React

Released January 2021

A compact stereo soundbar with Alexa built in, Spotify Connect and optional wireless subwoofer and rear-speaker expansion.

Type: Soundbar
Atmos: No
Connects by: Wi-Fi and Bluetooth
Battery: –
Weight: 2.9 kg

What reviewers say

Both reviewers like clear dialogue, compact styling and responsive Alexa, while finding surround immersion limited. Tom's Guide enjoys surprisingly strong standalone bass but hears a narrow soundstage and distortion at maximum volume. AVForums finds balanced stereo music and recommends the optional subwoofer for deeper film bass, while praising the ability to expand the system gradually.

From tomsguide.com and avforums.com

Specifications

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Sound

Type: Soundbar
Channels: 2.0
Dolby Atmos: No
Drivers: Two 96 × 69 mm midrange drivers, two 25 mm tweeters and two 110 × 100 mm passive radiators; optional React Sub and SR2 rear speakers sold separately
Audio formats: Linear PCM, Dolby Digital and DTS Digital Surround; 32, 44.1 and 48 kHz sampling. Physical stereo 2.0 bar; optional subwoofer and rear speakers expand to 4.1 discrete channels (AVForums), with a virtual centre presentation.
Room tuning: Movie, Music, Sport and Night listening modes; bass and VoiceAdjust dialogue-level adjustment

Connections

Wi-Fi: Yes
Bluetooth: Yes
AirPlay: No
HDMI eARC: No
Voice assistants: Alexa
Wi-Fi: IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n/ac networking on 2.4 and 5 GHz
Bluetooth: Bluetooth 4.2, SBC and AAC; A2DP 1.3 and AVRCP 1.6; approximate 10 m line-of-sight range under maker conditions
Ports: One HDMI ARC connection and optical digital input; USB-A service port does not play music from USB drives. No analogue AUX input or separate HDMI video passthrough input.
Streaming: Spotify Connect, Bluetooth and music services through Alexa; no AirPlay 2 (TechRadar)
Multi-room: Alexa multiroom music with compatible Alexa-enabled speakers
App: Amazon Alexa app for network setup and voice-service configuration

Design

Weight: 2.9 kg
Controls: Top microphone mute, volume and Alexa action buttons; IR remote, HDMI CEC and IR learning. Light bar and status LED with ambient-light brightness adjustment.
Microphones: Four far-field microphones for Alexa with a physical microphone-mute button; current EU manual states the microphone cannot be used for calls.
Mounting: Rear wall-hook holes and supplied wall-mount template
Size: Soundbar 864 × 57 × 121 mm, W × H × D (maker manual dimension diagram); main weight is bar only. Maker information sheet's 1066.8 mm width conflicts with its 34.02 in width.
Colours: Black with fabric grille
In the box: Soundbar, IR remote, two AAA batteries, power cord, HDMI and optical cables, wall-mount template and quick-start guide; maker sheet additionally lists a separate soundbar power supply.

Pros and cons

Pros

Built-in Alexa voice control
Optional wireless subwoofer and rear speakers
Wi-Fi streaming and Spotify Connect

Cons

No Dolby Atmos or eARC
No HDMI video passthrough input
Subwoofer and rear speakers sold separately

Closest rivals

Model	Type	Atmos	Connects by	Battery	Weight	Released
BoseSolo Soundbar 2	Soundbar	No	Bluetooth	–	–	2020
JBLBar 2.1 Deep Bass (MK2)	Soundbar	No	Bluetooth	–	2.14 kg	2022
BoseTV Speaker	Soundbar	No	Bluetooth	–	1.9 kg	2020

Sources

Photo: Polk Audio

React soundbar, rear: Polk Audio
React soundbar microphone mute, volume and Alexa controls: Polk Audio
React soundbar rear power, USB service, optical and HDMI ARC connections: Polk Audio
Optional React Sub, rear; sold separately: Polk Audio
React soundbar remote control: Polk Audio

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