Thanks for this. I like to see your decision making.

Thanks for the update Sam.

Thank you for your opinions about your experience. In one city here I used to busk no amplification was allowed, and it made for a much better environment.

Really like your honest review never had any physical experience with it but I believe yamaha pa's are great . By the way your voice sounded amazing keep it up.

Thanks for your efforts.

Was here for the review, but stayed for your talent and energy!

Thanks for the feedback! Great in depth review! I just got the Bose S1 so hopefully it will work for my needs. lol

Thank you for this Video!

Thanks for this greatly informative video. I'm looking at getting a good busking amp so it's really helpful. Appreciate it!

Would using a speaker stand help in hearing yourself and projecting the sound louder?

Beautiful voice!

Hi there. Found the blog interesting. I have a Bose S1, and it is excellent (guitar/backing tracks/ vocals) I found using it for small spaces improved greatly if it was on a pole mount, changing the projection height. The Bose is designed as a small line array (speakers inside sort of lined up above each other in the cabinet) and I find it better with a raised position to project the sound. It has limitations of course, because it is what it is, a really good small speaker that will be affected by indoor or outside use, indoor or outside space size, and the environment, the weather, etc. I use the Bose tone-match sometimes too, and that takes the speaker to another level, it handles the preamp awesomely and adds bigger dimension and flexibility, again depending on the venue scenario. Your blog was good, and accurate, and I can only add that in reality, the Bose cannot be all things for all occasions because that would be unrealistic. Best wishes with your music, keep doing what you’re doing.

I recently bought 2 of these. And ive bought the bose F1 speakers and subs. My SM58 just wasnt cutting thru. I purchased a sennheiser e335 for 99 bucks. It made a world of difference.

thank you for sharing all the dislikes are probably from people trying to justify spending $600 on one speaker.

Theres ALWAYS something better Samantha. I hope you have it sorted. I'm a long time fan of Bose sound, but I am no musician (wish I was). On a rare visit to SA Rundle Mall I was amazed by the standard of busking. Maybe I just need to visit a city more often🙂I hope I catch your performance one day. I am watching this because I want to buy the right battery amp for accustic guitar / vocals and the Bose S1 is a prime contender. Thanks for your input.

That was a great review. I really appreciate the time and on-site research you did for this re: the BOSE S1 Pro speaker. I am a solo instrumental guitarist (using a loop pedal to help me). I mainly do one high-end restaurant in Stratford, ON., Canada. I bought a Bose S1 about a month ago. I already owned the Bose L1 Compact stick which I liked. But, I didn't need the power and I wanted more control over the EQ (separately for my backup loop tracks and my guitar through multi FX). I have only used the S1 once in a house concert setting with a singer using a Shure Beta 58 mic. I did notice that I had to crank the mic/vocal channel a bit more than I expected compared to her Taylor guitar and my effected Taylor guitar. But, it all sounded perfect by the time I tweaked it accordingly. All good;. Agaain, you did a great and thorough job on this review, and I truly appreciate that. Thank you. Without being there with your gear, I kept wondering if your mic was maybe a bit tired and not working 100%. They don't go on forever unfortunately and I wonder if your mic was holding back your enthusiasm for the S1. I am actually buying a second S1 for wireless stereo (or mono). I have the fortune (even through Covid times) to be playing one of the most beautiful restaurants on the planet (Revival House in Stratford, ON., Canada). It is a 150 year old church in the heart of downtown Stratford and famous for it's food and it's noted as a perfect concert venue. The S1 fills this massive church dining room at less than half volume with my music. Dining guests always comment that they think I have speakers everywhere. I guess, in conclusion, I will challenge you that maybe you might need a new mic at some point. I noticed a fair bit of high-end missing from it on your various tests. (BTW, you have a beautiful voice! So sweet.) Also, as per the busker with the wireless... that wireless mic receiver have an output volujme control that acts as a crank or preamp. That might be the little box you saw. (The headset mic transmits to the receiver box and goes to the amp accordingly. So many knobs.... so little money... But, in conclusion, I am head over heels about my S1 Pro and amd buying another one on Monday. I hope this might just give you some food for thought about the S1 from a different artist's perspective (or context). Keep doing what you're doing. You are very talented. If you were closer to where I live, I'd be hoping to record you in my studio. You are one of the good ones. Cheers and have a great day. Good luck and stay safe.

