PRODUCT
PRODUCT
TESTS
By Jon Matthews
Bose S1 Pro Multi-Position PA System
Whenever I decide to invest in a new piece of equipment , aside from long-term reliability and good value for my money , a main criterion for me is usefulness . I want to own gear that easily and repeatedly reaffirms why I own it , by being useful and making my life easier day to day .
Based on those criteria , I believe Bose has a clear winner on its hands with the new S1 Pro multi-position PA system .
First Impressions This fully-featured , flexible , portable box made its debut at The NAMM Show in January , where it generated some serious interest . The folks at Bose have long been known for their constant innovation in the world of small PAs ; their signature L1 series of compact line array systems has made itself ubiquitous in applications where portability , ease-of-setup , and quality results make it a natural choice .
Here , Bose has taken several of the L1 ’ s key design elements , added a few ace features , and shrunk it down to a meagre 16 lbs . and 13.1 x 9.4 x 11 in . Solo performers will find it a breeze to grab this thing by its built in handle and go , with a guitar in the other hand and a bag of gear and cables over a shoulder .
In Use Having the S1 Pro in my possession for a few weeks , it ’ s already demonstrated to me time and again how many gigs I could potentially throw at it – in other words , its “ usefulness .” I envision this all-in-one solution to be especially well aimed at some specific potential buyers . Solo vocal and guitar performers ( either in small venues or busking situations ), corporate or business customers , and generally , anyone who wants easy , quality music or speech reproduction on the move ( tailgate or beach karaoke party , anyone ?) will find the S1 Pro to be a handy audio solution . Outdoor work is not a problem , as aside from running on AC , the unit can be powered with the included rechargeable battery pack , which offers up to 11 hours of run time .
The S1 Pro did indeed deliver classy , big league results for all the applications in which I tested it . The first test was to simply connect my phone via the built-in Bluetooth and crank up some tunes . It was a breeze to establish the Bluetooth link and within seconds the system ’ s deep , rich ,
full-range sound put a big smile on my face . The low end in particular was a surprise to me considering the rather diminutive 6-in . woofer . It is tight , clear , and uniform , and I daresay the bass is a touch more pleasant and even in this tiny box than on the “ big brother ” L1 Compact !
The internal mini line array delivered the kind of sparkly , “ hi-fi ” top end I like to hear , with a wide overall dispersion for excellent room coverage , and as with most Bose portable PAs , the throw is quite good , with fairly uniform clarity and perceived volume both close up and 20-30 ft . back .
Some very intelligent engineering has obviously gone into the S1 Pro , perhaps nowhere more obvious than the unit ’ s Auto EQ feature . The S1 Pro is designed to work in four positions : upright ( placed on a stool or table beside you ), mounted on a stand , tilted back vertically ( sit it on the ground ; think buskers ), or tilted back horizontally ( wedge-style floor monitor ), but get this : the speaker has an accelerometer built in , so it knows which position it ’ s in and implements a master EQ curve designed to give the best results in that position . Genius . Not to mention the small detail of being able to spin the Bose logo to the correct orientation . A small detail , but I like that they thought of it . It also has a standard 35 mm pole cup for mounting on a speaker stand .
Around back , you ’ ll find a very useful set of inputs and features . Besides the aforementioned Bluetooth digital input that ’ s handy for playing break music or karaoke tracks , you ’ ll find three analog inputs . Channels 1 and 2 each have a combo XLR and 1 / 4-in . input , a signal lamp , and individual controls for volume , bass , and treble , as well as a send for the built-in reverb . ( Thank you , Bose !) You ’ ll also find a switch to engage Bose ToneMatch processing for better results based on what ’ s being connected , either a mic or guitar . ToneMatch can also be disabled on each channel if you prefer . Channel 3 carries the Bluetooth signal , or you can plug a 1 / 8-in . stereo connector into the aux jack if you prefer . A 1 / 4-in . line out is also provided for linking multiple units .
As you can see , I ’ ve become somewhat enamoured with the Bose S1 Pro , and I can envision many others who might just as easily fall under its spell . I demoed the unit with a solo acoustic guitarist and singer , who was able to quickly and easily achieve a weighty , well rounded guitar tone using just a passive transducer , and a present , intelligible vocal sound using a standard stage mic . The S1 Pro filled the small room of 30 people more than adequately . The S1 Pro also would make a convenient solution for events such as corporate meetings or wedding receptions , where the need for simple , easy-to-use voice amplification or background music is key . Buskers will enjoy the rechargeable battery operation and light carrying weight , and I ’ ve found myself breaking out the S1 Pro in my living room or backyard to listen to music or podcasts as I find its sound to be superior to just about any portable dock-type system out there .
Conclusion The S1 Pro will also get quite loud before beginning to break a sweat . While it perhaps sits on the high side of the price spectrum for a system of its size , I believe you ’ ll find it well worth it for its stellar audio quality and the convenience of being able to handle so many different gigs and home situations . An all-around terrific – and “ useful ” – package .
Jon Matthews is an acclaimed producer and studio and live sound engineer based in Charlottetown , PE . He is the owner / operator of The Sound Mill and is a multiple Music PEI Award winner and ECMA nominee . For more information , visit www . thesoundmill . ca . Facebook : www . facebook . com / thesoundmill
Twitter & Instagram : @ redmudmusic or @ thesoundmill .
22 PROFESSIONAL SOUND