Bose S1 Pro Review

[@stoombs911]

Just purchased one. Playing keyboards and Chapman Stick through it. Without doubt the most impressive speaker system I've ever used in the last 30+ years!

[@aaronshortmusic]

That's great Samuel and I agree. I can't wait to see what Bose has at NAMM this year!

[@RobertKeele]

This thing is unbelievable!! I just finished my 2nd gig with it and I am amazed at the sound that comes out of the tiniest PA in the world.

[@aaronshortmusic]

Robert Keele Me too. It continues to impress me!

[@josealfredfernandes]

@@aaronshortmusic which is the best EQ(by turning that Bose logo)?

[@aaronshortmusic]

@@josealfredfernandes I’m not sure. I usually use the S1 on a stand and EQ from my pedals or the unit.

[@barbcheronguitarist1758]

I just bought one to add to my L1 Compact for bigger venues. I'll also use it alone for more intimate settings. I'm plugging my jazz guitar directly into it, instead of my Henriksen Bud amp. The sound is awesome! I'm very happy with my purchase.

[@aaronshortmusic]

That’s great! I used mine yesterday for a party. It sounded so good. They knocked it out of the park with these!

[@Grindstaff09]

This is what I was wondering, is it a good alternative to AER or other amps.

[@MrPalmersong]

Hi Aaron. Great review. I’ve had one of theses for about 6 months, it is, as you say phenomenal. I had previously owned an L1 compact, which was great playing guitar and doing vocals, until this came along. As you said, this may not qualify as a large event performing system, but for the type of gigs you mention in your video, it more than punches above its weight. Sound quality is exactly as you say, and it’s flexibility is tremendous. I’m looking to get a second one, which will give awesome x2. Oh yes, for small events, playing bass through it is great. For those wanting the best multi-purpose, ultra portable, superb sounding speaker, check it out, nothing to lose, but loads to gain.

[@aaronshortmusic]

Ian Palmer Thank you. I used it at an outside event yesterday and it worked great and made the gig so easy. It’s an amazing tool!

[@rlin2648]

Great speakers I have 2 of them love them. I've been playing live gigs for 37 years and these speakers impress me still.

[@aaronshortmusic]

They are impressive for the size but I am preferring the newer EV Everse 8 at the moment.

[@andrewbutcher3391]

Just spent the afternoon with my new Bose S1 Pro and would like to thank you Aaron for this comprehensive review and for helping me directly make up my mind to buy one. Primarily I wondered if it was a lightweight solution for monitoring my Helix and I can confirm it works really well with it. It’s very much more than that though and I will have all sorts of uses for it as it’s so portable but with such high quality sound. I use a Godin A6 Ultra as an acoustic and direct in its sounds fantastic. I would have no hesitation gigging this without any other effects. As you say Aaron it’s a piece of kit everyone should have!

[@JamsYTC]

Thank you sir Aaron for making this review. Helped me a lot on deciding to buy this superb speaker! I bought my Bose S1 Pro 9 months ago and it still amazes me with its sound quality. Now, I have 2 of this amazing product! more music, more entertainment!

[@aaronshortmusic]

Thank you and congratulations!

[@leonardavril3257]

Bought the S-1 over a year ago and find it indispensable. Best portable vocal/guitar practice speaker ever. Works great gigging small venues and serves as a monitor in larger settings. The battery lasts over 5 hours so you can play virtually anywhere, indoors or out. The reverb is so good for vocals I have used it plugged into mixers/PA. I have never practiced singing more than I have since getting the S-1. With the additional Bluetooth/3.5mm channel it turns into a high end Karaoke or party speaker as well. Highly recommend the S-1.

[@aaronshortmusic]

Thanks Leonard, I agree it’s a groundbreaking product.

[@FranksPercussion]

What a tremendous endorsement! And a great review! Thanks!

[@coralplow4480]

I had a full Bose speaker system 4, 802 cabinets, 32 full range drivers, and a Bose 1800 power amp as part of our PA set up. this was in the Northern Territory out back Australia early 80's. Amazing sound, so here I am 40 years later shopping around again, going to look at Bose. Thanks for the Video and nice playing. Rossco

[@aaronshortmusic]

Thank you!

[@garylovini]

Thank you Aaron. I was so hoping that you would explain more about how to actually charge the battery and for how long. You you gave more info about it than most of the other videos but not actually how to and how long to charge.I’ve been looking for an hour and no one touches on this… You were the closest.

[@aaronshortmusic]

Thanks Gary. Just plug it in with the IEC cable overnight and it will be fine. If you ever get a flashing red light or other error then completely remove the battery and reinstall it again, the instructions for that can be found on the Bose website.

