The Roku Streambar SE integrates a streaming device into a soundbar. It includes the full Roku interface with all the main apps and can output audio from its built-in speakers, something a flat-panel TV cannot do well. The product is about 14 inches wide, so it fits under a smaller TV without blocking the screen or hanging off either side of a console like a full-size bar would.
A compact soundbar with Roku streaming built in
This is likely the biggest advantage of buying the combined product instead of a separate streaming device and soundbar. Buying two separate products would require two power cords, two HDMI cables, and two remotes, taking up space on your coffee table. On the other hand, the combined product requires just one cable to connect to your TV and one remote that controls everything, which also means one less thing to lose track of behind the entertainment center.
Flat-panel TVs have poor built-in speakers due to the lack of interior volume within the very thin casing of the television, since a driver needs air behind it to move properly and a half-inch chassis provides none. This is why the Streambar SE has real enclosures behind each speaker and you get dialogue sounds clear instead of muffled, unlike a TV’s speakers that fire down toward you.
People keep buying these products because Roku’s interface is easy to use. Setup takes less than five minutes from the moment you open the box; the home screen is easy enough for anyone in your household to use, and search spans every app at once rather than forcing you to check multiple services one at a time to find a specific movie.
Speech Clarity improves the dialogue-to-background ratio, which is likely the biggest complaint with TV mixes right now. Many modern movies bury dialogue under scores, but this feature brings it to the forefront of your listening experience while keeping your overall volume constant. The Streambar SE also offers night mode options. These reduce peak levels during loud moments, such as an explosion in an action film. That way, if you are watching at home and your children or partner are sleeping in another room, they’re less likely to be disturbed.
The Streambar SE connects to your smartphone via Bluetooth, letting you listen to music when the display is off. The Roku mobile app also lets you control it remotely if the physical remote gets lost under a couch cushion. It has video pass-through capabilities, meaning the Streambar SE sends whatever is coming from the input directly to your TV, at resolutions up to 4K with support for HDR10+ and Dolby Vision.