Bose L1 Pro8 Portable Line Array System Reviews

So I put to the sound technician at Sweetwater that I had to apply a specific system to a specific room that had hard surfaces everywhere and no forgiveness for any dominant decibels. Those interruptions would travel everywhere. I sent a video of the room, actually several small videos, pictures, and then a long one where I walked around with another sound technician and we explored for a dead corner. We found one, the most optimum place to play for all involved, including restaurant staff and business owners. The Sweetwater engineer made his recommendation and I bought it. The first weekend was a little rough because I couldn't hear what I was doing on the performance keyboard. I picked up a headphone amp and put an earbud to it for the next weekend with immediate results. I turned the L1 Pro 8 down and myself up with the earbud; I could hear, projected the keyboard sound to every corner of the room, allowed the volume for conversation, and the owner came by me and said with a smile, "You're killin' it!" All were happy, myself included. The next night was even better.

I love the Bose L1 Pro8! It is easy to use and has all of the features and capabilities that a solo artist (or small group) would ever need. Bose is always superior, and Sweetwater has helpful people to assist. Service after the sale (and dumb questions) are welcomed at Sweetwater. Cameron Green is excellent!! Thanks much.

I bought the L1 Pro 8 for my wedding reception. I have some experience with live sound over the past 10 years and looked at the cost of this PA versus the cost of a DJ and they were comparable. So why not get to keep this sweet Pro 8 afterwards? Right? Most of the sound was needed for the dance floor itself and the dispersion was perfect. I made a playlist beforehand and kept my phone on a charger. I already have an S1 Pro and used it for a fuller sound during dinner and cocktails. I have a microphone with the silent mute switch and cables. Buy the Pro 8. The app in combo with a playlist is all you need.

The Bose L1 Pro8 PA is as simple as they get to set up and break down. I have it set up behind me at gigs and the sound is incredibly crisp without any feedback. Geoff Allen, the Sales Engineer who assisted me, could not have been more insightful and clear on his explanations. I came back to him via email and left him voicemails on a couple of occasions with follow up questions and he got back to me right away! Thanks a million Geoff!

This Bose L1 and bundle are dope!! Love it so much! And thanks also to the sweetwater agent!!

I needed a pa to keep at our mountain home so I wouldn't have to pack up my Bose pr16 evert time I had a gig in the mountains. Fits the bill perfectly. I always get excellent expert advice from Nate Burkhardt.

A few musicians around town have this system. I fell in love with the sound months ago and have been waiting to get one for live music gigs - my only regret is that I didn't purchase this sooner. The sound quality is incredible. I love how easy it is to put together. The settings are simple and user-friendly. Even my spouse, who is not a musician, figured it out quickly. The Bluetooth feature is a lot of fun. We have been listening to all our favorite songs on it in our living room. My guitar sounds like how it was made to sound and I'm thrilled. I love the quality for the price - a 10/10 from me! Also, customer service at Sweetwater was great.

The sound and quality are awesome

EXACTLY what I was looking for!

I love this new PA. Crisp clear sound in a light weight Unit I can take anywhere. So much better than my old Crate. Why did I wait so long?

My agent recommended that I purchase this. I've used this for outside performance venues and for indoor hotel party rooms and restaurants. I was astonished at the power and the sound levels. I have yet to need to put it up to its full volume - but look forward to being able to do that. The sound is crisp and clear and the bass is kicking. It is phenomenal and truly lets me Rock the Block!

Keep in mind that it's not like a full blown PA system with subs that someone would use at an outdoor concert. But, for other settings it gets the job done really well. It is also lightweight and very easy for me to carry.

As I have got into really using my new BoseL1pro8 I have discovered that if performing on an elevated stage all that is needed is the top part speaker array to project the sound to the audience. This also puts the speakers right at ear level for the performers. If anyone hasn't tried this please do you won't believe the clarity and, NO feedback!
Running 2 vocals channel 1and2 and, the third using for any instrument input with a Zoom ac2 preamp. Fiddle,mandolin,uke or any other instrument.
I really love that when you shut it down all your settings are saved no worries about knobs or settings being moved in transport. I am very pleased with this new Bose.
Seriously, this unit could easily be used as a guitar amp on stage. Plenty of power and, excellent projection.
I loved my Bose L1 compact but, this pro8 is an awesome upgrade!!!

