Manage updates with the Download AppBose 3-2-1 GS Series II (graphite)
Manufacturer: Bose Corp. Part number: 34122
- More product information:
- Editors' review
- User reviews
- Specifications
- Product series
- Manufacturer info
- Bottom Line:
- The Bose 3-2-1 Series II DVD system does a surprisingly good surround-sound imitation with just two satellites, but it's overpriced.
Read more
Where to buy
| store | customer rating | inventory | tax & shipping | price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amazon.com Marketplace |  | | Enter zip code to get total price: Price +Tax +Shipping =Total price | as of 05/14/2013 |
CNET editors' review
Bose 3-2-1 GS Series II (graphite) price range: $485.00
- Reviewed by: Nathaniel Wilkins
- Edited by: David Katzmaier
- Reviewed on: 11/09/2005
- Released on: 06/15/2005
The good: Compact system has integrated progressive-scan DVD player, AM/FM tuner, two satellite speakers, and subwoofer; delivers simulated surround-sound effects without rear speakers; easy to set up and use.
The bad: Expensive; no HDMI output; only one A/V input; proprietary cables limit speaker-placement options; lackluster sound with music.
The bottom line: The Bose 3-2-1 Series II DVD system does a surprisingly good surround-sound imitation with just two satellites, but it's overpriced.
User reviews
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GET ME OUT OF THIS UNIT!!!!!
by Timmmber on July 6, 2006
Pros: Size vs sound Quality, Very sleek on my shelf as an All-in-One device
Cons: DEPENDABILITY!
Summary: When I first purchased this system I was amazed and thrilled. I knew it wasn't a 5.1, but due to my location of the unit I had very ...
Summary: When I first purchased this system I was amazed and thrilled. I knew it wasn't a 5.1, but due to my location of the unit I had very little alternatives. The sound quality was good for what I expected for the cost. Base seemed a little low in comparison to the mid and high output. However, soon after purchase I had to exchange the unit for a new one. The first unit would not play sound with my DVR without unplugging the system and rebooting several times. The next unit developed the same problem. Bose quickly sent me a software upgrade that fixed this problem. Several months later the DVD drive began acting up. NO DISC messages and eternal READING DISC messages became my fight to play any DVD. Bose once again reparied/replaced the unit quickly. I have no problems with Bose or the past Bose equipment I have owned. I like the concept, I like the sound received for the money, I am not happy with multiple problems in under 1 year. Additionally, for a manufacturer to be able to sell this unit as refurb's in a wholeseller such as Sam's Club, buyers must beware of potential problems.
11 out of 11 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Clarity of sound is spectacular even at low volume
by gpearce53 on January 2, 2006
Pros: Easy to set up makes listening to your TV a real pleasure
Cons: none so far
Summary: Maybe I'm getting old but for over a year I've had a problem listening to my DVD player thru my TV speakers. In order to hear the dialogue ...
Summary: Maybe I'm getting old but for over a year I've had a problem listening to my DVD player thru my TV speakers. In order to hear the dialogue I'ld have to turn it way up and than jump for the remote any time music or action occured. Everyone told me I needed a home theater pkg. After looking at a bunch and not wanting to wire my family room I purchased the Bose. All I can say is exceptional. Easy to install (less than 5 minutes)and great clarity I'm really enjoying my 57 " HDTV, DVD,and the tuner and CD player. The Bose 321 is a little expensive but you get what you pay for and if clarity is your thing it's well worth the price !!!!!
11 out of 12 users found this user opinion helpful.
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not an owner but just returned from a hi-fi store
by GimletJohnny on February 2, 2006
Pros: sound & video is ok
Cons: didn't care for the look of the main unit , video is lacking
Summary: A Bose 3-2-1 TV commercial grabbed my attention last week. The 2.1 appealed to me since I wasn't interested in setting up 5-7 speakers in my living room ...
Summary: A Bose 3-2-1 TV commercial grabbed my attention last week. The 2.1 appealed to me since I wasn't interested in setting up 5-7 speakers in my living room along with the associated wires. I also need a new home stereo.
The salesperson showed me this model & put it to work. It looked ok but looked "plasticy" like their WAVE Music System. I liked the sound & the video looked good on a 42" HD screen. They also had the more expensive Lifestyle 48 but $4,000 is a bit out of my budget. The salesperson then switched over to a Denon S-301. The Denon video blew the Bose away. I was surprised at the difference in clarity. Unfortunately, the enclosure these were setup in had a rear wall that was too far away to consider the surround effects. After doing a bit of research I've decided to go back for the Denon even though it's more expensive.7 out of 9 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Awesome for what it is
by paulyboy on November 13, 2005
Pros: Awesome stereo sound, good surround
Cons: Lack of video inputs (No HDMI)
Summary: I evaluated both the Bose 321 and the Sony DAV-X1. The Sony was just awful. Volume was about half that of the Bose. I even asked the shop assistant if ...
