The new Bose S1 Pro Plus!

[Mayfair]

Originally Posted by Chriscom

Same here, I end up on his site from time to time, I'm throwing no shade his way! Main thing is it's great to see interest and excitement about a new product.

I agree! Even without the wireless mods, I still feel it’s a step up. I may go ahead and get the wireless units this week from Sweetwater. Ideally, I’m envisioning using this to busk in Annapolis soon. That’ll definitely test the conflicting frequencies theory.

P.S. I used to work in SATCOM/telecoms and dealt with frequency management. It’s finicky at times.

[Peter Z]

Nice, that the XLR transmitter can be switched to line level.
Also the possibility to use the third channel for luetooth and line signals simultaneously is great.
And the double function of the input jack as input or fx loop is really clever.

Those people at Bose are creative and often the first bringing new things on the market. Respect.

Honestly, I would ditch the new features for a good parametric EQ and one or two more effects. I prefer a combination of a very low dose reverb with a similar low dose short delay to just a (not prefect) reverb.

The most important features still remain the small an extremely light battery powered box. Of course, the sound can be better for some applications but physics limits this.
For busking, coffe shop gigs, monitor duties, bluetooth music, equipment tests and much more the sound quality is good enough.

All in all both the old and new versions are versatile speakers. I whish, I had such toys years ago.

[AeroUSA]

Originally Posted by Peter Z

Nice, that the XLR transmitter can be switched to line level.
Also the possibility to use the third channel for luetooth and line signals simultaneously is great.
And the double function of the input jack as input or fx loop is really clever.

Those people at Bose are creative and often the first bringing new things on the market. Respect.

Honestly, I would ditch the new features for a good parametric EQ and one or two more effects. I prefer a combination of a very low dose reverb with a similar low dose short delay to just a (not prefect) reverb.

The most important features still remain the small an extremely light battery powered box. Of course, the sound can be better for some applications but physics limits this.
For busking, coffe shop gigs, monitor duties, bluetooth music, equipment tests and much more the sound quality is good enough.

All in all both the old and new versions are versatile speakers. I whish, I had such toys years ago.

I agree and also I have to give Bose credit, they watched my livestream yesterday and are going to replace the wireless transmitter for me. I will post an update when I have tried it again.

If anyone else gets to try the wireless out please post your results.

[Chriscom]

Originally Posted by AeroUSA

I agree and also I have to give Bose credit, they watched my livestream yesterday and are going to replace the wireless transmitter for me. I will post an update when I have tried it again.

If anyone else gets to try the wireless out please post your results.

+1 to Bose.

Excellent video as usual. I am not as excited about it as you are, but as you well point out we all value different features differently. Things that don't impress me:

• They added a 1/4-inch jack and bass/treble EQ to the third input but got too tired to add reverb, maybe it was quitting time
  
• Speaking of bass/treble sorry, reaching to tweak mid on my acoustic is the first thing I reach for
  
• Still holding out on master volume, pathetic
  
• The built-in wireless is nifty but IMO hardly transformational, my outbaord no-names work great and can be easily upgraded when new tech comes along. Charging them bothers me less than you.
  
• I see the advantage of multi-function channel buttons but you inadvertently demo'd its risk, not keeping track of drill-down functions (you accidentally cranked up volume intensely when going for reverb).

Basically, they upgraded the controls and added wireless plus the neat FX trick, and livestreaming out (if I have that right). The added more Tonematch options which again is good but my experience of that library is pretty hit-and-miss (full T1/T4S).

I see these as very good incremental steps, laudable at the same price, handicapped by the limitations that strike me. Everse beat them to the punch with powered USB output, for starters, and blows it away overall at the price of being about 20% heavier and a bit bulkier. Though as a former resident of the West Side IRT I get the superior portability of the +.

I'll add that OPAZ on YouTube put out a meandering video about all these small PAs, and noted the multi-function channel displays aren't super visible in bright light fwiw.

[AeroUSA]

Originally Posted by Chriscom

+1 to Bose.

Excellent video as usual. I am not as excited about it as you are, but as you well point out we all value different features differently. Things that don't impress me:

• They added a 1/4-inch jack and bass/treble EQ to the third input but got too tired to add reverb, maybe it was quitting time
  
• Speaking of bass/treble sorry, reaching to tweak mid on my acoustic is the first thing I reach for
  
• Still holding out on master volume, pathetic
  
• The built-in wireless is nifty but IMO hardly transformational, my outbaord no-names work great and can be easily upgraded when new tech comes along. Charging them bothers me less than you.
  
