Bose S1 Professional Multi-Position Bluetooth PA System with Battery

BOSE S1 Pro compact, portable, multi-position, multi-role, sound reinforcement system

The BOSE S1 Pro is a small, self-contained, powered speaker system suitable for use as a small public address system, an individual stage monitor or a solo performance/rehearsal/recording mixer/monitor. Just add AC or battery pack power.

"DJ" use of the S1 Pro would greatly benefit from daisy-chaining multiple S1-s for more distributed power and greater area coverage, to a limit. At some point, a subwoofer augmented L1 vertical array would make more sense, or a chain of F1 flex-arrays/subwoofers.

The S1 Pro's array of drivers are of a hybrid design: one 6" long excursion woofer (ala the larger, BOSE L1 portable, articulated line-array/mixer system) placed behind three 2", wide-dispersion-field drivers (the same as used in BOSE's F1-flex array system). It's an impressive pro-audio engineering lineage that the S1 Pro leverages.

The S1's driver crossover point is pre-set around ~600-700Hz to optimize mid-range/vocal presence, while still delivering rich bass for its size.

The S1 Pro makes for a great practice/rehearsal monitor or personal recording mixer/monitor. It can also provide satisfying general sound reinforcement for small indoor settings. Everyone seems to want to say meeting rooms and cafes.

It's not reasonable to simply juxtapose the S1 Pro as possibly competing against the L1 or F1 systems.

The S1 Pro is very complimentary to it's larger siblings, especially when the S1 is used as a live performance stage monitor in conjunction with them.

The PDF manual (not in the retail box) is very well written and has very straightforward examples of standalone, paired (stereo PA) and daisy-chained deployments.

The S1 holds its own for sidewalk/indoor solo performance. It's very quick to setup. Built-in ToneMatch is simplified, stripped down to flat (e-piano, pick-up), guitar (strings) & mic (voice, etc). But you can augment the S1 with (externally powered) T4S or T8S ToneMatch mixers, too.

The positonal DSP technology is very impressive and is part and parcel of how so much sound comes out of so small a "PA" form factor. The internal accelerometer detects the tilt of the S1 and a DSP pre-set for that tilt automatically kicks-in, changing the dispersion pattern for whatever settings (reverberation, bass, treble, S1 ToneMatch) you've chosen.

A switch inside the S1's pole mount slot triggers yet another DSP preset.

I've produced jazz recordings and live performance. I know what great reinforcement is supposed to sound like. Microphone choice, placement and attack all play their own crucial roles in achieving great sound. (No phantom power for a mic in the S1, though.)

The S1 can be leveraged to faithfully reinforce electronic keyboards, instrument pickups and/or whatever you care to mic, within the general frequency range of 70-16kHz. Acoustic instruments will be warmly and faithfully reproduced. Mic-ed kalimba overtones are reminiscent of EWF. Just don't expect any organ pedal notes from the S1.

I tested the S1 for vocal mic feedback. S1 radiating directly from behind a mic user, aimed line-of-sight, through the user, at the mic, splayed about 7'-10' apart. Normally, an idiotic setup.

Even with the mic's gain cranked above 50%, amazingly, NO mic feedback loop. (An L1 doesn't pass this test.)

Caring about audio fidelity, I used the Line In input to play a selection of lossy MP3-s to lossless FLAC recordings of solo acoustic instruments and mixes. I used the player's EQ controls to tweak the S1's output in a vertical, center-of-room (no coloring from wall reflections) placement. As long as I kept the S1 below clipping, the output was remarkably faithful within a 20'-30' radius. That's a decent sized room.

The S1 doesn't move enough air to pull this kind of HiFi off outdoors or with very large audiences; but that's why BOSE makes those other pro PA systems. The S1 is more than enough for general, fairweather PA duties in my backyard, again, with almost no setup time. (No, it's not waterproof.)

The optional six-hour runtime Lithium battery pack is just more icing on this cake. Trickle charge and fast charge, check. Can be safely stored, long term, with a full charge (attesting to thermal stability). Rough battery gauge estimates via power switch LED flashes/color and Bluetooth button double-tap. Although "permanently" installable for reliable S1 transport, the battery pack can still be user replaced when that time comes. "Pro" through and through.

All-in-all, the S1 Pro does everything BOSE claims it can do and does it well enough to impress and please me.

