Polk MagniFi Mini AX evaluate: Tiny soundbar; large TV sound

Polk MagniFi Mini AX

MSRP $499.00

Professionals

• Dolby Atmos and DTS:X
• Highly effective subwoofer for its class
• Wi-Fi/AirPlay 2/Chromecast
• Clear vocals and dialog
• Tiny footprint
• Optionally available encompass audio system

Cons

• Virtualized Atmos not very immersive
• Midrange element could possibly be higher
• No HDMI inputs
• No EQ controls

By now, a whole lot of of us have realized that soundbars are the best approach to enhance your TV’s sound. Certain, they won’t be fairly pretty much as good as a full, typical dwelling theater system, however for most individuals, the simplicity they provide greater than outweighs any issues on that entrance.

However most soundbars are virtually as vast because the TV to which they’ll be related. And if you need Dolby Atmos, you would possibly find yourself spending $1,000 or extra.

Polk’s new $499 MagniFi Mini AX is an try to resolve each issues by sticking a virtualized Dolby Atmos/DTS:X sound system inside an enclosure that’s smaller than some transportable Bluetooth audio system. Does it work? And the way does it stack as much as similarly-priced programs? Let’s test it out.

Design

The MagniFi Mini AX actually does reside as much as its title. The principle speaker that sits in entrance of your TV is loopy small so far as soundbars go. As you possibly can see within the accompanying photographs, at simply 14.4 inches vast, 4.1 inches deep, and three.1 inches tall, it’s shallower and shorter than a regular, wired middle channel speaker.

I’m not in love with its trapezoidal form, which retains reminding me of a Badonkadonk Land Cruiser. Aside from that, it attracts little or no consideration to itself. A set of clearly labeled buttons sit beneath a rubberized membrane on the highest floor: Energy, enter choice, Bluetooth, mute, and quantity up/down. Behind its darkish grey acoustic material grille is a scrolling OLED show that gives easy-to-read information in your present enter, quantity/subwoofer/voice ranges, and the speaker’s varied sound modes.

In case your TV is mounted to the wall, the Mini AX may not be the only option, because it’s not designed to be wall-mounted — and Polk doesn’t promote any form of non-compulsory mounting {hardware}. (Although I suppose there’s nothing stopping you from putting in a small shelf for it to sit down on.)

Not like the overwhelming majority of soundbars, the Mini AX doesn’t have its personal inside energy provide, which is partially how Polk was capable of make it so small. Meaning there’s an influence brick you’ll want to cover.

The included wi-fi subwoofer mirrors the soundbar’s uncommon form with a slim but tall, tapering profile. Once more, it’s probably not my cup of tea looks-wise, however I’m keen to miss it because of its efficiency.

The distant management is commonplace fare for Polk: Boring however purposeful, with a totally rubberized membrane over raised buttons. The structure is straightforward and intuitive, however there’s no backlighting to be used in darkened rooms. I’m guessing that rubber membrane will likely be approach simpler to wash if you inevitably spill liquid on it.

Connections and controls

Some soundbars are designed as A/V receiver replacements with a number of HDMI inputs — Polk’s MagniFi Max SR is an efficient instance of this. The Mini AX takes a special method. It’s supposed purely as an extension of your TV’s audio system, however with a couple of additional bells and whistles. In observe, this implies you get two selections for connecting your TV: HDMI ARC/eARC or optical.

If you wish to take heed to Dolby Atmos or DTS:X content material, the HDMI port is a should — neither of those sound codecs are suitable with optical connections, which merely lack the bandwidth wanted to transmit the additional audio data. Your TV additionally will want an HDMI ARC/eARC port and possess the power to transmit Dolby Atmos or DTS:X by way of that port. Not each Dolby Atmos TV can do that, so double-check your TV’s specs to keep away from disappointment. As a result of the soundbar has no HDMI inputs, in case your TV can’t transmit Dolby Atmos, there’s no different option to ship an Atmos sign to the speaker.

Sadly, the unused port (whether or not that’s HDMI or optical) turns into superfluous. You may’t use it as a secondary enter for connecting gadgets like streaming audio, CD, or Blu-ray gamers.

