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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
Brand | Polk Audio |
Model Name | AM9640 |
Speaker Type | Soundbar |
Connectivity Technology | Optical, HDMI |
Special Feature | Subwoofer |
About this item
- Upgraded TV sound: Get legendary Polk sound with built in Dolby and DTS surround sound for an immersive home theater experience
- Stream shows and music: fire tv compatible and built in support for amazon music, Pandora, tune in, iheartradio and more music services as they become available
- Built in Alexa voice services and multi room music: easily control the sound bar functionality, your smart home devices, stream music in multiple rooms with your voice “just ask”. Automated over the air support updates whenever new features and services are made available
- 4k and hd tv compatible: easy setup with built in dual HDMI 2.0 inputs and optical cables to deliver 4k HDR viewing experience
- Wireless subwoofer included: delivers room filling powerful bass perfect for movies, music and games
- Patented voice adjust technology: Customize the voice levels to reproduce clear, crisp dialogue hear every word
- Flexible setup options for any home: two mounting options designed for tabletop and wall mounting via built in keyhole slots
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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Price | Currently unavailable. | -25% $299.00$299.00 List: $399.00 | -11% $799.99$799.99 List: $899.00 | -19% $227.99$227.99 List: $279.95 | $179.99$179.99 | $479.20$479.20 |
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Customer Ratings | ||||||
Sound quality | 4.1 | 4.3 | 4.2 | 4.3 | 4.3 | 4.5 |
Value for money | 3.6 | 4.3 | 4.1 | 4.3 | 4.1 | 3.9 |
Remote Control | 3.5 | 4.0 | 3.9 | 4.2 | 4.2 | 3.6 |
Volume control | 3.7 | 4.3 | 4.3 | — | — | 5.0 |
Tech Support | 2.8 | 4.2 | 3.9 | — | 3.7 | — |
Sold By | — | WORLD WIDE STEREO | Electronics Expo (Authorized Dealer) | Amazon.com | Amazon.com | Islandwide Distribution |
speaker size | 43.3 inches | 2.36 inches | 10 inches | 23 inches | 2 inches | 2 inches |
power source | Corded Electric | Corded Electric | Corded Electric | Corded Electric | Corded Electric | Corded Electric |
connectivity tech | Optical, HDMI | Bluetooth, Optical, USB, HDMI | wireless, wired | Bluetooth, HDMI, Auxiliary, Optical | Optical | HDMI, Wi-Fi, Ethernet |
speaker type | Soundbar | Subwoofer, Soundbar | Soundbar | Soundbar | Soundbar | Surround Sound |
mounting type | Wall Mount | Wall Mount | Bar Mount | Wall Mount | Wall Mount | Tabletop |
weight | 4.95 pounds | 19 pounds | 13 pounds | 19.55 pounds | 5 pounds | 2 kilograms |
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.
Does the Command Bar do everything an Amazon Dot or Echo does?
We are working closely with Amazon to implement the following features this year. Multi-room music, routines, named timers and reminders, custom alarm sounds, alternative wake words (Amazon and Computer), calling, drop-ins and messaging.
Can I use my voice and the Command Bar to control my TV or cable box?
You can control the Command Bar functions with your voice including volume, bass levels, and source selection. You will not, however, be able to directly control your cable box such as selection a particular channel.
Is Fire TV included?
While the Command Bar is Fire TV compatible, Fire TV is not included and is sold separately.
Will the Command Bar work without activating Alexa?
The Command Bar operates like a normal sound bar even if Alexa is disabled or your home network is down.
Will Alexa hear me when the volume is loud?
Activating Alexa at all volume levels is supported, however, there's always an Action Button on the remote that temporarily lowers the sound bar's volume.
What's in the box
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Polk Command Bar - How to
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Customer Review: Alexa is unusable in the soundbar.
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Product information
Product Dimensions | 4 x 43.3 x 2.1 inches |
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Item Weight | 4.95 pounds |
ASIN | B078HJMVTK |
Item model number | AM9640 |
Batteries | 2 AA batteries required. |
Customer Reviews |
3.9 out of 5 stars |
Best Sellers Rank | #219,984 in Electronics (See Top 100 in Electronics) #769 in Home Audio Sound Bars |
Is Discontinued By Manufacturer | No |
Date First Available | July 14, 2018 |
Manufacturer | Polk Audio |
Speakers Maximum Output Power | 260 Watts |
Item Weight | 5 Pounds |
Number Of Items | 1 |
Warranty & Support
Feedback
Product Description
The Polk Command Bar – The Home theater sound bar system with Alexa built in. Integrated far field microphones and Alexa voice services Use your voice to control the sound bar With Amazon Multi Room Music and the Polk Command Bar, play and control your music across multiple Amazon devices. Ask Alexa to stream your favorite song, and hear it throughout your Home Patented Voice Adjust technology for crystal clear dialogue Wireless subwoofer for deep bass 4K HDMI ports Fully compatible with Fire TV (sold separately) Includes HDMI and Optical cables for quick and easy setup. Power 260 watts.
