Bose® CineMate™ digital home theater speaker system, Graphite Gray
By: Bose Average Rating: 3.5 Total Reviews: 40
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 On: 2008-06-23
I have owned quite a few high-fidelity and/or surround-sound audio systems over the years, and am quite impressed with the sound quality and decoding ability of this Bose Cinemate system. It is simple to setup and operate, and gives me consistently accurate, 5-star sound.
The source is my LCD TVs system digital sound out, which gives me a choice of optical or rca cables. This is perfect for the Cinemate for a couple of reasons; one, the Cinemate recognizes a digital signal through the rca leads, and two, this allows me to use my TV as a source switcher, between HDMI, S-Video, 720p, VGA, etc. and the Cinemate automatically recognizes the source and decodes accordingly with its "Videostage 5 circuitry with active equalization". This means it "delivers a home theater experience from almost any source. CDs, VHS tapes, and even mono TV programs that werent recorded in surround sound will sound lively and room filling". I would have to agree.
I have read in other reviews that the bass module is lacking, but I would suggest they put it against a corner perhaps? Maybe its because my TV has an un-amplified digital output, but when the source has intense bass (iTunes, DVDs, xBox), the bass is plenty loud in my 16 x 20 listening area, and it is exceptionally clean as well.
The only controls I ever need to use are the on/off and the volume. It has a great pre-programmed universal remote, but it doesnt work for any of my unique components, so for that and the fact that it only gives you the single input (I would love to hook up an FM tuner without the TV, for example), I have to downgrade my rating by a star.
But these are minor concerns; you wont find better build or sound quality, or ease of use, anywhere else for the money in my opinion. I cant imagine trading this for anything else; I might upgrade the TV, but this sound system is a keeper!
 On: 2008-05-31
Ive read many reviews on the Cinemate System and a lot of them put this system down, but I LOVE the sound quality and the bass the system puts out! Its true that there are no adjustments in bass or treble but i dont think it needs it, everything sounds crisp and clear. The only thing that I have to get used to is not seeing the volume show up on the TV when Im adjusting it. Near Flawless Sound!!!!!! I also got the Bose speaker stands and they are great, also hides the wiring very well. I used the setup CD to get started and it was very helpful, but most people can probably set it up on there own. It only took a few minutes
On: 2008-05-27
I wanted something to enhance the sound system on my Sony Bravia 46" LCD HD TV. I didnt want to go all the way to a surround system for a number of reasons. The Cinemate solved my problem. The voices are much crisper and understandable and the background sounds and music are greatly enhanced. This system works best if one follows the instructions for set up. It is very important to turn off the TV sound and set the sound out on the TV to Fixed. If a TV cant be set up this way full advantage of the system may not work. This is the best sound I have heard yet without going all the way to a full surround sound system.
The Remote is one of the best universal remotes I have used. I have the Bose unit, my TV, a Cox DVR HD cable box and a LG DVD/VCR player all programed and working on it.
On: 2008-05-25
Good sound system, although Im not sure its worth the money. Ive had one other sound system (surrond sound KLH) and while Im not dissapointed with this system, its just not the same. BUT, the sound is good and the setup is simple. There arent a lot of connections to make and the look is clean and nice. So if youre looking for a good sound system that makes installation easy and seamless this one is for you.
On: 2008-05-08
These speakers will blow you away! Amazing surround sound in a small package! No need for speaker stands and speakers cables all over the place, these 3 simple speakers will give you all the surround sound you need. Amazing quality and very easy to set up too!
On: 2008-03-10
Seems a lot of people here are giving this sound system a bad review - apparently these people dont know a whole lot about audio.
The Bose Cinemate system is a 100% transparent audio system - this means that it can only work with what it is fed. If you feed it straight audio from your television without any sort of coloring, then its not going to sound a whole lot better than your TV.
I have a 42" Zenith Plasma that has OK sound to begin with. Not a whole lot of bass response, but still better than your average TV. I added the Bose Cinemate and a plain old, consumer grade, Optimus 10-band EQ Ive had hanging around for the last 20+ years, and I have not ever had a better sounding audio system in my living room.
When you know what you are getting into, and how to use it, the Bose Cinemate is an amazing sound system.
 On: 2008-01-02
Received this in response to my Christmas list for a surround system for our Hitachi 55" Plasma TV. Before I opened it I read the reviews here and was really not sure that I wanted to keep it. The lack of control and seemingly incomplete set up instructions (many reviewers had to call Bose to get it set up right) had put me off. Finally decided to give it a go hoping that all would go well. Well, my husband spent the entire afternoon working on it. Finally got it ready to go and "flipped the switch". HUGE disappointment - the hum was so loud we couldnt hear the voices.
We made several adjustments and followed the notes from another reviewer with the exception of changing out the cords. (It is now 6 PM on New Years Day - no where to go to get the cords and Bose help line is closed for the holiday.) Those efforts were fruitless. What I did notice though was that the hum diminished substantially when I held the RCA jack next to the plug rather than insert it. Seems like the cords are the problem.
What a disappointment in the brand and quality. Bose obviously is no longer the premium producer it once was. Im packing it up to return it tomorrow.
On: 2008-01-01
Received this in response to my Christmas list for a surround system for our Hitachi 55" Plasma TV. Before I opened it I read the reviews here and was really not sure that I wanted to keep it. The lack of control and seemingly incomplete set up instructions (many reviewers had to call Bose to get it set up right) had put me off. Finally decided to give it a go hoping that all would go well. Well, my husband spent the entire afternoon working on it. Finally got it ready to go and "flipped the switch". HUGE disappointment - the hum was so loud we couldnt hear the voices.
