About 3 years ago I experienced auditory damage as a result of an MRI procedure, during which I was not given adequate ear protection. Since then, my hearing has been declining, and I found TV watching frustrating, because I missed so much, particularly during movies on Netflix. I bought a Bose Solo 5 soundbar, which has a simple on/off feature that enhances dialogue, and for a while, it helped. Then, that, too, lost its usefulness as my hearing worsened. Sometimes I'd have to back up several times on my DVR to catch a key word or phrase, and if that failed, I'd have to turn the volume up really high. It made me feel old, which I am not.
Recently I saw the ZVOX soundbars advertised, read reviews of them on Amazon and also by independent review sites, and was greatly encouraged. The AV157 seemed to be the best suited for my needs, and $179 seemed like a fair price--certainly less expensive than hearing aids.
I took down the Bose and set up the ZVOX last night. Out of the box, I was a bit skeptical, because the unit is so small-- about 2/3 the size of the Bose soundbar. But already, I can say without qualification that the ZVOX ties for first place, along with my Dyson Absolute stick vacuum cleaner, as the most useful and life-enhancing purchase I have made in a long time.
I am a moderately technically savvy female, and had no difficulty setting it up, though it takes no particular skill. The directions are annoyingly on one huge, double sided piece of paper instead of a booklet, but they are written in good English and are easy to follow. The soundbar is essentially "plug and play." First, I attached the power cord and plugged it into an outlet. The Bose soundbar also had connected to the TV with an optical digital toslink, so initially, I didn't use the one provided by ZVOX. But I wasn't happy with the sound quality, and noticed that the cable on the ZVOX was about twice the thickness of the Bose cable. So I switched to the new one, and the improvement was amazing. When I disconnected the Bose cable, the sound reverted to the TV sound, and it sounded like a it was coming from the crystal radio I built with my dad as a 6th-grade science project. What a difference! (So if you have a non-ZVOX optical connector, don't use it.)
I am pleased with the remote. It's simple and small, so there's less clutter. (The Bose came with a monstrous remote that controlled everything but the refrigerator, and I disliked it immensely.) As described, it has a few simple controls--for volume, mute, Accuvoice, Surround Sound, and Other (which is for adjusting treble and bass).
Accuvoice has 6 levels of what I'll call "clarity of dialogue." To get the additional 6, you hold down the Accuvoice button for several seconds, and it switches over to "Super." I didn't find much difference between the first and second sets of functions, though, and settled on one (Accuvoice 5) that worked for me without being unpleasantly shrill. The crispness of dialogue seems to vary with the TV show or movie, and interestingly, did not degrade the quality of sound on the Music Choice stations. I am able to turn the volume down to "normal" volume, and can still understand every spoken word. The background sounds (and sometimes background music) are toned down, but is still there; it's just no longer distracting. I haven't tried the treble/bass adjustments, and frankly, don't have a need to do so, because I'm so happy with the current sound quality.
So, although the description says there are 12 settings, when you add the three options for virtual Surround Sound, there really are 36 options! This feature is surprisingly good, and I am incredulous at the quality of sound that come out of a little 17" piece of technology.
One other feature that I like is that the preset, default setting is that the soundbar turns off when the TV is turned off. (This can be changed, so that it can be turned off and on manually.) I like this better than the Bose, for which I had to turn the sound on and off separately. The thing I don't like, however, is that there's no indicator light on the unit that shows whether it's on or off.
A package insert boldly states that if you're having difficulty with the unit, don't send it back, call ZVOX. But I have had no problems, so I cannot rate the quality of Tech Support.
Overall, I could not be happier with this purchase. It makes me wish, though, that the ZVOX 157 had been available while my mother was still alive. She was severely hearing impaired, even wearing high-tech hearing aids, and it would have made her evenings of TV watching so much more enjoyable.
One final note. I bought this soundbar 4 days ago (6/21/21). Tonight I recommended it to a neighbor, whose husband (in his late 70's) has such difficulty hearing that he watches all TV with subtitles on. When I looked on Amazon, the price had gone from $179 to $249, from the same seller and for no apparent reason. This is not OK, and I'm going to phone Amazon for an explanation.
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This Item  ZVOX Dialogue Clarifying Sound Bar with Patented Hearing Technology - AccuVoice TV Sound Bar with Twelve Levels of Voice Boost - Home Theater Audio TV Speakers Soundbar - AV157 Black |  |  |  |  |  | |
| Price | -16% $209.99 List: $249.99 | $199.99 | $199.99 | $179.95 | $219.99 | -14% $214.99 List: $249.00 |
| Delivery | Get it as soon as Thursday, Aug 8 | Get it as soon as Thursday, Aug 8 | Get it as soon as Thursday, Aug 8 | Get it as soon as Thursday, Aug 8 | Get it as soon as Thursday, Aug 8 | Get it as soon as Thursday, Aug 8 |
| Customer Ratings | ||||||
| Value for money | ||||||
| Remote Control | ||||||
| Sound quality | ||||||
| Volume control | ||||||
| Easy to install | ||||||
| Sold By | ZVOX Audio | ZVOX Audio | ZVOX Audio | Amazon.com | ZVOX Audio | Amazon.com |
| speaker size | 17 inches | 5.25 inches | 5.25 inches | — | — | 2 inches |
| power source | Corded Electric | Corded Electric | — | Corded Electric | AC | AC |
| connectivity tech | Wired | Optical | Optical | wired, wireless | Optical | wired, wireless |
| speaker type | Soundbar | Soundbar | Soundbar | Soundbar,Subwoofer | 3D, Surround Sound | Soundbar, Subwoofer |
| mounting type | Bar Mount | Bar Mount | Bar Mount | Wall Mount | Bar Mount,Sound | Bar Mount,Tv Sound Bar |
| weight | 3 pounds | — | — | 3.97 pounds | 4.1 pounds | 3.9 pounds |
Product Description
12 Levels of Dialogue Boost Let You Tailor the Sound to Your Needs
The AccuVoice AV157 offers 12 levels of dialogue boost – 6 stages of AccuVoice boost plus 6 stages of ZVOX's SuperVoice technology. SuperVoice takes dialogue clarity to another level by dramatically reducing non-vocal background sounds. This technology sets a new standard for the audio industry. The results are simply amazing. No other product offers so much flexibility and voice clarity enhancement.
