My parents have a Sharp TV they bought in the 1980s. It still works. And since they both grew up during the Great Depression, their common sense has guided them to keep it. Good for them...for more reasons than one. The monaural speaker system built into that out-of-date TV sounds pretty decent. It's not "high fidelity," but it reproduces sound with reasonable accuracy. And most important, it delivers acceptable vocal clarity. They can understand what newscasters say.

That is more than can be said about many modern flat-panel TVs. The sound systems built into many of these technological wonders are just plain awful. In some cases, you really can't understand what the announcer is saying, unless you "crank it up." Here's why:

1. There's no room in there.  As TV panels get thinner and thinner, there's less room of decent-quality speakers, speaker-magnet, and "speaker cabinet space." This is important. Speakers are not digital. Smaller is NOT better. And speakers in most flat-panel TVs are just too small.

2. Nobody ever walked into Best Buy and declared, "I want to buy the TV with the best sound system." TV makers aren't dumb -- and they're under tremendous pressure to bring prices down. So if they eliminate an expensive feature like a good sound system, the cost of the TV can come way down -- and nobody complains.

3. People presume TVs are like cars. Everybody knows that when you buy a good car from a well-known maker, it comes with a good sound system. Consumers think the same thing happens with TVs. "Hey, it's a S*n*...the speakers are probably pretty good." But TVs are NOT like cars. Good ones do have bad sound systems.

4. The human mind can learn to love anything.  My office is also a testing ground from new speaker systems. I'm always switching out one and putting in another. So sometimes I end up with NO sound system attached, and I have to watch TV while listening to the built-in speakers. For the first five minutes, I suffer -- thinking, "How can anyone listen to these awful speakers." Then I get used to them and think, "these aren't so bad after all." The fact is that, the more you listen to something, the more you get used to it. So people get their new TVs home and quickly adjust to sound quality on par with a 1963 transistor radio.

So what will happen to change all this? Probably nothing. TVs will keep looking better and better, and sounding worse and worse.

Bad for consumers. Good for ZVOX!

- Tom Hannaher

Let's face it... the TVs on the market these days are just AMAZING! Digital, high definition pictures that make you feel like you're right in the action- they look great and are pretty affordable too. Everything you could want in a TV. Well, everything except great sound. That's where we come in. Our ZVOX systems bring room-filling sound to your TV without filling your room with speakers. Don't settle for a great picture with lousy sound. No matter what size your TV or room is, we've got a ZVOX that's right for you.

Have a TV in your kitchen, but you can't hear it over the dishwasher? Try our ZVOX Mini to boost the sound... you won't miss a syllable! Its small size makes it perfect for countertop TVs. You will be amazed at the sound that comes out of this tiny speaker. Music is rich and clear, with none of the tinny sound that most small systems produce. The Mini is a great on the go speaker system as well. Pack it up with the optional carry bag and rechargeable battery and any audio source becomes mobile! It turns laptops and MP3 players into go-anywhere jukeboxes. Bring this to your next barbeque and you will be the life of the party!

Who wants to worry about speakers in their bedroom? Usually we just suffer with the speakers that come built into the TV. Now you don't have to. Our ZVOX Mini, 315 or even the 325 would be perfect! Your late night favorites will sound so good, you'll never watch them on your living room TV again! (Unless of course you have a ZVOX there too...)

Need bone-rattling sound for your man (or woman) cave? Our 415 or 425 will absolutely blow you away. Inside the 415's slim cabinet are three 3.25" main speakers, a 4" subwoofer, a 4" passive radiator, an amplifier and our exclusive PhaseCue virtual surround sound system. And the 425? One cabinet, five speakers, two powered subwoofers, a powerful 133-watt amplifier and our proprietary PhaseCue virtual surround sound system - what's not to love there? Want more even more boom? Both the 415 and the 425 have an optional subwoofer output on the back for an additional subwoofer.

No matter the room in the house or the size of the set, we've got a ZVOX system that will work. If you aren't sure which one is best for your application, shoot us an email at info@zvoxaudio.com or give us a call (866-367-9869) and we'll be happy to advise you.