soundbars · Head-to-head
Roku Streambar SE vs Sony HT-S100F
The short answer
Roku Streambar SE and Sony HT-S100F finish almost level in our scoring (7.0 vs 7.0 out of 10), so the right pick depends on what you value most. Roku Streambar SE is stronger on dialogue boost range & controls and safety, energy & repairability. Sony HT-S100F is stronger on ease of setup & use for seniors, overall sound quality and value.
- Choose the Roku Streambar SE if: Seniors who want one tiny box and one remote for both streaming and clearer speech.
- Choose the Sony HT-S100F if: Shoppers who want the cheapest no-fuss, no-app upgrade over TV speakers, with a Voice mode.
Scores by criterion
| Criterion | Roku Streambar SE | Sony HT-S100F |
|---|---|---|
| Dialogue clarity | 6.5No confirmed lab result; mixed owner reports. | 6.8Beats TV speakers, but there's no center channel (RTINGS). |
| Dialogue boost range & controls | 6.5Two manual speech levels plus Auto, Leveling and Night. | 4.5Single Voice toggle. |
| Ease of setup & use for seniors | 8.3One HDMI cable and one remote, but a Roku account is required. | 8.8HDMI ARC/CEC, simple remote, no app. |
| Overall sound quality | 5.0Two small drivers, little bass. | 6.0Decent 2.0 with modest bass. |
| Value | 8.5$99.99 for a soundbar plus a 4K streamer. | 8.8$98 with three testers behind it. |
| Safety, energy & repairability | 5.5No refurbishment or standby data found. | 5.0Neutral: no parts or idle-power evidence found. |
Specifications
| Spec | Roku Streambar SE | Sony HT-S100F |
|---|---|---|
| Exact evaluated bar, subwoofer and surround configuration | Streambar SE only | HT-S100F bar only |
| Workflow type | Soundbar + built-in streaming player | Standalone budget bar |
| Dialogue feature | Speech Clarity Off/Low/High/Auto; Leveling and Night modes | Voice mode |
| Exact US model and regional suffix | 9104R (per Best Buy) | HT-S100F |
| Dialogue enhancement levels | 2 levels | 1 levels |
| Soundbar width | 244 mm | 902 mm |
| Dedicated center channel / speech driver | No | No |
| Soundbar height | 61 mm | 64 mm |
| Automatic volume leveling | Yes | — |
| Soundbar depth | 89 mm | 89 mm |
| Channel configuration | 2.0 | 2.0 |
| Meets editorial 800-mm width and 80-mm height filter | Yes | No |
| Dolby Atmos | No | No |
| Separate subwoofer included | No | No |
| Verified decoding and transport support | — | Dolby Digital, LPCM 2ch (retailer spec) |
| 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) | HDMI ARC or optical |
| Width | 9.6 in | 35.5 in |
| Physical remote, TV remote, account and app requirements | Roku voice remote with TV controls; Roku account required for streaming | Included remote; TV remote via HDMI-CEC; no app |
| Current verified retailer price for evaluated configuration | 149 USD | — |
| Listing, indexed listing, cart, delivery or conflicting-render status | Best Buy $149.99; Walmart $149.00 (search snippets) | Amazon new offer $98 from third-party seller Electronic Express (search snippet) |
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 →Sony HT-S100F
Pros
- Very low price
- HDMI ARC/CEC for TV-remote control
- One-touch Voice mode
- Bluetooth and optical inputs
- Backed by several independent testers
Cons
- No center channel
- Single voice toggle, no levels
- Older 2018 design
- An owner reports Bluetooth lag with video
A fair budget upgrade. For stronger hearing needs, spend more on one of the ZVOX bars.
Full Sony HT-S100F 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.