Entered CNET Catalog: 05/22/2003
SKU: 27724
Manufacturer: Bose Corp.
Manufacturer description
Bose 3-2-1 GS DVD Home Entertainment System is a media center with a built-in DVD/CD player and AM/FM tuner with RDS eliminates the need for a stack of components. Improved signal processing, combined with new Gemstone speaker arrays, helps deliver an enhanced home cinema experience. Acoustimass module works in concert with the small speakers to deliver the full range of sound and produces deep, rich lows with no audible distortion. Just three wires and a power cord make this system simple to set up. And no wires run to the back of your room, so it's easy on your decor. An advanced remote control accesses the 3 GS digital system, as well as most televisions and cable boxes or satellite receivers. No need for two or three remotes anymore.CNET editors' review
- Editors' Choice: No
- Reviewed on: 12/11/2001
Simple setup
Between the well-written manual and the setup poster showing how to connect the system's two small, 3.5-by-7.75-by-5.4-inch speakers, the Acoustimass subwoofer, and the combination DVD player and AM/FM tuner, the setup is a breeze. The DVD/tuner box is smaller than most DVD players. However, the 3-2-1 System employs a proprietary Y-cable to connect the speakers to the DVD/tuner, which may limit where you can place the speakers in your room. A 10-foot proprietary cable connects the DVD/tuner box to the subwoofer.
The DVD/tuner can decode Dolby Digital and DTS movies, as well as MP3 CDs. Bose is really promoting this system's simplicity, so it should come as no surprise that only basic connectivity options are built into the system. There's one composite and one S-Video input. If you have two devices that have only composite-video outputs, such as a VCR and a game console, you won't be able to connect both to the 3-2-1. To connect the system to your TV, there's a composite and an S-Video output. For a list price of $999, we expect component video outputs. But unless your TV is larger than 32 inches, you'll find the video performance acceptable. For audio connections, there's one optical digital audio input, as well as two coaxial digital audio inputs. We'd prefer to trade a couple of those digital audio inputs for more video inputs.
Pseudosurround
Bose doesn't claim that the 3-2-1 System is the equal of a full-blown six-speaker rig. But we have to give Bose credit for creating a big sound field out of such small speakers. As we watched the Fantasia 2000 and Jurassic Park III DVDs, we were enveloped by music and sound effects. However, accurate sound placement was another story. During the intro to the "Pomp and Circumstance" segment of Fantasia 2000, Mickey Mouse's voice should appear from all four corners of a room. Though the voice seemed to come from somewhere other than the front of the room when it was supposed to be behind us, we could never really figure out where it was coming from. Listening to surround-sound tests from the Video Essentials DVD, where both white noise and a human voice move in a 360-degree circle around the room, confirmed our initial perception that the 3-2-1 System's 3D sound imaging doesn't have the kind of precision needed to accurately pinpoint sounds.
With a list price that's close to a grand, the 3-2-1's sonics fell far short of our expectations. The midrange is lacking any sort of presence and is overwhelmed by highs and lows. The bass response didn't shake us up, either. When the T. rexes chased the humans in Jurassic Park III, we expected to feel, as well as hear, the deep rumbling of those giant carnivores. Not so. And as is often the case with HTIBs, the louder you get, the harsher and more metallic the sound becomes. As a result, this system is an option for only cozier rooms (those less than 400 square feet in size).
Sacrificing a degree of home-theater realism for simplicity and fewer speakers is a compromise that will appeal to many people. But at $999, the 3-2-1 System is overpriced. Many standard DVD players can generate moderately convincing two-channel surround-sound effects. You can save yourself a lot of money by picking up a DVD player with such a feature and playing it through your existing two-channel stereo.
User opinions
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User Rating: 
9/10
A compact innovative sound. Great job audio engineers.
Pros: Never change. Clean ,clear and crisp sound. The 3 c's of Bose sound, state of the art.
Cons: The low base quality of the subwoofer in the acousticmass.
User Rating: 
5/10
I own a BOSE 321
Pros: It felt nice to own a BOSE.
Cons: The cost of the BOSE 321 has been priced high. The problem I find with BOSE is with after sales support. I packed up and moved the BOSE system and accidentally left a CD inside, and its stuck there now.
User Rating: 
8/10
you either like it or you don't
Pros: compact. dynamic sound. maybe not strictly hi fi whatever that is.
