Customer Reviews

Bose Lifestyle 3-2-1 Home Entertainment System

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(12)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(14)

 

 

We got our Bose 3-2-1 about 6 months ago. Overall, it's pretty good. It was easy to setup and the sound quality is good.

You'll like this system if: you want something easy to setup, you want a complete audio entertainment system with high quality (not excellent) sound, you want to be able to play CDs and DVDs.

You won't like this system if: you want true surround sound, you want a headphone jack, you want to play DVDs that you create with your PC (including VCDs, DVD+Rs, etc - the only DVD it plays is the kind you buy), you want a home stereo that has high volume, you want your universal remote to work with it.

If Bose made some very basic improvements, they would have a great system, including:
* Support all homemade DVD formats
* Have the volume range higher
* Add a headphone jack (better yet, have a wireless port for wireless headphones)
* Include a universal remote (or make their remote compatible with universal remotes)

I bought this unit primarily for its simplicity. Most surround systems have so many speakers and wires and components that it gets to be an eyesore and a real nuisance. You have to be an expert at home installation to hide them and mount them in such a way as not to become a predominant fixture in your home.

As for the sound, it puts out good sound. It is not very 'loud' (even at top volume, I can still speak to my wife and be heard without yelling) but it puts out a high enough volume that is not distorted or obnoxious. The bass gives out a powerful enough rumble that I feel it in parts of movies I never knew had such bass. That makes me happy. There is no equalizer and only a treble/bass setting to adjust to your home and, as one who used to love fiddling with equalizers, this is not so fun. But, again, it is simple.

There is a warmth that is lacking when playing CDs or from other music run through the system (if you have a turntable you'll have to buy a pre-amp to generate the power necessary to drive it through the Bose) but, again, it generates a nice sound. Keep in mind, also, that for bigger rooms it will sound a lot different than it does when you stand in front of it in the showroom at the store.

All in all, for simplicity, sound and convenience it is a nice package. The prices is a bit steep and I did have to return my original unit as it first lost its bass and quit playing DVDs and CDs altogether. Bose then, in the meantime, sent me an update on CD and I installed it and haven't had a problem with the new unit. Contact with Bose informed me that they were aware of the problems and the update was designed to fix these problems. It is all computerized which is a far cry from the tube amps of old (thus the lack of warmth) but it makes a nice addition to a home and puts forth good sound in a functional package.

Update: I've had this for about two years now. After the initial troubles and the efforts of Bose to correct the problems, the system works just fine. It is just as powerful and works just as well as noted in the original review above.

Here, in depth, are its limitations:

It is not true surround sound. It merely imitates it as best possible through two speakers. Even Bose's ads state this now. True surround sound can only come when you have speakers surrounding you.

The lack of headphone jacks is a bummer.

I still have a turntable. This thing just sucks when it comes to using a turntable. Turntables run analog sound; this is digital all the way through. I have a preamp to boost the power from the turntable that does ok but the sound is never as loud and full as CDs/DVDs and at the high end I pick up the static from the adapter required to run the preamp through the Bose. I think this is the greatest weakness of this system. It's just not designed for turntables and analog sound.

It can be fussy at times, delaying the start of a CD/DVD (especially ones that have been burned) and at other times, I find it necessary to turn the system off in order for it to read the CD/DVD. Not sure if this is a system problem or the limitations of the durability of CDs and DVDs as a source for various media.

It's designed for smaller spaces. A large room will reveal the limits of this system quite quickly.

All in all, I'm still quite satisfied sans the issues noted above.

Not sure if the newer 3 2 1 system is an improvement or not with the smaller speakers. This is an issue I have with Bose, not the system per se, in that I get this and it's soon yesterday's news. Just be very thorough before investing such a large sum of money.

I don't dispute that Bose is a leader in speaker technology. But there is a reason this item is discontinued. It locks up when playing certain DVDs. Sometimes after selecting "play movie" it won't get past the menu, you have to guide it to the first chapter or else it will sit endlessly on the menu screen.

Other DVDs will play fine, but if you happen to shut off the system without removing the DVD, the next time you turn it on it will say "Bad Disc" and locks up - you can't play, you can't eject, nothing. You have to UNPLUG it and essentially reboot the system.

Maybe I got the lemon, I don't know. But it's worth writing a review given the fairly expensive price tag and the assumed quality the goes along with the name Bose... this system is definitely an exception to that rule.

it's exactly as advertised...while it is not a "true" surround sound system (but Bose doesn't say it is)it does a credible job with THREE given speakers...this is important if like me, you have a tiny living room with low ceilings (typical Queens apartment)While I do believe [the price] is a bit...you must pay for the Bose sound and believe me, it does not disappoint... I recommend that you purchase it from a Bose store as they have a 90 day return policy and while I was in the store, I mentioned other reviewers' problems with the DVD (i.e. the drawer sticking, error messages and other glitches ) and the salesman said that Bose would send an update disk to reprogram the main unit which is probably some type of computer and that your satisfaction was pretty much guaranteed. The system is easier to set up than those multispeaker surround systems as there is no guesswork involved.

