Roku Streambar
A streaming device and soundbar at a great price
$129.99 From Roku, roku.com
Features USB, HDMI, Optical audio, Wi–Fi, 4K video and HDR support
There have been loads of rumors recently about an update to the Apple TV streaming box, but Apple needs to get a move on because Roku’s new Streambar outguns the Apple TV on both features and value for money.
Roku’s streaming devices already allow you to watch the Apple TV+ service, as well as films and TV shows that you buy from iTunes, along with a wide range of streaming services such as Netflix, Shudder, Spotify, and Tidal. The Streambar ups the ante by supporting 4K video and HDR at a much lower price than the Apple TV 4K ($179), but the real killer feature is that it also manages to include a very respectable little soundbar to boost the sound from your TV for a bargain price of just $129.99.
The Streambar measures just 2.4–inches high, 14–inches wide and 4.2–inches deep, so it’ll fit easily on a shelf or under your TV set (or even a computer monitor on your desk). There are HDMI and optical audio interfaces for connecting to a TV — with both cables included — and a USB port for playing music or videos stored on a memory stick or hard drive. The Streambar uses Wi–Fi to connect to your network, but you can also use that USB port with a USB–Ethernet adaptor for a wired connection too.
Setting up the Streambar is a piece of cake: plug it in to your TV’s HDMI port, turn on the power supply, then either use the remote control included in the box or download the Roku app to control the Streambar from an iPhone or iPad. The Streambar’s on–screen
interface is a little untidy, throwing long lists of channels, apps and services at you, but you can create a list of your favorite channels for quick access. It even includes a voice– search feature, just like the Apple TV.
You’re obviously not going to get hi–fi quality audio for this price, but the little speaker system is surprisingly effective. It played clear, detailed music from some high–res FLAC files on our USB stick and added real drama to the opening sequence of Blade Runner from our iTunes library, the electronic soundtrack shimmering in the air as the flying car soars through a sky full of smoke and flame.
Our only disappointment with the Streambar was that the promised support for AirPlay 2 wasn’t available in time for this review. Roku has announced plans for an update that will add AirPlay 2 “by the end of the year,” so some people may prefer to wait for that update before buying. Even so, the Streambar’s impressive all–in–one combination of streaming and soundbar features is terrific value for money, and when AirPlay 2 arrives it could really blow the Apple TV out of the water.
The only other issue you might have with the Roku Streambar is if you have a decent soundbar already — in this case you might want to look elsewhere, such as the Roku Ultra ($99.99) It rivals the Apple TV with support for Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos.
THE BOTTOM LINE. Even without AirPlay the Streambar is an impressive streamer and soundbar at a good price.