Editors' Note: The Roku Wireless Subwoofer has been renamed the Roku Wireless Bass Pro. It is otherwise the same subwoofer reviewed below.

The Roku TV Wireless Speakers and Roku Smart Soundbar are capable audio devices that can add more powerful sound to your TV, but their size prevents them from putting out much bass. If you want real low-frequency response, you need a big box for all that air to resonate in; it's simply the limits of acoustics. Fortunately, the company also offers the Roku Wireless Subwoofer. It's just what Roku's soundbar and speakers need to really shake the walls, and it's a reasonable $179.99. It isn't absolutely necessary for either of those products (and you can't use it with other soundbars or speakers), but it adds a sub-bass response you can only get with a proper subwoofer, and that's a very nice addition to your home theater.

Design

The subwoofer is a big, black box with rounded corners, similar in shape to the Roku TV Wireless Speakers. It's a cube measuring 11.8 inches across, and weighs a solid 17.2 pounds. The sides and top are smooth, matte black plastic, with a glossy Roku logo in the middle of the top panel. Four short legs mounted on a rounded square base lift the subwoofer up a few inches to keep the downward-firing 10-inch driver (with 250 watts peak power, 125 watts RMS) off of the floor.

The back panel of the subwoofer holds a single connector for the included power cable, an indicator light, and a pairing button. Since it's designed to be used with the Roku Smart Soundbar or Roku TV Wireless Speakers, it doesn't have a remote or any other controls; everything is configured through the on-screen interface of your connected device.

(Credit: Roku)

Setup

Setting up the subwoofer is as easy as setting up the Roku TV Wireless Speakers or Smart Soundbar. Go to settings on your Roku TV and select Remotes & Devices, then Pair New Device. Select Subwoofer, plug it into a power outlet, and it will start pairing automatically. After a firmware update, the subwoofer will start playing a low-frequency beat to indicate it's working, and you're ready to use it. The crossover will automatically be set between the speakers or soundbar and the subwoofer, making sure the sub takes care of the really low frequencies.

Performance

When paired with a Roku Smart Soundbar, the Wireless Subwoofer adds plenty of deep, rumbling bass to the viewing and listening experience. Orchestral sweeps in shows like Batwoman and games like Destiny 2 get lots of ominous low-frequency force, and the sound of gunfire and explosions receive a nice bump in presence.

The Roku Smart Soundbar didn't wow us with its deep bass performance on our bass test track, The Knife's "Silent Shout." It can shake nearby bookcases slightly, but it also starts to distort just a third of the way up on the volume scale. The Roku Subwoofer has no such problem. Paired with the Smart Soundbar, it generates plenty of deep, low thump that can rumble floors and upset neighbors, and the crossover setting keeps the soundbar itself from trying to do any of that sub-bass heavy lifting.

Underworld's "Cowgirl" shows off how much the soundbar can contribute to a good techno track. When the deep bass notes start to kick in, they produce a palpable thump that complements the rest of the frequency response from the soundbar. It sets the beat and really helps complete the track in a way the soundbar alone can't quite manage.

A Smart, Simple Subwoofer

The Roku Wireless Soundbar is a specific accessory for either the Roku Smart Soundbar or Roku TV Wireless Speakers. It's also a vital one if you want really powerful bass. For $180, it adds enough rumble to thump floors and walls at high volumes, shoring up the sub-bass weaknesses of both Roku speakers easily. While the Smart Soundbar and Wireless Speakers sound very good on their own, if you want add some thunder, you should seriously consider picking up the Wireless Soundbar to go with them.