Thank you for the great video and do feel your frustration when u spend money on equipment and does not meet your expectations. In reference to the mic’s I did read a comment about wireless mics sounded great. I have a Shure Mic that has a boost feature m58 I have not tried it, but will test it with this speaker.

Good on you for trying every senario to test your product. I have a roland ba300 that has a nice warmth and bit of punch to it. I can't say if it's similar or louder than that bose s1. I've tried singing through the bose in a shop and thought there was heaps of vocals in it, but i also wasn't trying to fill a mall with sound. I wonder how you would've gone with a 2nd bose s1. Would've given you extra vocals and spread your beautiful music around even more. Anyhow, best of luck. I only ever use battery powered anything if I'm absolutely desperate. I'm used to loud plug in speakers. If i lived in adelaide not Melbourne, I'd gladly lend you this roland to try out, it has heaps more punch than the street cube thing. Cya

Been in the live performing arts for eons. As one person pointed out in the comments, and I agree with their synopsis, is sound placement is huge in any live performance environment. Speaker positions and angles directing frequencies. In short, sound placement is based on the venue space and audience. Another is quality mics and pre-amps. Can't stress this enough. External mixing is a must, even if using a small mixer for extended control and performance. These are just the basics. Just remember also to use a personal monitor to help you dial things in from your ear's perspective. Master these and pump out your first platinum! Cheers and happy performing!

Thank you!

I love the clarity and coverage of the Bose gear, I’m sorry to hear the S1 didn’t work for you, that can be so frustrating. if you don’t need battery operation. The Bose L1 compact is great and very versatile but unfortunately more money.

Hi Samantha... I actually think in the first demo outside.. your voice sounded really strong and clear ..but you did the right thing selling it if it wasn't right for you ....

I have had a Bose S1 Pro for a couple of years. We used it primarily to amplify my wife's singing when she's booked for weddings and funerals. It's been great. Just a lately, I've been practising with it with a view to going busking. I hooked it up with some Sennheiser ME3 headset mics, and Sennheiser G1 transmitters and receivers (these are both battery powered so ideal for busking). The sound is really good (even for a headset mic). I have had it on a speaker stand so you can hear properly what it might sound like. I've now just ordered another S1 and added a Behringer 1002B mixer ( I already had the mixer) because I write original music and want my backing tracks to be played in stereo.....to counteract the smudging that goes on when trying to play stereo tracks back through mono. Although this might sound like a complicated setup, it won't be in the end. The mixer is battery powered (look into 9V lithium batteries...they're brilliant and long lasting), the mic receivers can sit alongside them in the same light flightcase, along with an ancient Zoom 9030 (I bought in about 1991 I think) powered by a lithium powerbank and two cables can then go to either speaker. This setup should be good enough for 50-100 people. My guitar will be using a Line 6 G10 remote jack system. I think why you had problems is because of the limitations of the Bose S1 in getting the right EQ on your vocals. With only a bass and treble knob, the S1 is really relying on your mic being matched to your voice. Also, you can't expect much bass out of these systems, or feed too much bass into them. I've had to remaster some of my backing tracks to get the bass from 'booming' the speaker enclosure at certain frequencies. I'll do an in-depth video of the setup once the new speaker is delivered.

I feel your pain. Mic gain is an issue on the S1. A mic with a stronger output helps a bit. A preamp, wireless system or vocal effect unit gives all the gain back. It works perfectly except now you’ve got another piece of gear to bring. The best solution would have been a better design in which more gain was available when switching to the vocal mic tone match.

Hola Samantha: Yo soy un "busker" en Argentina. Toco saxo alto sin amplificación y toco un acompañamiento musical grabado. Mi amplificador es un Roland KC 110 igual al tuyo. Tengo mucha experiencia con él y con pruebas con otros amplificadores. Te paso unos consejos: Los amplificadores se venden indicando su potencia en Watts, pero para sistemas PA debemos indicar la cantidad de personas que van a escuchar. Por ejemplo mi amp. el Roland KC 110 es para 10-20 personas. Sin embargo es el mejor sonido que existe en el mercado. Yo te aconsejo usarlo con bass & treble al máximo. También te aconsejo comprar otro similar nuevo y conectarlos (link) entre sí. Si hay mucho público (gente escuchando) utiliza unos pies (stands) para que el sonido llegue hasta atrás. Estos ampificadores son muy sensibles con el feedback. Existen equipos anti-feedback para micrófono, por ejemplo la marca Behringer. Espero que te sean útiles mis consejos. PD.: AVOID USE PLASTIC CASE AMPLIFIERS !! They have a special internal ECO.

