Product Spotlight: Bose® L1™ Model II
Amplification System
The New Wave
See the Bose L1 Model I Review
See the Bose Compact
Model 1 Review
What
are you looking for in a PA? I’m not talking about your existing
PA system, I’m talking about starting from scratch to come up
with something as close to perfect as it possibly can be. First
and foremost, I think most would ask for clean, clear sound. I’m
sure another common theme would be ease of use. And wouldn’t it
be nice if your amplification system sounded nearly the same in
all venues, regardless of acoustics? Personally, I’d love to
have a system that was lighter as well. All of these requests
might sound like an impossible wish list, but thanks to Bose®,
they aren’t. With the introduction of the
L1 Model II
Amplification System, Bose
has taken another step toward developing its concept of the
perfect portable sound system for musicians.
The first-generation L1 loudspeaker was born of an ambitious mission to conquer the myriad problems traditional PA systems present. The main issues being excessive reverberation from directional sound and room acoustics, as well as high sound levels on and near the stage. Through its innovative Cylindrical Radiator® design, the L1 produces a wide dispersion pattern and balanced sound that projects evenly, so sound levels drop off more slowly, and extremely high volumes are less necessary. With less directional sound, feedback and unwanted reverb are also less of a problem. The L1 also eliminates the need for separate main and monitor systems, since musicians can perform in front of the L1 system.
The original L1
represented an incredible breakthrough in live sound, but soon Bose
was itching to upgrade it. They wanted to make the it easier to use,
increase the tonal balance of the sound, improve the overall sonic
performance, and make it even lighter and more portable. With the
L1 Model II, I
believe they’ve achieved their goals. The
L1 Model II system
is
made up of three main components: the L1 loudspeaker with its power
stand, the
B1 Bass Module,
and
the
T1 ToneMatch audio engine.
Together
they boast all the features of the current L1 as well as the
improvements Bose was aiming for and musicians will love.
The
L1 Model II
loudspeaker
and its power stand feature high-quality construction and include
fitted gig bags for easy transportation and protection. Inside the
grille of the L1, every other driver is angled in a left-right
pattern, part of the Articulated Array approach Bose developed for
better coverage. Since it shares many features from its predecessor,
the
L1 Model II
delivers
the same clear sound and even, consistent volume levels as the first
L1. With increased sound dispersion from the Articulated Array
speaker design, the overall sound is wider and stays fuller and more
defined throughout the sound field. The upper and lower sections of
the enclosure weigh less than 20 lbs. each, so they’re easy to
handle. While the original power stand was extremely portable, the
Model II stand is about 1/3 its size and 1/2 its weight. There's
also a perfect space between the legs for your
B1 Bass Module.
The legs are also retractable, so the base takes up less space when
you’re moving it as well.
As part of the next generation L1, the Model II systems include a B1 Bass Module. It works with the Cylindrical Radiator speaker to deliver full-spectrum amplification that guitarists, keyboard players, and even singers and other instrumentalists will appreciate. For musicians who live in the lower clef, a double-B1 setup is recommended. Even though the B1 is small, it still pushes plenty of deep, and powerful bass. Inside the surprisingly light enclosure are two high-output 6-1/2" drivers controlled by a self-adjusting, active EQ circuit that dials in the bass response to match the instrument you’re playing.
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Bose experimented with ToneMatch presets on the first L1 system, but to see where they’ve taken it is exciting. The T1 ToneMatch™ audio engine delivers all-in-one mixing and effects processing with presets based on the instruments you play. For musicians without a dedicated sound man it is a powerful ally in the nightly fight for consistent sound. It ensures that everytime you're onstage, you'll get the best sound possible without spending hours in sound check.
The T1 audio engine
attaches directly to the L1 with a custom bracket at about waist
level. It can also attach to your mic stand with an optional
bracket. But there's good news for existing L1 system owners as
well. The new
T1 ToneMatch audio engine
is
backwards-compatible to work with the first L1. This two pound
unit replaces your mixer, but does more than just a mixer. Its
powerful digital circuits allow you to mix the audio from four
channels (three preamp channels, one stereo line input channel) to
the L1 but also give you access to the ToneMatch preset system for
instantly dialed-in sound.
The presets are optimized for the instruments and microphones musicians use onstage. There are presets covering guitar, bass, keyboard, organ, drums, accordion, harmonica, upright bass, violin, various wind instruments, and even settings created with manufacturers like Taylor guitars and Audix mics. A USB port lets you connect the T1 to your computer for saving presets and updates, which include more presets from companies like L.R. Baggs, Lakland, Rickenbacker, Breedlove, and others. The USB port also allows the T1 to serve double duty as a computer recording interface fueled by the ToneMatch sounds. You also get a selection of studio-class reverb, modulation, delay, and dynamics processing effects which can be applied individually across all four channels.
The
L1 Model II with
the
T1 ToneMatch audio engine is the easiest way to get the defined and
detailed Bose sound in a live sound setup. And since you’re in
control of the sound, you won’t waste any time wondering what the
mix sounds like in the house.
