Over the years, I’ve tried out loads of Roku’s video streamers, however up till lately, I’d by no means used one in every of its Streambars, which mixes a small soundbar with Roku’s entry-level 4K HDR streamer. Roku discontinued its top-end Streambar Pro speaker but it surely’s now promoting the Streambar SE, a 2024 mini soundbar that caught my eye as a result of it is on sale for under $75 as a part of MLK Day. That’s $25 off its checklist worth of $100, for reference.
When I say mini soundbar, I actually do imply mini. About the scale of a small Bluetooth speaker, the Streambar SE measures 9.6 inches vast by 3.5 inches deep by 2.4 inches tall and weighs 2 kilos (907 grams). It’s actually designed to be paired with a smaller TV in your bed room, dwelling workplace or dorm room, and never your major front room TV (until you’ve gotten a really small front room).
I hooked it as much as an previous 42-inch Vizio I’ve in my dwelling workplace. Setup is easy: It’s mainly the identical course of as connecting any video streamer to your TV, though it helps to have an HDMI-ARC port to simplify issues. (Most TVs launched within the final 10 to 12 years have one HDMI port that is labeled HDMI ARC or HDMI eARC.) If you do not have ARC, there is a workaround utilizing an HDMI cable and an optical cable, however I did not need to cope with that.
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The Roku Streambar SE is the scale of a compact Bluetooth speaker — and it does have Bluetooth connectivity.
An improve over my TV audio system’ sound
I’ve Spectrum TV, and Roku has a Spectrum TV app that lets you flip any Roku streamer right into a cable TV field. For my listening check, I spent a while watching just a few motion films, together with Ant-Man and Nope, together with NFL Redzone, CNN and a little bit of a Friends episode. I additionally used Roku’s Apple TV app and Peacock to look at an English Premier League match.
Maybe as a result of my expectations had been low, I used to be stunned by the quantity of sound this little speaker was in a position to produce. While the Streambar SE would not supply the best sound — it may well output solely a lot bass by means of its twin 1.9-inch full-range drivers and single bass port — the speaker produces higher audio than you’d suppose given its very compact measurement. It’s significantly sturdy within the midrange, producing loud, clear dialogue, and it delivers higher sound than what you get from most TV audio system (by that I imply the audio system constructed into your TV). If you need extra bass, you possibly can hyperlink the speaker with Roku’s Wireless Bass subwoofer, however that separate sub will set you again $130.
I am unable to say that the Streambar SE has the widest soundstage or that you simply get an entire lot of stereo separation. It would not have the side-firing audio system of the step-up Streambar ($130), which earned a CNET Editors’ Choice award in 2023, nor are you able to pair it with Roku’s wi-fi rear audio system to create a encompass system. But the standard is sweet sufficient to go away you feeling such as you obtained a very good deal, significantly when you had been already going to shell out $30 or so for Roku’s Express 4K Plus or Streaming Stick 4K.
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The Roku Streambar is considerably smaller than a full-size soundbar like this Sonos Beam.
As far as sound modes go, you get just a few presets to select from, together with Dialogue, Movie, Music, Night and Standard, and the speaker will reduce the amount down on loud commercials. The soundbar can be geared up with Bluetooth, so you possibly can join headphones to it, plus Spotify Connect and Apple AirPlay help.
Read extra: Best Soundbar of 2025: Top Picks From Roku, Yamaha and More
I ought to word that the bundled distant is Roku’s extra fundamental distant and never its step-up voice distant that allows you to problem voice instructions and voice search. However, you possibly can obtain Roku’s cell app for iOS and Android, which does help voice instructions.
The again of the speaker (bass port on left).
The Streambar SE presents 4K HDR10 and HDR10 Plus video streaming, but it surely would not have help for Dolby Vision. My previous Vizio is not even a 4K TV, so the Streambar SE’s video streaming capabilities are greater than sufficient.
Why Roku’s Streambar SE makes an excellent reward
While Roku’s step-up Streambar ($130) actually delivers higher sound high quality, the Streambar SE’s extra compact measurement and inexpensive price ticket provides it a definite attraction, significantly for these of us trying to improve the sound of a extra modest-size TV, maybe an older mannequin like mine. The Streambar SE is not fancy, however the worth is correct for what it does.
For extra reward concepts, listed here are 39 distinctive presents for individuals who have every thing. Not to say, there are loads extra soundbar offers occurring you possibly can benefit from.