Summary: I evaluated both the Bose 321 and the Sony DAV-X1. The Sony was just awful. Volume was about half that of the Bose. I even asked the shop assistant if it was broken!
So anyway, I bought the Bose, but my opinion is the opposite of the CNET reviewer. Surround sound was acceptable (about what I'd expect from two speakers), stereo music was fantastic.4 out of 4 users found this user opinion helpful.
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When configured correctly, this system shines.
by smokin_g14 on October 3, 2008
Pros: Mediocre sound out of the box, but incredible sound when configured properly.
Cons: The Bose default settings make this sound mediocre at best out of the box. Always checking to see if "Movie EQ" and "Range Compression" are off during DVD playback can get tedious and frustrating (check this setting when the movie begins to play).
Summary: For those people that are still reading this review. Here is the ultimate guide to getting the sound you were looking for. The default Bose setting in the Audio section ...
Summary: For those people that are still reading this review. Here is the ultimate guide to getting the sound you were looking for. The default Bose setting in the Audio section under "Audio Processing" is Automatic - switch it to "User Adjustable". For the Bass Compensation, I have it set to +12 (excellent bass reproduction and bass you can feel below 50hz). For the Treble Compensation, I have it set to +7. In my opinion, this configuration produces the cleanest base/mid/treble out of this system. Here is the kicker - when playing DVDs, turn OFF "Movie EQ" and "Range Compression". These options are BAD (Read the Manual for more details) if you are looking for crisp clean sound. When playing CDs or MP3 disks, the audio settings for bass/treble are enabled so you do not need to worry about MovieEQ/Range Compression. For all those CD tray or playback issues - simply unplug the system for about 10 secs and plug it back in. Your bass/treble will stay the same but you may have to turn "Progressive" back to ON. I always check if "Progressive" is on during DVD playback - This is freaking frustrating, but I want the best sound and video possible when watching DVDs on this system. This system is not for someone who just wants to "plug and play". It needs to be configured ALL the time! But at the end, you will begin to appreciate the clarity and surround sound reproduction. This system is outstanding but I cannot give it a 5 because of all the hassle. It is simply like night and day when configured correctly. I purchased this system in 2006.
2 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Set up is idiot proof
by Moyglass on January 3, 2008
Pros: The sound quality and clarity is excellent
Cons: Not even close to surrond sound
Summary: With a top of the line sound system in my X3 leaving the car and listening to sound from the TV in the past was a bit of a downgrade. ...
Summary: With a top of the line sound system in my X3 leaving the car and listening to sound from the TV in the past was a bit of a downgrade. Not any more - the sound quality from this system is great. With young kids who need to be in bed early I rarely get to us the higher volume settings. If you are looking for great sound go no further if you are looking for surround sound keep looking
2 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Spectacular sound from 2.1
by suaveFactor on November 18, 2005
Pros: Great sound with sexy looks
Cons: Lack of HDMI and you have to pay a premium for the brand name
Summary: I would highly recommend this for apt/condo. Crystal clear sound. I am big on looks and Bose stands out of the four rated by CNET. Sony surround sound (effect) ...
Summary: I would highly recommend this for apt/condo. Crystal clear sound. I am big on looks and Bose stands out of the four rated by CNET. Sony surround sound (effect) and volume sucks as compared to Bose.
2 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.
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It's got my rating of 9 out of 10 stars.
by jdgarcia62 on July 16, 2005
Pros: Best sound i've heard from a system that size.
Cons: Remote is plain and does not glow in dark. Needs a clock for the price that it costs.
Summary: If your looking for great pure sound from a compact home theater, this is the one to lay down your hard earned money and purchase ($1000.00). This system is ...
Summary: If your looking for great pure sound from a compact home theater, this is the one to lay down your hard earned money and purchase ($1000.00). This system is dynamite to watch DVD's on. With only two small speakers and a sub, It's GREAT to own this unit. The only two flaws that I have found are that the remote is plain looking and does not offer glow-in-the-dark buttons. It would also be nice that if the LCD screen had the time. Other than that, I have been extremely happy with the Bose 3-2-1- Series ll system.
2 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.
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DVD player is the worst
by Olmanlarry on September 5, 2011
Pros: I love the sound, and the DVD player, when it works, looks great.
Cons: The sound has to be turned up to 70 or 80, and the DVD player is always sending message "reading" or "no disc, when I have tried it in cheaper DVD in the house and the disc plays great.
Summary: I had always heard so many good things about Bose. That is why we decided to bite the bullet and purchase this one. We have had it about 6 years. ...