I use my Bose S1 Pro with a Boss Ve-8 voice machine (battery powered) and now get twice as much vocal volume in addition to the added effects. I think the sound of the Bose S1 Pro is great.

Dear Samantha, thank you very much for the great video! I was researching about the Bose S1 Pro a lot and found that the problem you and others were having is caused by the automatic gain (or lack of manual gain) with the built-in mixer. Using an external mixer would result in a better mic output (volume and sound wise), however this really defeats the purpose of having a highly portable small PA with in-built mixer. Bose pretty much screwed up with this one and reason why people write lot of wrong comments here is because this is mic/line-in problem only and they mainly benchmark the box with Bluetooth or other Inputs. You were one of two reports which were useful for actual buskers and musicians using the mic input. Therefore thank you very much for your efforts and be confident about your musical abilities. You are great and won a new subscriber. Best, T

Great sound

Kind of surprised all the professionals you asked for advise they didn't question your mic. ?? That act with the wireless should have pointed in that direction, though the wireless system probably acted in a preamp fashion gaining up the input db. In all your comparisons the Bose was always clearer, hence more loudness wasn't actually needed. But I know it is huge that how you hear yourself is vital to your performing confidence, so very important.

Thanks Samantha. I had this in my shopping cart on Amazon but after watching your video I think I will stick with my heavy but great sounding Yamaha s115v speakers I've used for 15 years, along with a Mackie amplifier. I just bought a Yamaha Genos and wanted to go lighter with my speaker setup - a lot to carry from gig to gig - but I'm not prepared to sacrifice sound quality on my vocals. Exercise is good for me, right lol. Thanks so much!!

On the S1, did you set the switch to “mic” on the channel you had your mic plugged into? If not, that could be why the mic was quieter.

Bose 1pro notice says that you shouldn't use a battery inverter. I don't understand the reason behind!

great detailed video. choosing good reliable gear that delivers half the claims they make for it is no easy thing these days. There will always be a problem with portable lightweight busking PA being up to the job. AER gear is good (not great ) but crazy expensve. Perhaps a portable power supply for a lightweight keyboard amp would be a solution. Its physics at the end of the day. Its about amp headroom coupled with speakers moving air. small speakers cant move much air and will be ppoor on bass end. Love the sound of all Bose gear at low volumes but cranked up they reveal themselves to be overpriced and over hyped.

am also thinking to buy a Bose S1 for small gigs....I watched u nice informative video.May I ask you what u use in the meantime(preamp, micro etc)?

hey samantha, if you are still looking for a battery powered pa today i have used the behringer c210. one thing i do differently from other buskers is i have a usb interface that acts as my input source and that goes into my macbook air into logic pro as a digital mixer and that gives me a ton of effects like eq, compression, reverb, delay. and then that output goes out of the interface to the speaker. right now i use something i little bit more powerful as my speaker. i use the qsc cp8 speakers and i power that with a inverter. the speaker says its 1000w but rms is really around 500 watts.

I was watching your video and I found out by accident that I was playing a bigger venue so I connected the S1 and the Roland ex . I had the Roland ex first . It has a lot of high end but when I connected both it was so good . The s1 gave the ex a strong brace , both together was amazing . I am a vocalist first so the quality is so important to me so the S1 is my favorite so far .

I have a Bose S1 Pro on a tripod stand and I have also wired mic and wireless mic. Using the wireless mic is significantly a lot louder than a wired mic. I love my Bose S1 Pro, I think the sound quality is perfect and sounds like a professional speaker. You should check also the new EV Everse 8. It’s a lot louder. It has 400 watts, 121 decibel in a small PA system.

Yes.. get a headset mic Vocals-Mic- Airline 77 vocal headset True diversity uhf wireless system From Sweerwater There are used for fitness classes ..you can Also rig it up to be battery powered .. 🎷🎶

Great review! Thank you for posting. The weak vocal (pre amp related) channel in the version 1 S1 is known issue with the Bose. If you add a pre amp to the mic it will fix. Also I am told the S1 Pro + does not have this issue.