Cons: quite expensive, but that's bose
if you're a hi fi buff and / or in to woofters and tweeters stuff, this aint' for you.
User Rating: 5/10
Easy setup/use, ok sound, shabby service; stock will dive
Pros: Easy set up, less clutter
Cons: No tech support, does not provide "surround" as hyped
User Rating: 
1/10
Cheap sound and video for high price
Pros: Better than TV speakers
Cons: Everything else
If you have any concept of what quality audio sounds like this run like hell.
All highs and lows-must be Bose still applies to this product.
Due to special cables you are limited to where you can place the speakers, DVD player and Sub woofer (which contains the amplifier and power for DVD/CD unit. Extension cables are avalible at huge prices.
The DVD player is garbage. Bose finally started adding component outputs but I'm not sure if it is progressive scan. DVD video quality is middle to poor.
Despite Bose's claims you can not get 5.1 sound from two speakers. What you get is a little better than a good TV's 'simulated' surround sound. Even a cheap $400 boxed surround system sounds better.
Bottom line is if you have money to waste and don't care (or don't know) what real surround sound this system could be the answer but if you really want home theatre do yourself a favor and buy seperate components.
User Rating: 
3/10
Not what i expected:
Pros: Easy Set-up and Compact
Cons: Very Poor Sound Quality, No HDMI
User Rating: 1/10
Junk, repaired 4 times and broken again
Pros: Simple to set up.
Cons: Constant problems, it's going to the garage.
User Rating: 
4/10
Ideal for small apartments
Pros: Simple set up
Cons: Rubbish CD player
I live in a small apartment so the system was chosen for that reason.
Don't have any problems with sound quality as at 50/60 volume it gives me what I want.
But why,why,why for the price did they fit such a rubbish (expletives deleted) CD player! it rejects more than 90% of discs as BAD DISC and if I'm lucky to get it play it jams after 15/20 minutes.
I have read so many bad reports on the SERVICE here in Spain I'm loathed to try sending it back.
I have found using a cheap player (Sunstech)that cost only 56 euros that WORKS with any format, so BOSE do your homework...
Disgruntled Pensioner
Well today 21/02/07 I eat my words and say a big THANK YOU to Mr Nic Merks Vice President of BOSE Europe, to get a personal response from the Head of the BOSE European setup proved to me that he was truly a man of his word.
Mr Merks read my posting on this Cnet forum, he kindly left a message for me to get in touch so that he could try to solve the problem I had with my 3 2 1.
After asking me to carry out a few test to assertain the model and what software update might correct the problem, he called me twice from France and after checking the information I gave him, decided to replace the unit with a complete exchange.
He informed the Spanish agent in Madrid who got in touch with me on Friday.
On Monday they informed me that the unit had been sent to my nearest BOSE dealer, on Tuesday they telephoned me to say I could pick up the exchange unit.
I would like to emphasise it was not the sound quality I complained about, but a fault with the DVD/CD laser unit! after getting nowhere with the company I purchased it from I felt they had let me down! I was informed by the agent in Madrid that the company were not on their list of recognised agents so were only interested in sales.
So once again A BIG THANK YOU TO NIC MERKS, it does say a lot for customer satisfaction.
Pueblo99
User Rating: 
7/10
Love these in a small space
Pros: Clean look, Great replicated surround sound
Cons: Not a real big sound
Not a huge "Shake the couch" kind of sound, but every once in a while you'll swear it is real surround sound.
Full disclosure: BOSE is not one of my clients.
User Rating: 8/10
Great Service. Great sound. Easy setup.
Pros: Small with only limited wires and great sound.
Cons: DVD drawer doesn't open from the remote.
I didn't really need another DVD player as I have a DVD recorder which I use to make copies of movies I stored on the cable company's Personal Video Box. The Bose player is great for CD playing through those speakers ... when the TV isn't on. One complaint is that you can't pop out the disk with the remote and if you don't there's a little annoying sound from the Bose but it stops when you switch it to TV mode or take out the disk. Another gripe about the remote is that you can't fast forward or reverse a movie disk - only chapter by chapter.
The speaker cord was a little limited for my installation over the bedroom fireplace and the Bose unit in a cabinet about 8 feet away, so I called Bose and they sent me (free except for shipping) a 40 ft cable that really did the trick. Amazing customer service.
