Customer Reviews

Bose® CineMate® GS Series II Digital Home Theater Speaker System

5 star:		(31)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(8)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

I did extensive research before purchasing the Bose Cinemate GS II Series; but before I start my review I have a quick comparison to share by comparing a $300 panasonic system to the Bose Cinemate GS II: I previously owned a panasonic 2.1 system with built in up-convert DVD player which recently broke (lasted about a year). Sound quality on the Bose Cinemate GS II is markedly better than the panasonic system! Plus my audio system is not tied to a standard DVD player. I should have bought this first--instead of being $300 behind the curve than if I just bought the Cinemate GS II to begin with. Just though I should share that in case you are trying to justify the cost.

REVIEW--Info I discovered during my research and since owning for 3 months: I listened to the Cinemate II and the Cinemate GS II side by side in the store, both using the Toslink (digital optical audio) connection and also with the Component (analog audio) connection while watching an action scene from Kung Fu Panda in both BluRay and regular DVD. To me, the Cinemate GS II's sound was clearer and also sharper (crisper highs and clearer mids like with voices). The Cinemate II sounded great too (a lot better than the panasonic), but the sounds tended to be more muddled in the mid-to-high range (as compared to the the Cinemate GS II). But for $200 less and if your ears don't mind the difference (or can't tell the difference) then the Cinemate II is the better bargain. Also, the Cinemate GS II has the universal remote, but I don't use it ( I use a logitech Harmony Universal Remote). The Cinemate II remote has volume up/down, mute, and power on/off. The Cinemate GS II remote has quite a bit of features (a lot actually), and it feels good in your hand; but if you really want one, they are available from Bose for $30.95.

Other good to know info: You can connect both the Toslink and Component audio into the interface module at the same time. The interface module will automatically default to component audio unless there is an active Toslink connection (an active Toslink connection will always override the component audio). What does this mean? I have my DishNetwork receiver connected to the interface module via the component connection for watching TV--this is how I normally use the Bose Cinemate GS II (sounds great by the way). I then have my BlueRay player connected to the interface module via the Toslink connection. When I want to watch a movie, all I have to do is power on the Blueray player and the Bose Cinemate GS II will automatically use the Toslink connection (overrides the component audio). When I am done watching a movie, I power off the Blueray player and the Cinemate GS II automatically switches back to my TV audio. Of course the Toslink audio is the better of the two, but with only two connections available I had to compromise (plus my TV has no Toslink out--which would have been the preferred solution). The interface module works exactly the same whether you have the Cinemate II or the Cinemate GS II. Also, there is a Bass adjustment knob on the Acoustimass module, so you can turn it up or down to your preference. Sorry there are no other manual adjustments that you can do to the Bose Cinemate GS II.

Room filling sound: I have the Bose Cinemate GS II in my living room which is pretty big and it opens directly into the kitchen; total size is 20x60. Despite the room size, and even at a pretty low volume, I can easily understand a TV shows conversations because of the crisp and precise audio reproduction. I use to watch with closed captioning (so the TV can volume can stay at a normal level), but now I have turned closed captioning off.

Even at max volume (watching GI Joe), it was very very loud and the whole house was shaking, but the system did not distort at all--in almost disbelief it seemed to sound even better and clearer. I think that is attributed to the Bose TrueSpace technology which is used to covert 5.1 audio into a 2.1 system; the louder it got, I guess, the more the TrueSpace seemed to kick in.

Despite my acclaim for this system it is pricey; but, it sounds great, it was very easy to setup and it has the Bose 5 year limited warranty on the speakers. However, no matter how much a 2.1 system is touted as a possible replacement for a 5.1 or even a 7.1 system, in my opinion there are no 2.1 systems that can truly replace a 5.1 or 7.1 system. But if you don't like running wires and want a minimalist system with superb sound then I strongly recommend the Bose Cinemate GS II; or if budget minded, or can't discern the audio difference, then the Bose Cinemate II is a solid 2nd choice.

