My friend is really into the
Bose L1 Pro16s. He's been using them for many years for shows and swears by them. He's noted how good they sound. I've heard them myself but never outside of his gigs with music or shows I've heard before, so I can't really say. For me at his performances, they just sound loud, so loud that it hurts my ears. No one else seems to care, so I believe I'm in the minority.
I've been looking to grab a couple Polk Reserve R700s and SVS PC2000s; although for the same exact price (when the Polks go on sale again), I could buy two Bose L1 Pro16s and they come with a subwoofer that's potentially equivalent to at 15" sub, but in a more-compact package. I say potentially because I'm going by Bose's marketing, but I also believe a 10x18" woofer can probably produce decent base at lower frequencies.
The Bose speakers are physically much thinner at the top than the Polk R700 towers, but the base is at least 10" wide, so they're about the same. I have no clue about any measurements for these Bose speakers because Bose doesn't play that game. Also, these Bose speakers aren't meant for home theater, and I consider them ugly (they look like PA speakers), but if they're
that good, then I'd think the purchase would be beneficial, and I'd compromise on looks.
Since I have no stats on these speakers, the only thing I know is they can get loud. So loud that I know they'll have a lot of headroom for anything I'd throw at them in my small home theater.
Are the Bose L1 Pro16 a good deal? Do they measure well? Do they sound good for home theater?
Should I get them instead of a Polk + SVS pairing?