BOSE L1 Pro: A redesigned and refreshed portable PA line array
If you’re looking for a lightweight, portable PA system then the newly redesigned BOSE L1 Pro could be for you. But is the L1 range still as attractive as it was 17 years on from its launch?
BOSE L1 Pro
17 years ago, BOSE launched a PA system concept that made us all raise our eyebrows. A self-contained, portable line array which did away with monitors and backline? A PA system that lives behind the performers? Undoubtedly it was a concept that seemed impossible to make work, but work it did. The original L1 went on to spawn a raft of imitators and create a product niche category all of its own.
This week, BOSE launched an all-new version of the L1 called the L1 Pro carrying various new upgrades and features. We don’t have space here to go into every technical upgrade and feature, but here’s a quick overview of some of the headline upgrades:
- RaceTrack woofer design – BOSE has come up with a new woofer design for the L1 Pro system called the “Race Track” woofer. The idea is to give you a more compact woofer that performs as well as a conventional driver twice the size.
- Updated Built-in multi-channel mixers – You’ll find a basic onboard mixer which gives you EQ, reverb and phantom power
- Bluetooth and App-based connectivity – Perhaps our favourite upgrade. You can now stream audio directly from your mobile device over Bluetooth. BOSE also offers you the L1 Mix app, allowing you to mix remotely from your mobile device. For us, this alone could be a reason to upgrade to the new L1 Pro series.
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Which L1 is for you?
There are five new speaker systems which make up the L1 Pro range: Three full PA systems and two new subwoofers. L1 Pro 16 is the most compact and affordable of the new range. If you need more power then look at the L1 Pro 32 which you can buy with either the SUB1 subwoofer or the larger SUB2 subwoofer for more low-end grunt. You can also purchase the SUB1 and SUB2 subwoofers separately for system expansion.
Overall then it looks like BOSE has come up with a credible and welcome redesign of a genuinely iconic PA system. Expect to see the L1 Pro systems appearing in coffee shops and hipster acoustic performances everywhere, soon!
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