[@thomasmartinscott]

Nicely done! Mine just came in yesterday, and I couldn't be happier with it! It's perfect for LOTS of scenarios. The sound...well, it's BOSE, what can I say!?

[@aaronshortmusic]

Thomas Scott Glad you got one. Be sure to update the firmware to the latest and I would get the backpack too. It’s awesome!

[@aaronshortmusic]

Dr Saikat Chowdhury I think it’s just party mode (which I have used successfully). I like to keep firmware up to date and it’s pretty easy to do.

[@aaronshortmusic]

Dr Saikat Chowdhury The backpack is my favorite thing about it! I purchased mine from Sweetwater (if you are in the USA), ask for Tyler Moore.

[@beeamadeusfox]

Great little video Aaron. I have a AER compact 60 but the Bose S1 has that additional functionality that would prove very useful. Many thanks!

[@aaronshortmusic]

Bernard Fox Thanks Bernard! Yes the S1 is more of a PA than a guitar amp and as I sing as well as play I find that extremely useful.

[@TroyNaumu808]

I like mine. For busking I use a little folding side table to put it on as it is so light weight. I also use a small portable mixer with it. Like the Bose it can run on batteries or mains. I plug the mixer into chanel one. I plug two microphones into it. One for my vocals and one for the guitar. in Channel two on the bose i plug in my acoustic. For gigging if I need more volume I use the mixer once again as I can do a line out on the mixer to another speaker such as my headrush FRFR-108. Or i plug into the FOH with the Bose or thru the mixer.

[@aaronshortmusic]

Sounds like a nice rig!

[@TroyNaumu808]

@@aaronshortmusicThe mixer works like a preamp in a way. It also gives me more channels to plug into in case I need more of them like if someone wants to sing or play with me nd they did not have thier own gear. like if i am busking and I ask a lovely lass to sing along with me. That aux in also comes in handy too. As i have a adaptor that can plug my mixer into the aux in.

[@UncleDanBand64]

Very nice demo i subbed. I'm definitely interested in this I have 2 other Bose systems but this is on the radar. Nice job sir 👍

[@aaronshortmusic]

Shootin' with Uncle Dan I love mine. Best purchase in a long time, especially with the battery and back pack. Thank you for subscribing!

[@GlennDeLauneOfficial]

Aaron, really liking your latest videos !! Great style!! Good job Sir.

[@tmaddrummer]

I'm glad that you mentioned it's use for Drummers, possibly exactly what I've been looking for, as I am too "fussy" about my gear! Thanks and Blessings Aaron!

[@aaronshortmusic]

It could be ideal. JBL has a competitor out soon that I will be reviewing in the coming weeks!

[@tmaddrummer]

@@aaronshortmusic thanks, I appreciate that! Your thoughts on sound quality Bose vs JBL or anything else? I prefer quality gear that if I have to save up for, well then so be it. Thanks again Aaron!

[@lgbunbury]

I own two of these Bose S1 Pro’s and they are awesome. Btw, you can pair the Bluetooth Channels in stereo and still use all of the other inputs. They are expensive but awesome and worth every penny!

[@aaronshortmusic]

It’s a great system. I also like the JBL Compact and EV Everse 8.

[@musicbymark]

Great review. What MIC do you use? Mine hasn't seemed loud enough for VOCALS in large rooms or small bars w/ background noise using an SM58 at max volume. Wonder why they didn't include phantom power for condenser mics. I'd think lots of bluegrassy duos, trios 4 pic would love using it for gigs where they traditionally stand around a shared mic, stepping up for their leads.

[@aaronshortmusic]

You may need to plug a preamp or mixer into it.

[@andrewbutcher3391]

Thanks for this, I am really tempted by one of these. I currently use a Line 6 L2t with my Bose PA system and it's good with a Helix but heavy.

[@aaronshortmusic]

Andrew Butcher Thanks for watching. The S1 makes a fantastic portable rig.

[@odyssey327]

The best I ever owned so far for this price range. Portability is good. Very good for vocal.

[@aaronshortmusic]

I agree it’s a great unit!

[@StevenLeeMusician]

How do you get that gorgeous Full Martin sound? Pickup? Outboard gear? Compression, reverb? Something else? lol I have a D-35 and 2 Martin OM's... and I have never been able to get them to sound like that recorded.

[@aaronshortmusic]

That was the Fishman Aura VT Enhance. It’s a good system that only ships on a couple of models. You could try a Fishman Matrix undersaddle and a Fishman Aura pedal.

