Manage updates with the Download AppBose CineMate GS Series II (black)
Manufacturer: Bose Corp. Part number: CineMate GS Series II
- CNET Editor rating: Not yet rated
- Average user rating: 4.0 stars out of 11 reviews
- More product information:
- User reviews
- Specifications
- Manufacturer info
- Description:
- The Bose CineMate GS II speaker system is the easiest way to enjoy Bose 2.1-channel home theater performance and bring out the full audio potential of your HDTV. Proprietary TrueSpace technology enables two Gemstone speakers and an acoustimass module to deliver compelling sound for movies, games, sports and more. The system easily connects directly to your TV, avoiding the ... Read more
Where to buy
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 "Your customer service is the best I have ever encountered' |  | In stock Now $599.00 after $200.00 savings | Enter zip code to get total price: Price +Tax +Shipping =Total price | as of 05/22/2013 |
 | | In stock Free Shipping | as of 05/22/2013 |
User reviews
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Great Sound Quality In a Small System!
by Terrance42 on November 15, 2011
Pros: + Simple setup was easy and fast
+ Bass is very good
+ Delivers great sound quality
+ Remote is easy to program
+ Small size and minimal wiringCons: - NO EQUALIZER
- NO user visual interfaceSummary: Wow, what can I say, really impressed with this system!
Simple, basic connection and setup - it doesn't get any easier than this. Even if you have very little ...Summary: Wow, what can I say, really impressed with this system!
Simple, basic connection and setup - it doesn't get any easier than this. Even if you have very little experience connecting an audio system, you will be up and running in 10 mins, and what's more you don't need an amplifier or A/V receiver for most applications. Accepts traditional 3.5mm audio cables and toslink optical audio connection (both types of cables are included). I use the optical audio and for some reason the connection on the interface unit is never really that secure (end that connects to my tv audio out is fine, though). Could just be my setup.
Great for small to medium size apartments, bedrooms, or anwywhere that space is limited. That's really the environment this system was designed for and where it shines. The system itself is so small that it should fit in just about any room, which is great for those of us who don't want or have room for huge floorstanding speakers or even bookshelf speakers. I have the gemstone speakers simply sitting on the tv stand, but if you want to get a little better speaker placement (important for the higher frequencies these speakers produce) you might want to use speakers stands. One of the nifty design aspects of these speakers is that they have ports on the rear side, which is not by accident as these are designed to reflect off a wall as well, which gives them better dispersion and sound stage.
Of course what good is small size and easy connectivity if the sound quality is not there? This system is proof that sometimes good things can come in small packages.
After comparing this to different systems I have owned and different systems that I heard while shopping around, this system was in my opinion excellent in the amount of detail, clarity, fullness and warmth it produces. The bass is adjustable, and while it won't rattle every window in your house if that is your thing, it will produce more than ample bass for most tastes. Actually I think the bass unit (Acoustimass as Bose calls it) for this system is really unique in the range and balance of frequencies it produces. There is clearly some acoustic and equalization magic going on underneath the hood of this unit, and it works in near perfect tandem with the gemstone speakers.
One of the first things I noticed when listening to music that I was familiar with was that I could hear sounds and instruments that I never heard before, which is one of the great things that a good system will bring out. I also really appreciated the balance of this system when watching movies where I don't have to constantly change the volume during transitions between action and dialogue.
Okay so I'm clearly a fan of this system, but all that said, if you are more budget conscious, don't expect this to be the absolute best sounding or flexible system $X00 can buy... you are paying for sound quality yes, but you are also paying for the above mentioned things. Keep that in mind. I bought it for all these reasons and honestly I could not be happier. Yeah it is pricey, but definitely worth looking into for an excellent balance of sound quality, space conservation and simplicity.
Lastly, if you are wondering whether the GS Series II is worth the extra money compared to the regular Series II, I felt that the GS definitely sounds "better" to me than the regular Series II. Seemed to be a more balanced sound and crisper highs with the GS. But ultimately that is up to you and your budget. If you never heard them side by side, you would probably be happy with either one... but for the record the GS is better ( and if you will buy the cinemate GS Series II, I suggest you have to check for best deal before you decide at --> Hometheatersystemsuggestion.blogspot.com/2011/11/bose-cinemate-gs-series-ii.html ).