Please note that my rating is purely based on price to value (not the actual sound quality which I believe is a 5 out of 5)... If you're considering the purchase of the new Bose CineMate GS Series II system please note that you might want to save some money and go with the earlier version, The Bose CineMate Series II system. I've been researching both systems for several days and have been trying to figure out how much better the new GS version is. After finding very little information online that compares the new GS version to the older version I finally decided to pick up the phone and call Crutchfield. They told me that the only difference between the two systems is that the newer version has smaller speakers and a universal remote... other then that there's really no difference except the price. The subwoofer is exactly the same size, it's only the main speakers that are different in size. The older version main speakers are (3-1/2H x 7-1/2W x 5-1/4 D) and the newer GS version has (2-1/2H x 5-1/2W x 4-1/8D). I was in my local Best Buy store earlier today to get a preview of the older CineMate Series II system and WOW does it have a great sound! Unfortunately they don't carry the newer version so I couldn't do a side by side comparison. It's hard to find good info on the new GS Series so I thought I'd throw in my two cents for others currently in their research phase. So in conclusion, if you don't care about slightly larger speakers and don't care about the universal remote then save yourself some money and go with the CineMate Series II system.

I bought this system for a bedroom AV setup. I live in a townhouse and my bedroom is shaped in a way that will not neatly or economically accomodate a 5.1 or 7.1 system. I also decided that I wanted the biggest TV screen that my room could accomodate and therefore needed small speakers that would fit neatly below my HDTV. For a situation such as mine, this system is amazing. I give it 5 stars because I am comparing it to other 2.1 systems with small sized speakers. It's not truely fair to compare this with a system composed of a high powered receiver, 7 large speakers and a powered sub. It's not meant to fill the needs of a large family room or mini in-home movie theatre.

The down side of this system is that it is high priced for what you get. You really should only consider the Cinemate GS II for a situation such as mine where space is at a premium and therefore options are limited. Unlike the Cinemate II, the Cinemate GS II does provide rich sound and ample bass. It also does NOT require a stereo receiver so you will save that cost.

Initially I was hesitant to buy a Bose system because I've always heard the criticism that Bose lacks Bass and sounds rather hollow. I went to the Bose store to listen for myself and discovered where those criticisms come from. You must be careful with Bose products. Some sound great while others are over-priced, mediocre sounding junk. The Cinemate II (NOT GS II) is a perfect example of what gives Bose a bad name. My TV's built-in speakers produced better sound.

So, in conclusion, if you are a discriminating, high-income audio/videophile with a large home, this system will disappoint you. If you live in a modest sized home with limited space and want a compact system that delivers surprisingly rich audio, the Cinemate GS II is hard to beat. Best advice is to shop around and let your wallet, your ears, and your space constraints be your guide.

I know a lot of people like to knock Bose. I've heard "no highs, no lows, must be Bose" and then I turn around and someone else is shouting how Bose only has lows and highs and no mids. I just went through several sound system attempting to find one I like. I wanted something simple and didn't care to have wires running everywhere so I canceled out surround sound. I went through many soundbar type systems and was disappointed to say the least.

I started researching these speakers online and found that the people who bought them liked them but others said they were no good just due to the Bose name. A person on one of the forums mentioned a soundbar system which I had previously returned as being comparable to these speakers yet nearly $500 cheaper. Now having owned both system I can laugh at that statement as there is no comparison.

None of the other systems came anywhere close to sounding as good as these. Crisp highs, loud vocals, rich mids, very deep bass. I have to turn the bass down on this system so things will stop shaking on the walls. You can feel the bass. On the system that these speakers were compared to, I could only hear bass if I had the volume maxed and I had my ear pressed against the subwoofer. Not even joking.

People who haven't owned a Bose system ever, or in the past several years, really need to stop bashing something they know nothing about. I will admit that maybe they are priced a bit high. However, you get a great sounding system and I'm not sure you could do any better at this price. I have heard speaker systems (receiver/speaker/subs) that cost over $1000 not sounding as good as this system.

My expectations were shattered by this system and I would recommend anyone who has the money to spend and wants a simple, elegant and great sounding system, to pick these up and the nice stands (~$800 at this time for both speakers and stands).

(I do not work for Bose, am not some Bose "fanboy" (this is my first Bose system), have never posted anything about Bose before anywhere.)

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 ;)

Hope this review helps.

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.

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 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.