I recommend the BOSE S1 Pro to performing/recording musicians and I recommend it to anyone wanting a versatile, tweakably high-fidelity personal/portable PA system.

Really wish I had a bunch of these back in the day.

(specs not found in the Manual)
Frequency Response (+/-3 dB)
70 Hz – 16 kHz

Nominal Dispersion
100 H x 40 V

Maximum SPL @ 1 m
103 dB (109 dB Peak)

Weight
6.5 kg (14.3 lbs) – Without Battery
7.0 kg (15.5 lbs) – With Battery

Got my S1 about a month ago and have used it for 6 or 7 gigs now. The sound is amazing! We A/B'd it with an L1 Compact and I felt like the S1 was warmer sounding though (as noted in the FAQ here) it doesn't throw to the back of the room quite as well as the L1 Compact. It one case we played a larger room with 150-ish people in it and I used an external sub to give us a bit more bottom. That room was why I say I'll be picking up another one of these. In the large room with lots of crowd noise I really felt the need for more coverage. Otherwise I'm very happy with this little box.

I purchased a pair at Guitar Center. It comes with the battery now and it is worth every dime. On day two of owning these I was at the beach strumming away for my church men's breakfast. One hour later I was at church further north setting up with my Acoustic/electric uke bass for rehearsal. Towards the tail end of the rehearsal the power for the entire community area goes out and I'm still cranking away. Took the speakers home and hooked up to my zoom G3N pedal and played my telecaster for an hour. I only hit half on the battery indicator after a full morning of use.

Bose nailed a home run. I'm really impressed with reverb and the tone match options. I going to attempt shortly to see how these handle a flat response studio monitor. Plus I'm going to use them for all my student recitals. Also super kudos for bluetooth option. Was able to play a pad track to the speaker while practicing. I am convinced I want the T8s now to accompany it. I will say I do have one complaint and that is no phantom power? I can't use my blue encore 300 without a powered DI. I don't care for that part. My Telefunken M80 sounds awesome though it though.

I use this for karaoke mainly. Mostly Indian bollywood karaoke, for which the background music is very demanding; not just guitar for instance. The S1 Pro handles it all. Voice comes through clean and clear and the reverb is fine. I am fussy about fidelity in speakers, and really, am quite pleased with the S1 Pro. Mostly I use it hooked up to a Mackie Mixer at home but I could use it at someone's home on battery I guess, without a mixer. Volume seems fine for a group of up to 50 people, though a friend performed at a busy restaurant with probably over 100 people seated, all talking, :) but yet we could clearly hear his vocal/guitar performance. He would have done well to have a set of two S1 Pros. Bass is really very good for a 15 pound speaker but I'm not surprised because my SoundLink is small and yet has good bass.

The big gigs have a sound system when I get there. For backyard shows, outdoor weddings and restaurant patios this is perfect. Use it on battery or plug in.
My friend has a battery powered mixer if you want more people inputs. I don't

the best 4 guitar jazz manouche, sounds great. very clear sound.

Purchased about a month ago when buying a couple of Bose F1 Subs to finish out that system. The place I deal with, Sound Ideas in Columbus Ohio was showing it off as they had just received it in. Loved the look of it at first site, but was hard to justify the price vs sound when in the store surrounded by the big Bose/EV/JBL pro systems. But the owner/salesman has been a friend for several years now and he told me to try, test it and let him know what I think. Let me see what I think.
Hard Rock monitor - NO
Classical monitor - YES
Acoustic amp or monitor - YES
Gospel music monitor - YES (if you are a want to be group who has monitors louder than the house, then maybe no...lol)
Tail Gating speaker - YES
Office Meeting speaker - YES
Take it camping - YES
Take it Boating - YES (just don't get it wet in your kayak)
Put it in the back of your golf cart at parades, or events - YES
Solo singer for small party, church or wedding - YES
Watch the grand babies dance to music played through it - YES
Small retail store music and special sale announcements - YES

Anyway, I will be purchasing 3 more to use mainly as monitors against my Bose F1 set, but also even more individually or paired in many of the above situations.

This is not a Bose L1 system, or a Bose F1 system, or even the older Bose 802 II / 502 system. So don't expect it to sound the same or have the same coverage. It is a speaker that my 6 year old granddaughter or 4 year old grandson can carry.

