Polk Audio React Soundbar

Slim, low-profile design ; Easy setup ; Very good sound quality ; Affordable wireless accessories ; Alexa built-in

No HDMI inputs ; Remote is missing playback controls ; Requires Alexa for Wi-Fi streaming ; No Chromecast or AirPlay

Alexa onboard. Simple, elegant looks. Easy to add subwoofer and surround speakers down the line. Good bass response.

Slightly more expensive than buying a dedicated system all at once.

The Polk React line lets you start somewhere affordable and grow your system from there, making it a great option for people who just dropped most of their savings on the screen. If that sounds like you, a React system is well worth a listen.

Clean, nuanced sound given its price tag Built-in Alexa with multi-room audio support Can add a wireless subwoofer and surround speakers Night mode and voice volume level adjustment

No Dolby Atmos, DTS-X, or DTS Virtual:X support No eARC support Remote control’s flat buttons are difficult to find in the dark

With its clean and nuanced sound, built-in Alexa with multi-room audio functionality, and support for additional speakers, the Polk React now ranks as our favorite budget soundbar (at least until something else beats it).

One of Polk’s newest and most affordable soundbars, the attractive, all-in-one React supports both Dolby Audio and DTS, and it comes with built-in Alexa, complete with the telltale blue light bar that lets you know when Alexa is listening in.

The big selling point of the Polk Audio React Soundbar is that for a very reasonable price it offers up good sound quality as well as having Alexa built-in. Think of it as a sort of an Amazon Echo combined with a soundbar.

Audiophiles will like the sound; others will like the flexibility of configuration

Requires a bit of thought and decision-making while creating your system

As with the JBL system, this reasonably priced setup is best thought of as a way to get good sound in a smaller room.

If you really care about the giftee, the wireless subwoofer (sold separately) makes a huge difference.

Sub really fills out the sound ; Good musicality as a standalone speaker ; Sub and rear speakers (RS2) can be added later - so future expansion possible for 5.1 Dolby Digital / DTS ; Alexa integrated - if that's your thing

Needs the sub for full soundscape (which ups the price) ; Setup a little finicky ; Sound lacks verticality - and no object-based sound decoding ; There's always some kind of front lighting ; Alexa shouts crazily loud

While there's no object-based sound decoding, as a standalone large 'bar with decent output and control, for a very fair price, the Polk has got a lot going for it - especially if you're keen on Alexa integration for voice control. It's when adding a...