I bought a line array and it would be ok for a keyboard but for my guitar I hate it but I am stuck with it . I think try before you buy. Mail order is taking a chance. Good luck

I've had my Bose Pro 1 for a few years now and I like it 100%. I have no problem with mic volume. I think I use a stronger voice than you, but I may use a better Mic too. Never use less than a SM58. I use it with a line and also with a better bluetooth adapter and all sound slightly different. Today I have set up two Bose Pro1s and am sing a £680 Sennheiser radio mic. The sound is wonderful. I position the speakers slightly behind me so I can hear me and the track really well. I was busking in a huge Tesco at the bottom of a long escalator. The manager had to come down and tell me to turn it down.

Hi iv had my bose for about 6 months and just last night suddenly it went quite today it was like about 70 percent lost heaps of power then usual im so disapointed im hoping its just the mike surely i havent blown the amp the bluetooth still pumps i hope the 2 mike setups arnt faulty

Sorry you had trouble with the Bose. Personally, not a fan of Bose. Roland Cube Street is what I use for busking and small inside gigs . Works well for me for vocals & guitar. .....and light weight ! Enjoyed this video ( as all your vid's) Was very informative !

Can I use all 3 channels simultaneously Like play guitar and sing along to a streamed Bluetooth song? Thanks good luck out there

One thing about Bose is that up close it does not seem loud but the sound actually fills up a good area. I have 2 of these and sound amazing. Although I do use an external mixer.

Very interesting and informative watch! I was wondering what pre-amps you tried with the Bose S1 Pro?

I really enjoyed the journey of this video. You have to use the stuff that works for you. Stuff the haters!

Samantha what I learned about this speaker is that you really need a small mixer to push the volume on the mic input and to also ring it out. i had the same problem with the mic I returned the speaker too but I realized from speaking to other professionals that a mixer is very important to really get the mices sounding good. GOod luck.. I am also going to buy this again but with a mixer next time

I used a double set up one on each side are use a mixer you were singing in mono everything is a stereo nowadays left and right Are use phantom power also makes a world of a difference however I am having trouble value trouble with one of the S1 Has anyone had any experience sending any equipment back for repairs to Bowles

Hi Samantha, thanks for posting your video. My wife and I are considering busking and looking for a battery powered keyboard and speaker. What battery powered speaker and keyboard are you using now? Thanks!

I think if you need more noticeable power/volume you have to go mains powered using either an inverter with a heavy bulky battery (or expensive lithium golf trolley battery)or a powerpack/station combined battery and inverter or a generator. Then you will need a big heavy platform truck to cart it around. Problem is for example I have the Roland street cube EX rated at 50 watts on mains power but on batteries I think it only runs at a max of 20 watts and if you push too much bass through it the sound gets compressed. But on mains it runs louder with no compression, so I run it through my inverter. Battery amps like AER are quite rated but cost too much compared to the equivalent mains powered and are more for guitar than keyboards. What I use sometimes is a Yamaha DBR10 active speaker as a 10" speaker has better bass and 350 watts. With a Yamaha MG06x mixer(has effects for vocals) a 500 watt pure sine wave inverter and a 12 volt leisure battery.(Bear in mind for example the DBR10 does not need 350 watts RMS that is the amount after amplification but only needs 60 to 90 watts, you can get a cheap power consumption meter to see how many watts an amp needs under load) But obviously this adds a lot more weight, bulk and setup time. Plus you may then have a problem with shops and passers by complaining your too loud. If it's mainly that you can't hear yourself clearly you may be better to use a relatively cheap wired in ear monitors, I use a powered Fischer Amps In-Ear Monitor, its brilliant I get a nice as loud as I want clear stereo sound and I can move the speaker further away to solve feedback problems. busk.co/blog/busking-tips-tricks/honest-review-10-best-amps-for-busking/?gclid=Cj0KCQiA4feBBhC9ARIsABp_nbV1Hk8u4F-w4mcook26boX3esjzb93fjmK6jVeZDPSuQMI9lUYbqFcaAjk0EALw_wcB

Hi Samantha - I’m a little late this party - sorry the Bose didn’t work out for you - I’ve been using mine almost since they came out and still love it and get great battery performance. Where did you you get the 150w info? Bose doesn’t publish that information and most of the math-heads I’ve read seem to agree that it’s about 40w. I always use my on a pole speaker stand a bit behind me so that it’s my monitor as well as PA and so far have only used it for outdoor farmers market type stuff - BTW - I replace a Cube Street EX (hated it!) with my S1 Pro. I loved the S1 Pro so much that I also picked up an L1-2 B2 with a T1 mixer that I use for most of my gigs now.