We made several adjustments and followed the notes from another reviewer with the exception of changing out the cords. (It is now 6 PM on New Years Day - no where to go to get the cords and Bose help line is closed for the holiday.) Those efforts were fruitless. What I did notice though was that the hum diminished substantially when I held the RCA jack next to the plug rather than insert it. Seems like the cords are the problem.
What a disappointment in the brand and quality. Bose obviously is no longer the premium producer it once was. Im packing it up to return it tomorrow.
On: 2008-01-01
My wife purchased the Bose® CineMate(tm) digital home theater speaker system for me for Christmas. We custom built a home theater in our new home, 62" HD flat screen, Sony ES components, in-wall speakers; so I feel I know what a good system should sound like. The CineMate was not a replacement for this type of system; but my wife purchased this system for our bedroom. I had purchased a 32" HD Sharp Aquos for our bedroom earlier in the fall. The CineMate is the perfect unit to add theater sound to an office, bedroom, or apartment where a larger, more powerful system is not realistic due to space or sound output requirements.
The CineMate is simple and straight forward to setup. As with any system, location of the speakers is important. Locate the small front speakers to the sides of the TV screen, the subwoofer placement is not critical (more later), but because the amplifer and audio connections are located in the subwoofer, it must be placed fairly close to the TV unless you use longer cables from the audio out of the TV and then you are still limited by the length of the speaker cables which have custom connectors molded on.
The front speakers provide sharp, accurate sound, the bass is good without being over powering. No, you arent going to feel the bass in your gut, but then this system was never intended to do so. Several reviewers were disappointed with the bass response; even though subs are non-directional, their output can be influenced by several factors within the listening area. Try turning the sub unit, sliding it further way from a wall or closer to it.
Pros:
Easy to set up - approx: 20 minutes
Small footprint of front speakers (spouses tend to like this)
Easy to use and program remote control
Adequate bass for smaller rooms, lower volumes
Cons:
No control of amplifer output, other than overall volume
No digital audio input
Must follow Bose recommendations - mute TV speakers, raise TV volume to about 80% of max output
Pricey - after all it is a Bose $$$
I am very pleased with this unit, this would definitely be a great addition to your home office, bedroom or apartment.
On: 2007-12-31
My wife purchased the Bose® CineMate(tm) digital home theater speaker system for me for Christmas. We custom built a home theater in our new home, 62" HD flat screen, Sony ES components, in-wall speakers; so I feel I know what a good system should sound like. The CineMate was not a replacement for this type of system; but my wife purchased this system for our bedroom. I had purchased a 32" HD Sharp Aquos for our bedroom earlier in the fall. The CineMate is the perfect unit to add theater sound to an office, bedroom, or apartment where a larger, more powerful system is not realistic due to space or sound output requirements.
The CineMate is simple and straight forward to setup. As with any system, location of the speakers is important. Locate the small front speakers to the sides of the TV screen, the subwoofer placement is not critical (more later), but because the amplifer and audio connections are located in the subwoofer, it must be placed fairly close to the TV unless you use longer cables from the audio out of the TV and then you are still limited by the length of the speaker cables which have custom connectors molded on.
The front speakers provide sharp, accurate sound, the bass is good without being over powering. No, you arent going to feel the bass in your gut, but then this system was never intended to do so. Several reviewers were disappointed with the bass response; even though subs are non-directional, their output can be influenced by several factors within the listening area. Try turning the sub unit, sliding it further way from a wall or closer to it.
Pros:
Easy to set up - approx: 20 minutes
Small footprint of front speakers (spouses tend to like this)
Easy to use and program remote control
Adequate bass for smaller rooms, lower volumes
Cons:
No control of amplifer output, other than overall volume
No digital audio input
Must follow Bose recommendations - mute TV speakers, raise TV volume to about 80% of max output
Pricey - after all it is a Bose $$$
I am very pleased with this unit, this would definitely be a great addition to your home office, bedroom or apartment.
 On: 2007-12-08
BOUGHT THE CINEMATE AS MY FIRST BOSE SYSTEM. BEEN TRYING TO CONVINCE MYSELF THAT ITS A GREAT SYSTEM FOR THE PAST YEAR. WANTED AN INEXPENSIVE BOSE THAT WAS EASY AND COMPACT. GOT THAT. HOWEVER , IM NOW LOOKING TO REPLACE IT WITH A REAL SURROUND SYSTEM TO GO W/ MY SONY 1080i 42" LCD. THE CINEMATE LACKS THE ABILITY TO CONTROL BASS AND TREBLE SETTINGS AND DIALOUGE ISNT AS CRISP. SHOP AROUND AND READ AMAZON REVIEWS. I DIDNT AND JUMPED IN UNINFORMED.
 On: 2007-11-30
I bought this for the sake of simplicity, and because I figured Bose would know how to do it right. The truth is, this system is only slightly better than the internal speakers on my LG 60" plasma. It provides absolutely no sense of sound-stage, and zero sense of "surround". The bass woofer is barely detectable and the sound is, in a word, boring. You have zero control over anything but volume. There is no reason to purchase this thing. You can do far better looking at the nero 1 400 series for the same money, but far more advanced technology, still simple to use.
Honestly, this Cinemate is just a step above a good set of computer speakers/woofer. It is a complete ripoff at $499....at half the price, youd still probably barely consider it after hearing it.
