I have had a Bose S1 Pro for a couple of years. We used it primarily to amplify my wife's singing when she's booked for weddings and funerals. It's been great. Just a lately, I've been practising with it with a view to going busking. I hooked it up with some Sennheiser ME3 headset mics, and Sennheiser G1 transmitters and receivers (these are both battery powered so ideal for busking). The sound is really good (even for a headset mic). I have had it on a speaker stand so you can hear properly what it might sound like. I've now just ordered another S1 and added a Behringer 1002B mixer ( I already had the mixer) because I write original music and want my backing tracks to be played in stereo.....to counteract the smudging that goes on when trying to play stereo tracks back through mono. Although this might sound like a complicated setup, it won't be in the end. The mixer is battery powered (look into 9V lithium batteries...they're brilliant and long lasting), the mic receivers can sit alongside them in the same light flightcase, along with an ancient Zoom 9030 (I bought in about 1991 I think) powered by a lithium powerbank and two cables can then go to either speaker. This setup should be good enough for 50-100 people. My guitar will be using a Line 6 G10 remote jack system. I think why you had problems is because of the limitations of the Bose S1 in getting the right EQ on your vocals. With only a bass and treble knob, the S1 is really relying on your mic being matched to your voice. Also, you can't expect much bass out of these systems, or feed too much bass into them. I've had to remaster some of my backing tracks to get the bass from 'booming' the speaker enclosure at certain frequencies. I'll do an in-depth video of the setup once the new speaker is delivered.
I use my Bose S1 Pro with a Boss Ve-8 voice machine (battery powered) and now get twice as much vocal volume in addition to the added effects. I think the sound of the Bose S1 Pro is great.
Just had a look at the voice machine but on the top of the price of the Bose speaker I couldn't afford that!!!! Also too much equipment for a woman alone to carry around, a bit dangerous! I am very disappointed with the Bose S1 Pro. Months later, still trying to solve the problem.
I've had my Bose Pro 1 for a few years now and I like it 100%. I have no problem with mic volume. I think I use a stronger voice than you, but I may use a better Mic too. Never use less than a SM58. I use it with a line and also with a better bluetooth adapter and all sound slightly different. Today I have set up two Bose Pro1s and am sing a £680 Sennheiser radio mic. The sound is wonderful. I position the speakers slightly behind me so I can hear me and the track really well. I was busking in a huge Tesco at the bottom of a long escalator. The manager had to come down and tell me to turn it down.
Bose S1 Pro, with SM58 microphone and Xvive trans/receiver, too little sound, almost no difference with no microphone at all. Very disappointed. Was told to send the speaker back, which I did today. Like this young lady I can't get the vocals any higher. Even made a video to send to Gear4Music. This speaker is too expensive not to have great vocal sound with a wireless microphone. With a Booster it works well, but I didn't waste so much money to be then using an extra piece of kit!
I recently bought 2 of these. And ive bought the bose F1 speakers and subs. My SM58 just wasnt cutting thru. I purchased a sennheiser e335 for 99 bucks. It made a world of difference.
Hi there. Found the blog interesting. I have a Bose S1, and it is excellent (guitar/backing tracks/ vocals) I found using it for small spaces improved greatly if it was on a pole mount, changing the projection height. The Bose is designed as a small line array (speakers inside sort of lined up above each other in the cabinet) and I find it better with a raised position to project the sound. It has limitations of course, because it is what it is, a really good small speaker that will be affected by indoor or outside use, indoor or outside space size, and the environment, the weather, etc. I use the Bose tone-match sometimes too, and that takes the speaker to another level, it handles the preamp awesomely and adds bigger dimension and flexibility, again depending on the venue scenario. Your blog was good, and accurate, and I can only add that in reality, the Bose cannot be all things for all occasions because that would be unrealistic. Best wishes with your music, keep doing what you’re doing.
No speaker is all things everywhere. Professional guitarist Gretchen Menn mentioned that in a interview when a interviewer asked her about her sound. She plays everything classical acoustic guitar to Led Zeppelin to AC/DC. Venue will effect your sound too. Sheena Brook has a great video on how she uses her Bose S1-pro. ruclips.net/video/YzpQJ4J194k/видео.html
Yup. Positioning will effect the EQ and whether or not it is on a pole or not. It will automatically adjust the sound. I use mine in pubs with my acoustic and electric guitars / ukulele, vocals and effects pedalboard. A external preamp helps but not always needed.. A second speaker also helps too but may not be needed. Like Ian Oalmer was saying it all depends upon the circumstances. Even when playing indoors every venue is different. and can effect your sound and you will need to tweak things here and there. When you have a lot of equiptment in a music store and microphones there will be feedback. Watts is almost a useless stat. dB or decibels is a more accurate stat for how loud something is as watts are not all created equal. Often companies will also exagerate the watts as oppossed to listing the actual RMS watts of the product. I had one speaker that was advertised as 200 watts and it really wasn't. It was loud but it was not 200 watts loud. i encountered that with a Samson I had purchased. It was listed at 50 watts and it was quieter than my Kustom PA-50 even when the Samson's levels were at max and even when attached to my mixer too. However, with the Samson the battery or something was rattling inside so it being defective may be a factor. All my other gear i trested with my kustom PA-50 to determine with it may be my xlr cord or my microphone and it was not. in the event it was the speaker being defective and probably was i may give that particular Samson or another model a go next time maybe. With the money i got back from the Samson I used it to get my Bose S1-Pro. With the Bose S1-Pro...most of the venues i play at will provide a vocal microphone / P.A for FOH. So I use mine as a monitor as my pedalboard has a DI that goes to it and the FOH p.a.'s. When busking i have a secondary speaker if i need it or I bring my guitar amp (Orange Crush Mini into a guitar cabinet speaker) and just use the bose for vocals. Some battery powered p.a. speakers like the Mackie will actually drop the volume on the other channels if channel #1 is being used. For you it could be other factors other than the speaker. it could be your microphone as you said it went dead. It could have been a number of things as the guy you saw busking with a Bose S1-Pro in the mall did not have a issue with his speaker being loud enough. I do not have a lot of money either and buying a Bose S1-Pro was a big investment. But, sometimes you need to take a chance.
@Wild catcher Ehsay even something more simple like a mackie mix 5 or those smaller Yamaha mixers with a few channels. Basically you just need the preamps, gain boost and can pan your inputs etc. Behringer 1002 Xenyx is also a great little portable mixer for that stuff.
Positioning will effect the EQ and whether or not it is on a pole or not. It will automatically adjust the sound. I use mine in pubs with my acoustic and electric guitars / ukulele, vocals and effects pedalboard. A external preamp helps but not always needed.. A second speaker also helps too but may not be needed. Like Ian Oalmer was saying it all depends upon the circumstances. Even when playing indoors every venue is different. and can effect your sound and you will need to tweak things here and there. When you have a lot of equiptment in a music store and microphones there will be feedback. Watts is almost a useless stat. dB or decibels is a more accurate stat for how loud something is as watts are not all created equal. Often companies will also exagerate the watts as oppossed to listing the actual RMS watts of the product. I had one speaker that was advertised as 200 watts and it really wasn't. It was loud but it was not 200 watts loud. i encountered that with a Samson I had purchased. It was listed at 50 watts and it was quieter than my Kustom PA-50 even when the Samson's levels were at max and even when attached to my mixer too. However, with the Samson the battery or something was rattling inside so it being defective may be a factor. All my other gear i trested with my kustom PA-50 to determine with it may be my xlr cord or my microphone and it was not. in the event it was the speaker being defective and probably was i may give that particular Samson or another model a go next time maybe. With the money i got back from the Samson I used it to get my Bose S1-Pro. With the Bose S1-Pro...most of the venues i play at will provide a vocal microphone / P.A for FOH. So I use mine as a monitor as my pedalboard has a DI that goes to it and the FOH p.a.'s. When busking i have a secondary speaker if i need it or I bring my guitar amp (Orange Crush Mini into a guitar cabinet speaker) and just use the bose for vocals. Some battery powered p.a. speakers like the Mackie will actually drop the volume on the other channels if channel #1 is being used. For you it could be other factors other than the speaker. it could be your microphone as you said it went dead. It could have been a number of things as the guy you saw busking with a Bose S1-Pro in the mall did not have a issue with his speaker being loud enough. I do not have a lot of money either and buying a Bose S1-Pro was a big investment. But, sometimes you need to take a chance.
Tweaking the the EQ knobs on the Bose S1-pro helps a lot. Some people are not a fan of the "Voice-Match" and just leave it off and tweak the EQ manually. Rolling back the lows and pushing the highs a bit with a little touch of reverb will push vocals and make it pop.
That was a great review. I really appreciate the time and on-site research you did for this re: the BOSE S1 Pro speaker. I am a solo instrumental guitarist (using a loop pedal to help me). I mainly do one high-end restaurant in Stratford, ON., Canada. I bought a Bose S1 about a month ago. I already owned the Bose L1 Compact stick which I liked. But, I didn't need the power and I wanted more control over the EQ (separately for my backup loop tracks and my guitar through multi FX). I have only used the S1 once in a house concert setting with a singer using a Shure Beta 58 mic. I did notice that I had to crank the mic/vocal channel a bit more than I expected compared to her Taylor guitar and my effected Taylor guitar. But, it all sounded perfect by the time I tweaked it accordingly. All good;. Agaain, you did a great and thorough job on this review, and I truly appreciate that. Thank you. Without being there with your gear, I kept wondering if your mic was maybe a bit tired and not working 100%. They don't go on forever unfortunately and I wonder if your mic was holding back your enthusiasm for the S1. I am actually buying a second S1 for wireless stereo (or mono). I have the fortune (even through Covid times) to be playing one of the most beautiful restaurants on the planet (Revival House in Stratford, ON., Canada). It is a 150 year old church in the heart of downtown Stratford and famous for it's food and it's noted as a perfect concert venue. The S1 fills this massive church dining room at less than half volume with my music. Dining guests always comment that they think I have speakers everywhere. I guess, in conclusion, I will challenge you that maybe you might need a new mic at some point. I noticed a fair bit of high-end missing from it on your various tests. (BTW, you have a beautiful voice! So sweet.) Also, as per the busker with the wireless... that wireless mic receiver have an output volujme control that acts as a crank or preamp. That might be the little box you saw. (The headset mic transmits to the receiver box and goes to the amp accordingly. So many knobs.... so little money... But, in conclusion, I am head over heels about my S1 Pro and amd buying another one on Monday. I hope this might just give you some food for thought about the S1 from a different artist's perspective (or context). Keep doing what you're doing. You are very talented. If you were closer to where I live, I'd be hoping to record you in my studio. You are one of the good ones. Cheers and have a great day. Good luck and stay safe.
I'm pretty sure she tried a different mic. There is something wrong and artificial about the sound reproduction with this speaker. For someone with a studio I would think you would here it. I hate to say it but maybe your ears are getting old and worrn out. I know that sounds mean but this girl is not wrong. You need to do some side by side comparisons. You are being fooled by the big sound dispersion from such a small unit. The speaker does not produce true accurate sound.
@@mlafonta22 Ouch! That was a bit harsh dude. Hey Teffy, you must be a real pro. Remind me never to go to a party with you. I bet you are a real charmer. Stay classy Teff. LOL
But, I do play with a lowden. I do primarily fingerpicking/style. More toward will mcnicol or Pierre. But I do also sing and strum. Does it handle it good ? Honestly. The voice of the guitar is important
I run two vocals, accordion, guitar, and upright bass through the bose S1 (with an art 48v mixer). It has saved us from playing without amplification multiple times (no electricity or they don’t want a PA system) . I place it in a stand by our heads, basically what matters is that we can hear ourselves. The clients would’ve had an acoustic show, now even the last table can hear it, grandma isn’t bothered, and we don’t get tired trying to scream over everyone.
One thing about Bose is that up close it does not seem loud but the sound actually fills up a good area. I have 2 of these and sound amazing. Although I do use an external mixer.
john odowd if you are already clipping and your light is turning red, then that’s probably the loudest it’s going to get. When I plug in a sm58 directly to the s1 I have to turn the volume up but when I use the mixer I put it around 1/4 of the way and about 1/2 of the way on my mixer and it sounds louder.
Kind of surprised all the professionals you asked for advise they didn't question your mic. ?? That act with the wireless should have pointed in that direction, though the wireless system probably acted in a preamp fashion gaining up the input db. In all your comparisons the Bose was always clearer, hence more loudness wasn't actually needed. But I know it is huge that how you hear yourself is vital to your performing confidence, so very important.