[@ronuhlenhopp9368]

Thank you! I am trying it with a Roland FR-7x digital orchestra accordion.

[@aaronshortmusic]

Excellent! Please let us know how it is...

[@Powlean]

thanks for this clip man, i'm up to get mine after this!

[@aaronshortmusic]

Powlean I’ve been using mine more and more. So happy with it!

[@darylcrisp1863]

awesome review. thank you so much. I'm buying one!

[@aaronshortmusic]

Daryl Crisp Thank you. It’s great and they just released a cool back pack for it too!

[@m3rocksj]

Excellent video Aaron...very insightful...I checked out a few of your other videos...excellent as well...very easy to on the ears and most important, useful information...(Also...looks like you dropped a few pounds...lookn' good)

[@aaronshortmusic]

Haha thanks Mario!

[@NeomiNemeth]

Very helpful video, thank you ! I've been thinking to buy this for my electric violin, but I have a question though. Could I connect a condenser mic to this unit? (You mentioned dynamic mic, but a condenser has a different plug, so... )

[@aaronshortmusic]

Hey, no it does not have phantom power so you would need a preamp/mixer. Check out my JBL EON Compact review...

[@ThisMichaelBrown]

Great review! Thanks

[@aaronshortmusic]

You’re welcome!

[@bluefluteman]

Excellent video thank you Sir

[@aaronshortmusic]

Thank you!

[@Bart-ye6ze]

Hey Aaron, thanks for the review! its possible to plug in a guitar with an passiv piezo micro like the k and k pure mini? Or do I need a preamp?

[@aaronshortmusic]

A preamp is always recommended with a passive pickup. Of course the Bose has preamps and will work quite well with the K&K direct as it’s a loud pickup for something that is passive. An additional preamp would just give even more control if needed.

[@paulmccormick3282]

Would this be good for Bluetooth karaoke or to sing backing tracks?

[@najsummer]

Sounding great!!

[@kmacdc4]

Hey Aaron, curious. I feel like some of the best sound I get out of my D41 with a K&K is to plug directly into the S1. But, when I’ve tried using just the S1 as the board so to speak, I’m lacking any drive when I then run that out to a EV Evolve 50. So I need a mixer of some sort first. Any suggestions?

[@aaronshortmusic]

Can you increase the gain on the EV? It should be fine. That is if you have the 50M with the built in mixer. If you really need something then check out the Behringer FLOW 8.

[@kmacdc4]

@@aaronshortmusic don’t have the EV with the mixer. I feel like I really have to push the gain on the EV’s. Who knows. Would be easy at some shows just to run a mic and a guitar into the S1 then run a line out to the EV. Funny, all the combinations I’ve tried, the K&k sounds best, to my ears, going directly into the S1:)

[@aaronshortmusic]

@@kmacdc4 I would buy the EV50M so it’s all in one box. Otherwise get a small mixer.

[@kmacdc4]

@@aaronshortmusic I have 2 EV evolve 50’s and 2 Bose S1’s:) My PA budget is shot:) been using the Gigmix mostly now for live stuff. My D41 is the only guitar with a K&K. My main gigging guitar has been a 69 D18 with a Fishman Matrix. I have an anthem lying around that I’m thinking about putting in the 41. We will see. If not I’ll try the Hi Fi.

[@aaronshortmusic]

@@kmacdc4 Why can’t you use the Gigmix?

[@mrbadkats]

Hey Aaron. Can I use this with baking tracks from my iPad? I play clarinet and sax at small venues with my own backing tracks and need to boost the instrument sound to equal the tacks when I am live.

[@aaronshortmusic]

Yes you can! Bluetooth for backing tracks and a mic on your Sax if needed into channel 1 or 2.

[@khalid6949]

Thanks for the great review. How good is it with keyboards? I’m looking for something to use at home as a quick portable plug and play tool. Also for a small band rehearsals and maybe even a monitor for me at small venues. This seems to fit what I need exactly. But keyboard sound quality is my main priority

[@aaronshortmusic]

Hangar18 I have not tested it with a keyboard but I see no reason why it won’t work great. Let me know if you try it!

[@khalid6949]

Aaron Short Music ok I did take my little Yamaha mo6 to the Bose dealer in town and tried the speaker there. Sounds sooo good!!! I’m picking this little powerhouse with my next paycheque 🤘🏼❤️

[@aaronshortmusic]

Hangar18 Great news! Maybe you should get two and run in stereo!

[@khalid6949]

Aaron Short Music however, to make this more useful for keyboardists.. I had to set the tone match to Off, and the bass/tribble knobs to Zero.

