Zvox AV157 review: a small, single-purpose soundbar

Zvox AV157 Soundbar: Two-minute review

The Zvox AV157 soundbar is a tough little sucker to review. That’s because it has one main purpose and doesn’t do much else compared to other soundbars, though it does that one thing well.

If you’re in the market for one of the best soundbars to enhance your TV viewing, the Zvox AV157 soundbar is not the one. However, if you need something to simply accentuate voices in your favorite shows or movies because they seem to get buried in the mix, then the Zvox AV157 is for you. People who are experiencing hearing loss will appreciate this small soundbar the most.

Similar to the Soundfun Mirai I recently reviewed, I found the Zvox AV157’s price a bit off-putting given that it's mostly a one-trick pony. But if you can’t hear what the heck Robert Pattinson is saying in Tenet , you’ll probably be willing to spend for it, though you could get a good mid-range soundbar such as the Sony HT-S2000 for not too much more money.

The Zvox AV157’s design is about as unobtrusive as it gets. It’s a small, black rectangular unit measuring just 17 x 3.3 x 2.9 inches with a front grille that indicates volume, input (indicated by the puzzling “In1d” and “In2A”) and Accuvoice and PhaseCue virtual surround (aka virtual surround sound) levels using an orange alphanumeric LED display.

Port-wise, the Zvox AV157 is very basic, offering just 3.5mm analog and optical digital audio inputs and a subwoofer/headphone output. It would have been nice for Zvox to also include an HDMI port with ARC capability since optical connections can be finicky.

For instance, I’ve had issues where I had to turn on a TV and connected speakers or soundbar in a particular order when using an optical connection. Considering this soundbar is aimed at older people who might find it difficult to troubleshoot connection issues, including an HDMI port would have been a good idea.

The Zvox has three 3-inch full-range drivers being fed 24 watts from a Class-D amplifier under the hood, so it will get loud enough for most people in a small to medium-sized room. Since this is a smaller unit, I wouldn’t recommend it for larger rooms, even if you need the dialogue-boosting capability.

I appreciate the AV157’s remote control, which is straightforward with large buttons that don’t require a hard press to register changes. Its size is substantial enough that you shouldn’t have issues losing it, at least not more than any other remote.

As far as the soundbar’s performance goes, different people are going to feel differently about it. Again, that 24 watts offers more than enough power for smaller setups. And it provides an upgrade to normal budget flat-panel TVs that typically sport small, downward-firing speakers (a big reason why modern TVs sound worse than ones from a few decades ago) even without any special boosting or surround sound mode activated.

Since the AV157 is small, there’s not much in the way of bass and the high-end is nothing special. You have six levels at your fingertips when using the AccuVoice dialogue boosting feature, with each one pushing up the mid-range where voices sit, while six levels of SuperVoice tech simultaneously minimize background sounds.

The Zvox AV157 does a good job doing what it advertises. However, the more accentuated that mid-range gets, the more unnatural the audio sounds. In fact, voices end up sounding boxy. In a way, it’s kind of like a hearing aid in that they don’t make things sound better, just more audible.

Another Zvox feature, “PhaseCue virtual surround,” uses processing to, as its name suggests, deliver virtual surround sound. It has three levels and, like most virtual surround sound, it makes the sound just a bit more spacious. Still, it might be something you appreciate, since it gives a bit of depth to the AV157’s very mid-range-forward sound. An additional feature, Output Leveling, is used to modulate overall volume levels so TV commercials don't sound blaringly loud, for example.

If you have issues hearing dialogue, the AV157 can improve your TV viewing experience. Keep in mind, though, that TV speakers generally are subpar, so, if you wish you could hear dialogue a little bit clearer (and don’t have serious problems with your hearing), just upgrading to any decent soundbar will help.

Zvox AV157 Soundbar review: Price and release date

• Price: $249 / £159 / AU$458
• Released May 2020

The Zvox AV157 is on the pricey side for a diminutive soundbar, listing for $249 / £159 / AU$458. Just like the Soundfun Mirai ($299) which fills a similar need, I find the price a bit much for a soundbar that mainly boosts the frequencies where dialogue resides. But at least the Zvox also comes with virtual spatial audio to spice things up. It also can frequently be found on sale for less than $249.

Of course, there are cheaper soundbars out there that have a dialogue mode or the ability to boost mid-range frequencies such as the Roku Streambar , which costs $130 / £130. The Streambar has a whole host of extra functionality including the built-in Roku platform and HDMI ARC support, but not the Zvox’s precision voice boosting, which is something people who are hard of hearing will appreciate.

Should I buy the Zvox AV157 soundbar?

Buy it if...

You want something easy to use
Navigating its features is easy thanks to a remote with big buttons and clear labeling. You won’t have issues adjusting the various features to your liking.

You want something compact
The Zvox AV157 is petite. If you’re tight on space, you won’t have to worry about fitting it into your setup.

Don't buy it if...

You want natural-sounding dialogue
While its dialogue-boosting feature works well, it doesn’t retain the natural timbre of your media’s audio. If you’re even something of an audiophile (even with some hearing loss), you’ll have trouble enjoying the sound.

You need an HDMI port
It’s unfortunate that there’s no HDMI port, especially since optical connections can be finicky to deal with.

Zvox AV157 Soundbar review: Also consider

How I tested the Zvox AV157 Soundbar

• I used the Zvox AV157 Soundbar for a week
• Tested with both TV and movies

I used the Zvox AV157 Soundbar regularly for a week, viewing TV, movies, and Youtube videos. I compared it to just my TV’s speakers to see what kind of improvement it offers and found that, as I’ve stated in the review, it’s good at what it’s designed for. If you’re hard of hearing, this is a good but slightly pricey option. I

I’ve tested a lot of tech gear over the years from laptops to keyboards and speakers, and so have been able to use my expertise towards giving an honest and fair opinion, not to mention a critical eye, to any product I test.

First reviewed August 2024

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