Polk Audio Introduces ‘React’ Sound Bar with Dolby & DTS Virtual Surround Sound and Alexa Built-In

CARLSBAD, CALIF. (January 26, 2021 @ 4AM EST)— Polk Audio today announced its latest smart sound bar, Polk React. Offering Dolby Digital, DTS 5.1 virtual surround sound and Alexa Built-in, React is a high performance sound bar that makes any TV sound incredible with the added benefit of the industry’s most robust Amazon Alexa integration in a sound bar. Designed by Polk Audio’s renowned loudspeaker engineering team in Baltimore, React can be used as a standalone sound bar, or be paired with Polk Audio SR2 wireless rear surround speakers and/or React Sub wireless subwoofer for a full 5.1 surround system. Polk React ($249), SR2 wireless rear surrounds ($199) and React Sub ($199) are currently available for purchase.

To deliver a detailed and expansive surround sound home theater experience without the need for dedicated rear speakers, Polk React is optimized to get the most out of Dolby Digital and DTS 5.1. However, if listeners want to upgrade to true surround sound and deeper bass without connecting a single wire to the sound bar, they can purchase the new Polk SR2 wireless surround speakers and/or Polk Audio React Sub¹.

Polk Audio leaned into its years-long relationship with Amazon to make React the most advanced Alexa-enabled sound bar available today. It supports Alexa’s Communication feature, which gives users the ability to sync their contacts in the Alexa app and use voice commands to communicate with eligible friends and family in the US, Canada, and Mexico from the sound bar at no cost. Additionally, React supports Alexa Multi-room Music, enabling listeners to pair multiple Alexa-enabled speakers with the sound bar for whole-home music. To hear commands clearly even at higher volumes, React boasts four far-field microphones and Amazon’s proprietary wake word detection and echo cancellation software to augment performance.

Polk React users can ask Alexa to execute simple sound bar tasks like adjusting volume and bass levels, and selecting listening modes. However, to expand voice control for the home theater, React also works with other Alexa devices like a Fire TV Stick or Fire TV Blaster. Syncing a Fire TV Stick with React enables users to queue up and play movies or TV shows without touching a remote, while pairing React with a Fire TV Blaster enables voice control of TVs, cable boxes and other devices. Plus, automated over-the-air software updates ensure React stays up to date with new Alexa capabilities and sound bar features so users don’t have to lift a finger.

“Polk Audio was the first audio company to partner with Amazon and create an Alexa-controlled sound bar in 2018. While the fruit of that initial effort—the Polk Command Bar—was a big success, we learned a lot about how to enhance a sound bar for an even better voice-controlled home theater experience,” said Michael McCole, senior marketing manager for sound bars at Polk Audio. “Polk React is the realization of the learnings we gained from the Command Bar. We worked even more closely with Amazon to improve compatibility with other Alexa devices, create a simpler set up process, and make it more seamless to operate within the Alexa app. Also, since it’s a Polk Audio product, listeners can be assured it will always make their TV sound excellent. Great audio is all Polk does.”

React is easy to install and integrates with almost every flat panel TV display and its remote control for intuitive system operation and setup. Given its low-profile design, React does not block remote IR sensors and looks great on furniture or wall mounted.

Featuring Polk Audio’s proprietary Voice Adjust technology, listeners can precisely tweak voice levels and make dialogue crystal clear without needing to crank up the volume. One-button preset sound modes ensure movies (“Movie Mode”) and music (“Music Mode”) sound great, while a dedicated “Night Mode” prevents the sound from disturbing family or neighbors by reducing bass levels and enhancing Voice Adjust to deliver clearer dialogue. React also includes Bluetooth music streaming for when users want to get their groove on.

SR2 Wireless Surround Speakers
The Polk Audio SR2 wireless surround satellite speakers provide life-like home cinema surround sound performance to Polk React from a powerful internal amplifier and custom-tuned drivers. The SR2 speakers offer superb dispersion, providing the additional dimensionality that home theater enthusiasts crave. Because the speakers connect wirelessly to the React sound bar, there is no need to run speaker wires across the room. The Polk Audio SR2 surround speakers are compatible with the React sound bar as well as the Polk Magnifi 2 and future Magnifi and React series sound bars.

React Sub
The Polk React Sub wireless subwoofer delivers deep, impactful bass and is the ultimate enhancement for the React sound bar. The React Sub features a 7-inch, long-throw woofer mounted in an unassuming, finely tuned enclosure that blends into any home décor. The React subwoofer perfectly extends the bass response of the React sound bar, creating a high-performance entertainment system ideally suited for virtually any movie, music, or TV show.

The React Sub’s unique low-turbulence, flared port tube ensures tight, responsive bass performance with plenty of impact. Polk’s innovative Bass Adjust EQ feature automatically adjusts a React series sound bar’s settings to accommodate the React Sub’s additional bass output. Because React series sound bars are controllable using Amazon Alexa, users can turn up or down the React system’s bass level with their voice. Setup is effortless—simply plug the React subwoofer into a power outlet, push two buttons—setup is complete.

Pricing and Availability
The Polk Audio React sound bar ($249), SR2 wireless surround speakers ($199) and React Sub ($199) are currently available on the Polk Audio website, Amazon and other authorized resellers.

¹ Polk React SR2 Surrounds and Polk React Sub are sold separately.

About Polk Audio

Polk is an award-winning designer of high-performance audio products and the largest audio brand of Sound United. Founded in 1972, Polk is the market share leader in premium home theater speakers in North America, and is a leading manufacturer of sound bars, headphones, wireless speakers, mobile and marine speakers and amplifiers, and other high-performance audio products. For more information on Sound United and its brands, visit www.soundunited.com. All trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

About Sound United

Sound United was founded in 2012 with a simple mission – to bring joy to the world through sound. Today, we’re one of the world’s largest portfolio audio companies and home to several legendary audio brands—Bowers & Wilkins™, Denon^®, Marantz^®, Polk Audio, Classé, Definitive Technology, HEOS, and Boston Acoustics^®.  Each brand boasts its own philosophy and unique approach to bringing home entertainment to life.

With centuries of collective experience, Sound United oversees the design and manufacture of a diverse array of premium audio products, including loudspeakers, sound bars, AV receivers, wireless speakers, amplifiers, turntables, and headphones. We create distinct and memorable listening experiences for a wide range of consumers in more than 130 countries. For more information on Sound United and our mission, please visit www.soundunited.com.