I think sound can be relative, but I think the Bose S1 is definitely loud enough, but imho you're a very quiet singer, so you probably would have benefited from a preamp after your mic to boost your levels. With that being said, if you weren't happy with the Bose it is what it is. There are so many options out there to try. Maybe the JBL EON COMPACT ONE. Similar to Bose,but with more power. I do think a preamp is essential if you want your vocal to pop, and the right acoustic environment. Some places carry sound better than others, so finding the right spot is key!. I think something like the Boss VE20 or Boss VE8 would suit you perfectly.
Tweaking the the EQ knobs on the Bose S1-pro helps a lot. Some people are not a fan of the "Voice-Match" and just leave it off and tweak the EQ manually. Rolling back the lows and pushing the highs a bit with a little touch of reverb will push vocals and make it pop.
Dear Samantha, thank you very much for the great video! I was researching about the Bose S1 Pro a lot and found that the problem you and others were having is caused by the automatic gain (or lack of manual gain) with the built-in mixer. Using an external mixer would result in a better mic output (volume and sound wise), however this really defeats the purpose of having a highly portable small PA with in-built mixer. Bose pretty much screwed up with this one and reason why people write lot of wrong comments here is because this is mic/line-in problem only and they mainly benchmark the box with Bluetooth or other Inputs. You were one of two reports which were useful for actual buskers and musicians using the mic input. Therefore thank you very much for your efforts and be confident about your musical abilities. You are great and won a new subscriber. Best, T
Thank you for your comment! I really appreciate it. I never really expected people to have such strong opinions about the Bose S1 Pro when I posted this video. I just put this video together to let my subscribers know what had happened with the amp since I had mentioned that I had bought one in a previous video and felt I needed to let them know it didn't work out for me. So it is a breath of fresh air to see your comment come in and thanks for subscribing!
I feel your pain. Mic gain is an issue on the S1. A mic with a stronger output helps a bit. A preamp, wireless system or vocal effect unit gives all the gain back. It works perfectly except now you’ve got another piece of gear to bring. The best solution would have been a better design in which more gain was available when switching to the vocal mic tone match.
Had same problem with my s1 pro vocals for volume. Got a inline adapter Shure A85F impedance matching transformer. It simple plugs one end into your xlr cable and then quarter inches at the other end into the S1. Presto the mic volume basically doubles. The adaptor was just a little over 30 bucks Canadian. Cheap fix. The other thing I noticed is the Bose system sounds louder when you are not beside it. It has great projection. Place it on a pole stand for better projection. It has self adjusting for sound depending on positional placement for sound projection.
I was watching your video and I found out by accident that I was playing a bigger venue so I connected the S1 and the Roland ex . I had the Roland ex first . It has a lot of high end but when I connected both it was so good . The s1 gave the ex a strong brace , both together was amazing . I am a vocalist first so the quality is so important to me so the S1 is my favorite so far .
Really like your honest review never had any physical experience with it but I believe yamaha pa's are great . By the way your voice sounded amazing keep it up.
Thank you for your opinions about your experience. In one city here I used to busk no amplification was allowed, and it made for a much better environment.
As I was watching your excellent video, my mind went to the Boss VE-8 which I think might have solved your problem. As I scrolled down and read some of the comments before I posted this, I saw someone else suggest it. It also has a looper and a vocal harmonizer feature that lets you ad vocal harmonies. I'm curious to find out what was the ultimate solution that you came up with. I recently purchased a Bose S1Pro, but I don't busk. Just got it to use in the back yard.
That's great! Honestly I've just persevered with my Roland amp for busking since I haven't done a hell of a lot of it in the past few years and I have my PA for gigs. I'm reassured that, with all the helpful comments I've received on this video, I will find a great solution, if/when the time comes to try again. 😊
This review is a few years old. There is also the Everse 8 and 12 now that do not have this issue. I have the Everse 8 and would have bought the 12 had it been avail. It sounds better than the 8 and has more headroom and is only a slightly more. Only issue it is more weight to lug around. The other option is to just buy or build a battery power pack and use plug in equipment.
Keyboards have a very wide frequency range and really need their own specific keyboard amp. The S1 is good for guitar and vocal mix but with keys you’ll get a thin muddy mix.
hey samantha, if you are still looking for a battery powered pa today i have used the behringer c210. one thing i do differently from other buskers is i have a usb interface that acts as my input source and that goes into my macbook air into logic pro as a digital mixer and that gives me a ton of effects like eq, compression, reverb, delay. and then that output goes out of the interface to the speaker. right now i use something i little bit more powerful as my speaker. i use the qsc cp8 speakers and i power that with a inverter. the speaker says its 1000w but rms is really around 500 watts.
Hi Samantha - I’m a little late this party - sorry the Bose didn’t work out for you - I’ve been using mine almost since they came out and still love it and get great battery performance. Where did you you get the 150w info? Bose doesn’t publish that information and most of the math-heads I’ve read seem to agree that it’s about 40w. I always use my on a pole speaker stand a bit behind me so that it’s my monitor as well as PA and so far have only used it for outdoor farmers market type stuff - BTW - I replace a Cube Street EX (hated it!) with my S1 Pro. I loved the S1 Pro so much that I also picked up an L1-2 B2 with a T1 mixer that I use for most of my gigs now.
Honestly can't remember where I got the 150w from. As you know, this was quite a while ago now, so my brain's discarded a lot of the information about it. I'm glad you enjoy yours. The inbuilt battery was certainly cool. Thanks for the advice on the cube ex, I still haven't upgraded, money's been really tight this year.
Hey! Also found the mic channel too quiet, so I added a preamp adaptor to the mic. Since the preamp needs phantom power, which the Bose doesn't provide, I also added a mobile phantom power adaptor. So the setup "mic-preamp-phantompower-Bose" works really well for me with lots of headroom! Maybe this is helpful for you out there!:)
Awesome to hear it works well like that! Is it at all bothersome to carry around the three pieces of equipment in place of a different amp or is the gross mass increase negligible?
@@edgesamantha For me, it is still convenient to carry :) the preamp and powersupply connected kinda look like and weigh as much as an e-cigarette 😅 I'm using for example the TritonAudio FetHead with the Xvive p1, if anyone out there wants to try;) Have a nice day!😊
Just looked them up 😲 Amazed at how small they are! The preamp I looked at was about half the size of a small/medium mixing desk and reasonably weighty! Pretty great that there's an option out there that really doesn't create much added bulk to a busking setup! Cheers for sharing your specs. I'm sure it will be helpful to others.
Great review! Thank you for posting. The weak vocal (pre amp related) channel in the version 1 S1 is known issue with the Bose. If you add a pre amp to the mic it will fix. Also I am told the S1 Pro + does not have this issue.
Well Samantha - I just just tested a Bose S1 and a Roland Cube Street EX for acoustic guitar playing and I can report that the S1 could not handle a nice clean bass note without distorting at higher volumes. The S1 sounded more "Hifi" but that's not much good if it doesn't perform at performance levels. The Cube Street EX is what I left the store with. I'll put it up on a speaker stand and it should be fine. I have 3 other Roland Amps and it compares very favourably back at home with say my Roland 40GX. Regarding the S1 I know the store assistant was surprised at how the S1 performed (or rather failed to perform) - I took my Nylon piezo Godin Multiac in and the bass notes were a fantastic test for both units.
I think, that you must put S1 pro on the stand not on the floor at the height of your ear, slightly behind you. The floor position is for the monitoring. Enjoy in music.
Usually a rule of thumb for noticeable sound increase is....10 times the power you initially had. So if your previous set up was 30 watts, you would have to upgrade to at least 300 watts for a "noticeable" increase. My experience, I had 100 watts rms power, upgraded to 205 watts rms power, and there was zero noticeable difference! Good luck in the future.
I think you've mis-remembered this. Typically the smallest NOTICEABLE difference is a step of 1dB, which is quite small. Your "... 10 times the power ..." is what is reckoned to be, subjectively, "Twice as loud".
Hi Samantha, thanks for posting your video. My wife and I are considering busking and looking for a battery powered keyboard and speaker. What battery powered speaker and keyboard are you using now? Thanks!
I'm still getting by with my Roland KC-110 for the time being due to funds being put into other more important things. I have had a lot of recommendations for the Roland BA300. Have you tried that one out? One of my friends got it and is happy with it, but he's not a busker, so he hasn't put it to that test. I use a SLA battery and inventor to power my equipment, so I'm not limited to only battery powered amps. Check out my video on Setup costs and portable power for an in depth look at how I use these and connect all my equipment together for busking. ruclips.net/video/PrTL8GZoqm8/видео.html
Hi Samantha, i like your video! I'd like to by some Bose! I play keyboard Pa4x with bas, drums support they called it a STYLE and i sing! but can i play with a bose for 25 people in a restaurant ( pianobar) ? is this one strong enough?
Can't say for sure, but I think you'd go alright with it for that situation. Plus a lot of people have said in the comments here that they've had better luck with it with different microphones than what I used and that my mic was likely the downfall. If you can go test the amp out yourself and see what you think before purchasing, I'd highly recommend that. Good luck!
You’re obviously serious about your sound. Any speaker used for an audience benefits by being elevated on a stand. The dispersion and projection is improved. I only mention it because noticed in a couple of the segments, you had the speaker on the ground. Additionally, a mixer with EQ or external preamps really help dial in better tone/sound. Lastly, I have benefited greatly from reading and working with people who are very experienced and knowledgeable in sound. It helps if you can find someone likewise or read about particular sound characteristics and environments to dial in better sound and overcome problems before buying equipment.
Wonder what mic that was used? I have 2 S1 Pro and use a Sennheiser (and Shure Beta 58) and have never had it past the indent. Half way. I believe that Bose puts a limiter on the mic channel is it’s dimed
I'm curious as to why you didn't try it raised off the floor and why you sit *behind* your amps instead of positioning whatever you're playing through at the time strategically behind you. The S1 isn't really a speaker to be used on the floor to get the most out of it. The sound would travel along the floor, not at ear level. It really should be off the floor on a stand. At any rate, I hope you found something you like.
great detailed video. choosing good reliable gear that delivers half the claims they make for it is no easy thing these days. There will always be a problem with portable lightweight busking PA being up to the job. AER gear is good (not great ) but crazy expensve. Perhaps a portable power supply for a lightweight keyboard amp would be a solution. Its physics at the end of the day. Its about amp headroom coupled with speakers moving air. small speakers cant move much air and will be ppoor on bass end. Love the sound of all Bose gear at low volumes but cranked up they reveal themselves to be overpriced and over hyped.
I have a Bose S1 Pro on a tripod stand and I have also wired mic and wireless mic. Using the wireless mic is significantly a lot louder than a wired mic. I love my Bose S1 Pro, I think the sound quality is perfect and sounds like a professional speaker. You should check also the new EV Everse 8. It’s a lot louder. It has 400 watts, 121 decibel in a small PA system.
I love the clarity and coverage of the Bose gear, I’m sorry to hear the S1 didn’t work for you, that can be so frustrating. if you don’t need battery operation. The Bose L1 compact is great and very versatile but unfortunately more money.
The Bose L1 looks a bit big for a busking amp. I'm glad you found Bose gear good for you. Obviously a lot of people do. The fringe festival just started and the amount of acts that have come to town with their bose s1 pros is impressive!
Hi iv had my bose for about 6 months and just last night suddenly it went quite today it was like about 70 percent lost heaps of power then usual im so disapointed im hoping its just the mike surely i havent blown the amp the bluetooth still pumps i hope the 2 mike setups arnt faulty
With a wired microphone it works, wireless, no! My wireless microphone works perfectly well on open mic nights, so it is not a problem with the microphone! Yes, i would love an answer!!!! A pity you couldn't go and speak to that guy..... would love to know what he was using exactly!!!!
I have two Bose S1 Pro units running through a non-powered mixer board. Has lots of head room. Not too sure how it would be in an outside environment but they do sound awesome.
You probably would do alright outside with that setup! A lot of people on here seem to have two of them and I've seen other buskers out and about with two of them. I'm hoping to avoid paying for two amps and having to carry two with me busking to get a loud enough outdoor sound though. So still looking for what will work best for my situation, but that's ok.
