Any Hi-Fi experts out there?

[phil p]

Hi,
I’ve got a quite old Bose 321 sound system, had for years in fact, still sounds fantastic against other soundbars I’ve had over the years, however due to the age it only has an FM radio in it so I was wondering if there was any sort of plug in dongle that could convert the FM signal into DAB?

Unfortunately it doesn’t have a headphone port, however it does have an optical port, another to plug in an FM aerial and the old 3 port component leads (red, yellow and white).

Is there anything on the market for this?

Thanks
Phil

 

[Agent_zed]

Is it this one -

https://assets.bose.com/content/dam...eakers/3-2-1_system/pdf/og_321gs_en-sp-fr.pdf

page 17 shows the connections for audio. Just ignore the video cable.

If so there are inputs you can use. You just need a converter cable like this https://www.digikey.co.uk/en/products/detail/cnc-tech/770-10043-00500/3828725?&utm_adgroup=&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Pmax Shopping_Product_Bing Zombie SKUs&utm_term=&utm_content=&utm_id=bi_cmp-627406037_adg-1301822919537462_ad-81363988224052_pla-2333163674453919_dev-c_ext-_prd-3828725&msclkid=558bcc769c881a06f301abbc272f1730&gclid=558bcc769c881a06f301abbc272f1730&gclsrc=3p.ds

 

[phil p]

Thanks for that info AZ.

I have the Bose 321 series 2 Home Entertainment System as per the photos.

 

[flying haggis]

Nothing will convert the FM signal to DAB so you will need to buy a DAB tuner and plug that into the Bose.

Check out loca Facebook marketplace, gumtree etc and if you can get a DAB+ tuner

 

[seanf]

You’ll need some sort of DAB+ player (tuner) that has an optical out connection. A quick Google found this but anything with optical out will do and hook it up with an optical cable

Sean

 

[Agent_zed]

Thanks for that info AZ.

I have the Bose 321 series 2 Home Entertainment System as per the photos.

ah yes sorry. looking at the back it looks like the section with the optical in is the input section. You just need the cable I mentioned to go to the red/white connections. Now you have a 3.5mm jack you can plug that into the headphone out of a dab radio or get a bluetooth dongle or anything else that has a 3.5mm out.

 

[Dabop]

Only a few Dab players have optical outputs, and they tend to be quite pricey, where the old analogue outputs are on every Dab radio... (some use 3.5mm headphone plugs, many have RCA line outputs...)

Get a set of RCA patch cords with RCA one end, and the other with whatever plug your chosen radio has, plug them into the radio, plug the other ends into the red and white RCA sockets, and select that input... use aux if it isnt already being used by something else (you can safely ignore the yellow video sockets, as you are only interested in the audio obviously...)
White is left, red is right...

Bingo... enjoy your new radio...

 

[Agent_zed]

The top 2 on here for example https://thelogik.co.uk/logik-dab-radio/ both have 3.5mm outputs. Just depends on what you want sitting next to the bose.

 

[phil p]

Thanks Guys,
Can I double check though that I have this right.
There isn’t a dongle coupled with the cables you have recommended that will work with the Bose and I need those cables paired with another device, either a DAB receiver or radio?
Sorry for asking but I’m definitely no technophobe as you can probably guess!

 

[Jake]

Something like this (not a recommendation, but gives you the idea of what to look for).

https://www.majority.co.uk/all-products/robinson-2dab/

 

[Dabop]

Thanks Guys,
Can I double check though that I have this right.
There isn’t a dongle coupled with the cables you have recommended that will work with the Bose and I need those cables paired with another device, either a DAB receiver or radio?
Sorry for asking but I’m definitely no technophobe as you can probably guess!

The cables are literally that- just a cable...

You need a DAB radio to listen to Dab broadcasts obviously- and you need the appropriate cable to connect the audio OUT from the radio to the amp... either RCA to RCA, or RCA to 3.5mm stereo plug (like headphones use) which you need depends on the radio you buy obviously...

No 'dongles' are required (unless by dongle you mean the Dab radio itself lol)

(SOME Dab radios come with the required audio leads included with them in the box- but not all...)

