Sound Advice
Week 13, 2020
Q. I need a 55-inch TV for my kitchen remodeling project. I wanted a Samsung Q60 but unfortunately they are sold out. Any recommendations? I would like to stick with Samsung as I have an all-Samsung home.
-J.M., Upper St. Clair, PA
A. Since you are remodeling I would check out Samsung’s The Frame Customizable Art TV. It has the guts of a Q60, but is designed to look like an ordinary picture frame hanging on the wall. When you are not using it as a television it displays artwork and photographs you upload yourself or buy from Samsung’s Art Store.
I can write about it at length, but this is a case where the picture is truly worth 1,000 words as it must be seen to be appreciated. The Frame does an extremely convincing job of duplicating the look of matted artwork or photographs, and Samsung’s One Connect Box, Invisible Connection and No-Gap Wall Mount (included) complete the illusion as there are no unsightly wires running to the television. Different wood and metal frame surrounds are available to match The Frame to your room decor.
The Frame does cost somewhat more than a conventional television of comparable picture quality, but high quality framed artwork and photographs can easily cost as much as this television in comparable sizes. You can watch TV on the Frame, but you can’t watch TV on a framed print. samsung.com
Two weeks and two great deals: Last week I began the column by telling readers about an exceptional deal on some highly desirable, high-end Bluetooth speakers. In a world where we are all searching for some good news, I have yet another such bargain to share with everyone.
ZVOX is one of the most popular companies I write about, and I know countless readers have gotten great satisfaction from their products. Want an affordable, yet high-quality sound bar that provides theater-like sound as well as the best dialogue enhancement in the industry? ZVOX has one for you. Affordable hearing aids with advanced features and excellent support? They have that too. How about a small speaker that makes television dialogue much easier to understand? ZVOX created and pretty much owns that category. Though it is a relatively new category for them, one of my favorite products in their lineup is their AccuVoice AV50 noise-cancelling headphones, which sell for $149.99.
In my original review I praised the AV50s as the best headphones for flying because of their combination of active noise cancellation and AccuVoice dialogue enhancement, which makes them ideal for watching in-flight entertainment. They have also found many fans among older listeners because they just plain make everything easier to hear. While you may find other $150 headphones with better fidelity for music, for watching television and movies the AV50 headphones are standouts, especially in a noisy environment.
ZVOX just announced a “Super Deal” on the AV50 headphones. Through Mother’s Day, May 10 they are 53% off, making them only $69.99. That is a far cry from $149.99, and exceptional for any high quality headphones with active noise cancellation. They even come with a durable case.
The top-of-the-line ZVOX AV203 AccuVoice Television Speaker also has a “Super Deal” promotion, selling for $199.99, $70 off MSRP. With six levels of dialogue enhancement, the AV203 will make voices much easier to understand, adding to your television watching experience and perhaps eliminating some frustration, as well.
Free shipping and lifetime support is included. The deals are available only on zvox.com.