Summary: I had always heard so many good things about Bose. That is why we decided to bite the bullet and purchase this one. We have had it about 6 years. Had it installed by a reputable electronics company in town. From day one, we had problems with the DVD player. We just thought it was the CD's. But after buying a couple of cheaper players for the bedrooms, and trying the same disc in those, we have decided it is the BOSE giving us the trouble. There is NO way we can even sit and try to watch a complete disc on the BOSE. We gave up on it, and it is just a dust collector now. Very disappointed.
1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Doesn't read discs, breaks down, horrible product
by theinric on August 16, 2011
Pros: The sound is good when it works
Cons: The DVD player doesn't read most DVD's - after several months of working, it broke down. See reviews on Amazon.com for verification.
Summary: I am shopping for a replacement home stereo system.
Summary: I am shopping for a replacement home stereo system.
1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
Specifications
- Manufacturer: Bose Corp.
- Part number: 34122
- Description: The Bose 3·2·1 GS II DVD home entertainment system puts you at the center of exciting home theater with greater simplicity and fewer wires. Just two visible Gemstone speaker arrays - the smallest, most powerful 3·2·1 speakers - and a hideaway Acoustimass module deliver enhanced sound performance from almost anything you watch. Setup is simple: no center or rear speakers means no wiring to the back of your room. An elegant media center features a progressive scan DVD/CD player with AM/FM tuner. And an easy-to-use universal remote control is programmable to run most of your entertainment devices together with your system.
General
- Product Type DVD surround system
- Dimensions (WxDxH) & Weight DVD player / AV receiver : 13.7 in x 10 in x 3.3 in / 6.6 lbs,
Speaker system : 5.5 in x 4.1 in x 2.5 in / 1.1 lbs,
Speaker system : Subwoofer : 8.7 in x 19.1 in x 14.4 in / 23.4 lbs - Color Graphite gray
Audio
- Components Speaker system,
DVD player / AV receiver - Sound Output Mode Stereo
- Built-in Decoders Videostage 5 decoder
- Bass Control Yes
- Treble Control Yes
- Additional Features Magnetic shield,
Midnight Mode,
On-screen display Speaker System
- Speaker(s) 2 - External - Wired,
1 x Subwoofer - External - Wired DVD / Blu-ray
- DVD/Blu-ray type DVD player
- Media Format DVD+R,
CD-R,
DVD,
CD,
Video CD,
DVD-R,
CD-RW - DVD Repeat Modes Title,
Chapter,
A-B repeat,
Random - CD Playback Modes Repeat shuffle,
One track repeat,
All tracks repeat,
Random play / shuffle - Supported Digital Audio Standards MP3
- Additional Features Progressive scanning,
Parental lock Tuner
- Tuner Type Radio tuner - AM/FM - Digital
- Preset Station Qty 40
- AM Preset Station Qty 20
- FM Preset Station Qty 20
- Antenna Form Factor Loop AM / wire FM
- Additional Features FM stereo/mono switch
Inputs & Outputs
- Connections 2xAudio line-in-Rear,
1xComposite video/audio input-Rear,
1xComposite video output-Rear,
1xS-Video input(4 pin mini-DIN)-Rear,
1xS-Video output(4 pin mini-DIN)-Rear,
1xComponent video output-Rear,
1xSPDIF input-Rear,
3xSPDIF input-Rear - Coaxial Digital Input Yes
- Optical Digital Input Yes
Accessories
- Type of remote control Universal remote control - Infrared
- Supported Devices DVD player,
Cable box,
Satellite TV system,
TV,
VCR - Features Programmable,
Multi-brand compatibility - Second remote control type None
- Included accessories FM antenna,
Video cable,
AM antenna,
Rubber pads,
Speaker cable kit,
Universal remote control,
Audio cable - Cables Included Speaker cable kit,
Audio cable,
Video cable Miscellaneous
- Built-in clock Sleep timer,
Timer - Timer Sleep
Power
- Power Device Power supply - Internal
Dimensions & Weight (Shipping)
- Weight 44.1 lbs
Product series
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Bose 3-2-1 GS Series II (graphite)
Manufacturer: Bose Corp.
Specs: DVD surround system,
Speaker system,
DVD player / AV receiver,
2 - External,
1 x Subwoofer - External,
Videostage 5 decoder,
Stereo,
Magnetic shield,
Midnight Mode,
On-screen display
Manufacturer info
- Manufacturer profile
- Browse Bose Corp. products on Shopper.com
-
- Manufacturer:Bose Corp.
- Address:
The Mountain, Framingham, MA 01701 - Phone: 1-800-999 2673
- Fax: 1-508-820-3465
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