Bose 3 2 1 Series Ii Owners Guide

							Owner’s Guide
 
						

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Safety Information
WARNING: To reduce the risk of fire or electric shock, do not expose the system to rain or moisture.
WARNING: This apparatus shall not be exposed to dripping or splashing, and objects filled with liquids, 
such as vases, shall not be placed on the apparatus. As with any electronic products, use care not to spill 
liquids in any part of the system. Liquids can cause a failure and/or a fire hazard.
The CAUTION marks shown here are located on the bottom of your 3•2•1 Series II home entertainment 
system media center and the rear panel of the Acoustimass module:
The lightning flash with arrowhead symbol, within an equilateral triangle, alerts the user to the 
presence of uninsulated dangerous voltage within the system enclosure that may be of suffi-
cient magnitude to constitute a risk of electric shock.
The exclamation point within an equilateral triangle alerts the user to the presence of important 
operating and maintenance instructions in this owner’s guide.
CAUTION: To prevent electric shock, match wide blade of plug to wide slot, insert fully.
CAUTION: 
No naked flame sources, such as lighted candles, should be placed on the apparatus.
Class 1 laser product
The DVD player contained within the media center is classified as a CLASS 1 
LASER PRODUCT according to EN60825-1:1994 + A11. The CLASS 1 
LASER PRODUCT label is located on the bottom of the media center.
CAUTION: Use of controls or adjustments or performance of procedures other than those spec-
ified herein may result in hazardous radiation exposure. The DVD player should not be adjusted or 
repaired by anyone except properly qualified service personnel.
Class B emissions limits
This Class B digital apparatus meets all requirements of the Canadian Interference-Causing Equipment 
Regulations.
Batteries
Please dispose of used batteries properly, following any local regulations. Do not incinerate.
Additional safety information
See the additional instructions on the Important Safety Information sheet enclosed in the shipping carton.
Please read this owner’s guide
Please take the time to follow this owner’s guide carefully. It will help you set up and operate your sys-
tem properly, and enjoy all of its advanced features. Save your owner’s guide for future reference.
CAUTIONCAUTION
RISK OF ELECTRICAL SHOCK
DO NOT OPEN
CAUTION: TO REDUCE THE RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK,
DO NOT REMOVE COVER (OR BACK).
NO USER-SERVICABLE PARTS INSIDE.
REFER SERVICING TO QUALIFIED PERSONNEL.
AVISVIS
RISQUE DE CHOC ÉLECTRIQUE
NE PAS OUVRIR
ATTENTION : POUR RÉDUIRE LE RISQUE DE DÉCHARGE
ÉLECTRIQUE, NE RETIREZ PAS LE COUVERCLE (OU
L’ARRIÈRE). IL NE SE TROUVE ÀL’INTÉRIEURAUCUNE
PIÈCE POUVANT ÊTRE RÉPARÉE PAR L’USAGER.
S’ADRESSER À UN RÉPARATEUR COMPÉTENT.
CLASS 1 LASER PRODUCT
KLASSE 1 LASER PRODUKT
LUOKAN 1 LASER LAITE
KLASS 1 LASER APPARAT
 
						

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Contents
Introduction  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  5
Before you begin   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  5
Selecting compatible discs   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  5
Check for region code compatibility   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  5
MP3 compatibility   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Glossary of terms  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  6
Limited warranty  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  7
For your records  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  7
System Setup  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  8
Unpacking   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  8
Selecting locations for your 3•2•1 Series II system components   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  9
Placing the media center  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  9
Placing the speakers  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Placing the Acoustimass
® module  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  11
Making system connections  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Connecting the Acoustimass module to the media center   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  12
Connecting the speakers to the Acoustimass module   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  12
Connecting the supplied antennas   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  14
Connecting cable FM radio  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  14
Connecting your TV to the media center  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  15
Making audio connections  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  15
Making composite video connections  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  15
Connecting your TV and VCR to the media center   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  16
If your TV has audio output jacks   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  16
If your TV does not have audio output jacks  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  17
VCR considerations  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Advanced setup options   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  18
Making S-video connections (higher quality video)  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  18
Making component video connections (highest quality video)   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  19
Connecting digital audio devices  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  20
Connecting your cable/satellite box, TV, and VCR to the media center  . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  20
Connecting a game console   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  22
Installing the remote control batteries   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Connecting the power cord   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Checking your system setup   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
System Controls and Indicators  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  26
Remote control  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  26
The media center  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  29
Control panel  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  29
Display indicators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  29
Operation   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  30
Turning your system on and off  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Playing video DVDs   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  30
Basic DVD operations   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  31
Restricting access to video DVDs  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  31
Playing audio CDs   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  32
Basic CD operations   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Listening to FM/AM radio  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  33
Tuning to a station  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  33
Storing stations as presets   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  33
Erasing a preset  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  34
Playing other sources  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  34
Using the sleep timer  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  34
Controlling Other Audio Devices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  35
Setting up your remote to control other audio/video devices   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  35
Direct entry of a device code  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  35
Searching for a device code   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  36
Verifying an entered device code . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  38
Changing channel selection control  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  38
Contents
 
