ZVOX Audio 315

The 315 is only 17” wide by 15” deep by 4.8” high. It is the same width as a standard DVD player or cable box – so it will easily fit on a shelf above or below your TV. Everything is inside this compact cabinet – speakers, amplifier, virtual surround circuitry and powered subwoofer.

The 315 requires only one connecting cord. Hook it up to the analog audio output jacks on your TV – or the TV’s headphone jack – and you’re virtually done. You can place the 315 above or below your TV. Or you can set it to the right or left of the TV set. Adjust the subwoofer level control so that bass isn’t too strong or too weak -- then sit back and enjoy. Plus the 315 works well with iPods, PCs, satellite radios, wireless audio systems, portable CD players, game consoles – anything with audio output jacks or a headphone jack.

If you are using the 315 with a TV, it’s important that the TV has audio output jacks that can be set to “variable” (check your on-screen menu under “Audio” to see if you have this option). If it does, you can use your TV’s remote to control the 315’s sound. If not, the only volume control is located on the back panel of the 315 – and is not convenient for day-to-day use. If your TV does not have variable audio output, we suggest you consider our ZVOX 325 or ZVOX Mini – both of which come with a remote control.

Our auto-on/auto-off circuit will turn the unit on about one second after you turn on your TV. Approximately three minutes after you turn off the TV, the ZVOX will go into “idle” mode. It couldn’t be simpler.

The 315 uses ZVOX’s proprietary PhaseCue virtual surround system to give you rich, three-dimensional sound with movies or music. With music, PhaseCue creates a very wide soundstage – it literally sounds like you are listening to speakers eight feet apart from each other. When listening to a good movie, the soundtrack will envelope you – putting you in the middle of the action. While no virtual surround system – including ours – will give you the surround effects of a good 5.1 system, the ZVOX 315 does a remarkable job. Sound & Vision magazine says our PhaseCue system “mixes different combinations of the left- and right-channel signals in and out of phase and sends them to the various drivers to create an impressive spread of sound, far larger than the box itself…remarkably ingenious,”

Most audio systems in our price category use very cheap speakers in plastic cabinets. But at ZVOX we’re “old school” about things like this. We use nothing but high quality speaker drivers, carefully designed by ZVOX engineers and manufactured to our specification. The 315 uses long-excursion main drivers that employ solid metal phase plugs for improved dispersion. All speaker magnets are powerful Neodymium models that are magnetically shielded. The cabinet is MDF (medium density fiberboard), the same material uses in most high-end loudspeakers.

In the past three years, we know of no other audio systems that have received as many rave reviews as ZVOX. Here’s a short list of review excerpts for the ZVOX 315:

“What's not to like about a small box not much larger than a typical center speaker that turns the audio from an iPod or DVD player into room-filling stereo sound and costs less than a dozen DVDs? The ZVOX 315 … mixes different combinations of the left- and right-channel signals in and out of phase and sends them to the various drivers to create an impressive spread of sound, far larger than the box itself. It's a remarkably ingenious, affordable route to satisfying sound. . Good simple sound is no longer an oxymoron. It’s a bargain to boot” - Sound & Vision Reviewer’s Choice Award Winner

“ZVOX’s 315 is a genuine audiophile-quality sound system in a single box. Don’t let its size fool you…Connected to a TV, DVD player, iPod, computer, or video game system, this bland-looking $199 wonder will amaze you with its big, full, dynamic sound. It goes remarkably deep, and plays loud without strain. And turn up the PhaseCue and the sound appears to be coming from way outside the box. The perfect addition to a small bedroom system – or couple it with an iPod for a compact dorm-room system. – Stereophile Ultimate AV

“The 315 is an audiophile-quality mini-audio system. Its synthesized surround-sound feature works really well if you’re sitting directly in front of it…For $199, the compact ZVOX 315 makes a great musical traveling companion….just add iPOD.” – Michael Fremer, Stereophile, January 2005

“Beautifully complex sound...easy to set-up and install…I was wowed by the room-filling sound...a steal.” -PC World, June 2004

“The iPod will sound its best when connected to the ZVOX 315, a single-box audio powerhouse combining three speakers and a hefty subwoofer to produce room-filling, well-rounded sound.” -Men’s Journal, October 2004

“A really innovative product. When you close your eyes it sounds like you’re enveloped in surround sound. It blows away the sound built into your TV.” -Corey Greenberg, NBC’s Today Show

“Great sound...spacious audio from one compact unit...makes more sense than a home theater in a box.” -PC Magazine

“This one-box wonder sounds a lot better than some home theaters. It’s also more dynamic than any PC speaker system I’ve heard.” -Chicago Tribune