Hope this review helps.7 out of 7 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Pricey but best solution for HDTV
by Andy5225 on January 17, 2010
Pros: Ease of use, setup and most importantly sound!
Cons: Price, one of the most expensive
Summary: Spend a good bit of time reading up and reviewing home theater systems, simply put this was the best all around without huge installation cost. It took the better part ...
Summary: Spend a good bit of time reading up and reviewing home theater systems, simply put this was the best all around without huge installation cost. It took the better part ten minutes to install.
3 out of 3 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Aliens have no better sound device than a Bose.
by SonarPing on November 18, 2009
Pros: Sleek, rugged, legendary reputation and priced competitively. I worked on commerical fishing boats and the best sound systems always had Bose speakers. I think the subwoofer summoned a few whales to peek about from time to time.
Cons: Optical wire does not make a locking connection. I placed a little piece of electrical tape over the terminus to secure it.
Summary: I know I'll have these speakers for 10-20 years. And unlike other speakers, I won't regret a single day for having bought them.
Summary: I know I'll have these speakers for 10-20 years. And unlike other speakers, I won't regret a single day for having bought them.
2 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Won't work with most Blueray discs
by benkemper on March 13, 2011
Pros: Remarkable sound from Dolby 5.1 sources. Easy to install if you have an optical digital output from your HDTV
Cons: Won't decode any DTS-ES or DTS-HD signal, the latter being the most common for Blueray discs. You must step down DTS sources to PCM, losing most of the 5.1 mix and ALL of the magic this system offers with Dolby-encoded content.
Summary: I experienced the Cinemate system at both Best Buy and at the Bose store in our local mall. Best Buy used the Bose propriety demo disk. The Bose store used ...
Summary: I experienced the Cinemate system at both Best Buy and at the Bose store in our local mall. Best Buy used the Bose propriety demo disk. The Bose store used the Blueray disk of Toy Story 3. What the Bose employees didn't tell me was that they had changed the settings on their BlueRay player output to PCM to allow it to be played by the Cinemate system. Most BlueRay discs are coded in DTS-HD. This system will not play any DTS content.
It took me a while to figure out what the issue was and a call to Bose's tech support confirmed that Cinemate systems do not support any DTS content. They said I would have to step down the output to PCM. I did this and then compared a the Balin's Tomb scene from The Fellowship of the Ring using Dolby 5.1 and the DTS-ES choices in the film's menus. The difference was devastating. The Dolby 5.1 sounded rich, with all the proper echo and sound effects. The DTS output sounded flat, had no separation of the sound effects and might as well have been coming out of my TV speakers.
If simply want to get great sound from Cable or Satellite HD content (all broadcast in Dolby 5.1 or less) this is great system. If you want to use the system with a Blueray player, don't buy it.1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Great System!!!
by bishopknight1972 on December 30, 2009
Pros: crystal clear sound
solid investmentCons: nothing other than more inputs
Summary: Honestly you hear people bashing bose all the time. Most of the people doing this are people that have never owned the system or have like 1200 dollar receivers and ...
Summary: Honestly you hear people bashing bose all the time. Most of the people doing this are people that have never owned the system or have like 1200 dollar receivers and stuff like that. I paid about 750CDN for my bose cinemate GS Series II. If you actually take the time and do the math on a low to medium range set up your looking at a receiver($300) and set of speakers($300/pair) and a sub($250) would cost you are looking at well over that price point. Do yourself a favour and buy the system and try it out in your home and see if it sounds good to you. I recommend getting the table top stands as well, they look srp and it actually makes the speakers sound better when they are suspended in the air and not resting on a bookshelf. I really am enjoying the system...maybe its the one for you 2.
