The Zvox SB380 offers one very important feature: dialogue enhancement.
Sarah Tew/CNET
Today’s deal is an update of one from a couple weeks ago, albeit a different version of the product at a different price point. As I noted then (and have mentioned countless times in the past), TV speakers are terrible. And if you happen to be — sigh — over 50 like myself, you should probably consider a soundbar that can enhance dialogue, making voices easier to hear.
Here’s a great deal on just such a product: For a limited time, and while supplies last, the Zvox SB380 Sound Bar with AccuVoice Dialogue Boost is on sale for $169.99. Regular price: $300. This is a full-size soundbar, suitable for living rooms. The previous deal was for a smaller one. (If Amazon’s supply runs out, which happened last time, you can also get the SB380 from Zvox proper.)
The SB380 incorporates three 2-inch full-range speakers and one 4-inch subwoofer. It measures just over 35 inches wide and can sit in front of your TV or mount on a wall.
I briefly tested one in my living room. As with the similar AV155 that I’d tried previously, I noticed an immediate improvement in overall sound quality. Pressing the AccuVoice button on the remote cycles through six different levels of dialogue enhancement — almost overkill, to be honest, but it sure does work well.
There’s also a feature called Output Leveling, which prevents big spikes in volume (like when commercials come on or there’s a noisy action scene). And I was able to “train” the speaker to recognize commands from my Roku remote, definitely a welcome option. However, there’s no Bluetooth here, something to consider if you want a speaker that’s good for listening to music when the TV’s off.
Check out CNET’s Zvox SB380 review to learn more. One big ding was the $300 price tag, but obviously $170 is a lot more palatable. That’s why my dad is definitely getting one of these for Father’s Day; he’s constantly cranking the volume way up in order to hear dialogue, much to the chagrin of my mom.
Your thoughts?
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