ZVOX 550HSD Low-Profile Single-Cabinet Surround Sound System with Optical and Coaxial Digital Inputs Review

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(More customer reviews)Before purchasing this speaker/amplifier system, I read every review I could find. However, no matter how well a speaker review is written, the proof is in the actual listening. After some careful measurements of the space where I intended to put this speaker, I decided to go ahead and spring (also known as "putting a dent" in the credit card) for the system. Quick background - I've been using a Yamaha 5.1 channel surround receiver with Bose AM-3 speakers and an OPPO BDP-83 Blu-Ray player. One of my biggest gripes about compact systems has been high levels of total harmonic distortion. But the simple convenience of fewer remotes and easy adjustments does have its charms.
I received the system about 3 days after placing the order and I set it up the day after I got it. Did I say setup? This marvelous audio soundbar/box sets up faster than an egg on hot asphalt. I ran a set of RCA cables from the TV's analog output to the ZVOX analog RCA inputs. Everything else, video and audio-wise, is plugged into the back of the TV. An optical digital cable from the Blu-Ray player to the optical input on the ZVOX takes care of the DVD audio. Even my PC's audio goes through the ZVOX unit.
The unit itself is wonderfully "invisible" in that it sits under the LCD TV base and does not call attention to itself. The sound? With a little noodling on the included remote (which is larger and easier to use than the chiclet size remote provided with the standard 550 model), I was quite impressed. I played my Blu-Ray copy of AVATAR and with the PHASE CUE setting near maximum, the BASS on maximum, treble on about three-quarters of the allowed adjustment range, I began my listening test. After several minutes, I was struck by the fact that the sound was so full and clear that I got lost in the movie. The speakers just "disappeared".
Several observations: The bass output doesn't have quite enough "oomph" for my taste, so I purchased an inexpensive Yamaha YST-50 subwoofer that worked out just nice. It's compact, provides a nice punch to the bass, and fits almost anywhere. As for the surround effect - the system broadens the soundfield more than adding weird surround effects. Truthfully, I like its overall balanced sound much better than some of the other soundbar manufacturers attempts at faux surround.
In summary, if the complexities of today's audio/video receivers and multi-channel rat's nest of connecting cables is driving you to distraction, try the ZVOX 550 HSD system for small spaces (I'm using it in a third bedroom space which is quite small), or the ZVOX 575 HSD system in larger living room spaces. Simple is best!

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The Z-Base 550HSD is the only surround sound system designed to act as a base platform for most 26" - 50" flat-panel TVs. Only three inches thick, the Z-Base virtually disappears when placed beneath a flat panel TV. But don\'t let is low profile fool you -- the 550HSD sounds absolutely terrific-reproducing music and movie soundtracks with lifelike accuracy. The entire system-speakers, amplifier, virtual surround technology and powered subwoofer-fits into the super-slim cabinet. There are no external speakers, no external subwoofers and no speaker wires.The Z-Base 550HSD complements the design of modern TVs by incorporating beautiful hand-lacquered high-gloss black end panels. The top of the Z-Base 550HSD is finished in rugged, scratch-resistant black vinyl that is less likely to be marred by objects such as the TV placed on its surface. Set-up of the Z-Base 550HSD requires very few steps: Simply place the unit on a stable shelf, table or cabinet. Place your stand-mounted flat-panel TV on top of it.Plug in AC power, one connecting cord to the TV. Sit back and enjoy big, realistic sound including thunderous bass from the builtin powered subwoofer. The Z-Base 550HSD uses the ZVOX PhaseCue virtual surround system to create wide, three-dimensional sound, as if you are listening to speakers eight feet apart from each other, with movie sound effects that literally surround you. You get a room full of sound without a roomful of speakers and wires! TV base should not exceed 27" in width or 13" in depth. TV should not exceed 90 pounds in weight. Safety instructions in Z-Base 550HSD Operating Instructions and in TV's Operating Instructions should be closely examined and followed.