I bought this 18 months ago and while I had some problems with the set up, I got help from the store where I bought it. It has really nice sound, but it has a serious problem: not once but TWICE, when my children inserted DVDs in the player they would NOT eject! Since no one could service it locally (I went to 3 places, and each claimed they could fix it but then later admitted they couldn't since they would have had to open it up), I had to send it to Bose. That cost a lot, plus Bose charges a minimum of about $240 (I forget the exact amount) to even look at it. Now, the exact same thing has happened (this is the second episode)! They say you can repair this easily but I went through the recommended procedures with a Bose technician over the phone and it didn't work. There's NO WAY I'm sending this machine back to them; I'm getting something else! Any recommendations? Finally, lest you think the kids are somehow to blame, let me note that they work daily with other DVDs, CD-roms, CD players, and personal computers and have never had any problems with any of them. I normally don't like having to pay extra for a warranty, but if you insist on getting this product, I'd recommend buying it from a place that sells it with a warranty.

This is Bose's home theater equivalent of the popular Wave CD players/radios. It purports to be simple to connect, take up very little room, and satisfy a customer's basic home theater needs. It delivers exactly what it promises.

We've owned one for a week. Previously I ran our satellite signal through a Hi-Fi VHS to a 100-watt Marantz amp/receiver and out to two Boston Acoustic floor speakers. It sounded pretty darn good. Now I run the satellite signal to the VHS and to the Bose. The Bose has better sound definition, captures subtle sounds that were missed in my previous setup, delivers a visceral bass, and the picture signal seems to be slightly improved. My wife is happy that two large speakers are gone from the living room. I'm happy that one small component replaced a CD-player and amplifier plus the DVD player we were planning on buying before we saw the 3-2-1.

Now the disclaimers: Is it true surround sound? No. To my ears at nearly 50 years of age it's close enough--the sound bounces off the back wall and Bose's acoustical wizardry fools the ears quite well. The remote won't run anything else, so now I have to fool around with more remotes (but Bose says a universal remote can be used). The power cord plugs into the subwoofer and the subwoofer is supposed to be at least 3 feet from the TV. Figure it out, it's not easy in a room with few outlets. And this system is it--there's no configuring it like with a component system.

This system is better than the cheapie 5-speaker ones. Do yourself a favor and only consider this against high-end 5-speaker systems.

The 321 was the first Bose system I have ever bought. I had heard all the raves about the speaker technology and sound and was not disappointed at all. Unfortunately, the main unit which housed the dvd/cd kept locking up and would not allow me to eject the disc. Occassionally, it would not allow me to change functions at all. I returned my first one and the problem recurred on the second as well. Subsequently, I read a customer review which also relayed the same problem. Not sure if this is bad luck or a manufacturing defect. (...)

But when you get right down to it Bose is 100% marketing,
0% quality. While the pros of this system is its small size, its easy to setup, less wires to work with, and a good looking design. I have found I was very dissapointed with this system overall. The downside were numerous: To me the sound felt too compacted, so I don't think is suited for large rooms, there is no universal remote, lack of component video output and no progressive scan for DVD's plus it's not expandable. Lastly you will have to buy an S-video cable. Please...my Epson printer came supplied with a printer cable...you mean to tell me Bose can't accomodate a buyer with and S-video cable.

I have heard a well known radio figure pushing Bose and the superior quality and sound they offer. I tell you what, this system in my opinion is overpriced and after I returned it I found a better system for a better price. If Bose had tweeked this system better it truly would have been an outstanding system.

Spending over 1K for a home entertainment system is an investment and Bose didn't make the cut. I don't think I'll buy any other Bose products in the future.

It seems that Bose, with this system, is aiming it's sound at a smaller room, focusing more on crystal clear vocals and sound events. This system should be taken for what it's worth, two very clear front speakers, and quite a deep bass module. Works well in small rooms in a house, apartment complexes (watch the bass level though, people below you will be feeling it, even if it doesn't sound thud-dy in your room).

Maybe a good comparison would be that this system is geared towards the "My Dinner With Andre" or "Meet the Parents" type movies, where dialogue takes precedence over non-vocal sound events. Now "Saving Private Ryan" "The Matrix" and "The One" do sound absolutely wonderful on this system, you just need to remember that the surround sound is an effect/simulation (i'm not saying that it doesn't do a decent job of reproducing), not an actuality, and the anticipated chest-rattling thunder from the action won't be there as much as you might wish it to be. Although if you crank it up enough, your ears will definitely be filled with brain-rattling bass and effects.

I'd say all in all I am very satisfied with this product, although at times I do long for the wham-bam-thank-you-ma'am thunder that comes with a more traditional home theater system. But what it can do for me, the more subtle and tasty dynamics, the quality of sound reproduction (Bose, to audiophiles, is definitely love it or hate it), and the simple functionality has made it quite a good purchase for me.

We have had nothing but trouble, freezing up, no sound, volume shutting off. We have contacted BOSE 8 times , with no relief DO NOT BUY A BOSE PRODUCT , you will be sorry. We have had 5 different "software" up date disks. Each one has worked for approx. 30 minutes to 1 hour and then we had to reload it. BOSE won't do a thing about it, they know its a problem but would rather take your money and field your phone calls, and string you along. Feel free to e-mail me if you want further info. If I can make BOSE loose 1 customer I will sleep alot better.