L1 Pro32 with Sub1 and L1 Pro16

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This article expresses my opinion and experience. Please post comments to Twitter @ST_Muso or LinkedIn @STPro. Thank you — ST.


L1 Pro32 with Sub1Sub2Pro16 150x200.jpg

Question
What benefit will there be adding a Sub2 to an L1 Pro32 with a Sub1?
Answer
The result will be almost the same as running the Sub2 alone. The Sub2 plus Sub1 is only slightly louder than the Sub2 alone.
Testing, testing
I have an L1 Pro32 with Sub1, but not a Sub2. Instead, I connected an L1 Pro 16 power stand to the L1 Pro32 line out to simulate adding a Sub2. Then I cranked up the volume on everything. I turned the Sub1 off/on and heard almost no difference. The L1 Pro16 drowned out the Sub1. I expect the result would be the same with a Sub1 and a Sub2; the Sub2 would drown out the Sub1.
The math: If you run a Sub2 and add another Sub2, you can expect up to +6 dB SPL. You get +3 dB from doubling the power and up to +3 dB by doubling of acoustic volume, cone area and close coupling between the speakers.
However, if you run a Sub2 and add a Sub1, you 'might get up to' +3 dB SPL, because you are adding less than half as much power and half as much surface area. I expect the gain is less than that.

If running two L1 Pro32 with Sub1 systems and wanted to add more bass, I would do one of the following.

  • Put two Sub1 in cardioid mode on one L1 Pro32
  • Use the L1 Pro16 power stand for the sub for the other L1 Pro32

OR

  • Use the two L1 Pro32 systems behind the performers (assuming there are only two)
    • If there is excessive bass build-up on the stage, I would put the two Sub1s together in cardioid mode
  • Use the two L1 Pro16 systems (complete with the cylindrical radiators) as extension speakers

OR

  • Use all four L1 Pro systems behind the performers (assuming there are four)
  • Use the L1 Pro32 for the lead voice/guitars
  • Use the L1 Pro16 for the drummer and bass player


Background

I have two L1 Pro32 with Sub1 systems. I chose the Sub1 option for portability.

I have two L1 Pro16 systems. I chose these because they have the J-shape projection pattern (good for playing on elevated stages) AND the output to the bass transducer is 1000 watts RMS (similar to the Sub2). My plan was to use the L1 Pro16 power stand in place of the Sub2 in situations where I needed more bass than the Sub1 could provide.

Note:

  • Sub1 480 Watts RMS into the 7 x 13" racetrack transducer.
  • L1 Pro16 1000 Watts RMS into the 10 x 18" racetrack transducer.


