With the popularity of wall mounted flat panel displays, the Boston Acoustics TVee Model Two offers an upgrade to the sub-standard sound of most displays with an extremely small footprint, easy installation and no wires to run.

The TVee Model Two is a sound enhancement system designed to enhance or improve the sound of an existing display, while offering simulated surround sound without the need for a home theater receiver or rear speakers. The soundbar contains four 2.5-inch drivers and two 0.5-inch tweeters. The bass speaker contains a six-inch woofer. The drivers are similar to those found on most computer type desktop speaker systems. The soundbar can be placed above or below the display and has keyholes for easy wall mounting.

We found setting up the TVee sound bar to be a snap, and installation will likely be just as easy for even the most technically-challenged assembler. The soundbar itself has two RCA inputs in the back that can be connected to the output of either a display, cable or satellite receiver. Most newer flat panel televisions include stereo audio outputs which means your TV can then receive input from your other devices and output audio to the TVee Model Two. The wireless bass speaker can be placed anywhere in the room, and the unit offers four channels to choose from if interference becomes an issue (we experienced none in our testing). There is also a trim feature on the inputs that allows for the output differences found on displays. We thought this was a very useful feature. The soundbar also goes into standby after about fifteen minutes of not detecting an incoming signal.

We found the sound quality to be better than most displays alone, but noticed the system would distort quickly when pushed to louder levels. This is not uncommon on speaker systems of this type and simply means that it is intended for somewhat smaller rooms. The soundstage was nice and wide and dialogue was clear when kept to moderate levels. The downfiring subwoofer provided plenty of low end, but was a tad "boomy" since it needed to extend up into the lower range of the sound bar (about 150 hertz by our ears).

When a dedicated home theater receiver and speakers is not an option or in the budget, the Boston Acoustics TVee Model Two is a good choice to improve the sound from any display. It is a little costly, but not out of line with the competition. Compared to many other manufacturers, Boston's sound bar solution is actually one of the more affordable units on the market--and one of the only ones we're aware of with a wireless bass speaker. With its ease of setup and the lack of wires, it could be the perfect option for the aesthetically-minded.

Pros: Easy setup, wireless subwoofer, small footprint
Cons: Not suited for large rooms, little pricey

Warranty
1 year, electrical; 5 years, mechanical