Customer reviews
Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.
To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness.
Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonCustomers say
Customers like the sound quality of the soundbar, mentioning it improves the sound of TV without complicated wiring. They appreciate the ability to increase the sound on voices and decrease the sound music. Customers also appreciate value. However, some customers have connectivity issues with the sound bar, including issues with Alexa connectivity and WiFi connectivity. Opinions are mixed on the quality, remote functionality, ease of setup, and music.
AI-generated from the text of customer reviews
Customers like the sound quality of the soundbar. They say it's an easy way to improve the sound on your TV without complicated wiring. They appreciate the ability to increase the sound of voices and decrease the sound music. They also mention that the bass hits hard and that it helps increase the audio clarity.
"...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...." Read more
"...I won't get into audiophile details, but for the price this sound is excellent with the right technology to handle a tv/ps4pro combo, 4k..." Read more
"...It does not help the real high end, but does increase the audio clarity It acts almost like a mid-frequency control, or a so-called "presence"..." Read more
"...That's not the best placement, but it still sounds great and responds to both voice and IR inputs without having to retrain myself to aim at the..." Read more
Customers like the value of the speakers. They mention that it provides amazing sound for the price, and is worth the interest.
"...Overall this is a great speaker especially for the price...." Read more
"...built in Alexa/Echo capabilities are excellent, and the Amazon Warehouse price was superb...." Read more
"...Truly great sound, responsive and accurate voice control, great price. I love it!! Great job Polk and Amazon!!" Read more
"...Good sound. Easy setup. Quality look and feel to the components. Reasonable pricing for a Polk product...." Read more
Customers are mixed about the Alexa connectivity of the sound bar. Some mention that the voice feature is very nice, and the bar also responds to voice and IR inputs. However, others say that it doesn't respond properly much of the time, fails to be great on a single task, and has sound and functioning problems. The initial setup is sketchy, and it decides when to work or not work.
"...music groups, even my sprinklers, and whatever is in this command bar is NOT Alexa. She cannot do any of the above. She does not behave like Alexa...." Read more
"...The sound is delicious and deep for movies, and I can easily bring up voices for dialog-heavy viewing. The Alexa controls work well...." Read more
"...old component system is not a go not only because of the lacking high frequency response, but also because it does not handle all of my inputs...." Read more
"...The dialogue is front and center right out of the box and clearer then any speaker I have owned...." Read more
Customers have mixed opinions about the quality of the speakers. Some mention that it's fairly decent, and makes amazing job in creating rich and crisp humbling sound. However, others say that it was inferior, faulty, and glitchy.
"...compare to other higher end soundbars this speaker holds up really well for sound dynamics and is still cheaper then many other options...." Read more
"...that, whatever version or kind of Alexa they have inside is, again, inferior...." Read more
"...and your ears like reduced high frequency response, then this is a nice system, easy to install, and works well by voice or remote control...." Read more
"...This definitely send like a software issue but maybe it's a faulty unit. Hopefully I'll get some answers finally...." Read more
Customers are mixed about the remote functionality of the speakers. Some mention that it works well for an entertainment center, and the Alexa functions very well. However, others say that it doesn't work and only works when in line of sight with the sound bar.
"...The Alexa controls work well. I can control lights and plugs all over the house with the soundbar...." Read more
"...So that means the soundbar receiver isn't working, luckily arc allows me to control volume, but now I cannot adjust bass/voice volume...." Read more
"...to Polk's audio enhancements for dialogue but it works great without compromising the impact of other sounds...." Read more
"...Another thing of note is that the remote completely does not work. So you have to rely on Alexa being setup to work this piece of crap. No Alexa?..." Read more
Customers are mixed about the ease of setup. Some mention that it integrates nicely with their existing Fire Stick, and is easy to connect and setup with TV. However, others say that the instructions are terrible, Alexa's setup on initial setup is sketchy, and not very intuitive by any means.