						

							4
Contents
Changing Source Settings   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  39
Using the settings menus  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  39
To view the settings menus  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  39
To make changes in the settings menus  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  40
FM-AM settings menu   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  41
CD settings menu  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  41
DVD settings menu  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  42
TV, CBL-SAT, and AUX settings menu   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  43
Changing System Options   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  44
Using the System menu  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  44
To view the System menu   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  44
To change system options  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  45
Audio options  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  46
Video options  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  47
Media center options  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  48
Remote control options   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  49
DVD Lock options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  50
Setting a password and restriction level   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  50
Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) rating system   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  51
Maintaining Your System   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  52
Cleaning  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  52
Cleaning the media center  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  52
Cleaning the speakers  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  52
Cleaning discs  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  52
Replacing the remote control batteries   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  53
Accessories   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  53
Troubleshooting   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  54
Troubleshooting table . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  54
Customer service  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  55
Technical Information  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  56
Device Codes   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  A-1
Cable box device codes  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  A-1
Satellite box device codes  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  A-2
TV device codes  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  A-4
VCR device codes   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  A-9
Digital video recorder device codes  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-12
©2004 Bose Corporation. No part of this work may be reproduced, modified, distributed or otherwise used without prior written permission.
Dolby and the double-D symbol are trademarks of Dolby Laboratories. Manufactured under license from Dolby Laboratories. Confidential unpublished works. 
1992-1997 Dolby Laboratories. All rights reserved.
This product incorporates copyright protection technology that is protected by method claims of certain U.S. patents and other intellectual property rights 
owned by Macrovision Corporation and other rights owners. Use of this copyright protection technology must be authorized by Macrovision Corporation, and 
is intended for home and other limited viewing uses only unless otherwise authorized by Macrovision Corporation. Reverse engineering or disassembly is 
prohibited. 
“DTS” and “DTS Digital Surround” are registered trademarks of Digital Theater Systems, Inc.
MPEG Layer-3 audio compression technology licensed by Fraunhofer IIS and THOMSON multimedia.
This product incorporates copyright protected technology and other intellectual property rights owned by Cirrus Logic, Inc. and subject to the copyright 
protection of the U.S. as well as other licensing restrictions and protections. Use of this copyright protected technology is limited solely to use with the Cirrus 
Logic integrated circuits incorporated in this product. Reverse engineering or disassembly is prohibited.
 
						

							5
Introduction
Before you begin
Thank you for purchasing the Bose® 3•2•1 Series II or 3•2•1 GS Series II DVD home 
entertainment system, which offers superb sound, elegance, and simplicity in an advanced 
home audio setup. Using Bose proprietary signal processing technology, the 3•2•1 Series II 
systems provide improved spaciousness from stereo recordings, and bold movie effects from 
surround-encoded materials. Yet its few parts require little effort to set up, so you can enjoy 
your new system’s performance right away.
Your system includes:
• Integrated AM/FM tuner and DVD/CD player in a small console
• Small, easy-to-place shelf speakers and an attractive hideaway Acoustimass
® module
• Easy-to-use infrared remote control
• Console input jacks for connecting other audio devices (such as a VCR, cable or 
satellite box)
Selecting compatible discs
The DVD/CD player built into the 3•2•1 series II media center can play the following types of 
discs identified by their corresponding logos:
Check for region code compatibility
For a DVD player and DVD disc to be compatible, their region code numbers must match. 
These numbers are allocated according to where the player and disc are sold. The 3•2•1 
Series II DVD home entertainment systems have a region code which must also match the 
DVD discs.
Check the region code number on the carton of the 3•2•1 Series II DVD home entertainment 
system or on the bottom of the media center that comes in the carton. Then be sure to 
choose only DVD discs that show the same region number on the disc label or front cover. 
For example, a Region 1 DVD disc should display the following mark: 
MP3 compatibility
To be compatible with the 3•2•1 Series II or 3•2•1 GS Series II home entertainment systems, 
MP3s must meet the following criteria:
• All tracks must be burned in a single closed session
• The disc format must be ISO9660
• Each file must have a “.mp3” extension and have no other periods in the filename•Video DVDs•Audio CDs
•Video CDs•CD-R and CD-R/Ws
•DVD-R, DVD+R •MP3 CDs
 
