Bose simplifies home theater excitement

The gargantuan speaker baffles of the past no longer command the same awe or utility they used to. The lords of the living room or den have ceded the crown to more compact systems that deliver the same, better or more adaptive performance. Simplicity is the order of the day.

The airline cockpit-complex home systems have also lost their appeal to more spartan affairs. Bose has become a pioneer in this paradigm shift from “big and powerful” to “small and efficient.” But do not make the mistake of equating physical size to audio power.

Bose’s new 3-2-1 GS Series II DVD home entertainment certainly packs a punch even if it deceptively comes in looking like an undersized appliance. In today’s space-conscious houses and condominiums, the only large thing worth appreciating should be your LCD or plasma television screen. Audio speakers and players make their living being inconspicuous yet loud and crisp-clear. This 3-2-1 iteration is a surprising theater system that should make you believers of the aforementioned audio mindset. It’s definitely worth building a home system around, not just because it carries the prestigious Bose brand.

Straight from the box, you’ll start to wonder how this small package can please. Two small Gemstone speaker arrays that look like miniatures of the mammoth speakers with which Bose made a name for itself decades back have a full history of technology and performance behind them. A heavy Acoustimass module designed to be tucked away in a corner gives punchy bass and other low-frequency action even in lower volumes — so you miss none of the quality even as you mercifully let your neighbors slumber in peace.

One challenge of any system worth its salt is a full-proof, idiot-proof setup. This is one aspect where the 3-2-1 delivers impressively. A step-by-step, illustrated guide will have you rocking and rolling in no time flat. It certainly helps that there are no center or rear speakers that entail a lot of head-scratching — not to mention long wires. It takes only three wires and a power cord for this Bose — and it comes with a thoughtful DVD that will walk you through the entire setup process.

The media center (Bose’s fancy name for its head unit) features a progressive scan DVD/CD player, FM/AM tuner (an antenna is provided, thank you very much), and an HDMI output that means you can make the most out of your wallet-draining HDTV. It can also upconvert DVDs to 1080p. And unlike tacky players, the unit doesn’t call attention to itself. The only time you will notice its fascia is when you switch it on and the classy green screen comes to life, framed by a sleek silver exterior. A collection of basic buttons are on the unit itself — the rest are on the universal remote that can be programmed to run most home entertainment devices together with the 3-2-1.

The ultimate test, of course, is when you switch it on and load a CD or DVD. Upon testing, the Bose is equally comfortable in volume from low to shut-that-thing-off-or-I’ll-call-the-police. If you follow the separation instructions between the two Gemstone speaker arrays, you can almost swear you’re right smack in the action — or at least in a THX theater. Who needs ’em unwieldy five-speaker systems? The dialogue is clear, sound effects are impressive, and audio CDs of your favorite artists are given seemingly new voice and depth.

The secret, truth to tell, isn’t just in the speakers. The 3-2-1 GS Series II home theater system comes with a proprietary Videostage 5 decoding circuitry which will assure you that even classic movies, recorded TV programs, and vintage videotapes will sound exquisite and roomy. And it comes packed with all the technology you’ve come to expect from Bose. But don’t take my word from it. Ask for a demo and experience for yourself this P71,000 theater in a box.

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Visit Bose showrooms at the Power Plant Mall at Rockwell Center, Mall of Asia, Glorietta 4 at the Ayala Center, The Block at SM City North Edsa, and SM Megamall.