soundbars · Head-to-head
Sony HT-S100F vs ZVOX AV855
The short answer
ZVOX AV855 comes out ahead overall with 8.1/10 against 7.0/10 for the Sony HT-S100F. Sony HT-S100F is stronger on ease of setup & use for seniors and value. ZVOX AV855 is stronger on dialogue clarity, dialogue boost range & controls, overall sound quality and safety, energy & repairability. At current verified prices, the Sony HT-S100F costs about $251.99 less.
- Choose the Sony HT-S100F if: Shoppers who want clearer TV voices than built-in speakers for about $100, with HDMI-ARC simplicity.
- Choose the ZVOX AV855 if: Anyone who struggles to follow TV dialogue on a mid-size or large TV and wants one bar the TV remote controls, with the widest voice-boost range.
Scores by criterion
| Criterion | Sony HT-S100F | ZVOX AV855 |
|---|---|---|
| Dialogue clarity | 6.8Beats TV speakers, but there's no center channel (RTINGS). | 8.3Two independent reviews (TechRadar, Home Technology Review) praise the speech lift, but there is no lab test. |
| Dialogue boost range & controls | 4.5Single Voice toggle. | 8.820 levels plus Output Leveling, the widest range in the pool. ZVOX's FAQ text is inconsistent ('6 modes'), but its spec page says 10+10. |
| Ease of setup & use for seniors | 8.8HDMI ARC/CEC, simple remote, no app. | 8.5HDMI-ARC/CEC, a remote with large buttons, no app, and a 60-day trial. |
| Overall sound quality | 6.0Decent 2.0 with modest bass. | 6.5TechRadar calls it 'a bit boxy' with weak virtual surround. |
| Value | 8.8$98 with three testers behind it. | 7.5$349.99. The AV835 has the same DSP for $100 less, so this is fair rather than outstanding. |
| Safety, energy & repairability | 5.0Neutral: no parts or idle-power evidence found. | 7.5Replacement remotes, power supplies and certified-renewed units are sold. No recall found. |
Specifications
| Spec | Sony HT-S100F | ZVOX AV855 |
|---|---|---|
| Exact evaluated bar, subwoofer and surround configuration | HT-S100F bar only | — |
| Workflow type | Standalone budget bar | — |
| Dialogue feature | Voice mode | AccuVoice + SuperVoice |
| Exact US model and regional suffix | HT-S100F | — |
| Dialogue enhancement levels | 1 levels | 20 levels |
| Soundbar width | 902 mm | — |
| Dedicated center channel / speech driver | No | — |
| Soundbar height | 64 mm | — |
| Automatic volume leveling | — | Yes |
| Soundbar depth | 89 mm | — |
| Channel configuration | 2.0 | — |
| Meets editorial 800-mm width and 80-mm height filter | No | — |
| Dolby Atmos | No | No |
| Separate subwoofer included | No | No |
| Verified decoding and transport support | Dolby Digital, LPCM 2ch (retailer spec) | — |
| HDMI ARC/eARC | Yes | Yes |
| Full HDMI source inputs excluding ARC/eARC return port | 0 ports | — |
| Optical input | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth | Yes | No |
| ARC/eARC, optical, TV-specific and adapter requirements | HDMI ARC or optical | — |
| Width | 35.5 in | 33.7 in |
| Physical remote, TV remote, account and app requirements | Included remote; TV remote via HDMI-CEC; no app | — |
| Listing, indexed listing, cart, delivery or conflicting-render status | Amazon new offer $98 from third-party seller Electronic Express (search snippet) | — |
Sony HT-S100F
Pros
- Very low price
- HDMI ARC/CEC for TV-remote control
- One-touch Voice mode
- Bluetooth and optical inputs
- Backed by several independent testers
Cons
- No center channel
- Single voice toggle, no levels
- Older 2018 design
- An owner reports Bluetooth lag with video
A fair budget upgrade. For stronger hearing needs, spend more on one of the ZVOX bars.
Full Sony HT-S100F review →ZVOX AV855
Pros
- 20 voice-boost levels (10 AccuVoice plus 10 SuperVoice)
- HDMI-ARC lets the TV remote control power and volume
- Output Leveling evens out loud commercials
- Large-button remote
- Replacement remotes and renewed units available, with a 60-day home trial
Cons
- Music can sound somewhat boxy
- No Bluetooth or Wi-Fi streaming
- No Dolby Atmos or DTS:X
- Some owners found the boost less dramatic than expected
The best fit for most viewers who want clearer speech without learning a new system. It trades music quality for dialogue tools, and that is the right trade for this guide.
Full ZVOX AV855 review →Both products are part of our guide The Best Soundbars for Dialogue Clarity and Seniors of 2026, where you can see every pick, how we score and current prices from each retailer.