Here's hoping that this is a compliant question within this forum:
I am a one-man band/keyboard player that needs high quality top and especially bottom for up to 200 people. Has anybody benchmarked/compared the overall power, quality and convenience of the BOSE L1-M2-B2 system with the EVO Evolve 50 system? I'd appreciate your feedback and observations.
I A, B'd both systems at GC. They were very close in highs and lows when i was standing in front of both systems. (Test was done without Tonematch) As I moved further back (and side to side) the Bose sounded great, while volume and clarity on the ev dropped. Also, the ev was way more harsh at similar volume levels..i pictured it blowing away the people up front while having to turn it up to reach the people at the back... I went in that day to buy the ev (cheaper and a little easier to set up) but ended up purchasing an L1M2B2 used, inexcellent condition, and continue to be amazed at how it tackles the intricacies of every venue. To be fair to the ev, both sales associates liked it better/were pushing me to buy it.. They really liked that "power bubble" standing right in front if it...
I have extensive and daily experience with both... usually using both simultaneously- spread as far apart as possible to try to keep bass frequencies from cancelling . I bought the EV50 as soon as it was release. I've been holding out for a newer, more powerful L1 for years. When Bose released the S1, I realized it wasn't gonna happen. Here's the breakdown. Power - EV50 is extremely powerful and can fill a VERY large room on its own, however, the mid high section can be excruciatingly brutal on the ears if you're in front of it and is VERY VERY VERY susceptible to feedback from microphones ... All the high end is coming from an 8 speaker array much smaller than the 24 in the L1. If you're gigging and the people are up front near the speakers, the L1 is far easier on them as the treble is spaced over the 24 speakers instead of concentrated in those 8 of the EV. I've alleviated it somewhat by turning the treble down 3db on the EV. For smaller rooms (1 speaker) I always use the L1M2 if I don't need a lot of volume. I often use a B2 and 2 B1 on the packlite. The main problem I've always had w the L1M2 (I've brought this up on the board here a few times beginning about 10 yrs ago) is that after an hour or two, something goes on that max volume is reduced significantly, perhaps due to the amps getting hot or whatever. I've used the model 2 since 2007 , perhaps a thousand gigs or so. (Never had that problem w the classic that I had from 2006 til 2013).
When I use the EV50 and L1 together, I always make the L1 my "monitoring" speaker - and the EV 50 at equal volume away from me, due to feedback.
If pure power isn't your goal, the L1M2 is the way to go... any more questions let me know
Thanks Tom - your response and other similar ones, has me inching towards the L1.
One other question - Other than blown or popped speakers, is there anything in particular that I need to need to watch for when if I bought a used L1? So, other than cosmetics, is there a difference between the sounds and quality of a new L1 and a used one?
We use twin Bose L1 B2 Model 2 towers with an EV50.
I'd agree with the above assessments.
We have two residences, so instead of schlepping the Bose PA's back and forth on a seasonal basis, we looked at using twin EV50's at the other location.
That lasted one show. Compared to other towers, the EV's sound pretty good, but compared to the Bose L1 B2, it's was night and day and materially inferior. There truly is Bose, and then everything else.
We returned one of the two EV's, keeping one of them to take advantage of one of it's unique features.
We tried to buy used Bose systems from Guitar Center, with mixed results.
Let's just say be skeptical with their definitions of condition. We returned two units that were shipped from various locations across the country for various reasons, (no carry cases and an upper section that didn't function). Both were considered to be in "excellent" condition, and they weren't. Guitar Centre refunded the shipping charges and I ended up simply buying a new system from them, without the Tonematch.
I currently own 2 electro-voice evolve 50's and have used 2 Bose L1 model 2's at my church for many years.
The Evolve 50 seems louder, 127dB for the Evolve vs 121dB for the L1 model2
The Evolve 50 to my ears sounds like more of a PA system (very punchy), where the Bose L1 Model 2 has a more refined elegant sound
I use the Evolve 50s for one of my DJ systems, works really well for that application, but when I perform (vocals plus my acoustic guitar), Bose is always my choice. I will use S1 Pros, L1 Compacts, or L1 Model 2 as needed for venue size.
The Evolve 50 reminds me of a Bose l1 compact on steroids 🙂