Is that so? Well I didn't try it on a pole when out busking. I know I tried it on a pole initially, inside, where it sounded good. Can't remember if I had it on a pole outside, in my backyard, or not. I think it's been a couple of years now since I bought and sold it, so I can't recall. What I showed in the video was all the times I tried to use it, so you'll have a better idea than me now! Lol.
You may just need a second one for a monitor. When your behind the speaker it sounds muffled what the audience hears is a lot different. Or try setting the speaker behind you
No one can beat the BOSE mam , because that has cleanest powerful natural big sound that is the Bose technology and from its the size and compactibility also matters for me ,I highly recommend to you to take it and enjoy until lifetime.
You could use a Shure A85F transformer and boost the dB’s on your microphone by 21. That little item costs $20. You would have all the volume you ever needed.
Wow! I'd be keen to give that a try! Not that I have the Bose S1 Pro anymore, but just on my regular amp. It's about $50 AUD here in Australia, but still very affordable if it does what it says it does! Thanks for the recommendation!
@@edgesamantha Hi! I know this is years after you made it but thank you so much for this video! I have been having the same problem but could not find any information on this on the internet. It has been super good reading through the comments. @jimmy5634. Thank you for this suggestion! I purchased a Shure A85F transformer and sure (shure) enough I was able to boost my vocals up to a much more reasonable volume. At 50% volume, it was already louder than my channel with a normal mic-bose connection at max volume. (I use a Shure SM57 which has a low output) It is comparable to what I could do with a mixer but without having to supply more power to it. Such good information here. Thanks all!
@@Densyg So glad that this video existing and people commenting on it has helped you! Also great to know this worked for your set up too. Now I'm definitely thinking of picking one up!
Been in the live performing arts for eons. As one person pointed out in the comments, and I agree with their synopsis, is sound placement is huge in any live performance environment. Speaker positions and angles directing frequencies. In short, sound placement is based on the venue space and audience. Another is quality mics and pre-amps. Can't stress this enough. External mixing is a must, even if using a small mixer for extended control and performance. These are just the basics. Just remember also to use a personal monitor to help you dial things in from your ear's perspective. Master these and pump out your first platinum! Cheers and happy performing!
Samantha what I learned about this speaker is that you really need a small mixer to push the volume on the mic input and to also ring it out. i had the same problem with the mic I returned the speaker too but I realized from speaking to other professionals that a mixer is very important to really get the mices sounding good. GOod luck.. I am also going to buy this again but with a mixer next time
Thanks for your comment. That makes sense. If you can get a small portable mixer that isn't too expensive and it does the trick then that definitely sounds like a good option!
@@edgesamantha I decided to buy bose s1 again!! lol.. This time I know I need to get a small mixer to get the mic to be perfect. INthe mean time I have been using a FENDER Passport Event system for a few years. Its a little heavy but I had my father in law put some wheels on the back.. TO me thats the best system to include PA with 6 outputs for $699.. 375 with 2 speakers. YOu should check it out. www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/PassEvent--fender-audio-passport-event
Since the JBL EON ONE Pro has phantom power, I use an in-line, phantom powered mic preamp that works great. Sad that Bose forgot to include phantom power. Try the JBL. Also has much more usable EQ options via the app (five bands per channel).
I think if you need more noticeable power/volume you have to go mains powered using either an inverter with a heavy bulky battery (or expensive lithium golf trolley battery)or a powerpack/station combined battery and inverter or a generator. Then you will need a big heavy platform truck to cart it around. Problem is for example I have the Roland street cube EX rated at 50 watts on mains power but on batteries I think it only runs at a max of 20 watts and if you push too much bass through it the sound gets compressed. But on mains it runs louder with no compression, so I run it through my inverter. Battery amps like AER are quite rated but cost too much compared to the equivalent mains powered and are more for guitar than keyboards. What I use sometimes is a Yamaha DBR10 active speaker as a 10" speaker has better bass and 350 watts. With a Yamaha MG06x mixer(has effects for vocals) a 500 watt pure sine wave inverter and a 12 volt leisure battery.(Bear in mind for example the DBR10 does not need 350 watts RMS that is the amount after amplification but only needs 60 to 90 watts, you can get a cheap power consumption meter to see how many watts an amp needs under load) But obviously this adds a lot more weight, bulk and setup time. Plus you may then have a problem with shops and passers by complaining your too loud. If it's mainly that you can't hear yourself clearly you may be better to use a relatively cheap wired in ear monitors, I use a powered Fischer Amps In-Ear Monitor, its brilliant I get a nice as loud as I want clear stereo sound and I can move the speaker further away to solve feedback problems. busk.co/blog/busking-tips-tricks/honest-review-10-best-amps-for-busking/?gclid=Cj0KCQiA4feBBhC9ARIsABp_nbV1Hk8u4F-w4mcook26boX3esjzb93fjmK6jVeZDPSuQMI9lUYbqFcaAjk0EALw_wcB
I upgraded from a Beta58 shure mic the the Beta 87a shure microphone and was disappointed the 87a doesn't have the clarity. But i think you might like the beta58
You may have had a faulty unit,or didnt really use it correctly or your e q. I'm a professional entertainer for over 35 years and a sound engineer. This Bose S1 pro is a great speaker for me. I use it with bluetooth stream music and totally wireless mics. I perform almost every day as a solo self contained act with tracks. I use one on a speaker stand up high. I've used one in front of as much as 250 people with no problem in volume or e.q. I like it so much ,I bought a second one.For larger crowds I use 2 and 400 or more ppl I use a Bose L1 compact. With my MANY years of experience in performing and all kinds of equipment, I found it perfect for me. Too bad you didnt like it. It's the choice for alot of my musician friends here in NYC USA. 👍🎶
I'm glad you like it and find it so handy. I loved how loud and clear it could get for playing music through Bluetooth and it was great for my keys as well. It was just how it handled vocals. I can assure you I used it correctly and that my unit was not faulty as I tested a second unit in the music store and it was exactly the same. So as I mentioned in my video it wasn't the unit for me, but it could be great for others with different set ups and obviously it works well for you and a lot of other performers. I'm sure I'll find something I like further down the track.
If you would of ran the microphone and your keyboard thru a small 4 channel mixer you could have connected the mixer to the Bose S1 and you would of been able to match your levels perfectly while getting amplification using your Channel sliders on the mixer and then adjusted overall volume on the S1
I was a bit short on money at the time and just hoped buying a new amp would have been enough on it's own. As it is a lot of people have recommended purchasing an additional mixer to make this amp work the best it can. At least now if anyone's looking to purchase this amp and come across this video they will have plenty of recommendations.
@@edgesamantha I agree. Your video points out a lot of different points both good and bad. When you were using the S1 were you using the Tone match feature? Those little selector switches that show a guitar or microphone?
@@edgesamantha Okay. I saw that and was thinking I hope she tried it without. Thinking there might be some automatic equalization happening in the speaker. Well I will say you have an amazing voice and your very talented. Keep up the good work!
I use two Bose S1 for busking. 1 was Great 2 was EXCELLENT. I use to have a Roland street ex Was ok but nothing like the Bose S1 . You have to being something WRONG. Many other buskers. at Fisherman’s Wharf in San Francisco ca. Love it! My income has almost doubled.Fisherman’s wharf is a wide open area and I had to turn it down a few times. I’m really confused by your problem. I sing Jazz with backings tracks with the two Bose behind me about 4 ft. No feedback.I set the mic vol between 12 to 3 o’clock.
On the contrary, my unit gives me very good vocal. Loud and clear with a wireless mic. I would recommend you to try out before buying. If it doesn't suit go for some other models.
I known how you feel............ I first bought a SubZero, which is small, light and the sound of the backing tracks was really lovely, but with a wireless Shure SM58 and Xvive Trans/receiver, was too quiet. OK, it had only cost me £149 on a sale, so I went for the other options, the Bose S1 Pro. Like you I don't earn much, so £540, plus delivery, plus insurance, it was almost £600. But, the sound with the wireless microphone is very, very weak, while my equipment works faultlessly on open mic nights, has a lot of signal and I can sing as loudly as I wish. We tried with the preamp but why did I waste so much money to now have to carry something else? I didn't sing for a few months, now I am back and contacted Gear4Music. They asked me to send a video and said that the speaker might be faulty, but it is new......................... I am so fed up... they picked it up today! If it is faulty they offered me to give my money back but what next??????? I can't carry more weight and I can't pay even more money. I would have thought that Bose is an awesome brand............... and it is very difficult to speak to both of them, Bose and Gear4Music. Thanks for the video!!!
No worries! If you're able to try one out in person it might still be suitable for you, just don't buy one without trying it, like I did! There are plenty of tips in these comments about how people have made it work better than it did for me. I.e mic pre-amps, mixers and higher gain mics. There are also lots of alternative amp recommendations too. I haven't gotten around to purchasing a new amp again, but when I do, I'll be scrolling through these comments and starting my search with their help! Good luck with your search. 😊
The Bose has reverb but no delay. That's okay because I could add on a delay pedal but I'd rather have something that's more substantial in terms of overall quality of sound for me. I may get one and try it out as you did and see if I can make it work. So, what do you have now? The Roland in the beginning of your video sounded good as did the Bose when it was inside...tks!
Yeah, still using the Roland KC-110 for the time being. It's holding on and, with needing an amp less since the pandemic, I haven't felt like spending on a new one. I would recommend perhaps trying one of the other options people have recommended on here that may more meet your requirements. Someone shared an amp that looked really cool the other day. Let me see if I can find the brand and model number.
Ah it was the HK Move Pro 8, but it doesn't look to have a delay option either. The Roland BA330 was the next one I was thinking of, but you can only set the effect channel to reverb or delay, not both. Not sure what else to suggest. I think there were some more good suggestions throughout the comments, but can't recall them at the moment. You may have to use a delay pedal with a lot of amps to get both reverb and delay simultaneously 🤷♀️ Anyway good luck with your search!
@@JulieBluestoneMusic I performed through a BA330 at a gig one time. It has the same type of sound I like from my KC-110, but it's more powerful and thus clearer because it's not being pushed as much to get the same level of volume and can go a lot louder to fill a bigger space. The gig I used it at was at an outdoor pool, so it was a wide open space and it performed really well! It is bigger than the Bose s1 pro and a bit more expensive, but I think it would be a worthy upgrade if I were looking into it again! That being said you should always test out an amp for your instrument and personal sound preference. (Unlike what I did when purchasing the s1 pro! 😳)
Did you say your main PA is a Yamaha Stagepas? If so, how do you like it ? Is it heavy? Have been using the Fender Passport 500 for 10 yrs for medium/larger venues. Really like it and has never let me down, but is getting old . A replacement will either be another Fender Passport or Yamaha Stagepas .
Hi Betty, yeah I have the Stagepas 400i. I've had it for years and they now have upgraded it to the 400bt that has bluetooth. I do really like it, I've never needed more from it. Used it at weddings and plenty of gigs. I did notice when I did my comparison between the three amps that it had an outside sound closer to the bose when using just the one speaker. I didn't share the recordings from the yamaha in this video as when I went to compile everything it just felt like overkill and unnecessary to include all the footage I took! Compared to the roland you could really hear the difference again, like the roland has a sharper sort of sound. But forgetting that, I am happy using it when I do and I have the option to be even louder than I can go with my roland amp, so I feel prepared for even larger outdoor gigs. What's the price point for the Fender? I chose this one when I did because it seemed like great value for money with the two speakers and mixing desk all together. Oh also I really love how the mixing desk fits into the back of one speaker for transport, but can be removed and used separately, so you can place the mixing desk a lot closer to you than the speakers.
@@edgesamantha The Fender Passport 500 was around $900 when I got it, but traded 2 guitars I no longer played toward it so I believe I actually paid $450 for it . The Yamaha Stage Pass came along later.
Hi Sam I leave in Norfolk Island i have a couple of s1 pro..i use one when i do busking no issues so far..i use two when i play at fish fry over a hundred people..i suggest use a speaker stand when you're playing outdoor
I know exactly what your problem is, (imo). Is the direction the tweeter are placed ourward angl (like 45 degrees from center while the woofer is dead center and is what you hear), to proyect out to the crowd/it sounds great!, but to the performer behind the s1 you dont hear the high frequencies. To fix that experience you have to place the amp behind yourself and off center from you, otherwise you will hear only the woofer which will feel umderwater like.
Vocals too quiet: Your problem is that you microphone and piano have different impedance "Mike/Line". Get a impedance convertor to boost the microphone output and your problem will be solved. They are simple, cheap and don't need power. Simple.
