Polk Audio advertises a lot their VoiceAdjust technology that was included in all the previous Signa soundbars and we find it here also providing different levels of adjustment. Pint-sized is an apt descriptor of the Polk MagniFi Mini AX’s proportions. 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. The Max SR is at a price point that’s right up there with the very best soundbars and soundbases, and in outright sonic fisticuffs it mostly comes off second best.

Magnifi Max AX SR | Polk Audio UK

Polk also includes its VoiceAdjust technology, which it claims raises the volume of dialogue in TV programmes and films without amplifying other sounds. In addition to the single oval 127 × 178mm (7 × 5 inch) driver in the subwoofer, the lozenge has a slightly unusual set of LCR drivers. The left and right channels each get a 19mm and a 51mm midrange driver, but the centre channel has only the one midrange driver. Not surprisingly, the actual soundbar of the MagniFi Max SR is very soundbar-like. It’s long and slender, but also thin enough to still sit below the IR sensor on most stand-mounted TVs without messing with your remote commands. It can be fixed to a wall, though, and mounts are included. I've never understood how I would benefit from wireless surrounds. They still have to be plugged in for power, and copper audio wires from a receiver can be virtually any length (since you can cut them yourself) and are so much easier to run under carpets or along walls. With the bluetooth surrounds, that power cable is going to be a pain to compromise between where the speaker should be placed vs where the outlet is, right? The wireless subwoofer has a downward-firing 8-inch driver and 160W of amplification. It’s fairly small and neat – 37cm high, the same in width, and 31cm deep – so it’s easily hidden behind a sofa.A problem we constantly face, even with premium soundbars, is the extremely low number of HDMI ports included which results in users having to rely on 3rd party accessories to connect all their equipment together. Both MagniFi Max AX and MagniFi Max AX SR models also include wireless subwoofers for extended bass response, but the MagniFi Max AX SR adds two wireless surround speakers for a more sonic immersion. With the Magnifi Max AX Dolby Atmos bar, Polk has shown a unique ability to load up the top features and attributes most users need, without skimping on the most important feature of all: impressive sound for your money. Offering a minimalist design and interface, solid features, and great performance, the Max AX appeals to those seeking a simplified Dolby Atmos setup that rises above the crowd without blowing your budget. High Points

Polk MagniFi Mini AX Review | Trusted Reviews Polk MagniFi Mini AX Review | Trusted Reviews

The unit comes with a music mode so we opted to use that for this part of our testing. But as we always say, choosing a specific sound mode has to do a lot with the personal preferences of each user so we strongly advise you to try them all and decide for yourself which one sounds better to your ears. The soundbars support Wi-Fi and Bluetooth streaming through Apple AirPlay 2, Google Chromecast, Spotify Connect, or any Works with Alexa–enabled music service. MagniFi Max AX includes a remote and should work with most TV remotes out of the box. It comes with a front-panel OLED display that shows adjustments and automatically dims when not in use. Polk, a Sound United brand, is an award-winning designer and manufacturer of high-performance loudspeakers. Founded in 1972 on the premise that everybody deserves great sound, Polk is the market share leader in premium home theater speakers in North America, and is a leading manufacturer of sound bars, headphones, wireless speakers, mobile and marine speakers and amplifiers, and other high-performance audio products.Polk continues not to offer a dedicated app for their soundbars. The Signa series didn’t have one either so it doesn’t come as much of a surprise. You can use a few apps to stream music to the unit but these do not offer the type of control the remote does. But more on these apps in the dedicated section below. Extra Features and Services Unlike the LG Éclair, the MagniFi Mini AX allows you to stream from a variety of sources. Those include Bluetooth 5.0, along with Chromecast, AirPlay 2, and Spotify Connect over Wi-Fi. The USB port on the rear can be used for firmware updates or playing music, but it’s limited to MP3 files. Thankfully the MagniFi MAX AX comes with a fully working LCD display that Polk placed at the left side of the center front driver. This display can show you various information like input source and volume among others and is relatively big to fit a few characters for easy reading. Beneath the grille are four 3×1-inch oval woofers, a 1-inch mid-range driver and two 0.75-inch tweeters, all driven by a 180W amp. There are bass ports at either end, and a useful row of LEDs to display the volume level and device status.

