Articulated Array

The articulated array was introduced with the L1 Model II announced March 29, 2007. This is a collection of notes and quotes about the articulated array, primarily from people-at-Bose. (alphabetical order by author)

Chris-at-Bose

When Cliff invented the first L1 , we all agreed it was a stunning solution to a terrible problem. The strong consensus on this forum over several years agrees with that. Making it into a product involved countless design decisions, many of them very hard to make. But one thing was clear--the array was a solution that worked; it didn't need "fixing", compared to all the other open questions whose answers were so obscure. So we worked on the murky questions, not on the array.

Once we had the product on the market, we began to learn how it could be even better, mostly from all of you on this forum. We told you we were listening and the L1 Model II is the result of that. When articulating the array was suggested by us, we were all pretty sure it would not work well in this kind of array. It was a long shot, but we tried it anyway and it worked better than any of us expected. Another theory in the dustbin. Breakthroughs sometimes happen and this was one of them, albeit a small one. So now we bring you the L1 Model II, with all our latest knowledge.

-- Chris-at-Bose, July 17, 2007

Cliff-at-Bose

At full chat, the L1 Model II is about as loud as the L1 Classic in front but definitely louder off to the side, due to the extra bit of spectrum wrap we got with the articulated array. Plus, we did all this with less power by the application of Real Science: a far better impedance match to the amp, a better amp, better power control processing and an improvement in the acoustical package. As a result, the new Power Stand is lighter. Sort of like the car engines from the 1930's can't touch today's lighter-weight EFI engines. The new unit is a real engineering achievement.

-- Cliff-at-Bose, April 3, 2007

Jesse-at-Bose

"Articulated" refers to the fact that the individual drivers in the Model II are angled slightly to the sides in an alternating pattern. (In the L1 classic, they're all facing straight ahead.) So both the L1 classic and Model II have extremely wide coverage (nearly 180 degrees,) but the M II gives you the most consistent tone as you move side to side.

We've all been impressed with the off-axis performance of the L1 Classic - the articulated array in the M II takes that even further.

-- Jesse-at-Bose, March 29, 2007

MikeZ-at-Bose

The array has been improved to give the widest, most even sound coverage across the room that we can deliver.

BUT, I want to establish that the difference between the two arrays is not like the difference between conventional gear and the L1 model I.

With the L1 Model I, if an *experienced* listener closed their eyes and walked around the room, they could tell approximately how far 'off axis' (what angle they were standing relative to the speaker) they were. With the model II, the listener cannot tell what angle they are relative to the speaker array.

-- MikeZ-at-Bose, March 29, 2007

Question Does the articulated array of the Model II have as long of a throw as the original L-1? I seem to recall hearing the the Classic maintained a cylindrical pattern out to around 85 or 90 feet.

Yes. The basic cylindrical wavefront properties of the L1 Model II are unchanged from the L1 Classic / L1 Model I. I have not measured or audibly noticed any difference in the speakers 'throw ability'.

-- MikeZ-at-Bose, July 5, 2007

---