|
User Reviews for
Bose 3-2-1 Home Theater System
|
|
It is OK I guess
|
|
Reviewed
March 6 2003 2:33:22 AM
32
out of
34
users found this recommendation helpful.
|
|
Ratings:
4
out of 5
Pros:
|
|
|
|
| Cons:
I bought this system when it first came out. THe sound quality is great but there are several problems. THe first one is the DVD is not Progressive Scan so if you have HDTV, forget it. The second is that I like a system that will sufficiently drive me and my neighbors out of the house with volume, this system just doesnt do that. The good things are that even though the sound is not at the volume I like the quality is outstanding. The sound is sharp and clear just as you would expect from Bose I just wish they could have upped the wattage and made a component video output and made it a progressive scan. I dont recommend this for anything bigger than a bedroom.
|
|
|
|
|
Why would anyone buy this for the price?
|
|
Reviewed
March 12 2004 2:40:52 AM
14
out of
15
users found this recommendation helpful.
|
|
Ratings:
1
out of 5
Pros:
compact |
|
|
|
Cons:
CRAP! First off, I should say the sound is pretty good... BUT, it sounds just like the $60 Logitech audio system I bought for my computer! Highs & lows are great, but there is (as with any mini system) a severe lack in mid-range/mid-base frequencies.
No Progressive scan outputs??? Jeeze! Well, I guess since it's only simulated surround, they may as well go slack on the sound too. Less than $100 will buy a DVD player with Progressive Scan outs these days. Add another $500 for a hi-end amp/receiver, use the rest for a GOOD set of speakers, and you've blown this Bose thing away for the same amount of cash.
However, if one is determined to buy a mini system, less money will buy a TRUE 5.1 surround system by another reputable manufacturer.
Bose is strictly selling the name with this one.. but the reputation is in jeopardy.
|
|
|
|
|
Don't Buy It
|
|
Reviewed
December 17 2004 6:11:31 PM
7
out of
9
users found this recommendation helpful.
|
|
Ratings:
2
out of 5
Pros:
Ease of Setup, Good Sound Fidelity |
|
|
|
Cons:
No Universal Remote, Not Enough Volume, No Progressive Scan, "Surround" Sound Doesn't "Surround" I bought this system last year for $700 on sale. It has been in use at our house for a year, and if I had to do it again I'd buy something else.
DVDs from the video store occasionally stop working. Sometimes the only way to reset is to unplug and replug the machine in, and after that it usually happens again at the same place in the movie. We actually own two kids DVDs that we can't watch on this system for some reason because they freeze at the same point every time (Finding Nemo is one of them, I forget the other.) The DVDs work fine on our PS2.
When I first got it I loved the ease of setup, it's very easy to place the speakers. However the cords only allow you to space the main speakers so far from the main unit (about 5 feet) and the woofer unit is large and needs to be close to the main unit also. Bose advertises that the surround effect works with the speakers close together (looks good on the diagram included with the package) but that simply isn't the case. I chose the 3-2-1 because I didn't want to have to install nine speakers all over the living room for surround sound, but looking back you only have to set it up once and unless you move every six months, it's worth the extra effort to set up a normal surround sound speaker array. The sound you thought you were paying extra for with the 3-2-1 somehow doesn't make it out of the package.
So after getting it set up I cranked it to check to loudness and was totally underwhelmed. If you have a teen this may be a good thing, but every now and then I like to crank the volume for a party or something and it's not loud enough. Again I accepted a large price because I thought a loud system with hi fidelity surround sound was worth it, but ended up without.
Finally the universal remotes don't work with this system. It may be because it's a hybrid DVD and amplifier, but for whatever reason you have to use the Bose remote along with your SAT, VCR, TV, TiVo, etc. I'm down to two remotes, one of which is the Bose. Just an extra pain for the extra money.
After I bought it I went to a different store and told the salesman I'd just bought a Bose 3-2-1 (I was looking for a cable or something.) To quote him, "Dude, you got ripped off." A year later, I do believe he was right.
|
|
|
|
|
Bose 3-2-1 GS Series 2
|
|
Reviewed
February 21 2005 1:04:53 AM
5
out of
5
users found this recommendation helpful.
|
|
Ratings:
4
out of 5
Pros:
Great sound for 2 speakers + sub woofer |
|
|
|
| Cons:
High Price This is a great system if you don't want the hassle of a center channel and 4 or more satellite speakers. The sound that this system puts out from just 2 small speakers and a sub-woofer is pretty amazing. My wife and I have it hooked up to a Panasonic 42" plasma EDTV in our bedroom and are very pleased with the performance of this Bose system. Since it's the Series 2 model, the DVD player is now progressive scan. We also have a 5.1 surround sound system (Onkyo receiver and Energy speakers) in our living room and to be honest, I prefer the performance from a true surround sound system as compared to the 3-2-1 system. BUT, as I previously alluded to, unless you've got your walls wired for surround sound, the Bose 3-2-1 GS Series 2 system will give you comparable sound without the hassle of all the wiring and additional speakers. The downside is that I believe this system is just a bit on the high side with regards to price. Bottom line: If our bedroom walls were wired for surround sound I would have gone that route, but since they weren't, this was the BEST alternative I could find and am very happy with the results!
|
|
|
|
|
Great System from Bose
|
|
Reviewed
September 15 2004 10:54:48 PM
5
out of
6
users found this recommendation helpful.
|
|
Ratings:
5
out of 5
Pros:
Compact, Superb Sound Quality, Easily Hidden |
|
|
|
| Cons:
Lack of Progressive Scan An absolutely fantastic system delivered by Bose. No need to have treble, bass, and mid-range adjustments with this system due to it's design... delievers music the way it was meant to be heard and recorded.
|
|
|
|
|
Mostly Junk
|
|
Reviewed
May 6 2007 8:47:21 PM
4
out of
4
users found this recommendation helpful.
|
|
Ratings:
2
out of 5
Pros:
Excellent features, excellent sound, easy to setup |
|
|
|
Cons:
Poor CD read, poor overall quality We just returned our Bose 3-2-1 GSX system. When it works properly, it works great, but getting it to work properly is the key. We bought it for the features, sound and brand and returned it for itâs quality.
