3·2·1® GS Series III DVD Home Entertainment System - Graphite

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Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 18 x 39 x 31 inches ; 43.8 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 44 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• Note: Gift-wrapping is not available for this item.
• ASIN: B001DOHYS8
• Item model number: 312335-1110
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #3,235 in Electronics (See Bestsellers in Electronics)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #11 in	Electronics > Home Audio & Theater > Home Theater Systems > Speaker Systems
  #15 in	Electronics > Home Audio & Theater > Speakers > Home Theater Speaker Systems

• Date first available at Amazon.com: November 22, 2004

Product Description

From the Manufacturer

Bose - Better Sound Through Research

Dedication to research and excellence. It's been the Bose approach to better sound since Dr. Amar G. Bose founded the company in 1964. But the commitment actually began years earlier.

In the late 1950s, Dr. Bose, then a graduate student, purchased a stereo system based on its impressive technical specifications. The avid music enthusiast was disappointed to discover the speakers didn't reproduce the sound of a live performance--and he became determined to recreate that lifelike audio experience for listeners.

After extensive research, Dr. Bose and colleagues introduced the groundbreaking 901 Direct/Reflecting speakers in 1968. Their lifelike sound won immediate and widespread acclaim.

Since those early days of 901 speakers, Bose engineers have kept their focus on creating better technology. You'll find that focus exemplified in the 3·2·1 GS Series III DVD home entertainment system, with advances that ensure premium performance and convenience.

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The 3·2·1 GS Series III system brings out the full audio potential of your HDTV, and delivers sound that seems to surround you The universal IR remote delivers seamless system operation

Powerful Audio Performance, Low Visual Impact

Home Theater Sound Made Simple

Experience enhanced home theater sound from almost anything you watch--with greater simplicity than traditional five-speaker surround systems. The 3·2·1 GS Series III DVD home entertainment system delivers cinematic 2.1-channel sound with just two Gemstone speakers and a hideaway Acoustimass module. The system includes an elegant media center featuring a progressive scan DVD/CD player with HDMI output and AM/FM tuner.

Bose patented Gemstone speaker arrays with breakthrough TrueSpace digital processing circuitry transform home entertainment into a dramatic sound experience. The two compact speakers flank your TV, aided by the powerful Acoustimass module, which provides the cinematic depth and orchestral sweep that bring movies and music to life. Together they bring out the full audio potential of your HDTV, and deliver sound that seems to surround you. Place the Acoustimass module out of sight to enjoy enhanced home theater sound performance with fewer visible components.

The 3·2·1 GS Series III system is also equipped with proprietary Videostage 5 decoding circuitry, so you'll enjoy home theater performance from almost any source: DVDs, videocassettes, stereo CDs--even classic movies and TV programs recorded before surround sound will seem lively and room filling. Digital 5.1 decoding provides improved realism from 5.1-encoded DVDs, DBS or HDTV. And Digital Dynamic Range speaker compression circuitry enables you to hear soft sounds (particularly dialogue) even at low volumes--and still appreciate the impact of loud special effects.

Setup is easier than traditional 5.1-channel home theater surround sound systems--three wires and a power cord are all you need. With fewer components, and no speakers in the back of the room, your system blends easily with your décor.

Gemstone Speakers

They’re the smallest, most powerful 2.1-channel speakers from Bose. Proprietary Bose technology gives these small speakers the strength to produce the exciting depth and resonance of home theater sound. Patented Gemstone speaker array design works in concert with TrueSpace digital surround processing circuitry to deliver a spacious multichannel presentation from just two visible speakers and a hideaway Acoustimass module.

The Acoustimass module works in concert with the small speakers to deliver the full range of home theater sound

Acoustimass Module

The Acoustimass module for the 3·2·1 Series III speaker system works in concert with the small speakers to deliver the full range of sound. The patented Bose design produces low frequencies for all channels with no audible distortion. When the module is tucked behind a curtain or chair, all of the sound seems to come directly from the two arrays.

Proprietary TrueSpace Digital Processing Circuitry

TrueSpace delivers a spacious, multichannel sound experience with strong center imaging from just two visible speakers and a hideaway Acoustimass module.

Universal Infrared Remote

Delivers seamless system operation and controls most video components attached to your TV.

Easy System Setup

Setup consists of only four simple connections. This eliminates the guesswork often associated with more complex systems.

Digital 5.1 Decoding

Provides improved realism from 5.1-encoded DVDs, DBS or HDTV.

Videostage 5 Decoding and Post-Processing Circuitry

This proprietary technology, combined with digital 5.1 decoding, delivers a high quality, multichannel surround sound experience from practically any source: DVDs, videocassettes, stereo CDs, even older mono TV shows and movies.

What's in the Box

• Media center
• Two Gemstone speakers
• Acoustimass module
• HDMI cable
• FM antenna
• AM antenna
• Universal remote control
• Speaker cable
• Stereo audio cable
• Composite video cable
• Acoustimass module cable
• Acoustimass module power cord
• Antenna stand
• Remote control batteries
• Rubber feet for Acoustimass module and speakers
• Setup DVD

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3·2·1 GS Series III DVD Home Entertainment System Accessories

	Wall/Ceiling Bracket--High quality cast zinc bracket, designed to provide unobtrusive wall mounting for Bose cube speakers. The bracket allows both horizontal and vertical adjustment of speakers, so you can direct the sound where you like. Sold as a single bracket.
	Universal Floor Stands--Slender metal stands elegantly display your speakers while hiding the speaker wires. Designed to optimize listening. Height: 38 inches. Sold as a pair.
	Universal Table Stand--This cast aluminum stand allows elegant speaker placement anywhere there’s a flat surface. A groove in the tubing conceals the speaker wire while providing quick, easy access. Height: 7 inches. Sold as a single stand.

