Bose S1 Pro battery draining issue

[tadol]

I really hate to add to this - but I still don’t understand how the battery readings are being obtained. From the Bose app, or via some tech that reads actual battery voltage? I’ve just used the blinking blue light, and that hardly seems accurate for anything more than a rough guess, but its worked for me so far -

I have decided to go just a bit further down the rabbit hole. I am enjoying my craigslist S1s enough, that today I ordered a Schertler sub-woofer, which I am hoping will fill in the low end that these seem to lack, and make the whole system into a easily transported PA for smaller gigs - unfortunately, I probably won’t get it til late August, so I’ll have to report on how it works out in a month or so -

[roylor4]

Originally Posted by jonfields45

You've made the clearest point so far, sell the S1 and buy something else. But before taking a long car trip, do you top off the tank???

Or maybe do you need to charge your battery before a long trip? If you do, is it a fault within the car, the battery, or the basic design? Perhaps, a poor design for the alternator? I guess I don't get the anger for people that are expressing dissatisfaction for a poorly designed product from an otherwise well regarded company. I.E. - if this is normal, why not the same issues with the JBL's or the the loudboxes?

[jonfields45]

Originally Posted by tadol

I really hate to add to this - but I still don’t understand how the battery readings are being obtained. From the Bose app, or via some tech that reads actual battery voltage? I’ve just used the blinking blue light, and that hardly seems accurate for anything more than a rough guess, but its worked for me so far -

I have decided to go just a bit further down the rabbit hole. I am enjoying my craigslist S1s enough, that today I ordered a Schertler sub-woofer, which I am hoping will fill in the low end that these seem to lack, and make the whole system into a easily transported PA for smaller gigs - unfortunately, I probably won’t get it til late August, so I’ll have to report on how it works out in a month or so -

So here is another secret about Li Ion batteries, estimating remaining charge is very hard and somewhat like taking a complicated trip with a compass, a pedometer, and a decent guess of where you are starting from. Better than nothing but not close to even a single significant figure of precision. As the battery ages and its capacity lowers the reading gets less and less accurate.

Again, I would charge the night before, leave the amp plugged in trickle charging as needed, or take a charged battery out.

And just to set the record straight, I own no Bose Pro Audio products.

[DavidE]

I got an actual solution. A complete refund after months of working with Bose maybe a year after they admitted to there being an issue.

[SpruceTop]

Originally Posted by DavidE

I got an actual solution. A complete refund after months of working with Bose maybe a year after they admitted to there being an issue.

David, I'm glad you were able to resolve your Bose issue. Now, may I suggest checking out the JBL EON One Compact? I have no battery issues with my pair.

[DavidE]

Originally Posted by SpruceTop

David, I'm glad you were able to resolve your Bose issue. Now, may I suggest checking out the JBL EON One Compact? I have no battery issues with my pair.

I have one. Zero battery drain as far as I can tell. I love that it has 3 channels. I just can't get it to sound as good. If I can, I'll buy a second and be done with it all.

[SpruceTop]

Originally Posted by DavidE

I have one. Zero battery drain as far as I can tell. I love that it has 3 channels. I just can't get it to sound as good. If I can, I'll buy a second and be done with it all.

David, geez, now you've got me thinking of also getting a Bose S1 Pro--Nice Going, Dude!

[sam.spoons]

Originally Posted by jonfields45

My point is you are being unreasonable. My comments are not that hard to understand if you are willing to try.

1. Charge the amp the night before you take it out.
2. Remove a charged battery you want to store and stay charged.
3. Expect a battery left in any modern device to be discharged by standby processing functions.
4. Expect sample variation which in this case means standby battery life variation where another sample S1 might do better or worse than yours.

Perfectly reasonable to expect an expensive bit of kit to work properly.

1 Not always possible (if you don't want to bother reading the thread then how can I take your comments seriously?).

2 Why, the S1 Pro doesn't need a battery to be in there to work, it has no settings to remember, so it has no need to discharge it when it is switched off (my laptop and phone don't).

3 see above

4 The variation in S1's is extreme, Bose admit there is a problem but can't reliably fix it. Some work fine (mine do now) many don't.

Battery life as such is not the issue, please read the whole thread.

[sam.spoons]

I'm pretty confident that this thread will not make the slightest difference to Bose's handling of the situation. What it might do is save somebody else the hassle David E, me, and several others have had to endure.

I'm no longer following this thread as my intention was/is only to help others avoid getting caught out by a potentially dodgy piece of gear, I find it very hard to understand why that should attract such a hostile response from other forumites.

[sam.spoons]

Originally Posted by jonfields45

And just to set the record straight, I own no Bose Pro Audio products.

You are a wise man after all

[sam.spoons]

Originally Posted by tadol

I really hate to add to this - but I still don’t understand how the battery readings are being obtained. From the Bose app, or via some tech that reads actual battery voltage? I’ve just used the blinking blue light, and that hardly seems accurate for anything more than a rough guess, but its worked for me so far -

The iPhone/Android app resolves to 10% increments, the blue LED only 25% increments. Info up thread if you need/want to know the detail

[DavidE]

Originally Posted by DavidE

I have one. Zero battery drain as far as I can tell. I love that it has 3 channels. I just can't get it to sound as good. If I can, I'll buy a second and be done with it all.

I spent some time yesterday messing with them both side by side. I did the 2hz narrow cut as Cuki suggests and that helped the JBL. Some more tweaking of the eq on the JBL (much more tweakable than the Bose) and I got a sound I really liked. I also got the JBL to handle low and a lot better than the Bose. Clear and punch without farting out as the Bose tends to do when you push it too hard. I'm actually quite pleased with what I was able to get out of the JBL, though it took more work. So pleased that if I eventually find myself with the need for a second battery powered speaker I'll probably just get another JBL.

[Cuki79]

Originally Posted by DavidE

I did the 2hz narrow cut as Cuki suggests and that helped the JBL.

I think you meant 2 KHz.

[DavidE]

Originally Posted by Cuki79

I think you meant 2 KHz.

Probably. Lol

[Song]

I bought my s1 used on reverb for 500. It came with the backpack but no battery.
I bought a new battery from amazon. When I got the s1 I updated the firmware before installing battery.
I charged the battery while trying out the s1 for about a week. I removed the battery and stored it all for a month.
When I reinstalled the battery it was asleep and still fully charged.
I've also had excellent results using the battery with s1 unplugged.

I think the s1 is a good speaker BUT good speakers are everywhere.
For me what makes it a little special is the convenience of the battery
and without a battery it's just another speaker. Sorry to hear that some are having issues.

My gripe is that I wish it had more than "broom closet reverb".
I also want another because one is the loneliest number.