Sorry you had trouble with that thing. I think you did right to get rid of it. Possibly the voice was limited because Bose realized there was feedback at louder mike levels. The mic probably matters too. You're a good technician. Oh, and that's a pretty dress :-)

At first I didn't believe you but yes I am experiencing the same thing. YOu have to crank it to really hear.

Hi Samantha! It's unbelievable how much you are in tune with your technological issues. You lost me not far into your video. I'm still wondering how they can get a wagon to move without a horse. Lol! I agreed that your vocals weren't loud enough but I thought it was the same with everything you tried. Go with how things were before! Lol! Good luck with that. I'll be home trying to figure out electricity!😜

I'm curious as to why you didn't try it raised off the floor and why you sit *behind* your amps instead of positioning whatever you're playing through at the time strategically behind you. The S1 isn't really a speaker to be used on the floor to get the most out of it. The sound would travel along the floor, not at ear level. It really should be off the floor on a stand. At any rate, I hope you found something you like.

Usually a rule of thumb for noticeable sound increase is....10 times the power you initially had. So if your previous set up was 30 watts, you would have to upgrade to at least 300 watts for a "noticeable" increase. My experience, I had 100 watts rms power, upgraded to 205 watts rms power, and there was zero noticeable difference! Good luck in the future.

Great .. review ..I don’t think your second-guessing yourself .. if it were right you would feel right .. we all as musicians .. have to feel good about our sound .. specially with Busking.. ! Busking outside is a love hate Situation I used to use the Roland B330 I Loved it but .. to heavy to travel with overseas... but great sound .. I play tenor sax Flute guitar & keys along with Vocals & tracks.. but I graduated to the Bose l1 compact .. great sound.. I had to use a battery power station with it .. then I tried the Bose S1 .. I love it .. I use a Yamaha mini mixer .. I run my sax flute guitar & tracks .. through it . Lots of head room .. I have all cordless mic.. I stopped playing keys .. just to much .. So all my gear fits in a large suitcase .. my mic stand mixer, speaker etc. Roll up set up in 10 min & play .. I’m living in ca. USA. I have a RV. I live in full time .. I travel around the us. As a musicians ..when I go overseas ..it great .. I can plug into there speakers in lounges clubs etc. When busking I have my street system .. Good luck you will find your way don’t give up ..! www.chazandco.com Chaz By The Bay-Live- kzfaq.info/get/bejne/eqmGpLuSxN6rZ6c.html Chaz at the Luxury Lotte Hotel Seoul Korea Asia Tour- kzfaq.info/get/bejne/r9afg86UvJesaIE.html

Positioning will effect the EQ and whether or not it is on a pole or not. It will automatically adjust the sound. I use mine in pubs with my acoustic and electric guitars / ukulele, vocals and effects pedalboard. A external preamp helps but not always needed.. A second speaker also helps too but may not be needed. Like Ian Oalmer was saying it all depends upon the circumstances. Even when playing indoors every venue is different. and can effect your sound and you will need to tweak things here and there. When you have a lot of equiptment in a music store and microphones there will be feedback. Watts is almost a useless stat. dB or decibels is a more accurate stat for how loud something is as watts are not all created equal. Often companies will also exagerate the watts as oppossed to listing the actual RMS watts of the product. I had one speaker that was advertised as 200 watts and it really wasn't. It was loud but it was not 200 watts loud. i encountered that with a Samson I had purchased. It was listed at 50 watts and it was quieter than my Kustom PA-50 even when the Samson's levels were at max and even when attached to my mixer too. However, with the Samson the battery or something was rattling inside so it being defective may be a factor. All my other gear i trested with my kustom PA-50 to determine with it may be my xlr cord or my microphone and it was not. in the event it was the speaker being defective and probably was i may give that particular Samson or another model a go next time maybe. With the money i got back from the Samson I used it to get my Bose S1-Pro. With the Bose S1-Pro...most of the venues i play at will provide a vocal microphone / P.A for FOH. So I use mine as a monitor as my pedalboard has a DI that goes to it and the FOH p.a.'s. When busking i have a secondary speaker if i need it or I bring my guitar amp (Orange Crush Mini into a guitar cabinet speaker) and just use the bose for vocals. Some battery powered p.a. speakers like the Mackie will actually drop the volume on the other channels if channel #1 is being used. For you it could be other factors other than the speaker. it could be your microphone as you said it went dead. It could have been a number of things as the guy you saw busking with a Bose S1-Pro in the mall did not have a issue with his speaker being loud enough. I do not have a lot of money either and buying a Bose S1-Pro was a big investment. But, sometimes you need to take a chance.

