soupcraze's Full Review: Bose 3·2·1 GS II Theater System
The Bose 3-2-1 is an interesting concept that Bose came out with. Getting 5.1 sound from a 2.1 system. 5.1 means five speakers and subwoofer. 2.1 means two speakers and a subwoofer. The Bose 3-2-1 uses two speakers and a subwoofer. It claims to create the kind of sound that you'd hear from a 5.1 set-up which uses two main speakers in the front, a center channel, and two rear speakers in the rear. One thing that Bose also claims that thing product does is it's easy peazey set-up. So, does the Bose 3-2-1 live up to its claims?
-Setting This Thing Up...
*Everyday I come home and dismantle my home theater systems. Then I put them back together. Ok, that was a joke. Very funny, haha. A lot of emphasis that Bose put on the Bose 3-2-1 was the fact that it's so easy to install. But should that really sell you the product?
How many times do you install a home theater? I think you'd do that maybe only once. The speakers have simple wires that plug right into them, and there is another wire that goes into the subwoofer. Then there's the powercord. Easy? Yes very. This was one thing that I liked about the system. But someone would seriously have to be an idiot to buy a system just because it's easier to set up than another. Sure it might take a bit more time and effort to set up a real surround sound system, but in the end, it's all worth it. The ease of setting this thing up shouldn't influence your buying decision. If it's too difficult to set up a home theater, have someone else set it up for you.
-Good For Small Rooms?-
*The argument that Bose gives is that these systems are good for small rooms. Yes, the Bose 3-2-1 doesn't take up much space. But many of today's speakers are also micro-sized. They don't take up much space. Now you must be saying, "Why would I buy micro-speakers when I can just get the Bose 3-2-1?" Well, to answer that question, many of these speaker companies actually work to build a better quality product, rather than to spend vast amounts of cash to marketing obsolete products. Even though many of these speakers are very small, they still have huge sound if they are accompanied by subwoofers, because they have no trouble hitting the mid- and high- ranges. The Bose speakers just don't cut it like they do. Choosing small speakers from other companies like Sony or Panasonic is much better than choosing the Bose 3-2-1, and they will also sound much better! If you're still willing to put up a lot of money, buy either Canton or Boston Acoustic speakers that are small, they will perform like beauties, and will beat the Bose speakers, obviously! Also, these speakers won't take up much space anyhow if that's what you're worried about.
-Easy To Use... Easier Than What?-
*The Bose 3-2-1 has a receiver that is pretty easy to use. It's pretty cool actually. It plays CD/MP3/DVD?CD-R/W, and that's pretty good. Hell, you can get the same thing from a progressive scan DVD player that can be purchased for as little as $99! But that's not the point. Sure it's a very intuitive receiver to use, but other receivers are very easy to learn to. It's not difficult operating CD and or DVD alongside a receiver. Just learn the basic functions and you're all set. The Bose 3-2-1 chooses which setting is best, but it's very easy to choose it yourself on a DVD for example, or to choose a DSP on a receiver. How lazy have we gotten? Sure, the Bose 3-2-1 has a nice interface, but other things aren't all too difficult to use. Remember, these consumer products are built for normal people! So the Bose 3-2-1 is easy to use, but so are many other products in the home theater market!
-Whoa... It's Like Compressed Not-So-Surround Sound!-
*The Bose 3-2-1 is supposed to re-enact a 5.1 environment. This means that the two main and only speakers are supposed to re-create vocals, which a center channel is so crucial for, the main effects that the main speakers do, and also the other smaller effects that the rear speakers are supposed to handle. These speakers did sound fairly mediocre for a Bose product. However, I wasn't blow away by it. There were a lot of details in the sound, but it sounded very compressed. I really didn't feel a surround effect, it just all sounded like everything was being crammed into these little speakers. The true is, almost any speaker can handle movie effects, but cramming EVERYTHING into these little speakers simply doesn't cut it. A 5.1 sound system, even one that's much cheaper, like a Sony or Panasonic 'home theater in a box' will pound the living daylights out of the Bose 3-2-1, and also they will have much nicer sound. If you're looking for spacious surround sound, you're not getting it from the Bose 3-2-1. Look elsewhere, you can also do much better for much cheaper.
-Boy... This Thing Really Pounds! Not!-
*And then there's the Acoustimass module. It's supposedly a subwoofer. It does give you bass, but definitely nothing compared to other subwoofers that you can buy. A 10" subwoofer can easily tear this thing apart. The subwoofer has a cool look to it, but it can be easily outdone by other subwoofers. Most people that describle, "Breathtaking bass" in hometheater systems talk about 10" or 12" subwoofers. It seems the Bose 3-2-1's sub hits more towards the midrange rather than the lower notes. If you want real heart-pounding bass, look into a Sony 12" or a cheaper 10" or 12", it'll smoke the Bose 3-2-1's sub any day.
-The Verdict-
*The Bose 3-2-1 was a cool idea. If it only worked as well as Bose intended it to work. The Bose 3-2-1 can easily be outclassed by almost any 5.1 home theater system. Equipment has finally gotten much cheaper. You can build yourself a truly incredible 'audiophile-like' system for under $1,000 if you work hard enough. A lot of systems under $1,000 also perform wonderfully. Don't buy this system just because it's easy to set up. You only set it up once! Remember that! It's the sound and performance that matters, and you can do better with a 5.1 system where it doesn't have to simulate surround sound. The Bose 3-2-1 only comes out with having compressed sound that doesn't quite give you that 5.1 rush.
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