2.1 home entertainment systems

This is a list of Bose 2.1 home theater systems.

Starting in the early 1990s Bose released complete stereo systems called the Lifestyle systems. They came with *Music Centers* that played CDs, AM/FM radio and had analog inputs. Since then Bose has released a variety of 2.1 systems, some with built-in DVD players, like the 321 systems, others like the Cinemates that are designed with only a single input for a TV's audio out. On September 28, 2010 Bose released a 2.1 system with a Bose-designed receiver with multiple video and audio connections.

From 1990 until the early 2010s, Bose sold several 2.1 channel audio systems, which used two small satellite speakers and a subwoofer. Early systems used an in-built CD player, followed by a DVD player and later models were AV receivers (which used external audio sources).

## Timeline of 2.1 systems

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Systems have been color coded by their receiver models (two colors are used to help separate new releases).
Some names have been abbreviated and at times full names have been shortened to save space ("LS" = Lifestyle)
Sources: Bose owners guides
## Lifestyle CD Systems

 **CD5** | 1 disc CD playerAM/FM RadioRF Remote
 **CD20** | 6 disc CD playerAM/FM RadioRF Remote
 **M1** | 6 disc CD playerAM/FM RadioTouch-screen RF Remote

See also Surround sound Lifestyle CD systems

Starting in 1990 Bose released a wide variety of Stereo & Surround sound CD based Lifestyle systems. Each systems came with a music center that had the ability to play radio and CDs. Some systems came with a CD magazine that allowed it to play up to 6 CDs at a time. The music centers each came with a couple of analog RCA connectors.

The first 2.1 audio system from Bose was the "Lifestyle 10", which was released in 1990. The Lifestyle 10 included a single-disk CD player, an AM/FM radio and "Zone 2" RCA outputs which could be configured to output a different source to the primary speakers.

A 6-disk magazine-style CD changer was introduced in 1996 and a touchscreen remote was introduced in 1999.

### Speakers

The speakers used ranged from directional speakers, direct/reflect speakers, and jewel cubes all requiring to be connected to a bass. Bose even created a Lifestyle 901 system, using its famous 901 speakers.

### Expansion

Each system came with an RF remote and the system could expand up to one other room with A/B or Zone 2 technology. A/B expansion allows the system to play the same source in one or two different locations. Zone 2 expansion allows the system to play the same source or a different source in two locations. The Lifestyle 40 came with a touch screen RF remote and were Bose's only systems that had 4 zone technology (allowing up to 4 different sources being played in 4 different rooms).

## 321 DVD Systems

### 3-2-1 series I

 **AV321**&**AV321GS** | 1 disc CD/DVD playerAM/FM RadioIR RemoteTrueSpace
 Outputs
 Resolution

The first 2.1 audio system from Bose to include a DVD player was the "3-2-1", released in 2001.. It has the ability to simulate surround sound from two speakers. The first series had a CD]]-DVD player, AM-FM radio, two Articulated Array speakers, and an Acoustimass module for bass.

The "3-2-1 GS" model was introduced with improved speakers in 2003, named for its use of Bose "Gemstones" small speakers (which have two drivers pointing forward and one pointing to the side).

#### TrueSpace

This is technology built into the system that simulates surround sound from stereo or surround sound sources.

### 321 series II

 **AV321II** | 1 disc CD/DVD playerAM/FM RadioUniversal IR RemoteTrueSpace
 **AV321 GSX** | 1 disc CD/DVD playerAM/FM RadiouMusic (200 hours)Universal IR RemoteTrueSpace
 **AV321 GSXL** | 1 disc CD/DVD playerAM/FM RadiouMusic (340 hours)Universal IR RemoteTrueSpace

In 2004, Bose redesigned the 3-2-1 series and released the *321 Series II* with two versions: one with the original Articulated Array speakers and another with the Gemstone speakers. The Series II systems add progressive DVD playback, a universal remote, BoseLink (so BoseLinked-enabled Lifestyle systems can send audio directly to them), and improved acoustics. In addition to that, the amplifier is now located in the bass module, allowing the media center to be smaller and requiring the speakers to connect directly to the Acoustimass module.

The *321 GS Series II* included the Gemstone speakers achieves higher volume levels, more clarity and better surround sound.

The 321 Series II was praised for its performance for movies, but was criticised for its performance with music and for lacking a HDMI connection. The 321 Series II GS had similar outcomes.

#### BoseLink In

Boselink in allows you to connect to a Main Boselink Out system, either wired or wireless. Once connected to the main system listeners use a local radio frequency remote to communicated back to the main system thus allowing it to control the volume and to select the audio source for that room.

