I am located in Australia
My question is : What is the signal output from the line out socket on Bose S1 Pro Portable Speaker?
Hi lynndinohutchinson!
Thank you for your post. Please could you clarify what is meant by "signal output"?
If this refers to unbalanced vs balanced audio, I can confirm that the line connections on the S1 Pro support both.
I am a solo alto saxophonist, playing in small venues. I use the Bose S1 Pro as my PA system, to play backing music from a tablet. As a fold-back speaker, so I can hear the backing whilst I play, I connect an IK Multimedia iLoud compact portable speaker, from the Bose S1 Pro Line Out. All components are stand alone, battery operated and both these speakers are great however, this connection generates distortion and low quality sound. Maybe the signal is mismatched? Bluetooth from the tablet will only pair to one speaker at a time and, while the quality is really good, it can't work as an option for the two speaker scenario.
Hey lynndinohutchinson!
Does this poor quality audio occur when the sound is only played through the S1 Pro System? Have you attempted connecting your tablet to the S1 Pro via AUX instead of using Bluetooth? A wired connection would certainly prove more reliable and may carry the signal at a better quality.
Let me know if this helps.
The Bose S1 Pro Line Out socket is a mono, balanced line-level signal, while the input on your IK Multimedia iLoud is a 1/8" stereo signal.
If you are using a 1/4" TRS cable to 1/8" TRS cable, you will get bad sound. A balanced signal doesn't provide stereo (i.e., left and right), it provides one signal in two different phases ( and -). If it's plugged into an input expecting a stereo signal, the and - cancel each other out.
You can use a TS cable, which will only send the signal. However, if you use a 1/4" TS cable to 1/8" TS cable, you will get a clean signal, but since you're plugging a TS connector into a jack expecting a stereo signal from a TRS plug, you'll only get the left signal.
On top of that, I'm sure that the S1 Pro output signal will overdrive the input on the ILoud, since it's designed for signals from devices like MP3 players or computers.
ART Pro Audio makes a device called a "HeadTap" that might fill your needs. (I don't work for Art, nor have I used one, so I can't call this a recommendation.) According to the instructions, you should be able to run a 1/4" TS to 1/4" TS cable into the "Amp Parallel In" on the HeadTap, and 1/4" TRS to 1/8" TRS cable from the HeadTap's headphone out jack to the input on your iLoud. The HeadTap has a mono/stereo button, so you can route the incoming mono signal to both the left and right stereo channels, and a level control so you can adjust the signal strength. Also, it's a passive device that doesn't require batteries or external power supply.
The only other solutions I see are to insert a battery-powered mixer (e.g., Behringer 1002B) between the S1 Pro line out and your iLoud, or return the iLoud and get another battery-powered speaker (e.g., another S1 Pro) that accepts a balanced line-level signal.
Does that help?
Thank you Fish-54 for your feedback. Using this information I have gone back to discuss it with my sound store music geek. As a result we have devised and put into place a modification which bypasses the use of the Bose S1 Pro line out socket :
- From the Android tablet 3.5mm stereo socket - splitting the 3.5mm stereo audio into 2 x 3.5mm stereo audio sockets using a Prolink 3.5mm ST plug to 2 x 3.5mm sockets
- One stereo socket is connected directly to the iLoud 3.5mm line input
- Second stereo socket is connected directly to a passive Switchcraft #318 Mini AudioStix 3.5mm stereo in and mono XLR out
- Connect XLR to the Bose S1 Pro Channel 1 - XLR Input
With this set up, sound quality from the Bose S1 Pro is really good and from the iLoud much improved. Another progression would be to introduce the battery operated Behringer 1002B, as you suggested. The selection of the iLoud as a fold back, in the first instance, was for it's very compact size, battery operation and 3.5mm input. I have mounted the tablet, the Bose S1 Pro and the iLoud all on one speaker stand, which will work well in small venues.
As extra to the above, I am awaiting delivery of the new Yamaha YDS-150 digital saxophone (battery operated) which I plan to connect and play thru the Bose S1 Pro AUX Input, as a further enhancement to my solo performance.