Bose F1 Model 812 Review – Quality and Reliability Guaranteed
Bose didn’t just get up one day and say, ‘’Hey, let’s create one more speaker. After all, musicians want diversity, and we have to offer them something new.’’
Innovative thinking, solid engineering, and limitless ingenuity went into the design process that birthed the Bose F1 model 812.
Leveraging Bose’s Flex Array technology, the F1 model 812 is a smart, cleverly designed PA line array system that delivers high-fidelity sound.
It is perfect for live bands, DJs, houses of worship, parties, and presentations.
Whether you’re a DJ, musician, speaker, or songwriter, the Bose F1 812 is a great fit. Here’s the full Bose F1 model 812 review.
Features and Functionality
Flex Array Technology
Bose sound engineers understand too well that no two venues and no two gigs are the same. From floor-level stages and stands to elevated halls, every new venue presents a different PA coverage challenge.
That’s why they incorporated Bose F1 flexible array technology. This technology allows you to shape the speaker’s vertical coverage pattern, so you can easily direct high-frequency sound to where the seats (and people) are. This ensures the audience hears the sound perfectly regardless of where they are in the room.
There are four coverage patterns: C (top and bottom array facing in), J (bottom array in, top array out), Straight (top and bottom array facing out), and Reverse J (bottom array out, top array in). By pushing the front speaker arrays either in or out, you can easily switch through the 4 different outputs to suit your situation.
Whenever you do that, the Bose F1 automatically triggers internal sensors that adjust EQ to performance requirements. This saves you from having to browse through several presets to find what works for you. It also makes setting it up a breeze, meaning your audience can start enjoying your music or message as soon as possible.
Adjustable Sound Coverage Pattern
Per application, each Flex shape serves a specific purpose. The straight pattern is ideal for performances where your audience is standing – and their heads are more or less the same height as the speaker – for instance, in bar settings.
The Reverse J pattern is ideal for audiences whose seating starts from loudspeaker height and extends upwards. For instance, in typical concert halls and theatres.
The J pattern is used when delivering sound down to the audience and not up. This is best suited when you are on top of a stage overlooking the audience who are either standing or sitting on the floor below you, as is the case for clubs.
Finally, the C pattern offers the most coverage and is ideal in tiered setups where your audience is seated almost at the same level as the speaker and go all the way to the ceiling, as seen in most auditorium settings.
That said, the Bose F1 812 allows for the most flexible and customizable stereo experience. This ingenious design ensures everyone hears loud, clear sound spread evenly across the whole room. In short, every single person in the room enjoys superior sound no matter their location.
Separate Amps for Maximum Efficiency
The Bose F1 boasts a 1000-watt Class D bi-amplified design. This simply means that both the high/mid, and low-end frequency drivers have a dedicated amp. This allows the speaker to tailor each amp to suit the task at hand.
Tucked neatly in the front are 8 drivers, with each driver mounted on a 100-degree custom waveguide, to handle the high and mid frequencies. At the back, there’s a 12-inch LF woofer for the low ends.
The two class-D amplifiers pump 1000 watts of power, ensuring stunning and articulate sound across a frequency range of 43Hz to 20kHz and a maximum SPL of 132 dB. This means you’ll have no trouble covering an acoustically friendly room with hundreds of fans listening on.
Connection Options
The Bose F1 812 has two line channels complete with their own Signal/Clip light and Volume Knob. Line 1 offers a combo XLR/quarter-inch line that supports TS unbalanced or TRS balanced cables, line level, and switchable mic.
Line 2 offers a quarter-inch line that supports TRS/TS as well as 2 RCA connectors.
The other section on the back of the line panel offers dual switches: one for the Front LED selector; and the other for switching between Full Range and Sub settings (through a high-pass filter at 100Hz).
Bose F1 Powered Subwoofer
The Bose F1 subwoofer is built purposely for the F1 812. This compact 1000-watt platform comes with two high-excursion 10-inch low-frequency drivers that extend the bass response to ensure the low ends sound punchy.
Just like the F1 812, the sub also has a Volume knob, Limit front LEDs, a polarity switch to adjust the subwoofer’s polarity, and a line output EQ to switch between Full Range and HPF (through a high-pass filter at 100Hz).
Easy to Set Up
What truly sets apart the Bose F1 812 is how amazingly easy it is to set up the system and start playing. You don’t even need an extra pair of hands. What’s more, you won’t waste valuable time fumbling with numerous cable connections.
When you’re ready to roll, simply pull the stand located at the rear of the subwoofer and carefully position it into the stand slots located at the upper part of the sub. When this is done, fit the model 812 atop the stand, and voila- you’re all set.
Together, the Model 812 and the F1 sub conjoin to form a beautiful full-range tower that lets you deliver immersive stereo sound wide and far to your audience.
Portable
The Bose F1 812 is easy to carry. It measures 26.1 x 13.1 x 14.6 inches and weighs 44.5lbs (20.4kgs).; its accompanying optional sub-woofer measures 27 X 16.1 X 17.6 inches and weighs 57lbs (25.8kgs)
Both of them are transportable (albeit being heavier than most other options in the market). Just grab them by their built-in ergonomic-friendly handles, get in your car and zoom off to the venue. Everyone’s waiting upon you. Luckily, the system never disappoints.
Upon arrival, take your system inside, set it up, and blaze up the stage. Musicians, DJs, and speakers love and appreciate the “take me wherever you can” design.
It’s Ideal for Live Bands, DJs, Parties, Houses of Worship, etc.
