Roku Streambar Pro

Affordable ; Solid audio performance ; Lots of media streaming options ; Remote with headphone jack

Relatively weak bass response

The Roku Streambar Pro is a capable stereo speaker that adds all of the capabilities of a 4K Roku media streamer to the mix, including a voice remote with a headphone jack.

Roku media streamer included. Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and Apple AirPlay compatibility. Satellites available as separate add-on. Subwoofer add-on available.

Some compression at max volume. No Dolby Atmos support. No Chromecast support. Lacks low-bass.

The Roku Streambar Pro is okay for mixed usage. This 2.0 bar has a simple design that makes it ideal for listening to stereo content, which includes most music and dialogue-centric TV shows. With its balanced mids, voices and lead instruments are clear...

Solid audio performance for a $180 soundbar ; Effective virtual surround mode ; Intuitive Roku interface and voice remote ; Alexa, Google Assistant, HomeKit, and AirPlay 2 support

Hit-or-miss music performance ; Only one HDMI port ; Expansion upgrades (subwoofer and surrounds) are pricey

While I didn’t find the Roku Streambar Pro to be all that reliable when it comes to music, I thought its audio performance for movies and TV shows was more than acceptable, provided you’re judging it against the sound of your TV’s built-in speakers....

Soundbars are popular for a good reason. The speakers in a typical flat panel TVs sound puny compared with the visual sway of increasingly larger, higher-resolution displays. Also, since not every viewing room can accommodate the separate components of...

Simple to set up and use ; Decent bass without a subwoofer ; Wide sound

No Dolby Atmos support ; Sluggish streaming performance

You can get better overall performance with a cheap soundbar and a Roku Ultra for about the same price. But you’ll give up the simplicity of the Streambar Pro’s all-in-one system, and a streamlined life may be worth the trade off.

Even so, the Roku Smart Soundbar is a no-nonsense way to add robust sound and smarts to your TV. At less than $200 and with performance akin to much pricier models, the Roku is a no-brainer.