There’s one other enter possibility within the type of a 3.5mm analog jack, which you could possibly use with a wide range of gadgets which have analog outputs, together with TVs and smartphones that also have headphone jacks.

Ignore the USB port — it’s reserved for doing software program updates within the occasion that you just don’t have a Wi-Fi connection. However I hope that you just do have a Wi-Fi connection if you happen to’re considering of shopping for the MagniFi Mini AX, as a result of it additionally helps high-quality music playback over Apple AirPlay 2 and Chromecast, that are each a lot better alternate options to Bluetooth. If Wi-Fi isn’t an possibility, otherwise you merely desire a fast and simple option to stream out of your telephones or different gadgets, Bluetooth is offered as effectively.

Setup and configuration

Primary setup of the MagniFi Mini AX is very easy. When you’ve pulled the soundbar and subwoofer out of the field, plug the soundbar into your TV by way of your most popular connection, then plug each audio system into the closest wall shops (plug the soundbar in first). Polk contains an HDMI cable within the field, however you’ll have to provide your personal optical cable if that’s the best way you need to go. Throw the included batteries into the distant, and also you’re in enterprise.

The MagniFi Mini AX is superb for films and exhibits.

Your TV ought to routinely acknowledge that it’s related to a soundbar. If it doesn’t, you’ll want to vary the audio settings to make use of the HDMI/optical output. To make sure you’re getting a Dolby Atmos sign when accessible, it’s possible you’ll want to regulate the audio output settings to make use of bitstream as an alternative of LPCM.

When you’re performed with the wired portion of the setup, you too can allow Wi-Fi streaming by way of Apple AirPlay 2 and/or Chromecast Constructed-in. My evaluate unit had bother with AirPlay, however utilizing the Google Residence app to configure the Mini AX with Chromecast was fast and simple. The Residence app invited me to arrange the brand new speaker as quickly as I opened it. A couple of minutes later, the soundbar downloaded and put in the most recent firmware, and I used to be good to go.

Sound high quality

The MagniFi Mini AX is superb for films and exhibits. When you learn critiques of earlier MagniFi audio system, you’ll most likely observe a typical thread: They sound approach larger and higher than their diminutive measurement would usually counsel. The MagniFi Mini AX isn’t any exception.

The soundbar is supplied with two tweeters and three midrange drivers for left, middle, and proper channels. Because of Polk’s Stereo Dimensional Array (SDA) know-how, which tasks sound outward at varied angles — not simply straight forward — this speaker completely fills a medium-sized room with punchy, dynamic sound.

Its energy lies in its copy of each high and low frequencies. The subwoofer has a commanding presence, producing bass you could each hear and really feel — and that’s when it’s set to the default impartial stage. When you use the distant to spice up it, there’s a superb likelihood you’ll begin to rattle any unfastened glass you’ve received in your room.

However at no time does it really feel just like the sub is taking on. Polk manages to maintain it carefully tied to the soundbar’s vary, at all times supporting the soundtrack and by no means smacking you within the face with bass.

The Mini AX has 4 sound modes: Music, film, 3D, and night time. Since there’s no option to regulate EQ straight, you’ll must flip round between these modes to see what sounds finest to you. Aside from night time mode, which deliberately reduces dynamic vary to maintain your neighbors from knocking in your door, I discovered 3D to be probably the most satisfying for films and exhibits, because it takes benefit of the soundbar’s skill to create a large soundstage. This isn’t solely useful for making commonplace 2-channel and 5.1 Dolby Digital content material really feel extra immersive, but it surely’s additionally important so far as I’m involved for getting probably the most out of Dolby Atmos and DTS:X.

Having stated that, I need to preserve your Dolby Atmos expectations real looking. There are not any up-firing drivers to create the signature Atmos top channel impact, so Polk makes use of digital sign processing to virtualize these channels. However even the best-virtualized top and encompass channels can solely accomplish that a lot.

