3 Audio Accessories That Can Improve Your Roku Setup

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Roku streaming devices have been around since the dawn of Netflix streaming; the Netflix Player Set-top Box was actually built by Roku and paved the way for the future of smart TV entertainment. Nowadays, Roku makes its own TVs and non-platform-exclusive streaming gadgets. There are also a handful of TV companies that license the use of Roku OS for apps, games, and other streaming features (e.g., TCL and Hisense).

One of the best parts about buying Roku is you'll usually save yourself a good chunk of change. "Budget-friendly" is often a descriptor used to discuss the brand's greater AV lineup; that's not a bad thing, but lower pricing can sometimes translate to lackluster visuals. That's really not the case with Roku devices, but every Roku setup can benefit from upgraded audio. TV speakers are physically too small to sound big and bold, so it's up to you to provide the audible boost your living room needs.

Fortunately, Roku does a bit of dabbling in the audio space. Products like the Roku Wireless Speakers (mentioned on this list) are a simple addition to a Roku-branded TV, and the Roku Streambar is an all-in-one soundbar and streaming device. We also dared to think outside the box and were able to come up with three audio accessories to improve your Roku setup, two of which aren't affiliated with Roku at all.

If you happen to own a Roku TV, the $150 Roku Wireless Speakers are an excellent addition to your viewing space. TV speakers have limited volume and dynamics to work with, which is why your favorite movies and shows will often sound tinny and unmotivated. But once wirelessly paired to your TV, the Roku Speakers completely take over, and you should notice a major change in sound quality. Each speaker has a 0.75-inch tweeter and a 3.75-inch woofer, providing a full range of frequencies that even the best TV speakers can't match.

Roku didn't skimp on audio frills either: the Roku Speakers are engineered to enhance dialogue, while built-in volume leveling takes care of loud TV commercials. For connectivity, the Roku Speakers connect to a Roku TV via Wi-Fi and support both 2.4GHz and 5GHz network bands. They also support Bluetooth, allowing you to cast music, podcasts, and other audio from a device like a phone or laptop. Other than a power terminal, neither Roku Speaker has any physical ports, so connecting via auxiliary or digital optical isn't an option.

You can also wall-mount the Roku Speakers using a 20-thread mounting socket, but you'll need to provide your own brackets or other hardware. Also, we want to make this last point abundantly clear: the Roku Wireless Speakers will only work with Roku TVs. They will not work with Roku streaming devices or TVs running a platform other than Roku OS.

A pair of great noise-canceling headphones is an investment you'll thank yourself for making over and over again. While spending upwards of $200 isn't feasible for everyone, the $130 Soundcore Space 2 Headphones are relatively budget-friendly and deliver exceptional sound quality. The best way to put these cans to the test via Roku OS is by way of the Roku Mobile App. Once connected to your Roku account, you can pair your headphones to the app for private listening — a feature that disables your TV speakers.

The Soundcore Space 2 are comfortable over-ears that form a solid seal without suffocating your ears. They also last up to 50 hours on a full charge with ANC enabled; this makes them ideal for watching longer movies and shows. Thanks to quick-charge support, just five minutes of recharging nets you an extra four hours of playback. The headphones are also supported by the Soundcore app, which lets you create a custom sound profile (via an eight-band EQ), access spatial audio settings, download firmware updates, and more.

Available in Jet Black, Linen White, and Seafoam Green, the Soundcore Space 2 punch well above their weight class. They also scored 4.4 out of 5 stars on Amazon, based on over 1,100 user reviews. Some customers have found the ANC to be a bit lacking, but the Soundcore app lets you adjust how much or how little noise-canceling the Space 2 does, unless you'd prefer letting Adaptive NC handle all attenuation.

We've discussed wireless speakers and wireless headphones that work well with a Roku setup; now it's time to get into the nitty-gritty of Roku-compatible soundbars. To that end, we suggest the $250 Polk Audio Signa S2 Soundbar, a 2.1 audio system that's compatible with any TV brand. The bar has an HDMI ARC port, a digital optical input, and a 3.5mm auxiliary jack. You'll also be able to take advantage of wireless audio via the Bluetooth input. Unfortunately, there isn't a dedicated HDMI input, so all AV components need to be plugged into your TV first.

At 35.4 inches wide and 2 inches tall, the Signa S2 is slim enough to stand in front of most TVs without blocking the screen, and it can also be wall-mounted (hardware sold separately). The soundbar and wireless subwoofer combined deliver a wide, cinematic soundstage for most audio tracks. Do keep in mind that even though the Signa S2 can receive surround sound, it has to downmix to stereo for any multi-channel signal. But Polk attempted to make up for missing surround support by giving us features like three-stage Voice Adjust, a night mode, a music-listening preset, and a bass adjuster.

The Signa S2 has been on the market since 2020, and the fact that the manufacturer hasn't sought to replace it yet is a good sign in our books. Polk Audio also makes a few other soundbars, including the Signa S4 — the next rung up — and the Magnifi Mini AX, which is one of our favorite compact soundbars.