking that the rules are made in advance...

Still does not answer the key question of comparing systems via price categories, or similar product types (it is obviously NOT fair to compare a $2000 speaker to a $300 one, nor is it fair to compare a 15" 3-way to an 8" 2-way).

 

[cclark65]

I doubt most of us can afford to bring a system into las vegas.

 

[SoftJock Rick]

It was my intent for MB to host it...either way...that's why I am asking that the rules are made in advance...

Still does not answer the key question of comparing systems via price categories, or similar product types (it is obviously NOT fair to compare a $2000 speaker to a $300 one, nor is it fair to compare a 15" 3-way to an 8" 2-way).

Mike,

Yer always thinking like a sales manager...

Can't say I blame ya either


I'm trying my best, to think outside the normal show type stuff. More of an informal shoot the sh_t, hear what everybody is raving about, in the same room type stuff.

Price to me, is of little object. I understand folks have budgets and all, but to get a chance to hear things in real world action, is a fantasy come true for us gear freaks!

None of the DJ shows can offer that. So, why not take it upon ourselves, to make our own show, where everyone benefits...?

 

[Michael Doucot]

I get it...maybe that is the only way it will ever work. Just a free-for-all! Again, I would just want to make sure that everyone involved would have some sort of understanding of WHY they are hearing what they hear...

We need everyone to make a push for this to happen. To me, MB seems like the logical place to do it as there will be a lot of manufacturers there already and would not spend the money to do it any place else...

 

[Papa Deuce]

I get it...maybe that is the only way it will ever work. Just a free-for-all! Again, I would just want to make sure that everyone involved would have some sort of understanding of WHY they are hearing what they hear...

We need everyone to make a push for this to happen. To me, MB seems like the logical place to do it as there will be a lot of manufacturers there already and would not spend the money to do it any place else...

Sometimes, it isn't just about the sound, but also asthetics....

 

[ahoustondj]

I thought you said your Wave radio would shame Val's sound system :sqerr::sqerr: what's up with that????

You were not paying attention. I DO NOT have a wave radio. I have a Bose AWM, big difference. I used to have the AWM when it had a cassette player before the CD player came out and also before they invented the Wave radio.
Here it is The Bose AWM purchased I believe in 2000. http://www.ourdjtalk.com/album.php?albumid=32

 

[ahoustondj]

I agree Rick - I have left our doors open to anyone, anytime when we attend the annual Mobile Beat Show in Vegas.

I will push a little harder this year - It will be an open invitation to anyone that wants to be involved, however some ground rules must be established first. I'd like to ask everyone to chime in with thoughts on the following as well as any additional ideas or comments.

1. Do we do a shootout according to price category or by speaker type? ($2000 - $3000 category, $3000 - $4000, $4000 - $5000, $5000 - $6000, $6000 +) or (powered 12" 2-ways, 18" passive subs, etc)

2. Everyone should use the same input source, but should everyone use the dame demo tracks?

3. Blind test ,or should products be visible?

4. What processing if any should be allowed?

5. Should the various systems be gain matched to achieve the same volume (which would be ideal for listening just to the tone of the speakers), or should system SPL be a factor here too?

I am sure there are some other things I am missing here...let me know your thoughts and I will try to pull it off...THANKS!

If you have all the restrictions/criteria listed above it won't be a shootout.

Only a few chaps and one gal that I know of on here uses FOH systems.

"SAY HELLO TO MY 'LIL FRIEND"!