I had the larger Model-II with B-2 sub for several years and loved it until I got too old to pack it. Got the S1 Pro and loved it for small gigs, except it needs a bit more bass. The L1 pro 8 is the best of both worlds, and I can pair it with the S1 if I ever need more room coverage. I use my iPad for backing tracks and it is very easy to switch over to the Bose app when I need to tweak the sound as a gig moves along. Great for the practice room and the bar room. Bose has hit this one out of the park.

Just got my new L1 Pro8 and I'm lovin' it. It took about 15 minutes to set it up, dial in the perfect ToneMatch setting for my Taylor T5 and a Shure SM58. Beautiful sound. Added the Bose T8S mixer for an expanded circle of songwriters. Still learning to tweek the system for different venues and instruments. ToneMatch is a confidence builder for anyone who appreciates great, balanced sound but may be intimidated by complicated mixers. Only problem was initially opening the magnetic cover on the mixer. Had to get help from my hubby with stronger thumbs.

I'm not a buyer/user, I heard one of these used last night at a bar. The artist using it was a single girl singing with an acoustic guitar and she sounded fantastic. I was right up front so I watched this PA put out her music for 3 hours and was very impressed. Her voice and her Taylor guitar both sounded flawless like you'd expect from Bose.
I'm here because I'm a curious cat and wondered what that speaker was and how it worked as I'd not seen anything like it before.

I recently upgraded to the newly introduced Bose L1 Pro8 System. With Bluetooth and digital reverb, it's perfect syatem for a one to two person performance. There is no need for a stage monitor or a didgital mixer ... this is all you need!

I have long looked for a review relating to using both the Bose S1 Pro with Bose Sub 1 with no luck up to this point. Therefore, I will give my two cents on the subject. My Bose S1 Pro is capable, portable, and reasonable in every regard to tote around with the Bose backpack. I am satisfied with the sound quality in a near-field setting playing music at low volumes. Depending on the recording quality of the song the bass can be lacking for my taste. I would not be satisfied with the sound quality only using the Bose S1 Pro. Playing the S1 Pro with the Sub 1 provides a more complete sound stage. The subwoofer responds with a quick tight bass response. The Sub1 sits on a Sub Dude platform so the bass doesn't reverberate being flat on the ground or floor. Using both S1 Pro and Sub 1 provides a really good sound quality, that provides spacing between the vocals and instruments. The knob to control the Sub1 has to be periodically adjusted because it will move on its own, presumably a result of reflection of bass volume. When this occurs it is nuanced. It seems to me Bose measurably knew the cut-off on lower bass registers from the S1 Pro, to just give a whiff of deeper bass when played alone. To me, the S1 Pro's full sonic potential is more musically coherent when the Sub 1 is in use too.

As one might imagine the sub provides an even more rounded sound to all genres of music. I have played recordings with Hammond B3 organ, bass fiddles, and bass guitar to get a more pronounced distinction of what the sub adds. This trifecta shows the extent to which the setup has chops. Indeed the two working together present accountability in their respective roles. I would suggest purchasing the Sub1 provides overall a more well-rounded live-like sound quality.

Furthermore, if you play in an outside venue the companion use of the two will offset noise. While either playing or listening to music, outdoor noise is without mercy. S1 Pro can use Sub1 to better establish and continue a sound stage. I have considered the Behringer Subwoofer too, but nothing works better with Bose than Bose. The company was intentional by design how music best performs. Companies do this all the time, nothing works better with Apple than Apple. Yes, it is possible to have "the best of both worlds" with Apple and a different brand, but Apple wants all of your business. Bose is no different.

I've had an L1 compact for about 3yrs and it served me very well. Did a lot of Great gigs with it. When I got to checking out the new pro models there were some improvements that I needed in the L1 compact.
1. More power, mainly for the headroom
2. More speakers in the top side and a bigger woofer in the bottom, really adds fullness to my acoustic electric
3. One more input, two vocal mics
4. Bluetooth and app convience from phone or ipad
Have done a full rehearsal with my duo act and it sounds Great!
Only 1 complaint, the L1 compact came with 2 covers one for the extensions and 1 for the bottom unit. I can't believe that Bose didn't include the bottom cover with this unit. It would have been no problem for them to include this and would have been appreciated.

