The Bose L1 MkII Powerstand and speakers are direct replacements for the Mk1 system I’ve had since November 2006, which had gained two B1 bass modules and a T1 ToneMatch unit along the way. I use the system for my duo with our vocals into channels 1 and 2, my guitar into channel 3 via a Digitech RP350 multi-effect pedal and an MP3 into channels 4 and 5 for our home-produced backing tracks, created on a Yamaha AW2400.
The main reason for changing was the attraction of the lighter Powerstand but also, to prove Bose are not infallible, the Mk1 Powerstand had developed its own little foibles over the years. Drops in output and the odd crackles being the most popular.
Unfortunately the infallibility also extended to include the T1 unit I’ve had since July 2007 where the input trim control for 4/5 developed a ‘dodgy’ spot right where it was usually set. Of course that was easily cured by changing the output of the MP3 player and kind of reassuring that Bose is not perfect.
So what do I think of the products? Outstanding, even with the minor problems. In the pub/club type of gigs we play the quality of sound coming from such a small system often confuses, but pleases, our audiences. Having gone through several PA setups in my duo during the ten years we’ve being playing, including one that included in-ear monitoring, we both know it probably can’t get better than this - both for us and our audiences! I’ve put the ‘probably’ in there because you never know what the future will bring. Oh, and I’d better mention the MKII does have an edge over the MKI with even more clear sounds and who would have thought that was possible? Well, thinking about it, I suppose that would be Bose since they produced the MKII.
