Bose S-1 battery issues

[Wonks]

There is always the possibility that one or more of its position sensors is playing up, and hence the sound variation (if you are always using it in the same way).

[Sam Spoons]

Could be, I've had two S1s and both have the battery drain issue, the second much less, but I've noticed the odd behaviour on both. Will look into it further.

[Sam Spoons]

Went to my dealer on Wednesday and did a side by side comparison of the S1 Pro and the Eon Compact. The built in mixer in the Eon is a hugely attractive feature but not sufficient to offset the very harsh sound quality (so I guess the Berry XR12 is going to be a keeper for now). The S1 Pro is a much nicer sounding box so mine is winging it's way to Belgium for a repair which they assure me will solve the problem. I will obviously test it when I get it back and, if all is good, will buy a second one.

BTW, did anybody find out one way or another whether their S1 has the issue?

[resistorman]

I bought a new one and it seems to have the problem. My original one does not.

[Folderol]

Late to the party...
The problem is based on the fact that none of this kit is ever truly off. This applies to almost all modern equipment, and it is the software switch that is the cause of the problem.

Probaly not a viable answer here, but what I've done with several bits of stuff is to put a physical switch in line with the battery. My laptop (which is seldom used) has a removable battery, so I just pull it out.

[Sam Spoons]

I agree in most cases*, however the UK rep has said the problem in the S1 is with the hardware and the fix involves changing a single component**. I'll see if they've fixed it when I get it back.

The problem is that, with my second S1 I was convinced it was fine when the app showed 100% battery after a week only to be disappointed a couple of days later when it was down to 90%. I'd guess very few users are prepared to leave a new toy unused for a couple of weeks to find out, even if they are aware the issue exists so if 1 in 10 users are reporting the issue it is probably much more prevalent than 10% showing a problem.

* Extensive Googling suggests the combination of self discharge and the current draw of the monitoring circuitry in a Lithium Ion battery system should be less than 3% per month (much less in most cases).

** In Uli Behringer's blog concerning the building of 'Behringer City' in China he cited the practice amongst Chinese electronics manufacturers of substituting cheaper components when the western managers had returned from whence they came after their periodic 'quality control' visits

[Rob Kirkwood]

... the UK rep has said the problem in the S1 is with the hardware and the fix involves changing a single component

I've seen this mention of a 'single component' by them before in one of the S1 forums.

Now in my head that means a resistor or something - but I guess it could equally mean a whole pre-built circuit board! ...I wonder if we'll ever find out?

Rob

[Sam Spoons]

Somehow I doubt it (I don't think I've seen it mentioned on the Bose forum though).

Anyway a further update.

1, The excessive bass on the BT/aux channel is pretty well documented on the Bose S1 forum. I suspect it is partly a characteristic of BT devices which are expected to be listened to on earbuds, the S1 is a full range speaker with, I suspect, a hyped bass too so the combination is sometimes a little overpowering.

2, I bought an "Allpowers Portable Power Station" off Amazon which arrived today. It looks, as expected, a bit plasticky but feels fairly solid and has a useful (if it's accurate) LCD display.

Initialy, on plugging the XR into it I was dismayed to find it introducing an unacceptable amount of digital hash into the system but some judicious gain staging has rendered it all but inaudible. So after a not very exhaustive test it looks like it will power my XR12 for several hours (showing 7+ hours powering the XR12 and a TC VoiceSolo speaker) which is quite impressive. If it works as well with the S1 it'll be a useful addition to the inventory.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07H4FQFQW/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

BTW it arrived in a very respectable 4 days, particularly as I was given to expect it on 30th Dec....

[Sam Spoons]

Just a supplementary question for those with proper knowledge.....

Using the petrol genny I would have a ground stake and RCCD protected distro. With the rig being completely floating, one or two S1 Pros and the XR12 (with maybe an additional TC Voice Solo for foldback) powered at 230VAC from the power bank what practical safety precautions should I take?

[paulb]

In case anyone hasn't yet seen it. Bose Community forum sent an update saying a fix has been found for the battery problem and is being rolled out (presumably worldwide), and to contact your local Bose Tech Support. It seems (after some initial confusion) that the units have to go back to Bose for some sort of modification, rather than simply replacing the battery pack.

I haven't been able to get through to them (France( yet, but still hoping to get both my S1s fixed in the near future! Here's hoping...

[Hugh Robjohns]

Thanks Paul.

Here's the post for reference:

Hi, Everyone.

Thanks for being patient.

If your S1 Pro system battery is draining when the system is not in use and not connected to AC power, please contact Bose Support. They will work with you to get your S1 system repaired.

Bose® Product & Technical Support at (877) 335-2673
(U.S. and Canada only)
Monday-Friday: 9:00 AM - 9:00 PM ET
Other regions

The local Bose Support representatives can answer any further questions.

Thank you.

ST

https://www.bosepro.community/g/portable/topic/s1-pro-battery-draining-when-not-in-use?reply=40442221528412738#40442221528412738

For those in the UK, the appropriate contact details are:

Bose Support UK
Tel 01634 224 288 (Mon - Fri: 09:00-18:30, Sat 09:00-17:00 GMT)

Email: technical_support_uk@bose.com

[Sam Spoons]

Mine went two weeks ago, a week before Bose announced the fix, as the UK rep was aware* and my dealer kept me in the loop. Hope to have it back before Christmas and will test in the New Year to see if they really have fixed it.