I’ve wondered about this amp. I use the Mackie Freeplay for busking. I got the battery and Mine is the older model that looks like an alien head. I actually have two of these things. With the Bluetooth and app to control everything, it’s an awesome little amp. I got mine used for $150. For larger gigs I use the Turbo sound ip 1000. It’s the best!!! Just right for me. The busker who had the wireless mic was probably going into the Bose with a line level signal instead of a mic level signal. That’s why he was so loud.

some great tips, I just got one of those cheap busker machines with the handle and wheels, the MP3 player is naff, but the unit is very loud, I just use backing tracks, play my electric guitar through an FX pedal, and I got this cheap headset mic with the unit that is a radio mic, no cables, but I haven't had a chance to try the mic at full volume, but for the money, and a built in battery that lasts for hours, not bad, but I don't need the stereo for my stuff.

Had same problem with my s1 pro vocals for volume. Got a inline adapter Shure A85F impedance matching transformer. It simple plugs one end into your xlr cable and then quarter inches at the other end into the S1. Presto the mic volume basically doubles. The adaptor was just a little over 30 bucks Canadian. Cheap fix. The other thing I noticed is the Bose system sounds louder when you are not beside it. It has great projection. Place it on a pole stand for better projection. It has self adjusting for sound depending on positional placement for sound projection.

Wonder what mic that was used? I have 2 S1 Pro and use a Sennheiser (and Shure Beta 58) and have never had it past the indent. Half way. I believe that Bose puts a limiter on the mic channel is it’s dimed

Very helpful thank you. Was on the cusp of getting an S1 for vocals in my guitar duo;not sure it will make the cut with my guitar amps

I use two Bose S1 for busking. 1 was Great 2 was EXCELLENT. I use to have a Roland street ex Was ok but nothing like the Bose S1 . You have to being something WRONG. Many other buskers. at Fisherman’s Wharf in San Francisco ca. Love it! My income has almost doubled.Fisherman’s wharf is a wide open area and I had to turn it down a few times. I’m really confused by your problem. I sing Jazz with backings tracks with the two Bose behind me about 4 ft. No feedback.I set the mic vol between 12 to 3 o’clock.

Did you try running it on a pole/stand ? There is a micro switch inside the hole for the pole that opens up the dynamics of it.

I have two Bose S1 Pro units running through a non-powered mixer board. Has lots of head room. Not too sure how it would be in an outside environment but they do sound awesome.

As a keyboard musician my advice is try running your microphone through your keyboard as some keyboards ( yamaha genos/ yamaha psr sx900) has microphone phantom power which will improve things a lot

You’re obviously serious about your sound. Any speaker used for an audience benefits by being elevated on a stand. The dispersion and projection is improved. I only mention it because noticed in a couple of the segments, you had the speaker on the ground. Additionally, a mixer with EQ or external preamps really help dial in better tone/sound. Lastly, I have benefited greatly from reading and working with people who are very experienced and knowledgeable in sound. It helps if you can find someone likewise or read about particular sound characteristics and environments to dial in better sound and overcome problems before buying equipment.

It’s a sucky feeling when a piece of equipment doesn’t work how you hoped. My current gigging amps, I hated them at first, but then one day my problems with them disappeared. I don’t know how. Am I crazy or not. No idea.

As I was watching your excellent video, my mind went to the Boss VE-8 which I think might have solved your problem. As I scrolled down and read some of the comments before I posted this, I saw someone else suggest it. It also has a looper and a vocal harmonizer feature that lets you ad vocal harmonies. I'm curious to find out what was the ultimate solution that you came up with. I recently purchased a Bose S1Pro, but I don't busk. Just got it to use in the back yard.

Samantha, Try the AER amp it will BLOW YOUR MIND! For $1200. It’s more than worth it. Guitar center will guarantee it. It replaced two Bose s1 pros. WHAT A DIFFERENCE!!!!!!! I strongly recommend the AER 60 compact 4.

