Powered speakers

[Chris G]

Hi there everybody,

went to a Disco Tradeshow last weekend and had a demo on the Bose L1 speaker systems. Anyone on here using these? The option I was looking at cost upwards of £1800 but I have a Bose home system which I am very happy with so do not mind paying for quality.

Was also looking at some Mackie speakers, I think they were called 540's v2.
A pair of these retail at about £1000.

Using Prosound speakers/amp at the moment.

Thoughts/suggestions on this please.

[leelive]

I use 4x Mackie SRM450 v2 (2 of them are for larger gigs)
I am going to buy 2 x SRM1801s next month to go with them. So, I certainly recommend the Mackie product. v2s are nice and light.
I am unsure about the Bose L1 system. I too have Bose at home... but I have looked into this I believe that that is geared more towards the guitarist/musician types and not the dj. Would also like to hear otherwise. Thought the Bose 802 is their DJ system.
Lee

[DJMaxG]

Hi Chris,
I have heard the Mackies some time ago, but not the Bose. The boses, as you know, are a line array system consisting of several smaller drivers, plus bass modules.

Bose owners seem to be very satisfied. I have heard some of the more conventional style systems from bose, and they're very good, but I have never seen a DJ use them. In fact, the closest I have seen is funfairs using them on their rides (at least two), and they sound good.

It does make you wonder though why there aren't more bose users on the forum though, as most will have a system to a similar price. I think the L1 system only covers so many people, then more arrays and bass modules have to be added.

[Penfold42]

Bose sound alright.....they just look wrong. IMO.:)

[Corabar Steve]

Hi Chris,
I have heard the Mackies some time ago, but not the Bose. The boses, as you know, are a line array system consisting of several smaller drivers, plus bass modules.

Bose owners seem to be very satisfied. I have heard some of the more conventional style systems from bose, and they're very good, but I have never seen a DJ use them. In fact, the closest I have seen is funfairs using them on their rides (at least two), and they sound good.

It does make you wonder though why there aren't more bose users on the forum though, as most will have a system to a similar price. I think the L1 system only covers so many people, then more arrays and bass modules have to be added.
You have been asked many times before, please refrain from talkng about things that you clearly know nothing about.

Why aren't there any more Bose L1 owners on the forum? The cost might have something to do with it.

[DJMaxG]

You have been asked many times before, please refrain from talkng about things that you clearly know nothing about

I don't remember saying I knew nothing about it, it was you that came up with that assumption.

[Corabar Steve]

You didn't need to, it was obvious, hence "you clearly know nothing about"

[Jiggles]

I have heard the Bose and was really disappointed in them. I had a listen at a disco/ live singer night at a local pub a week ago and quality was poor from them. Far from what i was expecting from Bose. To me, my Mackie SRM 450 sound better!

[Excalibur]

You have been asked many times before, please refrain from talkng about things that you clearly know nothing about.

Why aren't there any more Bose L1 owners on the forum? The cost might have something to do with it.

I'd have said more that it's a very specialised bit of kit, and not something you can take to any old function.

Users on here? Deltic, Graham Case for two, I seem to remember. Not vast numbers, I concede.

[SC Events]

I have heard Bose systems in the past and thought they sounded 'nice'.

I am due for a speaker upgrade and was looking at getting some Mackie SRM450 V2's, but after Paul and Tony's little 'experiment' I am leaning towards the RCF's...although I have no idea which model to go for! (Look out for an opinion thread soon lol)

[csg]

it has to be said - the Bose marketing machine is one of the slickest in the world.

now, before i get shot down in flames, im not saying that bose gear is bad, but you do pay an awfull lot for the badge and brand you are buying into.

Bose do and have developed some very clever technologies, but speaking from my perspective of a professional sound engineer, i would say that their product is far more suited to domestic use than professional use.

Time was that Bose kit ( mostly 802's and 302's, later panaray 502's) was commonly installed in clubs and used for mobile or tempory systems.

But, you do have to ask why Bose kit has all but dissapeared from professional audio companies.

The general consensus here is, that there is equipment available, capable of delivering much higher SPL at much higher quality with better directivity than Bose can offer

Dont get me wrong - im not bashing bose or its users at all - it is a niche product that obviously suits some users very well

but, to get to the point, there are better units for the mobile dj out there - companies like RCF, electrovoice and Mackie offer very durable, reliable and good sounding kit
Smaller companies like DB technologies also offer some very interesting kit.

My personal preference is for passive boxes - for a start, your speakers tend to be lighter, your eggs are not all in one basket as regards breakdown, and you are allowed more flexibilty with amplifier choice etc

however i concede that for a mobile dj who needs simplicity and speed of setup, active speakers can be attractive

Fundamentally, my advice for buying equipment never varies - once you have satisfied yourself as to how reliable a reputation a piece of equipment has within your price bracket, if you like the sound as well, you have found your kit.
but, never ever buy on recommendation alone - sound is a very subjective thing, listen before you buy.

