Polk Audio Command Bar - Official Discussion

mhardy6647

I thought that they started life as an on-line bookseller.
(regular old paper books, that is, sold on line as opposed to from a storefront)

xschop

Viking64 wrote: »

xschop wrote: »

We received an Echo for Christmas and we re-gifted it.

Ah, maybe that's why it is called an "Echo"?

After looking up what it was and did, I thought if I am too absent minded to remember buying toilet paper, then maybe someone should be wiping my a$$.

adb3da

When I first saw the Echo/Alexa advertised I thought it was silly and not something I would be interested in. Then we got one as a gift and we love it. We use it for timers, reminders, shopping lists, turning on/off Philips Hue lights, background music in the kitchen etc... Integration into a sound bar is not something I am personally interested in but I would be interested in a nice sounding Polk speaker in the kitchen that had Alexa integration. If Polk wants to make a profit they need to make products that are selling, and right now sound bars and Alexa products are selling big time. I think this is a wise move by Polk.

gimpod

xschop wrote: »

I thought if I am too absent minded to remember buying toilet paper, then maybe someone should be wiping my a$$.

Isn't that what you get a dog for?

mdaudioguy

I'm surprised that Polk has yet to put out a true "high end" soundbar. I know, it's an oxymoron to some, but there are some nice $1-2k soundbar systems out there from Samsung and Bose. I'd love to compare the $599 MagniFi Max SR to the $1,699 Bose SoundTouch 300. The Bose may be overpriced, but it does its job very well.

vmaxer

mdaudioguy wrote: »

I'm surprised that Polk has yet to put out a true "high end" soundbar. I know, it's an oxymoron to some, but there are some nice $1-2k soundbar systems out there from Samsung and Bose. I'd love to compare the $599 MagniFi Max SR to the $1,699 Bose SoundTouch 300. The Bose may be overpriced, but it does its job very well.

What is a....just a minute.

Alexia, what is an oxymoron??

Like a jumbo shrimp

Viking64

An "oxymoron" is some dumb-a$$ that O.D.'s on oxycontin.

tonyb

Ken, I already talked to Ken at CS about a troubleshooting guide for soundbars to be placed on the forum. This will give customers a quicker solution and free up the phone lines a bit for the CS people.

xschop

gimpod wrote: »

xschop wrote: »

I thought if I am too absent minded to remember buying toilet paper, then maybe someone should be wiping my a$$.

Isn't that what you get a dog for?

In my neck of the woods, that's what nurses do.

In agreement with Toolfan, I didn't see any foul language in the original thread F1 started either. This must be a "forum" where only positive
opinions and speech about the products are displayed. When adverse opinions, not foul language arise, it becomes a censor zone.

I wish Polkazon all the best in corporate conglomeration and partnerships that ultimately wax cold the original spirit of individualized ingenuity.
Call me when you have a product that comes with an I.C. cable.... Until then... Alexa, what is the 1st amendment?

kevhed72

Not to be a corporate brown noser, which I normally am far from in most cases, but why would Polk want to keep a thread up which criticized its products? I didnt read the whole thread, and I realize some of this technology is ultimately aimed at generating revenue....but the old saying goes if you dont have something nice to say....

motorhead43026

Once the Mods googled Fleshlight, the thread was toast.

EndersShadow

Soundbars are a strong market in general. Most people (no one here on this forum) are wanting smaller more compact units that integrate with other things better.

I am NOT the market segment for this, however someone like my brother and sister are SMACK IN THE MIDDLE of it.

They already use the Kinect for their Xbox One, or remote for their Roku to switch channels, etct. So moving to an Alexa type product is easy. And for us dinosaurs, its going to only keep going this way.

Ease of use in a small form factor is what people are buying in mass waves, so give the consumer what they want. WE just aren't that consumer . Just look at the headphone market. Its exploded. Same with streaming services. All these items to some extent compress/degrade the audio/video experience (Netflix, Spotify, Hulu, Amazon, etc) but they make it EASIER to do, so folks go with it

Heck my wife wants a couple Echo Dots and some of the lightbulbs to be able to turn them off and on, plus tie into our Nest. I however have concerns about big brother/hackers using them as a bug in the house (which ironically you installed for them so they dont even have to sneak in to hide it). *puts tinfoil hat back on*

tonyb

If deleting threads because of product criticism was the norm, every subwoofer and soundbar thread would be gone already.

Maybe with these new tax laws, corporations will put some more coin into R&D and come out with better products. More coin in the consumer pockets means they too can afford to look at other options that might be better quality or higher priced.

As far as incorporating Alexa into soundbars.....not something I would be interested in but some might be. No need for either as a stand alone product let alone together. Plus as Dan noted, having a device that listens to everything and can possibly be shared with government agencies isn't something that makes me say "gotta have it".