Hi Samantha, I watched your video with interest as I have a similar set up to yours (piano/vocals) and am looking for an alternative to a PA i.e. more portable/simpler to set up for small-medium gigs. Your issue with the vocals is not unfounded. I spent a couple of hours at the music shop today (here in NZ) putting the Bose through its paces - my initial reaction, like yours, was that it had great sound, but then I discovered there wasn't really enough headroom on the vocals compared to what I could get out of the keys. For some reason, when switching to the mic using the 'ToneMatch' switch, all this does as add 'contour' to the sound - there is ZERO increase in the gain. I've always found with other equipment, that switching to a mic input (as opposed to line) significantly boosts the gain, since obviously a microphone has no volume control and thus needs the signal to be elevated accordingly. Oddly, the Bose does not provide this function, which to me is crazy. So this issue is nothing to do with your mic or your set up as such; sure a mixing desk would help, but then you're back to more cables and gear etc. You can try using a more sensitive mic (as I often do for gigs) - the Sennheiser e835 is a good example. However there is no way you should have to set the mic channel volume to near max level in order to compete with the keyboard, or to achieve a decent level irrespective. In my opinion this is a bad design; Bose needs to sort this out - personally there is no way I am parting with the best part of $1000 on this product if such a fundamental requirement is missing! Hope that helps. Cheers

A sterio amp will always sound better for a keyboard that sends out a sterio signal. Trying to send a sterio signal into a mono speaker/amp limits the sound dramaticaly. Also, placing the speaker/ amp behind you , will aid you to hear what the listeners hear what you are playing and singing. Placing it beside you, you will get reflected sound. Also, you were playing and singing and the power draw pulls down the overall output of the unit, so it is not you but what you are attempting to use it for. Great singing and playing anyway, keep it up.

I'd always recommend using an external small mixer to enhance things prior to the powered speaker.

Hi Samantha, I was thinking to get this Bose S1Pro (as an upgrade) , However, for busking/small venues, the Bose S1Pro is not for me either. Felt the same about the vocal channel . Was not powerful enough to use my vocal harmonizer along with my guitar plugged into it. I'm using the Roland Streetcube and will stick with that for now. It has never let me down . Has separate channels with effects for voice and guitar and I can use the harmonizer without volume drop on the voice. I'm looking to upgrade (to a light weight more powerful battery/AC PA) and maybe the Roland Streetcube Ex might be the one for my needs. I have time to look around and decide as it's now January 2021 , Covid is still an issue , with no live gigs being a reality anytime soon. :-( Thanks for this video Samantha. Was a huge help. The Bose S1Pro is nice for the right person/venue/use. Just not for me.

Which mic are u using? Did u try a different mic at the store? Also whats the name of the internet store u bought it from? (u may have bought a counterfeit)

Wireless mic systems boost the signal which explains the louder output

I run two vocals, accordion, guitar, and upright bass through the bose S1 (with an art 48v mixer). It has saved us from playing without amplification multiple times (no electricity or they don’t want a PA system) . I place it in a stand by our heads, basically what matters is that we can hear ourselves. The clients would’ve had an acoustic show, now even the last table can hear it, grandma isn’t bothered, and we don’t get tired trying to scream over everyone.

Also you may need to reduce the keyboard volume a little bit so the vacal can sit on top of the mix.

You may have had a faulty unit,or didnt really use it correctly or your e q. I'm a professional entertainer for over 35 years and a sound engineer. This Bose S1 pro is a great speaker for me. I use it with bluetooth stream music and totally wireless mics. I perform almost every day as a solo self contained act with tracks. I use one on a speaker stand up high. I've used one in front of as much as 250 people with no problem in volume or e.q. I like it so much ,I bought a second one.For larger crowds I use 2 and 400 or more ppl I use a Bose L1 compact. With my MANY years of experience in performing and all kinds of equipment, I found it perfect for me. Too bad you didnt like it. It's the choice for alot of my musician friends here in NYC USA. 👍🎶

Iv got a roland streetcube that goes good but when you go in front of it i found it starts to sqweel

I had similar issue. Change your mics. I went from Shure SM58 to Seinnheiser E935 and volume boosted maybe 30% and it sounds way clearer through the S1’s

I think sound can be relative, but I think the Bose S1 is definitely loud enough, but imho you're a very quiet singer, so you probably would have benefited from a preamp after your mic to boost your levels. With that being said, if you weren't happy with the Bose it is what it is. There are so many options out there to try. Maybe the JBL EON COMPACT ONE. Similar to Bose,but with more power. I do think a preamp is essential if you want your vocal to pop, and the right acoustic environment. Some places carry sound better than others, so finding the right spot is key!. I think something like the Boss VE20 or Boss VE8 would suit you perfectly.