Hola Samantha: Yo soy un "busker" en Argentina. Toco saxo alto sin amplificación y toco un acompañamiento musical grabado. Mi amplificador es un Roland KC 110 igual al tuyo. Tengo mucha experiencia con él y con pruebas con otros amplificadores. Te paso unos consejos: Los amplificadores se venden indicando su potencia en Watts, pero para sistemas PA debemos indicar la cantidad de personas que van a escuchar. Por ejemplo mi amp. el Roland KC 110 es para 10-20 personas. Sin embargo es el mejor sonido que existe en el mercado. Yo te aconsejo usarlo con bass & treble al máximo. También te aconsejo comprar otro similar nuevo y conectarlos (link) entre sí. Si hay mucho público (gente escuchando) utiliza unos pies (stands) para que el sonido llegue hasta atrás. Estos ampificadores son muy sensibles con el feedback. Existen equipos anti-feedback para micrófono, por ejemplo la marca Behringer. Espero que te sean útiles mis consejos. PD.: AVOID USE PLASTIC CASE AMPLIFIERS !! They have a special internal ECO.
Yes.. get a headset mic Vocals-Mic- Airline 77 vocal headset True diversity uhf wireless system From Sweerwater There are used for fitness classes ..you can Also rig it up to be battery powered .. 🎷🎶
@@edgesamantha No. Im a dj and my applications would be different. I would be using it as a monitor, for wedding ceremonies, and even at a parks with the fam. I am concerned about the vocals if i ever wanted to use it for karaoke.
@@theinfinate I used the S1 at a wedding last weekend and so far so good. Although the aplication was a ceremony, so pretty mellow stuff. I have another event this upcoming weekend, will update on that experience as well. If she doesnt live anywhere near you, I live in Oakland if it helps.
Which mic are u using? Did u try a different mic at the store? Also whats the name of the internet store u bought it from? (u may have bought a counterfeit)
Using a shure sm58. I tried their sm58 at the store and another Mic that I can't remember the name of, possibly a sm58 beta (It was ages ago now). The internet store 'Store DJ' is legit, they have a store in Victoria as well as their online shop, so I'd think it was genuine.
I had similar issue. Change your mics. I went from Shure SM58 to Seinnheiser E935 and volume boosted maybe 30% and it sounds way clearer through the S1’s
Hi Samantha, I watched your video with interest as I have a similar set up to yours (piano/vocals) and am looking for an alternative to a PA i.e. more portable/simpler to set up for small-medium gigs. Your issue with the vocals is not unfounded. I spent a couple of hours at the music shop today (here in NZ) putting the Bose through its paces - my initial reaction, like yours, was that it had great sound, but then I discovered there wasn't really enough headroom on the vocals compared to what I could get out of the keys. For some reason, when switching to the mic using the 'ToneMatch' switch, all this does as add 'contour' to the sound - there is ZERO increase in the gain. I've always found with other equipment, that switching to a mic input (as opposed to line) significantly boosts the gain, since obviously a microphone has no volume control and thus needs the signal to be elevated accordingly. Oddly, the Bose does not provide this function, which to me is crazy. So this issue is nothing to do with your mic or your set up as such; sure a mixing desk would help, but then you're back to more cables and gear etc. You can try using a more sensitive mic (as I often do for gigs) - the Sennheiser e835 is a good example. However there is no way you should have to set the mic channel volume to near max level in order to compete with the keyboard, or to achieve a decent level irrespective. In my opinion this is a bad design; Bose needs to sort this out - personally there is no way I am parting with the best part of $1000 on this product if such a fundamental requirement is missing! Hope that helps. Cheers
Thank you for your detailed comment and clear explanation! I really appreciate knowing I'm not the only one to feel this way about the Bose. Thank you for your recommendation on a specific microphone that is more sensitive. I think a couple of other people also recommended a similar one, so it's something I'll look into for the future!
Oh good! A lot of people have recommended that one! I'm no longer in great need of an upgrade to my busking amp as I'm not busking much in the current climate, but if I ever get back into it heavily I'll definitely give the BA-330 a look! Thanks for your help.
The bose s1 travel far but u need an extra bose s1 as a monitor so u can hear yourself. They are phenomenal. Just have to use them correctly my dear. You will feed back if the speaker is behind u. I use mines for live shows and busking. Sorry u weren't satisfied. I love mines and now use bose subs when not busking at live shows which really makes them more affective. Good luck.
Samantha...Did you ever try the "Elite Acoustics A4-8"?? I own one of these and the sound is super nice! Like a studio monitor! Also went busking with it using keyboard + ukulele + mic
I don't think we have that one in Australia. I looked it up and the best I could find was an Amazon listing coming from the US. It is such a cool looking amp though! Thanks for the info.
I can't actually find somewhere to calculate how much shipping would cost. It needs me to sign in and go to checkout. Plus I want to make sure I can try before I buy next time I purchase one. Learn from my mistakes and all that!
I’m trying to choose between a few different amps which is how I have landed on your video. I’ve been busking with no amp for about 10 years, so I think the volume being low won’t be noticed by me.
Hi Samantha - Beautiful Vocals + Keys 👍 Been performing for 40 yrs / keys / vocals .... but not busking .... Best amplification I’ve used based on personal satisfaction with sound / audience feedback has been the Bose L1 - 2 Line Array with ToneMatch and 2 x B1 Bass Modules - Good for venues of up to 200 people. From what I could hear from your sound .... The Roland had the edge for “raw” power however, the Bose had the edge when it came to sound quality - Much nearer to studio sound. Perhaps you’re just a tad underpowered for your busking locations . ? Funds allowing ..... I think that I’d seriously consider two S1’s .... Happy gigging and continued success in your career ☘️☘️☘️
As a keyboard musician my advice is try running your microphone through your keyboard as some keyboards ( yamaha genos/ yamaha psr sx900) has microphone phantom power which will improve things a lot
Bose stuff is designed for indoor use, where the acoustics of the room or venue add to everything, but being outside with no control over the acoustics, the cheapest option will probably suit your needs, you should apply for some work on the cruise ships y'know, they would love your style in that environment, loads of money, and seeing the world???
Yeah, I agree that the amp worked nicely indoors. So if I'd only needed it for small indoor gigs it would have been suitable. Unfortunately cruise ship gigs wouldn't work for me as I can't be away for more than a couple of nights at once because of the 3 cats that depend on me to feed and clean up after them.
I would suggest an external preamp. And boosting the highs a little bit. But yeah to get the power you really need you probably won't find in a small battery operated unit. Although they are really cool and convienent . To get real power you would have very short battery life.
It’s a sucky feeling when a piece of equipment doesn’t work how you hoped. My current gigging amps, I hated them at first, but then one day my problems with them disappeared. I don’t know how. Am I crazy or not. No idea.
I actually found the sound to be too thin and not enough richness.. I'm a flutist and like a little reverb and delay on my sound..appreciate your experience!
My violinist friend was interested in purchasing it from me, back when I had it up for sale, and gave it a try one day out busking. She decided the sound wasn't for her either. We all have our personal preferences. I can't quite recall whether it had delay or not. I think it did have reverb though. Was it a choice between reverb and delay? Anyway did you buy yours or just test it out/hire it? Hope you didn't lose out too much on an amp that wasn't for you.
Samantha, Try the AER amp it will BLOW YOUR MIND! For $1200. It’s more than worth it. Guitar center will guarantee it. It replaced two Bose s1 pros. WHAT A DIFFERENCE!!!!!!! I strongly recommend the AER 60 compact 4.
Bose never was a company for musicians or music equipment but for hifi stuff and that's where I see that box. I have the hk move pro 8 and it's fantastic. It's apparently much more sturdier and made for musicians.
It will sound incredible if you match it with the Bose T4S it will pick up every detail. Personally I would never use the mixer in a powered speaker. I use Bose 802-III’s in Stereo with the T4S and it bows everything else away.
Go try the Bose S1 Pro with the Bose T4S and one of the microphone models in the menu. Like a Shure SM58. You will be floored at the vocal detail. I use a Neumann KMS105 with the Bose 802’s in stereo. But would by 2 S1Pro for smaller events if I needed them. What I talking about is a lot of money. But what you want to hear you will need the t4s tone match.
So, a couple of questions... One, you refer (many times) to the "vocal channel" on the S1. Neither of the combo inputs on the S1 are a dedicated vocal mic channel. Did you ever try running your mic through channel 2? (The channel that your keyboard seemed to work fine in.) Two, at any point did you try running a higher-grade vocal mic? Looks like you're using a SM-58, or perhaps a copy from a lesser brand than even Shure. Perhaps a Sennheiser e945, Audix OM6...lots of better vocal mics than a SM-58 (or the mic you have). A little background...I play 3-5 paid gigs in various venues a week and have long used Bose L1 Compact, L1 Model II, as well as QSC and Turbosound. The Bose gear has always had best-in-class vocal clarity and headroom. I've never heard the vocals ever be an issue, even in loud 300+ people rooms. I've used them indoors and outdoors almost equally too. I'd venture to guess that the issue you experienced was either an issue with your mic, and its impact on the gain structure for the system, or simply that your particular unit was defective. I can't think of any other reason why you would have had the issues you describe here. That's just my two cents worth...
Thanks for your comment. Yes, I tried the mic through both input 1 and 2, same with the keyboard. So perhaps I should have worded that differently, but I made sure it wasn't a specific channel that was causing the problem I was experiencing. I use a shure sm58, which I had been led to believe was industry standard when I purchased it, and honestly have enjoyed it's sound for years though other amps. I also tried a brand new sm58 through it at the music shop to rule out whether it was a fault with my mic in particular, it had exactly the same output level, so that wasn't it. I also tried another bose s1 pro with the same results, so not my unit in particular either. I'm glad you have had better luck with Bose gear than I did!
I have had a Bose S1 Pro for a couple of years. We used it primarily to amplify my wife's singing when she's booked for weddings and funerals. It's been great. Just a lately, I've been practising with it with a view to going busking. I hooked it up with some Sennheiser ME3 headset mics, and Sennheiser G1 transmitters and receivers (these are both battery powered so ideal for busking). The sound is really good (even for a headset mic). I have had it on a speaker stand so you can hear properly what it might sound like. I've now just ordered another S1 and added a Behringer 1002B mixer ( I already had the mixer) because I write original music and want my backing tracks to be played in stereo.....to counteract the smudging that goes on when trying to play stereo tracks back through mono. Although this might sound like a complicated setup, it won't be in the end. The mixer is battery powered (look into 9V lithium batteries...they're brilliant and long lasting), the mic receivers can sit alongside them in the same light flightcase, along with an ancient Zoom 9030 (I bought in about 1991 I think) powered by a lithium powerbank and two cables can then go to either speaker. This setup should be good enough for 50-100 people. My guitar will be using a Line 6 G10 remote jack system. I think why you had problems is because of the limitations of the Bose S1 in getting the right EQ on your vocals. With only a bass and treble knob, the S1 is really relying on your mic being matched to your voice. Also, you can't expect much bass out of these systems, or feed too much bass into them. I've had to remaster some of my backing tracks to get the bass from 'booming' the speaker enclosure at certain frequencies. I'll do an in-depth video of the setup once the new speaker is delivered.
Agree I got one couldn't be happier
This sounds cool! Thanks for your comment. Always great to have more ideas. A battery powered mixer sounds awesome. 👌
Thanks for this. I like to see your decision making.
I use my Bose S1 Pro with a Boss Ve-8 voice machine (battery powered) and now get twice as much vocal volume in addition to the added effects. I think the sound of the Bose S1 Pro is great.
Yup. I have no problems with my Bose SR-1.
Just had a look at the voice machine but on the top of the price of the Bose speaker I couldn't afford that!!!! Also too much equipment for a woman alone to carry around, a bit dangerous! I am very disappointed with the Bose S1 Pro. Months later, still trying to solve the problem.
@@TroyNaumu808 Bose SR-1 seems to be a cinematic speaker, not for busking?
I've had my Bose Pro 1 for a few years now and I like it 100%. I have no problem with mic volume. I think I use a stronger voice than you, but I may use a better Mic too. Never use less than a SM58. I use it with a line and also with a better bluetooth adapter and all sound slightly different. Today I have set up two Bose Pro1s and am sing a £680 Sennheiser radio mic. The sound is wonderful. I position the speakers slightly behind me so I can hear me and the track really well. I was busking in a huge Tesco at the bottom of a long escalator. The manager had to come down and tell me to turn it down.