Polk Audio Debuts MagniFi Max AX and MagniFi Max AX SR Dolby Polk Audio Debuts MagniFi Max AX and MagniFi Max AX SR Dolby

You’d have thought that with immersive formats, such as Dolby Atmos and DTS:X, bigger is better. But bigger often means more speakers and more space at a greater expense. As for the subwoofer, it comes with a single, down-firing 10″ bass driver which is one of the biggest we have seen in this category of soundbars. Inputs: HDMI eARC, optical digital, 3.5mm analogue, USB-A (service only), Wi-Fi, Spotify Connect, AirPlay 2, Chromecast, Bluetooth (SBC, AAC) A third pair of buttons adjust ‘bass’, which we gather is not a simple subwoofer level adjustment; it’s intelligently implemented so that the balance in the lozenge is also tilted to match the new bass level. We expect a lot from soundbars these days. Far more than just a way to beef up your TV sound, today’s premium soundbars are tasked with plenty of side gigs: smart speaker; audio streaming hub; multi-room audio device; HDMI switcher; and the list goes on. It’s easy to land all the best goodies if you’re willing to shell out plenty of cash. But where do you draw the line when it comes to getting the best value?The two rear speakers are almost identical, with the difference being that there’s a specific right and left; you can’t switch the channels, so make sure you place the correct one on each side. They’re compact and discreet, if a little uninspiring in their looks. On the top are the essential controls: power, source selection, Bluetooth, volume up and down, and mute. There are also dedicated buttons for VoiceAdjust – Polk’s clever tech for adjusting the volume of speech without affecting the level of other sound effects. After having tested most of Polk’s low budget Signa series the MagniFi Max AX feels like a big step forward in terms of cinematic performance and immersion. It feels like Polk took everything that made the Signa S4 such a fan favorite product and added more features and capabilities for the more demanding consumers.

Polk Magnifi Max AX Dolby Atmos Soundbar Review - Great sound

Polk Audio today debuted its latest flagship sound bar systems, the MagniFi Max AX and AX SR. The compact systems both include an 11-speaker-array sound bar with dedicated center channels and up-firing height speakers, as well as a 10-inch wireless subwoofer. The SR system adds two additional wireless surround speakers. Polk Audio does not provide any further information regarding the hardware so we have no clue of the soundbar’s power rating or frequency response. But you’re paying a premium for that wireless surround sound – not some faux surround, trying (and failing) to be bounced off walls; but genuine surround with wireless rear speakers. For cinema immersion, the Polk is definitely a better option than any of the one-box solutions around. New Flagship Systems Elevate Movie, TV, Gaming and Music Experiences with Immersive Surround Sound and Deep Bass Impact

Summary

Even without making any changes to the sound bar (adjusting treble, bass, etc) it sounded awesome. We adjusted the settings, and we were blown away at how fantastic this sound bar sounds! I had the bass at the highest level, and you could feel the bass traveling through the floor, it felt like being at the movies. This sub is not a bangy sounding sub like others, this one actually produces bass to not only hear it but to feal the full impact of it. I'm a bass fanatic and this was two thumbs up for me. You can hear each individual sound in a movie and voices are clearly heard. I think if we had the two surround channels it would make it even better, but we are still impressed without them. The Max SR’s remote control is pretty decent, and a big step up on the blister-button unit the comes with the cheaper Polk Signa Solo. It’s a bit more substantial and has a rubber top that makes it quite pleasing to grip. There are some useful controls for adjusting the left-right balance and surround volume, as well as the usual stuff. It can learn IR codes, too.