Though the sound is great, some remark that it has negligible mid-tones. This is correct, but didnât affect our enjoyment at all. The sound is great and the simulated surround is excellent. You have to set the small speakers so the inner edges focus on the center of the listening area. The subwoofer can be anywhere, but we placed it under the TV. The late-1980âs-era LCD display cannot be shut off and doesnât have a clock display.
The problems started when it couldnât read some tracks on some CDs we had. Then, when we tried to load CDs into the internal HDD, the system crashed. It kept powering on & off. Unplugging and doing a hard reset didnât work.
On the plus side for Bose, we got through to tech support almost immediately, and this is on a Sunday morning. Of course, the tech had never heard of this issue, and he said they would send a replacement main-unit. I said that I would just bring it in to our Bose store and swap it out.
Before I left, I read many reviews, including those here, and decided to return the whole thing. My recommendation is if you end up buying this, save the packing materials.
Itâs astounding that Bose would let a product which has issues like this out the door. I hope they can figure things out before they loose their reputation.
|
|
|
|
|
why did I buy this?
|
|
Reviewed
May 16 2007 11:19:56 PM
3
out of
3
users found this recommendation helpful.
|
|
Ratings:
2
out of 5
Pros:
none |
|
|
|
| Cons:
dvd's won't play! My 1st Bose 321 unit had trouble with playing DVD's and within a month it totally died (no audio/video). I got a replacement 321 unit and again it had trouble with playing DVD's. So...Bose sent a firmware CD and it might have helped a little. Now it will not play any DVD's or CD's at all. Bose's answer was that I send the product (my money!!) to their repair place and then wait to get it back in 2-3 weeks. That is BS. Why did I buy this????
|
|
|
|
|
DO NOT WASTE YOUR MONEY
|
|
Reviewed
August 30 2005 11:41:13 AM
3
out of
3
users found this recommendation helpful.
|
|
Ratings:
1
out of 5
Pros:
FEW WIRES |
|
|
|
Cons:
SOUND, PICTURE, FUNCTION, CUSTOMER SERVICE MY EXPERIENCE WITH THE BOSE 321 AND THEIR CUSTOMER SERVICE HAS BEEN HORRIBLE. THIS IS A WARNING TO ALL WHO FALL FOR ALL THE HYPE.
PROBLEMS WITH THE UNIT...DVD WONT EJECT, MUST BE RESET. VERTICAL LINES WHEN THE PICTURE IS BLACK. DISMAL SOUND...MUST BE TURNED ALL THE WAY UP TO GET ANY KIND OF OOMPH!
THE GUARANTEE STATES, "RISK FREE". WELL, BEFORE I SENT IT BACK, I ASKED BOSE TO SEND ME THE RETURN PRE-PAID SHIPPING LABEL. THEY SENT A NICE MESSAGE THAT INCLUDED THE RA# AND THAT I SHOULD BE PATIENT WITH THE CREDIT BECAUSE THEY ARE RECEIVING SO MANY RETURNS. HMMMMM....WAS THAT A SLIP? I THEN SENT ANOTHER EMAIL ASKING ABOUT THE PRE-PAID LABEL. NOTHING....NO ANSWER. SENT ANOTHER EMAIL...AND ANOTHER...TO A DIFFERENT EMAIL ADDRESS...NOTHING. WELL, THE UNIT IS ON THE WAY BACK...AND I WILL THEN FILE A COMPLAINT WITH THE BBB. THIS COMPANY DISGUSTS ME WITH ALL THEIR SUPPOSED CLASS, YET, WON'T EVEN BACK UP THEIR CRAP.
I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER BOSE PRODUCT AND WILL MAKE IT MY
|
|
|
|
|
Lack of Universal Remote
|
|
Reviewed
April 25 2003 12:23:32 AM
6
out of
10
users found this recommendation helpful.
|
|
Ratings:
2
out of 5
Pros:
|
|
|
|
Cons:
Just purchased Bose 321. I didnt think the lack of a universal remote would be that much but I underestimated the pain of tracking up to three remotes.
You will have the Bose remote, the TV remote and any potential other remotes such as VCR and cable box.
Im considering making the return and going for another system. In this day and age of couch potato, lack of universal remote is a serious disfunctionality.
|
|
|
|
|
Compact ,easy, but not perfect.
|
|
Reviewed
January 18 2003 6:21:15 PM
6
out of
10
users found this recommendation helpful.
|
|
Ratings:
3
out of 5
Pros:
my order |
|
|
|
Cons:
soon Problems have been encountered wtih hybrid CDs and CDs that Ive created. The system also shuts off on its own while listening to the radio. Also if you turn it on and try to eject or play a CD too soon it will lock up to the point that you have to unplug the unit and turn it on again.
It was nice and easy to set up and it sounds ok (not as good as it did in the store) but for $1000 its been too much like running microsoft software.
|
|
|
|