• I see the advantage of multi-function channel buttons but you inadvertently demo'd its risk, not keeping track of drill-down functions (you accidentally cranked up volume intensely when going for reverb).

Basically, they upgraded the controls and added wireless plus the neat FX trick, and livestreaming out (if I have that right). The added more Tonematch options which again is good but my experience of that library is pretty hit-and-miss (full T1/T4S).

I see these as very good incremental steps, laudable at the same price, handicapped by the limitations that strike me. Everse beat them to the punch with powered USB output, for starters, and blows it away overall at the price of being about 20% heavier and a bit bulkier. Though as a former resident of the West Side IRT I get the superior portability of the +.

I'll add that OPAZ on YouTube put out a meandering video about all these small PAs, and noted the multi-function channel displays aren't super visible in bright light fwiw.

Bose has USB power out now.

[Chriscom]

Originally Posted by AeroUSA

Bose has USB power out now.

Yes sir, understood, I'm just saying it wasn't a Bose breakthrough (and for all I know others had it before the Everse)

[AeroUSA]

Originally Posted by Chriscom

Yes sir, understood, I'm just saying it wasn't a Bose breakthrough (and for all I know others had it before the Everse)

JBL was first.

[Nama Ensou]

Originally Posted by Chriscom

[*]They added a 1/4-inch jack and bass/treble EQ to the third input but got too tired to add reverb, maybe it was quitting time[*]Speaking of bass/treble sorry, reaching to tweak mid on my acoustic is the first thing I reach for[*]Still holding out on master volume

I'm still very curious, but these listed features are all ones that would have me far more interested than I'm able to be right at the moment.

The thing I'm enjoying the most about Bose, JBL ElectroVoice and others vying for top position is that we're seeing far more progress than we'd be seeing otherwise and for now I'll be sticking with my Eon Compact, at the same time as looking forward to replacing it once someone can undeniably knock one out of the ballpark.

[tadol]

It looks nice, but my S1s are doing their job just fine, and there are numerous wireless units available that work great for a lot less. I’ve had problems with Bose app wireless connectivity to the S1s with multiple Apple devices, and at this time have little faith in Bose’s sw/fw capabilities, or in their commitment to upgrading or maintaining it going into the future. But the S1 is a pretty sweet speaker, so maybe we’ll see some great deals on closeouts and used units hitting the market!

[Chriscom]

Originally Posted by Nama Ensou

I'm still very curious, but these listed features are all ones that would have me far more interested than I'm able to be right at the moment.

The thing I'm enjoying the most about Bose, JBL ElectroVoice and others vying for top position is that we're seeing far more progress than we'd be seeing otherwise and for now I'll be sticking with my Eon Compact, at the same time as looking forward to replacing it once someone can undeniably knock one out of the ballpark.

Yeah I hear ya. The thing is, as much as their lack drives me around the bend (to buy something else), they're not deal-killers for others. Lack of Master drives me absolutely batty but I think Aaron for example isn't as deranged about it as I am. The latest Cole Clark, and surely others, have onboard controls that includes mid (and by the way, Aaron's video was a great ad for that guitar!). Reverb & etc. can be added in a pedal. So everyone can pursue their bliss

[AeroUSA]

Originally Posted by Chriscom

Yeah I hear ya. The thing is, as much as their lack drives me around the bend (to buy something else), they're not deal-killers for others. Lack of Master drives me absolutely batty but I think Aaron for example isn't as deranged about it as I am. The latest Cole Clark, and surely others, have onboard controls that includes mid (and by the way, Aaron's video was a great ad for that guitar!). Reverb & etc. can be added in a pedal. So everyone can pursue their bliss

I feel that with 2 channels it's fine to just turn them both down and most of the time I am going to be setting the system at its maximum potential volume anyway. I don't think it's the same as a 4 channel mixer in a 2000 watt PA where you want to constantly change the level due to the range that the volume has.

I agree about the Cole Clark, it really made me stop looking into pickups for the time being and I love the guitar as well. I have actually grown to prefer the tone over the sometimes boomy and muddy Martin tone.

[martingitdave]

Originally Posted by AeroUSA

I feel that with 2 channels it's fine to just turn them both down and most of the time I am going to be setting the system at its maximum potential volume anyway. I don't think it's the same as a 4 channel mixer in a 2000 watt PA where you want to constantly change the level due to the range that the volume has.

