So, I am an original QSC junkie. I sold my QSC rig to get the Bose F1 System. I needed to ditch the heavy 18inch sub and get lighter gear without sacrificing much output.
I went to compare the QSC KS112 to the F1 Sub because..hey...it's QSC.
I took a friend along with me that did not know much about brands or gear specs. I needed an unbiased ear because I know how much I loved my QSC gear, and how much I currently love my Bose System.
Long story short, the QSC KS112 was louder and outperformed the Bose F1 Sub....INITIALLY.
Now, short story long...the sound tech told us that the QSC would blow the Bose away. When he turned on the QSC it was apparent that the Bose was outmatched..even though we had not even listened to it. The tech also showed me on the Presonous board that there was still plenty of headroom. I was amazed. Then I asked him if the QSC was limiting yet. He walked around to the back of the sub while I leaned over to see the back panel. The limit light was blazing red. I asked him to turn the sub down until the limit light went off. Once turned down to respectable levels outside of limiting, the QSC Sub was brought back down to earth.
Now the tech went to push sound through the Bose Sub. The performance was very lack luster. I asked him to push the Sub to limit. Once he started to turn the volume up, the Sub came alive. He could not get the F1 Sub to limit. It was asking for more signal. I'm pretty sure a change in song with ugly bass would have limited the Sub, but I went with the exact same playback source and song as the QSC.
Based on that test alone we were not able to push the QSC as hard as we were able to push the BOSE. My friend said that the BOSE sounded better and the QSC sounded like deep noise. I would have to agree with the novice.
On a side note, this is the 2nd facility that I entered and pretended that I knew nothing of the Bose. I have noticed that in both facilities, the Bose is priced higher than the gear that I want to test against it. It is my opinion that from a sales perspective, they assume that I would be more inclined to purchase the least expensive of the two, so they purposely make the least expensive product outshine the Bose product. I can't prove that, but I will be visiting 2 more facilities in this chain. If the same happens again, then I know it is a sales / marketing ploy that is targeting unlearned consumers. So when you go and test out new gear, please be the person calling the shots on how the tests are to be performed. If you can, also dictate sub placement during the tests. I have noticed that the Bose F1 Sub product is placed in areas that lack reflective surfaces...and we all know that can "make or break" low frequency reception.
I bought my L1s used from a guy on craigslist and when the seller played them for me they were noisy as all get out. But I knew he had them dialed in wrong. So I bought them and set them up at home and they are perfect. He was sending a weak signal to an amped up system.
A really good salesman will start with the best most expensive stuff and work his/her way down until you are comfortable with the price and sound quality. I think Bose makes the best PA equipment that I am willing to carry at 61 years-old!
The speakers are so quiet I sometimes forget to turn them off. I really like this forum because there seems to be a lot of experienced performers giving very helpful, usefull advice.
So, I am an original QSC junkie. I sold my QSC rig to get the Bose F1 System. I needed to ditch the heavy 18inch sub and get lighter gear without sacrificing much output.
I went to compare the QSC KS112 to the F1 Sub because..hey...it's QSC.
I took a friend along with me that did not know much about brands or gear specs. I needed an unbiased ear because I know how much I loved my QSC gear, and how much I currently love my Bose System.
Long story short, the QSC KS112 was louder and outperformed the Bose F1 Sub....INITIALLY.
Now, short story long...the sound tech told us that the QSC would blow the Bose away. When he turned on the QSC it was apparent that the Bose was outmatched..even though we had not even listened to it. The tech also showed me on the Presonous board that there was still plenty of headroom. I was amazed. Then I asked him if the QSC was limiting yet. He walked around to the back of the sub while I leaned over to see the back panel. The limit light was blazing red. I asked him to turn the sub down until the limit light went off. Once turned down to respectable levels outside of limiting, the QSC Sub was brought back down to earth.
Now the tech went to push sound through the Bose Sub. The performance was very lack luster. I asked him to push the Sub to limit. Once he started to turn the volume up, the Sub came alive. He could not get the F1 Sub to limit. It was asking for more signal. I'm pretty sure a change in song with ugly bass would have limited the Sub, but I went with the exact same playback source and song as the QSC.
Based on that test alone we were not able to push the QSC as hard as we were able to push the BOSE. My friend said that the BOSE sounded better and the QSC sounded like deep noise. I would have to agree with the novice.
On a side note, this is the 2nd facility that I entered and pretended that I knew nothing of the Bose. I have noticed that in both facilities, the Bose is priced higher than the gear that I want to test against it. It is my opinion that from a sales perspective, they assume that I would be more inclined to purchase the least expensive of the two, so they purposely make the least expensive product outshine the Bose product. I can't prove that, but I will be visiting 2 more facilities in this chain. If the same happens again, then I know it is a sales / marketing ploy that is targeting unlearned consumers. So when you go and test out new gear, please be the person calling the shots on how the tests are to be performed. If you can, also dictate sub placement during the tests. I have noticed that the Bose F1 Sub product is placed in areas that lack reflective surfaces...and we all know that can "make or break" low frequency reception.
Awesome information........ I just picked up a pair of Bose F1's about a month ago...... I'm extremely happy with them. I did listen to the Bose subs and loved the nice solid tight punch of them. I have a passive 18" SP Peavey subcompact which has served me well over the years but, the bass isn't solid and tight like the Bose and/or other smaller woofers. I would love to trade up for at least one of those Bose subs over my Peavey.......... Thanks for sharing your test. Ray ??????