I have a big bedroom - 15' x 25' and the sound volume and quality easily works with much more volume if ever needed - my movie setting is at 60 (out of 99).
It does not have the surround sound I get from my family room big TV setup but it has 6 speakers and a subwoofer - so you don't hear dogs barking behind you, but you do hear sounds well off to either side of the speakers which simulates surround quite well from only 2 speakers.
It was a great buy for me.
User Rating: 
10/10
Best system i ever had
Pros: The sound quality is so perfect and clear
Cons: Non that i can think of
User Rating: 
2/10
I'll be returning this one
Pros: Doesn't take up much space.
Cons: Everything else that can be thought of while evaluating an audio system. Poor sound. Very poor video on my pioneer plasma TV. I've used it twice and the thing freezes up after about 1 1/2 hrs. use.
User Rating: 8/10
Works great for what I wanted
Pros: Easy set up, advance remote is excellent and controls my cable box, TV and the Bose Media Center
Cons: Bass is a little weak, but I tweaked it up to a +5 and that seemed to pretty much solve that problem for me.
User Rating: 7/10
Sounds pretty good, but reboot problem.
Pros: Fat sound after some tweaking of presets
Cons: Freezes up with no sound at times, requires re-booting by unplugging the unit...ugggh
1. Every week or so, the unit freezes up with no sound and must be rebooted by unplugging it. Difficult as it's built in to a cabinet. And why does it do this?
2. DVD mode does not send sound to our Stereo TV, but only to the Bose speakers. Our TV has excellent high end speakers and I could use the extra punch. Is this normal?
( with all other inputs options, we get both Bose sound and TV sound)
Again, it's good when it working after re-boots.
User Rating: 10/10
Great system
Pros: Sound sound
Cons: A little ricy
User Rating: 4/10
Wasted money$$$$$$$$$$
Pros: Great sound and Thats it
Cons: No component input bad menu
User Rating: 7/10
Good all-in-one system
Pros: Compact system; wall-mountable speakers; easy to read screen; easy to use remote control; excellent customer service
Cons: no component outputs; cannot use a universal remote on this system (unless it is a learning remote)
The sound quality is excellent (as long as you set it up correctly, be sure to read the instructions). The pricing is a bit high, but the system should last a long time, and bose stands behind their products. I called them and asked for an extension cord for the speakers, and they sent me the cord at no extra charge (except for shipping, which was $10). This system is ideal for a personal home theatre or family room, but not for anything too elaborate.
I'm sure that you could buy the system over e-bay for about $400, which would be well worth the money if you want the best in audio.
User Rating: 
6/10
save your money for something better
Pros: to hear cd music or radio the bose is a good system. the multiple inputs channels are ok.I do like the option of hooking up multiple devices to this system it does saves space.
Cons: a few cons on this system. it does not have MV2CV's multi-stranded High component video inputs. when watching dvd`s the bose system sometimes over heats, and i have to unplug the whole system to get the dvd out. when playing a movie I have to raise the vo
User Rating: 9/10
Everyone who hears it wants it
Pros: Very easy to use,sounds incredible and takes up no room.
Cons: I would be nice if we could put more than 1 cd in it.
User Rating: 9/10
I have never heard music like this
Pros: It is very small,no wires all over the place and sounds incredible. There is no annoying boom from the sub woofer only a very clear thump when it is called for. When watching DVD's we are often looking around the room to see where the sounds are coming fr
Cons: None whatsoever
User Rating: 6/10
"Not worth the money!"
Pros: Easy setup, no messy wires.
Cons: Does not provide real surround sound, not enough bass, cables provided are not long enough. Quote from another user says it all, "the bass is sloopy, boomy, no definition at all. The mid is lean and distorted. The high frequency is edgy, metallic and ear
User Rating: 2/10
Highly Overrated Surround Sound
Pros: Small Footprint and ease to install. OK-For Music(NOT Great... Just Ok).
Cons: 1-No Component Video connections. 2-Not Progressive Scan DVD 3-plays DVD slower than others and changes the voices of the characters. 4-MY TV Speakers (Sony XBR 40" provide better surround, clarity and Fidelity. 5-My $150.00 DVD player provides with bette
User Rating: 4/10
Made for those looking just for simple set up and have $900 to spend.
Pros: Compact
Cons: Poor freq response, overpriced, little REAL product information from Bose - all hype, a real disappointment. Got mine last night and are taking them back to the store today!