"...pair with each other automatically, although they have buttons for manually pairing if necessary and indicator lights to show pairing status...." Read more
"...So high marks for easy to install, voice and remote control, and it sounds pretty good. Much better than most systems in this price range...." Read more
"...to get her to wake up, and from 10 feet away, she still misunderstands my command. I experienced none of this with my dot...." Read more
"...Set up was simple, but you do have to download the Polk Command app, which is quick and easy...." Read more
Customers are mixed about the music. Some mention it's a great soundbar, with great speaker quality, and a massive improvement over TV speakers. However, others say that it stopped playing music over voice command, or it would not be in sync with the TV. They also say that Amazon Music never works, and no other music will play through the soundbar.
"...So finally using the one that came with it. Amazon music never works and no one has ever offered any solution other than reboot or contact the..." Read more
"...The speaker itself is great (5 star) once you get it working.Sound quality is 5 stars, for the price." Read more
"...without using it because every single time I tried to connect, it just failed. No reason, just eff you, I don't wanna add back...." Read more
"...older TV via optical cable (it didn't have HDMI ARC), but the soundbar wouldn't work when trying to use ihe fire tv stick because ihe TV had a..." Read more
Customers are dissatisfied with the connectivity of the speaker system. They mention that it gets confused with Alexa and says it cannot connect. They also report issues with WiFi connectivity and poor customer support. The Command Bar will lose connectivity, and the sound bar will not work for direct connection with Roku Streaming Stick+. Customers also report frustration with Alexo connection flakiness and lock ups.
"...She takes a longer time to play music as well and even using the alexa app to start music I've had some issues...." Read more
"...This has worked all 3 times this past two weeks my soundbar has lost connection to the app. Anyway, that wraps up the review...." Read more
"...Another thing is that it looses contact with other devices. As matter of fact it won't even keep contact with the TV the soundbar is attached too...." Read more
"...The main problem was the Polk connect app - was misleading - would say connected to the sound bar and then connected to Alexa - when it was not..." Read more
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Ports on the soundbar include HDMI (ARC) for input from your TV, Optical for input from your TV, HDMI 2 for video streaming input, HDMI 1 (not explained in the manual), USB output (not explained in the manual), and power in. There are buttons on the top surface of the sound bar to control volume up/down, mute, and “Action” (not explained). LED lights surrounding these buttons indicate sound bar connectivity status. The remote allows you to control volume up/down, sound mode (movie, sports, music), bass up/down, voice up/down, source (TV inputs, Bluetooth), HDMI sources (1, 2), mute, night mode, or “Action” (lower volume to use Alexa). Also, back, play, pause (for music controls?). Of course, the remote isn’t necessary once you set up the sound bar to work with Alexa since you can run all these controls by voice with Alexa. To use Alexa, you need to download the Polk Connect app on a device (like a phone or tablet) and setup the sound bar on your network using the app. Then enable the Polk Connect skill for Alexa, and you’re all set for voice controls.
I like the sound of this Polk soundbar set, although it took a little thinking outside the box to get it connected. I use a projection system in my entertainment room instead of a TV. My projector has a single output, an RCA digital cable. The soundbar has very limited options for inputs, basically just HDMI, optical cable, or Bluetooth. For my old speaker system, I had a digital to analog converter for getting sound to a standard 3.5mm analog aux cable, which I could input directly into my speaker system. No such luck with the Polk, which has no RCA inputs (digital or analog) and no 3.5 aux cable inputs. So I had to get an additional converter to get from the 3.5mm aux cable to the soundbar. I found a Bluetooth transmitter that accepts a 3.5 mm aux cable, and I was planning on sending the audio to the soundbar from the transmitter to soundbar via Bluetooth. I wasn’t excited about adding yet more Bluetooth transmissions to my house. But fortunately, the Bluetooth converter device has a passthrough mode with optical out. So my signal goes from my projector via digital RCA to a converter to get to analog 3.5 mm aux, to the Bluetooth transmitter which simply converts 3.5 aux to optical out to the soundbar. And it works. But phew! Too bad Polk doesn’t simply include some more input options on this soundbar. If you happen to have an older TV or gaming set, you’re going to need to check your sound output options carefully and perhaps stock up on a stack of converters to get the sound into the Polk in an acceptable format (HDMI ARC or optical).
Once I got the sound into a format the soundbar would accept, I was quite delighted with the performance of the system. The sound is delicious and deep for movies, and I can easily bring up voices for dialog-heavy viewing. The Alexa controls work well. I can control lights and plugs all over the house with the soundbar. And the soundbar cooperates well with my other Alexa units.
