The main thing to take from this, I would think (especially if you ARE looking for a new PA) is that 'opinions vary'.

This is definitely one purchase that I wouldn't recommend sight unseen (or sound unheard). Those that love it, love it, and those that don't, hate it. So, no clear consensus.

One thing I tend to take a look at is, what do the 'pros' use? By that, I don't mean us here... I mean pro PA companies, guys that make a living day in and out renting PA's for different venues. In general, there's a bunch of folk that do sound for different type acts and occasions. They need flexibility, they need volume (when needed) they need clarity, they need dependability.

So far, I have never seen a pro PA company provide an L1 system for any act. PERHAPS you can request one specifically, but I have NEVER seen a PA truck turn up with an L1 system for any kind of concert or club venue. That speaks volumes to me.

Bose have always trod their own path, sometimes successfully, sometimes not. For the VERY limited application that the L1 is designed for, and at the price point it comes in at, I have a sneaky feeling this one is not going to stand the test of time. I HAVE played through one, and my impression was that, if you want high quality, low volume 'background' type sound, with a high degree of coverage, it's lack of low mids makes it ideal (they are some of the 'body' and attention grabbing frequencies), but in a more forefront situation, you are starting to push it too hard for it to excel over more conventional setups.

Let's face it, guys.... if these things really WERE the next, greatest thing, a LOT of PA companies would already be using them. So far, not exactly what I have seen...