The Streambar follows the footsteps of final 12 months’s Roku Smart Soundbar with a smaller measurement and extra inexpensive value. Often the most important subject with hybrid gadgets is that they’ve compromised an excessive amount of in some space, and whereas the Streambar is not sonically good — its lack of bass is its greatest weak point — it makes up for that with glorious sound for dialogue and a capability to fill a room that belies its tiny footprint. Certain, it lacks a subwoofer, however even with out one it may nonetheless beat your TV’s audio system . 

Then once more, so can loads of other soundbars. In order for you superior sound and do not want streaming, the Yamaha SR-C20 or Vizio V21 are higher decisions. The Roku Streambar is cheaper than both one, nonetheless, and makes good sense for individuals who do not have already got streamer hooked as much as their TV. In order for you to have the ability to hear your TV better, significantly vocals, and in addition improve its streaming capabilities, it is a wonderful worth. 

Editor’s notice, Dec. 3: On account of its efficiency, measurement and value, we’re giving the Roku Streambar our Editors’ Selection award as our favourite price range soundbar. Whereas there are newer soundbars that outperform the Roku, they’re additionally dearer, and none contains video streaming onboard. This overview first appeared on Oct. 14, 2020.

What it’s

The Roku Streambar is a 2.0-channel soundbar with side-firing “large” audio system, and the corporate says its onboard streaming capabilities are equal to these of the Roku Streaming Stick Plus. The system will course of 5.1 audio, which implies you may improve the system at a later date with Roku’s wireless subwoofer and surround speakers or the Walmart-exclusive Onn products. 

The principle variations between the Streambar and the unique Roku Sensible Soundbar are measurement and form. The Sensible Soundbar is 32 inches large, whereas the Streambar is way more compact at 14 inches. Though I have not heard the 2 facet by facet, I can just about assure the bigger cupboard generates extra bass.

The Streambar contains Roku’s voice distant, which helps you to subject instructions by talking into the clicker. On the facet, the distant contains quantity controls and mute. The shortcuts on the backside embody Netflix, Disney Plus and Hulu.

The Streambar presents “easy quantity modes” which “decrease loud commercials, increase the amount of voices and optimize the sound for night time listening” in addition to adjusting bass ranges — useful for controlling an exterior sub. It is value noting that since I carried out this overview in October 2020 Roku has added a sequence of extra sound modes, which now embody Music, Film, Night time, and Speech. I goal to check the brand new sound profiles as quickly as I can.

Connectivity contains an optical digital enter and HDMI with audio return channel functionality. It is designed to connect with a TV and when you’ve got different gadgets, similar to a recreation console, you will must use your TV as a switcher. The soundbar can be geared up with Bluetooth and Spotify Join, whereas Apple AirPlay 2 assist is coming quickly.

The way it performs

The workforce at CNET has written at size about our experiences with Roku streamers so I will not dwell on the bar’s streaming capabilities right here. Suffice to say it is our favourite streaming platform and the Streambar is extra of the identical. The menus have been acquainted and easy, the response velocity and film high quality have been as glorious as anticipated and the voice distant was a pleasure to make use of as all the time.

As an alternative I’ll concentrate on sound high quality. The Streambar is smaller than most soundbars however after I plugged it in I used to be struck by how naturally it carried out with dialogue. There was no chestiness on male voices — an issue with some soundbar/subwoofer combos — and dialogue had the articulation that made it simple to observe the story. I had been listening to a pair of Elac Uni-Fi 2.0 speakers instantly previous the Streambar and it was simple to think about that I nonetheless was. On condition that vocal articulation is the Elac speaker’s precedence that is most likely the best reward I might give the Roku speaker.

After all there have been variations, virtually actually because of the Roku’s tiny cupboard. After I in contrast the Streambar with the Yamaha SR-C20 the Roku’s lack of bass and even midbass was instantly obvious. With Mad Max: Fury Road the Roku once more made dialogue comprehensible whereas additionally making it seem to come back from across the room. The Roku’s side-firing audio system actually do assist create a big picture. As compared the Yamaha speaker’s Digital:X software program did a equally good job distributing sound round my listening house, however when Max spins up his Charger’s engines, the Yamaha pulled forward.

The Roku is so bodily tiny that the engines and onscreen explosions in Mad Max had little influence. The Yamaha was in a position to higher seize the roar of the automobiles and the blast that catapults Max into the air. The Yamaha lacked the oomph {that a} devoted sub can convey, however was a greater match than the Roku for individuals who wish to watch greater than the information and dramas.

The foyer scene from the The Matrix was subsequent and the Yamaha supplied extra of a balanced sonic combine, with much less high-frequency and extra low-end. The Roku sounded a bit shrill in distinction, significantly with the falling bullet casings. Altering the sound mode to bass increase helped a bit, however the Yamaha was higher.

Including the $130 Onn subwoofer to the Roku helped fairly a bit. Lastly I might hear the chugging bass rating, the shotgun blasts had extra influence and the falling shell casings weren’t as piercing or irritating. In case you are searching for a simple, economical improve to the Streambar, the Onn subwoofer is really helpful. 

With music the Roku once more lagged behind the Yamaha for a similar primary cause — lack of bass response. There is not a devoted music mode, which is a disgrace for individuals who wish to use the Streambar for listening to tunes from their phones or music apps like Spotify. Songs like Doves’ Cathedrals of the Thoughts sounded hole on the Roku, regardless of its glorious vocal articulation, and once more the Yamaha made the music fuller and extra engrossing.

Do you have to purchase it?

In order for you actual house cinema thrills you continue to must spend greater than $130 on a soundbar — though the Roku’s capability so as to add the subwoofer and rear-channel audio system does provide you with a transparent improve path if you’d like. The $130 Roku Streambar is for individuals who worth small measurement and ease but nonetheless need higher sound and streaming for his or her TV. It is easy to attach and arrange (one cable!), it is simply as simple to make use of and its streamer behaves like an bizarre Roku in each respect. And that is factor.

First revealed Oct. 16 2020.