On: 2007-11-21
I received my Cinemate system two days ago and it took me (a tech savvy person) about 6 hours to install this system over the two days. It was very easy to put the system together (about 20 minutes) but then I turned it on. I had a loud buzz/hum that would get louder as I turned the volume up and I could barely hear the tv show under the buzz. After speaking with a gentleman at the Bose store last night, I woke up early to call Bose Tech help this morning (they have awful hours for people on the West Coast). The miracle trouble-shooting activity that made the buzz go away was:
1. Unplug the Acoustimass box (to let it reset)
2. Switching the red and white cords Bose sent me with my red and black cords from my old system
3. Unscrewing the cable antenna from the wall, counting to 10 and re-screwing it in.
4. Then we plugged the power cord back in to the Acoustimass module (it rested for about 5 minutes while I did all this)
5. No more buzz!!!!
It was the most beautiful, clear tv sound Ive heard. So for anyone who has a buzz/hum issue when they plug their system in try any or all of the steps above cause it worked for me.
On: 2007-11-10
Most important!!!! Mute your internal TV volumn, BUT, you must then crank it up so as to maximize the TV amplifiers potential. It went from a 3 star system to easilly a 5 star system once i set it up properly!!! If all else fails and take 10 minutes to call Bose and they will help solve any minor detail you may have missed!! It compliments my 42" LG plasma beautifully and it blows away the internal speakers.
Its an awesome system that i will recommend to any friend who wants quality sound without breaking the bank and running wires everywhere.
On: 2007-08-11
Bose sales told me this system was compatiable with digatal optical audio out on my plazma TV, (NOT), this is strickly analog out. Also if your souce is mono, there is no way to set the Bose controller to simulate stereo, you will get sound from one speaker side only, depending how you hook up output L or R. The sound is great but this is alot of money for the sound system functionality. The remote that comes with it is Good.
On: 2007-08-04
I just bought a new Bose CineMate system and I love it. The sound is clear, crisp and amazing. This system does not offer as many features as I would like from a home theatre system, but it definately improves your sound quality tenfold. The system does not have a menu to change settings like base, treble, volume. In fact, you cant even tell where the volume level is at. It is an amazing system though.
On: 2007-08-01
I bought a Bose CineMate to go in a small room with a 27 inch TV. The overall sound is good, but the bass response is really lame. Now its 14 months from the time it was purchased and its dead in the water. It wont power up, even though there is power (red light is on). Bose basically said "Tough luck. Its two months out of warranty." Thats fair enough, but a more reputable company would stand behind their product. I thought Bose was reputable. I was wrong. Now I have to decide whether to trash it, or spend big bucks to repair a less than steller perfomer.
On: 2007-07-31
I bought a Bose CineMate to go in a small room with a 27 inch TV. The overall sound is good, but the bass response is really lame. Now its 14 months from the time it was purchased and its dead in the water. It wont power up, even though there is power (red light is on). Bose basically said "Tough luck. Its two months out of warranty." Thats fair enough, but a more reputable company would stand behind their product. I thought Bose was reputable. I was wrong. Now I have to decide whether to trash it, or spend big bucks to repair a less than steller perfomer.
On: 2007-07-26
Spouse hooked it up of course without reading all the directions...sound wasnt great but just before I was to pack it up and return it, I called Bose and found out my husband did not (1) turn up the volume on the tv remote and then (2) put the tv on internal mute. Therefore the amp in the tv wasnt working right causing the Bose stuff to pull all it could without a properly functioning amp. Well the Bose crew helped me fix that and now this system ROCKS!!!!!!! It is just as good as the 321 Bose sysyem now. We moved that one to another room so the Cinemate was replacing it...it is really cool now so think about calling Bose if you dont think you are getting what you paid for...they were great.
On: 2007-07-25
Spouse hooked it up of course without reading all the directions...sound wasnt great but just before I was to pack it up and return it, I called Bose and found out my husband did not (1) turn up the volume on the tv remote and then (2) put the tv on internal mute. Therefore the amp in the tv wasnt working right causing the Bose stuff to pull all it could without a properly functioning amp. Well the Bose crew helped me fix that and now this system ROCKS!!!!!!! It is just as good as the 321 Bose sysyem now. We moved that one to another room so the Cinemate was replacing it...it is really cool now so think about calling Bose if you dont think you are getting what you paid for...they were great.
On: 2007-07-23
After using this product with my LCD tv for the last 2 weeks, I have to say that it sounds great. It was easy to set up and the sound is excellent. Liked it because a dvd player wasnt bundled with it and I didnt have to run rear speakers.
On: 2007-06-21
Im a recording engineer and I was impressed with the cinemates sound and simplicity. I needed an elegant solution for my media center pc, and the cinemate is just the ticket. My wife didnt want obtrusive speakers in the den, and since I already have a DVD player and PVR built into the media pc, all I needed were speakers and amp. The cinemate is a self-contained system that powers its own speakers through the bass unit. I was able to simply plug them directly into the media pc. It would have been nice for Bose to include a digital optical "in" but alas the input is analog only.
Some have complained that the bass is weak and the speakers are not as lively as others. However, I found the Bose engineers to be quite ingenious as these speakers are very natural sounding - "accurate" as we engineers would say. Many home theater speakers can sound "hyped", accentuating bass and human voice frequencies (1k-3k Hz). However, good speakers should accurately represent what the recording engineers were hearing in the studio. Im sitting here listening to "Star Wars - The Phantom Menace" and there is plenty of THUMP when spaceships take off, the music is balanced in the mix, and the dialog is clear. It really sounds quite awesome. The crossover between the satellite speakers and the subwoofer unit is very transparent and smooth. My only comment is that the satellite speakers could be a little brighter at lower volume, but one can easily solve this with some slight eq: maybe a high shelf starting at about 8k. (This is easy to do on a pc.) The brightness problem seemed to go away when the system was turned up. I think the system was meant to run at a healthy volume. It packs a lot of punch and can get quite loud. (For geeks: I dont think this is just the Fletcher Munson effect either. The brightness is the thing that got better with more volume.)
