What Wireless Speakers Work with Roku TV?

Which of the wireless speakers out there work with Roku TV? How about Roku devices attached to your regular non-smart HDTV? Is Roku Bluetooth compatible or not? This and more will be revealed through this article.

Roku doesn’t only deliver a streaming experience with its streaming media hardware or outright TVs with Roku OS. It also offers the best sounds to coincide with those HD videos. What’s the point of hi-res cinematic movies or immersive TV shows if the sound isn’t up to par?

However, which speakers should you use with your Roku product? What wireless speakers work with Roku TV?

What Wireless Speakers Work with Roku TV?

Roku has its own propriety wireless speakers like the Roku Streambar Pro and Roku Smart Soundbar that work superbly with it and even allows for them to use its virtual sound setting.

Most if not all Roku TVs have Bluetooth that allow wireless connection to various paraphernalia, including wireless speakers. The TCL Roku TV is a particular jewel in the lengthy line of Roku TVs by different manufacturers out there.

However, Roku TVs tend to prefer you only use Bluetooth wireless speakers made by them instead of by third parties though. More on this below.

Do Roku TVs Work with Bluetooth Devices?

Roku TVs do have Bluetooth. However, there’s a catch. They only connect to a few Roku-specific products. Roku has taken the stance that Roku TVs don’t support Bluetooth except for some Roku-made exceptions to the rule.

However, you can use a workaround on this issue since the Bluetooth tech is still there for the pickings, so to speak. Might as well find a loophole to the non-Roku Bluetooth devices.

Read more: Does Roku Have AirPlay 2?

The Private Listening Loophole

Roku has a “Private Listening” mode. This allows you to connect to a Bluetooth audio device to your smartphone then to your Roku TV. Connect your Bluetooth speakers and headphones through your smartphone via this mode.

Now you can wirelessly connect by Bluetooth to headphones or earpods so that you can watch anything on your late-night Roku TV privately, without disturbing your sleeping family. You can even have up to four people listening wirelessly through this mode.

Issues with the Loophole

The main problem with the Private Listening loophole is that it’s not ideal. Some Bluetooth devices provide more than just audio streaming. Some work as remote controls while others work as a means of sharing data.

The alternative to all this? Get a TV and a separate Roku Stick then use that TV’s Bluetooth connection to connect a Bluetooth speaker wirelessly. If that flatscreen TV lacks Bluetooth as well, you might have to use a Bluetooth dongle in order for it to work.

Is Bluetooth the Only Way to Use Wireless Speakers with Your Roku TV?

The Roku Smart Soundbar and the Roku TV Wireless Speakers are the only Bluetooth-supported devices accepted by the Roku TV brand. You can use the Robku mobile app in order to daisy-chain a connection between your Bluetooth devices and your Roku TV.

Alternatively, you can use wired or built-in speakers to listen to hi-fi sound effects and music. Or you can use the wireless speakers that use Wi-Fi or dongles in order to connect without wires to your Roku TV instead of depending on Bluetooth tech.

Most Roku-based TVs don’t support Bluetooth or only support Bluetooth for their own brand of speakers.

How to Go About Private Listening for Wireless Speaker Connections

The private Listening mode was made to enable you to use earphones connected to your phone to listen to what you’re watching. It links the audio to your phone which you can then link to other speakers via Bluetooth or by wired connections as a workaround.

To specifically activate this mode, you need to do the following.

Download the Roku App: Look for the Roku app on the Google Play Store or Apple App store then download it onto your tablet or smartphone.
Prompted to Search for Nearby Roku Devices: The app automatically scans for the nearest Roku devices, which happens to be your Roku TV. You’ll be given a list and you’ll just have to select your Roku TV model off of the list.
Phone as Remote: Once your Roku TV connects to your phone, you cn use the app to control the TV like a remote. You can also enable Private Listening to allow Bluetooth connections to go from your phone to your Roku TV.
Things You Can Do with the App: When using your phone as your Roku remote, you can pull up the keyboard to type in titles instead of using the actual Roku remote for it. Now select Private Listening to get the audio feed directly to your phone.
Daisy-Chained Connection: Pair up your Raycons, Airpods, or other listening devices with your phone or tablet first using the native Bluetooth support available on them. Afterewards, make sure the smartphone or tablet resides in the same wireless network as your Roku TV.
Go to the Headphones Icon: Open the Roku app, go to Remote, then click on the icon at the bottom that appears like headphones. That’s the Private Listening button right there.
Can Multiple People use Private Listening at Once? Yes, but only up to four people or four devices (available only on mobile). Regardless, once it’s on you can play your Roku TV audio through your mobile device.
Several Requirements Needed: To enable four-people or four-device simultaneous Private Listening sessions, you need to make sure they’re all using mobile phones and they’re running at least Roku OS 8.1 (or higher) unto their Roku TV.
No Bluetooth? No Problem: You don’t have Bluetooth? Then no problem. Use wireless speakers with wireless dongles that add Bluetooth or Wi-Fi connectivity to your Roku TV in order to finally enjoy wireless audio streaming care of the device itself.
When All Else Fails: When all else fails, then using an A/V receiver or wired audio for your speakers, base, and subwoofer ain’t half-bad of a solution. It ensures a solid connection that’s less likely to cut off, at least.

From Across the Board

Any Bluetooth speaker works with Roku TV. The internal built-in speakers work fine as well but if you wish to get true surround-sound action that really expands the abilities of your Roku TV to new heights, it’s a must to invest in wireless speaker tech.

Roku offers its own tech such as the Roku Streambar Pro and Roku Smart Soundbar, but many other non-Roku speakers should work fine in delivering to you hi-fi sound that’s music to your ears as long as you know the workaround for them.

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