soundbars · Head-to-head
Hisense HS5100 vs Roku Streambar SE
The short answer
Hisense HS5100 and Roku Streambar SE finish almost level in our scoring (6.9 vs 7.0 out of 10), so the right pick depends on what you value most. Hisense HS5100 is stronger on dialogue clarity and overall sound quality. Roku Streambar SE is stronger on dialogue boost range & controls, ease of setup & use for seniors and value. At current verified prices, the Roku Streambar SE costs about $80.00 less.
- Choose the Hisense HS5100 if: Budget movie watchers with room for a subwoofer and rear speakers who still want a center channel.
- Choose the Roku Streambar SE if: Seniors who want one tiny box and one remote for both streaming and clearer speech.
Scores by criterion
| Criterion | Hisense HS5100 | Roku Streambar SE |
|---|---|---|
| Dialogue clarity | 7.8Center channel; RTINGS Dialogue 7.9 (snippet). | 6.5No confirmed lab result; mixed owner reports. |
| Dialogue boost range & controls | 5.0News mode only. | 6.5Two manual speech levels plus Auto, Leveling and Night. |
| Ease of setup & use for seniors | 6.0Three extra boxes to place and power; EzPlay only with Hisense TVs. | 8.3One HDMI cable and one remote, but a Roku account is required. |
| Overall sound quality | 7.5Full 5.1 with a sub. | 5.0Two small drivers, little bass. |
| Value | 8.0Lots of hardware for $179.99, but much of it is surplus for dialogue-focused buyers. | 8.5$99.99 for a soundbar plus a 4K streamer. |
| Safety, energy & repairability | 5.5No data found. | 5.5No refurbishment or standby data found. |
Specifications
| Spec | Hisense HS5100 | Roku Streambar SE |
|---|---|---|
| Exact evaluated bar, subwoofer and surround configuration | Bar + wireless subwoofer + 2 rear speakers | Streambar SE only |
| Workflow type | 5.1 system with rears | Soundbar + built-in streaming player |
| Dialogue feature | News sound mode; center speaker (marketing) | Speech Clarity Off/Low/High/Auto; Leveling and Night modes |
| Exact US model and regional suffix | HS5100 | 9104R (per Best Buy) |
| Dialogue enhancement levels | — | 2 levels |
| Soundbar width | 902 mm | 244 mm |
| Dedicated center channel / speech driver | Yes | No |
| Soundbar height | 62 mm | 61 mm |
| Automatic volume leveling | — | Yes |
| Soundbar depth | 91 mm | 89 mm |
| Channel configuration | 5.1 | 2.0 |
| Meets editorial 800-mm width and 80-mm height filter | No | Yes |
| Dolby Atmos | No | No |
| Separate subwoofer included | Yes | No |
| HDMI ARC/eARC | Yes | Yes |
| Full HDMI source inputs excluding ARC/eARC return port | 0 ports | 0 ports |
| Optical input | Yes | Yes |
| Verified resolution, refresh rate and HDR passthrough | — | Outputs its own streaming video up to 4K60 HDR10/10+ (needs HDCP 2.2 TV input); not a passthrough |
| Bluetooth | Yes | — |
| ARC/eARC, optical, TV-specific and adapter requirements | — | HDMI ARC or optical (optical cable included) |
| Width | 35.5 in | 9.6 in |
| Physical remote, TV remote, account and app requirements | — | Roku voice remote with TV controls; Roku account required for streaming |
| Current verified retailer price for evaluated configuration | 179.99 USD | 149 USD |
| Listing, indexed listing, cart, delivery or conflicting-render status | Best Buy and Walmart $179.99 (search snippets) | Best Buy $149.99; Walmart $149.00 (search snippets) |
| Tested firmware, modes, protocol and substantive retest date | RTINGS methodology v1.3, reviewed July 2025 (search snippet) | — |
Hisense HS5100
Pros
- Center speaker and wireless subwoofer
- Rear speakers for surround
- Strong dialogue score from RTINGS
- Low price for a 5.1 system
Cons
- Three boxes to place
- Only a News mode for dialogue
- EzPlay works only with select Hisense TVs
- No Dolby Atmos
The best budget surround system here, and a better fit for movie fans than for seniors seeking simplicity.
Full Hisense HS5100 review →Roku Streambar SE
Pros
- Streamer and soundbar in one
- Speech Clarity, Leveling and Night modes
- Roku remote also controls the TV
- Very small footprint
- Budget price
Cons
- Two small drivers, limited bass
- No Dolby Audio
- Mixed owner feedback on dialogue
- Roku account required
A neat all-in-one for small TVs and simple setups. Treat it as a convenient upgrade, not a dialogue specialist.
Full Roku Streambar SE review →Both products are part of our guide The Best Soundbars Under $300 of 2026, where you can see every pick, how we score and current prices from each retailer.