[@aaronshortmusic]

Hangar18 I often have ToneMatch off as well as just use the EQ when needed. ToneMatch is worth trying but doesn’t always suit the instrument.

[@LeeRoads]

I got it as soon as I heard about it. I also have the Compact and the L1 1S. I love Bose sound. great review btw

[@aaronshortmusic]

Awesome. I love mine. I’m going to review the new JBL competitor soon.

[@ssgeek4515]

Great review.I think the Bose corporation would be silly not to approach yourself as a real world reviewer of their products.Im not even a musician but a DJ. The Bose haters refer to no highs no lows must be Bose.Thats so so outdated when amps weren't powerful enough to drive there systems.....No headroom? Amar,God rest his soul was a cleaver guy. again,Great review.

[@aaronshortmusic]

Thank you for your kind words. Please feel free to tell Bose directly as I would love to demo their products and give them feedback from you guys, they really make some excellent gear for musicians!

[@ssgeek4515]

@@aaronshortmusic .Have fwd your name to Bose to check you on utube. Doubt anything will happen but hey.....who knows. I'm in UK, so not sure where contact link travels too? Think Bose is Gillingham,in Kent?

[@paulgorman3553]

great review, tks. This ticks a lot of boxes..

[@aaronshortmusic]

Thank you, I still LOVE it! It will not replace a full PA system but it's an incredibly useful tool to have!

[@paulgorman3553]

@@aaronshortmusic I've been contemplating the Aer acoustic amp for some time but just couldn't justify the spend and usage but the fact this has blue tooth as you said it can be used in the kitchen for streaming music and also as a practice tool. It seems just right for my needs.

[@aaronshortmusic]

Paul Gorman Yes and the rechargeable battery is so useful!

[@andyisherwood4248]

Hi there thanks for the review, do you hook a Tc helicon play acoustic up to this thing and if so what method do you use ? Single line out from the play acoustic in mono and then into aninput set to line in on the tone match ?

[@aaronshortmusic]

Andy Isherwood Hi yes I do! That is correct and I would run it at mic level but the S1 does not have an option for mic/line. It usually sounds great at 50% volume with the level of the TC around 75% and then adjust from the S1making sure that you don’t clip the input (doesn’t light up red). Thanks for watching! I hope Bose have more products and updates at NAMM in January. I will be there!

[@fredcoombs9870]

Hi very good video, We are in the UK and have purchased the Bose S1, It arrived today but it did not come with the cover, do we have a purchase this a seperate item and can you tell us where? Thanks.

[@aaronshortmusic]

Hi Fred. Now that the battery is included the slip cover is not. To be honest it doesn’t offer much protection. I suggest you purchase the Bose backpack. It’s very nice.

[@fishingbear69]

hey hi there whats your take on the AMP besides it doesn't have a portable battery let me know what you think..?yamaha stagepas 600i or the BOSS Acoustic Singer Pro & Live Amplifier 120 watts ?

[@aaronshortmusic]

Edward WISDOM KEEPER/SEEKER OF TRUTH I’m not very familiar with them but the Boss is more of an amp and the Yamaha more of a PA so it depends what your usage is going to be and which features are important to you, all of these things have pros and cons. I like the S1 because it is somewhere between an amp and PA.

[@fishingbear69]

its for strictly singing purposes what would you recommend ?

[@aaronshortmusic]

Edward WISDOM KEEPER/SEEKER OF TRUTH S1 if you need battery power. Yamaha if you need the most volume.

[@DonaHannah-x8k]

Where the mids and delay. And reverb hardly works u still need to run a mixer . Good for home use

[@aaronshortmusic]

It doesn’t have as much control as others but it sounds great and is very light.

[@kerncountyrd5263]

I'm trying to recreate a Drive-in Theater type environment in the back yard for the Grandkids and/or Guests. Obviously I don't want to upset the neighbors, but I'd still like to have quality sound that matches the movie that I might be playing. A friend of mine as suggested that I verify for distortion if I turn up the sound. Can you provide any feedback on that? Thanks

[@aaronshortmusic]

Two of these should be more than fine for a movie. If you use the app you can link them together (via Bluetooth) in stereo. If you are in the USA I would order them from somewhere like Sweetwater so you have 30 days to test them out.

[@kerncountyrd5263]

@@aaronshortmusic Thanks for the quick reply.