It's Not About Loudness. It's About Clarity
If you can't understand voices on TV, what do you do? Turn it up! The problem is that when you turn it up, you turn EVERYTHING up - not just the voices. So background sounds, music and sound effects all get louder, and prevent you from understanding dialogue. But the AV157 uses proprietary digital algorithms that separate the voices from the rest of the soundtrack - and then manipulate them much like a hearing aid does. The result is uncanny. Voices simply "jump out" of the soundtrack so you can hear them clearly.
- AccuVoice hearing aid technology with 12 levels of voice boost
- SuperVoice technology reduces distracting background sounds
- Three 2" x 3" full-range speakers with neodymium magnets
- Molded composite cabinet
- 24-watt Class D digital amplifier
- PhaseCue virtual surround delivers room-filling 3D sound from one small cabinet
- Remote control uses large buttons with easy to read labels
Easy to Install. One-Page Owner's Manual
The AV157 is so small (17" wide) you can put it anywhere. It works well above or below your TV, to the left or right. Hookup is simple - just one connecting wire to your TV. Plug it in the wall, turn down the sound on your TV speakers, and get high quality sound and clear voices on every program.
Taming Loud Commercials
If you've ever been blasted out of your chair by a too-loud commercial - you'll love the ZVOX Output Leveling (OL) feature. It's incorporated in the AccuVoice Modes OR you can turn it on by using the "Other Settings” button. A sophisticated processor takes over, making soft sounds louder and loud sounds softer, so there are fewer jarring moments when switching channels or when commercials come on. This system also helps by boosting the audio levels from a DVD or Blu Ray player that are not loud enough.
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| Price | $129.99 | $209.99 | — | — | — | $449.99 |
| Why Should I Choose This Model? | Small size, powerful sound quality | Superior flexibility and voice clarity enhancement | Superior flexibility and voice clarity enhancement | Superior flexibility and voice clarity enhancement | Best value sound bar with audiophile quality sound, great style | ZVOX's best sound system ever. Style. Sound quality. Features. It has it all |
| Cabinet Width, Depth & Height | 10" x 2.75" x 2.5" | 17" x 3.38" x 2.88" | 17" x 3.38" x 2.88" | 24" width | 35.5" x 3.3" x 5.7" | 43.9" x 3.3" x 5.7" |
| Recommended TV Sizes | Any Size | Any Size | Any Size | Any Size | 37" - 65" | 50" - 80" |
| Placement Options | Place in front of TV or on shelf near TV, or wall-mount | Place in front of TV or on shelf near TV, or wall-mount | Place in front of TV or on shelf near TV, or wall-mount | Place in front of TV or on shelf near TV, or wall-mount | Place vertically or "on its back" in front of TV, on shelf, or wall mount | Place vertically or "on its back" in front of TV, on shelf, or wall mount |
| Number of AccuVoice Modes | 6 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 6 | 6 |
| Output Leveling (Tames Loud Commercials) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Amplifier Power Wattage | 45 | 45 | 45 | 45 | 45 | 140 |
| What Speakers Does it Have? | Two high-output wide-range speakers | Three 3" x 2" full range speakers | Three 3" x 2" full range speakers | Three high-performance speakers | Three 2" full range speakers, one 4" subwoofer | Three 2" full range speakers, two 4" subwoofers |
Videos
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ZVOX TV Bar Review (WATCH THIS BEFORE YOU PURCHASE)
Benjamin Jacques
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ZVOX Dialogue Clarifying Sound Bar
✅ Verified Butterworth Reviews
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No Problem Hearing The TV Now! Great Sound Boost!
Husky Dad POV
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Great Value, Crystal Clear Picture, and Easy to Use!
Husky Dad POV
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ZVOX AV157 AccuVoice Speaker
ZVOX Audio
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AccuVoice TV Soundbar - AV157 Espresso
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Reviews with images
I can understand dialog again
I have profound hearing loss in my right ear and some loss in my left ear. Watching TV programs and movies was a frustrating experience, because in spite my top-of-the line hearing aides, I was unable to understand the dialog. Trying to read close captions was not an ideal solution. With this sound bar, I am almost completely satisfied. I would like better explanations of how to adjust the settings.
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Top reviews from other countries
Ron Skelton
Good while it lasts, but ZVOX stands behind it.
Reviewed in Canada on July 29, 2023Color: BlackVerified Purchase
Thomas Read
I am glad I found this ZVOX
Reviewed in Spain on March 8, 2024Color: BlackVerified Purchase
Bidule13
Correction OK pour vieilles oreilles
Reviewed in France on January 19, 2023Color: BlackVerified Purchase
Norbert Möllerarnd
Deutliche Verbesserung
Reviewed in Germany on February 14, 2022Color: BlackVerified Purchase