#### uMusic

Bose also added the *321GSX* in 2005, which uses the Gemstone speakers and adds uMusic, giving it the ability to store 200 hours of music. uMusic is called *an intelligent playback system* because it ranks the music stored on the system by ones listing habits by +/- buttons, and if a person listens to a song all the way through. Through these steps it is supposed to learn ones musical tastes.. On November 2007 bose released the *321GSXL* in Europe that has the ability to store 340 hours of music. It has music already pre-loaded with 3 presets created called *party*, *hits* and *relax* ..

An internal hard drive for storing music (in mp3 and wma formats) was introduced in 2005 for the "321 GSX" model. A "GSXL" model was introduced with a larger hard drive advertised as having a capacity of 340 hours of music (however the bitrate used is not known).

### 321 series III

 **AV321III** | 1 disc CD/DVD playerAM/FM RadioUniversal IR RemoteTrueSpace
 **AV321III GSX** | 1 disc CD/DVD playerAM/FM RadiouMusic (200 hours)Universal IR RemoteTrueSpace
 **AV321III GSXL** | 1 disc CD/DVD playerAM/FM RadiouMusic (340 hours)Universal IR RemoteTrueSpace

On July 31, 2008 Bose released the series III version with an HDMI connection and 1080p output, making it an upscaling DVD player. The 321 GSXL III was discontinued in July 2009 and the 321GSX III was discontinued on September 2010.

## Speaker package

 **CineMate I** | Universal IR RemoteTrueSpace
 **CineMate II** | Bass AdjustmentSimple IR RemoteTrueSpace
 **CineMate GS II** | Bass AdjustmentUniversal IR RemoteTrueSpace

The television is used as the primary input to these systems. A small "interface module" is connected to the television, then the audio signal goes to a 2.1 speaker system.

### Freestyle

In 2002 the *Freestyle* system was introduced. Using the same Articulated Array speakers as the 3-2-1 it did not have a media center but an "Interface Module" with 3 different audio inputs one RCA (labeled Video), one Digital Coax (labeled Aux), and one Fiber optic (labeled Game). It also came with a credit card remote with power, volume controls and source buttons correlating to the audio input.

The first 2.1 AV receiver system from Bose was the "Freestyle", which was introduced in 2002 and used S/PDIF and RCA inputs. The system used the same speakers as the 3-2-1.

### CineMate series I

In 2005 Bose added a new speaker system called the *CineMate*. It used the same Articulated Array speakers as the 321II and much like the previous FreeStyle system it did not have the media center but an Interface Module. But this time the CineMate had only the single RCA audio connection and a universal remote control. The idea of this system was for people to connect all their video/audio sources to their TV and use the TV's RCA audio out into the CineMate.

The Freestyle was replaced by the "CineMate" in 2005, which has only RCA connectors and uses the same speakers as the 321 Series II.

### CineMate series II

On October 27, 2009 Bose updated their CineMate series. Probably because more HDTV's are starting to have only digital audio outputs (no analog out) the CineMate Series II now has a fiber optic input and a RCA input on the back of the Interface Module. Also a bass knob was added to the subwoofer to allow the users to increase or decrease the bass.

Now there are two different versions of the CineMate; The *CineMate series II* using the Articulated Array speakers and a simple 4 button remote (power, volume +/- & mute) and The *CineMate GS series II* which uses the Gemstone speakers and a universal remote.

A fibre optic input was added for the CineMate Series II, which was released in 2009.

## Lifestyle 235

 **AV35** | AM/FM RadioiPod Dock2 USB 2.0UnifyAdaptIQUniversal RF RemoteVideostage 5TrueSpace
 Output
 Resolution

Bose released the Bose Lifestyle 235 on September 28, 2010 this system includes a Bose designed receiver, subwoofer, iPod dock and speaker arrays. The Bose Lifestyle 235 speaker arrays (called the Gemstone ES) have three drivers each, two pointing forward and one pointing to the side, allowing sound to be pushed out and directed around the room.

The system has four HDMI 1.4a, two component and three composite inputs. There is one HDMI 1.4a video output that scales input video up to 1080p output resolution. It supports three non-HDMI audio inputs: optical, coax and RCA. The AV35 receiver decodes DTS, Dolby Digital, Dolby TrueHD, DTS-MA (core) and uncompressed multi-channel PCM (aka LPCM). The included iPod dock is compatible with all iPods/iPhones (with the exception of the iPod Shuffle), it has two USB jacks for firmware updates and to view pictures & extra RCA inputs to support BoseLink expansion.

This system also has Unify, Bose software for setting up new devices, and AdaptiQ, which analyses the room’s acoustics and calibrates the sound accordingly to get the best out of your system.

