Audiopile: Cables for the L1® Family of Products / Review

This article is an editorial and expresses the opinion and experience of the author. Please post comments in the discussion page. Thank you.

Cables specifically selected for use with the T1®, Compact, B1, Model I, Model II, and PackLite
Mouse over the pictures for descriptions.

See also: Cables for the L1® Family of Products / Review

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Introduction

Audiopile.net (Mark Hellinger) is a familiar name in the L1® Community. They are noted in the Bose FAQs as source for longer cables for the B1 Bass Modules. You can read about how Mark Hellinger worked with Hilmar-at-Bose and Bill-at-Bose to diagnose an issue with long cable runs with the B1s. Sound Drop Outs at High Volume

In five years of linking to their website, I had never heard anything but positive comments from people who had followed the link until someone mentioned that he wasn't getting a response to emails. I was curious about this and I called Audiopile to see what was happening. They got that straightened out that same day.

Since I was talking to them anyway I got to know Mark and Liz Hellinger a little better and shortly after that they put together a page on their website specifically for Bose L1® owners. This just makes it easy to find everything that they've got that we might need all in one place. Here is the link: http://www.audiopile.net/products/BOSE_L1/BOSE_L1_Products.shtml

Here is how the selection on that products fits.

The Needs / Solutions

T1 ToneMatch^® Audio Engine

Short Microphone Cables

When I got my T1 ToneMatch Audio Engine I immediately found that all my microphone cables were too long. I mount my T1 ToneMatch^® Audio Engine on the microphone stand using the T1 Microphone Stand Bracket so the longest microphone cable I would need in that application was two to three feet. I ended up spending hours cutting cables and soldering. No fun.

Short Instrument Cables

I also needed shorter cables to run from the T1 ToneMatch^® Audio Engine down to the floor to connect to various processors and a PorchBoard. Six feet seemed ideal. I cut up a couple of cables I had lying around and I was all set.

Compact

When I got my L1 Compact I was really torn. I liked how portable and simple it was, but I also struggled with how noisy it was to make connections to my instruments and microphones. It just seemed like a lot of running back and forth to the Compact Power Stand to turn down the volume to attach instruments, switch microphones or just move around without accidentally aiming the microphone at the Compact Speaker Array (with attendant feedback). I decided to use my T1 ToneMatch^® Audio Engine most of the time if only to have the control over when the instrument and microphone would be live.

B1

Occasionally I need to get creative with the placement for my B1s. This means longer cables and occasionally pushing the B1s up against a wall.

The Answers

Short Cables

Short microphone and instrument cables are standard fair at Audiopile. So that part was easy.

Three foot XLR cable

Compact

For the L1 Compact they have instrument cables with silent switches built into the connectors. There is no connection until the jack plug is fully inserted into your instrument. The silver coloured sleeve near the barrel of the connector is the part that activates the switch inside.

They also have microphone cables with switches at the microphone end.

Put an instrument cable and a microphone cable (both with switches at the performer's end of things) and you can plug in to the Compact silently, turn up th volumes and make no sound until you want to.

I've test all of these and they are working as expected.

B1

Here are some photos of the back end of a B1 with the right angle NL4FRX connections available from Audiopile. They made a custom cable for me with two right angle connectors, seven feet long. This seemed an ideal length given the recommendation from Chris-at-Bose to put the B1 right against a wall or at least seven feet out. See B1 Bass Module Positioning

Right angle connector on top, standard B1 below.

Right angle connector only - pressed up against a hard surface

Here is the difference it makes in terms of clearance from the wall.