L1 has sound but audio is muffled

Portable PA
1

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Bose product name

L1 Model S

 

Country

USA

Firmware Version

 

App Version

 

What devices were you using that were affected and what version are they on (e.g. Samsung Galaxy S9 on Android 11, iPhone X on iOS14, etc.)
1/4 to 3.55 cable 

Detailed description of the issue and steps to reproduce

Sound seems ok but the audio is muffled

What environment do you experience the issue in? (e.g. noisy office, quiet kitchen, etc.)

Always 

When did you start to experience the issue? Did it work correctly previously?

No 

Any troubleshooting steps you took

No

 

2

Hello PBECK,

 

A single 3.5 mm TRS to 1/4" TRS cable will not work properly straight into the power stand.  Your phone has a 3.5mm TRS connector wired for stereo applications (left, right, common), but the input on the L1 Model 1S is a TRS connector wired for balanced pro audio signals (signal , signal -, common). The L1 Model 1S is a mono device. You will be shorting the left and right signals against each other. You may get some signal, but it will sound somewhat "hollow" or "muffled", as you've discovered.

 

There are basically three ways to connect a phone to the L1 Model 1S input:

 

The first method depends on whether you can set your phone to mono output (you'll have to check your phone settings to see if that's possible.) You would then use a 3.5mm TRS plug to two 1/4" TS plugs Y-cable, like this:

Dual Quarter Inch TS to Eighth Inch TRS.jpg

Set the phone to mono, then plug in just one of the two TS plugs, and leave the other not connected.

 

Use the second method if you can't set your phone to mono.  If you can't set your phone to mono, the Y-cable will only give you the left channel of your stereo music.  You'll need to use a mixer, along with the same Y-cable as above.  You'll need to connect the two 1/4" plugs to two mono channels on a mixer, pan both channels right, then connect only the right main output to your L1.

 

The third method is with an interface box.  RapcoHorizon makes a device called an "LTIBLOX":

LTIBLOX.jpg

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.  Details can be found at this link:  RapcoHorizon Blox  You would then use an XLR female to 1/4" TRS male cable

XLR-F to Quarter Inch TRS.jpgfrom the interface to the L1. Other manufacturers offer similar devices. I have used the LTIBLOX and it works well.

 

Of course, a mixer gives you the ability to amplify and shape the tone of your phone signal. A specialty device only converts your phone's signal from unbalanced stereo to balanced mono but does not allow you to shape the tone.  Also, some phones don't put out a sufficiently loud headphone signal to drive an interface to its full potential.

 

Does that help?