I do wish the ToneMatch mixer from the L1 would plug in somewhere to give more control and flexibility.
Also, wish that 2 or more could use the same bluetooth signal so not to have to run a cable across the venue.

Hi.
Greetings.
I just want to ask. upon watching the video and at the end of the video of this product says that it is supported of bose connect apps. But when i tried to bond it it is not yet compatible to pair. We tried to update it but still it still not yet compatible. Kindly send feedback regarding to this matter.

Bought it yesterday, day of release. I play at a lot of Retirement/ Nursing homes for groups of 15 or 20 people. I have the L1 portable, but is is often too much for these intimate settings.
The S1 is a perfect size for this type of gig.
I also use backing tracks for my performances, so the Bluetooth streamlines that part of my gig too!
The battery pack is awesome too. I don’t have to worry about finding a plug, running an extension etc...

Great sound right out of the box.
Looking to by the backpack case, so I can put my mic and cables in it. All ready for my 3 minute set up!!

Just bought it today ! crazy how it sounds good , i was waiting for this for a long time , its portable and versatile , this is a nice addition to my l1 model 2 as a monitor. im very happy with the speaker performance. Bluetooth work well. Comes with a nice cover. I have buy the battery to i think this is a must have.

It is about time...this the best peice of equipment that a solo artist can ever have...I have been with Bose for 15 years ...the best sound for good singers...now I can park my compact..

Blown away by the Amazing Sound Quality and coverage. We at Steelasophical just invested in a second unit and looking forward to using in anger.

Great for Small Venues, Restaurants or Family Reunion.

Bought recently. Why had Bose taken so long to get us such a soul companion?

I purchased from Sweetwater and just received yesterday and absolutely love it! I also own the Bose L1 and this little guy is just a smaller version with the same sound quality and surprisingly excellent bass response. I wanted something portable with great sound and loudness to bring out to the pool deck this summer and this is perfect! Mostly I will be using this to play music from my phone and iPad. Personally I think the price point is on target for the quality. You get what you pay for with Bose!

I purchased this from Sweetwater and it arrived at 10:30am. I was at my afternoon gig at a winery no problem 3 hrs playing flamenco guitar. This is a keeper. I think I will get another one soon too. I have another guitarist and when I get the battery pack we’re going to do some busking in NYC. Take the time to learn the eq to dial in your tone. The streaming bluetooth never gave out so that was very pleasant. I see using this Evey week for my lounge and cocktail hr gigs. I look forward to the backpack for the S1.

Bought this several months ago when they first became available. Since then we have used it in more varied situations than I can list here and it has excelled in every one of them. Anyone performing should probably have one even if its not your main system. You’ll be surprised at how many situations will come up where the S1 Pro is perfect solution.

I GOT THOSE SPEAKERS YESTERDAY AFTERNOON, TOOK THEM OUT FOR A SMALL DJ GIG LAST NIGHT. SMALL BIRTHDAY PARTY AROUND 85 PEOPLE, THE SPEAKERS ARE ARE AMAZING. I GOT A $200 TIP FROM SOMEONE AT THE PARTY, SIMPLY BECAUSE OF THE SOUND. WOW BOSE

I got a Bose SR1, tested it. And I was Amazed how nice and clear the sound is. not to mention Loud too. So, I got another one. The sound at our church is the best is ever been. My speakers are very new. I do not know how drarable they will be, nor other facts. But one thing I know for sure. I got great sound at our church.

I have the Bose L1 and love it but heard about this and thought for smaller venues it would be perfect. I use professional track arrangements for more than 400 concert gigs per year. Not nearly enough base in S1. And can't adjust on the fly. Why no tonematch jack for Bose mixer? Yes vocal and guitar is fine. Orchestral arrangements not so much. Will take back. I will try a small Yamaha mixer to see if I can adjust the sound. If not I will return it. Disappointed you can't adjust this speaker easily.

Bought for small audience/presentations. Tested at home first before rolling out on the bigger stage. Used a U2 Slane Castle concert DVD plugged into TV via AUX. The sound blew the roof off. I have BOSE mini speakers and headphones. This is a different class. I think I'm becoming a BOSE addict and may need help in the near future!! I couldn't be more positive about this product if I tried. How about ten stars**********

Been a big big fan of Bose PA for about 12 years. My L1 model 1 still gives all I could ever need. Wanted to replace my 120w AER with something of the same quality , but lighter AND I can busk with it!!

