So I have run these speakers a lot in the last 6 months, and overall pretty happy, but not a gig goes by where I don't miss the sound of the L1 + F1. I play a lot at the same venues and I am VERY familiar of how it sounded with the BOSE setup, especially b/c I have used it for so long.
If you all recall, the main reason for the switch was to make my load in, setup, flexibility, and load out more efficient.
Simply put, the ES1203 doesn't really get any louder, but b/c the array is higher it does better on a packed dance floor. What's crazy, is if you look at the specs, it shows that it should be twice as loud. Shows you how little specs play in a real-world scenario. I am still amazed by this one, b/c I thought it would have blown it away in terms of overall SPL.
I will admit, it's really nice not having to setup L1 + dual F1 subs at every gig, but it is a tradeoff in sound. The L1 sounds smoother, less muffled, and just overall a more pleasant sound. When A/Bing the speakers, it almost as if the DB Tech sound like a lower quality/more compressed mp3 track. No one would ever think twice, and if you don't directly compare, it's still a good sound.
I also miss the low end I got from the F1 subs. The ES1203 packs a lot of punch from 60-80, but falls pretty hard below 60. I know no one is feeling that they are missing anything on the dance floor for the weddings I DJ, but I miss that low rumble, flutter your pants type of bass that I got with the F1 subs. Still, to this date, I have yet to find a better compact sub, and I have tried most of them. FBT has a couple that I have not tried though. I know some users here were not overly impressed, and I say to that, something was not set up right, b/c F1s seriously kick ass. I have rented QSC 181s a lot, and a pair of F1 subs do better IMO, and easier to load/move around, so...
It also took me a while to get used to narrower dispersion. I didn't feel I ever needed a monitor with the L1, but there have been some gigs where I had to take my L1 compact out to use as a monitor.
Things I like more on the 1203:
1. I can get the array much higher. The two speaker arrays are also able to be separated, which is pretty cool.
2. The really nice mixer section with DSP and lots of control, even for POST Mix so I can daisy chain.
This was my single biggest complaint on the L1.
3. Digital Steering
4. Easier to setup.
5. Can get my lights even higher
I have considered the idea of even buying F1 subs again or something like it, but I have adapted and have learned that it's okay if I don't have slamming bass.
Also, the 1203 does not take well to additional processing. I have tried to boost the low end so I can get that low end that I was used to with the BOSE, but it limits way too easily. The L1 was the opposite and when using the T1 presets, it took really well, giving the Bose an awesome sound.
In fact, I would go so far as to say that I wouldn't use the L1 if not using a T1 b/c it sound SOO MUCH DIFFERENT when using the correct processing.
When I tried running the DJ preset (Bose T1) with the ES1203, I had to back off the low end, 10db. I have played around quite a bit with the DSP such as the parametric eq in the T1 and have got it to sound pretty darn good--just took several gigs to dial it into my taste.
Anyhow, overall, happy with my purchase and would recommend this system to any wedding DJ who wants a lot of punch in a small package. Much more so that EVOX8, 12, and Evolve50.
If sound quality is the most important thing (not ease of setup), then I still recommend the L1. If there wasn't a large crowd blocking the array (think outside 150 ft back), the L1 was super impressive b/c of the 24 speaker array creating MUCH LESS of a sound falloff compared to any speaker I have owned. One can argue that a ETX/SRX or similar could get louder, and it's maybe true, but it will rip your head off in your are anywhere near the speaker, and that is a no no for almost all mobile gigs, especially weddings.
And that is why I like the array speakers... you can be pretty much next to them at full tilt. Just so smooth.
I can gladly say I will never use typical 2-way speakers again, b/c the few times I have had to, I end up so disappointed in their performance for my application, even when using nice RCF 7 or 9 series.
When I go to weddings or another event where there is DJ, I almost always see the typical K series that almost every DJ uses, and I am so glad I don't own those anymore--They are just not that good. My wife comments on it too. If you are not in that sweet spot of the coverage pattern, it's really bad as well. They sound soo "boxy" and squashed sounding.