With the Mini AX, sounds received’t be heard from overhead (or beside/behind you except you spring for the $200 non-compulsory wi-fi encompass audio system). There’s an superior second in No Time To Die, when James Bond’s traditional Aston Martin is surrounded by enemies and pummeled by a hail of computerized weapons hearth. In an Atmos system with discrete audio system, these bullets sound like they’re whizzing in from throughout you, letting you are feeling what it is perhaps prefer to be Bond contained in the automobile. The Mini AX faithfully reproduces the sound of these bullets, however by itself, it could actually’t replicate that feeling of true immersion.

Curiously, Polk’s inexpensive $400 Signa S4 soundbar really does a greater job of rendering Dolby Atmos, however with its much less highly effective subwoofer, it could actually’t match the Mini AX’s visceral low-end punch.

Although it will not be one of the best Atmos soundbar, its vast and tall soundstage and wonderful readability make it splendid for Broadway-style musicals. We screened Spielberg’s West Aspect Story and located the Mini AX was simply the ticket for having fun with the solid’s high-energy performances. That readability makes speech and dialog one other vivid spot. Once more, out of the field, voices are very clear, and it’s possible you’ll not really feel the necessity to tweak the settings. But when you end up watching an particularly poor combine, the place the voices are inclined to get swallowed by the soundtrack or sound results, the Voice Regulate function can carry these voices again into sharp focus with out diminishing the remainder of the audio.

Streaming music can be very pleasing, however seasoned listeners could discover a scarcity of midrange element. I examined a wide range of content material, together with lossless streaming audio over Wi-Fi utilizing Chromecast, lossy streaming by way of Bluetooth, and Dolby Atmos Music by way of the Tidal app on the Apple TV 4K. Whatever the supply, there was a slight hollowness to the sound. 3D mode creates a extra immersive expertise, but it surely additionally will increase that feeling that one thing’s lacking, so Music mode will possible be your finest guess. I can’t say for certain that getting access to a full set of equalizer controls would make up for this gap within the sound, however I might have appreciated to attempt.

As with different soundbars that allow you to take heed to music over HDMI, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth, one of the best outcomes come from the HDMI connection. Wi-Fi runs a detailed second, and Bluetooth is completely acceptable for informal listening — however I don’t suggest it for a critical listening session.

Our take

With its tiny footprint however large sound, the Polk MagniFi Mini AX is a superb alternative for taking your TV’s sound to the subsequent stage whereas holding dialog clear and intelligible, however its lack of EQ settings and midrange weak spot preserve it from being a great music machine.

Is there a greater various?

If immersive Dolby Atmos is your major objective, contemplate the $500 Vizio M-Sequence M512a-H6. It lacks the Mini AX’s space-saving design, however it is going to produce rather more immersive audio because of its devoted up-firing drivers and encompass audio system. We haven’t examined this precise mannequin, however we’ve reviewed lots of Vizio’s different Atmos fashions just like the flagship Elevate and the inexpensive M-Sequence M51a-H6, they usually’re typically wonderful performers. Vizio’s soundbars don’t have Wi-Fi for AirPlay or Chromecast streaming, nevertheless, so they need to be thought-about primarily TV enhancers.

In order for you a small footprint soundbar that may virtualize Dolby Atmos and ship a musical efficiency that’s certain to fulfill, the $449 Sonos Beam Gen 2 is a superb various. It may possibly’t compete with the Mini AX’s rumbling subwoofer, but it surely has an expansive soundstage, and like all Sonos merchandise, it’s an excellent music companion that works with each streaming service you possibly can consider. Plus, it’s a wise speaker together with your alternative of Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant.

How lengthy will it final?

So long as Polk continues to supply software program updates when wanted, the MagniFi Mini AX ought to final for a few years to come back. My expertise with exterior energy provide bricks just like the one which Polk makes use of for the soundbar is that they’ll typically fail prematurely, however not less than that’s simpler to exchange than if an inside energy provide ought to go on the fritz. Polk backs the MagniFi Mini AX with a one-year guarantee on the amplifiers and a three-year guarantee on the audio system.

Must you purchase it?

Sure. When you’re trying to give your films and exhibits a significant improve whereas holding the soundbar as small as doable, the MagniFi Mini AX suits the invoice.

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