As to the claim of "virtual surround" I think that Bose is going out on a limb on that one. Theoretically it would be possible to have the speakers project to the side walls and then have sound reach you as if they are from rear speakers. However, practically the chance of this happening in a typical den or living room is almost nil. People usually have curtains, hallways, bookshelves along walls and they will most likely absorb reflected rays of sound. In my room, I definitely do not hear the surround effect.
In all, however, I think this is a wonderfully convenient package that sounds great out of the box. Surprisingly, the system has plenty of power and can obtain decent loudness levels. I think the bose engineers knew what they were doing when putting this product together. Thumbs up.
On: 2007-05-30
I agree with other posters that Bose couldve made some improvements here such as adding digital optical audio option and bass & treble adjusting. However, for my purposes, it sounds great. I didnt want speakers wired all over the place and an overpowering sound. I hooked it up to a new 46" Sharp Aquos 1080P which has a less than decent sounding speaker bar attached to bottom of TV (no surround sound capability either). I placed the speakers on stands and set the TV audio out to "Fixed" and the system sounds just right for my room.
On: 2007-05-29
I agree with other posters that Bose couldve made some improvements here such as adding digital optical audio option and bass & treble adjusting. However, for my purposes, it sounds great. I didnt want speakers wired all over the place and an overpowering sound. I hooked it up to a new 46" Sharp Aquos 1080P which has a less than decent sounding speaker bar attached to bottom of TV (no surround sound capability either). I placed the speakers on stands and set the TV audio out to "Fixed" and the system sounds just right for my room.
On: 2007-04-01
I bought this Bose system thinking it would sound like a Bose system I had befor but it does not. I hooked this up to my 52 inch big screen to get the Bose sound, that did not happen. My TV has a better sound than this Bose. I took it off the next day and put it in my room on my little TV, it sounds better than my TV speakers but having a $500.00 sound system on a $200.00 dollar TV shoud sound better. The base has no sound at all, there is no adjustments for the treble or base. If you going to buy Bose, get the complete 6 speaker sound system as this Bose is no way worth the money I spent....
On: 2007-03-28
For $500, Bose sells an extremely easy-to-setup pair of TV speakers that sound no better than your TV. The "Acoustimass" unit is apparently trying to be a subwoofer, but maybe only dogs can hear it. Seriously, I unplugged the two main speakers to hear what that big thing was supposed to do, and all I heard was some muffled noise. (Trust me, I had it hooked up right.) I fell for the Bose Cinemate at the Target demo wall, where it sounded pretty good. But once I hooked it up at home and compared it with my TV (Samsung 50 inch DLP) speakers, I realized it was a joke. I took the advice of reviewer TH below and bought the combination (Onkyo/Polk/Sony) he recommends. For the same price, much much more value, including better sound and the ability to play other audio sources like CDs. Can you believe that this Bose unit has absolutely no sound output controls? You cant even adjust bass and treble. I will admit, however, that the universal remote they provide worked great, even emulating my Motorola Moxi DVR controls. But that was the only thing I was sorry to send back.
On: 2007-03-27
For $500, Bose sells an extremely easy-to-setup pair of TV speakers that sound no better than your TV. The "Acoustimass" unit is apparently trying to be a subwoofer, but maybe only dogs can hear it. Seriously, I unplugged the two main speakers to hear what that big thing was supposed to do, and all I heard was some muffled noise. (Trust me, I had it hooked up right.) I fell for the Bose Cinemate at the Target demo wall, where it sounded pretty good. But once I hooked it up at home and compared it with my TV (Samsung 50 inch DLP) speakers, I realized it was a joke. I took the advice of reviewer TH below and bought the combination (Onkyo/Polk/Sony) he recommends. For the same price, much much more value, including better sound and the ability to play other audio sources like CDs. Can you believe that this Bose unit has absolutely no sound output controls? You cant even adjust bass and treble. I will admit, however, that the universal remote they provide worked great, even emulating my Motorola Moxi DVR controls. But that was the only thing I was sorry to send back.
On: 2007-03-22
Love the Bose CineMate / Easy Setup / Fast Delivery
On: 2007-03-18
I bought it and used it for two days, returned it on the third day. Very expensive for what you get. The system does not come with an amplifier where you can adjust the sound. The surround sound is non-existant and for 499 you dont get that much.
Returned it and changed for a Sony DAV-DX375 which totally rocks !!
Dont buy this, you will be very dissapointed.
On: 2007-03-17
I bought it and used it for two days, returned it on the third day. Very expensive for what you get. The system does not come with an amplifier where you can adjust the sound. The surround sound is non-existant and for 499 you dont get that much.
Returned it and changed for a Sony DAV-DX375 which totally rocks !!
Dont buy this, you will be very dissapointed.
On: 2007-01-20
When I purchased the Bose Cinemate digital home theater speaker system, I thought I could connect my stereo to it. Not a chance. I was surprised to find out that I paid so much for just TV speakers. Im still shopping around for speakers for my stereo system.
On: 2007-01-19
BOSE Cinemate Experience
First of all, I have never purchased a Bose product in my life (lets just say that I always felt that Bose products are overpriced). Well, we just moved to a new house and I am about 80% done with completing a media/office room in my basement for my main home theater (Samsung 56" DLP, Onkyo 700 series receiver, Polk and RBH speakers).