Keyboards have a very wide frequency range and really need their own specific keyboard amp. The S1 is good for guitar and vocal mix but with keys you’ll get a thin muddy mix.

I upgraded from a Beta58 shure mic the the Beta 87a shure microphone and was disappointed the 87a doesn't have the clarity. But i think you might like the beta58

It will sound incredible if you match it with the Bose T4S it will pick up every detail. Personally I would never use the mixer in a powered speaker. I use Bose 802-III’s in Stereo with the T4S and it bows everything else away.

Bose stuff is designed for indoor use, where the acoustics of the room or venue add to everything, but being outside with no control over the acoustics, the cheapest option will probably suit your needs, you should apply for some work on the cruise ships y'know, they would love your style in that environment, loads of money, and seeing the world???

Hi Samantha - Beautiful Vocals + Keys 👍 Been performing for 40 yrs / keys / vocals .... but not busking .... Best amplification I’ve used based on personal satisfaction with sound / audience feedback has been the Bose L1 - 2 Line Array with ToneMatch and 2 x B1 Bass Modules - Good for venues of up to 200 people. From what I could hear from your sound .... The Roland had the edge for “raw” power however, the Bose had the edge when it came to sound quality - Much nearer to studio sound. Perhaps you’re just a tad underpowered for your busking locations . ? Funds allowing ..... I think that I’d seriously consider two S1’s .... Happy gigging and continued success in your career ☘️☘️☘️

Did you say your main PA is a Yamaha Stagepas? If so, how do you like it ? Is it heavy? Have been using the Fender Passport 500 for 10 yrs for medium/larger venues. Really like it and has never let me down, but is getting old . A replacement will either be another Fender Passport or Yamaha Stagepas .

I would suggest an external preamp. And boosting the highs a little bit. But yeah to get the power you really need you probably won't find in a small battery operated unit. Although they are really cool and convienent . To get real power you would have very short battery life.

Hey! Also found the mic channel too quiet, so I added a preamp adaptor to the mic. Since the preamp needs phantom power, which the Bose doesn't provide, I also added a mobile phantom power adaptor. So the setup "mic-preamp-phantompower-Bose" works really well for me with lots of headroom! Maybe this is helpful for you out there!:)

No one can beat the BOSE mam , because that has cleanest powerful natural big sound that is the Bose technology and from its the size and compactibility also matters for me ,I highly recommend to you to take it and enjoy until lifetime.

Thanks for the video, it helps me make decisions as I imagine my future busking-self, post-pandemic. My opinion on the amp: the Bose just sounds under-powered compared to the others, BUT, in terms of sound quality on vocals, it was the warmest and had the most "professional" sound--i.e like they've gone through a mix and mastering process and this is the recorded version of your voice--if that makes any sense...

I actually found the sound to be too thin and not enough richness.. I'm a flutist and like a little reverb and delay on my sound..appreciate your experience!

I heard Shure A85F inline booster transformer works to fix the issue

Hi Samantha, i like your video! I'd like to by some Bose! I play keyboard Pa4x with bas, drums support they called it a STYLE and i sing! but can i play with a bose for 25 people in a restaurant ( pianobar) ? is this one strong enough?

Having had experiences with the bose stuff I think you bought the wrong bose product, I sent my S1 pro back too. You should have got the Bose L1 Compact with the Tonematch Mixer especially having your keyboard. You only get what you pay for and that goes for the Microphone too which may be a culprit, the compact is a great product which would cope with your keyboard, I've done gigs and I push Bt Tracks a guitar and my vocals through the compact and it sounds great.... the Tonematch provides colouring and I think you could do with a little reverb.

What do you think about the Roland BA-330 PA? Have you had a chance to try it out?

The bose s1 travel far but u need an extra bose s1 as a monitor so u can hear yourself. They are phenomenal. Just have to use them correctly my dear. You will feed back if the speaker is behind u. I use mines for live shows and busking. Sorry u weren't satisfied. I love mines and now use bose subs when not busking at live shows which really makes them more affective. Good luck.