Bose L1 Model 1S with B2 bass module and T1 ToneMatch audio engine

I expected this bit of kit to be good, I've seen/heard much older version of this type of concept/design and was always impressed with the performance. This L1 1S B2 with the T1 Tonematch Engine has surpassed my expectations, it is incredibly powerful for its size/weight/footprint. It is truly portable and literally takes 5 minutes to setup and strip down, and at just under 40 kilos in total weight it is possible for one person to move in one (I dare say very short) trip to/from your vehicle.



The sound quality is second to none having so far (at the time of writing) used it in a 200 bodies capacity venue, a hotel lounge (about 60 body capacity) and in my own sitting room, it doesn’t matter, it performs excellently from one extreme to another.



If you're none tech don't be put off by 'digital mixer' it is as easy to use and setup as Bose claim. Some might find it irritating that it doesn't have any foot switch facilities because it is small and light enough to attach to a mic stand with individual 'channel mute' and 'FX by-pass' close to hand at the press of a button. I find it perfect when performing solo using backing tracks. I have the T1 clipped to one side of the mic stand and a 7 inch tablet clipped to the opposite side. I've used 'Windows Movie Maker' to create a tele-prompter, pick a song track and I've also got the lyrics scrolling on screen in perfect synchronisation... performing as a solo vocalist couldn't be simpler or more reliable.



Microphone feedback... what’s mic feedback? In spite of being in close proximity in FRONT of the speakers with a mic, the gain before feedback is fantastic. I should perhaps add this was using Shure SM58 with a TC Helicon Correct XT without the XT’s anti-feedback facility (which is rubbish incidentally). That said, you get excellent results just using the T1 mic conditioning and the on-board digital reverb/echo/EQ. I just prefer to stick with the XT as its become part of 'my voice' if that makes sense?



If you want top quality sound in a 12 foot by 16 foot sitting room to a medium sized village hall with no need for any other foldback monitoring from a PA system that will fit in a 2 door hatch-back then one of the BOSE systems is the thing you need. And in real terms, it’s probably less expensive than the price tag looks... simply because you don’t need anything else, just decent mic and your MP3 player, and or instrument(s).



If your primary function is 'vocalist' and you work with more than one band (as I do), no need to worry about what PA foldback system you might otherwise have to tolerate, use your own and have 'your sound' wherever you perform regardless of who you perform with.



One final comment on sound quality, at one event some guests suggested that I was ‘miming’... insulting? No! It's one hell of a compliment if your live performance can be mistaken for studio quality, what more could you want from a PA system! OK so it says something about my singing ability too, so why shouldn't I brag a bit LOL. Seriously, if you are pretty good, you don't want your equipment making you sound not so good, this Bose kit gets the best out of me.