This time around we take a look at the Bose S1 Pro. No matter how knowledgeable you may be regarding speaker systems, there’s a good chance you’ve heard of a Bose system. And for good reason! These things are known for packing a serious space, both professionally as well as commercially.
For those DJs and audiophiles that are a bit more “in the know” about the different speakers out there, you may legitimately be wondering just how a Bose speaker compares to some of the more impressive options out there, like the Yamaha, Edifier, or JBL.
Well, in this review, we’ll check out the Bose S1 Pro system to do just that. Can it stand up amongst the many capable studio monitors on the market today, or is it meant strictly for the portable Bluetooth PA system market?
Is the Bose S1 Pro System Worth Buying?
The Bose S1 Pro is the ultimate all-in-one PA, practice amplifier, floor monitor, and music system. The S1s are versatile, deliver quality sound, look great, and are priced at an affordable level. The Bose S1 Pro is a great find.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Has a Great Battery Life
- Impressive Sound Clarity
- Placement Orientation Options Are Very Versatile
- Convenient Carry Handle
Cons
- Price Is Somewhat High
First Impressions – The Physical Build
Starting off, let’s take a look at the S1 Pro’s physical build and how it appears fresh out of the box.
Immediately, what struck me the most about it was the speaker’s design. While tastes can certainly vary from person to person, I’m generally not all that forgiving when it comes to a speaker’s design.
After all, if it looks bad (or better yet, boring) it can kind of throw off a room’s vibe. I’m not saying design should be the most important thing., but rather up there in the top three.
Luckily the S1 Pro does well in both its design as well as its build quality. Despite the fact that its body is made from plastic, you wouldn’t tell at first. The cabinet is both robust as well as dependable. It doesn’t come across as “flimsy” or cheaply made.
The grille is made from tough metal, it’s a fairly rugged speaker, and it does a stellar job of keeping the speaker’s drivers safe and protected.
They aren’t exactly water-resistant or dust-resistant, however. That means you’ll ideally want to keep these clean and indoors if possible.
The Specs
The Bose S1 Pro comes with a 6-inch woofer alongside three 2.25-inch drivers. The woofer has a fairly low-frequency response while the drivers are all high-frequency.
This results in an impressive sound quality that is pleasant to the ear without causing listening fatigue.
In terms of sound range, the S1 Pro has a frequency range that goes from 70Hz up to 16kHz. This gives it a relatively good amount of sound depth that covers most of what the average person will be on the lookout for.
This is also true for its power output.
It can crank upwards of 150 watts of power, which is pretty similar to other speaker systems available, meaning you’ll get a lot of great sound out of its compact form.
At its maximum volume, expect the S1 Pro to reach around 98dB, again giving most people everything they want in sound, and then some. The only time this will come across as decidedly less impressive is if you’re in a larger studio space or putting them out at a big venue.
These speakers are not meant for wide-open spaces, but rather smaller, more intimate settings, where they can shine.
In terms of battery life, the S1 Pro can go for around 11 hours a day. You can also directly connect them to a power source if you plan to keep them running all day long. Just keep in mind that the louder you have them set, the lower the battery life will be.
For example, those 11 hours can easily drop down to 5 if you’re pushing them to their upper limits of volume.
Spec Breakdown
- Length: 13.1 inches (333mm)
- Width: 9.4 inches (239mm)
- Depth: 11.1 inches (282mm)
- Weight: 15.7 lbs. (7.1kg)
- Woofer Size: 6 inches
- Tweeter Size: 3 x 2.25 inches
- Power Wattage: 150 Watts
- Max SPL: 98 dB
- Frequency Range: 70Hz – 16kHz (-3dB)
The Design
The Bose S1 Pro, in my opinion, is freaking cool. From a design perspective, while they do share that bland all-black setup, its shape more than makes up for any quality deficiencies. Seriously, look at this thing. It looks like something out of a sci-fi movie or something.
Stepping back slightly from its angled body, the S1 Pro’s all-black body isn’t wholly boring. Unlike other speaker systems, it comes across as incredibly sleek and professional.
Similarly, its grille also gives this sense of “hit me with your best shot” toughness that can’t be said for even many other high-quality monitor systems out there.
Now, let’s get to the fun part. The speaker’s lightweight angled body, besides looking like something from Transformers, isn’t just there for aesthetics. In addition, it also functions as the foundational basis for a number of different configuration setups.
You can set it up vertically (like most speakers) but also horizontally or at an angled position. All of these additional options work in different ways for different listening experiences.
It also has a convenient carry handle as well as a pole mount connection point to make portability and wider reach easily accessible.
And did I mention how cool it looks? Because it looks pretty freaking cool.
Taking A Deeper Look – Features & Sound Quality
Now that we’ve taken a look at the S1 Pro’s physical build and design, let’s now go over some of the features. As it does come at a price tag that’s a bit steep, it’s important to determine if what it has to offer can justify the cost.
Sound Quality
The Bose systems have always had a more commercial aspect to them and their products. Especially for the average listener, their speakers have often leveraged high-quality audio sound with curvy EQs.
That isn’t the case with the S1 Pro. Rather than play with the sound to appease casual listeners, they have instead worked to do the exact opposite.
Here, the Bose S1 Pro has presented a much more neutral sound base that is both well-balanced as well as exceptionally clear.