Awesome sound. Great to do business with Sweetwater.

The sound is clear from the highs to the lows. I can take this system almost anywhere!

I use this speaker for Karaoke in small venues. It has the most awesome sound. I just love it. Easy to transport and setup. Can't brag about it enough.

The Bose L1 Pro8 transports so easily and sets up in a flash. The Bluetooth phone app allows for convenient, reliable control, and the clarity of this PA is just stunning. Suitable for small venues, it can get very loud. The new racetrack woofer is loud and punchy!! Feedback is not a problem, and I can hear every nuance of what I am playing and singing. No more monitors needed!

I purchased the Bose Toneport 8 mixer as well, and I run my imbedded Peavy mixer (which is the hub of my KB & electric guitar rig) through into the Toneport8. I channel my acoustic Taylor and vocal mics directly into the Bose mixer that has incredible Toneport presets to maximize specific categories and even brands of equipment.

In short, I have gobs of channels and options, audio definition beyond belief, and for songwriting, gigs or live theatrical performances, the sky is the limit.

Thank you so much to Sweetwater and Bob Mondok who have been so helpful and expedient in helping craft my dream rig. Really, if you are looking to perfect your sound and your rig, you can't do better than Sweetwater. Thanks Bob!

It is perfect for small venue like mine. I also set them up to enjoy the music at home even more. Thanks Sweetwater for very fast shipping and thanks Parker for your awesome services.

The L1 Pro8 fulfils everything I need and more! I spent a few months researching several other brands but, everything seemed to be quite similar at the more budget friendly price range. I concluded that Bose was going to have exactly what I needed without sacrificing sound quality. I primarily bought this unit to use in my home studio for a live sound. I send everything directly through the Bose L1. My performance setup: DAW-Interface-Bose PA, and it sounds absolutely amazing. Anything from my guitar plugins, superior drummer, and Omnisphere, it is all handled with ease. If the master volume were numbered, 1-2 is literally enough. I also use the Bose via bluetooth to watch movies and listen to music it is a very versatile unit. I like the mixing system that is on-board pretty straightforward yet modern in design. It is a breeze to transport this PA system around very lightweight. My only gripe is, the disassembly of the unit is a little finicky. I forsee possible connection issues in the future after some wear and tear, depending on how often one assembles and disassembles this unit. To me that is not enough to lose a star though, everything else is perfect in my opinion. I highly recommend the Bose L1 Pro8 if you are in the market for a portable PA system, you will not be disappointed.

What can I say? It's Bose! Clear, crisp highs & smooth lows! Vocals through it sound the best I'VE ever heard! I LOVE being able to control it from an app! The only thing I would change on it would be to put the power switch on top or on the front. It's a bit awkward to get to when you have it set up against a wall in a studio/music room.

I've used the L1 Pro 8 for a few gigs now and it lives up to the hype. I already had the L1 Compact and a couple of S1 Pro units before purchasing the Pro 8, and this new PA system blends some of the best features of those units — along with added punch, courtesy of the bigger subwoofer and two extra drivers. I love the on-board reverb for my sax mic and built-in bluetooth for my backing tracks — features which the L1 Compact lacks.

I thought the L1 Compact's sound quality was great (and it is), but the Pro 8's is even fuller. And the Bose L1 Mix app for my iPhone makes it easy to use pre-set configurations for my backing tracks and different sax mics. No more fussing to get the right mix before each gig. And I can walk around the room with my sax and make adjustments with my phone if something needs to be tweaked.

An internal rechargeable battery would be great for ultimate portability, but it would increase the weight of the base unit, which is already 8 pounds heavier than the L1 Compact's base unit. Can't have everything, I guess.