[NKR]

it has to be said - the Bose marketing machine is one of the slickest in the world.

now, before i get shot down in flames, im not saying that bose gear is bad, but you do pay an awfull lot for the badge and brand you are buying into.

Bose do and have developed some very clever technologies, but speaking from my perspective of a professional sound engineer, i would say that their product is far more suited to domestic use than professional use.

Time was that Bose kit ( mostly 802's and 302's, later panaray 502's) was commonly installed in clubs and used for mobile or tempory systems.

But, you do have to ask why Bose kit has all but dissapeared from professional audio companies.

The general consensus here is, that there is equipment available, capable of delivering much higher SPL at much higher quality with better directivity than Bose can offer

Dont get me wrong - im not bashing bose or its users at all - it is a niche product that obviously suits some users very well

but, to get to the point, there are better units for the mobile dj out there - companies like RCF, electrovoice and Mackie offer very durable, reliable and good sounding kit
Smaller companies like DB technologies also offer some very interesting kit.

My personal preference is for passive boxes - for a start, your speakers tend to be lighter, your eggs are not all in one basket as regards breakdown, and you are allowed more flexibilty with amplifier choice etc

however i concede that for a mobile dj who needs simplicity and speed of setup, active speakers can be attractive

Fundamentally, my advice for buying equipment never varies - once you have satisfied yourself as to how reliable a reputation a piece of equipment has within your price bracket, if you like the sound as well, you have found your kit.
but, never ever buy on recommendation alone - sound is a very subjective thing, listen before you buy.

I like this man.

Man I like you :)

[DazzyD]

I have heard the Bose and was really disappointed in them. I had a listen at a disco/ live singer night at a local pub a week ago and quality was poor from them. Far from what i was expecting from Bose. To me, my Mackie SRM 450 sound better!

I have to agree with Callum.

I once did a gig at a venue with a Bose sound system installed. I hadn't been there before and the manager told me I didn't need to bring any amplification system as I was going to be using theirs. During sound-check I thought it didn't sound quite right (and far from what I was expecting from Bose) but I tried to tweak the equalizer to get the best sound I could.

Before this, I had seriously considered a Bose system myself but this has put me off totally. I'm very happy with the sound I've got now so I've saved myself some money!

[deltic]

one happy bose user here

[Chris G]

Thanks for all your comments. It is a great help.

[CRAZY K]

My personal preference is for passive boxes - for a start, your speakers tend to be lighter, your eggs are not all in one basket as regards breakdown, and you are allowed more flexibilty with amplifier choice etc

sound is a very subjective thing, listen before you buy.

Welcome Chris, theres quite a lot of of differing opinions on here--not about Bose but about Brands and Active v Passive as you will find out.

Personally im a Passive Peavey person--although im not into regular mainstream Disco which may explain my apparently unusual choice;)

[spin mobile disco]

I play with a wedding singer occasionally who uses the Bose L1 system and for vocal it is fantastic. But hi is the first to say that it is not really suitable for disco use. It sounds good but not excellent. For the price difference a mackie , rcf, or db system would be a better buy.
I would agree with the comment about the home market as well. For a home system the bose sound amazing. But just doesnt sound quite that good when scaled up.
Just my opinion you understand.

[csg]

Welcome Chris, theres quite a lot of of differing opinions on here--not about Bose but about Brands and Active v Passive as you will find out.

Personally im a Passive Peavey person--although im not into regular mainstream Disco which may explain my apparently unusual choice;)

Well, thanks for the welcome.

Im not exactly a mobile DJ either, whilst i cut my teeth in the business with a mobile show, i now run a small but growing lighting and sound production company, based at Millenium studios, Thurleigh, Bedford, so not far from you at all.

We use a variety of equipment from a variety of manufacturers, but no active boxes. In our part of the market, unless you have the budget for Meyer Sound, there is not much on the market in the way of active boxes

so, passive for me!

[CRAZY K]

Well, thanks for the welcome.

Im not exactly a mobile DJ either, whilst i cut my teeth in the business with a mobile show, i now run a small but growing lighting and sound production company, based at Millenium studios, Thurleigh, Bedford, so not far from you at all.


Is that near the Airfield, did the all time classic play list Wedding near there where I played the last 10 tracks in exactly the order requested by the client
:eek: :eek: :eek:

Brilliant night though;)

[csg]

yes, im right by the very tall cube building that you can see from the A6 near Milton Ernest

i always found it difficult to understand why people pay for a dj's experience, then decide all the songs themsleves, usually well ahead of time when they are sober???
a few pointers and specials fine, but the lists i see dj friends of mine working through, really...

[Digital Jack]

I find the Bose L1 akin to quorn mince when usual boxes with drive units are akin to minced up bovine .
Both are good, but different to each other.