[@allangonzales8948]

Hi. Great review man. Very informative. How’s your unit at the moment? I’m a new S1 pro user and i’m loving it very much. I use it with my Roland Juno DS keyboard and it’s really amazing how my keys sounds with this tiny speaker. Great sounding gear for gigs definitely. Worried about this not having a phantom power though but i spoke to some people at bose and they said no problem using a wireless condenser mics even if there is no phantom power. I even ask if you can use it with other instruments such as electric guitar, or electric drums and they said no problem about it cause it’s really made for live sound. And also, i use a little Yamaha soundboard with it to accommodate more mics/instruments and, yup they said no prob about it as well. it will work just fine. So it indeed worked just fine. Bluetooth function is a favorite cause you can play along with a song if you’re practicing or playing background music in between gigs. And no prob if you’re outside or there’s not enough outlets because of it’s battery. The the sound quality doesn’t degrade when the battery goes low. Still the same. Thanks again for your review. :)

[@aaronshortmusic]

Yes it really is an excellent portable PA speaker!

[@allangonzales8948]

Question though... when you’re using a mic directly connected to the unit, how does it sound on less than 50% volume? Cause i just noticed my unit, when my mic is directly connected, 50% seems not too loud or not clear enough in a small practice area even. I had to put the nob more than 50% to get a more clear voice out... is this normal with the unit? Thanks.

[@aaronshortmusic]

Allan Gonzales I believe it is. Mine seems to come alive when it’s at 50%. It will also depend on the microphone that you are using.

[@allangonzales8948]

Thanks a lot

[@DanSistos]

Great honest review! I’m sick of all the “reviews” on KZbin that are really just paid advertisements. Thank you for the real world gigging musician review.

[@rabasfamily3515]

Is it capable of hi z and if so have you played an electric guitar through it to see how it sounds?

[@aaronshortmusic]

There is no hi z but you could plug in directly, or use a pedal first.

[@andrekrause9705]

Hey Aaron, did you still use this speaker ? Is it worth the money Keep it up 👍 greetings from Germany 🇩🇪

[@Jamspresto]

Great Speakers but I am getting a Hum when I connect a keyboard to it . Also when I connect two together or when I connect a small ( Mackie mixer) to it .

[@aaronshortmusic]

I’ve never had that issue. Try reaching out to Bose support.

[@Jamspresto]

Aaron Short Music Thanks Aaron

[@aaronshortmusic]

James Reese I hope they can help you. It sucks when gear doesn’t work as expected.

[@SuperRiver80]

Hi Aaron thanks for your review;sincerely one of the best and most informative I’ve seen You mentioned a couple of key points for me - I’ve auditioned an AER compact 60 & a Fishman loudbox artist -currently undecided.Couple of questions how does the Bose compare volume wise to these units ? On the downside I notice the Bose doesn’t have an effects loop Do you know what the Bose is rated at (watts wise) Thanks in advance 👍👍

[@aaronshortmusic]

SuperRiver80 The Bose has no effects loop but I’ve never needed one. It’s rated at 40w which seems low but it is louder that the other amps that you mentioned in real world usage. I would suggest that you get the Bose S1 Pro.

[@ZackPomerleau]

Is there any hiss when you have your guitar plugged in when not playing?

[@ZackPomerleau]

Or even white noise sound rather

[@aaronshortmusic]

Most battery amps have a little. It’s not noticeable in use.

[@josearmanruda1932]

Can I connect this to my smart tv if i wanna use youtube for karaoke via bluetooth?

[@aaronshortmusic]

Yes but obviously it will be mono. If you buy two you can link them in stereo!

[@madness8556]

Great review Aaron. The S1 Pro is a great speaker, but in all honesty, for the same price, I can buy a JBL Eon One Compact which has more inputs, way more eq and fx control via its app, a bigger louder sound from its larger 8 inch driver and the battery is swappable much more easily. Bose really shouldn't rest on its laurels and bring out a slightly larger S2 Pro or S1 Pro Mark 11. Saying that, I'd be very happy to own an S1 Pro but for the same price, I'll go for the Eon One Compact for all the reasons mentioned above. Keep up the great work buddy.

[@aaronshortmusic]

Thanks and I agree but there are people that prefer the smaller form factor and lack of features on the Bose. I regularly use both and enjoy them both for different reasons. It’s worth noting that the Bose is currently on sale and is cheaper than the JBL.

[@madness8556]

@@aaronshortmusic here Down Under, they're both at the same price. What speaker would you choose if you could keep only one of them?

[@aaronshortmusic]

@@madness8556 Ah must be USA only then. That’s a really tough question. Sometimes I need the HPF on the JBL but sometimes I need the smallest and lightest speaker possible which is the S1. Also whenever I can take a larger speaker (when I drive) I do.

[@stevenstahl2721]

I read on some posting that the battery is near impossible to get to, to change. I would check that out before purchasing. The person who posted was unsuccessful and needed professional help to get the unit back together while keeping the battery plugged in. I don't know this as fact, just what I read from someone.