The only negative I've found is the line out… Instead of the dual line outs on the L1 Compact (1/4" and RCA jacks), Bose downgraded this feature to just a single output — in XLR format. I usually record my gigs using using the line out and I sometimes run an extension from the line out to a second unit, so I had to buy an XLR to 1/4" adapter in order to plug in my 1/4" splitter for this purpose. Not a showstopper, but I'm scratching my head as to why Bose made this change.

I still use my two S1 Pro units for small venues/audiences or where a power outlet isn't conveniently located, but the L1 Pro 8 handles the larger jobs and my L1 Compact is now my backup unit. I also use the Compact as an extension for the Pro 8 when I need additional fill in a large venue. The two units sound great together! Well done, Bose.

I purchased this L1 Pro8 to use for my karaoke business. The sound quality is amazing and its so light and portable. Bose does not disappoint. I also use is for small gigs with my band. Highly recommend

What a great system, I can set it up quickly and the soon is amazing. I do small venues and this PA works perfect
for myself and if Im playing with another person or two I connect my Tone Match. What a great sound.
Aloha Tom Cherry

This is an incredibly sophisticated unit with the ability to adjust settings from my IPad. The sound is fabulous. I only use it in my mancave but I'm sure it has plenty of juice for a larger venue. As always the service and support from Sweetwater was perfect.

Would highly recommend with no reservation.

I have the L1 Compact, and this L1 Pro 8 is better in every way.
I play jazz guitar and sing vocals with my own real backing track arrangements.
This thing swings, or rocks, or whatever.
In my situation, the onboard mixers eliminate the need for me to carry a mixer to the gig, which saves me a lot of time setting up and breaking down.
The new racetrack driver for the bass register sounds fantastic. Deep and articulate. The line array sounds good throughout the range. It all sounds great. I have used it for 4 gigs so far, and it seems plenty loud for my purposes, small to medium restaurants. Should I ever need more loudness, I can connect my L1 Compact to it. But I don't expect that situation to arise anytime soon.
The new app is easy and intuitive to use, and makes things, again, that much more user friendly.
So that it my summation of this PA. It sounds great, is light weight, easy to set up, and user friendly.
It does everything they say it will do, and does all those things well. That's five stars.

P.S. The extender and line array feel to me about as sturdy as the L1 Compact. If you're ok with that one, you should be ok with this. And, of course, keep your expensive musical equipment out of harms way as much as possible. Duh.

I have tried many systems ... JBL EON One, Mackie REach and also the Bose L1 Comnpact! Nothing comes close to this! Incredible sound, portable, well designed, well engineered, includes digital reverb ... wow! Earlier, I had purchased the Bose T4S Audi Engine from another location (didn't know, should have bought from Sweetwater) and now, I really don't need it! The Bose L1 Pro 8 can do it all! Extremely satisfied!

I mainly do solo performances with voice, guitar, and backing tracks. This unit handles it all so well and hard to imagine going back to using a traditional style PA. Would buy again for sure. Only issue for me is getting the tower and sub the connect sometimes. I'll often set it up but only hear the bass. I have to rock the extension and the tweeter back and forth for it to catch and engage the full system. Maybe in the future they can improve upon that.

I bought my first Bose stereo speakers 50 years ago. The 301's were perfect for my apartment. Now 50 years on I'm getting ready to take the L1 Pro8 to the stages. In rehearsal they sound so good. I'll follow-up soon. Thanks Sweetwater.

I bought the L1 Pro8 to be able to have my own sound at open mics and for small gigs. For small solo gigs in smaller bars, this is perfect. If you have drums or a band playing with you, the Pro8 is not loud enough. The Pro8 is 300 watts. The Pro16 is 1250 watts for 600 dollars more so I returned my Pro8 and got the Pro16 instead. If you can come up with the extra cash, go with the Pro16 or you might be disappointed with the power.

Prior to purchasing the Bose L1 Pro8, I used either one or two Bose S1 Pro's (depending on whether or not I needed wide coverage or separate monitor) or my older Bose L1 S tower. This newer generation Bose tower incorporates the built-in mixer similar to the Bose S1 Pro but sounds so much more full and is easier to transport than the older generation tower. I'm a solo performer, so being able to bring in everything I need with only two trips to and from the car is a plus - without sacrificing sound quality. The only minor beef I have is the sturdiness of the tower spacer. It doesn't lock in as well as the older generation tower, although it is lighter.

