Bose 321 Owners Manual

							SYSTEM
 SETUP
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SYSTEM SETUP
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Placing the Acoustimass® module
• Place the Acoustimass® module within reach of the cable from the music center and an AC 
(mains) power outlet.
• Place the module at the same end of the room as the TV and the speakers (Figure 4).
• Keep the module at least 3 feet (1 meter) away from the TV to prevent the module from 
interfering with the TV screen.
Figure 4
Recommended 
Acoustimass module
placement
3 ft (1 m) 
minimum
•Attach the medium-sized rubber feet to the bottom of each foot on the module. The rubber 
feet provide increased stability and protection from scratches.
• Choose a convenient location such as under a table, behind a sofa or chair, or behind 
drapes, but do not block the port opening.
• Aim the port of the module into the room or along the wall. This prevents a blocked port or 
over-powering bass.
• Stand the Acoustimass module on its feet. Do not lay it on its side or stand it on either end 
(Figure 5).
Figure 5
Recommended orientation 
of the moduleA
C
I
NP
U
T
M
U
SI
C
C
E
N
TE
R
CAUTION: Do not block the openings on the back of the module, which provide ventilation for 
the built-in circuitry.
CAUTION: 
The Acoustimass module generates a magnetic field. Although this is not an immedi-
ate risk to your video tapes, audio tapes, and other magnetic media, you should not store any of 
these items directly on or near the module. 
						

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SYSTEM
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SYSTEM SETUP
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Making system connections
CAUTION: Do not plug the Acoustimass® module into an AC power (mains) outlet until all the 
components are connected.
Note:
If additional audio cables or longer cables are needed to make these connections, contact 
Bose Customer Service. Refer to the list of offices included in the product carton.
Connecting the Acoustimass module to the media center
Plug one end of the Acoustimass module cable into the Acoustimass Module jack on the rear 
of the media center (Figure 6). Plug the other end of the cable into the input (
) jack on the 
rear of the Acoustimass module.
Note:The jacks for the Acoustimass module cable are keyed so that the cable connectors only plug 
in one way. Make sure that the arrow on the connector body faces up when plugging in the cable.
Figure 6
Acoustimass module-to-
media center connection
Acoustimass
module input 
jack Acoustimass
module cable
Media center 
rear panel
Connecting the speakers to the Acoustimass module
1.Insert the single-plug end of the speaker cable into the SPEAKERS jack on the rear 
panel of the Acoustimass module (Figure 7). Tighten both screws on the plug.
Figure 7
Speaker cable-to-
Acoustimass module 
connection
Acoustimass 
module input 
jackAcoustimass 
module cableSpeaker
cable 
						

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SYSTEM SETUP
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2.At the other end of the speaker cable, separate the left and right speaker cords as much 
as necessary to reach each speaker (Figure 8).
Figure 8
Separating left and right 
speaker cords
Note: If you purchased a 3•2•1 
GS Series II system, the left and 
right speaker cable connectors 
will be marked with a “GS”.
3.Plug the LEFT speaker cable into the rear jack of the left speaker (Figure 9). Plug the 
RIGHT speaker cable into the rear jack on the right speaker. 
Figure 9
Left and right speaker 
connections
RI GHT
LEFT
RIGHT
speaker
cableLEFT
speaker
cable
Note:Make sure cable connectors are fully inserted and seated firmly in the speaker jacks. 
						

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SYSTEM
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SYSTEM SETUP
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Connecting the supplied antennas
The rear panel of the media center provides jacks for the AM and FM antennas included with 
your system (Figure 10). Unwind the wires for each antenna to provide the best reception.
Figure 10
Antenna connections
FM dipole 
antenna
AM loop antennaMedia center
Note:An outdoor antenna may be 
used in place of the supplied indoor 
antennas. To add an outdoor 
antenna, consult a qualified installer. 
Follow all safety instructions sup-
plied with the antenna.
FM antenna
Plug the FM antenna into the FM jack on the media center rear panel. Spread out the antenna 
arms and move them around to establish optimum FM reception. Extend the antenna as far 
from the media center and other equipment as possible.
AM antenna
Plug the AM loop antenna into the AM jack on the media center rear panel. Place the antenna 
loop at least 20 inches (50 centimeters) away from the media center and at least 4 feet (1.2 
meters) away from the Acoustimass
® module. Experiment with positioning the loop for opti-
mum AM reception. Follow the instructions enclosed with the AM loop antenna to stand it on 
the supplied base, or mount it to a wall.
Connecting cable FM radio
Some cable TV providers make FM radio signals available through the cable service to your 
home. This connection is made to the external FM jack on the back panel of the media cen-
ter. To connect to this service, contact your cable TV provider for assistance.
Note:
Make sure that the cable radio installation includes a TV/FM splitter so that only the 
FM radio band, not the cable TV band, is received by the media center. If necessary, contact your 
cable company. 
						