Bose S1 Pro, with SM58 microphone and Xvive trans/receiver, too little sound, almost no difference with no microphone at all. Very disappointed. Was told to send the speaker back, which I did today. Like this young lady I can't get the vocals any higher. Even made a video to send to Gear4Music. This speaker is too expensive not to have great vocal sound with a wireless microphone. With a Booster it works well, but I didn't waste so much money to be then using an extra piece of kit!
The SM58 is not loud enough for Bose S1 Pro. I returned the mic and got better results with Senn e845
I recently bought 2 of these. And ive bought the bose F1 speakers and subs. My SM58 just wasnt cutting thru. I purchased a sennheiser e335 for 99 bucks. It made a world of difference.
SM58 needs a lot of gain for sure
thank you for sharing all the dislikes are probably from people trying to justify spending $600 on one speaker.
Hi there. Found the blog interesting. I have a Bose S1, and it is excellent (guitar/backing tracks/ vocals) I found using it for small spaces improved greatly if it was on a pole mount, changing the projection height. The Bose is designed as a small line array (speakers inside sort of lined up above each other in the cabinet) and I find it better with a raised position to project the sound. It has limitations of course, because it is what it is, a really good small speaker that will be affected by indoor or outside use, indoor or outside space size, and the environment, the weather, etc. I use the Bose tone-match sometimes too, and that takes the speaker to another level, it handles the preamp awesomely and adds bigger dimension and flexibility, again depending on the venue scenario. Your blog was good, and accurate, and I can only add that in reality, the Bose cannot be all things for all occasions because that would be unrealistic. Best wishes with your music, keep doing what you’re doing.
No speaker is all things everywhere. Professional guitarist Gretchen Menn mentioned that in a interview when a interviewer asked her about her sound. She plays everything classical acoustic guitar to Led Zeppelin to AC/DC. Venue will effect your sound too. Sheena Brook has a great video on how she uses her Bose S1-pro. ruclips.net/video/YzpQJ4J194k/видео.html
Yup. Positioning will effect the EQ and whether or not it is on a pole or not. It will automatically adjust the sound. I use mine in pubs with my acoustic and electric guitars / ukulele, vocals and effects pedalboard. A external preamp helps but not always needed.. A second speaker also helps too but may not be needed. Like Ian Oalmer was saying it all depends upon the circumstances. Even when playing indoors every venue is different. and can effect your sound and you will need to tweak things here and there. When you have a lot of equiptment in a music store and microphones there will be feedback. Watts is almost a useless stat. dB or decibels is a more accurate stat for how loud something is as watts are not all created equal. Often companies will also exagerate the watts as oppossed to listing the actual RMS watts of the product. I had one speaker that was advertised as 200 watts and it really wasn't. It was loud but it was not 200 watts loud. i encountered that with a Samson I had purchased. It was listed at 50 watts and it was quieter than my Kustom PA-50 even when the Samson's levels were at max and even when attached to my mixer too. However, with the Samson the battery or something was rattling inside so it being defective may be a factor. All my other gear i trested with my kustom PA-50 to determine with it may be my xlr cord or my microphone and it was not. in the event it was the speaker being defective and probably was i may give that particular Samson or another model a go next time maybe. With the money i got back from the Samson I used it to get my Bose S1-Pro. With the Bose S1-Pro...most of the venues i play at will provide a vocal microphone / P.A for FOH. So I use mine as a monitor as my pedalboard has a DI that goes to it and the FOH p.a.'s. When busking i have a secondary speaker if i need it or I bring my guitar amp (Orange Crush Mini into a guitar cabinet speaker) and just use the bose for vocals. Some battery powered p.a. speakers like the Mackie will actually drop the volume on the other channels if channel #1 is being used. For you it could be other factors other than the speaker. it could be your microphone as you said it went dead. It could have been a number of things as the guy you saw busking with a Bose S1-Pro in the mall did not have a issue with his speaker being loud enough. I do not have a lot of money either and buying a Bose S1-Pro was a big investment. But, sometimes you need to take a chance.
I'd always recommend using an external small mixer to enhance things prior to the powered speaker.
@Wild catcher Ehsay even something more simple like a mackie mix 5 or those smaller Yamaha mixers with a few channels. Basically you just need the preamps, gain boost and can pan your inputs etc.
Behringer 1002 Xenyx is also a great little portable mixer for that stuff.
Agree, i use mackie profx8 and rcf 710mk4 , work's well for me.
@@parrivera totally agree.
Positioning will effect the EQ and whether or not it is on a pole or not. It will automatically adjust the sound. I use mine in pubs with my acoustic and electric guitars / ukulele, vocals and effects pedalboard. A external preamp helps but not always needed.. A second speaker also helps too but may not be needed. Like Ian Oalmer was saying it all depends upon the circumstances. Even when playing indoors every venue is different. and can effect your sound and you will need to tweak things here and there. When you have a lot of equiptment in a music store and microphones there will be feedback. Watts is almost a useless stat. dB or decibels is a more accurate stat for how loud something is as watts are not all created equal. Often companies will also exagerate the watts as oppossed to listing the actual RMS watts of the product. I had one speaker that was advertised as 200 watts and it really wasn't. It was loud but it was not 200 watts loud. i encountered that with a Samson I had purchased. It was listed at 50 watts and it was quieter than my Kustom PA-50 even when the Samson's levels were at max and even when attached to my mixer too. However, with the Samson the battery or something was rattling inside so it being defective may be a factor. All my other gear i trested with my kustom PA-50 to determine with it may be my xlr cord or my microphone and it was not. in the event it was the speaker being defective and probably was i may give that particular Samson or another model a go next time maybe. With the money i got back from the Samson I used it to get my Bose S1-Pro. With the Bose S1-Pro...most of the venues i play at will provide a vocal microphone / P.A for FOH. So I use mine as a monitor as my pedalboard has a DI that goes to it and the FOH p.a.'s. When busking i have a secondary speaker if i need it or I bring my guitar amp (Orange Crush Mini into a guitar cabinet speaker) and just use the bose for vocals. Some battery powered p.a. speakers like the Mackie will actually drop the volume on the other channels if channel #1 is being used. For you it could be other factors other than the speaker. it could be your microphone as you said it went dead. It could have been a number of things as the guy you saw busking with a Bose S1-Pro in the mall did not have a issue with his speaker being loud enough. I do not have a lot of money either and buying a Bose S1-Pro was a big investment. But, sometimes you need to take a chance.
Tweaking the the EQ knobs on the Bose S1-pro helps a lot. Some people are not a fan of the "Voice-Match" and just leave it off and tweak the EQ manually. Rolling back the lows and pushing the highs a bit with a little touch of reverb will push vocals and make it pop.
That was a great review. I really appreciate the time and on-site research you did for this re: the BOSE S1 Pro speaker. I am a solo instrumental guitarist (using a loop pedal to help me). I mainly do one high-end restaurant in Stratford, ON., Canada. I bought a Bose S1 about a month ago. I already owned the Bose L1 Compact stick which I liked. But, I didn't need the power and I wanted more control over the EQ (separately for my backup loop tracks and my guitar through multi FX). I have only used the S1 once in a house concert setting with a singer using a Shure Beta 58 mic. I did notice that I had to crank the mic/vocal channel a bit more than I expected compared to her Taylor guitar and my effected Taylor guitar. But, it all sounded perfect by the time I tweaked it accordingly. All good;. Agaain, you did a great and thorough job on this review, and I truly appreciate that. Thank you. Without being there with your gear, I kept wondering if your mic was maybe a bit tired and not working 100%. They don't go on forever unfortunately and I wonder if your mic was holding back your enthusiasm for the S1. I am actually buying a second S1 for wireless stereo (or mono). I have the fortune (even through Covid times) to be playing one of the most beautiful restaurants on the planet (Revival House in Stratford, ON., Canada). It is a 150 year old church in the heart of downtown Stratford and famous for it's food and it's noted as a perfect concert venue. The S1 fills this massive church dining room at less than half volume with my music. Dining guests always comment that they think I have speakers everywhere. I guess, in conclusion, I will challenge you that maybe you might need a new mic at some point. I noticed a fair bit of high-end missing from it on your various tests. (BTW, you have a beautiful voice! So sweet.)
Also, as per the busker with the wireless... that wireless mic receiver have an output volujme control that acts as a crank or preamp. That might be the little box you saw. (The headset mic transmits to the receiver box and goes to the amp accordingly.
So many knobs.... so little money... But, in conclusion, I am head over heels about my S1 Pro and amd buying another one on Monday.
I hope this might just give you some food for thought about the S1 from a different artist's perspective (or context).
Keep doing what you're doing. You are very talented. If you were closer to where I live, I'd be hoping to record you in my studio. You are one of the good ones. Cheers and have a great day. Good luck and stay safe.
I'm pretty sure she tried a different mic. There is something wrong and artificial about the sound reproduction with this speaker. For someone with a studio I would think you would here it. I hate to say it but maybe your ears are getting old and worrn out. I know that sounds mean but this girl is not wrong. You need to do some side by side comparisons. You are being fooled by the big sound dispersion from such a small unit. The speaker does not produce true accurate sound.
@@mlafonta22 Ouch! That was a bit harsh dude. Hey Teffy, you must be a real pro. Remind me never to go to a party with you. I bet you are a real charmer. Stay classy Teff. LOL
But, I do play with a lowden. I do primarily fingerpicking/style. More toward will mcnicol or Pierre.
But I do also sing and strum. Does it handle it good ? Honestly. The voice of the guitar is important
Was here for the review, but stayed for your talent and energy!
Appreciate it!
I run two vocals, accordion, guitar, and upright bass through the bose S1 (with an art 48v mixer). It has saved us from playing without amplification multiple times (no electricity or they don’t want a PA system) . I place it in a stand by our heads, basically what matters is that we can hear ourselves. The clients would’ve had an acoustic show, now even the last table can hear it, grandma isn’t bothered, and we don’t get tired trying to scream over everyone.
Awesome! Glad it's working out for you 😊
If you know, could you share what model your mixer is and how much it cost? I'd be interested to look it up.
One thing about Bose is that up close it does not seem loud but the sound actually fills up a good area. I have 2 of these and sound amazing. Although I do use an external mixer.
What external mixer do you use ?
john odowd art promix 3 channel mixer. You can connect it to a wall outlet or use it battery powered with 2 9v batteries
@@Elniniss thanks for the info much appreciated..
Does it really improve the loudness on the Bose pro?
john odowd if you are already clipping and your light is turning red, then that’s probably the loudest it’s going to get. When I plug in a sm58 directly to the s1 I have to turn the volume up but when I use the mixer I put it around 1/4 of the way and about 1/2 of the way on my mixer and it sounds louder.
Kind of surprised all the professionals you asked for advise they didn't question your mic. ?? That act with the wireless should have pointed in that direction, though the wireless system probably acted in a preamp fashion gaining up the input db. In all your comparisons the Bose was always clearer, hence more loudness wasn't actually needed. But I know it is huge that how you hear yourself is vital to your performing confidence, so very important.
I think sound can be relative, but I think the Bose S1 is definitely loud enough, but imho you're a very quiet singer, so you probably would have benefited from a preamp after your mic to boost your levels.
With that being said, if you weren't happy with the Bose it is what it is.
There are so many options out there to try.
Maybe the JBL EON COMPACT ONE. Similar to Bose,but with more power.
I do think a preamp is essential if you want your vocal to pop, and the right acoustic environment.
Some places carry sound better than others, so finding the right spot is key!.
I think something like the Boss VE20 or Boss VE8 would suit you perfectly.
Or one of the TC Helicon vocal pedals.
Tweaking the the EQ knobs on the Bose S1-pro helps a lot. Some people are not a fan of the "Voice-Match" and just leave it off and tweak the EQ manually. Rolling back the lows and pushing the highs a bit with a little touch of reverb will push vocals and make it pop.
Dear Samantha,
thank you very much for the great video! I was researching about the Bose S1 Pro a lot and found that the problem you and others were having is caused by the automatic gain (or lack of manual gain) with the built-in mixer. Using an external mixer would result in a better mic output (volume and sound wise), however this really defeats the purpose of having a highly portable small PA with in-built mixer. Bose pretty much screwed up with this one and reason why people write lot of wrong comments here is because this is mic/line-in problem only and they mainly benchmark the box with Bluetooth or other Inputs. You were one of two reports which were useful for actual buskers and musicians using the mic input. Therefore thank you very much for your efforts and be confident about your musical abilities. You are great and won a new subscriber.
