Connecting iPhone to T1®

Portable PA
1

Hi Phil,

I noticed your post in the Ask Bose for Help forum.

Phil posted:

just bought L1 1S B2 plus a Tonemaster T1

Question re T1 cabling for connecting an iphone for backing tracks -I am confused, internet search and manual are contradictory.

1.Why can't  I simply use the 3.5 mm from the phone and connect to input 1/2 or 3 via a 1/4 stereo jack

2. Do I really have to buy a new cable to connect 3.5mm from phone to 2x 1/4 inch mono jacks into channel 4/5. Also, on this point some of the internet stuff ( Bose sponsored video) shows 3.5mm jack ending in 2 phono connections.

It is much simpler connecting to my Fender Passport Pro

Regards

Phil

It sounds like you have read this note in the Bose Pro Portable PA wiki.

Backing Tracks

I've just added some more information to that article that addresses your questions.

Phil posted:

just bought L1 1S B2 plus a Tonemaster T1

Question re T1 cabling for connecting an iphone for backing tracks -I am confused, internet search and manual are contradictory.

1.Why can't  I simply use the 3.5 mm from the phone and connect to input 1/2 or 3 via a 1/4 stereo jack

The output from your iPhone is stereo. The T1® inputs 1, 2, and 3 are mono.

If you use a cable like this

you will probably hear only the LEFT side of your stereo signal from the iPhone.

Set your iPhone to MONO

If you set your iPhone output to mono, then you can connect to T1® channels 1, 2, 3 with a cable like this and hear both the LEFT and RIGHT sides of the stereo signal.

Launch the Settings app on your iPad or iPhone.

  1. Tap General.
  2. Tap Accessibility.
  3. In the Hearing section, turn Mono Audio On


Now both sides of the stereo output will have a mono signal (both LEFT and RIGHT channels combined).

You can connect the mono output to a mono unbalanced input like T1 ToneMatch® Audio Engine channels 1,2,3.

This does not apply to T1 ToneMatch® Audio Engine channel 4/5. The channel 4/5 inputs are balanced mono and not compatible with a stereo signal (or a stereo signal that has been mixed down to mono from the iPad or iPhone).

2. Do I really have to buy a new cable to connect 3.5mm from phone to 2x 1/4 inch mono jacks into channel 4/5.

If you set your iPhone to mono, you don't need a new cable.

Also, on this point some of the internet stuff ( Bose sponsored video) shows 3.5mm jack ending in 2 phono connections.

T1® channel 4/5 is designed to accept the LEFT and RIGHT sides of a stereo signal and combine them to mono. You can use a cable like this.

connected like this.

I have updated the notes in the wiki to include the information above.

Does that help?

ST

@Phil 4

2

One issue is preventing damage to your iPhone by shorting L & R together with the wrong adapter. Same with  your Passport. Another issue is getting good sound. A balanced input 1/4" uses tip and ring as plus and minus. A  headphone jack uses tip and ring as Left plus and Right plus. If you connect two pluses to the plus and minus all you will hear is the difference between the two, instead of the addition of both, (like you want).

3

Very interesting. Good to know that the 1/4" insides of the combo jacks on inputs 1,2,3 are unbalanced (I assumed that they wouldn't be)

4

Hi Steve,

The 1/4" inputs on T1® channel 4/5 are balanced. There's more about the T1® in the article linked below.

T1 ToneMatch® Audio Engine

ST