So buy the radio of your choice look at whats included with it, and IF required pick up the lead if it isnt already included... otherwise use the one supplied with it...

 

[Geoff_S]

I have a Bose Wave and this Bose Dab Module. Here is an example link but just search for “Bose DAB Module”. There’s plenty out there.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/36346098...m-D1G-Svm&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=EMAIL

 

[phil p]

I have a Bose Wave and this Bose Dab Module. Here is an example link but just search for “Bose DAB Module”. There’s plenty out there.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/36346098...m-D1G-Svm&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=EMAIL

Thanks for that however I think it’s only compatible with Wave system.

 

[Dabop]

Thanks for that however I think it’s only compatible with Wave system.

The 321 S2 won't work with those Bose DAB receivers- you need one with audio outputs (those Bose DAB modules connect via digital data streams through a USB connection- which his 321 doesn't have...)

 

[phil p]

I was looking for one of those Majority Robinson boxes however they’re nowhere to be found.
I liked how compact they are, and also have good reviews.

 

[trvlr]

Overall it looks like you're best getting a DAB tuner with RCA ouputs; and connect those to your Bose with good - high quality RCA cables. Don't buy cheap cables... You get wot you pay for... Going 3.5mm out to Bose may not be quite as good as RCA to RCA; though you may not notice it as DAB audio is by no means as good a decnt FM, and that in turn as not good as (dare I say it) really good analogue turntable audio...

I had a chum with a similar situation in that he wanted to connect his Sony Bravia audio out (no RCA or headphone ouput sockets) to his Bose. We used an optical out adapter with RCA and 3.5mm ports; or possibly one similar and a wee bit less exotic. Been so long I can't recall exactly which we used. .

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B09XMDH...4DMI3AQYU&ref_=list_c_wl_lv_ov_lig_dp_it&th=1

Likely this is more than you need if the DAB has decent/acceptable RCA out qualty audio; which would be first port of call. Simply good/high qualty RCA cables between the DAB and the Bose.

Buying from the big river company does mean you can try and return if either not satisfactory, or not compatible with the DAB optical signal (if you went that connection path).

KISS is often the easiest and safest way to go when connecting kit together.

 

[phil p]

Overall it looks like you're best getting a DAB tuner with RCA ouputs; and connect those to your Bose with good - high quality RCA cables. Don't buy cheap cables... You get wot you pay for... Going 3.5mm out to Bose may not be quite as good as RCA to RCA; though you may not notice it as DAB audio is by no means as good a decnt FM, and that in turn as not good as (dare I say it) really good analogue turntable audio...

I had a chum with a similar situation in that he wanted to connect his Sony Bravia audio out (no RCA or headphone ouput sockets) to his Bose. We used an optical out adapter with RCA and 3.5mm ports; or possibly one similar and a wee bit less exotic. Been so long I can't recall exactly which we used. .

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B09XMDH...4DMI3AQYU&ref_=list_c_wl_lv_ov_lig_dp_it&th=1

Likely this is more than you need if the DAB has decent/acceptable RCA out qualty audio; which would be first port of call. Simply good/high qualty RCA cables between the DAB and the Bose.

Buying from the big river company does mean you can try and return if either not satisfactory, or not compatible with the DAB optical signal (if you went that connection path).

KISS is often the easiest and safest way to go when connecting kit together.

Thanks for that.
So it’s basically a DAB receiver and this unit what you have linked paired with a good set of RCA leads?

 

[Beau]

I'm presuming this Bose system is used with the TV and if so can you not just tune the TV into the DAB radio channel you want?

We have a TV and freeview box. We turn on the TV to see what channel we are on, flick through to the radio (6 Music for me) and then turn off the TV leaving the radio running through the HiFi

 

[phil p]

I'm presuming this Bose system is used with the TV and if so can you not just tune the TV into the DAB radio channel you want?

We have a TV and freeview box. We turn on the TV to see what channel we are on, flick through to the radio (6 Music for me) and then turn off the TV leaving the radio running through the HiFi

I don’t have any boxes connected to the T.V. therefore I’m assuming if I turned it off there would be nothing?
I would still prefer an additional tuner or something and it would provide a larger range of channels.