This Small Soundbar Sounds Better Than You’d Think, and It’s Nearly 30% Off

I examined Roku’s Streambar SE late final yr and wrote about my impressions of it, however when it obtained a pleasant low cost for Amazon’s Memorial Day Sale, I believed I’d spotlight it once more. I’ve examined loads of Roku’s video streamers over time, however till final yr, I hadn’t tried out one in all its Streambars, which mixes a small soundbar with Roku’s entry-level 4K HDR streamer. Roku stopped making its top-end Streambar Pro speaker, nevertheless it’s now promoting the Streambar SE, a 2024 mini soundbar that caught my eye due to its low value. It’s presently solely $73, or 27% off, at Amazon. 

When I say mini soundbar, I actually do imply mini. About the dimensions of a small Bluetooth speaker, the Streambar SE measures 9.6 inches extensive by 3.5 inches deep by 2.4 inches tall and weighs 2 kilos (907 grams). It’s designed to be paired with a smaller TV in your bed room, residence workplace or dorm room, and never your major front room TV (except you might have a tiny front room). I hooked it as much as an outdated 42-inch Vizio I’ve in my residence workplace, and it has been a stable improve over my TV’s built-in audio system.

Roku Streambar SE specs

Here are the small print about this compact soundbar.

• Streaming Resolution: 4K HDR/HDR10+
• Drivers: Two 1.9-inch full-range drivers and a single bass port
• Compatibility: Works with any TV with HDMI-ARC or HDMI and optical ports
• Dimensions: 9.6 inches by 3.5 inches by 2.4 inches
• Weight: 2 kilos (907 grams)
• Included: Standard Roku distant and a couple of AAA batteries, energy adapter, high-speed HDMI cable, optical cable 
• Wireless headphone help: Bluetooth 5.0
• Expandability: Can connect with a Roku Wireless Bass subwoofer for a 2.1 setup
• Additional options: Works with Roku Smart Home, Apple AirPlay, HomePackage, Google Home and Amazon Alexa
• Universal distant: Included Roku distant controls most TVs

My Roku Streambar SE setup

Setup is easy: It’s principally 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 should cope with that.

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An improve over my TV audio system’ sound

I’ve Spectrum TV, and Roku has a Spectrum TV app that permits you to flip any Roku streamer right into a cable TV field. For my listening take a look at, I spent a while watching a number of 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 observe an English Premier League match. 

Maybe as a result of my expectations have been low, I used to be shocked by the quantity of sound this little speaker was capable of produce. While the Streambar SE does not provide the best sound — it might output solely a lot bass by 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 robust 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 just get an entire lot of stereo separation. It does 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 nice sufficient to depart you feeling such as you obtained an excellent deal, significantly in the event you have been already going to shell out $30 or so for Roku’s Express 4K Plus or Streaming Stick 4K.

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As far as sound modes go, you get a number of presets to select from, together with Dialogue, Movie, Music, Night and Standard, and the speaker will minimize the amount down on loud commercials. The soundbar can also be outfitted 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 be aware that the bundled distant is Roku’s extra fundamental distant and never its step-up voice distant that permits 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 Streambar SE gives 4K HDR10 and HDR10 Plus video streaming, nevertheless it does not have help for Dolby Vision. My outdated 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 amazing present

While Roku’s step-up Streambar ($130) actually delivers higher sound high quality, the Streambar SE’s extra compact measurement and inexpensive value give 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 value is correct for what it does.

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