Best,
T
Thank you for your comment! I really appreciate it. I never really expected people to have such strong opinions about the Bose S1 Pro when I posted this video. I just put this video together to let my subscribers know what had happened with the amp since I had mentioned that I had bought one in a previous video and felt I needed to let them know it didn't work out for me. So it is a breath of fresh air to see your comment come in and thanks for subscribing!
@Bluesdawg Your comment does not make any sense.
I feel your pain. Mic gain is an issue on the S1. A mic with a stronger output helps a bit. A preamp, wireless system or vocal effect unit gives all the gain back. It works perfectly except now you’ve got another piece of gear to bring.
The best solution would have been a better design in which more gain was available when switching to the vocal mic tone match.
Had same problem with my s1 pro vocals for volume. Got a inline adapter Shure A85F impedance matching transformer. It simple plugs one end into your xlr cable and then quarter inches at the other end into the S1. Presto the mic volume basically doubles. The adaptor was just a little over 30 bucks Canadian. Cheap fix. The other thing I noticed is the Bose system sounds louder when you are not beside it. It has great projection. Place it on a pole stand for better projection. It has self adjusting for sound depending on positional placement for sound projection.
I was watching your video and I found out by accident that I was playing a bigger venue so I connected the S1 and the Roland ex . I had the Roland ex first . It has a lot of high end but when I connected both it was so good . The s1 gave the ex a strong brace , both together was amazing . I am a vocalist first so the quality is so important to me so the S1 is my favorite so far .
Do you need a mixer to connect them together?
Really like your honest review never had any physical experience with it but I believe yamaha pa's are great . By the way your voice sounded amazing keep it up.
Thank you for your opinions about your experience. In one city here I used to busk no amplification was allowed, and it made for a much better environment.
As I was watching your excellent video, my mind went to the Boss VE-8 which I think might have solved your problem. As I scrolled down and read some of the comments before I posted this, I saw someone else suggest it. It also has a looper and a vocal harmonizer feature that lets you ad vocal harmonies. I'm curious to find out what was the ultimate solution that you came up with. I recently purchased a Bose S1Pro, but I don't busk. Just got it to use in the back yard.
That's great! Honestly I've just persevered with my Roland amp for busking since I haven't done a hell of a lot of it in the past few years and I have my PA for gigs. I'm reassured that, with all the helpful comments I've received on this video, I will find a great solution, if/when the time comes to try again. 😊
This review is a few years old. There is also the Everse 8 and 12 now that do not have this issue. I have the Everse 8 and would have bought the 12 had it been avail. It sounds better than the 8 and has more headroom and is only a slightly more. Only issue it is more weight to lug around. The other option is to just buy or build a battery power pack and use plug in equipment.
Keyboards have a very wide frequency range and really need their own specific keyboard amp. The S1 is good for guitar and vocal mix but with keys you’ll get a thin muddy mix.
hey samantha, if you are still looking for a battery powered pa today i have used the behringer c210. one thing i do differently from other buskers is i have a usb interface that acts as my input source and that goes into my macbook air into logic pro as a digital mixer and that gives me a ton of effects like eq, compression, reverb, delay. and then that output goes out of the interface to the speaker. right now i use something i little bit more powerful as my speaker. i use the qsc cp8 speakers and i power that with a inverter. the speaker says its 1000w but rms is really around 500 watts.
Hi Samantha - I’m a little late this party - sorry the Bose didn’t work out for you - I’ve been using mine almost since they came out and still love it and get great battery performance. Where did you you get the 150w info? Bose doesn’t publish that information and most of the math-heads I’ve read seem to agree that it’s about 40w. I always use my on a pole speaker stand a bit behind me so that it’s my monitor as well as PA and so far have only used it for outdoor farmers market type stuff - BTW - I replace a Cube Street EX (hated it!) with my S1 Pro. I loved the S1 Pro so much that I also picked up an L1-2 B2 with a T1 mixer that I use for most of my gigs now.
Honestly can't remember where I got the 150w from. As you know, this was quite a while ago now, so my brain's discarded a lot of the information about it. I'm glad you enjoy yours. The inbuilt battery was certainly cool. Thanks for the advice on the cube ex, I still haven't upgraded, money's been really tight this year.
Hey! Also found the mic channel too quiet, so I added a preamp adaptor to the mic. Since the preamp needs phantom power, which the Bose doesn't provide, I also added a mobile phantom power adaptor. So the setup "mic-preamp-phantompower-Bose" works really well for me with lots of headroom! Maybe this is helpful for you out there!:)
Awesome to hear it works well like that! Is it at all bothersome to carry around the three pieces of equipment in place of a different amp or is the gross mass increase negligible?
@@edgesamantha For me, it is still convenient to carry :) the preamp and powersupply connected kinda look like and weigh as much as an e-cigarette 😅 I'm using for example the TritonAudio FetHead with the Xvive p1, if anyone out there wants to try;)
Have a nice day!😊
Nice. Thanks for the info!
Just looked them up 😲 Amazed at how small they are! The preamp I looked at was about half the size of a small/medium mixing desk and reasonably weighty! Pretty great that there's an option out there that really doesn't create much added bulk to a busking setup! Cheers for sharing your specs. I'm sure it will be helpful to others.
Would using a speaker stand help in hearing yourself and projecting the sound louder?
Great review! Thank you for posting. The weak vocal (pre amp related) channel in the version 1 S1 is known issue with the Bose. If you add a pre amp to the mic it will fix. Also I am told the S1 Pro + does not have this issue.
Well Samantha - I just just tested a Bose S1 and a Roland Cube Street EX for acoustic guitar playing and I can report that the S1 could not handle a nice clean bass note without distorting at higher volumes. The S1 sounded more "Hifi" but that's not much good if it doesn't perform at performance levels. The Cube Street EX is what I left the store with. I'll put it up on a speaker stand and it should be fine. I have 3 other Roland Amps and it compares very favourably back at home with say my Roland 40GX. Regarding the S1 I know the store assistant was surprised at how the S1 performed (or rather failed to perform) - I took my Nylon piezo Godin Multiac in and the bass notes were a fantastic test for both units.
I think, that you must put S1 pro on the stand not on the floor at the height of your ear, slightly behind you. The floor position is for the monitoring. Enjoy in music.
Usually a rule of thumb for noticeable sound increase is....10 times the power you initially had. So if your previous set up was 30 watts, you would have to upgrade to at least 300 watts for a "noticeable" increase. My experience, I had 100 watts rms power, upgraded to 205 watts rms power, and there was zero noticeable difference! Good luck in the future.
Thanks for that. Interesting to know. I think my PA is 400w and I definitely notice the difference in how loud it can go compared to my 30w amp.
I think you've mis-remembered this. Typically the smallest NOTICEABLE difference is a step of 1dB, which is quite small. Your "... 10 times the power ..." is what is reckoned to be, subjectively, "Twice as loud".
Hi Samantha, thanks for posting your video. My wife and I are considering busking and looking for a battery powered keyboard and speaker. What battery powered speaker and keyboard are you using now? Thanks!
I'm still getting by with my Roland KC-110 for the time being due to funds being put into other more important things. I have had a lot of recommendations for the Roland BA300. Have you tried that one out? One of my friends got it and is happy with it, but he's not a busker, so he hasn't put it to that test. I use a SLA battery and inventor to power my equipment, so I'm not limited to only battery powered amps. Check out my video on Setup costs and portable power for an in depth look at how I use these and connect all my equipment together for busking. ruclips.net/video/PrTL8GZoqm8/видео.html
Hi Samantha, i like your video! I'd like to by some Bose! I play keyboard Pa4x with bas, drums support they called it a STYLE and i sing! but can i play with a bose for 25 people in a restaurant ( pianobar) ? is this one strong enough?
Can't say for sure, but I think you'd go alright with it for that situation. Plus a lot of people have said in the comments here that they've had better luck with it with different microphones than what I used and that my mic was likely the downfall. If you can go test the amp out yourself and see what you think before purchasing, I'd highly recommend that. Good luck!
@@edgesamantha thanks Samantha
You’re obviously serious about your sound. Any speaker used for an audience benefits by being elevated on a stand. The dispersion and projection is improved. I only mention it because noticed in a couple of the segments, you had the speaker on the ground. Additionally, a mixer with EQ or external preamps really help dial in better tone/sound. Lastly, I have benefited greatly from reading and working with people who are very experienced and knowledgeable in sound. It helps if you can find someone likewise or read about particular sound characteristics and environments to dial in better sound and overcome problems before buying equipment.
Wonder what mic that was used? I have 2 S1 Pro and use a Sennheiser (and Shure Beta 58) and have never had it past the indent. Half way. I believe that Bose puts a limiter on the mic channel is it’s dimed
I'm curious as to why you didn't try it raised off the floor and why you sit *behind* your amps instead of positioning whatever you're playing through at the time strategically behind you. The S1 isn't really a speaker to be used on the floor to get the most out of it. The sound would travel along the floor, not at ear level. It really should be off the floor on a stand. At any rate, I hope you found something you like.
I really enjoyed the journey of this video. You have to use the stuff that works for you. Stuff the haters!
Thanks Jade!
Also a mic preamp would fix your issue if you can find a battery powered one
great detailed video. choosing good reliable gear that delivers half the claims they make for it is no easy thing these days. There will always be a problem with portable lightweight busking PA being up to the job. AER gear is good (not great ) but crazy expensve. Perhaps a portable power supply for a lightweight keyboard amp would be a solution. Its physics at the end of the day. Its about amp headroom coupled with speakers moving air. small speakers cant move much air and will be ppoor on bass end. Love the sound of all Bose gear at low volumes but cranked up they reveal themselves to be overpriced and over hyped.
am also thinking to buy a Bose S1 for small gigs....I watched u nice informative video.May I ask you what u use in the meantime(preamp, micro etc)?
I have a Bose S1 Pro on a tripod stand and I have also wired mic and wireless mic. Using the wireless mic is significantly a lot louder than a wired mic. I love my Bose S1 Pro, I think the sound quality is perfect and sounds like a professional speaker. You should check also the new EV Everse 8. It’s a lot louder. It has 400 watts, 121 decibel in a small PA system.
I love the clarity and coverage of the Bose gear, I’m sorry to hear the S1 didn’t work for you, that can be so frustrating. if you don’t need battery operation. The Bose L1 compact is great and very versatile but unfortunately more money.
The Bose L1 looks a bit big for a busking amp. I'm glad you found Bose gear good for you. Obviously a lot of people do. The fringe festival just started and the amount of acts that have come to town with their bose s1 pros is impressive!
Hi iv had my bose for about 6 months and just last night suddenly it went quite today it was like about 70 percent lost heaps of power then usual im so disapointed im hoping its just the mike surely i havent blown the amp the bluetooth still pumps i hope the 2 mike setups arnt faulty
With a wired microphone it works, wireless, no! My wireless microphone works perfectly well on open mic nights, so it is not a problem with the microphone! Yes, i would love an answer!!!! A pity you couldn't go and speak to that guy..... would love to know what he was using exactly!!!!
I have two Bose S1 Pro units running through a non-powered mixer board. Has lots of head room. Not too sure how it would be in an outside environment but they do sound awesome.
You probably would do alright outside with that setup! A lot of people on here seem to have two of them and I've seen other buskers out and about with two of them. I'm hoping to avoid paying for two amps and having to carry two with me busking to get a loud enough outdoor sound though. So still looking for what will work best for my situation, but that's ok.
Can I use all 3 channels simultaneously
Like play guitar and sing along to a streamed Bluetooth song?
Thanks good luck out there
Did you try running it on a pole/stand ? There is a micro switch inside the hole for the pole that opens up the dynamics of it.
Is that so? Well I didn't try it on a pole when out busking. I know I tried it on a pole initially, inside, where it sounded good. Can't remember if I had it on a pole outside, in my backyard, or not. I think it's been a couple of years now since I bought and sold it, so I can't recall. What I showed in the video was all the times I tried to use it, so you'll have a better idea than me now! Lol.
Thanks for this greatly informative video. I'm looking at getting a good busking amp so it's really helpful. Appreciate it!
Good luck with your search!
