Bose CineMate digital home theater speaker system, Graphite Gray

I've owned this system for about a year and I feel compelled to write a few lines here. I am in the process of looking for another system as I write this. This system is WAY overpriced. Without writing too much here, I'll just say I agree with the other reviewers. For the amount of money spent on this you could do MUCH better. DO NOT be taken in by their advertising!. I was. I've always "respected" Bose...and it cost me this time. I won't repeat what the others have said, but trust me, they're right. This is a big investment for most people, and I STRONGLY suggest you do more research before buying these. If not, and you appreciate good sound and features, you'll regret it...I sure did.
11/29...I'd like to add that my main point here is the cost. Yes they sound good (I still think the sub is lacking though)and yes they're Bose, but Bose isn't the only company that makes quality audio equipment. Again, if you have that kind of money to spend, I STRONGLY recommend that you do a lot of research. You can get a lot more "bang for your buck".

I've had this system for a year now. The sound is very good. The selling point for me was no rear speakers. I was so tired of all the wires, and was surprised to have good sound with just front speakers.

BOSE speakers are designed to reproduce sound that is "transparent"--the way it sounds in life. Unfortunately, much of today's music over emphasizes the bass and many people get used to sound that is out of balance. YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE. If you want an affordable system that delivers sound with great depth and clarity (and is a cinch to set up), don't hesitate. If you must have thumping bass to be happy--skip it. The acoustimass module delivers a solid low frequency response that provides great depth to the TV sound and doesn't need a separate control. I couldn't be happier with the sound--TV, DVDs and CDs all sound great. As usual, BOSE delivers a great product--it just won't rattle the windows!

First, let me enlighten all the critics and skeptics out there, the Cinemate are an EXCELLENT system IF you know how to use it right!
I'm a musician and I don't think anyone loves deep, rich sound as much as we do, and i doubt if anyone can criticize audio quality as much as some of us musicians..
I've had the Cinemate for two years and THE TRUTH was I was initially disappointed with the sound when I first bought it, it sounded a bit lighter than I was expecting from a Bose product, so I called Bose and asked for their help (by the way, their customer service is Super, really.), but they wouldn't recommend any modifications or alteration to any of their products.. So I did it my way... Here goes...
I went and got a fairly new amplifier/receiver, connected all my audio inputs (DVD, TV, CD) into the receiver and sent the stereo (2 channel) signal from the amplifier/receiver to the input of the Cinemate System and BAM!, the sound got IMMEDIATE Improvement!
All I had to do was adjust the EQ on the Receiver/Amp, turn up the volume to about a maximum of 4 out of 10 (make sure you don't crank up the receiver/amplifier), and the rest was up to the Cinemate System.
So, using Bose really does need paying a little bit more attention and trying new stuff, I don't recommend buying the high end Bose Lifestyle systems that costs a fortune, cos you could simply find a very Good Bose Speaker System, i.e. Acoustimass 16 Series, and a very Good Amp.. And you'll get the best from your Bose product. I guarantee it!

There is much debate about the product value to cost ratio of this speaker system. On the upside, you're getting a perfect hybrid of high-end electronics and sound quality and a budget "no frills" system. On the downside, you are at the mercy of Bose's engineers to calibrate the system because you will have no control over it once it's plugged in. That said, those Bose engineers know what they're doing, and right out of the box, I had to do nothing other than plug and play and enjoy! The bass/acoustimass speaker only punches in the low end when needed. It doesn't rumble or fill your room with unnecessary hum. The satellites provide a distinct center channel as well as extremely spacial stereo/surround emulation. Whether at full blast or turned down for late-night viewing, the sound is crystal clear. You will lose the surround effect if you sit too far away from the speakers however, and I recommend you sit no more than 12 feet away from your TV for optimal effect. Overall, is it worth the $500? I think so. In the end, you could opt for a full-on 5.1 Sony system for the same price, but in my experience, all-in-one systems are cheaply built and last maybe 5 years. Bose systems will last you considerably longer, and the Cinemate will complement your entertainment system and provide you with countless hours of entertainment.