This Compact Soundbar Sounds Better Than I Ever Thought It Would, and It's Nearly 30% Off Right Now

CNET

22-05-2025

I tested Roku's Streambar SE late last year and and wrote about my impressions of it, but now that it's seeing a nice discount for Amazon's Memorial Day Sale, I thought I'd highlight it again. I've tested plenty of Roku's video streamers over the years, but until last year, I hadn't tried out one of its Streambars, which combines a small soundbar with Roku's entry-level 4K HDR streamer. Roku stopped making its top-end Streambar Pro speaker, but it's now selling the Streambar SE, a 2024 mini soundbar that caught my eye because of its low price. It's currently only $73 at Amazon for Memorial Day, or 27% off. That's almost double the discount we saw during Amazon's Big Spring sale.
When I say mini soundbar, I really do 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 tall and weighs 2 pounds (907 grams). It's designed to be paired with a smaller TV in your bedroom, home office or dorm room, and not your main living room TV (unless you have a tiny living room). I hooked it up to an old 42-inch Vizio I have in my home office, and it's been a solid upgrade over my TV's built-in speakers.
Roku Streambar SE specs
Here are the details about this compact soundbar.
Streaming Resolution: 4K HDR/HDR10+
4K HDR/HDR10+ Drivers : Two 1.9-inch full-range drivers and a single bass port
: Two 1.9-inch full-range drivers and a single bass port Compatibility : Works with any TV with HDMI-ARC or HDMI and optical ports
: Works with any TV with HDMI-ARC or HDMI and optical ports Dimensions: 9.6 inches by 3.5 inches by 2.4 inches
9.6 inches by 3.5 inches by 2.4 inches Weight: 2 pounds (907 grams)
2 pounds (907 grams) Included: Standard Roku remote and 2 AAA batteries, power adapter, high-speed HDMI cable, optical cable
Standard Roku remote and 2 AAA batteries, power adapter, high-speed HDMI cable, optical cable Wireless headphone support : Bluetooth 5.0
: Bluetooth 5.0 Expandability : Can connect to a Roku Wireless Bass subwoofer for a 2.1 setup
: Can connect to a Roku Wireless Bass subwoofer for a 2.1 setup Additional features : Works with Roku Smart Home, Apple AirPlay, HomeKit, Google Home and Amazon Alexa
: Works with Roku Smart Home, Apple AirPlay, HomeKit, Google Home and Amazon Alexa Universal remote: Included Roku remote controls most TVs
My Roku Streambar SE setup
Setup is straightforward: It's basically the same process as connecting any video streamer to your TV, although it helps to have an HDMI-ARC port to simplify things. (Most TVs released in the last 10 to 12 years have one HDMI port that's labeled HDMI ARC or HDMI eARC.) If you don't have ARC, there's a workaround using an HDMI cable and an optical cable, but I didn't have to deal with that.
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The Roku Streambar SE is the size of a compact Bluetooth speaker — and it does have Bluetooth connectivity.
David Carnoy/CNET
An upgrade over my TV speakers' sound
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 TV app and Peacock to watch an English Premier League match.
Maybe because my expectations were low, I was surprised by the amount of sound this little speaker was able to produce. While the Streambar SE doesn't offer the greatest sound -- it can output only so much bass through its dual 1.9-inch full-range drivers and single bass port -- the speaker produces better audio than you'd think given its very compact size. It's particularly strong in the midrange, producing loud, clear dialogue, and it delivers better sound than what you get from most TV speakers (by that I mean the speakers built into your TV). If you want more bass, you can link the speaker with Roku's Wireless Bass subwoofer, but that separate sub will set you back $130.
I can't say that the Streambar SE has the widest soundstage or that you get a whole lot of stereo separation. It doesn't have the side-firing speakers of the step-up Streambar ($130), which earned a CNET Editors' Choice award in 2023, nor can you pair it with Roku's wireless rear speakers to create a surround system. But the quality is good enough to leave you feeling like you got a good deal, particularly if you were already going to shell out $30 or so for Roku's Express 4K Plus or Streaming Stick 4K.
Enlarge Image
The Roku Streambar is significantly smaller than a full-size soundbar like this Sonos Beam.
David Carnoy/CNET
As far as sound modes go, you get a few presets to choose from, including Dialogue, Movie, Music, Night and Standard, and the speaker will cut the volume down on loud commercials. The soundbar is also equipped with Bluetooth, so you can connect headphones to it, plus Spotify Connect and Apple AirPlay support.
Read more: Best Soundbar of 2025: Top Picks From Roku, Yamaha and More
I should note that the bundled remote is Roku's more basic remote and not its step-up voice remote that lets you issue voice commands and voice search. However, you can download Roku's mobile app for iOS and Android, which does support voice commands.
The back of the speaker (bass port on left).
David Carnoy/CNET
The Streambar SE offers 4K HDR10 and HDR10 Plus video streaming, but it doesn't 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 enough.
Why Roku's Streambar SE makes a great gift
While Roku's step-up Streambar ($130) certainly delivers better sound quality, the Streambar SE's more compact size and affordable price tag gives it a distinct appeal, particularly for those of us looking to upgrade the sound of a more modest-size TV, perhaps an older model like mine. The Streambar SE isn't fancy, but the price is right for what it does.
For more gift ideas, here are 39 unique gifts for people who have everything. And if you're looking for deals on the cheap, don't miss the best Memorial Day deals under $25.