soundbars · Head-to-head
Samsung HW-S60D vs ZVOX AV157
The short answer
Samsung HW-S60D comes out ahead overall with 7.5/10 against 7.0/10 for the ZVOX AV157. Samsung HW-S60D is stronger on dialogue clarity, ease of setup & use for seniors, overall sound quality and value. ZVOX AV157 is stronger on dialogue boost range & controls and safety, energy & repairability.
- Choose the Samsung HW-S60D if: Buyers who want clear dialogue, full movie sound and one-cable HDMI-CEC setup from a single compact bar, especially Samsung TV owners.
- Choose the ZVOX AV157 if: Viewers with hearing loss whose main goal is understanding speech, with the finest-grained voice boost available.
Scores by criterion
| Criterion | Samsung HW-S60D | ZVOX AV157 |
|---|---|---|
| Dialogue clarity | 8.2Discrete center channel; RTINGS 'great for dialogue' snippet, offset by Tom's Guide's muffled-dialogue note. | 7.5Older TechHive praise, offset by TechRadar's 'unnatural' remark. |
| Dialogue boost range & controls | 5.5Voice Enhance is on/off only; Active Voice Amplifier needs a compatible Samsung TV (Tom's Guide). | 8.512 levels plus Output Leveling. |
| Ease of setup & use for seniors | 8.0One HDMI ARC cable, TV-remote control via CEC, optional app, 26-inch bar with no subwoofer. | 6.5Single cable, but a separate remote is required. |
| Overall sound quality | 8.0Balanced 5.0 Atmos all-in-one; lacks low bass (RTINGS). | 4.5Single-purpose small speaker. |
| Value | 7.5$277.99 sold by Amazon against a $399.99 list price, with a thin margin under the cap. | 6.5$199.99, close to the HDMI-equipped AV835. |
| Safety, energy & repairability | 6.0No recalls found; standard warranty; no verified standby figure. | 8.0Replacement power supply and remotes, renewed units and a 60-day trial. |
Specifications
| Spec | Samsung HW-S60D | ZVOX AV157 |
|---|---|---|
| Exact evaluated bar, subwoofer and surround configuration | HW-S60D bar only | Single AccuVoice AV157 speaker bar; no subwoofer or surrounds |
| Workflow type | All-in-one smart bar | Standalone single-box TV speaker |
| Dialogue feature | Active Voice Amplifier + Voice Enhance; discrete center channel | AccuVoice + SuperVoice |
| Exact US model and regional suffix | HW-S60D/ZA | AV157 |
| Dialogue enhancement levels | — | 12 levels |
| Soundbar width | 668 mm | 432 mm |
| Dedicated center channel / speech driver | Yes | No |
| Soundbar height | 61 mm | 86 mm |
| Automatic volume leveling | — | Yes |
| Soundbar depth | 104 mm | 74 mm |
| Channel configuration | 5.0 | — |
| Meets editorial 800-mm width and 80-mm height filter | Yes | No |
| Dolby Atmos | Yes | No |
| Separate subwoofer included | No | No |
| HDMI ARC/eARC | Yes | No |
| Full HDMI source inputs excluding ARC/eARC return port | 0 ports | 0 ports |
| Optical input | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth | Yes | No |
| Width | 26.3 in | 17 in |
| Included calibration, device requirements and paid upgrades | SpaceFit Sound Pro room calibration built in | — |
| Physical remote, TV remote, account and app requirements | — | Included remote; no app; mode switch by long press (Digital Trends) |
| Compatible named optional subwoofer and surround configuration | Samsung SWA-W510 subwoofer | — |
| Observed direct manufacturer selling price | — | 199.99 USD |
| Current verified retailer price for evaluated configuration | 279.99 USD | — |
| Verified manufacturer list price, not assumed from a crossed-out reference | 399.99 USD | 249.99 USD |
| Listing, indexed listing, cart, delivery or conflicting-render status | Best Buy snapshots $279.99-$319; Walmart $297.99 (search snippets) | zvox.com $199.99 with 60-day trial; Amazon $199.99 from third-party seller (live) |
| Manufacturer direct home-trial period | — | 60 days |
Samsung HW-S60D
Pros
- Discrete center channel for speech
- Dolby Atmos in a 26-inch single bar
- One-cable HDMI ARC setup with CEC
- Room calibration built in
- No subwoofer needed
Cons
- Priced near the $300 cap, and the list price is higher
- Active Voice Amplifier needs a compatible Samsung TV
- Limited dialogue controls
- Bass is light without the optional subwoofer
The best overall pick because it combines a center channel, easy setup and the best general sound here. Buy the HW-S60D/ZA listing, not a bundle, and it is at its best with a Samsung TV.
Full Samsung HW-S60D review →ZVOX AV157
Pros
- Works with optical or 3.5mm TVs
- 12 voice-boost levels
- Output Leveling for ads
- Replacement power supplies, remotes and renewed units sold
- Compact size
Cons
- No HDMI, so the TV remote cannot control it
- Voices can sound unnatural at high boost
- Weak for music and movies
- Needs a second remote
A narrow but useful product. It is best for older TVs, where it can make a real difference to speech.
Full ZVOX AV157 review →Both products are part of our guide The Best Soundbars Under $300 of 2026, where you can see every pick, how we score and current prices from each retailer.