Trouble Hearing The TV? This Dialogue-enhancing Soundbar Just Hit $150, An All-time Low
There are two reasons you need a soundbar in your living room. First, your TV's built-in speakers aren't very good. Second, TV dialogue can be hard to hear (see reason one). Surely you've noticed that sometimes you have to crank the volume just to catch what's being said, and then everything else seems way too loud. Any soundbar will help, but the Zvox AV357 TV Soundbar will help a lot: It's specifically designed to boost voices. Originally priced at $250, the Zvox AV357 is currently on sale for just $150 — the lowest price on record.
Amazon
Tired of reading closed-captions? The Zvox AV357 features 12 levels of voice-boosting goodness, so you can catch every spoken word, no reading required. This is the lowest price in the product's history.
$150 at AmazonZvox has a number of these "AccuVoice" soundbars in its lineup, but the AV357 is one of few that's enclosed in a wood-veneer case. If you're not a fan of the typical black-metal look of most electronics, you might find this to be a better fit for your décor.
It measures 24 inches wide and is designed to sit in front of your TV; this particular soundbar can't be wall-mounted, unless you supply your own shelf for it.
The Zvox AccuVoice soundbar boosts the voice level on all of your favorite shows and movies. (Photo: Amazon)
Zvox supplies one of the better instruction manuals I've seen, with big print, clear illustrations and lots of setup information. It clearly explains how the soundbar connects to your TV's optical audio port. Unfortunately, there's no Hdmi option here, meaning you might not be able to control the soundbar with your existing TV or cable-box remote — not without a little hoop-jumping anyway. The AV357 can be manually programmed to accept volume and mute commands from most clickers.
If you don't want to mess around with that, Zvox's remote is excellent, with clearly labeled tactile buttons.
The unit consists of three speakers in total, including a center one that's specifically for voices. There's also some electronic wizardry at work in the form of Zvox's AccuVoice tech, which helps to really isolate and enhance dialogue. Although I haven't tested this exact model, I've tried several other Zvox speakers (including one that made Yahoo's list of the best soundbars of 2023), and trust me when I say AccuVoice works really well. There's also an output-leveling feature designed to lower the volume of TV commercials and three levels of virtual surround sound (though using the latter will disable AccuVoice).
The Zvox AV355 soundbar's large, easy-to-read display lets you see volume levels at a glance. It's a small thing, but very welcome. (Photo: Rick Broida/Yahoo)
I particularly like the large, easy-to-read LED display on the front of the soundbar. It uses numbers to show volume level and abbreviations to help you through mode selections.
My only real complaint is the lack of Bluetooth connectivity; you can't use this as a speaker to stream music from your phone or tablet. (Zvox touts an "Alexa-ready" feature, but that just means plugging in an Amazon Echo speaker.)
That limitation aside, the Zvox AV357 is an excellent choice for older TV viewers or anyone struggling with hearing issues. And at this price it's hard to pass up.
Amazon
It might be built for dialogue, but the three high-quality speakers in this soundbar will improve your overall viewing experience.
$150 at AmazonIf you have Amazon Prime, you'll get free shipping, of course. Not yet a member? No problem. You can sign up for your free 30-day trial here. (And by the way, those without Prime still get free shipping on orders of $25 or more.)
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Originally published May 3, 2023 at 1:22 PM
Best Soundbars For 2023
$130 at RokuRoku Streambar
Best budget soundbar, best streaming video
Show more (5 items)The best TVs may offer excellent image quality -- with pictures which rival a movie theater -- but sound quality has always played second fiddle. No matter the cost of your TV, it's worth investing in a separate, dedicated speaker for your screen. Soundbars are a much more affordable alternative to home theater speakers and AV receivers, while still providing powerful and immersive audio, and they'll take up a lot less room in your living room as well. To help you find the best one for your needs, here are the best soundbars I've tested.
What is the best soundbar?The $130 Roku Streambar is one of the best soundbars you can buy.
Sarah Tew/CNETIf you're looking to spend the least amount of money to get good sound, then the best soundbar to buy is either the Creative Stage or the Roku Streambar. If you're a movie lover, then a soundbar with a wireless subwoofer, such as the Klipsch Cinema 400, will help you get the most out of action films. Taking this one step further, the Vizio M512a-H6 with Dolby Atmos support is an excellent buy and the best option for spatial audio on a budget. Last, if you want the best that money can buy, then the Sennheiser Ambeo will give you the best sound I've ever heard in a soundbar.
If you're on the hunt for the best soundbar 2023 has to offer, I've rounded up some excellent speakers starting from $100. This list is updated periodically as I test new models.
The 10 best soundbars of 2023Easily supplanting my previous favorite, the JBL Bar 2.1 Deep Bass, the Klipsch Cinema 400 adds great design and an even bigger wireless subwoofer. Sound quality is still king, though, with a real sense of dynamics and excellent music replay. If you want to make your TV the next best thing to a movie theater, this is one of the most affordable ways to do it.
Key features
Pros
Cons
Read our Klipsch Cinema 400 review.