						

							6
Introduction
Glossary of terms
Aspect Ratio – The shape of the rectangular picture in a TV set. It is the width of the picture 
relative to the height. Our standard TV picture, in terminology used by that industry, is 4 units 
wide by 3 units high, or 4:3 (read as 4 by 3) in aspect ratio. There are currently two standard 
TV aspect ratios, 4:3 and 16:9.
Chapter – In DVD-Video, a division of a title. Technically called a part of title (PTT).
Component Video – A video signal split into three parts: luminance and two color signals 
(marked as YPbPr). It provides the highest resolution video, but cannot be processed by all 
television sets. 
Composite Video – A single video signal that contains luminance, color, and synchronization 
information. NTSC and PAL are examples of composite video systems.
Dolby Laboratories– Developer of a perceptual coding system for audio.
Dolby Digital – a type of multi-channel surround sound format used on discs. 
 – the logo representing Dolby
® Digital.
DTS – a type of multi-channel surround sound format used on discs.
 – the logo representing DTS.
DVD – An acronym that is most commonly known to mean Digital Video Disc or Digital 
Versatile Disc. The audio/video/data storage system based on 12- and 8-cm optical discs.
DVD Video – A standard for storing and reproducing audio and video on DVD-ROM discs, 
based on MPEG video, Dolby Digital and MPEG audio, and other proprietary data formats.
IR – An acronym for infrared. Pertains to the type of remote that sends/receives commands 
on an infrared light beam.
Letterbox – The projected aspect ratio of feature films is often 16:9 rather than the 4:3 aspect 
ratio of most TVs. Therefore, it is becoming common practice to transfer films to video with 
black borders at the top and bottom of the picture. The film picture becomes a “letterbox” 
within the video.
MPEG – a type of data compression used for audio or video storage on disc.
MP3 – MPEG-1 Layer III audio. This is a compressed audio format that allows you to record 
many hours of music on a single CD.
NTSC – An acronym for National Television System Committee. The organization that devel-
oped both the American Black & White and Color television systems.
PA L – An acronym for Phase Alternate Line. A television format used extensively in Western 
Europe.
 
						

							7
Introduction
PCM – An uncompressed, digitally coded representation of an analog signal. This is the form 
of the digital audio signal used for both CD and laserdisc. It is a serial data stream that is 
coded for transmission or recording. PCM is also used for many other types of serial data 
communications.
S-video – A video interface standard that carries separate luminance and chrominance 
signals, usually on a four-pin mini-DIN connector. Also called Y/C. The quality of S-video is 
significantly better than composite video since it does not require a comb filter to separate 
the signals. Most high-end televisions have S-video inputs.
Title – numbered elements of the DVD contents, which may include more than the movie 
alone.
Track – Individual selections recorded on an audio tape or disc.
Limited warranty
The 3•2•1 Series II and 3•2•1 GS Series II home entertainment systems are covered by a 
limited transferable warranty. Details of the limited warranty are provided on the product 
registration card that came with your system. Please fill out the information section on the 
card and mail it to Bose. Failure to do so will not affect your limited warranty rights.
For your records
Serial numbers are located on the bottom of the media center and the rear of the 
Acoustimass® module. Please have your serial number ready before contacting Bose®
Customer Service.
Model: 3•2•1 Series II  3•2•1 GS Series II  Check one
Media center serial number: _________________________________________________________
Acoustimass module serial number: __________________________________________________
Dealer name: ______________________________________________________________________
Dealer phone: __________________________ Purchase date: _____________________________
We suggest you keep your sales receipt and product registration together with this owner’s guide.
 