I agree about the Cole Clark, it really made me stop looking into pickups for the time being and I love the guitar as well. I have actually grown to prefer the tone over the sometimes boomy and muddy Martin tone.

I agree with Aaron on the Master volume. For two channel units it’s easier for me not to have one. I had one with master and would forget it half the time. [emoji23]

[Methos1979]

Just watched most of Aaron's video (excellent, as always) and I think the upgrades to the S1 Plus are good for the most part and for many considering jumping onto the S1 bandwagon for the first time it might be a great unit to justify the purchase. For me as an owner of two S1 Pros already, while there are improvements they didn't quite tick enough boxes for me to grab one. I am looking forward to those that do already have and use the S1 to see how they stack up volume wise, especially on the mic side which for me has always seemed extremely underpowered unless preamped via a mixer.

I'm one of those that absolutely needs three inputs because my wife and I have an acoustic duo so we need two mic inputs and one guitar. The addition of the 1/4" aux input almost gets there but lack of reverb and ToneMatch on that channel sealed that deal as a no-go from me. I like the idea of a built-in wireless but I found the units to be on the large side and not very attractive looking especially on something held in the hand. Besides, I already have both guitar and mic wireless units that work very well and are WAY less expensive than the Bose extra add-ons.

Sure, I could always just power a small pedal or mixer for the guitar and mics from the power out of the S1 Plus but that gets into adding more things and any new amp to potentially replace my S1's or my JBL Compact would need to do it all by itself. So I guess I'm still waiting for that S2 to hit the market. But hey, at least Bose is moving forward, albeit slowly. I agree with Aaron that I would be much more likely to just go the EV8 route if I was going to power an external pedal or small mixer like an EAE GigMix 4-1, StompMix 4 or something along those lines.

Since I'm already using the EV30M as our main amp, I like the idea of having the same excellent app.

[Groberts]

Originally Posted by AeroUSA

I feel that with 2 channels it's fine to just turn them both down and most of the time I am going to be setting the system at its maximum potential volume anyway. I don't think it's the same as a 4 channel mixer in a 2000 watt PA where you want to constantly change the level due to the range that the volume has.

I agree about the Cole Clark, it really made me stop looking into pickups for the time being and I love the guitar as well. I have actually grown to prefer the tone over the sometimes boomy and muddy Martin tone.

You make a good point about setting the S1 Pro's at the volume level they are best suited for. I often use my S1 Pro (Original) as a floor monitor. It works great within its range limitations. For me or my band, that is usually plenty.

My Martin HDC-28 'can' be a bit bass heavy and that's a challenge. But my D-18 is much more well mannered across all frequency ranges. Sounds more balanced than my HDC-28 when I use the S1 Pro.

[jricc]

Originally Posted by Methos1979

Just watched most of Aaron's video (excellent, as always) and I think the upgrades to the S1 Plus are good for the most part and for many considering jumping onto the S1 bandwagon for the first time it might be a great unit to justify the purchase. For me as an owner of two S1 Pros already, while there are improvements they didn't quite tick enough boxes for me to grab one. I am looking forward to those that do already have and use the S1 to see how they stack up volume wise, especially on the mic side which for me has always seemed extremely underpowered unless preamped via a mixer.

I'm one of those that absolutely needs three inputs because my wife and I have an acoustic duo so we need two mic inputs and one guitar. The addition of the 1/4" aux input almost gets there but lack of reverb and ToneMatch on that channel sealed that deal as a no-go from me. I like the idea of a built-in wireless but I found the units to be on the large side and not very attractive looking especially on something held in the hand. Besides, I already have both guitar and mic wireless units that work very well and are WAY less expensive than the Bose extra add-ons.

Sure, I could always just power a small pedal or mixer for the guitar and mics from the power out of the S1 Plus but that gets into adding more things and any new amp to potentially replace my S1's or my JBL Compact would need to do it all by itself. So I guess I'm still waiting for that S2 to hit the market. But hey, at least Bose is moving forward, albeit slowly. I agree with Aaron that I would be much more likely to just go the EV8 route if I was going to power an external pedal or small mixer like an EAE GigMix 4-1, StompMix 4 or something along those lines.

Since I'm already using the EV30M as our main amp, I like the idea of having the same excellent app.

I agree with Scott here, there are some nice additions to the new S1 plus, but the additions/upgrades aren't the right ones for my needs.

As usual Aaron, great job, thanks for doing these informative videos.