I was in Guitar Center yesterday and noticed they had an awesome looking display for the 2nd Generation Bose L1 system set up. When I asked about it the sales associate frowned and said "If only it didnt sound like crap*. I was interested why he said that and asked for a demo. Immediately i understood. The sound was flat and lacked body. It sounded like it looked, skinny. There were 2 bass modules but they provided nothing for me. Obviously i didnt expect floor pounding bass, but it lacked low end overall IMO. This system might be nice for acoustics and instrumentals but for playback, i couldn't imagine spending the money for "That".
Opinions on the Bose L1 Gen. 2?
- Thread starter Djcarolina
- Start date
Why is it, that whenever there's a good Bose thread, there's a bad one...?
Can somebody make a bad Rockit thread? I'm moving my office this weekend, and could use the S&G while lugging stuff
Can somebody make a bad Rockit thread? I'm moving my office this weekend, and could use the S&G while lugging stuff
I wasn't very pleased with the sound of the L1. I have the utmost respect for the Bose name and think theyre consumer products are very nice. We have a bose home theater that will blow you away. Bose simply doesnt cut it for me in the professional world. I'm not slamming anyone who owns the product because obviously it works for you. But yes, i think the intention was to have an improved version of the L1. Basically a new base design and remote.
I would recommend you talk with Cap Capello who is also a sponsor here. It seems he's the real guru regarding Bose. Talk with him about how to set up the system and then take it for a spin. From what I hear there's a huge difference once it's setup correctly.
There's also a different market for the system it will suit some people but not others. You will not get the sound of Yorkville, JBL, Mackie, Cerwin Vega subs, but for weddings and other types of events where shaking the walls clean is not expected it will surprise a lot of people.
Once again talk with Cap about setting it up and then listen to it. Also the people at GC have limited experience if we can call it that with the correct settings.
There's also a different market for the system it will suit some people but not others. You will not get the sound of Yorkville, JBL, Mackie, Cerwin Vega subs, but for weddings and other types of events where shaking the walls clean is not expected it will surprise a lot of people.
Once again talk with Cap about setting it up and then listen to it. Also the people at GC have limited experience if we can call it that with the correct settings.
Why is it, that whenever there's a good Bose thread, there's a bad one...?
Can somebody make a bad Rockit thread? I'm moving my office this weekend, and could use the S&G while lugging stuff
I thought you were moving to Florida...
Nobody made me a (reasonable) offer so far -- figured since I'll probably have to hunker down for another winter, it might be nice having a heated office and bathroom... 
You can polish the Bose "Sticks", there are presets that can be selected to fix the sound, also did you evaluate the board, compared it to other systems, what were offered along with the processing chain for those speakers? Drive Rack? Exciter? There are many variables that could be causing the side by side comparison to look bad. The ding dongs over at GC don't really know their stuff on best practices, they just know how to focus on a sale.
Carolina, hit me up on aim or call me and we can talk about it.
Carolina, hit me up on aim or call me and we can talk about it.
Travis,
As I understand, the L1 is a self-contained system. There is no need for external processing.
Correct me if I'm wrong.
As I understand, the L1 is a self-contained system. There is no need for external processing.
Correct me if I'm wrong.
You are correct Fred, I was a little vague in my post... My apologies.
I am saying in terms for the sake of comparing apples to apples, some GC center "gurus" don't always know the best practices, I have found serious inconsistencies and flaws in our local GC SR dept. I know at our GC you have switches the user switches that will distribute sound, those switches will go to tops & subs for demonstration purposes, typically GC also exhibit's crossovers, exciters, eq's, effects processors, etc. etc.... There could have been a miswired Bose setup which applied additional processing, or the EQ on the board feeding the Bose system could have been really setup weird... An extreme case such as midrange completely turned counter-clockwise, yet the mid is at 12 O'Clock (Hey somebody might have thought it was the gain). I cannot say exactly, I didn't see the setup.
There is a list of presets on the Bose system that allows you to select a EQ curve. You have (at least on the first generation model) 99 presets. I am pretty sure Cap has done the proper research to find the best preset for DJ performances. I imagine some of those EQ presets could have multiple uses than what is stated on the Bose L1. (How many different ways is there to set an EQ anyways? lol)
That being said, a Driverack PA couldn't hurt a setup eh? If you RTA your system you have it EQ'ed to the room, that is something the presets couldn't do... However would I go through all that trouble, no lol.
I am saying in terms for the sake of comparing apples to apples, some GC center "gurus" don't always know the best practices, I have found serious inconsistencies and flaws in our local GC SR dept. I know at our GC you have switches the user switches that will distribute sound, those switches will go to tops & subs for demonstration purposes, typically GC also exhibit's crossovers, exciters, eq's, effects processors, etc. etc.... There could have been a miswired Bose setup which applied additional processing, or the EQ on the board feeding the Bose system could have been really setup weird... An extreme case such as midrange completely turned counter-clockwise, yet the mid is at 12 O'Clock (Hey somebody might have thought it was the gain
). I cannot say exactly, I didn't see the setup.There is a list of presets on the Bose system that allows you to select a EQ curve. You have (at least on the first generation model) 99 presets. I am pretty sure Cap has done the proper research to find the best preset for DJ performances. I imagine some of those EQ presets could have multiple uses than what is stated on the Bose L1. (How many different ways is there to set an EQ anyways? lol)
That being said, a Driverack PA couldn't hurt a setup eh? If you RTA your system you have it EQ'ed to the room, that is something the presets couldn't do... However would I go through all that trouble, no lol.
