Roku Streambar - Any owners on here?
Roku Streambar - Any owners on here?
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595Heaven

Original Poster:

2,879 posts

94 months

Wednesday 19th May 2021
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We had a garden room built in December (so 2020), which has a Samsung TV and an IKEA Symfonisk (Pretty much a Sonos One in a different case) for music. Really underwhelmed with the TV sound, but this is probably due to using a Sonos Beam in the house.

Was thinking I'd just get another Beam for the garden room, but have seen the Roku Streambar for £99 which looks like it might be a worthwhile option.

Don't need the streaming stuff as the TV has all we need, but how is the sound for TV and music (Airplay / Bluetooth)?

One issue seems to be a lack of a neat wall mount solution - I will not put up with any visible cables!

Anyone got one and have any thoughts about it, good or bad?

Alternatively, any suggestion for a good HDMI-CEC compatible soundbar at a lower price than a Beam? If not, I'll wait until Black Friday as Sonos normally lop £100 off!

Edited by 595Heaven on Thursday 20th May 07:59

vladcjelli

3,266 posts

174 months

Wednesday 19th May 2021
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We’ve got one and like it. Never had a sound bar before so it may be comparatively rubbish, but for the money, and we appreciate the roku way when it comes to the streaming apps, we are really happy with it.

While you say your tv has the apps built in, I reckon you’d end up just using the roku for it anyway as then you only need one remote for everything.

595Heaven

Original Poster:

2,879 posts

94 months

Thursday 20th May 2021
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Thanks for that. Might give it a go if I can find a wall mount for it.

Mr Pointy

12,560 posts

175 months

Thursday 20th May 2021
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What's the point of buying a streaming soundbar from a company whose prime focus is on streaming & then not using the streaming features?

Why don't you look at soundbars from companies that focus on audio, given that you've flagged audio quality as a prime requirement? There are plenty of them.

595Heaven

Original Poster:

2,879 posts

94 months

Thursday 20th May 2021
quotequote all
Mr Pointy said:
What's the point of buying a streaming soundbar from a company whose prime focus is on streaming & then not using the streaming features?

Why don't you look at soundbars from companies that focus on audio, given that you've flagged audio quality as a prime requirement? There are plenty of them.
As usual, you've waded into and added nothing other than your ill-mannered opinion. Consistent if nothing else.

It has streaming features I don't need but many products I own include features I don't need, but otherwise fit the bill.

- The audio quality of the Streambar seems to be pretty good, so tick in the box
- The price is in the right range, so tick in the box
- The lack of a suitable wall mount solution (even though it has threaded bosses) is a major issue for my needs. There is a product available in the US (https://hideitmounts.com/products/hideit-streambar-roku-streambar-wall-mount) that looks ideal, but not stocked in the UK, so a big red cross in the box for the Streambar

I've ordered a JBL Bar 2.0 which will arrive tomorrow and seems to get broadly positive reviews and comes with wall mountings brackets in the box. https://uk.jbl.com/soundbars/BAR+2.0+ALL-IN-ONE.ht...

Oh, and Pointy, it has an optical input which I won't use. Should I cancel?

Mr Pointy

12,560 posts

175 months

Thursday 20th May 2021
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How do you know the audio quality is pretty good if you haven't heard it?

It's just weird that someone would focus on a product from a streaming company with little audio experience if they didn't want to primarily use the streaming features, especially when comparing it to a Sonos Beam.

595Heaven

Original Poster:

2,879 posts

94 months

Thursday 20th May 2021
quotequote all
Mr Pointy said:
How do you know the audio quality is pretty good if you haven't heard it?

It's just weird that someone would focus on a product from a streaming company with little audio experience if they didn't want to primarily use the streaming features, especially when comparing it to a Sonos Beam.
I don't, but read enough reviews to get a pretty good idea.

I think 'focus' is pushing it, and not sure where I compared it to a Sonos Beam?

Piginapoke

5,461 posts

201 months

Thursday 20th May 2021
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We have one in the kitchen, for the money the sound is ace.

595Heaven

Original Poster:

2,879 posts

94 months

Saturday 22nd May 2021
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Piginapoke said:
We have one in the kitchen, for the money the sound is ace.
Thanks for that.

The JBL arrived yesterday and is temporarily installed (need a shorter HDMI lead to be able to make a neater install). Certainly not a Sonos Beam in terms of audio, but streets ahead of the TV speakers and is plenty good enough for the occasional use it will get in the garden room, and was only £89!

Has Bluetooth as well so my son gets the IKEA speaker to take to uni in the autumn.

Piginapoke

5,461 posts

201 months

Sunday 23rd May 2021
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595Heaven said:
Thanks for that.

The JBL arrived yesterday and is temporarily installed (need a shorter HDMI lead to be able to make a neater install). Certainly not a Sonos Beam in terms of audio, but streets ahead of the TV speakers and is plenty good enough for the occasional use it will get in the garden room, and was only £89!

Has Bluetooth as well so my son gets the IKEA speaker to take to uni in the autumn.
We have something in common! My son also off to uni in the summer. I've 2 JBL Flip bluetooth speakers and they sound very good when out and about. The JBL Connect Plus App is however terrible.

eccles

14,013 posts

238 months

Wednesday 26th May 2021
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I've had a Streambar for a while now.
I'm very happy with it all round, and am very happy with the sound. Mine is paired with a ten year old Panasonic fairly smart TV and it's really improved the sound.It's quite small and unobtrusive and the sound fills the room and is deceptively bassy.
Most of the apps that came with my TV have long since stopped being supported so the streaming side was one of the reasons I bought it.