“It didn’t take very long to realize the 315 was far ahead of competitors such as the Soundmatters Mainstage all-in-one speaker ($299). The DVD’s ominous atmospheres were well served by the 315’s room-filling bass; it sounds like a much larger set of speakers. Adjusting its Phase Cue knob spreads the faux surround sound forward and out, so we weren’t aware of the speakers’ close left to right proximity. Stereo imaging doesn’t overtly betray its trim dimensions, and it surely sounds richer and more substantial than Bose’s iPod-only SoundDock while listening to music. As one-box solutions go, the Zvox 315 is the go-to budget champ.” -Steve Guttenberg, CNET

“Impressive sound without the clutter.” -TV Guide

“We recommend the ZVOX 315 Sound Console. This system delivers awesome sound without having to pay surround sound prices.” - Spike TV

“The 315 is just dang good. As a replacement for the internal speakers contained within my TV, the ZVOX 315 is what I'd prefer to listen to day in and day out…one of the most genuinely clever products I’ve seen or heard in some time.” -Soundstage.com

"A definite cut above the ordinary...It took me less than two minutes to hook up the sound console…Explosions were deliciously juicy, with enough boom to give the entire room a little shake...the three speakers and sub provide an experience that virtually no onboard TV audio can match. For the setup to be any less complicated, the Sound Console would have to plug itself in. I would rate the experience as excellent...I'm hard-pressed to think of a better single-box solution." -Home Theater Magazine

“The sound was surprisingly good--clear and bright, with plenty of bass…a hundred times better than what I hear from my TV's speakers.” -Steve Bass, PC World

“The affordable ZVOX simulates big stereo sound by squeezing three speakers, a sub and an amp into one package.” - FHM Magazine

“Hookup and operation could not be much simpler. Anyone who cannot install the ZVOX themselves should not be allowed to light matches without supervision. The sound that emerges from this little box is rather amazing. Despite its size, it produces the most spacious, enveloping sound of any all-in-one home theater system we have heard. And the basic quality of the sound is shockingly good. Dialogue in particular, sounds natural.” - Home Entertainment Magazine

”If you’re tired of fishing behind the entertainment center for the right plug, maybe it’s time to down-size you’re A/V setup and nab something that’s easier to maintain. The 315’s sound quality easily rivals that found in many expensive 5.1 bundles, yet the unit costs under $200 and is a snap to get up and running.” - Electronic Gaming Monthly

• Dimensions; 17”w x 15”d x 4.7”h
• Weight: Without external power supply: 10 pounds. With external power supply: 13 pounts. With box and packing: 16 pounds.
• Amplifier: The 315 uses a 40-watt amplifier, but its external power supply is limited to 24.3 watts.
• Inputs: Two rear “mixing” inputs (if two devices are connected and playing, you will hear both devices): stereo 3.5mm “mini jack” inputs.
• Frequency range: 63 Hz – 20 kHz.
• Virtual surround sound: The 315 uses ZVOX’s proprietary PhaseCue virtual surround sound system. PhaseCue, as its name implies, manipulates the phase of the separate channels to “fool the ear” into believing that sound is coming from a variety of sources throughout the room. The benefits of PhaseCue vary greatly based on program material. Live music and well-recorded modern movie soundtracks will deliver rich, three-dimensional sound – pulling the sound out from the speakers and into the room, literally surrounding the listener. Sitcoms, news broadcasts and soundtracks from older movies often have very little in the way of three-dimensional sound. Note: All virtual surround systems – including the PhaseCue system – are limited in their effects when compared to a good 5.1 system. That being said, PhaseCue is capable of generating a wonderful and engaging virtual surround experience.
• The 315 is bi-amplified, using a specially designed amplifier that includes electronic contouring for superb frequency response.
• The 315's 5.25" subwoofer uses a high-mass long-throw design and incorporates a bandpass cabinet designed using proprietary software.
• The 315's three 3.25" main speaker drivers use ferrofluid and neodymium magnets to create remarkably loud, remarkably clear sound.
• The system is magnetically shielded so it can be used near a TV or monitor.
• Unlike most systems in its price range, the 315 uses an MDF (medium density fiberboard) wood cabinet - instead of plastic. MDF is the preferred construction material for high-performance speaker systems.
• The 315 uses the ZVOX Infinite Compliance system - which connects the outer two main speakers with an acoustic tube. This system helps create big sound from a small cabinet.
• A subwoofer output jack on the rear allows owners to connect a separate powered subwoofer (optional).
• Auto-on/auto-off circuit senses sound from source (TV, iPod, PC) and turns on the 325 two seconds later. Three minutes after it has received no signal, it automatically shuts the unit off.
• Simple, single-cord connecting system uses a mini stereo jack input on rear panel.
• Two connecting cords are included: one with a stereo mini jack, one with RCA jacks.
• The ZVOX 315 is backed by a one year limited parts and labor warranty. For services issues, email mailto: info@zvoxaudio.com.

• One stereo mini to stereo mini connecting cable
• One stereo mini to stereo RCA connecting cable
• Power cord with external power "brick"
• One-sheet Instruction manual