Ok...So i just bought a single Bose L1 Model 2 tower for use as a sound system for a mobile DJ. I use a laptop for all my music. Currently i run my laptop through an old NuMark CD mixer, its old and its just really a vehicle to connect the laptop to the speakers....but hooking up the laptop to my new bose tower....im totally lost...i can't figure this out.
One of the reasons i bought the bose speaker tower was sound of course, and that i wanted a lightweight easy to assemble system, i didn't want to have 2 towers, i figured one would be enough. Any and all input is appreciated. Im truly lost....
Hi and welcome to the Bose Pro-Portable Community!
There are a couple of ways that you can achieve your setup. The simplest way would be to run an Aux Cable that has a 3.5mm connection on one end and a 1/4" connection on the other (See image below)
The 3.5mm plug would connect to the Headphone port on your Laptop and the 1/4" plug would connect to the Analog Input of L1 Model II. This is not recommended unless you can ensure that your laptop is only outputting a Mono Signal.
Alternatively, you may want to consider using a Mixer such as the Bose T4S/T8S ToneMatch. This will allow you to run your audio from your Laptop using a USB Cable and this also gives you more inputs for Microphones/Instruments and a lot of control over EQ. The audio will then run out of the mixer to your L1 Model II.
If you want to read more about the ToneMatch Mixer, you can follow these links:
T4S ToneMatch Mixer - https://www.bose.com/en_us/products/speakers/portable_pa_speakers/t4s_tonematch_mixer.html#v=t4s_tonematch_mixer_black
T8S ToneMatch Mixer - https://www.bose.com/en_us/products/speakers/portable_pa_speakers/t8s_tonematch_mixer.html#v=t8s_tonematch_mixer_black
Let me know if this helps.
Your laptop has a 3.5mm TRS connector wired for stereo applications (left, right, common), but the input on the L1M2 is a TRS connector wired for balanced pro audio signals (signal , signal -, common). The L1M2 is a mono device. A 3.5 mm TRS to 1/4" TRS cable will not work properly straight into the L1M2 power stand. You will be shorting the left and right signals against each other. You may get some signal, but it will sound somewhat "hollow".
You will need to use some sort of device to convert the signal from stereo to balanced -- either a mixer as David_G suggested, or a specialty device.
- With a mixer, you would run a Y-cable 3.5 MM TRS plug to two 1/4" TS plugs to two channels on the mixer, pan both channels to the right on the mixer, then from the mixer out to the L1M2 power stand using an XLR-TRS or TRS-TRS cable (whichever is appropriate for your mixer.
or
- RapcoHorizon makes a device called an "LTIBLOX". It has a 3.5MM TRS stereo plug on one end of the cable, connected to a small box with volume control and an XLR male connector. https://www.rapcohorizon.com/product/223/laptop-blox
You would then use an XLR female to 1/4" TRS male cable. Example: https://www.rapcohorizon.com/product/424/std-trs-xlrf
The LTIBLOX converts the laptop's stereo signal to a mono XLR signal. Then the XLR-TRS cable carries the balanced pro audio signal to the L1M2 power stand. Other manufacturers offer similar devices. I have used the LTIBLOX and it works well.
Of course, a mixer gives you the ability to shape the tone of your laptop signal. A specialty device only converts your laptop's signal from stereo to balanced but does not allow you to shape the tone.
Does that help?
I agree with (and thanks for the clarity in your post). I have edited my previous post to add that it is not recommended to run a 3.5mm TRS to 1/4" .
For the best setup, quality and control of the audio output from your Laptop to the L1, a Mixer/Audio Interface would be the best approach.