[@aaronshortmusic]

@@stevenstahl2721 That’s not true. The battery is easy to remove and reinstall. It may not be easy to do while playing a gig but I have done it at home without any issue.

[@bobwallacejnr6852]

Can I use them as stereo speakers from my mixer and put a mic through one and a guitar through the other?

[@aaronshortmusic]

Yes. If you have a mixer with pan control you can do that. Or you could have guitar and voice through both.

[@thirdgearband]

What would be a good subwoofer to hook up with the Bose S1-Pro?

[@aaronshortmusic]

Check this out: kzbin.info/www/bejne/a4CQk5lobb6Zbc0

[@thirdgearband]

@@aaronshortmusic looks good but way more than I want to spend.

[@thirdgearband]

@@aaronshortmusic I forgot to ask will the regular PA stands hold the Bose correctly or does Bose have it where you must buy their stand only?

[@aaronshortmusic]

@@thirdgearband Nope. Any standard PA stand!

[@thirdgearband]

@@aaronshortmusic Thank you for replying back friend.

[@richardmckrell4899]

Which do you like best for vocals and acoustic, Bose S1 or AER 60/4?

[@aaronshortmusic]

Apples and Oranges. The AER is great for acoustic guitar and the S1 is great for a small rechargeable PA system. It really depends on your needs.

[@richardmckrell4899]

Yeah I understand, what's your current favorite acoustic pick-up?

[@aaronshortmusic]

Richard McKrell Again it depends on what and how you play. I am currently using the Aura VT Enhance that comes stock with Martin guitars. I have a few on my waiting list to try as well. I’d probably suggest the Fishman Matrix and a good DI pedal if you don’t care about body sounds and a Baggs Anthem if you need the body sounds as my current go-to answer.

[@richardmckrell4899]

Thanks, I record at home, songs are on my channel, trying to put together gear to play out.

[@aaronshortmusic]

Richard McKrell Good luck!

[@smen407]

Very cool!!!

[@gair1944]

Aaron, Your video's and thoughtfulness regarding real world considerations for a gigging singing/guitarist are incredibly valuable. As a fellow gigging guitarist/singer, you present very helpful viewpoints. Funny, when I was listening to your demo at the end I thought; "ha! I am hearing some acoustic guitar bleed into the mic" ...and then you played the loop without any bleed and it sounded great! Were you using any other mixer or just the looper into the Bose? It sounded very good. Curiously I just demo'd an S1 and didn't like it. Thought it sounded unnatural. But in your demo it sounds so good I would buy one. I used my own guitar for the demo too. Maybe the height and orientation makes a difference? I demo'd vertically on the floor and angled. The Fishman Loudbox Mini Charge sounded way more natural to me. I mention that because your demo makes me want to revisit the Bose. (I personally use a Bose L1 Compact for 98% of my gigs. So I expected to love the S1) I am Groberts on AGF

[@aaronshortmusic]

Gary Roberts Thank you Gary. I do feel there is a need for more ‘real world’ reviews. The guitar is direct to looper and then to S1 with everything flat and a little of the built in reverb. It really is a great unit but yes obviously your guitar, pickup, playing style etc will have an impact but I tried several guitars into the S1 and I have been impressed by the sound of all of them. For small/remote gigs the S1 is amazing.

[@gair1944]

Thank you. I totally respect using the S1 in a setting where it makes sense and not asking more from it than reasonable. Within that context, it is very convenient. I did however take minor issue with the knobs being a bit hard to reach to make minor adjustments. But once you know where they are positioned, that's probably less of a concern.

[@aaronshortmusic]

Gary Roberts I do like the sound of it when it’s pole mounted. I’ve heard of someone plugging the pole mount hole to trick the S1 into using that particular eq. That could be worth trying...

[@hermankravchenko6470]

are you still using Bose s1 pro? Would cube street ex be better than bose s1 pro?

[@aaronshortmusic]

I think the Bose S1 Pro would probably be better...

[@bluefluteman]

Will Bose mixer work with S1 Pro?

[@aaronshortmusic]

Yes but the S1 Pro will not power it.

[@chynamann]

The jams session was amazing.

[@aaronshortmusic]

Thank you!

[@WEnisTV636]

What loop pedal are you using?

[@aaronshortmusic]

I don’t remember. I think it was the Ditto X2.

[@WEnisTV636]

Aaron Short Music sweet! Thanks man!