While I really like the Roku Streambar Pro, the Roku Streambar does essentially the same job for $50 less. With a full-fledged 4K HDR Roku streamer built in and a single voice remote controlling everything, this bar gives you audio and video in one simple bar. The Roku soundbar setup is a breeze; just add to a TV with a simple HDMI port connection. This affordable soundbar has sound quality that's acceptable for the size and price, and you can add a $129 wireless subwoofer for more punch.
Key features
Pros
Cons
Read our Roku Streambar review.
If you're looking to ditch your TV speaker, this is where I suggest you start. The subwoofer may be smaller than usual for the brand, but this audio bar still sounds great, as well as offering HDMI connectivity with ARC and a much easier-to-understand input display. The Vizio V-Series 2.1 is the best soundbar value I have tested in the last few years.
Key features
Pros
Cons
Read our Vizio V21 review.
For less than a C-note, the Creative Stage soundbar offers a bunch of previously unheard-of features, including HDMI connectivity with an HDMI ARC port and a subwoofer. But what's even more remarkable is that this affordable PC soundbar sounds better than most of its ultrabudget competition; its wired subwoofer fills the room with great bass. It has a variety of audio modes, making this soundbar speaker especially suited to music, concerts and gaming. It delivers excellent sound quality for gamers and movie fans alike.Key features
Pros
Cons
Read our Creative Stage review.
Sonos' new entry-level soundbar offers a lot for the money including the company's excellent multiroom music system onboard. A two-channel soundbar with Dolby Digital decoding, the Ray is roughly two-thirds the size of the Sonos Beam, yet it delivers a surprisingly wide soundstage.
While it doesn't support Dolby Atmos surround sound or have an HDMI port to connect to your TV (you use the included optical cable instead), I was impressed with the sound quality for music and movies. You can pair it with a couple of other Sonos speakers like the Ikea Symfonisk, or even the new Sonos Sub Mini, to create a surround sound system.
Key features
Pros
Cons
Read our Sonos Ray review.
A true step up from the preceding soundbars, the Vizio M512a-H6 is the most cost-effective way to get true Dolby Atmos playback. This surround system includes the main soundbar with up-firing height speakers built in, a 6-inch subwoofer and two wired rear speakers. That's a lot of parts, but it was easy to set up and I was impressed with the overall build quality. Most importantly, it offers excellent performance with movies, including real Atmos effects I could hear, as well as music. The M512a-H6s lacks Chromecast and AirPlay streaming, but still earns my hearty recommendation both for home cinema fans and for people looking to listen to their favorite album (whether in Atmos or not).
Key features
Pros
Cons
If you simply must have the least number of boxes and remotes in your living space and yet demand the best Atmos quality sound performance you can get, this Sennheiser speaker is your baby. It's a single unit, without a subwoofer, but it's able to conjure up the most realistic overhead and true surround-sound effects I've ever heard. It's also controlled entirely via remote control. It's not a cheap piece of sound equipment but it's comparable in price to a full set of surround speakers without the bulk and with 85% of the great sound and performance. It's now been joined by the cheaper Ambeo Soundbar Plus.
Key features
Pros
Cons
Read our Sennheiser Ambeo Soundbar review.
If you're interested in setting up a multiroom sound system, a Sonos soundbar system is still the best option. The Sonos Arc is the company's best soundbar and includes Dolby Atmos playback, a class-leading music ecosystem and Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa built into the bar itself. The soundbar system sounds good with music and movies, and adding a pair of Ikea Symphonisk bookshelves should really boost your home theater sound experience. The Arc sounds a lot bigger than the cheaper Beam TV sound, which needs the $700 subwoofer on top to make it comparable in terms of sound.
Key features
Pros
Cons
Read our Sonos Arc review.
The Yamaha YAS-209 offers excellent sound quality in a compact soundbar. Built-in Amazon Alexa voice control is useful, allowing this smart soundbar to stream music, and the mics work well in loud environments. The soundbar's implementation of DTS Virtual:X virtual surround sound offers a rich effect reminiscent of surround speaker sound. Two HDMI connections are included, one with HDMI ARC. This smart soundbar's wireless subwoofer is more articulate and offers more headroom than the competing, and also excellent, Polk Command Bar. However, the Yamaha soundbar YAS-209 doesn't use the company's MusicCast system, so it won't sync up with other Yamaha speakers.
Key features
Pros
Cons
Read our Yamaha YAS-209 review.
The Vizio Elevate's main draw may be its motorized-height speakers, but once you get over their novelty you'll find that the speaker system also sounds great. The separate sub and height-enabled rear speakers really help pull this Vizio soundbar ahead of the Sonos Arc sonically. With Dolby Atmos, DTS:X and Chromecast built in, multiple HDMI inputs and Bluetooth, the only thing the Vizio doesn't provide is Apple AirPlay support.
Key features
Pros
Cons
Read our Vizio Elevate P514A-H6 review.
Other soundbars I've testedZvox's SB500 features an onboard subwoofer for excellent bass from a single unit
Sarah Tew/CNETWhen choosing which soundbars to evaluate, CNET uses the following criteria as part of its selection process:
Read more in the soundbar buying guide.
