Sound Advice: ZVOX soundbar solves multiple-remote problem

Q. Four years ago I bought a ZVOX SB380 soundbar to use with a Samsung Series 8 TV. The soundbar recently failed after a power surge, so I’m looking for a new one. Is there wisdom in pairing a Samsung soundbar with a Samsung TV? I’ve looked at the Samsung soundbar options, and most of them come at a higher price point. Is it possible to get good clarity in the neighborhood of $200?

A. There is great wisdom in pairing a Samsung soundbar with a Samsung TV, especially if you have a higher-end Samsung TV and the budget for a premium soundbar. Samsung soundbars have outstanding sound quality and class-leading features like Q-Symphony, which integrates Samsung TV’s speakers with the soundbar. Q-Symphony is not part of your Series 8 TV, and your budget is below the price of entry, but I encourage anyone with a Samsung TV to consider Samsung soundbars as well.

ZVOX soundbars and their patented AccuVoice feature are widely praised for the quality of dialogue reproduction, and given your experience with the brand and what you need from the soundbar I am going to recommend a ZVOX soundbar for you again. ZVOX has a new model that ticks all the boxes for you (and I suspect a lot of other readers).

The AV455 includes ZVOX AccuVoice to separate dialogue from other sounds so it can be understood clearly, as well as virtual subwoofer technology for deeper bass, PhaseCue Virtual Surround for spacious sound, output leveling to lower the volume of loud commercials and Bluetooth for playing audio from your phone or tablet.

That’s a great features list, but I think what will make the AV455 extremely popular is the HDMI-ARC connection. This feature is typically found in expensive soundbars, and the AV455 is the first ZVOX product to incorporate it.

The ARC in HDMI-ARC stands for “audio return channel.” Most TVs have an HDMI-ARC connection, which will send the audio signal from the TV to the soundbar and also control it with the TV remote. Juggling multiple remotes to control multiple devices is a common complaint I hear, and connecting your TV HDMI-ARC port to the AV455 HDMI input eliminates that.

Connect other sources like your cable box and disc player to the TV’s other HDMI inputs, and you are ready to go. When you turn on your TV, the AV455 turns on. Change the volume with the TV remote, and the volume changes on the AV455. Turn off the TV, and the AV455 turns off. Once you have the surround and AccuVoice settings adjusted to your liking, you can put away the included ZVOX remote and just use your TV remote.

The AV455 lists for $279.99, but using the discount code SAVE100 on zvox.com reduces the price to $179.99 with free shipping and a 60-day money-back satisfaction guarantee. For your $200 budget I am confident it is the right answer for you.

Send questions to Don Lindich at donlindich@gmail.com. Get recommendations and read past columns at soundadvicenews.com.