The very first time I heard the Bose L1 was at an Italian restaruant where UD was set up just a few feet from the bar. The venue was such that a conventional system would have blown away the guy sitting the bar 4 feet in front of Dave's keyboard, while those sitting in the adjacent dining rooms would not have heard a sound. The Bose filled all three rooms equally with beautiful music, and the volume was nearly identical throughout the entire building. The combined area of all three rooms was approximately 5,500 square feet, and the volume level was never cranked up beyond 25 percent.

One of the most noticeable things that night, other than the equal distribution of sound, was Dave's vocal quality. Dave is an excellent performer and singer, and I've had the privilege of hearing him on several occasions. This particular night, however, the vocals were exceptionally clear and crisp--much more so than any time in the past. The mic was the same, therefore I can only attribute this to the Bose L1. The very next day I placed an order with Bose.

Sounds systems are always very subjective, therefore I strongly suggest that anyone purchasing a sound system, Bose, Logitech, Peavey, Motion Sound, etc., take the time to listen to other performers using those systems. Listen to them while they are performing at various sized venues with varying accustic configurations. Walk throughout the room or hall, and pay careful attention to the mids, lows, and highs, the clarity of the keyboard and vocals, and also listen carefully to any announcements made through the system. Then after spending several days, or even weeks evaluating the systems, place your order at an outlet that has a reasonable return policy. If you don't like what you hear, take it back for a full refund--not store credits.

As for setup time, I carry a lot of gear with me on every job--even the nursing homes and assisted living jobs. My setup time ranges 10 to 12 minutes from the time I walk in the door with a loaded Rock "N" Roller. When I was lugging a pair of powered speakers and speaker stands, my setup time was 10 to 12 minutes. Years ago, when none of my cables were harnessed, and I had wires hanging everywhere, the setup time was 30 to 35 minutes. Organization of your equipment makes a big difference and really reduces setup time. Additionally, you don't have to worry whether or not you left a cable at home--they're all in the harness.

I sincerely wish to thank Uncle Dave for being among the first members to share his experience with the Bose L1. I value his opinions and they sure made a big difference for me.

Cheers,

Gary

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Travlin' Easy

In all hinest I really thing that the PAS for solo mono instruments & has drifted aimlessly into the stereo keyboard world.

Yep, UD's post about how great the PAS system sounded when you used two of them for stereo is here . FWIW I have a friend in Orlando who is using a pair of PAS systems for his OMB act also.

Having a PAS pair would be the only way I'd consider them, and putting four grand into a stereo speaker system just isn't going to happen when I have full surround-sound stage system now for a lot less.

Jim, who's your friend in Orlando and where does he perform? I'm heading down that way in a few months.

Glenn

Jim on top of that you'd have to carry a total of 8 pcs just for the sound system with 2 pas's plus all your other gear !!!

try doing a few doubles with all that back to back....


for some the pas is just not the right fit.

Glenn, what keyboard are you playing now?

Still the PSR3000?

His name is Don Beem and his website is http://www.a1manband.com/. He plays a lot of places and you can email him for his schedule.

Esh

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

Very reasoned approach, Miami Mo. I agree and often choose where to sit based on whether I'm gonna really listen, or am having a side conversation.

I have listened to the fellow who brings the PAS to my regular job. We get lot's of complaints about him being too loud up front, and I can barely hear him in the back of the room. He's really not that familiar with the room, but this system just dosn't appear to be the best for this situation. I typically use two keyboards, two guitars and two mikes, so I would need to add a 2nd mixer, I guess.


After hearing it four times and playing through it once, it's just not for me.


That's my story, and I'm STICKING TO IT!

All the best, folks,


Russ "tin ear" Lay

Bottom line - never mind who is using what. If you're happy with what you have, the sound you make and your audience is happy, everthing else doesn't matter. For me, it's just a matter of having fun, meeting good people and sounding the best I can for the people who constantly come to hear me and my partner. What may be easier for me may not be someone else.