Skip to main content

Zvox’s latest dialogue-clarifying ANC headphones are just $70

Zvox has announced its latest active noise canceling (ANC) wireless headphones, the $70 AV52, which offer better reduction of outside sounds versus the earlier AV50 model, according to the company. The headphones come in black, white, blue, and rose and are available starting December 21 at Zvox.com.

The AV52 include Zvox’s AccuVoice technology, which it has adapted from hearing aids. It’s the same dialogue-enhancing tech that Zvox used on its first headphones, the AV50, and its many TV speakers. Zvox’s algorithms attempt to identify speech and vocals so that they can be emphasized over the background sounds, making them easier to hear.

Zvox AV52 ANC Headphones.
Zvox

With support for Qualcomm’s aptX Bluetooth codec, latency should be kept at an acceptable 3 milliseconds to 6 milliseconds when using the AV52 with a compatible smartphone or Bluetooth transmitter.

Recommended Videos

The AV52’s design mimics that of the Sony WH-1000XM4, with folding hinges and a well-padded headband. The two products also offer the same light weight — just over half a pound. But instead of touch controls, the AV52 uses physical buttons, like the Bose QC 45 ANC headphones.

Zvox AV52 ANC Headphones.
Zvox

The AV52 offers three key improvements over the AV50, according to Zvox: Better noise cancellation and call quality, plus longer battery life. The AV52 use a hybrid ANC system as compared to the single-mic system employed by the AV50, which Zvox says should give the AV52 about 15% better performance when reducing ambient noise.

The onboard voice mic is now able to cancel out most non-voice sounds so that your callers will be better able to hear your voice, and not distracting background sounds. Finally, battery life has been substantially increased. The AV52 can get a claimed 24 hours of playtime with ANC enabled — much better than the 15 hours offered by the AV50.

Included in the box is a zippered carrying case, a USB-C charging cable, an an analog cable for those times when you need to plug in instead of going wireless.

We won’t know how the AV52 compare to other ANC headphones until we try them, but at $70, even if they can’t quite compete with the likes of Sony or Bose, they could still be an excellent set of affordable noise-canceling cans.

Simon Cohen
Contributing Editor, A/V
Simon Cohen is a contributing editor to Digital Trends' Audio/Video section, where he obsesses over the latest wireless…
Marshall’s latest headphones get 100 hours of battery life and wireless charging
Marshall Major V headphones.

Marshall has updated its popular Major on-ear wireless headphones and Minor wireless earbuds with new features, while keeping the same authentic Marshall amplifier styling that has earned the brand a lot of customers. The Marshall Major V ($149) and Marshall Minor IV ($129) are available for pre-order starting April 16 at marshall.com and will begin shipping on April 23.

The Marshall Major V (pictured above) are the company's latest generation of on-ear wireless headphones. On the outside, there's almost no way to distinguish them from their predecessors, except perhaps for a slightly deeper black color.

Read more
Mojawa’s latest headphones provide real-time fitness feedback using AI and haptics
Mojawa HaptiFit Terra bone conduction headphones.

Mojawa's HaptiFit Terra bone conduction headphones offer a new take on fitness tracking by combining music with AI-driven real-time workout guidance and haptic feedback. The new device, aimed at runners, cyclists, and swimmers, was launched at CES 2024 but can be preordered now for $200. When it becomes more widely available in March 2024, Mojawa plans to increase the price to $300.

The HaptiFit Terra's design will look instantly familiar to anyone who has worn bone-conduction headphones. The neckband shape and over-the-ear hooks are both typical of the category. It has a claimed IP68 rating makes them fully dust- and waterproof.

Read more
JLab steps closer to Sony and Bose with JBuds Lux ANC headphones
Woman wearing JLab JBuds Lux.

Only days ahead of the official start of CES 2024, JLab has given us a look at its continuing move into higher-performance audio with the $80 JBuds Lux ANC Wireless Headphones. They can be preordered starting January 3 in four different colors: white, graphite, sage, and mauve, with shipping expected to start as soon as late February.

JLab is also debuting its latest budget-priced noise-canceling wireless earbuds, the $60 JBuds ANC 3 True Wireless Earbuds, available in black, starting January 3.

Read more