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Similar Bose Products to Consider

3·2·1 GSX Series III DVD Home Entertainment System--This Bose 2.1-channel system provides simple home theater performance and also stores up to 200 hours of music from your CDs.

Product Description

The Bose® 3·2·1® GS Series III DVD home entertainment system puts you at the center of exciting home theater with greater simplicity. Just two visible Gemstone speaker arraysour smallest, most powerful 3·2·1 speakersand 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 FM/AM tuner, and an HDMI output that makes it even easier to connect to your HDTV. Plus, an easy-to-use universal remote control is programmable to run most of your home entertainment devices together with your system.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

50 of 51 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Sound, Small Footprint, Huge Upgrade from Series II, August 25, 2008

By	J. Siegrist - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I bought this late August '08 from a Bose store (prices fixed at $1k at all stores right now). First off, it is 2 speakers that fit in the palm of your hand, and a somewhat large woofer that can be put out of sight (e.g., behind TV cabinet). Sound is amazing given it's only 2.1 speakers. System does an okay job at filling the room with sound (I don't think it's fair to say it seems like there really are rear speakers, but the sound is for sure big and full), but it does deliver all 5.1 channels of sound through the 2.1 speakers when listening to those sources - awesome. Big + for me is that music sounds really good - not always true on home theater systems. Unit is easy to use and set-up - onscreen menus straight forward, and universal remote really is universal (including my cable box). Upconverting of DVD picture looks great. Sound from TV and DVDs is amazing (especially digital 5.1 sound from HD channels).

Now, for the cons: I wish it served as a video receiver as well - it does not. Example, this means when I watch cable I need to turn the TV on to cable video input and set the Bose to cable audio output - not a big deal but a bit annoying. There is only 1 optical audio input (which you can assign to any available source), but digital coax inputs are there for all sources (sound and signal for optical vs. coax digital audio is the same, differences heard are people playing vodoo). There is a bit of a sound delay when switching sound sources or when changing cable channels (~0.5-1 second) before the sound starts again.

Lots of people knock Bose because they are expensive. Well, Bose really does have superior speaker (always have) and now digital processing technology - look into it yourself, don't just trust reviews online from random people (such as myself). But, you should take a trip down to a Bose store or Best Buy and listen for yourself. And bring a full band audio CD to listen to of your own (the Dave Matthews acoustic demo they always play is stupid - acoustic guitar sounds good even on crappy speakers).

If you have the $$ and don't want to hassle with 5.1 speakers, at least give this some serious consideration.

Another note: I shelled out another $100 for the overpriced speaker stands (floor stands), and did notice a slight increase in quality as the speakers can spread out their sound a little better (as opposed to my previous set-up where they were on the edge of a shelf).

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good not great, June 6, 2009

By	MrAceJD - See all my reviews

I just bought a Series III Bose 321 system. I have it connected to a Samsung 46 inch 1080P HDTV.

I wanted to run my cable box, Sony PS3, Xbox 360, Wii, and Apple TV through the Bose 321. The only way to do this without having to change wires non-stop is to run the digital optical audio cable from the TV to the Bose system, giving you PCM 2.0, not Dolby 5.1. There is a noticeable improvement over performance from just the TV speakers alone, but nowhere near as good a a direct 5.1 connection.

I wish Bose had more optical audio inputs.

Also, I wish they had a Blu Ray instead of a regular DVD player in the system.

Like I said, good but not great...

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Worth Every Penny (All 100,000 of them), March 25, 2009

By	Corey J. Robinson "Researchoholic" (Staples, MN) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Being skeptical of such an expensive purchase, I really worked this thing over once I got it to make sure I was going to keep it. It did not take long to find out that it can't be beat. For such a simple system I was amazed at the performance. Let's start with the good: Very stylish, compact, and super easy to set up. The set-up I did was not your standard set-up either. I took advantage of running optical audio from my cable box (good idea) and I use the HDMI output to a 37inch LCD. I did not want all of my sound to always have to go through the unit so I had to use a few more wires. The sound is absolutely unbeatable for the size of system. If you are a sound junkie like myself you will appreciate the clarity and reality of the reproduction. Music is concert-like, DVD's play like you are in a mini-theater. People that do not like the sound of Bose generally like a lot of unnatural bass and Bose refuses to give in to that fake noise. I replaced a high end Sony 5.1 system with this for aesthetics and am kicking myself for not doing it sooner. The sound is now simply way better at all volume levels. Even 2.0 sound sounds better through these tiny speakers than they did with my old system. Now for the not so good: You need a fairly recent and not so cheap universal remote if you want to control this thing. Unless you don't mind the remote it comes with which claims to be universal but I found otherwise. The aqua display of text on the front of the unit can detour your focus when watching the TV screen. There is no equalizer if you wanted to create a different sound other than the Bose standard. Sometimes I want that cheesy bass although it pumps out plenty. Lastly, you almost need to use the optical audio connection to ensure full volume control. Without it you have to turn up the volume for different applications. I use the optical so I have no complaints. Before I go, I just want to let you know that if you want a small system that can fill your room with rich authentic sound then you are on the right track with this system. You can put a pretty nice system together for the price of this thing but what for??? 3 wires and you are done and have the best sound money can buy.