[@bryangard]

You sold me on it. Couple questions: Is the battery removable/replaceable? Like your phone, if it is a lithium ion after many charges it will start to degrade and I am curious what Bose says around future replacement if this is something that cannot be taken out by hand. Also, can you play connect and play music via Bluetooth and also play over the top of it with your guitar? Keep up the good work.

[@aaronshortmusic]

Bryan Gard Yes the battery is removable from the bottom. It used to be an optional extra but now comes with the unit. And yes you can stream music and play over it. The three channels can all be used at once. Great for backing tracks or rehearsing!

[@marcoabrigo8714]

How loud is the bass?

[@aaronshortmusic]

Marco Abrigo It’s only a small speaker but it’s good for the size. I have no complaints.

[@GustavoArceMusic]

what did you use for loop ?

[@aaronshortmusic]

GustavoArceMusic If my memory is correct it was a Ditto X2

[@MrNeoale85]

Hi, does the system have phantom power?

[@aaronshortmusic]

Alessandro Biasi It does not

[@greendrinkguy1882]

It's great to hear a review from an intelligent person with ears. I'd love to know if u ever get a chance to try the new Mackie FreePlay Live (the one that just recently came out which is louder than the old one, smaller, mounts on a mic stand, and only weighs 8.5 pounds with 75W per channel..) If u ever try one I'd love to know how it compares to the Bose S1. I'm not currently in an area that has a music store where i could compare them myself, so i will have to buy 1 or the other through the mail..)

[@aaronshortmusic]

GreenDrink Guy Thank you for the kind words. I have not tried it but I know it has some limitations with the input gain and I have been told it’s not as loud as the Bose. I would suggest you go with the Bose for sure. I just used it at a private party (50 people) and it worked great!

[@greendrinkguy1882]

@@aaronshortmusic Thanks! Curious what R the issues with the input gain?? One of the things i liked about it was the physical "input" jacks were just what i needed without me having to pay for anything else that i didn't need, but maybe ur not talking about the physical inputs.. what do u mean exactly by problems w the input gain?? (I'm recovering from a slight hernia so with the Mackie being 1/2 the weight, it would b tempting for me to try it if u hadn't told me that..) thanks again

[@aaronshortmusic]

GreenDrink Guy It has a low gain that cannot be altered. The only way I could get my guitar loud enough on the old version was to use a 1/4” to XLR adapter and they didn’t fix this in the new version. I would say stick with the Bose.

[@greendrinkguy1882]

@@aaronshortmusic (Thanks again) And i will try the Bose, but I'm not sure if we are talking about the same speaker cuz there's the new one then there's the REALLY" new one which is louder +can accept XLR on both channels, but if u r ONLY talking about the gain still not being fixed, then OK i won't waste my time w the Mack, but here it is if u wanna make sure it's the same one www.musiciansfriend.com/pro-audio/mackie-freeplay-live-portable-rechargeable-pa-speaker-with-bluetooth

[@aaronshortmusic]

GreenDrink Guy That’s the one. If the weight is important to you then I would say go for it but I need the volume and physical controls that the Bose offers.

[@holmes1978]

Did you ever use a Electric guitar

[@aaronshortmusic]

I did. It works OK. I would use something like a Kemper or a HX Stomp into it and engage a HPF to remove some of the excess bass that the S1 has. I would prefer to use something like a QSC 8.2 but the S1 is a decent battery powered option.

[@holmes1978]

Did you ever try a electric guitar ?

[@aaronshortmusic]

Yes. It works quite well depending on which preamp/pedal you use etc.

[@lennonag84]

I m using a korg konnect and its half the price and its sound as good as this bose.

[@aaronshortmusic]

Kian Ong That’s awesome and I’d love to try one out but it looks like it does not have a rechargeable battery and that is the main appeal of the S1 for me.

[@raynaldo2000]

Great review. I like your style.

[@stanleyrichardson4106]

How to connect x2 Bose s1

[@aaronshortmusic]

Aux out of one S1 to and either input on the other S1.

[@basshunter4461]

It is easy to carry it?

[@aaronshortmusic]

Yes it’s around 15lbs

[@basshunter4461]

@@aaronshortmusic ah good, also for many hours?

[@aaronshortmusic]

Lorenzo Moltisanti 11 hours. Check out the instruction guide on the Bose website. It has all of the information listed in detail.

[@basshunter4461]

@@aaronshortmusic excuse me I said It badly, I wanted know if It Is possibile ti carry it for 2 hours or it is too heavy

[@basshunter4461]

I meant weight not battery

[@SuperRondpoint]

a clapton fan ...

[@djmarciofigueira1]

Very good and I luv it

[@BrotherRey]

Good review! Wish it had a built in looper like the Boss Acoustic Singer Live, but the Boss doesn't have Bluetooth, nor battery capable.

