Most Roku TVs cannot send their sound to an ordinary Bluetooth speaker. The routes that do work are Roku’s own wireless speakers, which pair only with specified Roku hosts, a soundbar or AV receiver connected by HDMI ARC/eARC or optical audio, and, on a short list of Roku models, direct Bluetooth streaming from a phone, tablet or laptop. Which route applies to you depends on the exact TV model and the ports it has, so check those first.
Start by identifying your Roku TV and its audio ports
Three questions decide almost everything: whether your TV is a Roku TV (or a Roku Streambar or Smart Soundbar that can act as the audio host), whether it has an HDMI port labelled ARC or eARC, and whether it has an optical digital audio output. Roku’s wired-connection guidance states that all Roku TV models have a type of HDMI ARC connection and a digital audio output, but the exact label and count of ports varies by model, so read the port labels on your own TV and the manual for your model rather than assuming.
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Once you know which of the three routes your hardware supports, the rest of this guide tells you how to set each one up.
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Comparing the connection options
| Option | What it works with | How it connects | Audio format notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roku Wireless Speakers (models 9020R2, 9030, 9040) | Roku TV and specified Roku Streambar or Smart Soundbar hosts only | Wireless, set up through Roku’s on-screen flow | Not stated in Roku’s setup guide; with a Roku TV, two speakers run as stereo |
| Roku TV Ready soundbar | Soundbars carrying the Roku TV Ready certification, from any manufacturer | One HDMI cable to the TV’s port marked HDMI ARC or eARC | Depends on whether the TV and soundbar both support eARC; see the next table |
| Third-party soundbar or AV receiver | Any device with HDMI ARC/eARC or optical digital input | HDMI ARC/eARC cable, or optical (TOSLINK) cable | ARC: Dolby Digital Plus and compressed Dolby Atmos. Optical: two-channel uncompressed PCM, or compressed 5.1 Dolby Digital or DTS |
| Direct Bluetooth from a phone, tablet or laptop | Only the Roku models Roku lists on its Bluetooth compatibility page | Bluetooth pairing from the source device | Not stated in Roku’s Bluetooth guidance |
Choose by the device you already own. A Roku TV with no Roku speakers and a standard soundbar is usually a wired ARC job. A buyer starting from scratch with a compatible Roku TV can choose Roku’s own wireless speakers instead.
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Roku Wireless Speakers
Roku’s wireless speakers are a Roku-specific product, not generic Bluetooth speakers. Roku’s setup guide lists models 9020R2, 9030 and 9040, and states that the speakers work only with a Roku TV, Streambar, Streambar Pro or Smart Soundbar. They cannot be paired with other TVs, with ordinary Roku players, or with every Roku audio product, so confirm your host model before buying.
What you need before pairing
- A supported Roku host (see above)
- Each speaker plugged in close enough to the TV to be within range of the setup
- Your Roku remote
- An internet connection on the Roku device
Pairing steps
- Power on the speakers and place them near the TV.
- Start setup in one of two ways: press and hold the Home button on the Roku remote, or go to Settings > Remotes & devices > Set up a new device.
- Follow the on-screen prompts and assign each speaker a position. For a stereo pair, assign left and right. For surround use with a supported Streambar or Smart Soundbar host, assign the surround positions as prompted.
- Test with a short video. The TV’s built-in speakers are switched off while the Roku speakers are in use, so if you hear nothing, check the speaker power and the position assignments first.
With a Roku TV, up to two speakers function as a stereo pair. Surround configurations are for the specified Streambar and Smart Soundbar hosts.
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Roku TV Ready soundbars
Roku TV Ready is a certification that a soundbar works with Roku TV over a wired connection. It is not a universal wireless pairing label. Check for the Roku TV Ready logo on the packaging or manual, or confirm the certification on the manufacturer’s product page, before buying.
Connecting a Roku TV Ready soundbar
- If Roku Wireless Speakers are already paired to the TV, disconnect or forget them in the TV’s settings before you install a soundbar from another manufacturer. Roku instructs this step.
- Connect one HDMI cable from the soundbar to the Roku TV port marked HDMI ARC or eARC. Do not use a standard HDMI input.
- Follow the TV’s on-screen setup to complete the connection.
Wired soundbars and AV receivers: ARC, eARC or optical
A conventional soundbar or receiver can be used with a Roku TV if it has an HDMI ARC/eARC input or an optical digital input. Roku’s surround-sound instructions identify these two routes. HDMI ARC sends the TV’s audio back to the soundbar over the HDMI cable and can allow TV-remote volume and mute control through CEC. Optical is a separate digital audio cable that does not carry control signals.
