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The Roku Streambar is ideal for users who value simplicity and good sound over everything at a pocket-friendly price. It has good sound, a wide soundstage, and a platform that has access to popular streaming services for added convenience.
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Table of Contents
Product Snapshot
Overview
First released in late 2020, the Roku Streambar is an entry-level soundbar that’s great for tight spaces. Despite its lack of a subwoofer and missing support for Dolby Atmos, the soundbar’s soundstage is wide enough for owners to generally determine where sounds are coming from.
The best speakers have a wide enough soundstage for users to accurately perceive the sound as coming from all around them.
The Roku Streambar doesn’t have a subwoofer, so movie lovers will miss out on the thump that bass-heavy sound systems tend to deliver. Like many of the best soundbars, it has excellent wireless connectivity through Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, Chromecast, and Apple AirPlay.
Its physical inputs,= include one Optical Audio In and one HDMI ARC port. The LG Eclair QP5 fares better in this regard, so feel free to check it out in our LG Eclair QP5 review.
Consensus
our Verdict
The 2.0-channel Roku Smart Soundbar is compact, but it offers well-balanced sound quality, with clearly reproduced vocals and detailed instrumentals.
The soundbar also has exceptional wireless connectivity through Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and Apple AirPlay. Sound customization is limited to four EQ presets, but its soundstage is good since individual sounds can be perceived as coming from exact locations.
The soundbar also has low latency, with a tested 98ms and 108ms for ARC or Optical connections, keeping audio-visuals in sync.
There’s no serious bass emphasis in its bass and treble, but its inputs are fair, with one Optical Audio In port, one HDMI ARC port, and one USB port. Its standout feature is the included media streamer, which hosts Netflix, Hulu, and other streaming platforms.
ReasonS to Buy
Well-balanced sound output
This soundbar is great for watching TV shows and listening to dialogue-focused content since its got accurate vocal reproduction and its instrumentals are also very clear. However, there’s no bass emphasis in its sound output.
Great vocal clarity
Vocal content is clear and articulate on the Roku Streambar, making it ideal for listening to dialogue-focused material
Smart features/connectivity
Owners can stream content wirelessly to the soundbar through WiFi, Bluetooth, or Apple AirPlay. The soundbar also has some wired input options, with an Optical In port and an HDMI port, and it is compatible with both Google Home and Amazon Assistant.
Loud max volume
Rated at 85dB, the Roku Streambar gets quite loud at max volume, placing it in the top half of the loudest soundbars in its category.
Satisfactory latency
Its 98ms latency is low enough for undetectable lag, but it compares poorly to other tested alternatives in its category, where it ranks in the bottom 10%.
Reason to Avoid
Poor bass output
The Roku Streambar doesn’t have a satisfying bass output.
Unimpressive surround sound system
Because of its size, the Roku Streambar’s surround sound system is not ideal for creating an immersive environment.
Roku Streambar Specs
Bluetooth Enabled
Yes
Depth
4.21"
Energy Star Certified
No
Equalizer Settings
Basic
Height
2.4", 2.4"
Number of Audio Channels
2.0
Subwoofer
Optional (sold separately)
Surround Sound Supported
Dolby
Voice Assistant
Amazon Alexa
Wall Mountable
Yes
Weight
2.4 lbs
Width
14"
Wireless Connectivity
Bluetooth
Wireless Subwoofer Connectivity
Yes
Works With
Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant
All Specs
Test Results
These are the most important criteria to test for Soundbars based on our comprehensive Testing Methodology.
Low End Roll Off (Hz)
144.617
High End Roll Off (Hz)
14,273.928
Max Volume Test (db)
85.3
Latency (ms)
98
THD @ 80dB
0.68
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First released in late 2020, the Roku Streambar is an entry-level soundbar that’s great for tight spaces. Despite its lack of a subwoofer and missing…
First released in late 2020, the Roku Streambar is an entry-level soundbar that’s great for tight spaces. Despite its lack of a subwoofer and missing support for Dolby Atmos, the soundbar’s soundstage is wide enough for owners to generally determine where sounds are coming from.
The best speakers have a wide enough soundstage for users to accurately perceive the sound as coming from all around them.
The Roku Streambar doesn’t have a subwoofer, so movie lovers will miss out on the thump that bass-heavy sound systems tend to deliver. Like many of the best soundbars, it has excellent wireless connectivity through Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, Chromecast, and Apple AirPlay.
Its physical inputs,= include one Optical Audio In and one HDMI ARC port. The LG Eclair QP5 fares better in this regard, so feel free to check it out in our LG Eclair QP5 review.
The Roku Streambar is a more compact alternative than the Roku Streambar Pro, making it a more suitable choice for tight spaces. However, the Roku…
The Roku Streambar is a more compact alternative than the Roku Streambar Pro, making it a more suitable choice for tight spaces. However, the Roku Streambar Pro is the louder pick between the two and offers Virtual Surround sound, which is lacking in the Roku Streambar.
The Roku Streambar also is narrower than the Roku Smart Soundbar, but the Smart Soundbar gets a bit louder than the Streambar. Lastly, the Roku…
The Roku Streambar also is narrower than the Roku Smart Soundbar, but the Smart Soundbar gets a bit louder than the Streambar. Lastly, the Roku Streambar supports Apple AirPlay, a feature lacking in the Roku Smart Soundbar.
The Roku Streambar is a 2-channel soundbar, while the Sonos Beam is a 3-channel soundbar, and as a result, the Roku Streambar is more capable…
The Roku Streambar is a 2-channel soundbar, while the Sonos Beam is a 3-channel soundbar, and as a result, the Roku Streambar is more capable of producing an immersive sound experience.
