I have only had this speaker for a few days but I am super impressed with it so far. The dialogue is front and center right out of the box and clearer then any speaker I have owned. I am sure this is related to Polk's audio enhancements for dialogue but it works great without compromising the impact of other sounds. I have not touched any of the dialogue enhancement settings as I feel like the default in "Movie" and "Sports" mode is perfect.
The remote has options to adjust the amount of bass and dialogue enhancement. The one you need to be careful with is the bass setting. If you pump it up too much the sub can distort a bit, it does have only a 6 inch driver after all. As long as you do not expect it to sound like a 10-12 inch sub that goes below 40 Hz you will not be disappointed. The bass that is there is solid and tight without being overwhelming. When you compare to other higher end soundbars this speaker holds up really well for sound dynamics and is still cheaper then many other options. Having the sub on board is definitely a plus over speakers that are lacking this such as the Sonos Beam.
The Alexa function in the speaker seems to work really well. The vast majority of the time Alexa can hear me even when the speaker is turned up a bit. If you like having the volume maxed out you may need to speak louder to be heard by Alexa, but I have not had any issues with it. It hears me better then the microphones on the Sonos One as a comparison. All of the major functions I use Alexa for work as they would with one of Amazon's own speakers. I do not believe you can do calling or drop-in but I rarely use these anyway.
This is a very flat soundbar unlike my previous version which was a Yamaha Digital Sound Projector. Because the Command Bar speaker is flat there is a grill on the top suggesting there may be some speakers sitting on the top of the unit as well as the front and sides. The reason why this is important to know is because putting the speaker in a shelf may not get the best sound quality. I have mine sitting at the top of my TV stand just under my TV and pushed out flushed to the front so the speakers have room to project sounds. There is nothing in other words obstructing the top of the speaker. I have heard some other people online mention that sound quality is much better when the speaker is not in a shelf with something obstructing the top of it.
One additional tip on setup that I came across. When you plug the soundbar in first and then the sub it seems like the sub pairs automatically with the speaker, the green light on the back of the sub was on. After a few days however I noticed there was a static sound coming from the sub sometimes and it would drop in and out. I went through the pairing process in the troubleshooting section and was able to make a smooth connection to the sub. This made the sound better then I have heard since I started using the speaker and I was able to pump up the bass output without distortion. This makes me believe there was a pairing issue with the sub at the beginning. Based on this, I would recommend going through the pairing process to make sure the sub and speaker connection is good.
Overall this is a great speaker especially for the price. I got it on sale for $200 but even at the regular price of $300 it is still a good deal considering sound quality and connective options. I feel like I am hearing things in movies I have not heard before and the dynamics of soft and loud sounds are great. If you want a full blown 5.1 soundbar system the Polk Magnafi Max SR is more expensive with surrounds and a bigger sub. If you want an Alexa soundbar though, it would be hard to find a better deal then this speaker and sub combination for the price.
Ask to play music, hear the news, control your smart home, and more with this smart speaker.
Alexa Built-in Learn more
Alexa Built-in
This smart speaker has been certified by Amazon for its built-in Alexa functionality, providing a voice-forward experience to play music, read news, control other smart home devices, and more.
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This Item  Polk Audio Command Sound Bar with Handsfree Amazon Alexa Voice Control (New Update with Multi-Room Music Built-In), 4K HDMI, and Fire TV Compatible for Your Home Theater |  |  |  |  |  | |
| Price | Currently unavailable. | -32% $189.95 List: $279.95 | $799.00 | -14% $258.00 List: $299.99 | -17% $749.99 List: $899.99 | -5% $256.44 List: $269.00 |
| Delivery | — | Get it as soon as Friday, Aug 16 | Get it as soon as Friday, Aug 16 | Get it as soon as Friday, Aug 16 | Get it as soon as Friday, Aug 16 | Get it as soon as Friday, Aug 16 |
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| Sold By | — | Amazon.com | Amazon.com | Amazon.com | Nakamichi LLC | Ava's Depot (S/N Recorded) |
| speaker size | 43.3 inches | 23 inches | 10 inches | 900 millimeters | 10 inches | — |
| power source | Corded Electric | Corded Electric | Corded Electric | Corded Electric | Corded Electric | Corded Electric |
| connectivity tech | Optical, HDMI | Bluetooth, HDMI, Auxiliary, Optical | Wi-Fi | wireless, wired | Coaxial, Bluetooth, Optical, RCA, HDMI, Auxiliary | HDMI, Optical, Bluetooth, USB |
| speaker type | Surround | Soundbar | Soundbar | Soundbar, Subwoofer | Tweeter | Soundbar |
| mounting type | Wall Mount | Wall Mount | Tabletop | Wall Mount | Bar Mount | Wall Mount |
| weight | 4.95 pounds | 19.55 pounds | 11 kilograms | 16.1 pounds | 51.8 pounds | 4 grams |
From the manufacturer
The Sound Bar with Amazon Alexa Built-in
Your Voice. Amazon Alexa. Polk Sound. Together.
