We have been using the Bose compact system successfully for our smaller venues. We will have a few gigs coming up this year that are in a larger venue...music halls and church sanctuaries. We tried the Compact system in one of these larger venues last time and got the feedback that we were hard to hear. We play to seniors.

I understand the issue with voices and stereo(two compacts). But we primarily use the keyboard for styles...some voices.

I've got a Bose L1 Model II on the way from Sweetwater. I'm not sure whether or not to keep it. I'm guessing that for 50% of our venues, the Compacts will work. However, for the larger church sanctuaries, I already know the compacts are too small.

Thoughts? Years ago, when Bose first came out, we bought the original L1...worked great...even in some smaller venues. I like the flexibility of the model II but am not sure it's worth keeping.

Thanks for anything you might have to offer.

Wow, that was a powerful demo!

The Bose L1 Compact does it for me. And for bigger jobs, I have 2. And at this point in my life, I don't want any bigger jobs than the 2 Compaacts can handle. I get the big sound and clarity that I so live for as well as ease of setup. Bose really likes my voice. It always comes out so clear. And I always hear a good thumping bass line. I look forward to going out with it everyday. The Bose along with the S 950, life doesn't get much better.

Joe

I totally agree with Joe! Back when I was using the original L1 system, I was absolutely awestruck as to the size of the venue it easily handled, and the superb quality of the sound. Over the past 55 years I've worked with various sound systems, and I've owned loads of different systems, nothing comes remotely close to what Bose offers.

Good luck,

Gary

I have to third Joe's and Gary's remarks. When I started doing OMB gigs I tried a number of smaller amp settings, but the Bose is clear winner for me. I bought a Roland BA-330, thinking it might be a good replacement. I don't think I've used it more than twice, once in tandem with the Compact for a larger hall. I also have kept an EV 12" powered sub, just in case; haven't touched it in years.

The Bose Compact is exceptional. The size and weight are ideal, especially for how big it sounds. It complements my s950 very nicely.

Another Bose fan here...

A single compact is handling 95% of all my gigs, including some dances with 75-125 pp.

I have a 2nd compact for large venues, but frankly, I could probably live without it.

Joe summed it up very nicely...

I use my original L1 for large outdoor venues with great results, but these events are quite rare nowadays.I bought the Bose compact when it first came out and it handles all of my gigs I normally play.

That video demo sounds superb.
My gigging days are over now or I would be buying that system tomorrow.

What's the name of the beautiful piece of music which is playing?
Tony

Last night, I played a restaurant/bar venue, which is separated by a long wall with an open, sliding 8-foot door. There is a relatively wide window between the two rooms, so I can see, at least partially, the folks in the bar while playing in the restaurant side of the venue. Using a single Bose L1 Compact, I kept the dance floor packed in the restaurant, a room that measures approximately 80 X 20 feet. While performing Unchained Melody, the last song I did for the evening, I happened to notice that there were a half-dozen couples in the bar, dancing. When I finished, two people from the bar side of the venue came in and put money in my tip box, and told me they loved the music. I love those kind of complements - especially from relatively young ladies.

I'm just wondering if a pair of Bose Compacts would suffice for the church jobs. Having never played a church venue, I have no experience with the acoustic problems involved, but I can only imagine the sound must bounce around like a ping-pong ball from those hard surfaces.

Good Luck,

Gary