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ZVOX 575 IncediBase Low-Profile, High-Performance Single-Cabinet Surround Sound System Review

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(More customer reviews)I purchased the ZVOX 575 because I have a 58" plasma in a fairly large room so the other ZVOX models weren't appropriate for my set up. Background: I have a Onkyo receiver and 5.1 surround in another room hooked up to a 42" plasma. Initially I thought the surround sound was great - loved it while watching movies, enjoyed the theatre like surrounding sound which made you feel like you were a part of the action. After the initial thrill, I realized that I was missing half the dialogue and constantly trying to send more sound to the center channel in order to hear what the actors were saying. Pretty soon I got sick of moving the wires and speakers each time I dusted or vacuumed or washed the floor. Also, the bass was so booming (regardless of how I adjusted it) that it would disturb sleepers located in the upstairs bedrooms (the room is directly under the bedrooms upstairs) if the movie was high action. I ended up unhooking the speakers one day and never reattached them - don't miss the ss at all. This plasma is 4 years old and so the speakers on the TV, while not great, aren't too bad at all.
So I added a family room addition off the back of the house this year and purchased a 58" panasonic plasma for the room. The TV speakers are so painful I could barely watch TV! The size of the room made it worse - 20 X 30 although an L shape makes it so you sit about 10 feet from the television. I knew I didn't want surround sound or I could have moved my existing Onkyo to the new TV. I searched around, went to BB to hear the various sound bars - regardless of price and make, the dialogue seemed to be drowned out by the bass and psuedo surround sound (hard to tell on this though, BB isn't exactly ideal for listening to speakers). What to do!! I contemplated locating the Onkyo receiver in the new room and buying a couple of tower speakers and a center speaker... but realized that the center speaker couldn't sit on top of the TV and sitting the speaker on the TV stand in front of the TV would block the TVs remote sensor. Continued with internet search and.. Enter ZVOX! Everything I read mentioned how crystal clear dialogue would be and how you could adjust the speaker utilizing their version of surround sound (Phasecue) and get a bit of the surround sound experience.
The price was something that gave me a bit of pause... it isn't cheap. I figured if I didn't like it I could always return it within 30 days - no restocking fee. The unit arrived packed beautifully and I had it set up in less than 5 minutes (thankfully I had a couple of teenagers to help me lift the TV and place the speaker box on the TV stand and then rest the TV on top of the speaker box). It looks very nice - the box is attractive looking, blends well with the TV and doesn't look out of place. At first I wasn't crazy about the TV being 5 inches higher but you get used to that and don't even notice it after a while. THE SOUND!! I got out a blu ray (The Unforgiven) and sat down to watch... after adjusting the bass, treble, volume and phasecue to my liking, the ZVOX gave me a full bodied sound - crystal clear dialogue, gun shots that seem to come from afar (phasecue adjustment somehow makes it sound like the speakers are fairly far away from the left and right of the screen) and I AM HAPPY!! Rumbling within the movie seems to come from 'somewhere' but not directly in front of you and I must say I am very pleased with this purchase - ZVOX makes a great product. It isn't surround sound but it is a great speaker that does exactly what it says it does - great sound, crystal clear dialogue and a feeling that you're listening to something other than the big box under your TV. Excellent with music (I attached an iPod to it using a separately purchased analog to iPod wire (purchased at BB)) but you have to realize that 'garbage in, garbage out' applies here - lousy sounding TV shows or music will not be output sounding better - only clearer.
OK, a few codicils... ZVOX uses analog inputs/outputs. You need to have an analog output on your TV (ZVOX uses the TV as the 'switch' so you hook all your acccessories - DVD, Blu Ray, game consoles - whatever) to your TV and the TV sends the audio signal to the ZVOX speaker box. These new TVs have mostly dispensed with the analog output and quite a few of them only have an optical audio output. I had to purchase the GefenTV Digital Audio Decoder and I could only find online sources for it. You connect an optical connection (purchased at BB) from the optical output on the TV to the optical input on the Gefin and plug the included with the ZVOX analog connection to the Gefen and then the ZVOX box. Not ideal, but the only work-around I could come up with. Unfortunately with this set-up, the ZVOX will not automatically shut off when the autio signal stops when you turn off the TV. You will have to manually turn off the ZVOX with the included ZVOX 'clicker'.
The adjustments on the ZVOX are by hearing only.. meaning, you need to adjust it according to what you watch - there is no 'memory' for the settings you like when listening to music or a DVD or TV. I don't find that a pain at all since every movie is a little different and I'd end up adjusting phasecue or the treble and bass each time anyway. Every adjustment you make makes the little blue light on the ZVOX blink.. so you know sort of where you are on the adjustment scale.
I hope this review helps someone - if you want true surround sound - like to hear things blow up behind you - then the ZVOX probably isn't for you. If you want an alternative to surround sound wires everywhere, speakers everywhere and garbled or inaudible dialogue - then the ZVOX might be your answer.