If you all recall, the main reason for the switch was to make my load in, setup, flexibility, and load out more efficient.
Simply put, the ES1203 doesn't really get any louder, but b/c the array is higher it does better on a packed dance floor. What's crazy, is if you look at the specs, it shows that it should be twice as loud. Shows you how little specs play in a real-world scenario. I am still amazed by this one, b/c I thought it would have blown it away in terms of overall SPL.
I will admit, it's really nice not having to setup L1 + dual F1 subs at every gig, but it is a tradeoff in sound. The L1 sounds smoother, less muffled, and just overall a more pleasant sound. When A/Bing the speakers, it almost as if the DB Tech sound like a lower quality/more compressed mp3 track. No one would ever think twice, and if you don't directly compare, it's still a good sound.
I also miss the low end I got from the F1 subs. The ES1203 packs a lot of punch from 60-80, but falls pretty hard below 60. I know no one is feeling that they are missing anything on the dance floor for the weddings I DJ, but I miss that low rumble, flutter your pants type of bass that I got with the F1 subs. Still, to this date, I have yet to find a better compact sub, and I have tried most of them. FBT has a couple that I have not tried though. I know some users here were not overly impressed, and I say to that, something was not set up right, b/c F1s seriously kick ass. I have rented QSC 181s a lot, and a pair of F1 subs do better IMO, and easier to load/move around, so...
It also took me a while to get used to narrower dispersion. I didn't feel I ever needed a monitor with the L1, but there have been some gigs where I had to take my L1 compact out to use as a monitor.
Things I like more on the 1203:
1. I can get the array much higher. The two speaker arrays are also able to be separated, which is pretty cool.
2. The really nice mixer section with DSP and lots of control, even for POST Mix so I can daisy chain.
This was my single biggest complaint on the L1.
3. Digital Steering
4. Easier to setup.
5. Can get my lights even higher
I have considered the idea of even buying F1 subs again or something like it, but I have adapted and have learned that it's okay if I don't have slamming bass.
Also, the 1203 does not take well to additional processing. I have tried to boost the low end so I can get that low end that I was used to with the BOSE, but it limits way too easily. The L1 was the opposite and when using the T1 presets, it took really well, giving the Bose an awesome sound.
In fact, I would go so far as to say that I wouldn't use the L1 if not using a T1 b/c it sound SOO MUCH DIFFERENT when using the correct processing.
When I tried running the DJ preset (Bose T1) with the ES1203, I had to back off the low end, 10db. I have played around quite a bit with the DSP such as the parametric eq in the T1 and have got it to sound pretty darn good--just took several gigs to dial it into my taste.
Anyhow, overall, happy with my purchase and would recommend this system to any wedding DJ who wants a lot of punch in a small package. Much more so that EVOX8, 12, and Evolve50.
If sound quality is the most important thing (not ease of setup), then I still recommend the L1. If there wasn't a large crowd blocking the array (think outside 150 ft back), the L1 was super impressive b/c of the 24 speaker array creating MUCH LESS of a sound falloff compared to any speaker I have owned. One can argue that a ETX/SRX or similar could get louder, and it's maybe true, but it will rip your head off in your are anywhere near the speaker, and that is a no no for almost all mobile gigs, especially weddings.
And that is why I like the array speakers... you can be pretty much next to them at full tilt. Just so smooth.
I can gladly say I will never use typical 2-way speakers again, b/c the few times I have had to, I end up so disappointed in their performance for my application, even when using nice RCF 7 or 9 series.
When I go to weddings or another event where there is DJ, I almost always see the typical K series that almost every DJ uses, and I am so glad I don't own those anymore--They are just not that good. My wife comments on it too. If you are not in that sweet spot of the coverage pattern, it's really bad as well. They sound soo "boxy" and squashed sounding.
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