In the meantime we are watching a 32" LCD TV (Polaroid 3232) in our living room. When I bought the Polaroid (for a ridiculously low price), I knew it had a few expected shortcomings. The major shortcoming is the horrible sound from the internal speakers (think clock radio sound)..
So, on somewhat of a whim (I did a little research here and CC) I picked up a Bose Cinemate system for $499 (+ tax). I liked the Bose for its small form factor, clean look, and sound. Let me mention that my wife is totally against having large speakers in the room (that is what the basement is for) and our 20+ vaulted ceilings really make it tough to have any type of large sound. My wife does not want speaker wire running everywhere, and is against having 5+ speakers in the room. I really thought the Bose would do the trick..
PROS:
- Great form factor and size
- Very easy setup
- Good sound when watching DVDs and cranking the volume
CONS:
- No digital or component hookups (only RCA)!
- No ability to control individual sound settings (treble, bass, etc)
- Lack of depth at low and mid ranges
- Little to no bass through the subwoofer unless the TV volume is cranked up
- DVDs sounded good when the volume was cranked, but there was little improvement to listening to the TV at normal volume settings.
Contrary to what Bose claims, we had a hard time hearing dialogue during TV shows, and kept missing conversations when characters talked low or whispered. The lack of digital inputs should have been a warning sign and the "subwoofer" is anything but unless you have the volume cranked.
I was really disappointed with the sound at normal volume levels. As a test I hooked up my HK computer speakers ($50 speakers) directly to my TV and the sound quality was only slightly worse than the Bose (which cost over $450 more!) Needless to say I packed up and returned the Bose system for a full refund.
Based on my budget I decided to go with:
- Onkyo TXSR304 5.1 receiver
- Polk Audio M10 bookshelf speakers
- Sony WMA250 100watt powered 8" subwoofer
I hooked that system up last night and it completely blows the Bose away. The Polk speakers coupled with the subwoofer have a very clean crisp sound and have much more overall depth and range. We no longer have to crank the volume to hear dialogue and there is much more bass.. In the process of getting a better system, I saved about $150.... My advice is to shop around. You can do much better for $500.
On: 2007-01-18
BOSE Cinemate Experience
First of all, I have never purchased a Bose product in my life (lets just say that I always felt that Bose products are overpriced). Well, we just moved to a new house and I am about 80% done with completing a media/office room in my basement for my main home theater (Samsung 56" DLP, Onkyo 700 series receiver, Polk and RBH speakers).
In the meantime we are watching a 32" LCD TV (Polaroid 3232) in our living room. When I bought the Polaroid (for a ridiculously low price), I knew it had a few expected shortcomings. The major shortcoming is the horrible sound from the internal speakers (think clock radio sound)..
So, on somewhat of a whim (I did a little research here and CC) I picked up a Bose Cinemate system for $499 (+ tax). I liked the Bose for its small form factor, clean look, and sound. Let me mention that my wife is totally against having large speakers in the room (that is what the basement is for) and our 20+ vaulted ceilings really make it tough to have any type of large sound. My wife does not want speaker wire running everywhere, and is against having 5+ speakers in the room. I really thought the Bose would do the trick..
PROS:
- Great form factor and size
- Very easy setup
- Good sound when watching DVDs and cranking the volume
CONS:
- No digital or component hookups (only RCA)!
- No ability to control individual sound settings (treble, bass, etc)
- Lack of depth at low and mid ranges
- Little to no bass through the subwoofer unless the TV volume is cranked up
- DVDs sounded good when the volume was cranked, but there was little improvement to listening to the TV at normal volume settings.
Contrary to what Bose claims, we had a hard time hearing dialogue during TV shows, and kept missing conversations when characters talked low or whispered. The lack of digital inputs should have been a warning sign and the "subwoofer" is anything but unless you have the volume cranked.
I was really disappointed with the sound at normal volume levels. As a test I hooked up my HK computer speakers ($50 speakers) directly to my TV and the sound quality was only slightly worse than the Bose (which cost over $450 more!) Needless to say I packed up and returned the Bose system for a full refund.
Based on my budget I decided to go with:
- Onkyo TXSR304 5.1 receiver
- Polk Audio M10 bookshelf speakers
- Sony WMA250 100watt powered 8" subwoofer
I hooked that system up last night and it completely blows the Bose away. The Polk speakers coupled with the subwoofer have a very clean crisp sound and have much more overall depth and range. We no longer have to crank the volume to hear dialogue and there is much more bass.. In the process of getting a better system, I saved about $150.... My advice is to shop around. You can do much better for $500.
On: 2006-12-14
Well I was hoping for the $1,000 Bose sound in this $500 Bose Cinimate.... Was I wrong... I got only the $500 I paid. haha
Ok, If you are listening through TV speakers, chances are that these will be better, but minus heavy bass. If you are listening through your stereo with full size speakers, this probably wont be better.
Im gonna try a top end computer speaker setup with subwoffer. The bass is usually adjustable and volume can be controled by the TV. I have an old AltecLansin that was great, but got old.
Back to square on for me. Im returning the Bose and refuse to pay $1,000 for a system that can give me the bass I am looking for.
If you dont care for bass, than this system might be for you, as it is very nice looking and has a remote to control the volume.
On: 2006-12-13
Well I was hoping for the $1,000 Bose sound in this $500 Bose Cinimate.... Was I wrong... I got only the $500 I paid. haha
Ok, If you are listening through TV speakers, chances are that these will be better, but minus heavy bass. If you are listening through your stereo with full size speakers, this probably wont be better.
Im gonna try a top end computer speaker setup with subwoffer. The bass is usually adjustable and volume can be controled by the TV. I have an old AltecLansin that was great, but got old.