Overall, this soundbar produces great sound quality and the Alexa controls work well. With this unit in your entertainment room, you won’t need any other Alexa units in the room. But keep in mind that sound inputs are limited, so if you want to connect this soundbar to devices besides a very up-to-date TV, you will need at least 1, and maybe more, converters.
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.
Top reviews from other countries
I was nervous at first as my living room is quite large (17’ x 16’) I didn’t think it would fill the room with sound especially considering the room is an open concept and attaches to my kitchen as well.
Well to say I was totally impressed with the how big a sound and how it filled the room is an understatement. It completely fills the room and is very immersive, so I decided to write a review about it.
Pros
- Price was great for a quality product definitely feel I got my money’s worth. Great Value
- Ease of hook up and setup, literally took me less than 10 minutes
- Love Alexa integration – works amazingly with my Samsung TV
- Design is great
- SOUND QUALITY IS AMAZING – For both tunes and Movies
- Lots of connection options
Cons
- Remote is a little clunky however my TV remove easily operates the sound for it so I honestly don’t use the remote plus the app works great
- Lights on it are kind of annoying as it shines under my tv
Look and aesthetics
Love the look of it under my TV it is not imposing nor obnoxious looks nice there and has nice aesthetics, the subwoofer is not obnoxious in size and hides away nicely in the room but still fills the room with bass. The only thing a little weird is looking at it from the top literally looks like an echo dot was plopped into the middle but no big deal as you never look at it top down
Sound
This is where I was concerned before I bought it like I said it’s a big room and an open concept space so thought a soundbar’s sound would get “lost” in the big room.
I was totally impressed with the sound quality and “richness/fullness” of it.
I listen to a lot of music and my music tastes range across all genres and types. Music all sounded great, vocals were very clear all instruments very crisp and recognizable. The “Volume up/down” command using Alexa is not really great because it only moves the volume a very small amount so you have to keep repeating the command. I listened to Dave Mattews album Live at Radio City Music hall and was blown away felt like I was at the concert and wife kept yelling at me to turn it down so it definitely has a big sound.
For regular tv watching sound is perfect I don’t find myself struggling to try and hear conversations and whispers by actors are still clear, I didn’t notice any varying volume across channels or commercials.
For movies, the sound was very rich, very full and the dialogue was very crisp, no struggling to hear what people are saying. The sub offers big bass effects and fills the room completely. With all lights off and watching Star Wars Last Jedi the command bar and subwoofer definitely gave me the movie theatre sound I was hoping for.
All in all, I am super happy with my purchase and feel it was a great value. It definitely exceeded my expectations.
The unit produces wonderful sound, the bar itself produces some really warm bass. Easily fills a bachelor pad/living room or decent sized home office. Not terribly hard to mount on a tv mount with a separate bracket. Looks pretty attractive too. I much prefer it to something boxy and boring like Sono or Samsung/LG
However, here comes the problems.
1. The unit always seems to either make a pop bass sound or a high pitched whine for about 5-10 seconds. And always at late nights, between 11pm and 2am. You know how annoying that is to happen almost every night in a bachelor pad?
2. Alexa always seems to stop working, saying "can't understand you right now, try again later". Only way to fix is to unplug the power.
3. The polk/Alexa smartphone app is next to useless. I don't remember if it was used for set up. But other than that, it does nothing.
The setup was effortless. The actual product uses Alexa and the Polk Connect App to take you through the set-up and connection to your wifi network. I had it connected to my TV and fully functional in about 5 minutes. it is definitely one of those products that feels like it 'just works' with zero aggravation.
As you would expect from a Polk product, the sound is amazing. The speaker combined with the wireless sub delivers a rich full sound that easily filled a very large combined living room and kitchen. The ability to adjust the dialogue volume is a great feature I find myself using regularly to get great clarity on any show or movie I am watching. It works perfectly with my 4k TV.
This was my first foray into the world of Alexa. I must say she is pretty handy. I make all adjustments and switch between different media (TV, Spotify etc) exclusively using Alexa. I don't even know where the remote is, with Alexa you don’t need it. I have also quickly fallen into the habit of asking Alexa things that previously I would use my phone for, like weather and traffic info or setting timers and alarms. This has had the overall effect of less screen time since I don’t get pulled into checking all sorts of other apps and notifications.
I have never experienced sound this good at a price anywhere near this, and adding in the smart home stuff is a huge bonus. You will not be disappointed.