Buying a Bose 3*2*1 for $450................?

Question

someone on a very popular site called craigslist is selling me a Bose 321 system(not cinemate or gsx version) for $450. I'm supposed to meet him at his place tomorrow afternoon to test it out. What I'm worried about is that: while I'm there everything will work lovely, but then when I get home it will start shutting off or other misc. problems. I don't want to throw my money away but to get a system which costs around $1,000 in stores for $450. Long story short I used to have a 321(rented it) and I love it. please do't recomend a different system,bose sucks,yadda yadda! I am just looking for some advice on how to thoroughly test it out before I bring it home. Thanks! -Bobby

Answer 1

Normally I would say Bose is overpriced in relation to quality, but you've got a really good deal there if it's <50%.

I would check for signs of physical damage, such as major scratches etc.  I'm not familiar with the system, but if it has the built in wires in the back (you know how some HTS have it integrated in the speaker, than you plug it into the main unit), definitely check to make sure the wires aren't stripped or seem pulled on.  Also for that, make sure there's no sharp bends in the cable.  But if the speaker wire is separate, you can always buy a new wire if it seems trashed.  If you have a few cds (or burn one if you need to) of different types of music, definitely put on anything from metal to classical to instrumental, and listen for bad distortions that shouldn't be there.  You've owned the unit before, so you know what the sound quality should sound like.  If it sounds off, it could be damaged internally (who knows, maybe the guy dropped it or something), and $450 is too much for something that's broken.

Answer 2

With an ohm meter I would check each speakers ohms if they're 8 ohm speakers they should be 8 ohms, check the amp (outputs, etc...), then test it like you said (play a cd, dvd, etc...) You should be good...

Like you said older people are generally trustworthy...

Hope this helps!