How CNET tests soundbarsCNET follows a rigorous, unbiased evaluation process for all of its soundbar testing, from simple stereo speakers to Dolby Atmos systems. In the CNET AV Lab I do comparative testing, pitting similar soundbars against each other side by side.
I evaluate the performance of each soundbar with a number of different types of content, including movies, music, TV shows and games. I use a number of test scenes -- including the opening of Mad Max:Fury Road for playback of the spatial audio standard Dolby Atmos for soundbars which support it. I also use the Thanator Attack scene of Avatar (26.53) to test a system's dynamics and detail retrieval.
When it comes to music, I use a number of CNET test tracks which you can find here in a Tidal or Spotify playlist. Tracks such as Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds' Red Right Hand, with its deep bass and tenor vocals, help determine a system's ability to track male voices in particular, without sounding congested. It also helps with uncovering hidden details and the relative dynamics a speaker is capable of. Using both types of content -- movies and music -- I then grade the sound quality of each soundbar. I evaluate characteristics such as speech clarity, dynamics/volume, bass response and musical playback.
CNET's dedicated audio lab in downtown New York includes a selection of 2022 and 2023 televisions (with HDMI eARC), plus Apple TV 4K streamer and Roku Ultra streamers, a Microsoft Xbox Series X and an Oppo UDP-205 4K Blu-ray player. I also use Roon music software to stream to individual devices or the Oppo player as needed.
Soundbar FAQsWhy do I need a soundbar?
Compared with the sound that comes out of your TV, soundbars are the most economical way to improve sound quality. TV speakers face downward so a lot of detail is lost, and a dedicated soundbar can make speech more understandable. Spending as little as $100 on a soundbar can improve your TV-watching experience tenfold.
How do I connect a soundbar to my TV?
Depending on the age of your TV, there are three main ways to output to a soundbar: analog (3.5mm headphone or RCA), digital optical and HDMI. Before you buy a soundbar, make sure it accepts the same connections present on your TV. The most common input on soundbars is now HDMI, and if your TV is less than five years old it should be compatible, but it's worth double-checking.
Where do I place my soundbar?
Soundbars are designed to be placed in front of the TV on a TV stand or other furniture. Most are less than 2 inches tall so that they won't block either your television's infrared remote port or the screen itself. Some soundbars can also be wall-mounted and come with brackets in the box. Third-party kits for wall-mounting soundbars are also available.
Can you use any soundbar with any TV?
With only a handful of exceptions you can use any soundbar with any TV, though it does sometimes help to match TV and soundbar brands. Many new soundbars use HDMI ARC to channel the audio from your TV through the soundbar, so if both devices have one of these ports that's all you need. Some older soundbars use an optical connection and most TVs offer these as well.
The exception? Roku TV Wireless Speakers and Samsung SoundConnect. The former uses a proprietary wireless connection, and lacks an HDMI port, so you need a Roku TV (and not a Roku streamer) to use it. The second is also proprietary between Samsung soundbars and TVs, though the soundbar usually offers HDMI for connection to other brands.
Can you use a soundbar to play music?
Music played through your TV almost always sounds better when you have a soundbar connected. Many soundbars have Bluetooth, meaning you don't need the TV on to listen to your tunes. In general a soundbar with a wireless subwoofer is best for music as it will help reproduce dynamics as well as deep bass.
More home theater buying guidesVerizon Confirms That A New TV Streaming Service Is On The Way
Confirming a rumor that originally surfaced earlier this year, Verizon CEO Lowell McAdam recently said that the company plans to launch an over-the-top TV streaming service later this year. Not to be confused with Verizon's decent but relatively unpopular go90 streaming service which houses original content, Verizon's upcoming service will offer viewers something similar to a traditional cable package.
According to a report from TechCrunch, McAdam's remarks on the matter were made earlier this week during an appearance at J.P. Morgan's Global Technology, Media and Telecom Conference. With Verizon's acquisition of Yahoo expected to close next month, Verizon may launch its TV streaming service as early as July, though a later launch is likely more probable.
With so many TV streaming services, it's getting harder for any individual service to stand out. Still, TechCrunch raises an interesting strategy Verizon may ultimately implement: use content from go90 as a lure and differentiating factor relative to services like DirecTV Now.
But the interesting thing about Verizon entering the over-the-top market with its own live TV service is that it could become a home to go90's original video output, if the company did want to shut down the go90 app. That is, instead of trying to make go90 a brand that can stand on its own, Verizon – if it was smart – could use the content that's languishing over in that app, unviewed, to flesh out its live TV offering.
This is actually a solid idea as there is compelling content available at go90. And while nothing on go90 has seeped into the mainstream, perhaps a larger profile on a new TV streaming service will be the extra boost needed to do so.
While additional details surrounding Verizon's upcoming TV service remain unknown, it's a safe bet that interested users won't have to be existing Verizon customers in order to hop on board. That said, pricing details have yet to be disclosed, but it's also a safe bet that Verizon will aim for a pricepoint somewhere in the $30-$40 range.