Whether you’re a 10-person ukulele band, musician, DJ, or speaker, you’ll love the F1 812. This product quickly and easily packs up into an easy to carry package the size of a suitcase.
With it, you’ll enjoy ultra-portability and user-friendliness. You will get the right amount of speaker power to hook and entertain hundreds of audiences in relatively large venues. The product is an exceptional, high-quality speaker for crowds with several hundred people. You should really give it a go.
Two F1 812s and Two F1 Subs = a 4000W Line Array System
The F1 812 and F1 sub packs a punch for audiences of live bands, small corporate events, private parties, and places of worship. But if you are performing for a larger crowd, you may have to get two of each unit.
This simply means getting two 1000W F1 model 812 speakers and two 1000W F1 subs. You’ll end up with the ultimate portable array PA system that can deliver 4,000W of power with line-array precision. The result? Deep and sensibly loud audio with a ton of bass that doesn’t overpower the mids and highs.
If you have two Bose PA speakers and two F1 subs in a room filled with over 600 people, everyone will hear the sound excellently. The sound will not only be crystal clear but also coherent and well-controlled.
Almost every music buff who gets to own this powerful system enjoys pushing it to its limits to see just how much power there is.
If you’re a smaller band performing for an audience of hundred or less, you can easily get by with only two Bose F1 Model 812 without necessarily having to buy the subwoofer. That’s because the speaker already has a low-frequency driver that takes care of the low frequencies. So even without the sub, the low end remains punchy with excellent bass.
Design and Build Quality
A Clever, Solid Design
Our Bose F1 812 review uses the word “clever” to describe the F1 model 812 design. Why is this so? Well, it’s simple- the design is innovative and ground-breaking.
No shortcuts were taken either. This product is solid and sturdy. The outer plastic is not only thick but also hard. This contributes to its over 20kg weight, but while it’s heavier than many other options, it’s still portable and easy to carry.
The smooth textured finishing helps protect it from marks and scratches. That means your system will still be in mint condition several years down the line. This combination also extends to the interior with tough, durable, and quality materials throughout.
Rest assured, the system will take some serious beating before it bows. Not that you’d expect it to break down anytime soon. Quite the opposite: you’ll not be disappointed at all!
Blends in Perfectly
The F1 812 looks classy and professional. It has clean horizontal and vertical lines that set it apart from other speakers. The grey color scheme also stands out in a subtle way.
The accompanying subwoofer looks great too. It perfectly complements the F1 812. Together, they create the illusion of an all-in-one speaker.
The only downside is that the mounting stand located at the rear of the sub is not adjustable. It’s also a little shorter than expected for such a large unit.
That said, both the speaker and the sub present a classy front that looks very attractive. The set up doesn’t look out of place in a live gig. Plus it blends really well in both casual and commercial settings.
Sound Quality
Bose is a Market Leader
Bose is a five-star brand that only makes high-quality and reliable audio equipment. Every speaker they release packs a ton of punch. And the Bose F1 812 is no exception.
Psychoacoustics is the secret code word behind the ingenuity of Bose’s PA speakers. Most audio companies only focus on how speakers sound. But Bose goes a step further to focus on how people hear and perceive the sound.
For over 5 decades, the company has continually been researching, testing, implementing, and repeating this cycle. The end result? You and I get to access reliable audio equipment such as the Bose F1 812 that delivers the best sound for live gigs and other events at a low cost.
Sound
Many people are surprised at the F1 model 812’s ability to project sound powerfully across large rooms. Every person in the room gets to hear sound super clearly.
The highs and mids are clear and well defined, while the lows are meaty with excellent bass. When paired with the Bose F1 sub, it becomes even better. Someone who’s seated or standing near the system won’t feel drowned in the sound, and another that is 30 feet away will still get clear high-fidelity sound.
This is thanks to the flex array speakers. This type of technology is usually reserved for large performance speakers. To have such a clever design incorporated into a portable unit is mind-blowing.
What’s more? The ability to support a variety of layouts and handle different venues adds to the great audio quality.
Value and Price
When you finally open the package, this is what you’ll find inside:
- 1 X F1 Model 812 loudspeaker
- 1 X AC power cord
- 1 X user’s guide
Our Bose F1 812 review found that the unit is a little expensive, but putting into consideration the quality and fidelity of the sound you hear; the price is well worth it.
You get massive flexibility, portability, convenience, and tremendous performance. It’s, without doubt, one of the best portable line array systems for musicians and speakers who perform for medium to relatively large audiences.
Warranty
The Bose F1 PA speaker and F1 subwoofer both come with a 2-year limited warranty covering electronics as well as a 5-year warranty covering transducers. Best part? The warranty is transferrable when ownership changes.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Innovative flex array technology for better sound dispersion
- Five-star brand
- Impressive sound quality
- The speaker delivers a bass sound that is punchy and deep.
- Comes with optional subwoofer
Cons
- Heavier than most other speakers in this size range
- Not suited for larger venues
Final Thoughts
Looking for a PA system that will fire up a large happy-hour crowd and thrust them into party mode? You might want to choose some other unit. But if you perform in small to medium venues such as weddings, houses of worship, and special parties, you’ll really love the Bose F1 Model 812.
Does a flexible array speaker that gives you exclusive features not offered by any other speaker seem like the perfect deal? You’re right. If you’re a live band, DJ, or speaker, the Bose F1 Model 812 and its companion subwoofer the Bose F1 is a winner.
You’ll definitely love owning and using this all-in-one solution for years to come.
We hope you enjoyed our Bose F1 Model 812 review. Let us know if you have any questions in the comments section.