Bose S1 Pro?

capefisherman · #1 02-19-2018, 02:33 PM

Looking for feedback (no pun intended) on this unit, especially from anyone using one now, tricks, tweaks, etc. Pro's and con's. I play lots of small gigs and have tried most of the smaller premium amps (AER, Schertler, others....) and have found most if not all sound muddy and unnatural no matter how much EQ'ing I do. Again - my hunt is for a good sounding SMALL unit. I know the L1 is superior but at about 3 - 4 times the price, plus being much bigger I am intrigued by the S1. Please, looking for input from anyone who uses one in professional setting. thanks!

varmonter · #2 02-19-2018, 02:46 PM

here
http://www.acousticguitarforum.com/f...d.php?t=497089
then here
http://www.acousticguitarforum.com/f...d.php?t=498660
should keep you busy for awhile.
"bose ..better sound through marketing"

Vancebo · #3 02-19-2018, 05:19 PM

I got to play through one on Saturday. Plugged my Dazzo Equipped GS Mini. It compares very much to the AER but I didn’t have my AER Compact 60 to compare to. I would very much like to gig with it. It gives me the combo jack on both channels, phantom power on both and the extra tonematch seemed to help. The Bluetooth and battery option seemed to set it apart from the AER. It’s a little more than $300 cheaper too with the battery. Someday I will take my Compact 60 with me and do a direct sound comparison.

rokdog49 · #4 02-19-2018, 05:40 PM

You might consider this. We use it:

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/pro-a...ance-pa-system

Cuki79 · #5 02-20-2018, 04:40 AM

this video clearly shows the difference in punch between L1c & S1 pro.

Murphy Slaw · #6 02-20-2018, 05:36 AM

Little S-1 holds it's own, doesn't it.....?

Nice.

benderman57 · #7 02-20-2018, 06:19 AM

I just bought one on Sunday and got to spend a little time with it. First impression is it's very nice & natural. I have gigs this weekend so I'll give it a workout.

I have some nice acoustic amps and I would not say that this is head & shoulders a way better tone but the vocal mic is a different story as I'm pretty impressed so far.

I like Bose stuff overall. I do think other companies make some great stuff as well and some have very strong points. I've been using an L1 system for over 5 years and overall I'm very happy with the results I get. It's good enough that I have not really had enough GAS to keep looking.

varmonter · #8 02-20-2018, 07:57 AM

From what i've read here The difference between
the bose and the aer is volume. The aer sounds better turned
up to noisy bar levels. The s1 apparently not so much.
The s1 sounds better with a vocal mic. The aer not so much.
I would think the bose would be a nice cafe quiet room
lightweight alternative (busking)PA for a singer/songwriter scenario.
The Aer is a great guitar amp. I own an aer. I would really have
to hear a bose before i bought one. elite acoustics (EAE)has some
great options out there as well. They seem a bit more rugged and featured
than the plastic box Bose and your not paying the brand premium.
Guitar center is the only place within 3 hrs from me
that sells bose stuff. they're not going to stock it..

and i'm not doing the "buy to try"thingy..

AeroUSA · #9 02-20-2018, 08:12 AM

I do think the S1 has some harshness to it but overall it’s an excellent product and I bought one with the battery.

benderman57 · #10 02-20-2018, 08:13 AM

I got mine at a Bose Outlet store. In fact I got the first one they had sold at that particular store. They had just put out the store demo on Friday and I got mine on Sunday.

I did plug into it with one of my guitars and messed with it in-store and also played my phone through the Bluetooth and was pretty impressed. I'm lucky as it's only around a 30 minutes from my home. With what I heard I decided to go ahead and bring it home with me for further trial.

I plan on taking advantage of the pretty generous 45 day trail period to see if what I'm hearing at my home translates well at gigs. If not It will go back.

Durnbock · #11 02-20-2018, 08:23 AM

This was interesting to hear and see:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2UXriszR9d4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vy_8lFppsH4

sam.spoons · #12 04-17-2020, 08:47 AM

I have had an AER Compact 60 II for many years and recently bought a couple of Bose S1 Pros*. I'd more or less agree with a couple of comments above that the AER is a little better for guitar and the S1 slightly better for vocals. But I would happily use either on a small acoustic gig. I haven't had the opportunity to try them side by side at a louder gig but would guess that (also as mentioned above) the AER would go a little louder but I'd also expect it to become a little harsh on a vocal.

Basically they are both great little amps and both will get the job done on most situations where a compact acoustic guitar (plus vocal) amp is appropriate. I'm not about to sell the AER as, where appropriate, using the S1s for vox and the AER for guitar would give me some useful extra headroom.

* If you are planning buying an S1 Pro do read this thread first https://www.acousticguitarforum.com/...53#post6351753

Villamarzia · #13 04-17-2020, 10:21 AM

what for it matters, the power stage of Bose is assembled with ICE chips (which, funny enough, is owned by Bang&Olufsen). At least, this is the circuit on my Bose Packlite. ICE circuits are serious and far from crap, also in price. Not super high-end, but a power stage circuit can cost around 200 bucks vs some other that costs 15 dollars or such. From what I know, there is some well known acoustic amp producer out there which is using cheap circuits made for car hi-fis and they don't sound as good, but they price these amps as high-end. Now, you can take a cheap circuit and tune it to acoustic guitar, but once you use the same circuit for other instruments or voice, they fail quite miserably. Bottom-line, from a product quality perspective, Bose is surely marketing more than they have, but they don't make cheap stuff either... Not sure about AER. I had one but I sold it too fast to open it up and look at the inside. It did not compete with my Schertler and especially with my Daedalus+Summit Audio pre (now powered by a Bose Packlite).

slewis · #14 04-17-2020, 11:23 AM

I have a number of amps and systems and the S1 Pro is my go-to for smaller venues. My only criticism of it is that it doesn't have a master volume. Other than that, it's a great piece of gear. Heck, it even looks cool. Lots of great choices out there these days, that's for sure. EDIT — I am using my Bose Tonematch mixer with it, which is designed to fit perfectly into the top of the S1, by the way. Or vice-Versace, I guess, since the S1 came along after the Tonematch....

RockerDuck · #15 04-17-2020, 02:41 PM

I have an S1pro and it does sound great and battery operable to boot. The big advantage is you can use a mixer with the S1 and it boosts the power considerably. Just like with my Bose L1c, it is outstanding with a mixer. Using a mixer with an acoustic amp isn't as desirable. Also, as with bose systems, it fills a room without needing the power. People can talk in front of you, and everyone in the back can hear you too.