I used my classic for a week long outdoor gig last summer. 200+ people - more than enough power. The thing I like about the Bose is it sounds good in any situation, especially one with bad acoustics. I used it in a gym with notoriously horrible acoustics. Speech is normally unintelligible. Every word came through as well as the music. The system spreads the sound around a room so evenly, you have to experience it to believe it. It's like sticking your thumb over the end of a water hose and watching the water spread out. A traditional speaker is more like a straight stream. The Bose is expensive, but I don't think it's over priced. In my case, it replaced two speakers cabinets, stands, amp, mixer, and monitors, all of which cost more than the L1. Sounds many times better, I hear what the house the house hears and I can load in with one trip. I upgraded to the Model II a year ago and it sounds even better than the classic. I've never used the Compact, it may not be enough for an outdoor gig. For me, I've never played a dedicated keyboard amp where I liked the sound. I've thought about getting a compact for smaller gigs. But the Model II sets up quickly and with a small cart works well.