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ARC and eARC
Roku says eARC is present on select Roku TV models only. Enhanced eARC features require eARC support on both the TV and the audio device, plus a suitable HDMI cable. If only one side supports eARC, the connection still works on standard ARC functionality: an eARC soundbar can use an ARC port, and an ARC-only soundbar can use an eARC port. Dolby Atmos over ARC is compressed; eARC can carry uncompressed Atmos and other higher-bandwidth formats, including lossless formats, when both ends support it.
Optical (S/PDIF)
Optical is a supported alternative when HDMI ARC/eARC is not available on both devices. It has lower format bandwidth: two channels of uncompressed PCM, or compressed 5.1 Dolby Digital or DTS. Remove the protective caps from both ends of the optical cable before inserting it, because a capped cable will not carry audio.
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Setting up an ARC or optical soundbar
- Identify the TV’s HDMI ARC/eARC port and its optical output, using the labels on the TV and the manual.
- Connect the soundbar or receiver to the matching port with an HDMI or optical cable.
- Turn on ARC and CEC in the TV’s audio settings if audio or remote control does not work. The exact menu names vary by TV, so use your TV’s manual to locate them.
- Select the soundbar as the audio output in the TV’s audio output settings, then play a test file with a known format.
Bluetooth: what it does and what it does not do
Roku’s Bluetooth guidance lists specific Roku models that accept direct Bluetooth connections from a phone, tablet or laptop. On those models, you can stream audio from the source device to the TV’s audio system. This is a source-to-TV connection, not a way to send the TV’s own audio to a Bluetooth speaker.
On other Roku TV systems, Roku says Bluetooth playback requires adding its own wireless speakers or a Roku TV Wireless Soundbar. A standard Bluetooth speaker bought separately will not become a TV output on any Roku TV in this guide. Check the Bluetooth list on Roku’s compatibility page for your exact model before relying on this feature.
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- Add cinematic sound to your Roku TV or surround sound to your Roku audio system. Requires Roku TV, Roku Streambar, Roku Streambar Pro, or Roku Smart Soundbar—sold separately. Only works with Roku TV or Roku Audio. Roku Streambar SE is not compatible.
- Powerful, premium audio: With high frequencies and dynamic bass, Roku Wireless Speakers are meticulously engineered to deliver full, clear sound and crisp dialogue with seamless audio/video sync to your Roku TV or Roku Smart Soundbar
- Be immersed in your TV: Experience room-filling audio that moves with the action, conversations like you’re in the room, and soundscapes that transport you to another world—it's cinematic sound for your entertainment
- Elevate your music: Listen to your music come to life with clear highs and volume without distortion—simply tune into your favorite music channels or stream via Bluetooth
- Fine-tune your sound: Easily boost the volume of voices with Speech Clarity, lower loud commercials for consistent sound with Volume Leveling, and enjoy your TV without waking the house using Night Mode
Troubleshooting
Roku Wireless Speakers will not pair
- Confirm that your device is a supported Roku host and that the speaker model is one of 9020R2, 9030 or 9040.
- Check that each speaker has power and is close enough to the TV during setup.
- Confirm the Roku device has an internet connection, then restart setup from Settings > Remotes & devices > Set up a new device.
Soundbar produces no audio on a wired setup
- Make sure the cable is in the port marked ARC or eARC, not a standard HDMI port.
- Turn on ARC and CEC in the TV’s settings, then restart the TV and the soundbar.
Optical connection produces no sound or the wrong format
- Confirm that both devices have optical digital audio ports and that the cable is seated at both ends.
- Remove the protective caps from the cable ends.
- Choose an output format the soundbar supports. Optical cannot carry Dolby Atmos or lossless formats.
Roku TV Ready soundbar is not detected
- Confirm the soundbar’s Roku TV Ready certification on its packaging, manual or the manufacturer’s product page.
- Confirm the cable is in the ARC or eARC port.
- Disconnect or forget any Roku Wireless Speakers that are still paired, then try setup again.
For a specific TV, soundbar, receiver or speaker model, check that model’s manual and Roku’s current compatibility information before purchase. Product availability, supported models and Roku OS requirements can change, and this guide does not cover every model.
Sources: Roku Support pages on Roku Wireless Speakers and surround configurations, Roku TV Ready soundbars, wired surround connections, Bluetooth device compatibility, and Streambar and Smart Soundbar connections.
Roku’s wireless speakers and Roku TV Ready soundbars give the most straightforward setup. ARC/eARC is the most common wired route, and optical is the fallback when the TV’s HDMI ARC port is missing or unavailable on the audio device.
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