Karaoke Forums

So what did you pay for your mixer power and speakers?

We play it pretty loud at my venue (we only run one night a week). The owner likes their music loud and their bands loud.

The kicker for us is a concrete walled, large bar, with high ceilings (beautiful establishment). Acoustics are tough to work with unless they put up more speakers, surrounding the room. OR we could really use some dampeners in the room. That would go a long way. I've been on them to get some banners or something draped from the ceiling.

Crowd noise carries too much, and it really is a tricky balance between the music and the conversation levels. I get requests to turn it down from time to time, which I can usually compensate with a tweak on speaker position.

Being too loud never enhances the good .. but it certainly magnifies the bad!

Geez, we agree on TWO things??! I must be slipping.

I have heard Bose sound OK for dance music ( just ok ) or announcing, but really bad for karaoke or even plain vocals. Had a guy do an hour before me at a party- just him and his guitar. Used an L1 and that little Bose mixer. The radio would have sounded better....

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"No Contests, No Divas, Just A Good Time!"

" Disc based and loving it..."

Truer words never spoken.

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"No Contests, No Divas, Just A Good Time!"

" Disc based and loving it..."

Someone on this Forum once did a review of how the BOSE system held up at Karaoke several years ago. He had gone to one of their Tech/Concept Shows, and I believe he said something about being able to test out the speakers. I don't remember who it was now... maybe Knightshow or Thunder.

And said poster's opinion?

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"No Contests, No Divas, Just A Good Time!"

" Disc based and loving it..."

I don't really remember the technical parts of his analysis, but from what I recall, his review was not very favorable for BOSE. Now that I'm trying to remember this more, I think it was just about using compact BOSE speakers, and I think it may have been Lonnie that got to see them in a demo.

I think it was Thunder that did a review, I did have the opportunity to use a system for a week consisting of 2 sticks & a sub. Wasn't impressed with it for a main system, but using it as a monitor system (what it was originally intended for) kicked butt.

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The L1 concept was more than just as a monitor. Although Steve Miller toured for years with this as his monitor.
The original concept was to go back to the way things were done before monitors. Back to how the Beatles used to play. Each player had sound behind them for just them. That sound played through the player and into the audience. The player picked up his sound more than others because it is what he\she is closest to. The upside to this was simplistic mixing. The down side was getting levels loud enough for a crowd without making the players deaf or feedback issues.
The L1 concept looked to solve those issues by sending the sound further and wider at lower levels. The issues: The built in "mixer" sucked for smaller rooms (normal karaoke bar area) and the bass didn't cover mid to low sub levels. Their solution for a drummer was to use four to six of their subs but their unit still didn't handle mid to low sub levels and all you could do is amplify the upper sub levels more. You could hear the thump but you didn't really feel the thump.
I found that for mostly KJ work and very little DJ work this was not a bad trade off at all. I could cover the bar in clear sound at a lower level used as a main system. I used a Mixer and monitor on stage with it. I sometimes added a sub for larger weddings.

I have the first (and in my opinion the best) version. It is heavier and more mass but the sound is much more full than the newer models.

The joke was, pay more for less sound or something like that from Bazza. I asked for how much he spent on his speakers, mixer and amp but he didn't respond. I got a deal on my two bass unit for $2,100. Later I spent $500 on the T1 mixer and I have a $500 sub I could throw in for a large wedding. I have covered HUGE areas with this no problem and can set it up in a small area at low levels if needed. I have had the unit for 11 years and it is still going strong and has never missed a beat. I don't see it dying anytime soon and if it did Bose still has an economical repair policy. So the question is, how much have you spent over the last 11 years on the heart of your system?

Using two L1s for left and right is not and never was recommended. Placement was a huge concern if someone ever even wanted to try it. With a complete horizontal disbursement at 170 degrees, sound cancellation can be a huge issue. Because the sound travels reflection and time factors can also introduce false echo.

I have yet to hear the Bose L series I have been impressed with. I know I know - the people obviously didn't know how to run them. But that excuse gets old after the couple handfuls.

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LIKE Lonman on Facebook - Lonman Productions Karaoke & my main site via my profile!

I can't really say that all the setups you heard weren't configured properly but I do know that setting them up left and right is not close to a proper configuration.
Even properly set up you would be disappointed if:
You expect 30 hz and below reproduction.
Expected it to reach into stands. The horizontal pattern covers the ground to around seven feet straight out.
Expect it to work well on a raised stage. See above.. I was placed on an elevated stage and it sucked. I shot sound above people most of the night.
Someone strictly used the input settings and mixed with the remote.

Look, I don't care whether people like it or not. All I want to do is provide information, good and bad, for anyone doing research. Just saying it sucks isn't very informative. Saying it's made with cheap junk when it isn't is ignorant misinformation.

Here is a wiki page that covers dual mono with L1s

http://toonz.ca/bose/wiki/index.php?tit ... It_as_a_PA

And Phase Cancellation:
http://toonz.ca/bose/wiki/index.php?tit ... ncellation

I have "More wattage than Woodstock"(tm)!

I may not have the loudest system out there, but I do have a powerful voice. When I sing I only need my vocal gain about a quarter the way 'round. Where as most others need it at half if not more.

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I am the ONLY SANE 1 HERE

Actually the the Bose are cheap for a line array, at my next event I'll be running eight K-Array KR402 Redline Series speakers.

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Karaoke that just sounds better!

CompuHost | KJ Media Pro | Karaoke Kiosk | Bose L1 Model II system | B2 bass | ToneMatch audio engine | Shure VHF SM58 wireless mics | Countryman E6 Earset with Shure UHF wireless beltpack

Those probably don't sound like a $15,000 speaker system, but would be curious to hear them. Never seen those - anywhere for sale or in use.

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LIKE Lonman on Facebook - Lonman Productions Karaoke & my main site via my profile!

Worth every penny!

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Karaoke that just sounds better!

CompuHost | KJ Media Pro | Karaoke Kiosk | Bose L1 Model II system | B2 bass | ToneMatch audio engine | Shure VHF SM58 wireless mics | Countryman E6 Earset with Shure UHF wireless beltpack

, not my penny.

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LIKE Lonman on Facebook - Lonman Productions Karaoke & my main site via my profile!

Neither would I, at a kararoke gig, just like I wouldn't use my Shure UR2s for karaoke.

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Karaoke that just sounds better!

CompuHost | KJ Media Pro | Karaoke Kiosk | Bose L1 Model II system | B2 bass | ToneMatch audio engine | Shure VHF SM58 wireless mics | Countryman E6 Earset with Shure UHF wireless beltpack