I was surprised by how good this cheap streaming soundbar sounded

I’ve used it a lot over the years Roku video streamersbut until recently I’d never tried one of its Streambars, which combines a small soundbar with Roku’s entry-level 4K HDR streamer. Roku discontinued its top-end Streambar Pro speaker, but now sells the Streambar SEa new-for-2024 mini soundbar that caught my attention because it’s on sale for just $77, or $23 less than its $100 list price.

When I say mini soundbar, I really mean mini. About the size of a small Bluetooth speaker, the Streambar SE measures 9.6 inches wide by 3.5 inches deep by 2.4 inches high and weighs 2 pounds (907 grams). It’s really designed to be paired with a smaller TV that’s in your bedroom, home office, or dorm room, and not the TV in your living room (unless you have a very small living room).

I hooked it up to an old 42-inch Vizio that I have in my home office. Installation is quite simple: it’s basically the same process as connecting a video streamer to your TV, although it helps to have an HDMI-ARC port to simplify things. (Most TVs released in the last 10-12 years have one HDMI port labeled HDMI ARC or HDMI eARC.) If you don’t have ARC, a workaround is to get an HDMI cable and a to use an optical cable, but I didn’t have one. have to deal with that.

In addition to this sale, keep an eye out for all the streaming soundbar deals during Black Friday and Cyber ​​Monday.

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An upgrade to the sound of my TV speakers

I have Spectrum TV and Roku has a Spectrum TV app that allows you to turn any Roku streamer into a cable TV box. For my listening test, I spent some time watching a few action movies, including Ant-Man and Nope, along with NFL Redzone, CNN, and a bit of a Friends episode. I also used Roku’s Apple’s TV app and Peacock to watch an English Premier League match.

Perhaps because my expectations were low, I was surprised by the amount of sound this little speaker could produce. While the Streambar SE doesn’t offer the best sound – it can only output a limited amount of bass through its dual 1.9-inch full-range drivers and single bass port – the speaker produces better sound than you’d think given its very compact size. mate. It’s especially strong in the midrange, producing loud, clear dialogue, and it delivers better sound than what you get from most TV speakers (by which I mean the speakers built into your TV). If you want more bass, you can connect the speaker Roku’s Wireless Bass subwoofer, but that separate sub will cost you $130.

I can’t say that the Streambar SE has the widest soundstage or that you get a ton of stereo separation. It doesn’t have the side-firing speakers of the step-up Stream bar ($130), which earned a CNET Editors’ Choice award in 2023, and you also can’t pair it with Roku’s wireless rear speakers to create a surround system. But the quality is good enough to make you feel like you got a good deal, especially if you were already going to spend $30 or so for Roku’s Express 4K Plus or Streaming stick 4K.

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In terms of sound modes, you can choose from a number of presets, including Dialogue, Movie, Music, Night and Standard, and the speaker reduces the volume during loud commercials. The soundbar is also equipped with Bluetooth so you can connect headphones to it, plus Spotify Connect and Apple AirPlay support.

I should note that the included remote is Roku’s more basic remote and not the voice remote that lets you do that give voice commands and voice search. However, you can download Roku’s mobile app for iOS and Android supports voice commands.

The Streambar SE offers 4K HDR10 and HDR10 Plus video streaming, but does not have support for Dolby Vision. My old Vizio isn’t even a 4K TV, so the Streambar SE’s video streaming capabilities are more than adequate.

Why Roku’s Streambar SE Makes a Great Gift

While Roku’s upgraded Streambar ($130) certainly delivers better sound quality, the Streambar SE’s more compact size and affordable price tag give it obvious appeal, especially for those of us looking to upgrade the sound of a more modestly sized TV. maybe. an older model like mine. The Streambar SE isn’t luxurious, but the price is right for what it does.

For more gift ideas, here are 36 unique gifts for people who have everything and 32 of the best holiday gifts for under $100. Plus, here are some great Black Friday and Cyber ​​Monday deals to shop this holiday season.

Will this Roku Streambar SE be on sale during Black Friday and Cyber ​​Monday?

We suspect that the Roku Streambar SE will remain on sale during the upcoming sale, and it may even drop in price lower on those specific days. We’ll continue to update our list of the best deals during this period, so check back often.