Back to square on for me. Im returning the Bose and refuse to pay $1,000 for a system that can give me the bass I am looking for.
If you dont care for bass, than this system might be for you, as it is very nice looking and has a remote to control the volume.
On: 2006-09-20
Recently purchased the Cinemate system to improve sound quality for my new SONY HD TV in our family room which has very good picture but very poor sound. Cinemate is extremely easy to set up and will provide much better sound than most TV speakers. Improved clarity in the speaking parts and much richer musical aspects and effects. Enough bass for family room viewing. It is NOT going to be the equivalent of a media room type system and I dont think it is intended to be. When I want to blast the plaster I go upstairs to that room. It is the perfect system for a multi use room where one member of the family does not want wires, cords and equipment showing all over the place but someone else wants better than average sound. Keeping in mind this sets up about like and as easy as a PC based speaker system and produces nice sound with NO receiver I was impressed. If you buy it for what it is designed to do...there is nothing else like it on the market.
by: mr_low_price_seller On: 2006-08-11
This system is very expensive, but Bose didnt even bother to put an optical input so that you can get the optimal sound from your dvd player.
I strongly think that Bose likes to rip off consumers.
I say so because if they had placed an optical input, then there would be very little difference between this system, and their 3-2-1 system. A system that Bose retails for twice as much money !
On: 2006-06-17
The Bose Cinemate is not for everyone. I would primarily recommend it for people who currently use their TVs built-in speakers and want an easy two-speaker solution for a mid-size room. I have used the Cinemate for over 6 months and have had no problems whatsoever.
For larger rooms and people who want the best sound, look elsewhere. If you want Bose, I would recommend looking at pairing the Acoustimass 10 or Acoustimass 16 with an Onkyo receiver. For a comparable home-theatre in-a-box (HTIB) solution, also look at Onkyos solutions. Otherwise, spend some time reading reviews and browsing avsforum.com. The best quality sound will result from piecing together your home theater.
If the Bose Cinemate still appeals to you, here is a list of pros and cons...
PROS
+ Includes a universal remote! This remote can be programmed to control anything (your TV, DVD player, etc.).
+ Easy to set up.
+ Great for music.
+ Looks great, doesnt take up a lot of space.
+ Top-level customer support from Bose. This is one of the reasons why Bose products cost more.
CONS
- No digital input in the US version. If you buy the Japan version, it has digital input. What does this mean? Well, you wont get the best quality simulated surround for HD content or movies with digital sound.
- No stands included. The UFS-20 Bose stands are currently $100 from Bose.
- Works best if you have audio out on your TV or cable box (red and white RCA outputs). Otherwise, it may be hard to use the Cinemate for everything.
- You will not be able to visually tell how loud the volume is. The Bose system does not cooperate with the volume bar on TVs.
- Expensive.
TIPS
+ Set your TVs volume to about 80% and adjust the sound with the Bose remote control. Youll get a better quality sound this way.
On: 2006-05-26
I purchased the Bose Cinemate home theater system about 4 months ago and have found it something of a mixed bag. That is not to say it is a bad system, but rather you need to understand your expectations going in before you purchase it. First the positive aspects of the system.
1. Extremely easy setup
2. Good to Very qood quality sound from the system
3. Universal remote works flawlessly with my Go Video DVD/VCR player and Samsung television set.
4. Good workmanship and quality materials used in its construction
5. Super customer support
On the minus side.
1. Only has left/right audio inputs for one device. No provisions for digital coaxial or digital optical inputs.
2. Need to crank up the volume to painful levels to experience any bass effects.
3. Is relatively expensive.
The first negative can be crippling unless you can redirect all sound output from the TV speakers to the Bose system. Otherwise, you are stuck using one and only one device through the Bose. In my case the Samsung only outputs audio through an optical audio cable, so I was left with only being able to use the system through my DVD/VCR. Being that I mostly use the TV for news and video playback, this is not a terrible problem for me, but it could be for somebody who expects lots of inputs for stereo and radio equipment.
Some people have claimed the system has neither the volume or sound quality for large rooms. I cant speak to that statement, but the system has ample power for the living room in my 1500 sq foot home. Sound quality is perfectly fine through my ears and quite an improvement over the stereo sound provided by the TV.
About 3 months into ownership, one of the speakers developed a distortion/feedback that required shipment back to Bose. A quick call to Bose toll free customer support number and I had a new speaker in hand in 10 business days. During the downtime, I went back to using the TV speakers and I quickly realized how spoiled I had become using the Bose. The quality of sound of DVD playback was an order of magnitude better through the Bose theater system.
So in a nutshell, if you want something so easy it is near idiot proof, with good quality construction and good support, the Bose may be just for you. If you are looking for a system that can drive a number of different audio devices, and want true surround sound, then steer clear of this system. The simplicity of of Bose is a double edged sword that limits its versatility.
On: 2006-05-25
I purchased the Bose Cinemate home theater system about 4 months ago and have found it something of a mixed bag. That is not to say it is a bad system, but rather you need to understand your expectations going in before you purchase it. First the positive aspects of the system.
1. Extremely easy setup
2. Good to Very qood quality sound from the system
3. Universal remote works flawlessly with my Go Video DVD/VCR player and Samsung television set.
4. Good workmanship and quality materials used in its construction
5. Super customer support
On the minus side.
