Our factory installed Bose System recently started having issues with DVDs. They would freeze about 1/2 way through the movie. We purchased a Memorex DVD cleaner and it seemed to fix it until our last visit when we started experiencing, periodically, the same issue. Model is no longer manufactured but there are refurbished one available on-line. Thoughts, please, on repair options and replacement options for just the console. Thanks.
Bose System
- Thread starter Big Red
- Start date
We have the same issue on our 2003, 466. It is the Bose 321 Home Entertainment System and after calling Bose (Manila, Philippines no less), we were told that the 321 series is no longer manufactured as you stated and there are no parts available to repair it. The rest of the system works fine. I was thinking of just getting a separate DVD player and see if that would work with the TV. The rep said the speakers and the Acoustimass system may not work with say a Fusion brand or other brand due to the proprietary nature of the Bose system. I was quoted about $1500 for a replacement Bose system or $1400 if I sent my old system back.
Thanks. Very helpful. I was planning to contact Bose but appears I'll get a similar answer. Do you have the GS Series 2 or the non-GS? I've been researching the differences which seem minimal.
Rebuilt systems are often very good. Instead of coming straight off of an assembly line, you have a piece that a technician has examined and if done well ... the tech has examined every component before marketing it as rebuilt. I got this advice from a guy who used to certify radios as "refurbished".... and I've had very good results so far. I have purchased several high-end tools this way and one VHF radio.
Get a DVD player with a "optical" audio output or left & right "RCA" plug output. Connect to audio input of Bose 321. Connect DVD video output directly to TV. Modern DVD players may only have HDMI output, so a converter box may be needed, available at Amazon for around $20.
There are Bose 321 systems and parts online, just do a search. Amazon has a bunch of variants. However, I would suggest that if you are willing to switch brands, you can do a lot better with another brand. Look for an American or European brand system, although Yamaha is not bad. Japanese electronics are OK, but their speakers usually don't sound that great.
We have three bedrooms at home with Bose 321 systems. I really like them; however, like you've found, if something goes wrong, you're SOL unless you're going to tinker, or whatever. Getting a combined system, the weak link was usually the DVD player. That's especially true when you put it in a TV!
On our boat: We ended-up getting a DVD player (Sony 110 v) that has been great. Then we just use the TV speakers on the Sony flat screens. If we want to improve the sound, we can use the AM/FM Stereo as an amplifier using AV out of the TV (AS AND OPTION) -- even though we we do that, the volume has to be set differently on the Stereo from the TV remote.
As an aside, we also hooked-up the computer on the boat so it could show the navigation chart plotter -- which also will display the Furuno radar display. I've put it up a few times (almost always when we're running the generator or motoring), but almost no one but me thinks much of it :^))).
On our boat: We ended-up getting a DVD player (Sony 110 v) that has been great. Then we just use the TV speakers on the Sony flat screens. If we want to improve the sound, we can use the AM/FM Stereo as an amplifier using AV out of the TV (AS AND OPTION) -- even though we we do that, the volume has to be set differently on the Stereo from the TV remote.
As an aside, we also hooked-up the computer on the boat so it could show the navigation chart plotter -- which also will display the Furuno radar display. I've put it up a few times (almost always when we're running the generator or motoring), but almost no one but me thinks much of it :^))).
I did that with the Bose system on the wife's Cadillac because it is so integrated into the car. We are pleased
I'm hoping I can trust the reviews on Amazon. Found a used Bose 123 Series II GS media center only (which is all I need), very good condition from a high rated reseller. I suppose Amazon would also back it is this guy was misrepresenting its condition, operations, etc. He wrote me that it's been fully tested and works and that the existing boat connections will work with this unit. Looks new in the pictures. Offered a return with full refund excluding shipping. Not sure if this is the same as "refurbished" but promoted as very good condition.