Let me begin by saying that I first purchased the Bose Cinemate Series II. I ended up returning it because the mid-range sounds were too weak. After returning it and doing more research, I decided to go with the GS... and I am GLAD I did. As others have stated, it is the best 2.1 system out there. The extra $200 is definitely worth it; the sounds are a lot more crisp and I'm able to hear speach much better when playing blu-rays and especially DIVX files. If you're looking for a 2.1 system, this is the one to get. Keep your expectations realistic and don't expect sounds to be coming from behind you. I have a smaller living room, didn't want to wire my apartment with surround-sound, wanted an upgraded sound system for my 46' LED TV and this was the perfect solution. One other thing, you should probably get the floor stands with these speakers; the sound is better from the stand than from laying the speakers on the table. The only thing Bose could improve upon this system is to have it display the volume level on the screen.

At local Bose store yesterday I listened to both the Cinemate Series II & the GS model, utilizing the very same scene of the same CD of Pirates of the Caribbean.

Not an audiophile here but there is clearly a difference between the two. The Series II seems to have a deeper sound and the GS seems to be more crisp. I tried to listen for as many sound effects as I could pay attention to during the scene and what I noticed in particular with the GS that I did not notice with the cheaper version were the Kraken's suction cups as it climbed up the ship's side.

I'm not a real technical person so I don't know that one system is better than the other or worth an extra $200, but perhaps the choice might be made upon taste, depending on whether you prefer a deeper or a crisper sound. Either one, I thought, was pretty amazing, and perfect for the small (10 x 10-foot) den where I've set up the flat screen TV.

I have tried several 2.1 systems searching for one that was simple, yet with good sound quality...nothing came close to this. I already own a Bose LifeStyle 48 and LifeStyle T20 systems, but wanted a simple 2.1 system to use in a living room/dining area. This system is paired up with a Samsung LED TV, Samsung Blu-ray player, Motorola cable box, and a new Apple TV. Configuration is simple...all other components plug into the TV and the TV optical audio out goes to the Bose. That's it...you're done! I now have iTunes playing wirelessly from my computer in another room and the sound quality is unbelievable for a 2.1 system. Now my TV sounds great, movies and NetFlix as well via the Apple TV, and it's all remotely controlled by a Harmony One remote.

I'm not a true audiophile, but I love music and can distinguish good quality audio from bad...and the Samsung Soundbar this replaced was definitely bad, even if it gets great reviews here on Amazon...there is absolutely no comparison. We like all kinds of music, and while most all systems sound good listening to rock, put on some classical or jazz and they just can't compare. The Bose lets you hear every string, every note, and many sounds you would miss on most systems. Yes, it's expensive, but worth every dollar. NOTE: the reviewer here who claims the lower-end Cinemate (with larger speakers and no subwoofer control) is just as good...is wrong. I know it's a matter of opinion, but I think that opinion was driven by the $200 savings over the GS Series II. The gemstone speakers that come with the GS Series II are far superior....they can easily handle the high and midrange sounds where the larger, less expensive speakers can not. You will not go wrong with this Bose system!

I have owned Bose products for over 20 years, so to say the lease I am biased, but I also own other products form other manufacturers to be able to discern good sound quality enough to write a review based on this purchase, which to say the least, is excellent.

I bought this product based on simple criteria of having the best cinematic experience without all the speakers in every corner of the room. My living situation does not merit running wires and setting ups speakers (think rental space with limited room here). Also I am a rather simple person looking for simple, elegant solutions to live as well. Being said, I was not interested in recreating what I had in the past, being a receiver and a number of other pieces of equipment laying around for no better purpose at times other than to take up rack space (remember stereo receiver/tape deck/CD player/TV and DVD player setups - that was me in the past).

This product basically was designed for the likes of me and performs with superior results. My current setup is as simple as life gets...55" 3D LED, Blue Ray DVD player, and Bose system. One wall, limited space to spread out (by choice) and with the speakers literally sitting in the same table as the TV (you do not need the stands...the speakers come with little rubber foot-stickies), the theater experience is fantastic for what I use the system for, which is mostly DVD viewing for an hour or two each day.

Before I set up the sound system to the TV, I popped in various audio CDs into the DVD player and was extrmemly impressed with the sound quality coming from these little speakers and the Base box.

If you think about it, given the system is going for $799, you would have spent the same amount of money to component-ize another system the same, with or without the same quality sound...for those who are trying to justify the price. that being said, for the simpleton in me, it's worth it considering that I choose to purchase items with a lifespan of over 10 years. My last Bose system I gave away in perfect condition and it lasted me over 20 years!