Roku Streambar review
Our Verdict
The Roku Streambar is an attractive selection if you want 4K streaming and a proficient (but non keen) speaker to raise your Boob tube's audio.
For
- 4K streaming
- Clear, loud sound
- Meaty design
Confronting
- Relatively weak bass
- No Ethernet port
Tom's Guide Verdict
The Roku Streambar is an attractive option if you want 4K streaming and a good (only not great) speaker to heighten your Boob tube's audio.
Pros
- +
4K streaming
- +
Clear, loud audio
- +
Compact design
Cons
- -
Relatively weak bass
- -
No Ethernet port
Roku Streambar specs
Size: 14.0 ten iv.ii x 2.4 inches
Ports: HDMI, USB, optical sound
Max video resolution: 4K at 60 fps
Supported HDR formats: HDR, HDR 10, HLG, 1080p HD
Supported audio formats: Dolby Audio
The Roku Streambar truly earns its championship as one of the best soundbars on sale today. All-in-i devices sometimes add upwardly to less than the sum of their parts, combines the all-time of all words, delivering both a respectable soundbar and a great 4K streaming device in one small, affordable package.
And when we say small, we hateful information technology. The Streambar isn't much bigger than a loaf of bread, all the same its four drivers produce articulate, room-filling sound. As y'all'll see in my Roku Streambar review, it'southward not the most powerful, nor is it as portable as the best Bluetooth speakers, but it is an attractive option for anyone looking to amend their telly set up's (probably dismal) audio while too getting high-quality, ultra high-definition 4K video.
- All-time Roku devices
- What to know almost new Roku Ultra 2020
- The best Roku channels to lookout man
Roku has impressed united states of america over the years with their peak-notch streaming devices. They already packed one into the same space as a very decent speaker with the Smart Soundbar; at present, they've fabricated one even tinier. If y'all're a fan of reducing electronic ataxia, the Streambar is ane of the all-time streaming devices and may be a dream come true.
Roku Streambar review: Toll and availability
The Roku Streambar currently costs $109, downwardly from its $130 launch price. Information technology's bachelor at Amazon and other major retailers, as well as Roku.com. For a express time the Roku Streambar can too be purchased for $79 in Amazon'south Black Fri sale
Information technology'south a cheaper soundbar than the $150 Roku Smart Soundbar, which is larger and has more powerful sound drivers.
Roku Streambar review: Pattern
The Streambar measures 14.0 by 4.2 by 2.iv inches inches, making it half the length of the Roku Smart Soundbar. This thing is small. That plus a sleek blueprint and all-black exterior make it extremely unobtrusive, sitting underneath your tv set or fastened to the wall.
There are no interface buttons on the chassis, just ports in the dorsum for HDMI, USB power and an optical cable. If y'all want to hook upward the Streambar to Ethernet, you'll need an adapter, which I personally didn't mind, simply might bother you, if you prefer hardwired connections.
The Streambar comes with the Roku Vocalism Remote, which is black and rectangular. It features a directional pad and buttons for power, home, vocalization control and playback, as well as shortcuts for Netflix, Hulu, Disney Plus and Sling. I use all of those services, but it would exist nice if they were programmable instead. The remote is comparable to the vocalism-enabled remote that comes with the Burn down TV Stick and new Chromecast with Google Goggle box.
Roku Streambar review: Interface
[Update Nov. xiii: The Streambar at present operates on Roku Os 9.4, which supports Apple AirPlay ii and HomeKit. ]
Setting up the Roku Streambar took a fiddling longer than I expected, due to some necessary software updates and restarts. Overall, though, information technology's a smooth, simple process.
The interface should exist familiar to anyone who's used another Roku device. And for anyone who hasn't, it's piece of cake to learn and use, if non particularly slick or beautiful. It is customizable, though. You can download diverse themes with coordinated wallpapers, sounds and screensavers.
The menus on the Roku Streambar are fairly streamlined. The Roku home screen houses your amusement apps, like Netflix, Hulu and Spotify. You can reorder these, too, merely similar on Apple Telly and Fire Idiot box. There'southward much less focus on Roku-exclusive titles. Yeah, the interface highlights the Roku Aqueduct: a repository of free movies and Goggle box shows, which y'all tin peruse on the Featured Free section. Only information technology'south less in-your-confront than the trumpeting of Amazon content on Fire Television.
The My Feed tab is a personalization expanse where you can follow various movies and Television set shows. The Movie and TV Stores let you lot hire and purchase movies via Fandango, while Streaming Channels is an app shop. The last navigation items are Search and Settings, which do exactly what you think they do.
