The Bose S1 Pro is a grab-and-go PA system for event speakers, musicians, and other performers. It does not matter whether you seat your system, tilt it, or mount it you’ll always get a rich sound. Plus, the sound evenly covers the entire room.
Don’t let the unit’s compact dimensions mislead you. The Bose S1 Pro may not be the best portable PA system ever made, but it delivers stunning performance. It’s super light, highly effective at sound processing, and reasonably affordable.
Here is the full Bose S1 Pro review:
Specs and Features
- Weight: 15.5 lbs
- Included: 1 pre-mounted Lithium-ion battery
- Product dimensions: 11.1″ x 9.4″ x 13.1″
- Power Source: Power cord and Battery-powered
- Bluetooth connectivity
- 1 convenient carry handle
- Mixer: 3-Channels
- ToneMatch Technology
- 35mm pole mount
- Auto EQ
- Unique multi-position design
- Wireless range: not beyond 30 ft.
Design and Build
The name Bose is synonymous with top-notch audio products. But what drives this company? It’s their passion for excellence and focused desire to surpass yesterday’s successes.
Bose’s innovativeness didn’t stop when the company gave the world the first-ever noise-canceling headphones, or when they designed a seat suspension system that revolutionized the way long-haul drivers experienced their journeys.
The Bose S1 features a compact design that doesn’t take away one ounce of greatness that Bose’s products are famous for. The system stays housed in an enclosure that’s comparable in size to a typical home stereo or large Bluetooth speaker. The enclosure’s design allows for different setup configurations, and that means flexibility for users.
Unique Multi-position Design
The unit features a unique multi-position design. One can choose any one of 4 different positions to configure their system.
One might choose to put the unit on the ground. Second, they might opt to place it on its side. Third, they might tilt it back. Finally, they might elevate or mount it using a speaker stand.
Bose’s Smallest PA System
The unit happens to be Bose’s smallest PA system. However, that doesn’t make it the least powerful. It’s designed to work perfectly in a multiplicity of social and formal events. Where accessing power outlets might be a challenge, this product becomes a natural choice. While it’s the smallest Bose PA system, it also counts as the best powered PA speakers for the money.
Bose is an Industry Leader
Bose is among the leading companies when it comes to building speakers. Every speaker they ever release packs a massive punch. And the Bose S1 Pro is no exception.
Psychoacoustics is the solid science behind the brilliance of Bose’s audio products. Audio companies in the past only cared about measuring how their speakers made music sound. But Bose started focusing on how people heard or perceived sound.
For over 50 years, the company has been researching, implementing, testing and repeating the cycle. Result? The world can now access stunning speakers such as the Bose S1 Pro at a reasonable cost.
Ultra Portability
The unit is pleasantly light at just 15 lbs. Just grab it by its convenient handle, get in the car and fly to the venue. Everyone’s counting on you. Luckily, this system never disappoints. Upon arrival, carry your system inside. Then, set it up and fire up your eager audience. With this product, you’re never going to need a helping hand.
Professional musicians and music enthusiasts love the system’s “take me wherever you want” design.
Rechargeable, Factory-Installed Battery
Are you worried that there might be power issues later in the night? You can always count on the Bose S1s system’s rechargeable lithium-ion battery. The battery delivers 10+ hours of usefulness so you won’t disappoint your audience. Whether it’s a get-together or a party that’s happening outdoors, this compact speaker system got you covered.
Sound Quality
Consumers heap this PA system with endless praise due to how it reproduces sound. The unit disperses sound via the front of its enclosure. But some of the sound exits via the sides. Its efficient auto EQ feature enables the speaker to generate clear, evenly distributed whole-room sound. The auto EQ fine-tunes the sound’s tone automatically.
As a result, the unit consistently produces refined sound no matter its current configuration. The sound stays consistent and even throughout the performance. Whether a person remains in one place or keeps walking around the room, sound quality doesn’t change.
The Bose S1 Pro also features built-in ToneMatch processing. The technology provides one-touch presets for acoustic and vocal guitars. This capability ensures that your guitars and mics sound perfectly natural. Simply flick a switch, and you’ll instantly access the feature’s power.
3-Channel Mixer
The Bose S1 Pro contains a built-in 3-channel mixer. The mixer supports guitars (acoustic-electric), vocal mics, and an axial source. It also offers the ToneMatch feature (discussed above).
The user turns the functionality on by operating a simple switch. As long as this feature stays turned on, your audience gets to enjoy perfectly optimized mic and guitar sound.
The mixer also contains auto EQ and reverb controls. And one of the channels allows you to enjoy sounds and music from either wireless or wired sources.
The Bose-Connect App
To leverage the app, download it first. Once you do that, you’ll easily access the Party Mode of the system and other amazing additional options.
Thanks to this capability, you can seamlessly stream audio to another PA system. You’ll get a lot more sound than your audience needs to stay happy, interested, and yearning for more.
Bluetooth Connectivity
Through one-touch pairing, the unit enables users to stream audio from sources such as tablets and smartphones. Once the connection completes, announcements made via your mic to your audience become super clear. The feature also supports music playback. It’s also useful for providing music between sets.
Pros
- A super clear sound that evenly covers a wide area.
- Very light: portable.
- Completely hassle-free setup.
- Built-in battery: great versatility.
- Sound optimization.
- Wireless speaker.
Cons
- Reasonably expensive.
- The battery may not last 10+ hours if used at its highest volume constantly.
- For the price, the sound volume is not high enough.
- No master volume.
The majority of people who have experienced the Bose S1 Pro are happy with the product they received. But there are a couple of concerns that Bose should examine and resolve.
First, the price seems a little too high. But the quality of the unit does speak for itself. And it delivers exceptional performance.
second, some users complained that the battery lasted less than 10 hours. But even then, it seems good enough to have a PA system that would run uninterrupted for less than 10 hours with a single charge.
Third, it’s true that sound volume feels a little lower than what one would expect at that price point. Honestly, this is a negative that’s best resolved by buying something else. Still, most users were 100% happy with this PA system.
Finally, no master volume. Let’s say you plug your instrument, microphone, etc. and set the volume for each one to the desired setting. If you want to increase or decrease the volume of your mix you can’t because there is no master volume knob in this system, you would have to increase or decrease the volume of each channel separately.
These negatives notwithstanding, the product is undoubtedly one of the finest smallest portable PA systems out there.
Price and Value
When your product arrives, here’s what you’ll find. An AC cord and an S1 Pro PA system with a pre-mounted rechargeable battery that lasts hours. There’s also a quick setup guide so you can immediately start enjoying the famous Bose sound.
Without a doubt, the unit is an all-in-one deal that delivers massive portability, flexibility, convenience, and terrific performance. It’s probably the greatest portable PA system for musicians who perform for relatively small audiences, say, 50 people.
Final Thoughts
Does the idea of a light, powerful and smart PA system that doesn’t use tons of wires appeal to you? If yes, go for the Bose S1 Pro. Lots of people love the product. You’ll most likely fall for it too.
It’s a hassle-free deal that has you entertaining your audience almost immediately you arrive at the venue. If you’re a traveling musician/soloist who performs for relatively small audiences, grab this product as soon as you can. Almost everything about the product will blow you away.