Polk React review

Our Verdict

This Alexa-powered soundbar produces impressive bass without a subwoofer, though information technology lacks a truly wide soundstage.

For

Impressive bass without a subwoofer
Alexa within
Slim pattern

Against

Narrow soundfield
No Atmos support
Few sound modes

Tom'southward Guide Verdict

This Alexa-powered soundbar produces impressive bass without a subwoofer, though it lacks a truly wide soundstage.

Pros

+
Impressive bass without a subwoofer
+
Alexa inside
+
Slim blueprint

Cons

-
Narrow soundfield
-
No Atmos back up
-
Few sound modes

If y'all're on a budget and want to bring Amazon Alexa into the Television room, the Polk React soundbar is probably the least expensive soundbar you'll find with Alexa built-in. Amazon's digital assistant is available on Sonos Axle and Sonos Arc, as well as some Yamaha soundbars, but those all cost well over $300.

Polk React specs

Speakers: 2 x mid range drivers, 2 ten tweeters

Ports: Optical in, USB in, HDMI ARC

Wi-Fi: Yes

Size: 2.two x 34 x 4.eight inches

Weight: 6.four pounds

The React has other things going for it, too, including a slim pattern and impressive bass response fifty-fifty without a subwoofer. Merely you'll need to make sacrifices in exchange for the lower price, as the React can't lucifer those more avant-garde soundbars on sound quality or overall features. If you remember you might want to take the chance, keep reading our Polk React review.

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Polk React: Cost and availability

Reduced from $249 to $199
Choice of retailers available

The Polk React has a listing price of $249, merely every bit of this writing is selling for $199 from Amazon, Best Buy and B&H.

You can add a wireless subwoofer for $179 and wireless surround speakers for $179 equally well.

Polk React review: Design

Compact dimensions
HDMI ARC support
Mainly uses voice controls, only remote is functional

The React is a slim soundbar that looks like an Amazon Echo Dot was dropped into information technology. It's also basically an updated version of Polk's Command Bar, though more than compact and without the included wireless subwoofer.

At 34 x 4.viii 10 2.2 inches, it's smaller than many soundbars and should slide beneath almost TV stands. Inside the soundbar, Polk put ii midrange drivers, ii tweeters and ii passive radiators.

On the front end there'southward a low-cal bar that shows you the volume level and lights up when yous appoint Alexa. And then, there'south a minor LED status light below the lite bar that switches color to point the sound input and other functions.

Polk Audio review — (Image credit: Hereafter)

The top has the Echo-like controls, including buttons to activate Alexa or mute the microphones. Mainly though, you'll be happy using Alexa voice commands to accommodate the sound. There are 4 microphones dotted around the React, which helps make Alexa responsive to your vox.

On the back you'll find an HDMI port with sound return channel (ARC) for easy connection to your Tv set, or you can utilize an optical digital audio cable. The React also includes a USB port and a push for pairing with Polk'south wireless subwoofer and wireless surrounds, which are sold separately.

The remote has large, well spaced buttons. You can activate Alexa, switch betwixt TV audio and Bluetooth, change the volume, adjust the bass and vox levels and choice a sound style. If yous add the wireless surrounds, you can as well use the remote to change the balance and volume of those.

Polk React review: Setup

Fast and easy initial process
Optional only worthwhile EQ tweaks bachelor via Alexa

The React is simple to gear up up and use. After you lot connect it to your Tv with an HDMI cable, installation is done. Then launch the Alexa app to go it on your network and working with Alexa. The React has a QR code on the back to make that process easy.

Y'all can adjust the bass and voice levels with the remote. I didn't need to pump upward the bass, but I did want dialog at a higher level. You can besides use the remote or your voice to switch among three sound modes: Music, Sport and Movie. I found the Movie mode to be the liveliest, even when listening to music.

If you desire to further tweak the sound, you tin go into the Alexa app and find a three-band equalizer. I wanted more treble and midrange in the sound, and then I bumped those upwards. But the consequence was minimal on the overall audio.

Polk React review: Audio performance

Surprisingly powerful bass
Small soundstage, but expert for music

The React sounds skilful overall, but it'southward the booming bass that is the welcome surprise — especially since in that location's no subwoofer and given its slim profile. Dialog is easy to understand equally well. But because the React lacks virtual surround audio or Dolby Atmos back up, it creates a much narrower soundfield than many soundbars bachelor today.

When Thor brought the lightning in Avengers: Infinity War, the bass rattled my Boob tube stand up and fabricated the upshot tactile, while the snide banter betwixt Jean Smart and Hannah Einbinder in Hacks was articulate (and cutting).

During the "96,000" scene of In the Heights, the vocals were rich and the bass helped drive the vocal. Withal, this scene also served to demonstrate how the lack of surround sound, even virtual, fabricated the feel less engaging than it could be. Instead of filling the room, the audio was bars to the infinite right in front of me. And when Thor threw Stormbreaker in Infinity War, the React couldn't brand it feel like the axe moved around me, as many soundbars with virtual environment sound will.

The React is even so a solid music machine — when listening to two-channel music I didn't miss having a wide soundstage as much. The chorus of Lorde's "Solar Power" sounded big and full, while the strummed guitar on Billie Eilish's "Your Power" was suitably warm. The layers of sound on St. Vincent'due south "Pay Your Way in Pain" got a bit compressed coming out of the 2.0 system, simply the React'southward bass once more shined on the funky synths.

The React can also become plenty loud, despite its relatively small size. It reached well-nigh 95 decibels at full book, though the sound became harsh and distorted at that level.

Polk React review: Alexa

Familiar and reliable smart aid
Just basic playback control, though

Alexa's smart functionality is consistent whether yous're using a soundbar or smart speaker, then the React's implementation of the digital assistant works as you'd look. Unlike the Control Bar, which was one of the first soundbars to come up with Alexa, the React was quick to respond to my commands. Information technology played music, turned on a Wemo switch and told me the weather forecast immediately upon my prompts.

Alexa is somewhat express when it comes to controlling the React itself, however. I could apply my voice to alter the volume, input and audio mode, but it couldn't plough the TV on or off.

Polk React review: Verdict

Past combining affordability with built-in Alexa functionality, the Polk React manages to stand up out amongst similarly-priced soundbars. The relatively compact design and impactful bass farther add to its entreatment.

Just equally sound in movies and TVs shows increasingly take advantage of Dolby Atmos and other immersive sound tech, the React's soundstage feels disappointingly narrow. You tin can add wireless environs speakers and a wireless subwoofer, but that brings the price close to over $500 — and yous can become a better all-in-ane soundbar for that, like the $399 Sonos Axle.

If y'all don't demand Alexa in your soundbar and want to keep under $200, the TCL Alto 6 Plus creates a much bigger sound than the React and only costs about $100. If you can afford to spend more than, the JBL Multibeam 5.0 brings Atmos back up and impressive virtual surround audio for $350 — though again, without Alexa.

But if what y'all desire is an affordable Alexa soundbar with practiced overall sound that won't have up also much room, the Polk React will be a good choice for you. Just don't sit too far to the sides.

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Michael Gowan covers soundbars, TVs, portable speakers and other audio- and video-related topics for Tom's Guide. He'south written about music and technology for more than 20 years for a raft of publications including Wired, Men'southward Periodical, PC World and Macworld. When he'southward non reviewing speakers, he's probably listening to ane anyway.