Forum Discussion

MLH55's avatar
MLH55
Reel Rookie
6 years ago
Solved

Connections needed for Streambar

I'm looking for clarification about the Streambar. Roku.com says both "Requires TV with HDMI ARC or Optical outputs" and "Roku® Streambar™ will work on any TV with an HDMI® port". Which is it? I hav...
  • RokuDanny-R's avatar
    RokuDanny-R
    6 years ago

    MLH55 

    Thanks for the inquiry.

    For clarification, with the Roku Streambar for a one-cable setup, you’ll need a TV with an HDMI® ARC port. If your TV doesn’t have an HDMI ARC port, you can connect with the HDMI and Optical input ports. 

    The HDMI ARC is required to pass sound over to other inputs but the Roku Streambar will work with just a HDMI port for sound when using the built in Roku player.


    Thanks,
    Danny

JimL's avatar
JimL
Streaming Star
5 years ago

This question is coming up yet again.  I just got a Streambar for Christmas, but with the confusing non-definitive response, I may give it back since I can't tell whether this works without buying another TV or projector.
The ads for the Streambar implied that it would double as a Roku unit and speaker system.   I am using a low(er) end projector as I am more into the big picture/theater effect and not needing 4K definition.   My projector has neither an HDMI ARC port nor an optical input.  I do not want to use the projector's speakers, which is why I wanted a Streambar.  Please clarify, just what can the Streambar be used for without ARC or optical inputs to my projector?  (Note that not even my HD TV that I no longer use has an optical input, but only an optical output.)
Each response thus far states the NEED for an ARC port or optical input when the question is asking whether it can be used without those ports.  I cannot understand why the Streambar would send an output to a TV when one wants to totally bypass the TV's speakers.
It would appear that just maybe the Streambar will work with an a non-ARC HDMI port, but it's almost if this is buried in fine print with this statement that doesn't seem to answer the original question until the end. "The HDMI ARC is required to pass sound over to other inputs but the Roku Streambar will work with just a HDMI port for sound when using the built in Roku player."
To be more clear on my end, I am ONLY streaming and ALL of my streaming is via Roku devices.  The Streambar was to replace a ROKU Ultra in my living room, and I am not planning to play video from other sources.
Bottom line, what will happen if I try to use the Streambar with a standard HDMI input with no ARC and no optical input on a TV or projector?  (It may help if you do not reference the ARC or optical ports in a response for those of us in the same situation.)  The support page for the Streambar states that a separate audio cable is needed.  So is it really needed or not?  Can the Streambar act like a ROKU, but one having speakers and doesn't need to use the TV's or projector's speakers? 
 
Thank you for your time and I look forward to your response,
-Jim

Tivoburkee's avatar
Tivoburkee
Community Streaming Expert
5 years ago

Its either hdmi-arc or combination regular hdmi and an opitical OUTPUT on your tv, not INPUT, just getting that straight. See the hdmi is for sending audio and video from the streambar to the tv, where the optical would be used to send audio from the tv to the streambar. A hdmi-arc does both, two way communication. Now forget that, you just want to use the streambar as the source, audio stays with streambar, and video portion goes to the projector which is being used as a monitor only, right? Yes that will work, no need for hdmi-arc or optical output on the tv in that situation. 

  • JimL's avatar
    JimL
    Streaming Star
    5 years ago

    Thank you Edmund.  Your response makes perfect sense.  Yes, I want to get the video from the Streambar to the projector and have the audio stay with the Streambar.  I'm back to being excited about getting this Streambar.  Again, thank you!

    I do have one more question if you or anyone else has the answer.  Perhaps this question should be asked elsewhere, but it does pertain to the Streambar.  I'm not finding the bluetooth info very clear.  Is a bluetooth connection with the streambar only for sending to the Streambar, such as playing music from my phone?  Or can the Streambar output bluetooth audio to a pair of wireless headphones such as when I want a quieter environment so as not to disturb anyone?

    Thanks,
    -Jim

    • Tivoburkee's avatar
      Tivoburkee
      Community Streaming Expert
      5 years ago

      Sorry but the Roku, it being streambar, soundbar or ultra are bluetooth receivers only, it can't transmit bluetooth to a speaker. Just receive music from a cellphone or tablet. 

      • JimL's avatar
        JimL
        Streaming Star
        5 years ago

        Thanks again Edmund!

  • jacquep801's avatar
    jacquep801
    Newbie
    5 years ago

    ok so I have the same situation, purchased the Streambar pro, subwoofer, and additonal speakers for an older projector in a basement that does not have an optical or HDMI-Arc. It only has an HDMI. Roku Streambar Pro Auto setup will not let me bypass the Optic connection. Thank you for your help in advance

    Jacque 

    • Shakmtl's avatar
      Shakmtl
      Newbie
      5 years ago

      Hi I think I might be in same situation if I buy a steam bar but want to make sure. My current setup is Roku stick plugged into Benq projector. I don’t like the sound from Benq speakers so I connect to external sound bar by Bluetooth. Was hoping to connect by Bluetooth to stream bar and use Roku stick for a different tv but that seems too good to be true.