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The ZVOX IncrediBase 575 delivers awesome, room-filling surround sound -- including window-rattling bass down to 35 Hz -- from a single cabinet that can act as a base for your TV. You get the performance of an expensive multi-speaker home theater system, without all the speaker cabinets, subwoofers and wires.
Inside the IncrediBase 575 are five high-performance speakers, dual 6.5-Inch long-excursion powered subwoofers, a 133-watt amplifier and the acclaimed PhaseCue virtual surround sound system. The 575 reproduces music with remarkable accuracy and depth. Movie sound effects literally surround you. The 575 uses dual 6.5-Inch powered subwoofers in a spacious cabinet (equal in interior volume to a 14-Inchx14-Inchx14-Inch subwoofer box). The result is accurate, window-rattling bass down to 35Hz. No other all-in-one home theater system even comes close.
The Incredibase 575 was created by the well-known speaker designer, Winslow Burhoe. It uses a hand-crafted wood (MDF) cabinet with beautiful high-gloss lacquered end-panels. It is 36-Inch wide and 16.5-Inch deep, and is designed so that you can place your flat-panel TV on top of it. With only one connecting wire -- and a one-page owner's manual -- it is extremely simple to install and use. And once installed, it blends into your decor. Most people won't even notice it's there.
If you want a compact, stylish, simple home theater that delivers incredible sound, the ZVOX IncrediBase 575 may be the perfect choice.

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ZVOX 325 High-Performance Single-Cabinet Surround Sound System Review

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(More customer reviews)This is by far the best sounding, easiest to set up all in one theater system I have owned or heard, bar none. I have owned many 5.1 systems, and also two different soundbar systems (the highly rated Sony HT CT-100 being one of them), and the zvox 325 is the best bang for the buck.
Crystal Clear vocals, smooth bass, and the phase cue option is great for action movies (Wanted and Matrix Blu-ray sounded amazing, although music sounds much better with the phase cue turned almost all the way off.)
While the CT-100 worked great in my bedroom, vocals were still a problem, and the bass was way too punchy even at lower levels. Since I had just ditched and sold all my 5.1 equipment (yamaha 1000 watt receiver, boston acoustics bookshelves, and some older bose fronts) the last thing I wanted to do was run wires all over my condo, as well as have my fiance complain about space issues and how confusing it was for her to just watch tv through the internal speakers. I also did not want to drop thousands of dollars on other sound bar systems just because they had digital audio and hdmi switching capabilities.
My hdtv has 4 hdmi inputs, which is more than enough for me. I have my blu ray, wii, and hd cable all run through hdmi into the tv (except for wii, component), and the analog audio out to the zvox 325. I still do not buy the digital audio is always better bs, as this sounds 10x clearer than my ct-100, and can go twice as loud through a stereo mini jack! No, it is not true 5.1, but during movies I can hear background effects side to side, and most importantly, I can actually HEAR the dialogue. If there is one con, its the flimsy remote, but I can deal with it. I think zvox now has a customer for life, and for $299, I dare you to do better.