Emlyn

The whole “my device is spying on me” thing is really overblown. Alexa uses a wake word to activate and listens for a command or question then returns to passive mode. Don’t use a wake word and it won’t do anything. Other than when it is activated it is not transmitting voice back to the mothership. AI devices like this are used for marketing purposes though. However, anybody who has ever done online shopping, browsed a website, carried a smart phone, paid a utility bill, or used a loyalty card in a grocery store has contributed to the “big data” warehouses used by marketers. Also, if someone is accused of committing felonies inside their home, chances are the authorities would seize computers and phone logs. Alexa commands to turn off lights or play a song by Molly Hatchet would be the least of a criminal’s worries.

Here is a useful article:

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-12-11/is-alexa-really-eavesdropping-on-you-jb25c6vc

mhardy6647

Gedankenexperiment -- would there be a market for a high end "audiophile" loudspeaker with DSP and Alexa?

McIntosh is certainly actively making the jump to a focus on luxury lifestyle products under their current ownership.

Sort of like the top-line b&o loudspeakers, but at a (considerably) lower price point but still featuring unassailable audio quality and at least a nod towards
the modern perception of "innovative technology" (smart speakers)?

Fairly low volume product but with good gross margins.

tonyb

I might disagree with that assessment. If Alexa has to listen for a wake word, then it's always listening. Trick is, how much of what it listens to, data, is kept. They claim it keeps little, but putting trust in a company who's job it is to collect data is a little misplaced in my view.

Social media companies have already been caught handing over private info to government agencies, even though they claim to not do so. Government themselves have been caught violating that trust. Blind faith in todays day and age is just that, blind.

Having an ear in millions of homes would be a desirable aspect to some agencies, no ? Information technologies is big business, data is everything, for all the right reasons and sometimes the wrong. Cans of worms are best left closed in my view.

I do however get the marketing aspect of combining products. After all, Alexa has already had millions of bucks poured into it's marketing and adding a Polk product to piggy back on it gives them an advantage.

txcoastal1

Emlyn wrote: »

Alexa uses awake word
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-12-11/is-alexa-really-eavesdropping-on-you-jb25c6vc

Alexa--"Not to night I have a headache".......

Now what???

polrbehr

This is kind of reminiscent of when they coined the cute and cuddly term "cookies" for innocent little pieces of data stored on your computer when you visited websites.
Whatever. Get an Alexa or don't get one, it's too late in the game for privacy concerns anyway.

cookie. A small text file (up to 4KB) created by a website that is stored in the user's computer either temporarily for that session only or permanently on the hard disk (persistent cookie). Cookies provide a way for the website to recognize you and keep track of your preferences.

tonyb

polrbehr wrote: »

This is kind of reminiscent of when they coined the cute and cuddly term "cookies" for innocent little pieces of data stored on your computer when you visited websites.
Whatever. Get an Alexa or don't get one, it's too late in the game for privacy concerns anyway.

cookie. A small text file (up to 4KB) created by a website that is stored in the user's computer either temporarily for that session only or permanently on the hard disk (persistent cookie). Cookies provide a way for the website to recognize you and keep track of your preferences.

Lol...good call. These data collection companies are ever so truthful eh.

Topic for another occasion, don't really want to derail Polks thread on a new product which I can see my comments might do just that. You like it, buy it...if not don't. Have to go now, the IRS is knocking on my door. A little birdie must have said somethin'.

BlueFox

Well, someone will put a Sniffer on their network and see if anything is being transmitted, so that really isn't a big concern of mine. At least we know this product will always be listening. I would be more concerned of technology that might be surreptitiously added to a product. For example, are new cars listening to us? Who knows? If they are then at some point someone will find out, but until then it will be unknown.

teekay0007

tonyb wrote: »

As far as incorporating Alexa into soundbars.....not something I would be interested in but some might be. No need for either as a stand alone product let alone together. Plus as Dan noted, having a device that listens to everything and can possibly be shared with government agencies isn't something that makes me say "gotta have it".

I think what you're saying, Tony, is that this thing just doesn't blow your sack back!

nooshinjohn

BlueFox wrote: »

Well, someone will put a Sniffer on their network and see if anything is being transmitted, so that really isn't a big concern of mine. At least we know this product will always be listening. I would be more concerned of technology that might be surreptitiously added to a product. For example, are new cars listening to us? Who knows? If they are then at some point someone will find out, but until then it will be unknown.

Yes... they are. Manufactures have used data from vehicles to void warranties. They can also be tracked in real time by anyone through gps data. If they are Bluetooth equipped, they can listen too.

mhardy6647

... all of which makes me wonder* what sort of delusions modern paranoid schizophrenics have? In the old days, it was easy, right? "They implanted a chip in me, they're listening to me, they're tracking my every move..." etc.

Nowadays, "they" do all that stuff.



