Prior to ordering my first Zvox, I went the more common digital route of a separate Onkyo receiver/amplifier, a speaker bar by Definitive Technologies and some high-end cables. I am not an audiophile, but not averse to a challenge. Setting it all up was a nightmare. I couldn’t get a reliable on-screen menu either through the HDMI connection, or through the analog inputs, regardless of how I configured the connections. Additionally, since I needed to hide the receiver, I needed an infrared repeater to turn it on, and it never worked reliably, regardless of where I positioned it.

In summary, I had a system that could not be reliably turned on with my remote, did not reliably give me an on-screen menu for most of the receiver functions, and increased the ambient temperature in the living room by about 4 degrees if it was left on all day (I was rather amused by thinking that at least I had a back-up heating system should the furnace ever fail). I put the better part of 15 hours in to set this up, and reconfigured it again and again. I also probably spent nearly another two hours speaking to people at Onkyo, Definitive Technologies, and the folks who manufactured the IR repeater. And watching something on TV could take minutes of “prep.”

Finally, the irritation overwhelmed me, and I boxed everything up (including my 100 page Onkyo receiver owner’s manual) and sent it back. At the same time I was doing a bit more research, and discovered the AVS forum thread covering the Zvox models, and it seemed to provide the best discussions and summaries of the different units (from an ordinary user’s point of view). I decided to try one.

Simplicity, simplicity, simplicity! This is exactly what the Zvox provides! My television, with its clean, easily visible, intuitive on-screen menu is a great switching station for inputs. And the units turn themselves on or off automatically when it senses a signal (or lack thereof) from the TV. Set up is basically five steps: (1) Run analog RCA cables (supplied) from TV’s analog audio output jacks to the Zvox, (2) plug in the Zvox, (3) turn the “ON” switch at the back of the Zvox on; (4) go into the TV’s menu screen and shut off (once and forever) the TV’s cheap, tinny-sounding, cheesy little speakers; and (5) watch TV or a movie. That’s basically it!

It does a very good job of filling the room with sound. It feels like the sound is emanating from an area about eight or ten feet wide in front of the TV, bass is quite intense (especially with the 425 model), and dialog is very clear. No need to bring up subtitles or closed captioning when listening at low volume levels. It doesn’t make you feel that you are surrounded by sound, but the effect is rather more like you are watching a play or musical performance in a theater. There is a sense of directionality, but it is pretty much from in front of you. I have never quite understood why people like sound that is coming from behind them, when the action is taking place in front of them (?!), but, as I mentioned above, I am not an audiophile, so perhaps I just do not understand why such things are important. Music, in particular, seems much more crisp, clean, and natural than it did with my previous “all digital” system. I have my unit set with bass, treble and phase cue (the simulated surround sound) at about level 5, and haven’t found a need to change anything. Set it, forget it! I can’t express how much I appreciate it that someone has put together a speaker system with such wonderful quality, and which is brain-dead simple to set up and manage.

As far as shortcomings are concerned, in my view, there are only a couple: (1) as mentioned in another review here, sometimes higher notes lack a bit of clarity or lightness, but to me this seems only to be the case when the volume and/or phase cue is set very high; (2) TV programs or DVDs with garbage audio quality will be played back the same way (what you give this Zvox is exactly what it will give back to you). If you play a garbage sound recording, you will get back garbage. Moreover, it will be full-bodied, wide soundstage, room-filling garbage. I guess this is what “fidelity” means in the term “high fidelity”). You don’t seem to be able to do much about this, but if you are listening to decent recordings, it is a very, very good thing.

I think anyone who wants a quality sound system and who wants to eliminate (or prevent the occurrence of) another level of complexity in life (which, I am convinced, is slowly killing us all), this system will be an excellent choice. The surround-sound, five, seven, or nine channel enthusiasts will not be impressed, of course. Fine. Leave them be. I live in a house anyway, not a concert amphitheater. The Zvox is just fine for the rest of us.

User Rating: 5 / 5

Its Phasecue has 9 levels, the higher level the more sound field it expands. But high level, e.g. 7, phasecue occasionally causes voice replication. Otherwise it does make you feel there are virtual speakers added on both sides. But you still feel significant portion of sound energy comes from the center, speaker itself clearly, especially mid range frequencies.

Its bass is surprisingly good out of 2 4″ drivers on the end of both sides, similar to average 8″ subwoofer in sound but better in localization. It evenly distributes the bass because of 2 4″ driver on both sides, especially for upper bass . However, it reproduces poor high frequency sounds, very very subtle, so no detail sound texture. Maybe it is because of using 3″ drivers to handle high range sound which usually done by 1″ driver. The mid range is sounded somewhat harsh or say too much.

I compared it with “gigawork s750″ (already discontinued), not with my favorite monitors which would be unfair, in both stereo music and surround movie playbacks around my 40″ samsung lcd tv. I like s750 better significantly in both cases. Basically, it is just too much compromise from it for me.

If you really hate to wire around 5.1 setup. Buy a decent 2.1 with build-in amplifier that should make wiring nearly as simple as the sound bar. Based on what I tested on zvox 425sx and others in stores. It is hard to compete with classical decent 2.1 setup at the same price range in every way. Like I said, 2.1 setup is not hard to install at all. 5.1 indeed need a lot more to move around and wiring. I did 5.1 using very good studio monitors with expensive balanced cables but later I realized there are only less than 1% and 10% chances for music and movie respectively that 5.1 make sense in playback.

The building quality is good and it weighs 36 pounds and it is bigger than I expected, although I did check its size before ordering it.

User Rating: 3 / 5