It's a Bose so it has to be good. I'm a 60+ vocalist/guitarist, and at this point in my career, setting up a system is not my cup of tea. The L1 pro8 system consists of two speaker snaps, plug it in, and you're ready to go. Two channels with ideal settings, an array of speakers - the perfect tool for small, intimate gigs for old guys like me!

I have only used this a few times at this point. The sound I am encountering is incredible. I was going to purchase the Compact but for the additional money this gives me a lot more options. I already have the larger Bose L1 system setup in my house (which is hard to beat) and I have to T4 mixer with it which I can now use with both units. I wanted this smaller one to travel with and use in my camper or wherever else i choose. I like the physical size and ease of assembly. I have only used the ToneMatch with a little reverb added at this point and one of my Taylor guitars. I have an Emerald X20 I can't wait to try with it. From what I am seeing now without the mixer, the switches on the back are a little inconvenient to get at if you have it setup behind you. At the very least I think the power switch should have been on the front. But... Hey... Can't have it all. Overall this is another great Bose product. Stop hesitating and buy one.

This is an update to my previous review. The Bose l1 Pro8 is a terrific PA. The sound is spectacular, the phone app is super easy to navigate, it looks cool, and wow... so much louder than I expected. I'm not sure what Bose does differently, but their professed wattage seems to be significantly understated. It seems to suggest there's 300 watts total, but it's much louder than my turbosound IP500 which allegedly has 600. And, specifically, the bass response is just amazing. There is significant difference between the "Live" mode for live music, and the "Music" mode for streaming. If you use bumper music during breaks and put it in Music mode, make sure you switch it back or it'll be too bassy. But this thing thumps.

I've been a Bose owner since the original L1 Model II came out (20 years ago?). I also have the original L1 Compact (the predecessor to this Pro8). Love Bose, and I love this newer version. Bass frequencies are tighter, with fewer "hot" frequencies like the old one, the addition of the 3rd aux channel plus Bluetooth connectivity is a huge plus, and the ability to use a ToneMatch mixer (although just the newest versions of the mixer work with the Ethernet connection/cable, and not the older ones), is cool.

My biggest complaint is that Bose could have added more DSP options other than just "reverb" with very little increase in cost. A DSP chip these days is capable of doing more than just garden variety reverb, with no tweakable parameters. Bose could have added a LOT of value by giving us more DSP options without adding to the price. My other minor complaint is, the extension for the high-mid speaker section is a wee bit tight (better than loose, i guess), and the high-mids won't connect/engage unless I press down REALLY hard to secure the connection to the subwoofer/bass cab. And getting them apart after jamming it down in there hard can be difficult.

Still, this is a great sounding unit for solo acts, duos, and for almost anything you put through it. AND, Bose stuff is bulletproof. I still have my original L1 Model II, which I've used for literally thousands of gigs over the past 18-20 years, as well as the L1 Compact, and they both still sound and work great (and I've punished them both). But, PLEASE add some more DSP options next time, Bose!!!

I was hesitant after receiving this pa. I already own two of the larger original Bose L1' S2's. Love the sound of the originals but the weight was killing me. So I ordered the Bose Pro 8. I wasn't sure what to expect. After putting it thru its paces it performs perfectly. Used it at several gigs works as good as the original. But There are some obvious shortfalls. First the construction wasn't what I expected mostly plastic which makes the unit feel cheap to me. The column is not stable. Doesn't seat far enough down to not wiggle back and forth which I'm worried will most likely present issues later. Second I really wish the built in mixer had at least 4 channels instead of two plus one blue tooth. Plus no effects other than reverb. I Had to use my Bose T1 mixer to give me the additional inputs and effects I needed. The weird part is now you have to use two seperate cords to use it. One for the signal out main signal from the T1 with a 1/4" cable for the audio. The original Bose network cable that typically carries power and the sound. Now only carrys power now. To me Bad design that the ToneMatch T1 is not backwardly compatible with the new Pro 8. Also if you use that factory cable just as the power source the Bose T1 it gets hot because it's apparently too much power for the T1. Fortunately I had a separate Bose power supply so now I use that and the 1/4" to carry the master out.
The other disappointment was the optional cover is so thin I think it's the thickness of a thick trash bag.
Which is a Shame because it does a lousy job of protecting the sub / amp. It scratches ultra easy.

