If you happened to read the Bose L1 Pro8 review back in issue 105, you’ll have discovered that Bose’s new Pro range is indeed pro and brings with it a whole new list of innovations. For this review we’re going straight for the Big Kahuna, the Bose L1 Pro32, and paired with the Sub2, which promises high levels of audio quality and plenty of boom boom. Let’s check it out!

Now, I’ll be honest, it’s really hard to demo equipment like this in your front room. As I write, venues aren’t allowed to open, and, while searching for a function suite to use, the venues I did ask wanted some serious dollar, so I declined with a smile. I’ve got understanding neighbours, surely, they won’t mind?

To start, let’s get the cost of this system out of the way. There’s no easy way of breaking this to you. The Bose L1 Pro32 with the matching Sub2 Bass module weighs in at around £2,800, which is not bad considering this is Bose’s most advanced L1 system, ever. You could opt for the smaller Sub1 bass module, which brings the price down a little to £2,500.

Do you need a matching pair? Not really, if the majority of your gigs are up to 100-120 people. Do you WANT a matching pair? Hell yeah! And it’s only because having a single speaker on one side of the booth just looks a bit…odd.

So, with costs out of the way, what do you get for your money?

Let’s start with the Sub2 powered bass module. The box it comes in is massive. The poor delivery guy was working up a sweat just bringing it in. When you open the box, you realise that the size is not a result of Bose wrapping the Sub2 in loads of packaging to protect it during delivery, it’s because the Sub2 is indeed massive.

The Sub2 measures around 27”/55cm high, 12”/30cm wide, and weighs in at just over 50lb/23.5kg. It adopts the same race-track driver as the L1 Pro8, Pro16 and Sub1, and delivers plenty of low end, down to 39 Hz. The high-excursion driver itself is 10” wide x 18” tall and delivers performance that rivals a traditional 15” subwoofer but without the size. Bose doesn’t actually rate the power output of the Sub2, but it looks like the built-in Class D power amplifier delivers about 1000w RMS.

The Sub2 came with a slip-on cover that will protect the speaker from dust and the odd ding against a wall as you bring it in, though it’s not padded so you might want to invest in something a bit more substantial. Having said that, it’s a nice little add-on and something I wish other speaker manufacturers would include.

You can’t help but notice that there are rubber feet on the sides, so you can actually lay the Sub2 on its side, or stack them, if you want to. On one side you have an M20 pole socket, so you can get this to work with whatever speaker system you have. Also, the little Bose logo on the front can be turned 90 degrees, so if little things like that affect you, like they do me, then that’s good to know!

Around the back is a pair of line inputs that will accept XLR and TRS balanced or unbalanced connections, and a pair of XLR outputs for connecting to other loudspeakers. You’ll also find a button to control the line-in EQ so you can activate L1-mode if using with other L1 systems, or you can run it with a generic low-pass filter. You get a similar control with the line-out signal, so you can either send a full-range signal or a high-pass filtered one.

You’ll also find a button that will allow you to control the polarity of the sub, also known as “cardoid mode”. This allows you to control where the bass is firing. It really comes into its own when using a pair of Sub2 subwoofers together, steering the bass to the front whilst negating rear-firing bass energy, which can help reduce feedback.

At the bottom you’ll find some proprietary SubMatch connectors that will pair up with the L1 Pro32 and other Bose systems compatible with SubMatch. This single cable connection makes setup easier, as the EQ, volume and settings can all be controlled from a single point – all you need to do is plug in and go.

The Sub also has an IEC power connection accessed by sliding the door next to the sub match port. This makes the sub a standalone unit that can be used in combination with other speakers such as the Bose S1 Pro.

Now, onto the line array system itself, and if you’ve ever owned an L1 system you’ll notice that the Pro32 is very different. Firstly, the power stand is considerably smaller than previous generations. I had the original classic, which had a massive power stand. The model 2 was slightly smaller. And this new version is smaller again.

In terms of size, the power stand is 60cm/24” long, around 35cm/14” wide (at its widest point) and about 10cm/4” tall. Although it’s much smaller than previous generations, adding the array sections doesn’t make it any less stable. Underneath there’s a carry handle to help you move the power stand, which weighs around 6kg/13lbs.