_________________
* and, yes, I've mused this before. At least I am a consistent, and repetitive, paranoiac

motorhead43026

nooshinjohn wrote: »

BlueFox wrote: »

Well, someone will put a Sniffer on their network and see if anything is being transmitted, so that really isn't a big concern of mine. At least we know this product will always be listening. I would be more concerned of technology that might be surreptitiously added to a product. For example, are new cars listening to us? Who knows? If they are then at some point someone will find out, but until then it will be unknown.

Yes... they are. Manufactures have used data from vehicles to void warranties. They can also be tracked in real time by anyone through gps data. If they are Bluetooth equipped, they can listen too.

The black boxes on modern cars correct? They can get vehicle information, right?

shawn474

Here’s a legitimate question for the 50 or so members of this forum who have a problem with this product and how it was rolled out. Do you really think that a company as big as Polk and its parent company are going to introduce a product that doesn’t interest a proven target demographic? It’s hilarious that there are some on here posting that Polk should not have gone this route and that it won’t be of any interest - the Alexa modules have been flying off the shelves and not everyone is an audiophile. The sound bars are a HUGE market share for ease of use, low profile, and functionally superior to TV speakers. We may not be interested in the Alexa integration or the sound bar technology, but WE represent less than 1% of the demographic.

I would have shut the thread down as well. This forum came off as a bunch of holier than thou whiners over a product release.......if you want to be heard, start new threads to Polk CS about what YOU WANT TO SEE, not moaning about the things that are already available. Maybe, just maybe, Polk will listen. And if thy don’t there is probably a good reason for it - what you think as genius, they may perform the market research and figure out that they would lose their shirts on your great idea. It’s comical that people think in such narrow views - money and the potential for profit will drive EVERY company or they’re doomed to fail. Polk is no different in that regard.

And anyone suggesting that “censorship” was at play and that their rights were infringed upon because a thread was shut down, please understand that your participation in this forum is completely voluntary. If you feel this way, you may exercise your right not to visit or post on the forum. Otherwise, stay and positively contribute. This forum has never been about censorship - but it has been about respect, no brand bashing, no foul or suggestive language and certain topics are off limits. Many of us frequently toe the line in that regard with no repercussions......I usually side with POLK - if a thread is shut down, which is not often, they will get the benefit of the doubt from me

nooshinjohn

Yes... and through Bluetooth, can real time relay that info to manufacturers, police or spy agencies. Soon, they will be able to use it to shut down a vehicle rather than chase it.

tonyb

nooshinjohn wrote: »

Yes... and through Bluetooth, can real time relay that info to manufacturers, police or spy agencies. Soon, they will be able to use it to shut down a vehicle rather than chase it.

Say goodbye to my bank robbing days then....dang it.

headrott

F1nut wrote: »

I'm sure I'll be viewed as a dinosaur, but whatever. All this voice command stuff is the optimity of laziness and yet some wonder why Americans are so fat.

IMO, it's hard to argue with this statement.

That said, regarding the soundbar/Alexa combo. I agree that Polk is gearing it's products to "what the average person wants". An interesting thing to think about is: Does this thread (the previous one too) regarding the soundbar and the response to it (in the majority) mean that the average "Polkie" on the forum has zero/little interest in what "the average person" wants, including convenience over sound quality? Also, are (we, myself included) the people who want sound quality over convenience, outdated?

This makes me wonder, is the thinking of the members of the forum outdated (and that's how Polk thinks of us)? I truly hope not. Is Polk waiting for the forum member dynamic to change to convenience over sound quality? I hope not.

Given 25 years, what will this forum look like as far as members go? Will the majority of it's members be looking for "ease of use" over producing quality sound? I hope not.

Will Polk consider making both lines of products? That is, a majority of products that produce high quality sound (which is what Polk Audio was founded on). And, products that are produced for the "mass market", "ease of use/convenience" crowd? I hope so.

A lot of people on this forum would love to see some newly produced SDA's, since the last model produced was 26 years ago. Will this happen? I hope so.

mhardy6647

tonyb wrote: »

nooshinjohn wrote: »

Yes... and through Bluetooth, can real time relay that info to manufacturers, police or spy agencies. Soon, they will be able to use it to shut down a vehicle rather than chase it.

Say goodbye to my bank robbing days then....dang it.

Snowshoes and balaclavas, my friend. Snowshoes and balaclavas.

tonyb

mhardy6647 wrote: »

tonyb wrote: »

nooshinjohn wrote: »

Yes... and through Bluetooth, can real time relay that info to manufacturers, police or spy agencies. Soon, they will be able to use it to shut down a vehicle rather than chase it.

Say goodbye to my bank robbing days then....dang it.

Snowshoes and balaclavas, my friend. Snowshoes and balaclavas.

You'd make a lousy bank robber Professor.



"Will Polk consider making both lines of products? That is, a majority of products that produce high quality sound (which is what Polk Audio was founded on). And, products that are produced for the "mass market", "ease of use/convenience" crowd? I hope so."

Hmm...thought they already did that. You have lifestyle products and speakers to match higher quality sounds.