It would be prissy if Roku's interface aggregated your content from the different apps in ane view, much similar Apple tree Boob tube or the Chromecast with Google Boob tube does, but I don't listen the simplicity of the pattern. I'd much rather look at a repository of apps than a behemothic, scrolling promotion for Prime number Video.
Roku Streambar review: Streaming services
The Roku is compatible with almost every streaming app yous can call back of, including Netflix, Disney Plus, Hulu, Sling, Peacock, ESPN, Spotify, Peloton, Pluto, CBS All Admission, Fubo, Starting time, Tubi and more.
HBO Max is the most notable exception from the list. Roku and WarnerMedia are yet at an impasse on a deal, then if y'all desire your Friends fix on HBO Max, you won't go information technology on whatever Roku device.
Roku Streambar review: Streaming performance
Since the Streambar has nigh of the same features as a Roku Ultra, information technology performed wonderfully — steady, clear 4K streaming and fast navigation with little to no lag. I plugged information technology into a TCL Roku Tv set through the HDMI Arc port, and the ii worked seamlessly together. The Streambar goes up to 4K (at lx fps) and HDR formats, though not Dolby Vision.Apps opened within seconds, and most movies and Boob tube shows resolved to Hd in the aforementioned amount of fourth dimension.
That performance is on a par with about of Roku's competitors' products, including Burn Goggle box Stick and Chromecast with Google TV.
Roku Streambar review: Sound functioning
The Streambar is also a speaker, and a pretty good one for the price and size. This is non a premium speaker. Information technology'southward powerful enough for a small living room, merely without a subwoofer, the bass is fairly weak. Roku seemingly intends the Streambar to be a gateway speaker for users to heighten the audio on tv sets (most of which accept terrible born audio). The company is also encouraging customers who desire deeper bass to match the Streambar with the Roku TV Wireless Speakers and Roku Wireless Subwoofer.
The Streambar has four 1.nine-inch drivers, two of which face up forward and two of which point to the side, creating a chip of a surround sound effect. It was certainly capable of filling my modest living room with sound, even at low volume levels.
Roku's Bone offers several sound modes, volume modes and oral communication clarity options. Even using the normal preset, the audio was clear and louder than I expected from such a diminutive speaker. Adjusting the various modes helped make Television receiver show dialogue even crisper and groundwork soundtracks even richer. I also appreciated dark mode, since I live in an apartment with neighbors nearby.
Without a subwoofer, though, even the bass heave mode didn't produce the kind of house-shaking rumbles that audio enthusiasts may desire. I watched Inception as a examination and the dialogue and action noises came through clearly. But the low notes of the soundtrack didn't boom as deeply as they did even in my older Yamaha soundbar (with built-in subwoofers).
Roku Streambar review: Search
Roku'due south search is sub-par when compared to competitors like Fire TV, Apple Goggle box and Chromecast. All iii of those come up with full-featured voice assistants that evangelize robust results.
Using Roku'southward search, I requested apps, and they either opened, or the result directed me to the app store. But when I asked for movie and TV evidence titles and people, the results varied wildly. Maxim "Avengers" brought me to a Roku Zone that housed Marvel titles available on different apps.
I queried "Reese Witherspoon" and got results for several of her recent TV shows and movies. But when I said "Taylor Swift," Roku wanted me to download so open the iHeartRadio app instead of taking me to the already-available Spotify. Not to mention, Taylor Swift is featured in other streaming content besides music. Where were those results?
Roku Streambar review: Features
Now that the Streambar is on Roku Os 9.four, y'all can useApple AirPlay 2 and HomeKit. The Streambar also works as a Bluetooth speaker, and so you can pair information technology to your mobile device and play music.
The Streambar does sync with Google Assistant and Alexa, so you lot can use your existing smart home devices to control it.
Roku Streambar review: Verdict
Our Roku Streambar review discussed how the gadget is a practiced option but for streaming and it'due south a fair option but for the speaker; that both exist in one tiny bundle is impressive.
No, the Roku Streambar is not for those who want to smash bass-thumping music throughout a cavernous space. But information technology is an excellent choice for anybody who's notwithstanding relying on their Tv gear up's built-in speakers. You lot can enhance your TV sound without dropping a ton of money on a big sound organization. On top of that, y'all get 4K UHD streaming and the reliable Roku OS.
And fewer devices cluttering up the furniture or wall? That's a large bonus in our book.
- More: Everything yous need to know about Roku surround sound
Source: https://www.tomsguide.com/reviews/roku-streambar
Posted by: danieltrum1952.blogspot.com
0 Response to "Roku Streambar review"
Post a Comment