New ZVOX sound bars offer virtual surround sound

ZVOX late Tueday added new home theater speaker systems to its lineup, including the high-performance 430 and 440 sound bars along with the IncrediBase 575. All are one-bar speakers without any separate satellites or a remote subwoofer, with all drivers built into one cabinet. The 430 and 440 models use three 3.25-inch speakers and a four-inch subwoofer, with one of the speakers a devoted center channel while the other two create a wide stereo sound stage using ZVOX's own PhaseCue sound processing.

The 430 is made to sit under flat panel TVs sized at between 32 and 42 inches, while the 440 is meant for 40- to 52-inch sets. The speakers have a built-in amplifier, while the subwoofer in the 430 can produce low frequencies down to 48Hz, and the 440 goes down to 43Hz. There is a single-cable connection to a TV set, while a second input allows people to connect MP3 players and PCs.

There is a remote control that lets users adjust the virtual surround level, subwoofer level, treble, volume and power. An auto turn-on circuit will power up the speaker two seconds after the TV is turned on, with the amp going into standby mode after a few minutes without a signal.

The IncrediBase 575 speaker has five 2-inch speakers and two 6.5-inch subwoofers, all powered by an integrated 133W amplifier with subwoofer extension that hits as low as 35Hz; it's compared to quality discrete 5.1-channel surround systems in quality. The IncrediBase 575 is made to work with flat panel TVs sized at between 37 and 65 inches. There are also two auxiliary inputs.

The ZVOX 430 is priced at $450, the 440 at $550 and the IncrediBase 575 at $800. The first two are now available, while the 575 will ship on October 1st.

ZVOX 430

ZVOX IncrediBase 575

By Electronista Staff