Top critical review
2.0 out of 5 starsWARNING - This product has a very big Achilles heel!
Reviewed in the United States on October 19, 2023
I have been using Roku streamers since their first product was introduced. It was a very buggy device back then. I was able to reach one of the developers and give him feedback and see it improve in subsequent versions. No such luck this time. No way to reach a live tech support person. No contact email address or phone. If the issue isn't addressed by the Roku website, you're out of luck.
The problem is that this streambar, like all Roku products, requires a remote control to make it work and that the particular remote seemed to use a non-standard battery size that apparently no one has ever heard of, let alone sells a replacement for. Upon further investigation, it appears that these are actually AAA batteries and the remote control battery compartment is so poorly designed that one of the two won't fit in it unless you fuss with it for a while, which is especially difficult to do if you have big hands. So, every time the batteries die, you have to go through this ordeal. The remote feels like a very light plastic -- not nearly sturdy as other Roku remotes.
I would reccomend buying another remote (though I hate to say this, because it rewards the company for shipping such a shoddy one with this product). Any of them should work.
The streaming player seems to be a scaled down version of the Roku Ultra (which I use on my main TV). As for the sound ... well, it's really the bare minimum that you'd ever want to use. Better than the built-in speakers on any TV, but only just.
I am currently using pro powered speakers with a real subwoofer (i.e. one that produces SUB bass frequencies) and a DAC/preamp on my main TV. The Roku streambar is for a small TV that is mounted to the wall with a bracket that swivels to point it toward the living room or dining room. I was using a pair of small powered speakers on a shelf under it, with basically no stereo separation or way to rotate them to face the desired room. The Roku streambar solved this problem. Its outer speakers face my living room and dining room, respectively, and the center speakers fill out the middle. I can hear it adequately from either room, or anywhere in between, without moving anything. Its small enough to exactly fit on the shelf under the TV and weighs less than the powered speakers.
So, for me, this was ideal (but only because I had a spare Roku remote lying around from my previous Utra). I don't think it would be worthwhile for everyone or worth having to buy a replacement remote. If you're just looking for the best sound and can afford it, two good powered speakers (with or without a subwoofer) has always sounded better to my ears than the best soundbars (unless you can't live without "surround sound" and cheezy panning cinematic sound effects) and definitely not a good choice for listening to serious music. Pro gear has always been a better bet for me. I generally like low-end pro audio more than high-end consumer audiophile gear at the same price point (and I find them to be more durable, too).
