Both Roku and Amazon recently introduced sound bars with integrated streaming platforms. While they’re similar, some distinct differences might help you decide which one to get.
If you have a beautiful, large 4K TV that’s thin as paper and light as a feather, you might have noticed one big problem: the speakers are awful. Most large TVs skimp on speakers to maximize screen real estate and maintain thin designs and affordability.
So, TV manufacturers have passed on the cost of speakers to you. However, the benefit is you can choose the best speakers for you. If you live in an apartment or smaller home—or you just don’t want to deal with the expense and complicated setup of a surround system—sound bars are a fantastic way to add better sound to your TV.
And Roku and Amazon now offer a two-for-one deal: if you buy a sound bar, you also get an integrated streaming platform (Roku or Fire TV, respectively). But which one is better? It depends on how much you want to spend.
Roku Streaming and Smart Sound Bar
Roku’s new sound bar ($180, at this writing) is a departure from its previous speaker offering. The company’s wireless speakers work with Roku TVs, but its sound bar isn’t wireless and works with any TV.
The device doubles as a 4K Roku streaming unit and handles all your streaming needs. Just plug the sound bar into an HDMI ARC port, and you’re good to go.
If you plug it into a Roku TV, you can continue to use the TV’s interface instead of the sound bar’s built-in Roku device. You can also control the Roku interface with Google Assistant (to some extent). The unit is capable of 4K HDR (HDR10) video, along with Bluetooth and Dolby Audio support.
Roku included four, 2.5-inch full-range drivers in the sound bar, so it should sound much better than your thin TV’s tiny speakers. But if you want more bass, Roku’s got an optional wireless subwoofer ($180, at this writing).
You can place this anywhere you have a plug within 35 feet of your TV and sound bar. You control it with your Roku remote, so for minimal effort, you should get noticeable bass from its 10-inch driver.
You can preorder both the sound bar and subwoofer now, and Roku expects to ship them on October 13, 2019.
Sound Bar by Anker, Fire TV by Amazon
Amazon wants in the sound bar game, too, but it’s not making the hardware. The terribly-named Nebula Soundbar—Fire TV Edition comes from Anker. As its name suggests, this is a sound bar with the Amazon Fire TV platform built-in. A Fire TV sound bar, if you will (was that so hard?).
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Source : Roku vs. Fire TV: Which Smart Sound Bar Should You Get?
