Verizon teamed up with luxury audio brand Bang & Olufsen to design two soundbars with built-in access to the telecom’s Stream TV platform.
Introduced in 2019, Stream TV’s $70 set-top box (free to Verizon 5G Home subscribers) offers 4K streaming, access to Google Assistant, and support for platforms like Disney+, Netflix, HBO Max, Amazon Prime, etc.
It’s unclear how popular the streaming box has been, but it has achieved a three out of five stars rating online. Verizon either can’t keep up with demand, or is looking to offer an extra incentive for customers by adding premium home theater audio into the mix.
The Stream TV Soundbar ($399.99) sports five Bang & Olufsen-tuned speakers, while the Stream TV Soundbar Pro ($999.99) increases that total to nine. Each features Dolby Atmos virtual surround sound and the embedded player allows for 4K Ultra HD video streaming for what Verizon calls “the perfect 2-in-1 entertainment solution.”
A customizable interface lets you pin favorite platforms to the home screen for easy access, while an intelligent search screen finds any type of content across all subscribed services from a single menu.
Automatic sound field selection detects what you’re watching and adjusts audio settings to provide the best playback—whether that’s clear dialogue in a movie or a roaring crowd at a sporting event. It’s also possible to connect other media devices, such as game consoles and a Blu-ray player to take advantage of the B&O audio.
Verizon certainly isn’t the first to launch such a device. Other products like the JBL Link Bar, Anker Nebula, and Roku Streambar Pro offer similarly integrated options—the latter earning a PCMag Editors’ Choice award.
Verizon’s Stream TV Soundbar and Soundbar Pro are available to purchase now, with discounts of up to 40% when buying multiple accessories.