Here is a comparison of the L1 Pro16 and L1 Pro32

Questions and comments or LinkedIn @STPro.Thank youST.
Feature Bose L1 Pro16 Bose L1 Pro32
  L1 Pro16 w Coverage 221x200.jpg L1 Pro32 with subs w Coverage 305x205.jpg
Feature Bose L1 Pro16 Bose L1 Pro32
Horizontal dispersion 180 degrees 180 degrees
Vertical dispersion 0/-30 degrees (J-shape) 0 degrees (straight shape)
Output 118 dB / 124 dB peak  With Sub1: 117 dB / 123 dB peak
With Sub2: 122 dB / 128 dB peak
Audience not specified not specified
Speaker Array Sixteen 2.00" (51 mm) articulated cricket drivers Thirty two 2.00" (51 mm) articulated cricket drivers
Woofer One 10"x 18" neodymium racetrack transducer in the power stand Sub1:One 7" x 13" neodymium racetrack transducer
Sub2:One 10"x 18" neodymium racetrack transducer 
Low Frequency 42 Hz - 3dB With Sub1: 40 Hz - 3dB
With Sub2: 37 Hz - 3dB
Crossover 200 Hz 200 Hz
Power to speakers Biamped
  •  250 Watts RMS mid-high array
  • 1000 Watts RMS to sub
  • 1250 Watts RMS total
Biamped
  • Power Stand 480 Watts RMS mid-high array
  • Sub1 480 Watts RMS (960 Watts RMS total)
  • Sub2 1000 Watts RMS (1480 Watts RMS total)
Weight Total system weight 18 kg (54.9 lb)
  • Power Stand: 18.8 kg (41.4 lb)
  • Mid-High array and extension: 6.1 kg (13.5 lb)
Total system weight with
Sub1 29.1 kg (62.7 lb)
Sub2 36.4 kg (79.3 lb)
  • Power Stand: 5.9 kg (13.0 lb)
  • Mid-High arrays (2) 7.1 kg (15.6 lb)
  • Sub1 16.1 kg (34.1 lb)
  • Sub2 23.4 kg (50.7 lb)
Dimensions (H x W x D) 201.2 x 35.5 x 45.6 cm
(79.2 x 14.0 x 18.0 in)
L1 Pro32
213.5 × 34.5 × 55 cm (84.1 × 13.6 × 21.7 in)
Sub1 53.0 × 25.0 × 53.0 cm (20.9 × 9.8 × 20.9 in) Sub2 69.0 × 30.5 × 55.0 cm (27.2 × 12.0 × 21.7 in)
Footprint (floor space required)
L1 Pro32 with Sub1 (W x D) 59.4 x 55.1 cm (23.4 x 21.7 in)
L1 Pro32 with Sub2 (W x D) 65.0 x 55.1 cm (25.6 x 21.7 in)
Power Stand Height (front | rear) 66 front | 62.23 rear cm
26 front | 24.5 rear inches
10.16 front | 10.16 rear cm
4 front | 4 rear inches
Sound Projection Click for full discussion
Everything below this bar is the same for both
ToneMatch® Presets Channels 1 and 2
Full suite of ToneMatch Presets available in the ToneMatch mixers, built-in. Set using the L1 Mix App.
Channels 1 and 2
Full suite of ToneMatch Presets available in the ToneMatch mixers, built-in. Set using the L1 Mix App.
Battery No No
Connections Channels 1 and 2
Combo Jacks
XLR / 6 mm (1/4" Tip-Ring or Tip-Ring-Sleeve) balanced / unbalanced
Channel 3/Aux Input
  • 6 mm (1/4" Tip-Ring or Tip-Ring-Sleeve) balanced / unbalanced
  • 3 mm (1/8" Tip-Ring-Sleeve) accepts stereo or mono input
  • Bluetooth input
Channels 1 and 2
Combo Jacks
XLR / 6 mm (1/4" Tip-Ring or Tip-Ring-Sleeve) balanced / unbalanced
Channel 3/Aux Input
  • 6 mm (1/4" Tip-Ring or Tip-Ring-Sleeve) balanced / unbalanced
  • 3 mm (1/8" Tip-Ring-Sleeve) accepts stereo or mono input
  • Bluetooth input
Tone Controls Channels 1 and 2 * Bass / Treble Channel 3 * None Channel 1 * Bass / Treble Channel 2 * None
Line Out XLR balanced XLR balanced
Bluetooth input Yes: Channel 3
Supports Bluetooth 5.x
Yes: Channel 3
Supports Bluetooth 5.x
Reverb Channels 1 and 2 Yes
Channel 3 None
Channels 1 and 2 Yes
Channel 3 None
ToneMatch Port Yes full support for T4S/T8S
power only for T1
Yes full support for T4S/T8S
power only for T1
System EQ Yes
Live/Music/Speech/Off
Yes
Live/Music/Speech/Off
Scenes Yes
Store/recall system settings via Bose L1 Mix App
Yes
Store/recall system settings via Bose L1 Mix App
Bose L1 Mix App Yes
Wireless control over volume, tone, reverb and system EQ
Yes
Wireless control over volume, tone, reverb and system EQ