Real-world review of the Bose Sub2 for live bands using the L1 Pro system.
After transforming our live sound setup with two Bose L1 Pro16s, we were eager to add some extra low-end punch. Enter the Bose Sub2 — a sleek, racetrack-driver subwoofer designed to match the L1 Pro line in both form and function.
We loved the idea: lightweight, compact, and supposedly powerful enough to replace traditional 15" PA subs. Unfortunately, the reality didn’t match the marketing.
🧪 Why We Tried the Sub2
Our band plays everything from EDM and dance to funk and rock — energy and low-end are essential to our sound. We’ve been managing with the L1 Pro16’s built-in subwoofers, but wanted something with more punch without the weight of traditional subs.
The Sub2 promised:
- A 10" x 18" racetrack driver
- 1,000 watts of power
- Simple integration with L1 Pro systems
- Light weight and portability
Sounded perfect. We thought this would be the missing link in our setup.
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Image idea: Close-up of the Bose Sub2 connected to your L1 Pro16 with cables.
❌ What Actually Happened: Disappointing Clipping
We used the correct input routing this time (no gain staging mistakes), so we were expecting great results. But instead, the Sub2 began clipping incredibly early—even before any noticeable difference in low-end output.
It was shocking: for a £1,000+ subwoofer, we expected to hear and feel the bass, not just watch the red lights flash.
We tried different levels, different routing, even different rooms. The result was the same — barely any difference from the internal L1 Pro16 subs, and in some cases, worse.
⚖️ Side-by-Side Subwoofer Comparison
Here’s how the Sub2 stacks up against the Sub1 and the built-in L1 Pro16 sub:
| Feature | L1 Pro16 Built-In Sub | Bose Sub1 | Bose Sub2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Driver Size | 10" x 18" racetrack | 7" x 13" racetrack | 10" x 18" racetrack |
| Power Output | ~1,000W (shared system) | 480W RMS / 1,000W peak | 1,000W RMS / 2,000W peak |
| Max SPL | ~118 dB (est.) | 123 dB | 128 dB |
| Weight | Included in tower | 16.1 kg | 23.4 kg |
| Portability | Excellent | Very portable | Still portable, slightly heavier |
| Bass Impact | Decent for its size | Noticeable lift | Disappointing (clipping early) |
| Street Price (UK) | – | ~£849 | ~£1,149 |
| Best Use Case | Small/med venues | Light bass reinforcement | (In theory) deep bass in larger rooms |
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Image idea: Side-by-side photo of the Sub1, Sub2, and L1 Pro16 tower for scale.
📦 The Verdict: Returned Within Days
After a couple of gigs and sound checks, we simply boxed up the Sub2 and sent it back. It just didn’t deliver. We were looking for audible, powerful bass support — and instead we got early clipping and almost no sonic improvement.
We love Bose’s vision and portability, but the Sub2 felt like a mismatch for real-world live music with punchy, high-energy material.
🔁 What We’re Doing Instead
We’ve decided to stick with and expand on the L1 Pro16 ecosystem instead:
- Add another L1 Pro16 for large venues
- Gives us built-in subs, clean tops, and redundancy
- Flexibility to run multi-zone FOH (left/right, delay fills, or side fill)
In terms of value and performance, it beats spending over £1k on a single sub that you can’t even hear properly.
🙅♂️ Final Thoughts
The Bose Sub2 is a great idea on paper — the form factor, the portability, and the promise of deep bass in a lightweight package. But in our real-world testing, it didn’t live up to the hype.
If you’re looking to enhance your Bose live rig, we’d recommend:
- ✅ Stick with more L1 Pro16s
- ✅ Or look at third-party powered subs with more headroom
- ❌ But skip the Sub2 — at least until Bose gives it a serious performance boost