You may just need a second one for a monitor. When your behind the speaker it sounds muffled what the audience hears is a lot different. Or try setting the speaker behind you
No one can beat the BOSE mam , because that has cleanest powerful natural big sound that is the Bose technology and from its the size and compactibility also matters for me ,I highly recommend to you to take it and enjoy until lifetime.
It wasn't for me, but obviously others like it for themselves. You enjoy yours. 👍
You could use a Shure A85F transformer and boost the dB’s on your microphone by 21.
That little item costs $20. You would have all the volume you ever needed.
Wow! I'd be keen to give that a try! Not that I have the Bose S1 Pro anymore, but just on my regular amp. It's about $50 AUD here in Australia, but still very affordable if it does what it says it does! Thanks for the recommendation!
@@edgesamantha Hi! I know this is years after you made it but thank you so much for this video! I have been having the same problem but could not find any information on this on the internet. It has been super good reading through the comments.
@jimmy5634. Thank you for this suggestion! I purchased a Shure A85F transformer and sure (shure) enough I was able to boost my vocals up to a much more reasonable volume. At 50% volume, it was already louder than my channel with a normal mic-bose connection at max volume.
(I use a Shure SM57 which has a low output)
It is comparable to what I could do with a mixer but without having to supply more power to it.
Such good information here. Thanks all!
@@Densyg So glad that this video existing and people commenting on it has helped you! Also great to know this worked for your set up too. Now I'm definitely thinking of picking one up!
Been in the live performing arts for eons. As one person pointed out in the comments, and I agree with their synopsis, is sound placement is huge in any live performance environment. Speaker positions and angles directing frequencies. In short, sound placement is based on the venue space and audience. Another is quality mics and pre-amps. Can't stress this enough. External mixing is a must, even if using a small mixer for extended control and performance. These are just the basics. Just remember also to use a personal monitor to help you dial things in from your ear's perspective. Master these and pump out your first platinum! Cheers and happy performing!
Samantha what I learned about this speaker is that you really need a small mixer to push the volume on the mic input and to also ring it out. i had the same problem with the mic I returned the speaker too but I realized from speaking to other professionals that a mixer is very important to really get the mices sounding good. GOod luck.. I am also going to buy this again but with a mixer next time
Thanks for your comment. That makes sense. If you can get a small portable mixer that isn't too expensive and it does the trick then that definitely sounds like a good option!
@@edgesamantha I decided to buy bose s1 again!! lol.. This time I know I need to get a small mixer to get the mic to be perfect. INthe mean time I have been using a FENDER Passport Event system for a few years. Its a little heavy but I had my father in law put some wheels on the back.. TO me thats the best system to include PA with 6 outputs for $699.. 375 with 2 speakers. YOu should check it out. www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/PassEvent--fender-audio-passport-event
On the S1, did you set the switch to “mic” on the channel you had your mic plugged into? If not, that could be why the mic was quieter.
Yes, I tried it both ways, switched on and off, and didn't notice any difference unfortunately.
Since the JBL EON ONE Pro has phantom power, I use an in-line, phantom powered mic preamp that works great. Sad that Bose forgot to include phantom power. Try the JBL. Also has much more usable EQ options via the app (five bands per channel).
I think if you need more noticeable power/volume you have to go mains powered using either an inverter with a heavy bulky battery (or expensive lithium golf trolley battery)or a powerpack/station combined battery and inverter or a generator. Then you will need a big heavy platform truck to cart it around. Problem is for example I have the Roland street cube EX rated at 50 watts on mains power but on batteries I think it only runs at a max of 20 watts and if you push too much bass through it the sound gets compressed. But on mains it runs louder with no compression, so I run it through my inverter. Battery amps like AER are quite rated but cost too much compared to the equivalent mains powered and are more for guitar than keyboards. What I use sometimes is a Yamaha DBR10 active speaker as a 10" speaker has better bass and 350 watts. With a Yamaha MG06x mixer(has effects for vocals) a 500 watt pure sine wave inverter and a 12 volt leisure battery.(Bear in mind for example the DBR10 does not need 350 watts RMS that is the amount after amplification but only needs 60 to 90 watts, you can get a cheap power consumption meter to see how many watts an amp needs under load) But obviously this adds a lot more weight, bulk and setup time. Plus you may then have a problem with shops and passers by complaining your too loud. If it's mainly that you can't hear yourself clearly you may be better to use a relatively cheap wired in ear monitors, I use a powered Fischer Amps In-Ear Monitor, its brilliant I get a nice as loud as I want clear stereo sound and I can move the speaker further away to solve feedback problems. busk.co/blog/busking-tips-tricks/honest-review-10-best-amps-for-busking/?gclid=Cj0KCQiA4feBBhC9ARIsABp_nbV1Hk8u4F-w4mcook26boX3esjzb93fjmK6jVeZDPSuQMI9lUYbqFcaAjk0EALw_wcB
Thanks for the feedback! Great in depth review! I just got the Bose S1 so hopefully it will work for my needs. lol
Is is best for karoke singing?
Hi Yashasvi. For indoor karaoke singing I think it would work great.
@@edgesamantha Thx a lot Samantha can you pls suggest me best karaoke system for indoor and outdoor ?
I upgraded from a Beta58 shure mic the the Beta 87a shure microphone and was disappointed the 87a doesn't have the clarity. But i think you might like the beta58
You may have had a faulty unit,or didnt really use it correctly or your e q.
I'm a professional entertainer for over 35 years and a sound engineer.
This Bose S1 pro is a great speaker for me. I use it with bluetooth stream music and totally wireless mics. I perform almost every day as a solo self contained act with tracks. I use one on a speaker stand up high.
I've used one in front of as much as 250 people with no problem in volume or e.q.
I like it so much ,I bought a second one.For larger crowds I use 2 and 400 or more ppl I use a Bose L1 compact. With my MANY years of experience in performing and all kinds of equipment, I found it perfect for me.
Too bad you didnt like it. It's the choice for alot of my musician friends here in NYC USA.
👍🎶
I'm glad you like it and find it so handy. I loved how loud and clear it could get for playing music through Bluetooth and it was great for my keys as well. It was just how it handled vocals. I can assure you I used it correctly and that my unit was not faulty as I tested a second unit in the music store and it was exactly the same. So as I mentioned in my video it wasn't the unit for me, but it could be great for others with different set ups and obviously it works well for you and a lot of other performers. I'm sure I'll find something I like further down the track.
@@edgesamantha good luck!
Wireless mic systems boost the signal which explains the louder output
If you would of ran the microphone and your keyboard thru a small 4 channel mixer you could have connected the mixer to the Bose S1 and you would of been able to match your levels perfectly while getting amplification using your Channel sliders on the mixer and then adjusted overall volume on the S1
I was a bit short on money at the time and just hoped buying a new amp would have been enough on it's own. As it is a lot of people have recommended purchasing an additional mixer to make this amp work the best it can. At least now if anyone's looking to purchase this amp and come across this video they will have plenty of recommendations.
@@edgesamantha I agree. Your video points out a lot of different points both good and bad.
When you were using the S1 were you using the Tone match feature? Those little selector switches that show a guitar or microphone?
Yes, I tried it both ways, tone match on, tone match off. Didn't notice a big difference to be honest.
@@edgesamantha Okay. I saw that and was thinking I hope she tried it without. Thinking there might be some automatic equalization happening in the speaker.
Well I will say you have an amazing voice and your very talented. Keep up the good work!
I use two Bose S1 for busking. 1 was Great 2 was EXCELLENT. I use to have a Roland street ex Was ok but nothing like the Bose S1 . You have to being something WRONG. Many other buskers. at Fisherman’s Wharf in San Francisco ca. Love it! My income has almost doubled.Fisherman’s wharf is a wide open area and I had to turn it down a few times. I’m really confused by your problem. I sing Jazz with backings tracks with the two Bose behind me about 4 ft. No feedback.I set the mic vol between 12 to 3 o’clock.
S1pro are loud I had to get two!! The sep up is not right
On the contrary, my unit gives me very good vocal. Loud and clear with a wireless mic. I would recommend you to try out before buying. If it doesn't suit go for some other models.
I heard Shure A85F inline booster transformer works to fix the issue
I known how you feel............ I first bought a SubZero, which is small, light and the sound of the backing tracks was really lovely, but with a wireless Shure SM58 and Xvive Trans/receiver, was too quiet. OK, it had only cost me £149 on a sale, so I went for the other options, the Bose S1 Pro. Like you I don't earn much, so £540, plus delivery, plus insurance, it was almost £600. But, the sound with the wireless microphone is very, very weak, while my equipment works faultlessly on open mic nights, has a lot of signal and I can sing as loudly as I wish. We tried with the preamp but why did I waste so much money to now have to carry something else? I didn't sing for a few months, now I am back and contacted Gear4Music. They asked me to send a video and said that the speaker might be faulty, but it is new......................... I am so fed up... they picked it up today! If it is faulty they offered me to give my money back but what next??????? I can't carry more weight and I can't pay even more money. I would have thought that Bose is an awesome brand............... and it is very difficult to speak to both of them, Bose and Gear4Music. Thanks for the video!!!
Iv got a roland streetcube that goes good but when you go in front of it i found it starts to sqweel
Very helpful thank you. Was on the cusp of getting an S1 for vocals in my guitar duo;not sure it will make the cut with my guitar amps
No worries! If you're able to try one out in person it might still be suitable for you, just don't buy one without trying it, like I did!
There are plenty of tips in these comments about how people have made it work better than it did for me. I.e mic pre-amps, mixers and higher gain mics. There are also lots of alternative amp recommendations too. I haven't gotten around to purchasing a new amp again, but when I do, I'll be scrolling through these comments and starting my search with their help!
Good luck with your search. 😊
Also you may need to reduce the keyboard volume a little bit so the vacal can sit on top of the mix.
The Bose has reverb but no delay. That's okay because I could add on a delay pedal but I'd rather have something that's more substantial in terms of overall quality of sound for me. I may get one and try it out as you did and see if I can make it work. So, what do you have now? The Roland in the beginning of your video sounded good as did the Bose when it was inside...tks!
Yeah, still using the Roland KC-110 for the time being. It's holding on and, with needing an amp less since the pandemic, I haven't felt like spending on a new one. I would recommend perhaps trying one of the other options people have recommended on here that may more meet your requirements. Someone shared an amp that looked really cool the other day. Let me see if I can find the brand and model number.
@@edgesamantha TY!~ Appreciate it!
Ah it was the HK Move Pro 8, but it doesn't look to have a delay option either.
The Roland BA330 was the next one I was thinking of, but you can only set the effect channel to reverb or delay, not both.
Not sure what else to suggest. I think there were some more good suggestions throughout the comments, but can't recall them at the moment. You may have to use a delay pedal with a lot of amps to get both reverb and delay simultaneously 🤷♀️ Anyway good luck with your search!
TY! I'm checking out the Roland and I think it's great! It has everything! THanks again!
@@JulieBluestoneMusic I performed through a BA330 at a gig one time. It has the same type of sound I like from my KC-110, but it's more powerful and thus clearer because it's not being pushed as much to get the same level of volume and can go a lot louder to fill a bigger space. The gig I used it at was at an outdoor pool, so it was a wide open space and it performed really well! It is bigger than the Bose s1 pro and a bit more expensive, but I think it would be a worthy upgrade if I were looking into it again! That being said you should always test out an amp for your instrument and personal sound preference. (Unlike what I did when purchasing the s1 pro! 😳)
One negative 30+ lbs weight. JBL Eon MK2 is the best battery option on the market today. Makes the S1 Pro sound like a toy!
Did you say your main PA is a Yamaha Stagepas? If so, how do you like it ? Is it heavy? Have been using the Fender Passport 500 for 10 yrs for medium/larger venues. Really like it and has never let me down, but is getting old . A replacement will either be another Fender Passport or Yamaha Stagepas .
Hi Betty, yeah I have the Stagepas 400i. I've had it for years and they now have upgraded it to the 400bt that has bluetooth. I do really like it, I've never needed more from it. Used it at weddings and plenty of gigs. I did notice when I did my comparison between the three amps that it had an outside sound closer to the bose when using just the one speaker. I didn't share the recordings from the yamaha in this video as when I went to compile everything it just felt like overkill and unnecessary to include all the footage I took! Compared to the roland you could really hear the difference again, like the roland has a sharper sort of sound. But forgetting that, I am happy using it when I do and I have the option to be even louder than I can go with my roland amp, so I feel prepared for even larger outdoor gigs. What's the price point for the Fender? I chose this one when I did because it seemed like great value for money with the two speakers and mixing desk all together. Oh also I really love how the mixing desk fits into the back of one speaker for transport, but can be removed and used separately, so you can place the mixing desk a lot closer to you than the speakers.
