Bose 402 W speakers

[dileas]

I recently Bought a set of Bose 402W speakers, I was advised I need to use an equalizer for optimum performance,The uk dealers have all been a bit vague on this .

 

Some suggested 402 c controllers, others Panaray digital controller.

 

I saw a Bose 402 E controller quite cheap and just wondered if anybody knew if this would be compatible with these speakers or do I need a special controller, or do I need a controller at all?

I was planning to use them for gigging for vocals and backing track with a powered amplifier.

 

Any information would be much Appreciated.

[timtheenchanteruk]

IIRC the 402-E is the correct controller for the 402s.

 

The 802-E is a crossover for the 802s and 302 sub, and the panaray is for a full '02 setup

 

other crossovers/eq will work, but you will need to get the settings right, and this will be hard.

 

TBH, what you are trying to do with these speakers, you will probabaly not be happy with the sound, they are mainly suited to speech (IMO) there is very little bottom end on them (freq resp 90Hz – 16kHz from quick google sounds abut right), try to push it through them, and you will kill them, and replacement drivers are getting harder to find.

 

in the right setup, and preferably with the controller, I quite like them, we had 2 pairs at a local venue until fairly recently, until a visiting group literally killed them. I just don't think you will get a good music sound from a pair alone

[bruce]

I recently Bought a set of Bose 402W speakers, I was advised I need to use an equalizer for optimum performance,The uk dealers have all been a bit vague on this .

 

Some suggested 402 c controllers, others Panaray digital controller.

 

I saw a Bose 402 E controller quite cheap and just wondered if anybody knew if this would be compatible with these speakers or do I need a special controller, or do I need a controller at all?

I was planning to use them for gigging for vocals and backing track with a powered amplifier.

 

Any information would be much Appreciated.

 

402E or 402C will be fine. Anything badged "panaray" is the next generation. It would do the job, but will be overpriced for your purposes. You should be able to pick up a 402E on ebay for less than 30 pounds.

 

Don't use them without the EQ - they'll sound rubbish. Some would say that they'll sound rubbish with it as well - Bose and Marmite have a lot in common.

 

Not a lot of bass, but for vocals and speech I quite like them.

 

The 402W is internally identical to the standard 402, but is designed for "architectural installation". What this means is that it's in a chipboard box, with wood-effect fablon covering, rather than plastic.So it's less robust, and not weatherproof.

 

Ive seen a few pairs - in fact I own one - which have been either had the covering stripped and repainted with textured speaker paint, or recovered with black adhesive plastic - the stuff that's used for retrimming cars. Looked OK.

[dileas]

I recently Bought a set of Bose 402W speakers, I was advised I need to use an equalizer for optimum performance,The uk dealers have all been a bit vague on this .

 

Some suggested 402 c controllers, others Panaray digital controller.

 

I saw a Bose 402 E controller quite cheap and just wondered if anybody knew if this would be compatible with these speakers or do I need a special controller, or do I need a controller at all?

I was planning to use them for gigging for vocals and backing track with a powered amplifier.

 

Any information would be much Appreciated.

 

402E or 402C will be fine. Anything badged "panaray" is the next generation. It would do the job, but will be overpriced for your purposes. You should be able to pick up a 402E on ebay for less than 30 pounds.

 

Don't use them without the EQ - they'll sound rubbish. Some would say that they'll sound rubbish with it as well - Bose and Marmite have a lot in common.

 

Not a lot of bass, but for vocals and speech I quite like them.

 

The 402W is internally identical to the standard 402, but is designed for "architectural installation". What this means is that it's in a chipboard box, with wood-effect fablon covering, rather than plastic.So it's less robust, and not weatherproof.

 

Ive seen a few pairs - in fact I own one - which have been either had the covering stripped and repainted with textured speaker paint, or recovered with black adhesive plastic - the stuff that's used for retrimming cars. Looked OK.

 

Thanks Guys they really are mainly for vocals as I use a 16 inch bass amp for all the bass end stuff. It was basically mor high and mid freq vocals I wanted them and as I got them for £50 I thought I had a Bargain I will go ahead then and buy a 402 E for them and give them a shot .

[bruce]

I'd try to borrow an eq first, and see if the sound is useful to you. If not, there's no huge market for 402-Ws; you might get more money by selling the drivers individually. They are not the same as the 802 drivers, which are worth more (same size, but the 402s are a higher impedance driver).

 

I like my 402s - but have only used them once in the last year - it was a fairly specialist application.

 

At one time, lots of acoustic bands used them. And (I see you're north of the border) a surprising number of ceilidh bands used 402s....

[dileas]

Hi Bruce yes I do play in both a ceilidh band and a two piece cover band .I used the 402s with a folk singer along with a bass amp and loved the sound and clarity and the fact feedback was minimal, also they are so much lighter for small pub gigs so I will give them a go see how I get on