* He said it involved changing a single component but, as I didn't speak to him myself, I don't know it that was a single SMC device or a complete circuit board. A user on the Bose forums said his customer service rep said it involves both a hardware repair and firmware update so what they are actually repairing is still unclear (but I'm not going to be dismantling mine to look for fresh solder )

[Guest]

Which brings me to the problem....... When fully charged it will run for several hours on battery power so all good, but, I left it in the car for a few days while on hols and took it out for a rehearsal the day before the gig and it was flat. It had been fully charged when I put it in the car and, I confirmed, had not been accidentally switched on. I subsequently tested it by fully charging and leaving it for a few days in a 'safe place' where there was no risk of it being switched on by mistake. Sure enough it was nearly flat when I switched it on and a further check showed the battery was losing roughly 5% of it's charge a day even when switched off.

With out reading all 4 pages, at a star I would say the battery is discharging and a load is being draw somewhere.
Connecting a multi meter to it when switch off and having it set to amps draw would tell you if there was a discharge going on or not

[Rob Kirkwood]

With out reading all 4 pages, at a star I would say the battery is discharging and a load is being draw somewhere.
Connecting a multi meter to it when switch off and having it set to amps draw would tell you if there was a discharge going on or not

Unfortunately the S1 battery pack fits into the unit, is held with 4 bolts, and is very much like a PC laptop battery - it has multiple connections set into a plastic socket to protect them.

So, the only sensible way to do this would be to take an S1 apart - but, because they're relatively new, they're all still under manufacturer warranty (2 years) so I don't think any of us are brave enough to do so just yet! Mine is coming up to 1 year old, so I've still got a way to go before I'm likely to look inside.

Rob

[Sam Spoons]

Exactly

[Guest]

not if you can get the meters to fit on the charging pin it wont!

[Sam Spoons]

I agree with Rob, it's not practically possible without fairly drastic surgery. Not sure what you mean about the charging pin?

[Rob Kirkwood]

This is the S1 Pro battery pack...
https://www.thomann.de/gb/bose_s1_pro_battery_pack.htm

There are 8 (I think) connections between battery & S1, none of them are identified on either the battery or the S1, and I've not yet found a circuit diagram anywhere for it.

You could conjure up an 8 way extender, but even then what do you measure?

Rob

[Guest]

the charger pin! where you plug your mains charger into it

[Sam Spoons]

There isn't one on the S1 Pro (well there is, it's one of the 8 shrouded pins under the battery).

[Sam Spoons]

Latest update.

My S1 Pro arrived back from service and I collected it on Tuesday, I fully charged it and have left it switched off since. I will monitor the battery charge state every couple of days until I need to use it at my monthly open mic in two weeks time.

Several other users have received their S1s back from 'repair' and a significant proportion still have 'the issue' so it appears that Bose's 'fix' is not a fix at all. I'm following the Bose forum threads WRT this issue as, at some point soon, I will have to decide whether to keep the S1 and live with the problem or return it for a refund and wait for another manufacturer to build something similar (FWIW I tried the only currently available alternative from a 'name' manufacturer, a JBL Eon Compact and found the sound quality to be very harsh in the upper mids).

[Hugh Robjohns]

Thanks for the update Sam. I haven't sent mine back yet. I was planning to wait until after Xmas... but I'm somewhat surprised to hear that 'the fix' hasn't actually cured the issue.

However, I'm not really bothered about battery drain in storage, and even though it shouldn't happen at the rate it apparently does, I suspect the reality is that it doesn't affect many people's use of the thing in practice.

I've never taken gear out on a job without checking and prepping it before hand, so it feels entirely normal to me to charge the battery shortly before use, rather than expect it still to be functional after weeks or months in storage.

H

[Sam Spoons]

Nine times out of ten I will be in the same situation but I spend 5 weeks in my caravan in the summer and while mains power is available space is at a premium so having to charge the S1 (and the potential second S1) for a few hours is inconvenient. I could do it but should not have to. If it was a £200 box from LD or Alto I think I'd be more tolerant of the issue but the S1 is a premium product and should, as you say, be free from such defects.

I've had mine for 6 months now but my dealer has assured me he will honour our verbal agreement to refund should Bose be unable to cure the issue. I will be very happy it it proves to be fixed and I can buy a second one without worrying that it may have the same problems.

[Hugh Robjohns]

I could do it but should not have to. If it was a £200 box from LD or Alto I think I'd be more tolerant of the issue but the S1 is a premium product and should, as you say, be free from such defects.

I understand where you're coming from. The S1 doesn't do what you hoped it would do...

I approach it from a different direction where I expect batteries to drain over time. I use a Nagra VI as my go-to location recorder... now that really is a premium product... But if I don't use it for a month I know its battery will be flat because of the drain of the internal timecode generator and clock which run all the time. Hence checking and charging everything shortly before use in my world...

[Sam Spoons]

I also think we've become used to other devices like, digital cameras and other such that can be left for days or weeks (or even years) without the battery showing an signs of discharge.

Maybe my expectations are too high but, as Bose have acknowledged that there is a fault, I don't think so in this case.

WRT your Nagra, the battery drain while in storage is, I assume, the known consequence of the design choices made rather than a fault?

Anyway, I'll switch the S1 on for a minute or so tonight, 2 days after charging it, and fully expect it to be registering 100%. Will keep you posted.

BTW Hugh, did you have the opportunity to check if your S1 actually has the issue (I still think they probably all do to differing extents). I also wonder (in a slightly dodgy 'conspiracy theorist' sort of way) if the 30 day sleep mode the S1 battery has is a sneaky attempt to hide the issue........ Sorry, just gotta go and put my tinfoil hat on.......