Roku’s Streambar, a 4K HDR-enabled soundbar, is now officially available for sale in Canada.
The soundbar adds streaming and improved sound to televisions with HDMI, including Roku TV models. It promises to offer clean audio that makes dialogue easier to hear while its angled side drivers “fill the room with sound,” says Roku. It can also automatically quiet loud commercials.
Control the Roku Streambar by voice using Amazon Alexa and/or Google Assistant devices, and you will be able to stream videos, music, and more with AirPlay 2 and HomeKit by the end of the year. It ships with a voice remote that controls your TV power, sound, and streaming.
You can stream movies and TV content in HD, 4K, and 4K HDR, listening to the audio via four 1.9″ full-range drivers and Dolby Audio. Advanced audio engineering within the Roku OS helps Roku Streambar produce sound beyond its size, says Roku, while increasing speech clarity and adding depth to music.
Simple volume modes make it easy to adjust sound: automatically lower loud commercials, boost the volume of voices, and optimize the sound for night listening. Spotify is available on the Roku platform and with Spotify Connect, easily launch a favourite playlist from a smartphone and listen through the Roku Streambar’s high performance speakers. With Bluetooth support, you can also easily stream music from mobile devices.
“Over the years, TVs have gotten thinner, reducing space for built-in speakers, resulting in less impressive sound, while new streaming services have changed the way we watch TV,” says Mark Ely, Vice President Product Strategy at Roku. “With the Roku Streambar, we offer an easy and all-in-one solution to that challenge. Our engineering teams in Denmark, the United Kingdom and the United States have been working together to design and build the Roku Streambar from the ground up to deliver an incredible streaming experience and the ultimate upgrade for any TV.”
Later this year, Roku expects customers will enjoy Apple AirPlay 2 and HomeKit capabilities on select 4K Roku devices, allowing you to stream, control, and share favorite content directly from an iPhone, iPad, or Mac to a supported Roku device. With HomeKit, you can easily and securely control a Roku device using the Home app and Siri on iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, or HomePod.
The Roku Streambar is expected to be available online and at major retail stores in Canada by the end of October for a suggested retail price of $189.