I have been very pleased with my L1 classic.
Thanks to this thread, I went over to the Bose site and did some research. Found out my signal from my mixer is too hot for the L1. Need to get some "pad" to cut down the line input. They say it will sound even better.
I haven't experienced the L2 system, so I can't make comment on it.
Thanks to this thread, I went over to the Bose site and did some research. Found out my signal from my mixer is too hot for the L1. Need to get some "pad" to cut down the line input. They say it will sound even better.
I haven't experienced the L2 system, so I can't make comment on it.
Can't speak for the rest, my friend... but we don't need a Driverack. Call me old-fashioned but I prefer to manage my own processing, thanks very much.
If it's any help, I've seen some poor demos at retail shops. Active cabs overdriven to the point of clipping, etc. I do not trust retailers. And I think it's sad that a GC store can't set up an L1 (or whatever it's called now) to sell.
The system is spoon-fed for chrissakes. How hard can it be?
The bose displays have their own complete display unit. All they do is plug it into the wall and plug in a sound source. The source was a new Rane mixer that had just come in and an iMac with serato and 2 Pioneers. Overall i just thought the sound was poor.
This is typical of Bose displays. Watch for the hidden bass bin behind the curtain, lol.
I am wondering if the input signal may have been too hot. Also wondering how, for four grand, there was an overdriven signal at all. For that kind of money, there should be compression and limiting.
Thoughts?
Maybe I should just add the disclaimer for our members that:
"Individual mileage may vary"
Some swear by em, others not so much. As long as we respect each other that's all the matters right?
"Individual mileage may vary"
Some swear by em, others not so much. As long as we respect each other that's all the matters right?
Everyones allowed opinion here but in light of variables I would say a GC demo shouldnt be the final determining factor.
Take it out to a HS football stadium, field party or other large outdoor show. Then come back and tell me how great it is, lol.
And you'ns guys poke fun at our FOH rig. I got more amp dissipation feeding my mids.
Wolfie gets the last laugh.
And you'ns guys poke fun at our FOH rig. I got more amp dissipation feeding my mids.
Wolfie gets the last laugh.
I could care less if the L1's sound good, or like poo.
But damn it, i gotta agree with JTV on this one.
Guitar Center doesn't have it set-up right, I'd bet money on it.
Maybe Cap could post a basic "dj" set-up for the L1, Then we all could expierence what they are suppose to sound like???? And school the dummies at GC in the mean time??
Just wait till I get my JBL Line ArrayTake it out to a HS football stadium, field party or other large outdoor show. Then come back and tell me how great it is, lol.
And you'ns guys poke fun at our FOH rig. I got more amp dissipation feeding my mids.
Wolfie gets the last laugh.
(Looking about 4 years down the road however)
You know I will almost bet this is right. I feel most guitar center reps know even less about the Bose than anything else in there store. Its expensive so is not a big seller with alot of people who are just trying to get load sound out the door. When I went in for my first look at it . They had nothing but keyboards setup into it. They had to set a cd player up so I could hear real music from it. When it first started up. I thought to myself something is wrong here because some of there low end stuff sounded better.
At that moment it was boardering on just sounding like one expensive turd
. But I decided to go get a good CD from my truck you know they say garbage in garbage out well it holds true. Have you every seen regular TV on and HD TV it looks like crap but give it HD and it shines. I hope you guys are getting me here. Any how after putting my non burned CD instead of guitar centers low bit rate conversion CD it sound fantastic and it was running only 2 B1's instead of 4. I like others would say talk to Cap. The only reason I went with guitar center for my purchase is that they where offering 15 months no interest and no payments for there purchases over 500 dollars. I was going to wait till Jan for a 12 month loan but with a 15 months loan I got now plus you have to remember the new ones are coming in. I bet they didn't even have the first gen model in did they? I only deal with the pro audio manager he always hooks me up. I also hear that the version 2 model of the L1 is aimed more at the musician than the DJ. It has less imputs etc etc.
If I'm wrong please correct me here. For me I can't wait to get them especially after my wedding last nite. The reception was great the load is was at a retirement community . I was on the stage. Access to the stage where two narrow but steep sets of stairs one small stage elevator that would have done the trick but was blocked and buried under at least 100 pieces of junk just right under the sign please do not block elevator :sqerr:. And one easy access area roll up door. All access where at least 4 feet high so I chose the pull up door.
I had to use my metal ramp at and angle that made me cry just looking at it. So here is my wife up top making sure I'm not going off track and me basically dead lifting my beloved matix 2000 165lb sub up the ramp. By the time I got it up there I had already strained my lower back. Sigh! I'm still in pain this morning but the show must go on aye
. Any ways talk to cap and hear the system setup correctly. Then go on that. Oh yea for anyone thinking how did he get it down. I did what some would consider a very unprofessional thing. I inlisted the help of 3 very strong wedding party and father of the groom members. Yea I no I shouldn't have gone there but it was either that or maybe dropping my sub and hurting my back even more. Also Just because I'm getting my Bose doesn't mean I won't every use my other system. I will just decide when and where.