There are plenty of speakers designed to sit below your flat-panel TV, and usually they’re known as soundbars. The new Z-Base 550 from ZVOX was designed to literally sit below the TV—as in, you can place your LCD stand and all right on top of it.

Huh? Yup, the Z-Base 550 packs speakers, amplification, virtual surround technology and a powered subwoofer into a slim cabinet that can support flat panels mainly between 32 and 47 diagonal inches.

It’s pretty simple to give your TV audio a big boost—just plug in the Z-Base to AC power, and hook the single connecting cord to the TV and you’re set. You’ll be immersed in the virtual surround sound from ZVOX PhaseCue technology.

The Z-Base 550 will likely blend in with the entertainment decor, too, with scratch-resistant black vinyl finish that should nicely fit with your shiny new flat-panel TV.

Other features include:

• Five 2-inch full-range speakers
• One 5.25-inch subwoofer
• Auto on/off
• Remote control
• Two analog stereo (mixing) inputs
• 60 watts power
• Dimensions of 28 x 14.5 x 3.5 inches

It also runs on what the company says is an Energy Star-qualified power adapter, so you get better efficiency and long-term energy savings. A win-win situation, especially if you don’t want wires or large speakers cluttering up your entertainment room. The product started shipping last month for $499.

Arlen Schweiger - Managing editor of Electronic House Magazine

Arlen contributes product news items to electronichouse.com along with his role on the print publication. Got a tip? Send it along!