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Portable loudspeakers have so many uses aside from concerts and musical performances. This handy piece of equipment can be used for conferences, church events, school classrooms, rallies, the list is endless. When choosing a portable loudspeaker, you need a combination of durability, quality sound and value for money.
We are going to compare the Mackie Reach vs Bose L1. We will look at their size, sound, inputs, and technology. After looking at each of the specifications, we will add a comparison chart and some pros and cons to help decide which is the better portable loudspeaker.
It’s not surprising that from two different brands we would have very different speakers. However, the Mackie Reach and the Bose L1 have nothing in common, so we will go straight into the differences.
Differences Between Mackie Reach vs Bose L1
Quick Glance
To recap on the specifications, we have a side-by-side chart with all the information.
Appearance
They may both be black, but the dimensions and design are very different.
Mackie Reach
This speaker is 28 x 8.6 x 9.5 inches. It weighs 31.4 pounds.
Bose L1
It’s hard not to fall in love with the design of this speaker. In total, the speaker is 78.5 x 13.25 x 16.25 inches, and it weighs 29.2 pounds. The speaker is collapsible with 2 extensions, each one 32.5 x 2.75 x 2.75 inches and weighing 2.3 pounds each.
The Winner Is- The Bose L1
Power
The greater the power a loudspeaker the handle, the more impact the sound.
Mackie Reach
The RMS (root mean square) is the amount of continuous power a speaker can handle. The RMS for this speaker is 360W whereas the peak power is 720W.
Bose L1
The only information we have is the power rating of 130W.
The Winner Is- The Mackie Reach
Tweeters and Woofers
The tweeters help to achieve the necessary high frequencies needed for crisp, clear highs and vocals. The woofers provide a deep base.
Mackie Reach
There are 3 1-inch polyethylene naphtholate tweeters, you will also find 2 4-inch high-frequency woofers and 2 6.5-inch low-frequency woofers.
Bose L1
There are 6 2-inch high-frequency woofers and 1 8-inch low-frequency woofer. There is also an integrated bass speaker in the power stand.
The Winner Is- The Bose L1
Channels
The channels refer to the number of sounds coming or going from a single point.
Mackie Reach
This speaker has an integrated 6-channel digital mixer that can be controlled by your smartphone.
Bose L1
Bose’s 2 ToneMatch channels come with fixed resets for a microphone and acoustic guitar.
The Winner Is- The Mackie Reach
Compatibility
We are lacking product information, which makes it difficult but here’s what we know.
Mackie Reach
This comes with Bluetooth 3.0 and is compatible with Android and iOS.
Bose L1
There is no information about Bluetooth or compatibility.
The Winner Is- The Mackie Reach
Inputs
The inputs are what will allow you to connect other devices such as laptops, keyboards, headphones, etc.
Mackie Reach
There are 4 XLR combo inputs, a 1/8-inch aux input and a ¼-inch headphone input.
Bose L1
The base contains 4 1/4-inch TS/TRS inputs, a 1/8-inch TS/TRS and 2 RCA inputs. You also have a ¼-inch balanced TRS output and an RCA unbalanced output.
The Winner Is- The Bose L1
Frequency Response
Both brands have produced a loudspeaker that has a similar frequency range to the human ear.
Mackie Reach
The frequency range is from 50HZ to 20KHz.
Bose L1
It’s slightly less in the higher frequency range from 50Hz to 16KHz.
The Winner Is- The Mackie Reach
Technology
These speakers come with technology that will improve the quality of the sound, in particular, the dispersion.
Mackie Reach
Mackie ARC is a technology that uses a specially angled waveguard for 150 degrees of horizontal coverage. It also has Mackie EarShot to help monitor the sound system.
Bose L1
Similarly, the Bose Spatial Dispersion Technology delivers sound evenly across the audience and to the extreme sides.
The Winner Is- A Tie
Pros and Cons
The pros and cons of the Mackie Reach and the Bose L1 will give more insight so that we can make a better decision.
Mackie Reach
Pros:
- Fast Bluetooth connectivity
- There is a really good range of features
- Excels expectations with vocals and acoustic guitar
Cons:
- It’s better for smaller areas/gigs
Bose L1
Pros:
- Amazing sound quality and range, crisp and clean
- So easy to carry around
- The parts come with carrying bags
Cons:
- There is only one output for a microphone
The Final Verdict
On paper, the Mackie Reach does appear to outshine the Bose L1. When it comes to the actual sound quality, you will get a much better range of sounds and uses with the Bose L1. We felt that the Mackie Reach was good but for limited uses. We did like the different things you could achieve with the Mackie Reach thanks to the FX and EQ tools. On the other hand, the Bose L1 provides excellent highs and lows in small to large areas. The design is modern and sleek and is much more portable. When you think you can save yourself a few hundred dollars with the Bose L1, it makes all the more sense to choose this portable loudspeaker.