With S1 Pro threads all over the place wasn't quite sure where to post my results with installing, charging, and using the battery, so just started this one.
My power longevity test also involved a new 500 Watt power generator to run my Voicelive 3 Extreme, a Pigtronix Infinity Looper, a Helicon Corona Chorus, a Baggs DI, and the T1, before going into the S1 Pro, but those successful generator results are for another post and will be of more interest to buskers etc needing a good portable power source. I used my Neumann KSM105 mic and my Taylor 214ce guitar.
I'm more than impressed with the S1 Pro Battery and it's longevity. Installing so simple it doesn't even merit attention here. The one thing I didn't do was see how long the quick charge feature actually took to fully charge the battery. I plugged it in before bed and of course it was full in the morning. The battery charges anytime the AC plug is inserted, but pushing the switch down all the way (to the battery icon) is the quick charge mode. I will come back with charging time information later.
For the longevity test I set up everything exactly like I do for my regular performances with the L1 Model II and B2 Bass Module. I cranked the volume of the S1 Pro past the mid-way indent to about 4:00. Way more than my room needed, but I wanted to pull power the same as in an average small venue, wanting to test on the "push it" side of things.
Testing how much power is available and how much is used while in use is tested by pushing the button on Auxillary Channel 3 twice. The power light will then blink either 1, 2, 3, or 4 times. There is no exact percentage of power given, but the blinks are:
• 1 Blink = 10%-24% still available
• 2 Blinks =25%-49% still available
• 3 Blinks = 50%-75% still available
• 4 Blinks = more than u available
You can do this test at any given time. Note: There is also an included diagram sticker with these blink categories included with the battery.
My results were very impressive! Much more than I expected. The system ran for a constant 8 hours and 15 minutes before it tested with only one light blink meaning there was still somewhere between 10%-24% when I stopped! How I did this was to play and practice through it, just like live, and when I would break I would use the mic looper and the guitar looper to keep guitar and voice going non stop throughout the test. (kinda rough to play for 8 straight hours non-stop and to hear yourself loop endlessly at that volume when you aren't playing... LOL!) The S1 Pro gave me 8 full hours and 15 minutes before I just stopped from not wanting to drain it completely. This came to 2 more hours than the touted number at more than half volume....and was still with some power room to spare!
That is impressive! I will never perform this long at a time that I know of.
How it fared in longevity time At Over Half Volume:
• It took the S1 Pro 2 hours and 15 minutes to change from 4 blinks to 3 blinks. (still 50%-75% power available)
• It stayed at 50%-75% (3 blinks) power available until it ran 6 hours and 15 minutes!!
• It then stayed at 25%-49% (2 blinks) until it ran for 7 hours and 30 minutes!
• It then stayed at 10%-24% (1 blink) until it ran 8 hours and 15 minutes and then I stopped.
For busking, small venues, parties, etc, this will way more than handle the power needs. The sound, volume, and battery life for it's size is pretty incredible.
I still have yet to test it in a setup with venue/crowd noise etc, nor have I used it outdoors to see it's projection.....but mounted on a speaker stand or at table level indoors and small venue, this is a product where Bose really delivered a lot of bang for the buck. It's definitely a busker's dream system. You won't run out of juice.