1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Series II sounds better than GS series
by halvem on December 23, 2009
Pros: Very simple installation; 3 cords, plug in and done; recommend getting the Bose small stands for any desktop use (nice).
Cons: Poor image/depth sound quality;
Summary: I admire Bose engineering and design, and am overall happy with many of their products (e.g. headphones; sound docks). I was looking for the best desktop speakers to use ...
Summary: I admire Bose engineering and design, and am overall happy with many of their products (e.g. headphones; sound docks). I was looking for the best desktop speakers to use with my PC in my home office (thinking of mostly listening to music while doing some work) and was willing to spend additional money for quality sound. I tried both the Series II and GS series. I love the Series II. One would think the more costly set up would be better. Called Bose HQ and they told me the GS would sound better. They don't. The Series II may be more than some of you want to spend, but for a desktop/office application-- it is great!
1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Listen to Palladia using this system!!!
by ojgsarge on November 25, 2011
Pros: Easy setup, great sound, superior customer service at The Bose Store
Cons: Price, although they make up for it with great sound.
Summary: I have a 50" Samsung Plasma. Not wanting the hassle of setting up 5+ speakers in my 17x18 living room, my wife, daughter and I ventured out to Best Buy. ...
Summary: I have a 50" Samsung Plasma. Not wanting the hassle of setting up 5+ speakers in my 17x18 living room, my wife, daughter and I ventured out to Best Buy. I started by testing 4 soundbars from Sony, Vizio, and Polk (2). The Polk sounded the best, but was still short of what I wanted. My wife was standing in front of the Bose setup and brought me over to see. Of course I've known the Bose brand, but the price always kept me away. We did not buy that day, but we did walk away knowing we wanted.
Our opportunity to buy came the day before Thanksgiving. The Bose Outlet Store at the Tanger Outlets was offering a refurbished Cinemate for $200 off of the regular price beginning on Black Friday (today). Their customer service is / was top notch. I had called the Wednesday prior to buy the system telling them I'd pick it up Friday. When I walked into the store, a young lady greeted me right away and asked if I could be helped. I responded by saying I had called before and was shocked to hear her say that the other associate I had spoken with on the phone would be right with me. Super communication between staff!! The checkout associate registered my product online on the spot and my system was carried out to my car.
I have a corner built in 3 shelf setup. The shelf which housed my old 36" tube TV is where I decided to place the subwoofer. The Samsung hangs in front mounted on the wall. Setup was a breeze!! The optical cable was used and not the RCA jacks. I bought some speaker mounts off of Ebay which saved me significant money from the Bose Store (sorry Bose, but it is what it is).
I am now watching the Rolling Stones movie "Shine A Light" on Palladia and it FEELS like I am right there. I don't know what else to say other than I will not buy any other system than a Bose. As of today, I am a customer for life!!! -
wow this system is so amzing the sound is so clear.
by Elliemtz on September 28, 2011
Pros: i cant believe so much power can come out of 2 speakers.universal remote and nice all around
Cons: the price.
Summary: two words...buy it
Summary: two words...buy it
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better than anything else in the same price range
by wolf2pups on December 27, 2010
Pros: looks great- awesome sub- easy to install
Cons: the fiber optic plug doesn't lock in place. sound appears to have an echo effect
Summary: The sound is very good with this system. It is sold as a simulated surround sound. It sounds like some of the TV shows were recorded in a steel chamber. ...
Summary: The sound is very good with this system. It is sold as a simulated surround sound. It sounds like some of the TV shows were recorded in a steel chamber. Music, however, plays very well. I spent all day listening to and pricing out different systems and decided to go with this one. The sub sounds better if you point it at the wall or into the corner (even though Bose recommends that you point it outward). So far I am very satisfied with this system.
If you don't want the hassle of wiring up surround sound, and trying to hide wires behind your couch, then this is a very good system for the price. I bought a new Sony 3d TV and I wanted Sony surround sound to go with it, but the quality of Sony didn't come close to the great sound of Bose. -
Great system in a small, easy to install package
by Spartan_JM on October 31, 2010
Pros: Excellent sound quality, easy install, small size
Cons: No cons. Okay maybe would have preferred more connectivity options and a lower price point, but other than that very happy with this system.
