Bose PAS (personal amplification system) VERY CONFUSING!

myguitar123 · Fierce Puppy Joined: 16 Oct 2003 Posts: 236

OK....I have read about the new Bose PAS (personal amplification system) but I am STILL confused as to exactly WHAT kind of application this is for! I am talking about the new "pole" (for lack of a better description) made by bose that is SUPPOSED to do away with a current PA setup! You know....the main speakers, the subs, the monitors and even your guitar amp!

Call me skeptical, but I really don't see HOW you can replace all of that with one, single "pole" looking thingy! It just brings up a LOT of questions for me! One that I am thinking of is: will this replace the soundboard and all speakers and just have that "pole" sitting onstage??

Also: Is this system to be used for small coffee shops and clubs?? Will it work in larger settings, such as humongous places where large groups ofr people are gathered together...think THOUSANDS! And if this IS supposed to be what you use that for.....HOW MANY do you NEED...say to fill a STADIUM!?? Also HOW MANY INSTRUMENTS (guitar, bass,etc.) can you hook up to this "pole"?? Do you have to have a "pole" for each musician? If you do, then that would be EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE!

They are supposed to be around $2,300.00 APICE!! Not counting the subs built for them, which run around $800.00 APIECE!! To me, it just seems like Bose is trying to re-invent the wheel, but at a cost that most working musicians could hardly afford! Also.....would you use this thing with a conventional setup?? Again, this is so new, I just don't understand the technology....nor do I understand how a single six foot "pole" could take the place of thousands of dollars worth of equipment! Mabye someone could explain this to me in LAYMANS WORDS!?????

Bates15 · Moderator Joined: 19 Feb 2002 Posts: 1084

http://www.bose.com/controller;jsessionid=AawoIcmszSsEyNgmPZ2x3ao2b234hu2U4JJcDQlHlqNhlicZ1Tuw!-1964241782!1075458216792?event=VIEW_STATIC_PAGE_EVENT&url=/musicians/index.jsp&linksource=header_img_musicians&pageName=/cgi-bin/htsearch

Well, i have time for one post just now... still moving things around and in need of a good internet connexion.... The press preview was in a concert hall owned by BOSE, about 400 seats. All musicians (drum, double bass, guitars keys and vocals) use a single stick and a bass cabinet, exept the bass player who had six (6) subs..... It all depends on how the band can get there levels straight.... If you keep turning up your volume, the other wil do to and you wioll all make a mess out of it.

On the other hand, you dont need an mixer, you dont need monitors, you dont need amps, there are only a few cables on stage, you have the SAME sound al the way thru the hall and so on and so on....

I think the system will do in halls and rooms up to about 500 people (pushing it there) Anything bigger will be a bit of a problem. The band was a jazz/funk band that got down. No comments from the press there. Try to pick up a copy of this months SOS (sound on sound), they have the full story.... It sounds great for churches...... Imagine, no more fights with the sound man, only with the rest of the band !!!!!!!!!!

Brian · Pit Bull Joined: 26 Aug 2003 Posts: 373

I just read this thread and went to the link above and did some extended exploring. Having never heard a Bose Personal Amplification System (PAS) in use, I had entered a post elsewhere about the PAS kind of like mg123's but at least his was in the form of a skeptic's question. In contrast, my post was a statement and was not only ignorant but in total denial.

Nate you always impress me with your technical knowledge of sound reproduction and the guitar and I suddenly realized that I didn't know what I was talking about Embarassed

and have gone a few rungs up the ladder from denial to curious. If this system really does maintain audience listening levels, timbre, and clarity at or near what musicians hear on stage (and does away with the need for sound techs) like they say, this could be a boon to church Worship Teams, but the whole band needs them. I encourage some exploration of the site and I will look around to see if I can find the PAS in use.

BTW as far as it's use for electric guitar, for this tube lover the Roland amp with the COSM modelling section I bought my son actually sounds pretty darned good. Surprised

sharring · Tiger Joined: 04 Feb 2004 Posts: 812 Location: Texas

MG123 i was like you when i first saw them. But a local guy (Mike Earhart-earhart electronics) bought one. He does a solo acoustic guitar thing so it's not like i've heard one in a band situation. But it sounds great! What was particularly notable was no "dead spots" or "beaming" of the sound-that pole really disperses the highs and mids well. I think it would be ideal in a intimate church situation. And the logistical advantages....JJ Cale says "they pay me for the load in and out and travel time...i play the guitar for free". Set up and sound check in a half hour? No problem! Be God's-scott