The included carry bag is more substantial than the one you get with the Sub2; it’s more padded and will afford you a bit more protection. While the carry handle of the power stand isn’t accessible when it’s in the protective bag, you do get additional handles. (It looks a bit like a sports bag, so you wouldn’t look out of place if you fancied taking it to the gym!)

As with previous L1 generations, Bose made the decision to put all the inputs and knobs on the top, which, I’ll be honest, is the L1’s greatest design flaw. If you’re a musician, the L1 is probably more secure than it is for mobile DJs. But regardless, these power stands are great places for people to stash their drinks.

When I had the L1 classic, my anxiety levels would go through the roof as I watched people place their pint pots or glasses of prosecco on the power stand. All it would take is one highly energetic dancer to swing their legs around and knock it all over, and you could do nothing but watch the contents of those glasses pour all over the electronics of your prized investment.

It wasn’t just drink you had to be careful of, either. The line array sections make very attractive poles and often it wasn’t long before a guest (usually male) would attempt to perform an un-sexy dance against the array sections whilst standing on the power stand.

The good news is that the power stand on the L1 Pro32 is much smaller, so the ability to stand on it is somewhat reduced. However, it does still offer a handy platform on which someone could place their drink, so it’s something you’ll always need to keep in mind.
There are improvements elsewhere, too, thanks to the plethora of inputs and buttons with which to control your sound. Bluetooth is also included, so if you download the free Bose L1 Mix app to your phone (Android or Apple) you can control everything from one single source, even the Sub2.

It all starts with the two main channels, which use XLR/combo-jack inputs and can be independently switched between line signal, instrument or microphone. You also get phantom power – handy if you use condenser microphones. There’s a third channel that you can use with Bluetooth for easy connection to your phone or other suitable device. You’ll also find 3.5mm jack and a 1/4-inch TRS input on this channel, so you can pretty much connect anything you like to the L1 Pro32.

EQ-wise, there are simple controls so you can either run it flat or with some handy built-in presets for live, music or speech. There’s an XLR line-out so you can connect to other systems, and a ToneMatch port for connecting the L1 Pro32 to a T4S or T8S mixer. On the back you’ll find an IEC power input and a SubMatch output for connection to the Sub2 subwoofer. The SubMatch connector, as well as power, also sends signal, so you don’t need to use an additional cable to get audio into the Sub2. As I said above, if you download the Mix app you can literally control the whole system from your phone over Bluetooth.

The arrays themselves have also been updated. Each one is just over 100cm/25” tall and weighs around 3.5kg, and Bose supplies a single padded bag to store and transport them in. Each section contains 16 articulated 2” neodymium drivers, which offer a wide 180-degree horizontal coverage as well as enough vertical coverage for almost any kind of room you work in. Although, there has been much discussion over the years about where to place these at a gig for optimal coverage. Bose say that for applications where louder volumes are required, such as a disco, you should place them at the front or even the sides of the dance floor.

If you use two L1 Pro32 systems together you could get an undesirable sound due to something called comb filtering. This occurs when two identical (or nearly identical) signals are combined and it’s recommended that to avoid this, your L1’s should be at least 20ft apart from each other, something to be mindful of.
Onto the sound quality, and it really bugs me that I wasn’t able to give this system a pasting in a larger room, because it really is astounding. Bose have a reputation in the music industry for delivering crystal-clear audio and they certainly do not disappoint with the L1 Pro32 system.

I know someone who recently picked up a pair and he tells me the sound quality in a much larger room is as expected, with the system delivering a tremendous amount of power whilst retaining optimal music quality. When you combine that with the L1 Pro32’s incredibly sleek, modern design and ease of transport, this is a system you will certainly be proud to own.

The built-in mixer and simple, fuss-free control through the Bose L1 Pro Mix app both make this system a dream to use, and you don’t need to be an audio expert to get the best out of it.

The only negative for me is having all of the connections on the top of the power stand. They’re just too accessible for the wrong people and not particularly drink-friendly, which means you’ll probably want to ask a friend with a fancy 3D printer to make you a cover. Better still, speak with the team at SubSafe Audio Protection, who I’m sure can make you something that will act as a cover and stop people putting drinks on the power stand at the same time.

Because of that, the Bose L1 Pro32 and Sub2 get a 9.9 out of 10 from me. They're almost perfect. Annoyingly perfect. My wallet is worried.