Home > Consumer Reviews > Bose 3-2-1 GS Series II DVD Home Entertainment System - DVD surround system - radio / DVD - silver

After jumping on and then off this system's band wagon about 40 times in the last month, my wife and I finally decided to get this system. When I decided that I was finally going to break down and get some speakers, cause the ones in my TV were going out, I originally saw this system in a infomercial and fell in love with it, just because of it's simplicity. After reading the reviews online, I have to admit I was leery about it, since it didn't really shine to some people. But after visiting a factory store this last weekend in Las Vegas and getting to hear this system, I realized for what it is, it is outstanding.

First of all, if you are wanting full 5.1 or 7.1 system, don't buy this. If you want to run the wires to get the true surround sound, this system isn't what you are looking for. Know what you are buying people.

But if you are looking for an adequate solution to better sounding TV, games and DVD's, then this is the system for you. These little speakers and subwoofer are able to bounce sound off of walls to make you feel like you are surrounded in sound. We have a big living room were this is set up, and it works great. In a 15 X 25 room with vaulted ceilings, it still sounds great. We watch Mission Impossible II as our first full length movie and it delivered like were were at a theater. We then put in the grand daddy of tests for me. Jurassic Park. The T-Rex scene was clear and loud and scary as ever.

Set up was really easy too. Took me about 2 hours, but that was because I was being really careful to keep my cords organized and also being really lazy by not pulling the TV out from the wall. The DVD until runs well with my Direct TV and Xbox. I can't wait to load up a game and see how the sound is on that. As far as regular TV viewing, we watched the Grammy's last night, and you could hear the crowd noise like it was around you, not just coming at you.

All in all, this unit is exceptional. For what it is, it is great. True, it isn't the same as a true surround sound system, but I don't think it claims to be. We bought this system as a starter, cause when we build a new house we are going to run the speaker wire to do a true system and them move this one to our master bedroom for future use.

We used this with a 10 year old TV too, and it's like the TV is brand new. We plan on adding a 46 flat screen in the near future, so I can only imagine the experience will get better.

My recommendation, take these reviews (even mine) with a grain of salt. Try to find a factory store where you can go and hear them in person, then come here to buy if you want. They also have great deals on refurbished systems, which carry the same warranty that the new systems do. You can save 300 bucks just to buy one that someone returned because they didn't like it and get the same warranty.

After spending 4 weeks investigating wireless home theater system. I realized that they are not really wireless. So finally I came across this Bose 321 GS II System. I went to my local electronic store to listen to the sound and I was blown away. The price is not cheap but you really get what you pay for. The sound quality is excellent. I can't believe this is only from two speakers and a subwoofer. Now I am even able to listen to my regular TV program in surround sound. The setup process is easy to get you started. Everything you need is included in the box. The universal remote control is great. Now I am only using one for my TV, VCR, and Cable box. If you want to take full advantage of this BOSE system then you might want to think about buying extra cables which is all described in the setup CD.

This bose 321GSii is great for its simplicity and beauty. The media player is good. I have tried alot of dvd types. As long as your computer (real player in PC or laptop) can read the dvd, this bose can will read it just fine.

About the true surround sound, I feel it projects sounds around my small room very well. Don't be fool with the comercial demo disc from bestbuy or circuit city. You will be dissapointed for the first few days because the sound you get from your regular movies will not be that good.

It does an excellent job on music and nice job on movies. I connect Sony HD receiver to this bose, I got a nice TV sound filling the room and dont want to listen to the speaker from my TV anymore :)

I think the base is not quite strong, but after increase the base up to 5 to 8 points. I feel it is good.

If you have a small room, and dont want wire everywhere. This system is perfect. I have to admit that this system does not produce good sound effect like having a GOOD 5 speaker system. and this small bose speakers can't beat tower speakers obviously. But when talking about the sound in term of speaker size and beauty, it is just amazing.

Well, I had Bose 321 for about 2 years, never felt great or worth the money. When they came out with 321 GS series, I called the Bose sales department to check, what are the improvements? Needless to say, tons of changes and improvements is what they said. After I bought the system, honestly I did find any damn changes or improvements, only change is speakers are small.

Negatives issues:

Sound: bit of distortion and humming noise, sent to bose for repair twice, (not solved).

DVD Player: Does not work most of time.

Remote control: worst, you have to point it directly to the media center, if not it will not work.

Subwoofer: is ok, not the best.

Positive feedback:

System looks pretty and simple.

Will I ever buy another bose product? Absolutely not, I take no pleasure in fooling myself beyond second time.

I wanted a surround sound system for my 1 bedroom apartment, but, didn't want to have cables cluttering up the floor. I have allways liked the sound of Bose speakers having used them since back in the 70's.
I orriginally was going to go with the 3-2-1 base system but I listened to them side by side and went with the GS II.
After a simple set up I inserted the demo DVD-CD that came with the system. I was totally blown away. Good bass, and although nothing really can replace 5.1 for sound placement, there were sounds that I could tell were definetally coming from front center, and rear right and left.
The system isn't cheap, but I feal you get what you pay for.