[@aaronshortmusic]

BrotherRey Thanks. In my experience ‘all in ones’ are not always the best option. Check out my video on the Ditto Jam X2 for example. I’d rather pair something like that with the S1. The Boss looper is cool though!

[@robinstemple8368]

Has anybody tried a keyboard through this speaker?

[@darrylday30]

Robin Stemple Yes! I've used it to monitor my keyboards. The band (bass, drums, two guitars and vocals) ran through separate monitors and PA. For a country/rock band that likes to be able to hear vocal harmonies and therefore don't play too loud, I found the S1 on the floor was loud enough for the job. I didn't run vocals through the S1 with the keys. I traded in my 300 watt Traynor K1 for the Bose S1 and I have no regrets. The S1 is 1/4 the weight and the mids are much more useful for me. I found that I rolled off a lot of bottom eq to stay clear of the bass player yet i could still hear well defined low notes from my left hand. If you needed more volume I presume you could just put it on a stand to bring it closer to your ears. This is assuming that you're running the keys through the bands monitors too. A good friend of mine does solo piano/vocal gigs and has abandoned his current setup for the S1. Audience satisfaction and the simple setup make it his go to set up for restaurant/lounge piano vocal gigs. Battery power is very useful for outdoor patio/wedding gigs. I initially had concerns about the "processed" or "overly eq'd" sound that is typical of the bose systems. However, I quickly adapted and found it worked much better for me in a band situation than my very heavy keyboard amp. My band mates were VERY impressed when I played back reference tracks of our cover tunes through the bluetooth and completely filled the practice room without having to run the tracks through the PA. It was also nice to avoid hooking up another cable and just run my ipad wireless. Incedentally, I did plug my keyboard into the aux input and it worked! Bluetooth was no longer available and the gain was a little lower but theoretically you could run two mikes and a piano into this thing if you needed to. Finally, my wife bought who bought the S1 for me, uses it for school functions, outdoor events and presentations and no longer needs me to set up heavy/complicated gear for her. This rig is simple and effective.

[@rickbee7016]

How come no one mentioned you need to download the Bose app before so you can find the Bluetooth?

[@aaronshortmusic]

Rick Bee Hi Rick. You can pair the Bluetooth without installing the app.

[@Mr23GB]

Bose purposely built some limitations into this amplifier so that they can make a ton of extra money ! They made this unit so you can only use their extremely expensive batteries, which in return means that they have greatly inconvenienced you as a consumer! Bose could have easily built this amplifier so we could use external batteries such as lithium ion or a car battery or different power packs ! I think we should never support companies that are constantly taking away our options and choices ! A company that cares about you and your options and not only about their greed and selfishness would have built-in the option for you to use Lithium-ion batteries or a car battery or a power pack.... xcetera !!! When are you consumers going to smarten up and stop putting up with anything and everything that these greedy companies are throwing at us ! STOP BUYING PRODUCTS FROM COMPANIES THAT DON'T CARE ABOUT YOU ! Let them know that we are sick and tired of them taking our choices and options away from us, and we're no longer going to buy their products unless they start giving us what we want and what we need !!!!

[@aaronshortmusic]

I get your point but the S1 pro battery is light, convenient, user replaceable and has excellent battery life so I personally value those things.

[@borg386]

But I like it!

[@L67guy]

So many easy solutions for your concern. Plenty or rechargeable power packs out there you can just plug the wall wart into , or for your car battery scenario just run the power through an invertor that converts 12v to 120v just make sure it's pure sine wave not modified sine wave so it is clean power.

[@mckyfon]

very good bass or too much for someone

[@aaronshortmusic]

mckyfon The bass is good. It can be adjusted with the built in EQ for channels 1 and 2.

[@mckyfon]

@@aaronshortmusic i got it for a week and bt ch sound amazing i have 802 and 502A i think s1 pro delivered hi fq better / i have to sell all old gig now !!!!

[@aaronshortmusic]

mckyfon I’m glad you got one. They are awesome!

[@mckyfon]

@@aaronshortmusic i think Bose designer/Engineer always keep leader from PA stick L1 to basic Box F1 and S1 pro.

[@bonchen6548]

Can i play saxophone with it??

[@aaronshortmusic]

Yes if your Saxophone has a mic

[@williamfitzpatrick6369]

Everything bose makes is a ripoff and this is no exception.

[@enriqueferreira6632]

I'm buying two of this instead of the L1 Compact

[@aaronshortmusic]

Enrique Ferreira Awesome!

[@borg386]

Good to have both