Q: I would like your opinion on the Majority Bowfell soundbar. Amazon is selling it for $38, and it has many four-star reviews. I'm looking for a soundbar that makes TV dialogue very clear, and this one claims to do that.
A: I have not reviewed this soundbar, so I cannot comment on the sound or overall quality. It does have quite a few good reviews on Amazon, but I also saw a fair number of one-star reviews from people who were very disappointed. Given the poor sound of most modern televisions, it is likely to at least be better than what you have now. For under $40, it might be worth a try, and you always can return it to Amazon if you are not satisfied.
Poor television sound is the most common subject of e-mails sent to this column. This is because of the small, low-powered speakers found in most flat-panel televisions and the audio mixing done in the production process. Several tracks are mixed into the audio track that accompanies television programming, and the voice track often is mixed significantly lower than the rest of the material. In streamed movies or Blu-rays, the audio is recorded to be played at movie-theater volume levels. This means that in a home setting the dialogue will sound a bit soft when played at levels that allow normal conversation in the room.
Some larger televisions are showing improved audio quality. I recently heard a 77-inch Sony Master Series A9G OLED that had very good sound, as does the 75-inch Samsung Q90A. Still, pretty much every television on the market can use some help, especially smaller ones that don't have the bigger, better-designed speakers of these two top-of-the-line televisions.
If you are willing to spend a bit more for a sure thing, Zvox is the go-to for voice clarity. Their headphones, soundbars and television speakers use their proprietary AccuVoice, based on hearing aid technology, to make dialogue clear and easy to understand. Newer models also include SuperVoice, which takes voice clarity to an even higher level for those with impaired hearing.
Last year I reviewed and recommended the Zvox AV157 Television Speaker, which includes six levels of AccuVoice Boost and six levels of SuperVoice boost. The $199 unit had one of the strongest reader responses of any product I have written about. Now the Zvox AV257, which is identical to the AV157 but has a nicer cabinet, is on sale for $199, reduced from $299.
Given that you asked about a $40 soundbar, $199 might be a bit of a stretch, and I understand that. Fortunately for you — and for everyone watching their money — Zvox has another option. The Zvox AV100 Television Speaker is on sale for $99, and you can use the code SAVE10 to save $10, reducing the price to $89 with free shipping. Use the codes on zvox.com.
Send questions to Don Lindich at donlindich@gmail.com. Get recommendations and read past columns at soundadvicenews.com.
