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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
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.
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
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Top Brand: Polk Audio
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Price | Currently unavailable. | $399.00$399.00 | $899.00$899.00 | $279.95$279.95 | -17% $149.99$149.99 List: $179.99 | $499.00$499.00 |
Delivery | — | Get it as soon as Tuesday, Mar 19 | Get it as soon as Wednesday, Mar 20 | Get it as soon as Tuesday, Mar 19 | Get it as soon as Tuesday, Mar 19 | Get it as soon as Tuesday, Mar 19 |
Customer Ratings | ||||||
Sound quality | 4.1 | 4.3 | 4.2 | 4.3 | 4.3 | 4.3 |
Remote Control | 3.5 | 4.0 | 4.0 | 4.3 | 4.2 | 4.2 |
Value for money | 3.6 | 4.3 | 4.1 | 4.3 | 4.1 | — |
Volume control | 3.7 | 4.3 | 4.3 | — | — | 4.2 |
Tech Support | 2.8 | 4.2 | 4.1 | — | 3.7 | — |
Sold By | — | Electronics Expo (Authorized Dealer) | Electronics Expo (Authorized Dealer) | Amazon.com | Amazon.com | Amazon.com |
speaker size | 43.3 inches | 2.36 inches | 10 inches | 23 inches | 2 inches | 10 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 | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Optical, HDMI |
speaker type | Soundbar | Subwoofer, Soundbar | Soundbar | Soundbar | Soundbar | Soundbar,Subwoofer |
mounting type | Wall Mount | Wall Mount | Bar Mount | Wall Mount | Wall Mount | Tabletop,Floor Standing |
weight | 4.95 pounds | 19 pounds | 13 pounds | — | 5 pounds | 14 pounds |
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.
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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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What's in the box
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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 | #219,031 in Electronics (See Top 100 in Electronics) #761 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 | 4.95 Pounds |
Number Of Items | 1 |
Warranty & Support
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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 speakers. They say it has excellent sound and is decent for a speaker bar. However, some customers have reported connectivity issues with the speaker. They mention that the wifi connection and bluetooth connection repeatedly fail. Customers also have mixed opinions on Alexa compatibility, performance, ease of setup, quality, value, and voice recognition.
AI-generated from the text of customer reviews
Customers like the sound quality of the speakers. They mention that the sound is excellent, with the right technology to produce custom alarm sounds, routines, and multi-room music. Some say that the product is decent for a speaker bar.
"...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 are mixed about the Alexa compatibility of the speakers. Some mention it's a decent product with a reasonable attempt at Alexa integration, but it has some glitches. The TV/Alexa interface is completely seamless and perfectly executed, and the voice feature is very nice. However, others say that Alexa in this is terrible and the dot locks up and drops the music after about 20 minutes. Additionally, the soundbar has lost connection to the app, and is non-responsive.
"...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 are mixed about the performance of the speakers. Some mention that it works well for an entertainment center, does both tasks admirably, and is fairly easy to set up. However, others say that it had sound and functionality problems a few weeks in, making it useless after setup. Some customers also mention that the Echo capability, such as drop in, does not work, and that the soundbar receiver is not working.
"...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
"...a format the soundbar would accept, I was quite delighted with the performance of the system...." Read more
"...The most noticeable and consistent glitch happens when trying to switch ihe bar's sound source from ihe HDMI connection to WiFi to stream music..." 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 of the speakers. Some mention that it integrated nicely with their existing Fire Stick, while others say that Alexa's setup on initial setup is sketchy, the instructions are terrible, and it wouldn't setup on through their tablet. Some customers also say that the subwoofer would not connect to the speaker.
"...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
"...Alexa's setup on initial setup is sketchy and decides when to work or not work. In summation, I would not suggest this to my worst enemy...." Read more
"...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...." Read more
"...I love the streamlined set up and the simplicity of packing it up (we move a lot). Overall, it's a nice system with good quality sound." Read more
Customers are mixed about the quality of the speakers. Some mention that the build quality is exceptional, with solid woofers and a deeper bass. However, others say that the Alexa in this device does not have the features that all my echos have, like, it's not a true Echo device and that there are unsupported/omitted functions. The hardware seems reasonably stable, and the app did configure and enable the sound bar. However, some customers say that they wish the app would do more, and that the product app is bad.
"...The soundbar has very limited options for inputs, basically just HDMI, optical cable, or Bluetooth...." Read more
"...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
"...it sees the command bar as an echo device, but it is missing all the options and flexibility of a echo/dot...." Read more
"...the lacking high frequency response, but also because it does not handle all of my inputs. It has only 2 HDMI inputs (plus the TV connection)...." Read more
Customers have mixed opinions about the value of the speakers. Some mention that it is excellent for the price, while others say that it's a huge waste of money.
"...Overall this is a great speaker especially for the price...." Read more
"...It's been a waste of many days and efforts and most importantly, $300!!..." 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
Customers are mixed about the voice recognition of the speakers. Some mention that the volume can be controlled by both TV remote and the sound bar functions. They like that the remote control allows them to boost volume and voice, while others say that they could not use voice control for Spotify multi room, unlike Amazon music which can hear their voice commands very well over the floor.
"...downgraded to 1 star. Alexa unit is worthless after further use. Mic is deaf, and it’s not a full Alexa unit inside...." Read more
"...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..." Read more
"...Doesn't make sense. Can't control the volume or anything with the app. So it's a little lacking as well...." Read more
"...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...." Read more
Customers have connectivity issues with the sound bar. They mention that it loses the wifi connection for no clear reason, the bluetooth connection repeatedly fails, and the HDMI arc connection does not work at all. It does not support calling, and it does not recognize their connected devices. It overrides their TV connection and switches to Bluetooth.
"...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
"...it to this device... although I did try that and the bluetooth connection repeatedly fails... so screw it, just a sound bar that needs its own..." Read more
"...first issue that started shortly (months after purchase) it would lose connection to the Polk iphone/android app...." 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
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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.