The Price: $550

The Verdict: Almost soooo good. While soundbars are ever more popular, in many cases, they fit awkwardly in front of your television. I fit a 40" LCD on the ZVOX box comfortably. The ZVOX feels very stable—probably more solid than my entertainment center. So that part works.

As for the sounds itself—also excellent. I simply don't have the equipment available to compare it to other $550 audio systems (and really, there's no perfect analog product). But I will say that highs, mids and lows were all crisply represented across a variety of genres. The bass, especially, made me more than happy to forgo an extra standalone subwoofer (which the system supports should you need it). And I easily filled my tiny apartment with sound.

The cabinet does vibrate a bit, though it's very quite unless you crank the bass up to max. The only reason I'd be wary is that the shaking might damage a TV over time...but my immediate, visceral response is that things are fine.

Where the cabinet falls short to me is its inputs. It supports two sources of stereo RCA plugs. And while it offers some virtual surround tech along with the option to mix the two sources, it's just not going to work for many (or most) general home theater purposes without an optical input. Even if the ZVOX only technically plays back 2.1 channel sound, it's still a vital connectivity option.
Also, while I appreciate the minimal design, the tiny remote coupled with a single LED light on the system to signal power/remote commands, it's tough to know where your levels are (Is treble maxed? How much louder can I crank this?).

So given the omission of optical inputs and a limited UI, the ZVOX 550 is not quite the universal home theater product that it could be. But if you want an excellent one-cabinet audio system that can hold your giant LCD, then it may be worth the few inconveniences. [ZVOX]

Update: ZVOX has responded with this note:

I hope you don't mind, but I'd like to address the "lack of multiple/digital inputs" issue that many editors comment on regarding the Z-Base 550. I feel the need to share some insight on our design decision-making process at ZVOX:

Our primary aim is to combine great sound with simplicity. The typical TV viewer, in our opinion, is very comfortable using their TV set as a switching/control center. That's what they've done for years — plug everything into the TV, and use the TV remote to switch back and forth. It's intuitive and really simple. And modern TVs have loads of inputs of all kinds. At ZVOX, we say "use 'em!" I can connect my DVD player, Fios box and my kid's Playstation 3 to my Panasonic LCD TV, then run the analog audio out from the TV to the ZVOX. The fact that the digital-to-analog conversion is taking place in the TV, rather than in the ZVOX system six inches away, doesn't seem to make any audible difference. The system sounds great. It has all the switching I need. And it's simple to use.

If we had included 3-4 digital inputs and switching functionality, our costs would go up (Micronas boards, HDMI costs, and last-but-not-least...Dolby royalties — which for smaller manufacturers are quite substantial) and, more importantly, the switching process becomes non-intuitive. A simple example (which presumes I don't have a Harmony or other smart, macro-programmed remote): I'm watching cable and want switch to DVD. If the DVD's video is going to the TV, and it's digital audio signal is going directly to the ZVOX, I need to switch the video with my TV remote and the audio with my ZVOX remote. If I (or my wife) forget, then we end up watching DVD video while listening the cable box audio. (My wife HATES when this happens!!)

We could get around this by adding a bunch of HDMI inputs and outputs — as well as a front panel display (like the Yamaha YSP-4000), but frankly, the ZVOX 425 might then sell for the same $1400 as the Yamaha. I'd rather keep our price point relatively low, while still being able to build cabinets of real wood and use top-notch drivers and amplifiers.

Enjoy the holidays!

Tom Hannaher, ZVOX

While only offering 2.1 channel sound, the system does feature 32W of SRS-XT virtual surround, and each of the two speakers can be detached from the bar base and angled/positioned as you see fit.

Compatible with both PCs and Macs, the speakers can connect via USB or 3.5mm jacks, but USB users will benefit from the system's built-in 3-jack USB hub. Not available until June, the iSP200 will run $100 if you're still excited amidst the summer heat.

Active surround sound: Plug and play, no external amp needed
Philips Ambisound ($1,000) - You get a lot for your money with this one. Not only is it an active surround system, but it comes with an iPod dock and has a built-in DVD player.

Yamaha YSP series ($900 to $1,800) - Real deal audio projectors rely on reflection against back walls and a particular sweet spot, but often do very well to convey the 3D sound feel. The new flagship does video upscaling via HDMI and can handle iPods and XM radio.

Yamaha YAS-70 ($600) - This is very promising, for the money. It's meant specifically for smaller rooms, but promises the same surround as its siblings. And like the YSPs, it also requires a separate subwoofer.

SoundMatters SlimStage (Still "Under $1,000") - A powered sound-bar billed as slim yet so powerful and rich in frequency range, it doesn't even need a separate subwoofer. Too bad it hasn't shipped yet. When it does, it will succeed the $429 MainStage HD.

Denon DHT-FS3 Active Surround Sound System ($1,200) - 5-channel built-in amplifier for surround, plus a powered 50-watt subwoofer. (Three digital inputs, one analog one.)

Passive surround sound: Needs a little juice
Polk SurroundBar50 ($1,100) and SurroundBar ($950) - Delivers true five-channel sound, but does it the old fashioned way: It requires a 5.1 amplifier, like an A/V receiver or a home theater in a box. Also, you still need to supply a subwoofer.

Stereo sound bars: Not true surround, but you can fool some people some time
Boston Acoustics TVee Model Two ($400) - Today's Boston Acoustics entrant promises just 2.1, with a wireless "woofer" for middle to low-end fillout.

ZVOX ($200 to $600) - A bit chunky and stereo all the way, this all-in-one speakerbox has a cult following because of how much it eerily mimics surround sound with nothing more than stereo source. Great for people who just don't care about things creeping up from the rear.

A few of you audiophile folks might be wondering where some of your favorite sound bars are, like the Paradigm 3-in-1, the Mirage Uni-Theater or the Atlantic FS-5000 Flat Screen Speaker. These are all pretty awesome speaker bars, but they don't fulfill the specific goal of the others: they don't keep you from installing surround speakers behind your couch. Anyone who buys one of these and not use it as a complete surround system (in some cases, by buying a second to mount in the rear) is just dumb, or at least should have probably stuck with that tasty ZVOX.

Well, are they the end of the world? I don't think so. As you can see, there are just too many different types at work here, some are bound to be good, others not so much. The most important takeaway for all of us, including that stuffy editor, is that in the coming year there will only be more, not less, of these. So it's good to know what we're in for.