![]() There is a slight change in the direction the sound comes from, but it wasn’t enough to wow us.īut back to the speech clarity feature for a second - it has a dramatic impact, for the better. It’s a setting you’ll need to enable in Sound Settings, and, well, we didn’t notice much of a difference between when it was turned on or off. ![]() Roku OS 10 added a Virtual Surround 5.1 feature to the Smart Soundbar as well. Roku has a speech clarity setting that increases vocals in TV shows and movies, which essentially lowers other tones in the mix so that you can hear the important dialogue even when using the soundbar at lower volumes. You can use the Roku OS interface (the same setup as on Roku streaming devices) to make adjustments to the sound. (If bassy sound is something you’re looking for, the Vizio V-Series 5.1 is a great option, though it lacks clarity when using just the soundbar.) As a result of that balanced approach, we were able to more clearly discern the finer details in whatever we were watching, such as background conversations in a movie, street noise during a racing sequence or environmental noises in a nature documentary. Again, that’s not so much a knock against the Roku, as the sound overall was well balanced and really didn’t leave us wanting for more bass. It’s certainly there, but it’s not as in your face as with other soundbars we tested. In terms of what’s lacking, bass isn’t the Roku Streambar Pro’s strong suit. When watching “Avengers: Endgame,” we heard Captain America’s shield fly from left to right and Iron Man fly from right to left. It’s also well balanced, with a focus on proper spatial placement. The Streambar Pro increases reactionary sounds, things like audience clapping or aww-ing from the crowd, to bring them to full life. Whether we were watching the Olympics or “Ted Lasso,” it sounded as if the conversations were occurring right beside us. During testing, we sat 10 feet from the TV and Streambar Pro setup. Those small but mighty speakers aptly tackle low, mid and high tones, adding vibrancy to the traditionally flat sound that a TV delivers. Tucked behind the fabric front cover are four 2.5-inch full-range drivers to push out the sound, and they’ll certainly catch your attention. And the compact design (32 inches long, just under 3 inches tall, to be exact) is the perfect size it’s never dwarfed by TVs pushing 60-plus inches, nor does it overwhelm smaller TVs. We appreciated that, though, as the Streambar Pro doesn’t fight for attention like some of the other flashier soundbars we tested. The Streambar Pro’s plastic build, enveloped by soft mesh on the front, lacks a certain flair. This allows you to use the Roku remote to control volume levels and the power status of your TV using the included Roku remote. You should connect the Streambar Pro to your TV’s HDMI eARC port if it has one. You’ll just need to give the Streambar Pro power and connect it to your TV. ![]() You truly get everything you could possibly need in the box, minus the TV.Īll in all, it was incredibly easy to set up. Also included in the box are two AA batteries for the remote, a power cable, an HDMI cable and an optical cable. So what’s changed besides the name? The Streambar Pro now comes with an upgraded Voice Remote and a pair of wired earbuds that can be used with the new remote to privately and quietly listen to your show while a roommate or loved one sleeps nearby. For instance, as we’re writing this, we’re watching “Cast Away,” a classic, for free. That means you get access to countless streaming platforms (like Disney+, Netflix, HBO Max and Peacock, among others) and Roku’s own Channels lineup that has shows and movies available to watch for free. Think of the Streambar Pro as a Smart Soundbar 1.5, just by a different name.Īnd for the same $179.99 you get a 2-in-1 soundbar that pairs audio with Roku’s streaming platform. Roku is in the process of streamlining its product families and released what amounts to be a slightly upgraded Smart Soundbar under the Streambar Pro name. On paper, the Streambar Pro doesn’t raise the bar (forgive the pun) when compared to the Smart Soundbar, but that’s by design. And in 2021, the Streambar Pro picks up right where the Soundbar left off, once again earning our top nod. In 2020, the Roku Smart Soundbar was our top pick for best soundbar. But another area in which Roku continues to shine is with its audio lineup. There’s no question Roku has solidified its place as one of the top streaming device makers around. Roku's Streambar Pro replaces the Smart Soundbar.
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