I bought my S1 a month ago to use with my Roland RD700 keyboard. It has an honest sound but what impressed me most was the way it which it kept that quality as you ramp up the gain - on and on and on.

I bought this for my Motorhome. I turned my IPhone and motorhome into a mobile night club. You will just not comprehend the power, volume and incredible sound quality coming out of this shoe box. I am rarely impressed by much nowadays. The S1pro is a new dawn in mobile speakers. I am definitely buying a 2nd for pairing.

Just got it yesterday.
Plugged my Martin D28 with a thinline bridge pickup in directly, no pre amp. Chose the guitar eq position. It sounds really good. Not much of the honky midrange you usually hear with a piezo. Added a little reverb and adjusted the eq. Smooth.
I plugged in a microphone and picked the mic eq position. Sound is really there. Not muddy.
I like this cute little thing!
I am getting the battery pack for it next week.
I will use it for a monitor at our next gig.
Thanks Bose.

I have had the S1 Pro for five months.
I own the Bose L1 Model ll with two bass modules.
First of all you can not A / B the two units ! they are different animals.
All I do is judge each item on its individual ability and performance.
I am a muso of 40 years and crave good sound and am on a continual search for the holy grail of compact PA's.
First off , I use the Tone match mixer with the S1 , it is a must to get the full impact of what this speaker can do.
I love the L1 as it can do a large venue with great sound.
But what the S1 Pro can do for its size , weight and price is staggering !
I use the S1 for all gigs , unless it is a large show when I use the L1.
I will be purchasing another S1 to double up for bigger shows and probably retire the L1.
Besides the size factor and lug in/out effort , using two S1's gives you the added advantage of having two autonomous PA systems and ending the performers night mare of a audio failure.
My best advice is don't compare ! just get out and use then make up your mind.

Last week my S1Pro arrived and I couldn’t believe how small and light it was, the sound is fantastic. Why did it take Bose so long to engineer a practice PA system. The sound is similiar to my L1S1 towers. Last night at band practice I had attached my separate tone match and had 2 guitars, a bass and tracks going through it and not only did it not distort but the tone was crystal clear. I would give it 6 stars if I could. The only drawback for me is that I need to attach my seperate tone match because it doesn’t have a phantom power switch. My mics are Shure 87 A’s.

Just bought this 2 days ago and all I can say is wow! Portability is fantastic, it fills the room with plenty of richness and drive. I love listening to music and the bluetooth feature is fantastic.

High Class Sound. I'd recommend any Bose Speaker and or Headphones to everyone. One of the best sound's on the market. One of the greatest.

I have been a Bose L1 user since the day they came out. Loved what they do. This S1 hits the mark on sound quality and versatility. Bluetooth and its flexible positioning are hits. Missing are 48v phantom power and a DI out. If I keep this, I have to get a new mic.

I bought this Bose S-1 three weeks ago and have done 56 one-hour shows. I do one-hour shows in Senior Communities. It replaced a 40-lbs speaker I was using. The power is amazing! Once I found the right EQ on my i-pod it has the fullness I want. However, I have had trouble with Channel 1 not performing and have had an issue with the Bluetooth channel "jumping" in volume. There appears to be a problem in the fluid increases with the volume controller. I also wish it had a Master volume. The instruction book does not make a recommendation as to what setting (Off, Guitar, Mic) to use when plugging in a mixer. The mixer will increase the overall volume and EQ.

Sound Quality is great, but I was expecting more bang for my buck.

It may have good reviews, but you can do much better than Bose

The signal microphone is very light. I want to make this microphone stronger. Very light mic. Can I upgrade my firmware bose s1?

Microphone signal is not strong. Time to speak.
Nearly the mic.

Amazing Sound quality, Covers larger audiences, Battery life is awesome, Perfectly made and shaped. As always bose at its best. Great for outdoor parties, patio, beach, events and parties.

Very disappointed with the sound volume. In a small room with a few people you can’t tell it’s there. I also felt ripped off when I was asked to pay $100 extra for the battery and two months later the battery was included in the price. No help when I contacted sales and service.