A DISSENTING OPINION from one who has no interest in
saying "mine is better" since I'm not that invested in what I have...and am always curious to discover something that will make me throw all my stuff out and buy the better
system. This is from someone who has not used the PAS
except to sit in on sax with the bands using them, but who has heard an excellent R&B group and an excellent jazz group using their old equipment and then heard them after they recently got the Bose PAS.

In both cases the bands were besides themselves with the excitement of having made the decisions and the large investment, in fact they pointed out to the audience their
new setup with obvious pride. I think Jane Austen had
something when she wrote "Pride & Prejudice"..I believe
the pride factor makes the user extremely prejudiced in
favor of the PAS they have purchased. Only natural.

In the case of the R&B group, the vocals sounded thinner to my ears than with their former system (2 JBL Eon 15's) For the jazz group, they were using 2 large Bose speakers before, don't know what amp..but they sounded as rich and full as could be. I can't blame the pianist/leader for not wanting to carry those heavy monsters around anymore, but he can't convince me he improved the sound, although he had a vested interest in convincing himself. They were all atwitter with excitement about their new PAS, but the sound was not as full, plus they were now playing much too loud for the middle of the room on back, and it never happened previously.

There is an inherent problem with the concept of music
being at the approximate same volume no matter the
distance. The jazz group, with vocalist, was playing at
their normal level, and they heard it the same as before..
however, the audience in the middle of the room and the rear heard it at the same level. Normally people tend to
sit at a distance that's comfortable for their hearing level..
right up front for the super fans, middle for those that
don't want all that much sound at them, and rear for those
who like it softer or want to talk more and listen less. With
the Bose everyone got the same dose, and there were
complaints for the first time from steady customers who came every Thursday to hear the band. Including me.

I have always felt that amplification should ideally sound like an acoustic experience, only louder and clearer. In an acoustic setting, the sound is louder at the source. That is
only a problem in a concert hall where everyone needs to get their money's worth, so the bose is ideal for that kind
of venue, but not for an intimate or medium venue. I also
am a proponent of music that appears to come from the
source, and not from somewhere else. I refuse to let any
venue hook me up to a house sound system with speakers
all around the room, and I keep my speakers in close
proximity to me. When I go hear a solo, duo, or trio in a
bar, lounge, or restaurant, I hate when they spread one speaker way to their left and one way to their right, and
both way over their heads. Might as well listen to a recording..music should come from the source, and you should fell like it's coming from the band..speakers should be at band's ear level and near them so monitors
can be dispensed with..we have enough technology today
to overcome feedback problems. The band should hear
the same speakers as the audience..not a separate mix
from floor monitors. so many problems occur from that..
i will grant the PAS eliminates that horror, and that's one good thing about them. But give me 2 good spkrs set up
near the band's ears and close to the group, with no
*&)&)))%%%!! soundman to mess around with monitors, and that blows the PAS away for my money.

so that's why I'm not a PAS fan, and never will be, except
for in a concert hall situation, for which they are ideal...




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Miami Mo