### VideoStage 5

VideoStage 5 is a technology Bose includes to convert any stereo or mono source into surround sound.

### AdaptIQ

The key feature of the system is the ADAPTiQ audio calibration system which allows for the system to adapt to the owner's personal living room environment. The system plays tones through each speaker and listens with a microphone headset worn by the user, and based on what it hears the media center will calibrate and equalize each speaker to compensate for any acoustic abnormalities in the room.

### BoseLink Out

Boselink allows the system to expand to 14 additional listening areas and can connect to any other Boselink device, there is also a wireless expansion option. Listeners use a local radio frequency remote to communicated back to the main system thus allowing it to control the volume and to select the audio source for that room.

### Unify

This system guides users through installation of any products connect to the system through an on-screen wizard. It uses a reverse lookup to recognize the remote of 3rd party products to program its own universal remote. Which means source devices such as Blu-ray or set top boxes can be connected to the Bose Lifestyle 235 remote to control everything from one place.

## Awards

* 2003 Red Dot Award for product design for 321 series 1
* 2005 Potentials Magazine one of the "Best Products of 2005" - 321GSII

## See also

* Official Bose 321 site
* 321 Series I review
* 321GS series I review
* 321 Series II review
* 321GS series II review
* 321GS series II review
* 321GSX review

## References

1. ↑ Bose Music Systems Guides, Bose Home Theatre Owners Guides, Bose repair service, Bose system names.This is a list of self powered 2.1 home entertainment systems, Retrieved October 5, 2010.
2. ↑ < src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></>Schnell, Bill (2001-12-05). "New Bose DVD Home Entertainment Systems Feature Cirrus DVD Video Processor". Cirrus Logic. Archived from the original on 2008-04-16. Retrieved 2008-08-03.
3. ↑ C|NET Review - Bose 321 Home Entertainment System
4. ↑ ZDNet - Bose 3-2-1 GS Series I
5. ↑ Electricpig - Bose Lifestyle 235 Home Entertainment System
6. ↑ < src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></>"Bose 3-2-1 GS Series I". *zdnet.com*. Archived from the original on April 17, 2010.
7. ↑ C|NET Review - Bose 321 Home Entertainment System
8. ↑ C|NET Review - Bose 3-2-1 GS Series II
9. ↑ C|NET Video Review - Bose 3-2-1 GS Series II
10. ↑ < src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></>"Bose 3-2-1 GS Series II Review - Home Theater Systems". *www.cnet.com*. 19 March 2014. Archived from the original on 19 March 2014.
11. ↑ < src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></>"Bose 3-2-1 Series II Review". *www.cnet.com.au*. Archived from the original on 24 February 2012.
12. ↑ < src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></>"Bose uMusic Intelligent Playback System Flash Media Player Animation:". Bose Corporation. 2006. Retrieved 2008-08-03.
13. ↑ < src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></>"Bose 321GSXL". Bose Corporation. 2007-11. Retrieved 2008-08-03. Check date values in: `|date=` (help)[*dead link*]
14. ↑ Dooyoo Review - Bose 321 GSXL Series III
15. ↑ < src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></>Barker, Dennis (2008-07-11). "Bose Intros Enhanced 3-2-1 DVD Systems". electronichouse.com. Archived from the original on 2008-07-31. Retrieved 2008-08-03.
16. ↑ < src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></>"ElectronicsMe Review - 321GSX III". Archived from the original on 2011-07-10. Retrieved 2009-09-01.
17. ↑ < src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></>Barker, Dennis (2008-07-11). "Bose Intros Enhanced 3-2-1 DVD Systems". electronichouse.com. Retrieved 2008-08-03.
18. ↑ Crutchfield 321 series III overview
19. ↑ ElectronicsMe Review - 321GSX III
20. ↑ http://worldwide.bose.com/commom/en/assets/pdf/guides/speakers/freestyle\_system/en/owg\_en\_freestyle\_system.pdf
21. ↑ C|NET Review - Bose FreeStyle PC multimedia speaker system
22. ↑ C|NET Review - Bose FreeStyle PC multimedia speaker system
23. ↑ C|NET Review - Bose CineMate
24. ↑ C|NET Review - Bose CineMate
25. ↑ < src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></>"Update Manual" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on November 25, 2011.
26. ↑ < src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></>"Bose Lifestyle 235 Specs". *www.cnet.com*. Retrieved 9 June 2019.
27. ↑ Electricpig - Bose Lifestyle 235 Home Entertainment System
28. ↑ 3D Update
29. ↑ Update Manual
30. ↑ crutchfield - Bose Lifestyle 235 home entertainment system