Now The pros of this unit are the sound is outstanding.
Its 180 degree spread is impossible to beat. No other manufacturer has that 180 degree spread.
Most likely it's obviously protected by patents by Bose.
So for me I had to have this since I sit beside it at many gigs. Pro#2 The weight is the lightest sub I've ever carried and the racetrack sub keeps the unit tucked in and super easy to carry.

I find it weird no one else mentioned what a pain the column array is to set up and get a good connection on, unless this is a new problem. I couldn't understand why it took me 2 to 3 attempts to get a good connection. It sounds like a dream once I do. I play keys and vocals and all sounds great. The case I bought was a disappointment. It is basically a very loose cover that rides up and just is a scratch protector and only if you make sure and pull it down as part as it will go. I have no idea what Bose was thinking with the cover or with the connecting of the line array.
I am glad I went and read reviews elsewhere to find out that my gripes are very common, and I wasn't crazy or had a lemon.
Pros: 1, lighter than many PAs to carry. 2, sounds awesome, moreso/especially when streaming music rather than playing instruments, but still sounds really wonderful. 3, allows me to lighten my gear load a ton as I just plug my keys and mic in and mix via app and my keys have own, awesome, built in mixer. I was able to stop bringing a heavy case with mixer, stereo box and so on. I am going to keep working with it. 4, Can be sitting/standing right on top of this and hold a conversation without shouting. 5, have yet to have had any feedback or other noises. even though it is often directly behind me, and often have pic pointing right at it. 6, no need for a separate monitor as of yet
Cons: 1,price is too high for what you get. 2, the base cover (already mentioned) and column carrier bag are both just way off base. The carrier bag for the columns should be a shoulder or back pack rather than hand bag. 3, The actual base is awkward to carry and wobbly on any surface.
I am eager to continue working with it as it has some real potential and I like the idea of being able to mix on the Bose app. I've been using this for about 2 mos, gigging regularly. And have been happy every time, after the beginning struggles of getting it connected. I am going to try leaving out the middle column for a while and see how that goes. I do love this item. Great Sound!!! Easy to haul!

Purchased this unit as a more manageable alternative to using a much larger PA system I have for smaller/indoor venues. Sound is awesome as expected. A bit pricey, but hopefully will get decent reliability and product support from both Bose and Sweetwater. I am a bit concerned with the array "stick" and extension as there seems to be a ton of wiggle when connecting/disconnecting the pieces. The plasticized connectors concern me from a wear and tear and overall fragility perspective. I will update if anything major happens. I really hope Sweetwater has my back should anything break. This will not be a heavy road-worn unit (1-2 times per week usage) so my expectations are it will hold up.

I own 2 s1 pros,l1 compact, and an L1 model 2 with several sub options. That said I purchased this to replace the l1 compact. The compact was great, but just didn't have much more bite than an S1 pro and lacked on the low end. The Pro fixes all that and more. I'm not a huge fan of the on board mixer but it is a huge improvement over the barebones compact inputs. The Bluetooth connectivity and functionality is superb. I'd put the sound output in the same category as the l1 m1s paired with 2 b1s and almost a b2. The low end on this digs deep and the output is twice what I was expecting. The only negative is the spacer. It does not instill any confidence. I was hoping the pro 8 was able to avoid the spacer problems of the pro 16,but it is definitely the one weak point. I hope they send out replacements that are a little more sturdy. Hoping the pro 32 is solid, bit still have to wait a few weeks before that comes in.

I've had this 24 hrs, and used it 8 of those. Its excellent. Its just missing one simple but vital function. Master slider. With all this technology, there ought to be a master fader at least in the mix app. If it had one, I'd gladly give 5 big stars!

