The Acoustimass 3 speaker system from Bose delivers surprisingly rich performance while practically disappearing into your décor. The system, the company's smallest and most affordable to date, produces lifelike sound from your stereo components (DVD player, CD player, VCR, DVR, MP3 player, etc.) and, when connected to your surround sound receiver, it's also an appropriate choice for use as a left/right rear-channel home theater array. The speakers' compact size makes them a great choice for smaller rooms.

Two single-cube speakers standing just 3 inches high are elegantly designed to blend with virtually any furnishings. Patented Acoustimass speaker technology delivers the ear-pleasing low tones of a bassoon or the deep, dramatic effects of movies. Best of all, you can easily stash the Acoustimass module behind furniture or in a corner, and the system's lifelike sound will appear to flow from the tiny cubes.

Hookup couldn't be simpler: route left/right speaker wires (supplied) from your integrated amplifier or surround receiver to the back of the Acoustimass module (essentially a passive subwoofer), then run two more lengths between the Acoustimass module's left/right speaker outputs to the 2 cube speakers. All three units use convenient clip-type speaker terminals.

When you hear the Acoustimass 3 Series IV system, you'll be surprised that such a huge sound can come from such small speakers. These Virtually Invisible speakers are the definitive answer to the question of how to combine spacious sound with space-saving design. It's all the result of Bose's years of intense research and testing.

The tiny cube speakers can be wall-mounted or displayed on speaker stands using the optional Bose UFS-20 universal floor stands, UTS-20 universal table stand, or UB-20 wall/ceiling bracket. Now or in the future, you can turn your Acoustimass stereo speakers into a home theater set by simply adding the compatible Bose VCS-10 center-channel speaker. For full 5-speaker surround sound, add the VCS-30 center/surround speaker package.

The system's four 20-foot lengths of speaker wire should accommodate most living rooms. For longer cable runs, however, Bose recommends using 2-conductor, 18-gauge wire (30 feet), 16-gauge wire (45 feet), or 14-gauge wire (70 feet), for a hookup that maintains a maximum frequency-response deviation of +/- 0.5 dB. (Cable thickness increases as gauge decreases.)