							SYSTEM
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SYSTEM SETUP
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Connecting your TV to the media center
Note:If you will be using the 3•2•1 system with both a TV and a VCR, skip this section and go 
to “Connecting your TV and VCR to the media center” on page 16.
Making audio connections
Note:If your TV does not have audio output jacks, see “If your TV does not have audio output 
jacks” on page 17
. Otherwise, continue.
1.Connect one end of the supplied stereo cable to the TV Audio IN jacks on the rear panel 
of the media center (Figure 11). Insert the white RCA plug into the TV white L jack. Insert 
the red RCA plug into the TV red R jack.
2.Connect the other end of the stereo cable to the audio output jacks on your TV. Insert the 
white RCA plug into the white AUDIO OUT L jack. Insert the red RCA plug into the red 
AUDIO OUT R jack.
Making composite video connections
Note:Some older TVs with standard TV cable connectors do not have a composite video or an 
S-video input. Such TVs are not compatible with any DVD players and require use of an RF mod-
ulator for this connection. RF modulators are available at your local electronics store.
1.Insert one end of the supplied video cable (yellow) to the Video OUT C (composite) jack 
on the back of the media center (Figure 11).
2.Insert the other end of the video cable into one of the video input jacks on your TV.
Figure 11
TV (composite video)-to-
media center connections
Write the name of the video input jack used on your TV in the box on page 25. After 
you turn on the system, you will need to select this video input on your TV in order 
to view the 3•2•1 system video output.
Video cable 
(yellow connectors)
Stereo cable 
(red and white connectors)Media center rear panel
TV TV connector panel
*Could be labelled “FIXED”, “MONITOR”, or “HiFi”.* 
						

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Connecting your TV and VCR to the media center
Note:There are two options for connecting your TV and VCR to the media center. Before you 
proceed, you must determine if your TV has audio output jacks. Consult your TV owner’s guide if 
you need assistance.
If your TV has audio output jacks
If your TV has audio output jacks, you can directly route the TV audio to the 3•2•1 home 
entertainment system (Figure 12).
1.Connect one end of the supplied stereo cable to the TV Audio IN jacks on the rear panel 
of the media center. Insert the white RCA plug into the TV white L jack. Insert the red 
RCA plug into the TV red R jack.
2.Connect the other end of the stereo cable to the audio output jacks on your TV. Insert the 
white RCA plug into the white AUDIO OUT L jack. Insert the red RCA plug into the red 
AUDIO OUT R jack.
3.Insert one end of the supplied video cable (yellow) to the Video OUT C (composite) jack 
on the back of the media center. Insert the other end of the video cable into one of the 
video input jacks on your TV.
Figure 12
TV and VCR connections 
with media center
Write the name of the video input jack used on your TV in the box on page 25. After 
you turn on the system, you will need to select this video input on your TV in order 
to view the 3•2•1 system video output.
Video cable 
(yellow connectors)
Stereo cable
(red and white connectors)Cable/satellite box 
(if applicable)
VCR
TV
*Could be labelled “FIXED”, “MONITOR”, or “HiFi”.*TV connector 
panel
Existing
cable
Existing
cable 
						

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If your TV does not have audio output jacks
If your TV does not have audio output jacks, you will need to feed audio to the 3•2•1 home 
entertainment system through a secondary source, such as a VCR. To do this, you will need 
one additional video cable, which can be purchased at your local electronics store.
1.Connect one end of the supplied stereo cable to the AUX Audio IN jacks on the rear 
panel of the media center (Figure 13). Insert the white RCA plug into the AUX white L
jack. Insert the red RCA plug into the AUX red R jack.
2.Connect the other end of the stereo cable to the AUDIO OUT jacks on your VCR. Insert 
the white RCA plug into the white AUDIO OUT L jack. Insert the red RCA plug into the 
red AUDIO OUT R jack.
3.Insert one end of the supplied video cable (yellow) into the VIDEO OUT jack on the 
back of your VCR. Insert the other end of the supplied video cable into the Video IN C
(composite) jack on the back of the media center.
4.Insert one end of the second video cable (yellow) into the Video OUT C (composite) jack 
on the back of the media center. Insert the other end of the second video cable into one 
of the video input jacks on your TV.
Figure 13
System setup when TV has 
no audio output jacks
Write the name of the video input jack used on your TV in the box on page 25. After 
you turn on the system, you will need to select this video input on your TV in order 
to view the 3•2•1 system video output.
Media center rear panelVideo cables
(yellow connector)
Stereo cable
(red and white connectors)VCR
TV Cable/satellite box
TV connection panel
IMPORTANT
If you connected your TV and VCR this way, you 
will need to turn on your VCR and select the 
AUX source on the 3•2•1 remote to hear sound 
from TV programs.
Existing
cable Existing
cableVCR 
connection 
panel 
						

