I agree. A known and reliable brand and, yes, I have found Amazon a very good company too.
If our sound system ever goes tits-up, that’s quite likely the one we’d buy as a replacement.
It doesn’t have surround sound, but then neither does ours (since I removed the side/back speakers).
Thanks for your answers everybody.
I’m particularly attracted to the unknown one - the Zvox accu voice because it mentions clarity of speech.
Yes it’s unknown but they’re offering 30 days free trial with money back guarantee. Amazon has been praised - well this would be brought from Amazon.
I don’t see it’s much of a risk - unless I have to send it back - that would be a bit of hassle I think.
I’m still deciding. A friend of mine has just bought a Yamaha src 20a. I shall wait until he has set it up & reported back to me. He has the same problem as me with the hearing.
I just need to hear from somebody who has a sound bar & can vouch it makes the actors words sound crystal clear.
If I can’t get this I’ll be wasting my money!!
Just be careful.
Is it every programme which you have problems with or only some. It is a known fact that some programmes/films are poorly recorded, including sound.
On the other hand, could it be YOU!
No, I’m not being silly. When I fist got my hearing aids I was surprised how much I had been missing.
Have you considered either of these options? You could spend a lot of money and still be disappointed.
I understand where you’re coming from because my better half has two hearing aids & is almost completely deaf in one ear.
As JBR says, please be careful.
If it helps, here is Amazon USA’s page with reviews for you to peruse.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B088X4TTVD/ref=emc_b_5_t
And here’s an Amazon UK page with reviews for an earlier model:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/ZVOX-AccuVoice-AV200-Soundbar-Technology/dp/B071WKGN4F
I hope that helps.
Thanks very much for the reviews Zaphod.
As with all things - some are good & some are bad.
With the months free money back trial I am tempted by the no name one but still waiting for my friends opinion on the Yamaha he bought yesterday.
Alternatively I’m waiting for someone on here to tell me their own soundbar is fantastically clear & they can hear every word.
Just to add - it is not my hearing. I can hear a clock tick in a quiet room.
Some programmes, I hear the words - others I can’t tell.
One example is this: I recorded ‘Call the midwives’ at Christmas. When we put it on to watch it, the words weren’t very clear & surprisingly there were no subtitles. We’re waiting for a sound bar before we can watch it.
I hear the news without subtitles & some drama’s but not many.
I’m glad to have helped.
As JBR has hinted at Carol, sometimes the sound quality of broadcast material isn’t good and that might be contributing to your difficulties.
The sound level even varies within the same channel sometimes, as we found when watching the more-popular shows on BBC1 when - strangely - the sound level and clarity decreases.
The bar you like the look of might well help for those circumstances but I suspect that the root of your problem lays with the variation of broadcast sound quality.
I wonder if you have tried the shows like your “Call The Midwives” via BBC’s iPlayer (if of course you have access to that) to see if the sound variance persists?
If you can try that, you might find that it helps.
I have to be honest and say that as a family we watch very, very little OverTheAir broadcast TV nowadays, far preferring streaming methods.
So it’s a problem we don’t have like we used to, but (for example) even my young son used to complain at having to turn the sound up when certain programmes were broadcast.
Whichever, I hope you find a solution that suits you.
I think you are completely correct, Zaphod.
I have often said that, despite the vast improvements in sound technology since the 1960s, when I watch an old black and white programme or film from that era, people’s speech is always crystal clear.
On the other hand, when watching modern productions I deplore the poor sound I often hear (even having a sound system).
I believe the problem is due to one of (or both) things:
Just to update this thread.
I ordered the ZVOX soundbar & the sound was brilliant. I was very pleased but then the sound started switching off every 20 minutes or so. Possibly to do with poor signals or the fact that my TV is about 10 years old.
Whatever the reason I found this too annoying so am going to send it back to Amazon tomorrow. They’ve sent me a free returns label so I’ve not lost anything and not had any hassle.
Back to square one now.
First have a read of this Carol…
That sounds very helpful. I wonder if she read it in time!
It would be nice to know. It looks as if that’s what the problem is …or was if it has already been sent back.
Thank you Mart. I haven’t sent it back yet. I will read your link later - I’m just going out now.
Thanks again. It would be good if the problem can be sorted. I can easily cancel my return. 
Fingers crossed.
I can’t thank you enough Mart. This is just the information I needed.
My daughter in law Paula set the sound bar up for me. I just texted her with your information & she’s keen to do it herself so she’s coming round in the morning to disable the auto standby for me.
I’ll let you know tomorrow.
Thanks again.
That’s good Carol. It’s nice that you can keep it since you are happy with the sound quality. The only drawback to disabling the auto-standby is needing to remember to put it on stand-by when the TV isn’t being used.
What lead is being used to connect it to the TV?
Edit:
I read in Amazon questions and answers that the soundbar will turn on with the TV remote control if it’s connected using an optical cable. If it’s not connected that way already and your TV has an optical socket, it would be worth getting an optical cable and connecting it.
I think it going off would depend on auto-standby being enabled.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/ask/questions/Tx3PTWQX0TIV0HR/ref=ask_dp_dpmw_al_hza
Thanks for your help Mart.
Paula has disabled the auto-standby so all should be well now.
It was a bit harder than we thought as my remote didn’t match the one in the link you sent me - all the buttons were in different place.
Anyway she found her way around it and all is well now.
Initially, after watching a recording from the television I thought it was good - but UNfortunately the sound isn’t as good when playing DVD’s!! I am going to mess around with the settings to see if I can improve the sound on DVD’s.
May have to return it yet.
That must be a bit disappointing. Is the DVD player built into the TV or is it a separate one?
I mentioned the optical lead. If not used already, that could be a better way of connecting the TV to the sound bar than using the jack input because it’s digital. You’d need to make sure the TV has an ‘optical out’ socket. It’s a lead that can come in useful for other things at some time or another even if it makes no difference to this. Optical leads aren’t very expensive and it might be worth trying all things before giving up.
Thanks Mart. The DVD player is a separate one.
Yes it might be better with an optical lead - Paula mentioned this when she was fixing it up.
However we’re already spent a few hours messing about with it & I’ve had enough. It has not done what it promised.
It has a ‘voice clarity’ button on 3 settings. I went through the settings 1-2-3 and it made no difference at all. They all sounded the same as each other. I think it is a gimmick!!
I’m taking it to the Herme’s shop this afternoon to be returned. At least it hasn’t cost me anything to return. Amazon are very good like that.
I’m not giving up on sound bars yet. I’ve found a local shop that sells them. I’m going to ask if they’ll deliver it & set it up for me. I don’t want to bother Paula again. She spent such a lot of time on it bless her…
I’ve got sound bars on the TVs around the house. A surround-sound system on the main one. It can take a while to set things up to the optimum. I generally prefer to connect using HDMI leads (is that how your DVD player connects?) but I have used an optical lead for a sound bar that doesn’t have and HDMI input.
A sound bar I have found good is made by JBL (not JBR :)). It has no subwoofer but the base is still good for a sound bar of that size.
Good sound is in the ear of the beholder and I hope you find a sound bar you can be pleased with.