1. Only has left/right audio inputs for one device. No provisions for digital coaxial or digital optical inputs.
2. Need to crank up the volume to painful levels to experience any bass effects.
3. Is relatively expensive.
The first negative can be crippling unless you can redirect all sound output from the TV speakers to the Bose system. Otherwise, you are stuck using one and only one device through the Bose. In my case the Samsung only outputs audio through an optical audio cable, so I was left with only being able to use the system through my DVD/VCR. Being that I mostly use the TV for news and video playback, this is not a terrible problem for me, but it could be for somebody who expects lots of inputs for stereo and radio equipment.
Some people have claimed the system has neither the volume or sound quality for large rooms. I cant speak to that statement, but the system has ample power for the living room in my 1500 sq foot home. Sound quality is perfectly fine through my ears and quite an improvement over the stereo sound provided by the TV.
About 3 months into ownership, one of the speakers developed a distortion/feedback that required shipment back to Bose. A quick call to Bose toll free customer support number and I had a new speaker in hand in 10 business days. During the downtime, I went back to using the TV speakers and I quickly realized how spoiled I had become using the Bose. The quality of sound of DVD playback was an order of magnitude better through the Bose theater system.
So in a nutshell, if you want something so easy it is near idiot proof, with good quality construction and good support, the Bose may be just for you. If you are looking for a system that can drive a number of different audio devices, and want true surround sound, then steer clear of this system. The simplicity of of Bose is a double edged sword that limits its versatility.
On: 2006-04-30
Positives:
1. easy, idiot-proof set up
2. looks great, especially next to an all black plasma
Negatives:
1. no big improvement over internal TV speakers at low and mid-volumes
2. "acoustimass module" has little presence, and theres no way to boost the subwoofers weak output
Sum:
Looks great, sounds less than great. Returned for a Sony DAV-X1, which gave me all the home-theater performance I was hoping for, and comes with an uprezing DVD player to boot. Check out my review of it on Amazon.
On: 2006-04-29
Positives:
1. easy, idiot-proof set up
2. looks great, especially next to an all black plasma
Negatives:
1. no big improvement over internal TV speakers at low and mid-volumes
2. "acoustimass module" has little presence, and theres no way to boost the subwoofers weak output
Sum:
Looks great, sounds less than great. Returned for a Sony DAV-X1, which gave me all the home-theater performance I was hoping for, and comes with an uprezing DVD player to boot. Check out my review of it on Amazon.
On: 2006-04-27
The sound was certainly an improvemnt over the televison alone and I liked not having 6 speakers as i did in the past. Easy to install but the universal remote proved to not be very universal. Would not operate my Cox Cable box (Pioneer brand with DVR) or Sony WEGA televison or the Emerson DVD (okay we bought cheap on that one). The inability to set bass and treble is annoying. Bose needs to remember we dont all hear the same.
On: 2006-04-15
I am very pleased with the sound quality of the Bose Cinemate 2.1 system. The key to gettting the best sound quality is to follow the instructions and disable you TVs speakers, and set the audio output to fixed. Prior to doing that the bass seemed very low. As soon as I made that change, WOW! what a system. I suspect others who have given the system a low rating may have not had the system set up properly. While you can set it up easily with just a few connections, it it important to adjust your TVs audio to ensure you are hearing that unparalled Bose sound.
On: 2006-04-14
I am very pleased with the sound quality of the Bose Cinemate 2.1 system. The key to gettting the best sound quality is to follow the instructions and disable you TVs speakers, and set the audio output to fixed. Prior to doing that the bass seemed very low. As soon as I made that change, WOW! what a system. I suspect others who have given the system a low rating may have not had the system set up properly. While you can set it up easily with just a few connections, it it important to adjust your TVs audio to ensure you are hearing that unparalled Bose sound.
On: 2006-04-07
Very easy set up, Even comes with dvd instructions. This is a perfect space saver with clean clear sound. I dont like a lot of booming type bass so this speaker system is perfect for me. Not for heavy bass or true surround sound lovers but excellent crisp sound that has average bass. My family loves watching movies with this system, And the bose universal remote controls everything, And I mean everything, DVD, CD,TV,VCR,CABLE BOX ETC. Also note that the speakers have no control settings but Bose did a great job pre-setting them and they sound very well balanced.
On: 2006-04-06
Very easy set up, Even comes with dvd instructions. This is a perfect space saver with clean clear sound. I dont like a lot of booming type bass so this speaker system is perfect for me. Not for heavy bass or true surround sound lovers but excellent crisp sound that has average bass. My family loves watching movies with this system, And the bose universal remote controls everything, And I mean everything, DVD, CD,TV,VCR,CABLE BOX ETC. Also note that the speakers have no control settings but Bose did a great job pre-setting them and they sound very well balanced.
On: 2006-01-20
I own one of these. I also own a Victorian era house. I am NOT eager to bore holes all over the place to have a 5 or more speaker system. I purchased this system because I like the fact that the 3 speakers with this system are pretty potent. I will say that at lower volume levels, the system is not better than the factory speakers on my TV. However, when you watch a movie like "Gladiator", "Lord of the Rings", "Star Wars", etc, and turn the sound up to Movie theater levels, the system shines VERY well considering that it uses only 3 speakers. Speech is clear even in loud segments with a great deal of music and explosions. The remote control drives everything I have in the cabinet and is ergonomic. Set up was insanely easy. I do agree with one of the previous reviewers about the speaker cable length. It could stand to be at least 5 longer.
Another reason that I bought this system was the fact that I have many friends with various Bose products. None of them have ever complained about anything, except for the Acoustimas Wave Radio eating batteries. Contary to what another reviewer wrote, when you close your eyes you CANNOT TELL where the Acoustimas Module is. It sounds like its everywhere in the room.