						

							8
System Setup
Unpacking
Carefully unpack your system. Save all packing materials, which provide the safest way to 
transport your system. Check to be sure your system includes the parts shown in Figure 1. 
If any part of the system appears damaged, do not attempt to use it. Notify Bose or your 
authorized Bose
® dealer immediately. For Bose contact information, refer to the address 
sheet included in the carton.
WARNING: To avoid danger of suffocation, keep the plastic bags out of the reach of children.
Figure 1
Contents of the shipping 
carton 
Note: Now is a good time to find the serial numbers on the bottom of the media center and
Acoustimass module. Copy these numbers onto your product registration card and in the space 
provided on page 7.
120 VAC power cord
(US/Canada)
115/230 VAC power
cord with adapter
(US/Europe) Your system includes 
one of the following
cords:
240 VAC power cord
(Australia) 230 VAC power cord
(Europe)
230 VAC power cord
(UK/Singapore)
Rubber feet for 
speakersAcoustimass 
module
BatteriesSpeaker cable3•2•1 speakers Media center
Rubber feet for 
Acoustimass 
module
Antenna stand  FM antenna
Setup and 
demo disc 3•2•1 GS speakers or
Video cable
AM antenna Stereo cable  Acoustimass
® module 
cableYour system includes one the 
following speaker types:
Remote 
controlNote: If you purchased a 3•2•1 
GS Series II system, the left and 
right speaker cable connectors 
will be marked with a “GS”.
 
						

							9
System Setup
Selecting locations for your 3•2•1 Series II system components
Use the following guidelines and Figure 2 to choose locations and positions for the compo-
nents of your 3•2•1 home entertainment system.
Note: While these guidelines are offered to help provide great system performance, you may find 
other placement choices that are more convenient and provide the sound you enjoy.
Placing the media center
CAUTION: Do not block any ventilation openings. For reliable operation of the product and to 
protect it from overheating, put the product in a position and location that will not interfere with its 
proper ventilation. For example, do not place the product on a bed, sofa, or similar surface that 
may block the ventilation openings. Do not put it in a built-in system, such as a bookcase or cab-
inet that may keep air from flowing through its ventilation openings.
• Place the media center where nothing obstructs opening the disc tray on its front panel.
• Make sure the media center will be placed close enough to the Acoustimass
® module and 
the speakers so that all the cables will reach. 
• Make sure the media center will be placed close enough to additional source devices (TV, 
VCR or cable box) so that all the cables will reach.
Note: Make sure that the front of the media center is unobstructed so that it may receive 
IR (infrared) commands from the remote control.
Figure 2
Sample media center and 
speaker placement
Note: The speakers are magnetically shielded to prevent interference with the TV screen.
Right 
speaker Left 
speaker
3 ft (1 m)
maximum3 ft (1 m)
maximum
3 ft (1 m) 
minimum
Media center
 
						

							10
System Setup
Placing the speakers
Choosing a good location for the speakers will allow you to experience the audio surround 
effects that your 3•2•1 home entertainment system is designed to deliver.
• Place the two speakers either on top of the TV or at equal distance from the left and right of 
the TV screen (Figure 2). Keep both speakers at approximately the same height.
• Place each speaker within 3 feet (1 meter) of the edge of the TV screen. Placing the 
speakers more than 3 feet away from the TV can cause the sound to become separated 
from the picture.
• If you are using a bookshelf or a home entertainment unit, place each speaker at the 
front edge of its shelf
.Positioning the speakers too far back in an enclosed space can 
change the overall quality of sound and alter the movie sound effects.
• Place the speakers at least 3 feet (1 meter) apart from each other to optimize the 
surround sound experience.
CAUTION: Choose a stable and level surface for both speakers. Vibration can cause the speak-
ers to move, particularly on smooth surfaces like marble, glass, or highly polished wood. If you 
are placing the speakers on a flat surface, be sure to attach the smaller of the two sets of sup-
plied rubber feet to the bottom surface. You may obtain additional rubber feet (part number 
178321) from Bose
® Customer Service. To contact Bose, refer to the list of offices included in the 
product carton.
Note: The speakers can be mounted on Bose brackets, table stands, or floor stands. For order-
ing information, refer to “Accessories” on page 53. Additional or longer cables may also be 
ordered.
Figure 3
Recommended speaker 
placement
• Place the speakers only on their bottom surfaces, with the Bose logo right-side up.
• Aim the speakers straight ahead toward the listening area. Do not place the speakers at an 
angle. Angling one or both speakers into or away from the listening area signifi-
cantly alters system performance.