User Rating: 8/10
At 44 years old its perfection.
Pros: Compact, easy to install, great sound quality. I especially like the universal remote. The remote is simple and integrates perfectly with my DTV receiver and TV.
Cons: Hard to find one so I'll be real picky here. Now its quite possible that I'm still in the 80's but a place to attach an additional speaker system would have been cool (I wanted to listen to the cd player out on the deck). I just cranked the volume up inst
User Rating: 4/10
A Letdown
Pros: Very easy to install. Easy on shelf space.
Cons: 2 fatal flaws when incorporating into a system that would include a plasma or other HD-type TV. 1. Has no Component connection to TV; S-Video is as high as it goes. 2. Not a progressive scan DVD player. These two shortcomings are inexcusable in this pr
User Rating: 8/10
Brings my entire room to life
Pros: Sounds excellent at the computer desk, yet fills the entire room with wonderfull full-range sound at all volume levels when back on the treadmill or work-out station. The computer doubles as TV/DVD/Stereo system for the room with the 19 inch flat panel mo
Cons: I agree that it is way over priced, but would not trade it for anything else available at this point. It's perfect for my intended use.
User Rating: 4/10
Bose should recall them all...
Pros: Very easy to use. Non-audiophiles will have no problem setting up and operating. Name brand recognition, it's a Bose!
Cons: Everything else. Too pricey, you can spend half as much these days and be much more satisfied. Unit is buggy as heck, certain dvd's freeze the unit. Have to turn it off and reboot it to get it to work again. Unit can't handle menu's on some dvd's, particu
User Rating: 6/10
>500 sq ft WILL LOVE THIS!!!
Pros: Plug n' play. Crisp, full and clean at lower volumes to appease fussy condo neighbors. It's the BOSE you thought you'd never own in a smaller space.
Cons: None at this time.
User Rating: 4/10
Poor choice, overpriced
Pros: ease of use, idiot proof operation
Cons: poor reliability, poor sound quality, WAY overpriced
User Rating: 1/10
No hi's, no low's...must be Bose!
Pros: Are you kidding? I know this is a bit of a reach, but maybe--just maybe--if you were upgrading from an old mono-AM radio this might be an improvement. Jeez, that's just the kind of nonsense Bose would have you believe.
Cons: Never believe the Bose faithful. If Bose decided PB&J sandwiches should have the bread in the middle, the Bose fans would proclaim we're witnessing the greatest engineering/style achievement ever dreamed up. Folks...wise up---please!! You should ex
User Rating: 3/10
Over-priced..
Pros: easy to set up - simple - no clutter
Cons: expensive - doesn't dound that good - and proprietary cables make it useless for any other purpose. I will be returning mine
User Rating: 8/10
I'm amazed at the sound quality
Pros: compact and easy to set up. no wires running everywhere.
Cons: no speaker expansion
User Rating: 5/10
sound quality is NOT good
Pros: small foot prints
Cons: sound like from a box. very artificial. You can literally hear the missing frequency responses at high and mid-bass
User Rating: 8/10
Big sound in a small package
Pros: small footprint and the quality of sound I have come to expect from Bose.
Cons: Proprietary cables for speakers limits the expansion of the system.
User Rating: 8/10
321 Bose System
Pros: Company that is committed to creating good products and providing good service.
Cons: Bigger buttons on the remote control would be nice for our old and shaky fingers
User Rating: 1/10
Looses sound every time I change channels.
Pros:
Cons: No component video out. Poor sound quality. I loose the sound when the channel is turned. The system has to be turned off and then back on to get it back. Wish I had done my homework before dropping a grand on this system. For that kind of cash you could
User Rating: 10/10
Best Customer Service...
Pros: When I contacted Customer Service I was treated to the best service I've ever encounteded. I needed a longer proprietary cable used to connect the DVD/tuner box to the subwoofer -- they sent me one for free! I only had to pay the postage ($10.00) and I re
Cons: I wish it was louder -- it goes to 100 but 150 would be more like it.
User Rating: 8/10
Why did I wait so Long?
Pros: Sounds great, small, good for CDs, plays all region DVDs. Freed up a load of space in my room and I now have superb quality audio.
Cons: Have not found any yet
User Rating: 9/10
This system provided high quality room filling sound at a great value.
Pros:
Cons:
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