@@edgesamantha The Fender Passport 500 was around $900 when I got it, but traded 2 guitars I no longer played toward it so I believe I actually paid $450 for it . The Yamaha Stage Pass came along later.
Hi Sam I leave in Norfolk Island i have a couple of s1 pro..i use one when i do busking no issues so far..i use two when i play at fish fry over a hundred people..i suggest use a speaker stand when you're playing outdoor
The rolind streetcube never goes quite i might be switching back to rolind
I know exactly what your problem is, (imo). Is the direction the tweeter are placed ourward angl (like 45 degrees from center while the woofer is dead center and is what you hear), to proyect out to the crowd/it sounds great!, but to the performer behind the s1 you dont hear the high frequencies. To fix that experience you have to place the amp behind yourself and off center from you, otherwise you will hear only the woofer which will feel umderwater like.
Vocals too quiet: Your problem is that you microphone and piano have different impedance "Mike/Line". Get a impedance convertor to boost the microphone output and your problem will be solved. They are simple, cheap and don't need power. Simple.
Yes you can do that and it will help
Hola Samantha: Yo soy un "busker" en Argentina. Toco saxo alto sin amplificación y toco un acompañamiento musical grabado. Mi amplificador es un Roland KC 110 igual al tuyo. Tengo mucha experiencia con él y con pruebas con otros amplificadores. Te paso unos consejos: Los amplificadores se venden indicando su potencia en Watts, pero para sistemas PA debemos indicar la cantidad de personas que van a escuchar. Por ejemplo mi amp. el Roland KC 110 es para 10-20 personas. Sin embargo es el mejor sonido que existe en el mercado. Yo te aconsejo usarlo con bass & treble al máximo. También te aconsejo comprar otro similar nuevo y conectarlos (link) entre sí. Si hay mucho público (gente escuchando) utiliza unos pies (stands) para que el sonido llegue hasta atrás. Estos ampificadores son muy sensibles con el feedback. Existen equipos anti-feedback para micrófono, por ejemplo la marca Behringer. Espero que te sean útiles mis consejos. PD.: AVOID USE PLASTIC CASE AMPLIFIERS !! They have a special internal ECO.
Yes.. get a headset mic
Vocals-Mic-
Airline 77 vocal headset
True diversity uhf wireless system
From Sweerwater
There are used for fitness classes ..you can Also rig it up to be battery powered ..
🎷🎶
What do you think about the Roland BA-330 PA? Have you had a chance to try it out?
I haven't had a chance to try it, but it's definitely been something I've looked at online. I'd be interested to try it out. Have you tried it?
@@edgesamantha No. Im a dj and my applications would be different. I would be using it as a monitor, for wedding ceremonies, and even at a parks with the fam. I am concerned about the vocals if i ever wanted to use it for karaoke.
Samantha Edge I have the ba330, I’m looking to downsize and interested in the S1, don’t suppose your anywhere near Brisbane?
@@theinfinate I used the S1 at a wedding last weekend and so far so good. Although the aplication was a ceremony, so pretty mellow stuff. I have another event this upcoming weekend, will update on that experience as well. If she doesnt live anywhere near you, I live in Oakland if it helps.
@@DJVetz510 thanks, thats along way from australia but!
Mic gain is really weak on my Jbl eon 208p system too. But after i hook up my zoom vocal processor it takes care of the problem.
Which mic are u using? Did u try a different mic at the store? Also whats the name of the internet store u bought it from? (u may have bought a counterfeit)
Using a shure sm58. I tried their sm58 at the store and another Mic that I can't remember the name of, possibly a sm58 beta (It was ages ago now). The internet store 'Store DJ' is legit, they have a store in Victoria as well as their online shop, so I'd think it was genuine.
I had similar issue. Change your mics. I went from Shure SM58 to Seinnheiser E935 and volume boosted maybe 30% and it sounds way clearer through the S1’s
E935 excellent!!!!!
I experienced this too, I use a senheiser e835
That Seinnheiser e935 microphone is rated 5 stars online with over 517 reviews. I may buy one myself to use with my Bose S1.
Hi Samantha, I watched your video with interest as I have a similar set up to yours (piano/vocals) and am looking for an alternative to a PA i.e. more portable/simpler to set up for small-medium gigs. Your issue with the vocals is not unfounded. I spent a couple of hours at the music shop today (here in NZ) putting the Bose through its paces - my initial reaction, like yours, was that it had great sound, but then I discovered there wasn't really enough headroom on the vocals compared to what I could get out of the keys. For some reason, when switching to the mic using the 'ToneMatch' switch, all this does as add 'contour' to the sound - there is ZERO increase in the gain. I've always found with other equipment, that switching to a mic input (as opposed to line) significantly boosts the gain, since obviously a microphone has no volume control and thus needs the signal to be elevated accordingly. Oddly, the Bose does not provide this function, which to me is crazy. So this issue is nothing to do with your mic or your set up as such; sure a mixing desk would help, but then you're back to more cables and gear etc. You can try using a more sensitive mic (as I often do for gigs) - the Sennheiser e835 is a good example. However there is no way you should have to set the mic channel volume to near max level in order to compete with the keyboard, or to achieve a decent level irrespective. In my opinion this is a bad design; Bose needs to sort this out - personally there is no way I am parting with the best part of $1000 on this product if such a fundamental requirement is missing! Hope that helps. Cheers
Thank you for your detailed comment and clear explanation! I really appreciate knowing I'm not the only one to feel this way about the Bose. Thank you for your recommendation on a specific microphone that is more sensitive. I think a couple of other people also recommended a similar one, so it's something I'll look into for the future!
@@edgesamantha No worries. Incidentally I ended up going with the Roland BA-330 - much better suited for the keys!
Oh good! A lot of people have recommended that one! I'm no longer in great need of an upgrade to my busking amp as I'm not busking much in the current climate, but if I ever get back into it heavily I'll definitely give the BA-330 a look! Thanks for your help.
Thank you for this Video!
The bose s1 travel far but u need an extra bose s1 as a monitor so u can hear yourself. They are phenomenal. Just have to use them correctly my dear. You will feed back if the speaker is behind u. I use mines for live shows and busking. Sorry u weren't satisfied. I love mines and now use bose subs when not busking at live shows which really makes them more affective. Good luck.
Samantha...Did you ever try the "Elite Acoustics A4-8"?? I own one of these and the sound is super nice! Like a studio monitor! Also went busking with it using keyboard + ukulele + mic
I don't think we have that one in Australia. I looked it up and the best I could find was an Amazon listing coming from the US. It is such a cool looking amp though! Thanks for the info.
@@edgesamantha Okay I see... Shipping will be too expensive?
I can't actually find somewhere to calculate how much shipping would cost. It needs me to sign in and go to checkout. Plus I want to make sure I can try before I buy next time I purchase one. Learn from my mistakes and all that!
@@edgesamantha Sure... I understand. Hm okay in this case will not work out
I could only make a video for you;)
Bose 1pro notice says that you shouldn't use a battery inverter. I don't understand the reason behind!
Hi I know how you feel about the vocals on it I had one and I got rid of it ❤
Thanks for your efforts.
I’m trying to choose between a few different amps which is how I have landed on your video. I’ve been busking with no amp for about 10 years, so I think the volume being low won’t be noticed by me.
Really well put together video btw.
Hi Samantha - Beautiful Vocals + Keys 👍 Been performing for 40 yrs / keys / vocals .... but not busking .... Best amplification I’ve used based on personal satisfaction with sound / audience feedback has been the Bose L1 - 2 Line Array with ToneMatch and 2 x B1 Bass Modules - Good for venues of up to 200 people. From what I could hear from your sound .... The Roland had the edge for “raw” power however, the Bose had the edge when it came to sound quality - Much nearer to studio sound. Perhaps you’re just a tad underpowered for your busking locations . ? Funds allowing ..... I think that I’d seriously consider two S1’s .... Happy gigging and continued success in your career ☘️☘️☘️
As a keyboard musician my advice is try running your microphone through your keyboard as some keyboards ( yamaha genos/ yamaha psr sx900) has microphone phantom power which will improve things a lot
Bose stuff is designed for indoor use, where the acoustics of the room or venue add to everything, but being outside with no control over the acoustics, the cheapest option will probably suit your needs, you should apply for some work on the cruise ships y'know, they would love your style in that environment, loads of money, and seeing the world???
Yeah, I agree that the amp worked nicely indoors. So if I'd only needed it for small indoor gigs it would have been suitable. Unfortunately cruise ship gigs wouldn't work for me as I can't be away for more than a couple of nights at once because of the 3 cats that depend on me to feed and clean up after them.
I would suggest an external preamp. And boosting the highs a little bit. But yeah to get the power you really need you probably won't find in a small battery operated unit. Although they are really cool and convienent . To get real power you would have very short battery life.
Thanks for the update Sam.
It’s a sucky feeling when a piece of equipment doesn’t work how you hoped. My current gigging amps, I hated them at first, but then one day my problems with them disappeared. I don’t know how. Am I crazy or not. No idea.
I actually found the sound to be too thin and not enough richness.. I'm a flutist and like a little reverb and delay on my sound..appreciate your experience!
My violinist friend was interested in purchasing it from me, back when I had it up for sale, and gave it a try one day out busking. She decided the sound wasn't for her either. We all have our personal preferences. I can't quite recall whether it had delay or not. I think it did have reverb though. Was it a choice between reverb and delay? Anyway did you buy yours or just test it out/hire it? Hope you didn't lose out too much on an amp that wasn't for you.
Samantha, Try the AER amp it will BLOW YOUR MIND! For $1200. It’s more than worth it. Guitar center will guarantee it. It replaced two Bose s1 pros. WHAT A DIFFERENCE!!!!!!! I strongly recommend the AER 60 compact 4.
Bose never was a company for musicians or music equipment but for hifi stuff and that's where I see that box. I have the hk move pro 8 and it's fantastic. It's apparently much more sturdier and made for musicians.
That looks like a nice amp!!!! 👌
It will sound incredible if you match it with the Bose T4S it will pick up every detail. Personally I would never use the mixer in a powered speaker. I use Bose 802-III’s in Stereo with the T4S and it bows everything else away.
Fair call. That unit costs more than the amp itself!
I know. Unfortunately that is the cost of really good sound.
Go try the Bose S1 Pro with the Bose T4S and one of the microphone models in the menu. Like a Shure SM58. You will be floored at the vocal detail. I use a Neumann KMS105 with the Bose 802’s in stereo.
But would by 2 S1Pro for smaller events if I needed them. What I talking about is a lot of money. But what you want to hear you will need the t4s tone match.
So, a couple of questions...
One, you refer (many times) to the "vocal channel" on the S1. Neither of the combo inputs on the S1 are a dedicated vocal mic channel. Did you ever try running your mic through channel 2? (The channel that your keyboard seemed to work fine in.)
Two, at any point did you try running a higher-grade vocal mic? Looks like you're using a SM-58, or perhaps a copy from a lesser brand than even Shure. Perhaps a Sennheiser e945, Audix OM6...lots of better vocal mics than a SM-58 (or the mic you have).
A little background...I play 3-5 paid gigs in various venues a week and have long used Bose L1 Compact, L1 Model II, as well as QSC and Turbosound. The Bose gear has always had best-in-class vocal clarity and headroom. I've never heard the vocals ever be an issue, even in loud 300+ people rooms. I've used them indoors and outdoors almost equally too.
I'd venture to guess that the issue you experienced was either an issue with your mic, and its impact on the gain structure for the system, or simply that your particular unit was defective. I can't think of any other reason why you would have had the issues you describe here.
That's just my two cents worth...
Thanks for your comment. Yes, I tried the mic through both input 1 and 2, same with the keyboard. So perhaps I should have worded that differently, but I made sure it wasn't a specific channel that was causing the problem I was experiencing. I use a shure sm58, which I had been led to believe was industry standard when I purchased it, and honestly have enjoyed it's sound for years though other amps. I also tried a brand new sm58 through it at the music shop to rule out whether it was a fault with my mic in particular, it had exactly the same output level, so that wasn't it. I also tried another bose s1 pro with the same results, so not my unit in particular either. I'm glad you have had better luck with Bose gear than I did!