For a person that rents movies every now and then, this system will serve its purpose. I simply dont watch enough movies to merit a massive system. Im happy with what Ive got, and would buy another Bose to replace this one if it failed. My inlaws have a Alpine surround sound system with 5 speakers. This Bose performs equal to the Alpine, but cost less and is much easier to control.
On: 2006-01-08
Although Bose advertising implies that this system contains speakers that can be mounted on the wall next to your television, it cannot be accomplished, even with the extra($70) brackets they sell for that purpose. The plugs are so big, you would have to punch a hole the size of a baseball in your wall to facilitate this...AND the wires are too short. So, unless your television is inside a cabinet with shelves on either side, forget this system. Go buy speakers from a company that sells what they advertise. The sound is simply not $500 worth.
On: 2006-01-08
Well I actually bought one. Clean sound. Easy to install. Remote controls everything including Tivo. I have a Sony WEGA which has a nice sound without Cinemate, but the Cinemate definately makes a difference. By the way... if you need to control the bass and treble then switch your audio out to "varible" not "fixed" and turn the volume up to about 80%. Now you can shape the sound to your preference.
On: 2006-01-07
Although Bose advertising implies that this system contains speakers that can be mounted on the wall next to your television, it cannot be accomplished, even with the extra($70) brackets they sell for that purpose. The plugs are so big, you would have to punch a hole the size of a baseball in your wall to facilitate this...AND the wires are too short. So, unless your television is inside a cabinet with shelves on either side, forget this system. Go buy speakers from a company that sells what they advertise. The sound is simply not $500 worth.
On: 2006-01-07
Well I actually bought one. Clean sound. Easy to install. Remote controls everything including Tivo. I have a Sony WEGA which has a nice sound without Cinemate, but the Cinemate definately makes a difference. By the way... if you need to control the bass and treble then switch your audio out to "varible" not "fixed" and turn the volume up to about 80%. Now you can shape the sound to your preference.
On: 2005-12-05
A friend of mine told me about this when it came out at Target, and although I dont like Bose -- hold off those "not helpful" votes till your done reading -- I do have a thing for anything home theater, so I checked it out the next time I was at Tar-sha.
Now, I cant say that it impressed me with outstanding sound quality, its good its just not great (come on now, its good enough for what its for). I did like that Bose thought to make a simple improvement to a average TVs sound.
The sound dose grab your ears way better than my TVs speakers, but the Acoustimass modules bass extension seems to only go to 50 Hz or so, and its upper frequency response gets into some directional frequencys (i.e. you could here, at least some, dialoged coming from all three speakers), it is well masked, though -- it took me a second before I could pick up on it -- unless you are listening for it, you wont notions.
It should be noted that this probably will be best if used in a smaller room. When your at the Bose display, you can get a feel for how well the Bose will do in your house, by standing as far from the display as your sofa is from your TV.
Although this has good enough sound to warrant three and a half to four stars, it only gets three because: it is advertised as cinematic but, it only provides two channel analog audio connections, so even if it uses wall reflections for surround channels, its only getting two channels of audio, it cant make two more rear channels if its not getting them. And, even if this can fake it, it is still not really delivering the ambient sounds that a true home theater should have.
As far as a simple stereo system, no one else has anything like this, if you dont want all the components (receiver, five or six speakers, and a sub) and the wire runs to make, this is for you.
p.s. I did write a review on this before, but as I was in a poopy mood then, and some of my thoughts needed clarifying, so I gave it a overhaul.
On: 2005-10-22
My wife and I have been wanting to get a home theatere speaker system for some time. We wanted something that would enhance our movies without taking up a lot of space. I did a little research and came up with the cinemate system. Today the wife and I were walking through Target and heard this system on display, we checked it out turned it all the way up even though we were a little embarrassed from all the attention the system impressed us. So we plopped down our 500 and off we went to play with our new toy.
The set-up was a breeze the DVD isnt necessary because the system is so simple but it has some nice demos on it that are worth checking out.
The system screams quality from the thick wires with custom jacks to the stylish refined but simple remote.
After setting everything up we got ready to be blown away!!!
The first demo went off and it just didnt seem to have much bass, so I tried another and another. I quickly realized the sound was lacking bass as well as any fullness, the accoustamass module seemed to be over powered by the front speakers I had to get right up on it to make sure it was even on.
Here is the kicker, I turned off the bose speakers and turned my TV speakers back on. To my surprise the speakers that Id been listening to for the last 2 years sounded pretty good, in fact they sounded better than the BOSE system.
The fact is that my TV (60 inch Philips) had much more bass and fuller sound than the BOSE System, while the BOSE did seem be a little clearer it just didnt compare to my regular old TV speakers. I tried all the settings, clicked back and forth about 50 times in multiple scenarios between the BOSE and TV speakers and came to the conclusion that My television produced sound that was right on par with the BOSE and bass that was at least twice as good.
PROS: Neat and tidy wiring
OK sound
Easy setup
CONS: OK sound
Not for larger sets
This home speaker system is not for big screens chances are the speakers inside your set will be better, if you have a small TV and want better sound go for it otherwise look elswhere.
On: 2005-10-17
i just purchased the cinemate at target after listening to the display and i was amazed. 3 speakers in front of you and it sounds like a 5 speaker home theater? i had to play it a few times to make shure i was not dreaming. and it really cranks pretty loud if you like to watch concert dvds. this is a no brainer! if you got the cash make the dash.
On: 2005-10-16
i just purchased the cinemate at target after listening to the display and i was amazed. 3 speakers in front of you and it sounds like a 5 speaker home theater? i had to play it a few times to make shure i was not dreaming. and it really cranks pretty loud if you like to watch concert dvds. this is a no brainer! if you got the cash make the dash.
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