Use your voice to control the sound bar, your smart home devices and stream music - "Just Ask."
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Great Sound
Virtual surround sound, subwoofer, Dolby and DTS ensure your movies, music and sports sound great.
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Smart Home Control
Works with lights, TVs, thermostats, garage doors, sprinklers, locks and other smart home devices.
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Loud, Clear Dialogue
Patented Polk Voice Adjust technology customizes voice levels to reproduce clear, crisp dialogue.
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Music Streaming
Listen beyond movies and TV. Stream via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth and enjoy leading audio services.
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Always Learning More
Automated over-the-air updates ensure the sound bar is always learning new Alexa services.
1 Great Sound 2 Smart Home Control 3 Loud, Clear Dialogue 4 Music Streaming 5 Always Learning More
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Polk Command Bar - How to
Polk Audio
Reviews with images
Stoked about this soundbar
1. Set-Up The Polk Connect App is required to set-up the Command Bar. I initially had trouble with the set-up, which is managed via WiFi, because the bar kept disconnecting from my iPhone 7. It even disconnected when I stood next to one end of the bar but it, thankfully, remained connected by standing next to the other one. The only wireless device in the vicinity is a 5 yr old Sony DVD/Blu-ray player. The rest of the set-up went smoothly. My TV is an old Panasonic plasma so it only has HDMI (not HDMI ARC) and optical sound sources. I use a Harmony 650 to control everything. The Command Bar assimilated the bits it needed without any further assistance from me. Very sweet.2. Operation I was pleased that the Command Bar responded as expected to the Harmony remote. It switched seemlessly, along with the TV, amongst the different input sources. The bar also responds to voice commands. I really like the ability to adjust the volume by specifying a value between 0 and 100, e.g., "Alexa, volume 50." You can also tell the bar to switch inputs and modes. The mic is sensitive enough to hear my voice over the sound of a floor fan blowing in the same room. I only needed to raise my voice slightly above conversation level. In addition to Alexa's vocal response to audible commands, feedback is provided by multi-colored lights that encircle the Command Bar's physical controls.3. Sound I primarily watch films and TV shows (typically Blu-rays/DVDs or streamed from the Internet) where dialogue is more important than sound effects. I prefer hearing dialogue over immersive sound effects. The Command Bar did a satisfactory job in this area. I especially like "night mode" (one of four sound modes) which emphasizes dialogue by reducing the sound effects. Prior to the Command Bar, I listened to music using Harman Kardon SoundSticks. They were located in the same room as the Command Bar is now. Compared to the Command Bar, the SoundSticks sounded tight. The bar does a great job gloriously filling the 24' x 19' space with whatever I streamed at it over Bluetooth: funk; old 60's, 70's, 80's Dead, and their ilk; acoustic; classical; etc.4. Miscellaneous I don't use Alexa's services and don't plan to join Alexa's ecosystem. I did test it out of curiousity by asking for my local surf report. It provided me with Surfline's report. Cool. The Command Bar's remote doesn't accomodate all AAA batteries. There is a piece in the battery compartment that limits the diameter of the battery. My rechargeable batteries and Duracell Quantums don't fit. Polk proactively improves the performance of the Command Bar via periodic firmware updates. The updates occur automatically. The bar will inform you when an update is performed. One such update significantly improved the mic's sensitivity. Prior to the update, the bar could not hear my voice commands very well over the floor fan mentioned earlier in this review unless I yelled.Overall, I am quite happy with the Command Bar.Addendum: - I received the Polk Command Bar as a promotional item in exchange for my unbiased review. - This is the first soundbar I've owned, so my comments about its capabilities and sound quality are most definitely subjective. - There are plenty of photos of the bar so I just took photos of the packaging.
Top reviews from the United States
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Top reviews from other countries
John Hartley
Love it. Amazing clarity and full sound
Reviewed in Canada on November 14, 2018Style: Command Bar w/ SubwooferVerified Purchase
Jared Bettridge
Sleek product that is extremely easy to set up
Reviewed in Canada on September 30, 2018Style: Command Bar w/ SubwooferVerified Purchase
Jason Wang
Would love it, if not for the annoying overnight noises
Reviewed in Canada on March 26, 2019Style: Command Bar w/ SubwooferVerified Purchase
AJ0087
Great sound, can get quite loud!
Reviewed in Canada on July 31, 2020Style: Command Bar w/ SubwooferVerified Purchase
Adam brown
Awesome sound and Alexa!
Reviewed in Canada on October 8, 2018Style: Command Bar w/ SubwooferVerified Purchase