Summary: I was on the fence about this at first due to the high price, but once I bought it and installed it then turned it on (this all took about ...
Summary: I was on the fence about this at first due to the high price, but once I bought it and installed it then turned it on (this all took about 10 minutes by the way), I was blown away at how good it sounds and what an improvement it was over our previous system.
I was on the fence about this at first due to the high price, but once I bought it and installed it then turned it on (this all took about 10 minutes by the way), I was blown away by how good it sounds and what an improvement it was over our previous system.
Best for for people who want a simple, elegant sound system (best for an apartment or smaller room) without compromising sound quality. If this is you, then look no further. People will knock Bose and say how you can get equal or better sound for less, but honestly I have not found a 2.1 channel home theater in a box system that sounded as good as this one. We've also had good results with the universal remote that was included and we now only use 1 remote where we previously had to use 3 or 4 depending on which device we were using.
Very impressed and happy with this purchase, and although it is a little pricey, no regrets and would highly recommend this product for the customer and room environment for which it was designed.
Updated on Oct 31, 2010
Best for for people who want a simple, elegant sound system (best for an apartment or smaller room) without compromising sound quality. If this is you, then look no further. People will knock Bose and say how you can get equal or better sound for less, but honestly I have not found a 2.1 channel home theater in a box system that sounded as good as this one. We've also had good results with the universal remote that was included and we now use only 1 remote where we previously had to use 3 or 4 depending on which device we were using.
Very impressed and happy with this purchase, and although it is a little pricey, no regrets and would highly recommend this product for the customer and room environment for which it was designed.
Specifications
- Manufacturer: Bose Corp.
- Part number: CineMate GS Series II
- Description: The Bose CineMate GS II speaker system is the easiest way to enjoy Bose 2.1-channel home theater performance and bring out the full audio potential of your HDTV. Proprietary TrueSpace technology enables two Gemstone speakers and an acoustimass module to deliver compelling sound for movies, games, sports and more. The system easily connects directly to your TV, avoiding the need to disconnect other sources. And with no rear speakers, there's no wiring to the back of your room. A programmable universal remote control simplifies operation of other connected sources. Looking for a home theater upgrade to complement your HDTV? The CineMate GS II system delivers with sound and style. Two powerful Gemstone speakers flank your TV and put you in the middle of dramatic home theater sound. You'll experience a level of realism that simply cannot be matched by TV speakers alone. A hideaway acoustimass module provides the low frequency effects that make movies and games so compelling. It even includes dedicated bass control. Place the module in a corner or out of view - all the sound seems to come from the compact speakers. Together, the speakers and acoustimass module provide full depth and clarity for your music, too. Setting up a CineMate GS II system is a quick exercise, with only a few wires to connect. It hooks up directly to your TV with minimal-if any-disruption to existing component connections. A small interface module houses your audio input from the TV and displays on/off status for your system. And it is all controlled with a programmable universal remote that works seamlessly with most video components attached to your television.
General
- Product type Speaker system
- System configuration 2.1-channel
- Speakers included 2 x Satellite speakers,
1 x Subwoofer - Color Black
Features
- Speaker Type Active
- Audio amplifier Integrated
- Connectivity technology Wired
- Additional features TrueSpace digital processing circuitry
Connections
- Connector type 1 x SPDIF input ( TOSLINK ),
1 x Audio line-in ( RCA phono x 2 )
Compatibility | Accessories
- Cables included Speaker cable - 15 ft,
Audio cable - 6 ft,
Audio (optical) cable - 6 ft - Remote control Universal remote control
Power
- Power device Power supply - Internal
Manufacturer info
- Manufacturer profile
- Browse Bose Corp. products on Shopper.com
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- Manufacturer:Bose Corp.
- Address:
The Mountain, Framingham, MA 01701 - Phone: 1-800-999 2673
- Fax: 1-508-820-3465
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