What It Does Right
If you’re a fan of clean highs, then you’re going to be a fan of the Bose S1 Pro. The same goes for those that want a super crisp and defined optimal sound with virtually no harshness at the top.
And, while you aren’t going to get the same level of precision and refinement as other PA systems at this size, they do a good enough job that all but the biggest audiophiles should be happy.
The same goes for the mid-end sounds. There, you’re going to get a tonal level that is very much comparable to its highs.
Expect a good amount of audio richness and harmony at the mid-level.
The S1 Pro comes with three angled configurations, vertical, horizontal, and at an upward angle. While all are great for their respective roles, if you are looking to place the S1 Pro on the floor as a floor monitor, you’ll ideally want to set it in the upward angle position.
This will give you a super crisp sound that travels directly to your ears.
What It Doesn’t
On the other hand, the reality of the situation is that this speaker just isn’t quite on the level of the other brands out there, at least from a sound perspective.
While its highs and mids are fairly impressive, the same can’t be said for its lows. To be fair, they do offer something of a punch, however, the drop-off is so significant when you reach the sub-bass sound regions. This isn’t too unexpected, especially considering the battery size of the unit is pretty small.
Similarly, while the S1 advertises itself as fairly dispersed in its sound, that’s not quite what they’d like to suggest.
Smaller rooms will be just fine. However, if you’re in a larger area, you’re going to immediately notice the wavering sound fidelity. This only gets worse the further away you are.
Features Offered
Connection Options
The S1 Pro has two channels connection point, as well as a third auxiliary port.
Channel 1 and 2 inputs both have an XLR as well as a 1/4th-inch TRS connection. Meanwhile, the third channel comes with an aux port that is 1/8th-inch.
These, while explained this way, may seem a bit simplistic. However, you’ll pretty much be able to connect with the majority of applications and devices out there.
The exemption is the RCA cables, though that’s hardly a deal-breaker in this day and age.
Portable Bluetooth PA System
The S1 Pro also has a wireless Bluetooth connection. The portable Bluetooth input speaker pairing process is pretty easy and simple. You can also expect some very good range and connection strength with your wireless Bluetooth streaming.
You’re going to have to go far and put a lot of stuff in front of you if you want to ruin your connection. The Bose Connect App also makes the process super easy, both to connect to your ios and android devices as well as another S1 Pro for stereo sound.
The Bose Connect App also activates other features such as Party mode which allows streaming music or audio to a second system for even more sound.
Tuning Options
In addition to being huge on speaker design, I’m also always on the lookout for speakers that have a good amount of tuning options.
That’s because, the better you can calibrate your speakers, the more personalized you can make the sound for your setup.
The Bose S1 Pro, while not the most lacking in this department, does, unfortunately, leave a lot to be desired. Yes, you can set them up in a bunch of different ways to help deliver good sound, and it should certainly be praised for that.
However, in terms of its more precise tuning options, there’s very little to play with.
The S1 Pro portable Bluetooth speaker doesn’t come with any sound presets for different applications nor does it have much in the way of adjusting your mid sounds.
That said, it’s not terrible. Channel 1 and 2 both offer controls over the volume, Bass, and Treble, which is great. The speaker also has Reverb and Tonematch switches available. Tonematch is a Bose-exclusive technology that balances out the sound in relation to the microphone or other instruments.
This isn’t always perfect, but it gets it right more times than it doesn’t.
As I said in the beginning, if you’re into tuning options, the S1 Pro isn’t going to be a flat-out disappointment.
However, you shouldn’t expect the sun and stars either.
Optional rechargeable battery and Mixer
The rechargeable lithium-ion battery (sold separately) allows you to bring big sound wherever the event or party is, with up to 11 hours of playback!
Sound Like a Pro
An onboard three-channel mixer offers reverb, and EQ controls across two channels, with a dedicated channel for either wired (3.5 mm input) or additional wireless music sources.
Final Thoughts – Is it Worth Your Time?
The Bose S1 Pro is an awesome speaker system that does a lot right. It has a great design, a sturdy build, and big sound quality.
What’s more, it does all of this in the most affordable range of all the Bose products, which is saying something in and of itself. It offers impressive Bose standard optimal performance, vocals, and clearly defined instrumentals.
And while the Bass isn’t something to write home about, you’re not going to be in too bad a shape.
So, to answer the question, “Is the Bose S1 Pro worth your time?“
I have to say that, for the vast majority of people, the answer is absolute. While there are other options out there, the S1 Pro does so much right, and in such a great way, it’s really difficult to argue against it.
Bose S1 Pro: The Verdict
The Bose brand has always been synonymous with “consumer-friendly” and “casual quality”. Here, the Bose S1 Pro speaker system fully hits that mark, both in its price range as well as what it delivers.
Is it the most capable setup on the market today? No, it’s not. Is it the most well-priced speaker setup on the market today?
Again, it isn’t.
However, it is priced well enough while perform everything casual and beginner listeners will need. It is also fitted with an impressive amount of versatility and quality optimal sound while also looking amazing.
Ultimately, for the vast majority of people, the Bose S1 Pro is a great find. That said, if you are looking for something more affordable or to perform at a higher audio engineer/audiophile-type level, there are other alternatives out there to consider.