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The ZVOX 325 is the perfect choice for someone who wants to add terrific sound to a television – without the complication and expense of a 5.1 surround sound system. It delivers remarkably accurate, wide-range sound from a single compact cabinet; with only one connecting wire\'.and a one-page owner\'s manual. The 325 was created by legendary speaker designer Winslow Burhoe (founder of EPI Loudspeakers and Burhoe Acoustics). Frankly, we are amazed at how good the 325 sounds. It is simply delightful. Female vocalists sound warm, rich and natural. Music is reproduced with true high fidelity. Live concerts sound big and airy and awesome. Movie soundtracks are delivered with startling realism - including punchy, accurate bass. Even sporting events take on a new dimension with the 325 – you\'ll hear details you\'ve never heard before. And all sound is reproduced with a sense of distortion-free ease. Never before has an audio system offered this combination of high performance, small size, simplicity and affordability. Just hook up its single connecting wire and you will transform your TV into a terrific home theater system...but without all the wires and boxes. "The 325 sounded great. An awesome system." - Sound & Vision magazine "Inspires sincere gadget lust...surprisingly good surround sound." - PC World "Superior to most we've tested." - CNET "Remarkable. We're amazed." - Maximum PC magazine "Great sound." - About.com

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LG LHT854 1000-Watt DVD Disc Home Theater In a Box Review

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(More customer reviews)Pros : Plenty of Volume (1000W) Great pairing with LG T.V.
Comes with Excellent Ipod Adapter and sounds great for
an all-in-one solution. Chalk full of features.
Comes with speaker Wire too.
Cons : As with most other systems...Inputs! Only has one Optical but
thank goodness for that. Only has preset Equalizer settings.
Long Review (A lot to say and want to answer any questions)
I had been looking around for a good 5.1 system that decodes all the popular signals such as Dolby Digital and DTS sound.
Not Looking to spend a whole lot of cash I needed a simple solution.
I have looked around online and in stores at a variety of options.
When it came down to it I had considered heavily on the sony soundbar mainly because it was the only low price ranged sound system with 3 HDMI inputs. But when I went to bestbuy and listened to it all of my fears came true as far as volume. The soundbar was just too low unless I would have kept it cranked up. Then after weighing the other options of a receiver/speakers (Panasonic receiver)combo the price just was just barely in my range but really didnt want to spend all my cash. Then remebering that my T.V. was an LG (42pg20 42"Plasma) I decided to check out this model. Going out on a limb I was wary because of the one input.
Much to my suprise this unit is awesome for a HTS.
Now for an audiophile the 1.0% THD might discourage you but for around
$220 It something Even I could overlook.(Also have a high end 6.1 sony receiver and yamaha speakers in the house, they have like a .07 THD)
This system gets so loud too. My room is only a 14ft. by 20ft. room but I never even have to turn the volume up over half to crank it while watching a movie.(Actually never had to go over that) The sub kicks.
Also this unit not only upscales DVD's through the built-in Dvd player(which looks great) it also plays from Ipod with the INCLUDED Ipod Dock (Through OSD or via Ipod control which is cool), From USB, and from the digital optical in. (Will of course also play mp3 music, jpg pictures, and divx movies, and probably a few other formats that I am forgetting).If that wasnt enough LG also included a am/fm receiver in this unit with a loop antennae.
Hooking up the unit was straight forward, the wiring is 18 gauge wire ,About 18ft. long for the rear speakers, about 12ft. for the sub that is color coded, pre stripped at the ends and ready to go.
There is an HDMI Out (I ran to the T.V.) and a couple other outs, composite and standard RCA I think). There was a little delay in the audio from my Digital DVR cable box when I ran the HDMI Out of my cable box into my T.V. and then optical out of my T.V. into the Home theatre. Problem was solved by running the optical from my cable box straight into the home theatre. The Home theatre also automatically picks up whatever kind of sound source it needs to decode and displays it on the front of the unit.
If you have an LG T.V. with simplink then it is really simple to control the System as it syncs right up and even turns on the unit when synced and off when the T.V. turns off.
The remote for the unit also has controls for the T.V., If you dont own an LG TV then no fear as the remote is programmable for your T.V.
The OSD allows you to set aspect ratio and resolution for your T.V as well as test the speakers and turn up each one individually as necessary.
There is No way to set your own E.Q. though but the presets are good even though you probably wont even have to use them. There is also an audio delay fixer (up to 300ms).
Overall I would give it a 4.5 because of all its features but lack of inputs.Recommend to anyone on a budget and wanting a great home theatre with plenty of options.

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1000W 1 Disc HTiB, 4 Satellite, HDMi/ 1080p, Made for I Pod, Demo Mode

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