![]() However, that doesn’t mean this isn’t a good soundbar experience. Polk uses its patented SDA (stereo dimension array) technology to expand the soundstage and manoeuvre effects to achieve the impression of multiple speakers around you.īut I don’t think it achieves the effect it’s going for, nor does it sound immersive in the true sense of the word. Given the MagniFi Mini AX’s petite dimensions, it would be unrealistic to expect true up-firing speakers to fire sound towards the ceiling, and that turns out to be the correct assumption. Can deliver a big, dynamic and exciting sound.There is an upgrade path by adding the SR2 surround speakers, which cost £159. ![]() There’s no voice control and, therefore, no native support for Alexa or Google Assistant. The sub has a 127mm x 178mm woofer, which, in the more common parlance, makes it an absolute unit. There’s a five-speaker array in the main unit, with two 19mm tweeters (left and right) alongside a left-centre-right (also known as LCR) array of 51mm mid-drivers. Polk also includes its VoiceAdjust technology, which it claims raises the volume of dialogue in TV programmes and films without amplifying other sounds. The USB port on the rear can be used for firmware updates or playing music, but it’s limited to MP3 files.Ĭonnection to Wi-Fi is done through Google Home, which is a simple enough process, but I always get nervy during a product update – it often confuses itself if the update takes longer than usual. Those include Bluetooth 5.0, along with Chromecast, AirPlay 2, and Spotify Connect over Wi-Fi. Unlike the LG Éclair, the MagniFi Mini AX allows you to stream from a variety of sources. Other modes include Music, Movie, and Night, which can be accessed through the remote. In fact, for a bigger, more expansive soundscape, the MagniFi Mini AX needs to be in its 3D Mode, something Polk doesn’t convey all too well unless you bother to read the manual. The Polk MagniFi Mini AX supports both Dolby Atmos and DTS:X, which is not always a given, as Dolby’s presence across streaming services seems to have kicked DTS into touch.īut simply playing an Atmos or DTS:X track doesn’t necessarily mean that the soundbar is playing in “3D”. ![]() I do wish pressing its buttons provided more feedback, as these feel shallow and aren’t always responsive to touch. The remote is fine – small, with all the necessary buttons (and a few more) to operate. As it’s wireless, there’s no cable required, but Polk Audio recommends it’s placed on the same wall and as close to the TV as possible, with no more than a 10m distance between the sub and the main unit. The MagniFi Mini AX also comes with a downward-firing subwoofer that dwarfs the main unit. There are also status lights that signal whether the unit is connected to Wi-Fi, the subwoofer and surround speakers, plus a Connect button for joining it to other speakers. ![]() On the top surface, there are physical buttons for power, source, Bluetooth, and volume, while around the back, you’ll find HDMI eARC, digital optical out, auxiliary, and USB connections. Hidden within the fabric mesh is an OLED display that’s visible from a seated position, showing which soundtrack is playing, source, and audio mode. There’s a semblance of modest style, with its acoustic mesh fabric covering the midriff, but the unrelenting grey-black colour scheme ensures this isn’t a speaker to steal attention from a TV – nor should it. But having tried it with a 65-inch OLED, the Polk still managed to spread its sound to cover the bigger screen. The main soundbar is 366mm wide and 79mm tall, which is actually bigger than the LG Éclair but still relatively tiny in the grand scheme of soundbars.īecause of its size, the MagniFi Mini AX is best suited to TVs with screens of 50-inches and smaller. Pint-sized is an apt descriptor of the Polk MagniFi Mini AX’s proportions. Can a big sound flourish from such a small enclosure? Design ![]() There’s been a surge in compact soundbars since the Sonos Beam kicked things off several years ago, but recent times have seen teeny bars, like the LG Éclair, appear. That’s where Polk’s MagniFi Mini AX enters the discussion. Surround sound setups remain an option for some, but for others, a small soundbar is all that’s required. So, rather than going bigger, brands have been getting smaller and more compact. But bigger often means more speakers and more space at a greater expense. You’d have thought that with immersive formats, such as Dolby Atmos and DTS:X, bigger is better. ![]()
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