I've only had this unit for a day, and haven't gigged with it. Playing four hours at a winery this afternoon, so I'll amend this after. I upgraded to this unit from a Turbosound IP500 which has served me well.I've wanted a Bose for a while, but the larger units were too expensive, and the compact had a couple deal breakers, namely I needed two XLR inputs to accommodate my VoicePlay Live Acoustic pedal, there was no reverb or phantom power, and after the Turbosound I wanted a PA with physical controls. The L1 Pro answers all these needs, so I bought one as soon as I saw it.

Here are some first impressions: It's larger than I expected. The Turbosound has more raw wattage, so I figured this would be similar in size. It's actually significantly larger, which isn't a problem. I'll just have to rejigger my trunk packing. The case for the tower section is actually quite nice, though the cover for the base module must be purchased separately. It's $... which is reasonable if it's of similar quality. It's on backorder, though. Moving on, the tower is not nearly as sturdy once erected as on the Turbosound. I'm a little concerned about that, but time will tell. Not sure it'll sustain much jostling. The unit powers up easily, and the bluetooth connects to the phone app without problem, and all the controls are intuitive and easy to use. Finally, the sound is superb. Truly. I initially plugged mic and guitar directly into it and it was just outstanding. Nice reverb, though anything past the two mark starts getting a little wet for me. I then assembled my gigging rig, which consists of the VoicePlay Acoustic and a Zoom AC3, and used the those unit's reverb, etc... Again, just magic, with one caveate, though a good one: I liked the guitar sound I had when plugged directly into the Bose more than I did through the Zoom pedal. My gigging guitars have LR Baggs Anthems in them, and they sound like actual acoustic guitars without the pedal. I like using delay sometimes, but think I'll just use a delay pedal and forget the Zoom. I should mention that I was able to hear this because even though the unit was turned up quite loud in my living room, I didn't have any feedback issues. I do wish there was a master volume, but that's a quibble I can live with. The sound was crisp, articulate, and I could hear every nuance. I can't wait to gig it today. I'll add more to this review once I've gigged it. Cheers!

I truly loved my Bose L1 Model II, but this new generation of Bose pa's are quite an upgrade, with even better sound quality. The only con I can think of is lack of various effects, and I wish it had 4 channels.

You really have to push and play with the speaker connection to get the highs to engage. For such an expensive high end unit that should absolutely not be the case.

The L1 Pro8 has wonderful sound. It's one issue is that the line array doesn't connect securely to the subwoofer. No only is it unstable, the connection is suspect. Many times, the connection is not secure (no highs) so you have to wiggle it for it to work properly. This is simply poor engineering. In comparison, the L1 compact is secure and never cuts out (I have both).

I've owned an L1 Compact for awhile and have enjoyed it. Great for small venues. i decided to upgrade to the L1 Pro8. From day one the tower has connection problems. It plastic construction of the array is so loose and unstable it loses connection. I actually have had to shake the array tower around after set up until it makes a connection for it to work. When it works it sounds great but the construction is terrible, Certainly now the poor quality construction i would expect from Bose. Also at this price point it should have came with a dust cover for the control module, Even the L1 compact has one included. I did order the all in one case and it's design makes the system very awkward, slightly heavier and uncomfortable to carry. I really wish i didn't have to make such a negative review but Bose missed the mark on this one.

I've had this unit for a couple of years. It's portable but my biggest complaint is not being able to get the mic volume loud enough without feedback. Especially in a small room. Outside it started clipping the channel. I tried a mixer in front of it to see if I could get better gain and eq options. It looses warmth compared to my ev 12's. Now, if you're looking for an incredible house stereo, this thing is awesome for using Bluetooth off your phone. Tips on improving the sound when I'm doing solo gigs(acoustic and one mic) would be appreciated.

This product has been sent back to Bose directly and my experience is that it is not reliable. The first time it was returned with a power issue, it kept shutting down every minute or so. This started happening after 1 month of ownership. The second (same unit) when returned had a loose plug insert, I had to hit the power button a few times to get it to turn on (unplug replug etc.), and spend over two hours trying to connect a variety of devices to a very finicky bluetooth and software integration. If Bose wants to get into the software business and have you control its products from an app, it needs to do better. When it works, the sound is fantastic. Proceed with caution. Brian

3 didn't work right in a row