Are you a mobile DJ – the one who parties often with friends on the beach? Or are you travelling with family and need music on the move? If either of these fits you, then the Bose S1 Pro is one of the reliable portable party speakers you will find. This Bose S1 Pro Review reveals how this speaker with all-around features is the best bet for you.
The only negative we could find in our extensive research was Bose S1 Pro’s low-bass performance. It left us wanting more. Having said that, the extra boom from the high-bass sounds make this speaker a favourite of the bass-heavy music genres. The other issue we found was with the downmix stereo content into mono. Some better speakers provide a more immersive experience.
But that is us being picky. The sound enhancement feature makes a seamless and natural connection between the audio from mics and instruments. Here is our in-depth review of this popular portable speaker, written after testing over a long period and in staggered situations.
Quick Navigation
Bose S1 Pro Review – Best Portable Party Speaker?
Design and Build
S1 Pro is an extremely lightweight speaker that weighs under 16 pounds. It is quite compact with a dimension of 13 x 9.5 x 11.2 inches (HWD) and is vertically mountable on a stand or elevated surface. The rear of the speaker is open which gives the user an advantage of putting it on Tilt-Back mode.
Strongly built
Constructed with robust and durable plastic, it has a steel grille covering this portable speaker’s front. We miss the feature of water or impact-resistant because otherwise, it is nearly indestructible.
This set of speakers has Channel 1 and 2 inputs for musical instruments and mics. Bluetooth is connected via Channel 3, so are the line-level inputs. The inputs all have their control in a reverb knob, a volume knob, bass and treble knobs.
ToneMatch switch
The ToneMatch switch has an internal processing feature that makes the inputs sound natural. But USP of the speaker is its built-in sensors that adjust Auto EQ to its position and provide an optimal tonal balance.
The Bose S1 Pro is made up of LEDs that communicate. This feature shows the current speaker status. For example, a green LED indicates that everything is okay, while a red indicates an imminent overload.
Sound Quality
Bose is a benchmark in audio systems. The brand does not have a bad speaker in their vertical yet. Bose S1 Pro is a powerful and robust sounding unit with fantastic sounds, great depth and pitch. The quality of the playback is excellent. There is excellent clarity in vocals, speech and audio.
Crossovers to die for
It has a crossover frequency of 600Hz, which is surprisingly low. The crossover frequency between the woofer and the mid-high speakers is low resulting in excellent sound quality.
The Bose S1 Pro frequency response accuracy is standard and preferred. The neutral profile of sound is capable of playing a varied range of longs.
The speaker gives out some good and deep thumps and rumbles across the bass. It only stumbles slightly in the bass-heavy music genres where it has an inadequate low bass. But the extra boom from the high-bass doesn’t make the quality be felt.
Comprehensive EQ
This becomes a multiway, multi-side up speaker thanks to their Auto EQ feature. Like many in this range, the Bose S1 Pro speakers soundstage is somewhat narrow and directional. This makes it difficult for it to throw sound or perceive the same from all angles.
The downmix stereo content is mono and boasts of unrivalled dynamic performance. The volume gets so loud that it not just fills the room but flows out as well.
Installation, Operation, Features
Batteries that last long, really long
This model has excellent battery performance. The speaker has a playback time of ten hours when fully charged. It also has a Quick Charge feature where the device charges completely in 2.5 hours on being turned off.
There is a standby mode where the speaker snoozes when not in use for an hour to help conserve the battery life. The battery also has a ‘Sleep Mode’. You need to replug the speaker in a power adapter if not used for 30 consecutive days.
This is connected by the Bose Connect app. The speaker also has a Party Mode, where you can pair one unit with other Bose S1 Pro speakers to create a stereo pair or cover a larger area. It also has an auto-off timer.
You may also like:
- Top 10 Best Floor Standing Speakers Reviews
- Top 10 Best Bookshelf Speakers Under $500 Reviews
- Top 10 Best Speaker Docks Reviews
- Top 10 Best Ceiling Speakers Reviews
Well connected!
This is not just a portable wireless speaker. It has some great wired connections as well. There is a 3.5mm AUX port, two-channel inputs that are an analogue channel. The analogue channels connect the microphone with the help of an XLR cable. A 1/4-inch TRS cable helps connect to the line-level output. The micro-USB port serves the speaker.
The Bose S1 Pro Bluetooth connectivity is highly standardised. It can be paired with two devices at the same time.
- It is loud, really loud
- Fantastic high boom
- Robust construction
- Soundstage performance poor
- Not water resistant
Conclusion
With a neutral sound profile, large volumes, robust connection options, the Bose S1 Pro is a speaker that offers fantastic sound quality. It is lightweight, portable and easy to carry. The speaker can be placed anywhere and everywhere.
The automatic EQ feature comes very handily as it helps you place it anywhere. If you’re okay with the standard soundstage and don’t need a waterproof speaker, Bose S1 Pro is a worthy purchase.