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SYSTEM
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SYSTEM SETUP
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VCR considerations
• Some combination TV/VCR units may not work with 3•2•1 Series II home entertainment 
systems. Please refer to your TV/VCR owner’s manual for information.
• A stereo VCR is required for optimal sound performance. If your VCR has only one audio 
output and is not labeled Stereo or Hi-fi, you have a mono VCR. You will need a 
Y-adapter cable (available at electronics stores) to connect audio to the media center. For 
this setup, you will need to select “Mono decoding” (see “TV, CBL•SAT, and AUX settings 
menu” on page 44) so your 3•2•1 system will simulate surround sound effects from a mono 
source. Otherwise, you will hear mono sound from both speakers.
Advanced setup options
Making S-video connections (higher quality video)
An S-video input jack, provided on many TVs, delivers a higher quality TV picture than the 
composite video output connection shown in Figure 11. For this connection you will need an 
S-video cable which can be purchased from your Bose dealer or a local electronics retailer.
• Insert one end of the S-video cable into the S-Video OUT jack on the media 
center (Figure 14).
• Insert the other end of the S-video cable into the S-VIDEO IN jack on your TV.
Figure 14
TV (S-video)-to-media 
center connections
S-video cable
Stereo cable 
(red and white connectors)Media center rear panel
TV TV connector panel
IMPORTANT
If you use S-video to 
connect your TV to the 
media center, you 
must also use S-video 
to connect all other 
devices (such as a 
cable box and VCR) to 
the media center.  
						

							SYSTEM
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Making component video connections (highest quality video)
Note:Component video connections are required in order to use the progressive scan feature of 
your3•2•1 system. Your TV must also support this feature. To turn on the progressive scan fea-
ture, see “Video options” on page 48.
For the highest quality video from DVDs, you may want to use a component video connection 
between the media center and the TV. To do so, your TV must provide component video jacks 
(typically labelled Y, Pb, and Pr). Refer to your TV owner’s guide for more information.
To make component video connections you will need three video grade cables that are long 
enough to reach from the rear of the media center to your TV (Figure 15). If the cables are not 
supplied with your TV, you can purchase them separately.
1.On the media center rear panel, plug one video cable into the Component Y,Pb, and Pr
video output jacks (Figure 15).
2.Plug the other end of each video cable into the corresponding (color or letter code) com-
ponent video jack on the back of your TV.
Figure 15
TV (component video)-to-
media center connectionsMedia center rear panelColor-coded component video 
jacks (Y, Pb, and Pr)
TV connector panel
Stereo cable
(red and white connectors)
Component
video cable
IMPORTANT FOR COMPONENT VIDEO USERS
Input signals received by the C (Composite) or S-Video IN jacks are not passed through to 
the Component video OUT jacks. If you connect an external video device to the C or 
S-Video IN jack, you must also connect the C or S-Video OUT jack on the media center to 
the respective video input jack on your TV. To view the external video input on your TV, you 
will need to select the TV video input used for that device. To view the onscreen menus of 
the 3•2•1 system, you will need to switch back to the TV’s component video input.
Note:
For more information, or to purchase the video cables, contact your local electronics store 
or authorized Bose dealer. 
						

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Connecting digital audio devices
Some audio devices may feature a digital audio output for optimum sound performance. Use 
an optical digital cable or a coaxial digital cable, as appropriate, to connect this output to the 
digital input on the media center. You can purchase the required cables at a local electronics 
store.
On the media center rear panel, an optical digital cable connects to the OPTICAL jack. A 
coaxial cable connects to the audio input jacks labeled D.
Note:
Before you can benefit from the optical connection, you will need to assign the optical 
connector to the audio source in the system settings menu. See “Media center options” on 
page 49.
Figure 16
Media center digital audio 
input jacks
Optical digital 
audio inputCoaxial digital 
audio inputs
Connecting your cable/satellite box, TV, and VCR to the media center
The 3•2•1 home entertainment system provides flexibility for you to add up to three external 
audio devices, including your TV, directly to the media center. 
Figure 17 shows you an advanced setup using a TV, VCR and cable/satellite box. In this 
setup, please notice the following:
• S-video connections are used to deliver the cable/satellite signal to the media center. 
Therefore, the media center output video is sent to the TV also through an S-video 
connection.
• Analog and digital coax audio connections are shown for the cable/satellite box. As an 
option, you may use an optical digital connection. However, before you can benefit from the 
optical connection, you will need to assign the optical connector to the cable/satellite box 
audio source in the system settings menu. See “Media center options” on page 49.
• When connecting an audio device to the media center jacks, remember to match the red 
jack to the right channel (R) and the white (or black) jack to the left channel (L).
• For further details on making the video connections between your VCR and TV, refer to the 
manuals for these video devices.
Note:
The recommendations contained in this owner’s guide are basic suggestions for connect-
ing external devices to the 3•2•1 Series II system. Instructions and terminology pertinent to these 
external devices may vary, depending on the manufacturer. Consult the owner’s guide that came 
with the device for clarification on setup and usage before making any connections.