If you have an older TV without audio output (HDMI ARC), use an optical digital cable. Still, Im definitely curious about the MagniFi Mini AXs performance, and Polk has certainly stuffed it full of features (and thrown a subwoofer into the mix) all for a reasonable $499. Subscribe to get the best Verge-approved tech deals of the week. Thats the width of the companys new $499 MagniFi Mini AX, which supports both Atmos and DTS:X. And the wireless subwoofer handles the bass. Main office: If you allow an increase in width by 10-15 cm, you will find the even cheaper (and much worse!) 20, , 40 , 3PL . Theres an aux input, and the system is even Roku TV Ready. System Both music and film sounds pretty good, as long the sound level is set to low to medium. You get used to it, but it is both not very visually appealing, and it is less user-friendly. The Sonos Beam which itself is what Id consider a small-ish soundbar measures 25.63 inches wide. The small remote control has direct buttons for all functions, and the most used buttons are marked in white or with white icons against a black background. But by now, you might be wondering how powerful a 14.5-inch soundbar can possibly be. Do I expect an ultra-compact soundbars audio to blow me away? And the Samsung mops the floor with it. NB! There must be many who are interested in such a small speaker in the TV room. The sound in stereo extends the dimensions of the soundbar, and the same goes for movie sound. Like most soundbars, the Magnifi Mini connects to the TV with an HDMI cable. Magnifi Mini supports surround sound with Dolby Digital. Less used buttons have black icons, but are either raised or sunken so you can feel your way. Aside from its eARC HDMI and optical inputs, the MagniFi Mini AX supports audio streaming via Bluetooth, AirPlay 2, Chromecast, and Spotify Connect. I had preferred a display in the front of the soundbar. If you buy something from a Verge link, Vox Media may earn a commission. Panasonic SC-HTB250, and also the Sony HT-MT300. Polk claims the MagniFi Mini AX can produce quality that youd expect to pay two or three times as much for. The companys VoiceAdjust feature optimizes voice clarity through the center channel and keeps all dialog easy to understand. From Polk Audio comes the Magnifi Mini; a tiny soundbar that sounds like it was much bigger. 3PL . So like Sonos does with the second-generation Beam, Polk is virtualizing those Dolby Atmos height surround sound effects. Increase the volume until it reaches the maximum level, and the Magnifi Mini increases the distortion sharply. If you can't get the party started with the JBL PartyBox 710, it's not the speaker that's to blame. Easy to place, easy to use. Therefore, the surprise was great, when I discovered that the sound stage was not as narrow as the small size suggests. Predominant plastic feel. And it was in stereo! If you are willing to go up in size, you can get the Samsung HW-Q66T at almost the same price as the Magnifi Mini. The width is not greater than that of a 14-inch screen, which makes it almost disappear visually. Publish AS / LBTechreviews But the result is too sharp and unnatural for me to appreciate. But while you get a subwoofer with the Polk, the Beam has better sound quality even if it lacks the last octave in the bass. The only thing I miss is a little more air at the very top. NO-1396 Billingstad Norway 2. It is significantly sharper and more harsh, and if you compare the Magnifi Mini against other soundbars, such as the Sonos Beam, it will fall short. 4. The seats on the side get a much smaller space in their soundscape. The Sonos Beam, as compact as it is, is actually twice as wide as the Polk Magnifi Mini. 6. Whether to call the Magnifi Mini a soundbar or not is up for debate. This applies not only to music, but also to film. It may sound a bit stuffy, especially airy female voices lose some of the glow through the Polk plank. Not entirely. MAS International Co., Ltd. newsletter. This can, for example, be hidden away in a corner. . , , . Please confirm your subscription to Verge Deals via the verification email we just sent you. It does not match the sound quality of the best soundbars at the same price, but it does have the advantage of being exceptionally compact. And it can also be used as an ice bucket! Also in the chest sound region, instead of just the sharpest part of the vocal cords. A speaker that, with its 34 cm in width, is almost invisible, but which adds a new dimension to the sound, compared to the deplorable sound quality you are used to from the flat screen TV. Just be sure to use the Music sound mode for everything, as it sounds most natural no matter what you are listening to. There is also a bit of a problem: The Magnifi Mini costs more than the Sonos Beam. In Music mode, the voices have a larger midrange range. The equity company Highlander Partners has acquired McIntosh Group, which is also behind Sonus faber. How small can a soundbar get while still offering Dolby Atmos? Mail: contact@lbtechreviews.com . I will never let myself be fooled into thinking that it is surround sound, but the sound actually fills the room quite pleasingly. This whole Dolby Atmos thing keeps getting more and more diluted as laptop makers and other tech companies throw the Atmos badge on products that often sound totally fine but rarely deliver any extra immersion. 20 (SECOM) Phone: +47 815 73 510 Polk Magnifi Mini is an ultra-compact soundbar, that will fit in everywhere. Voice control: Indirect, using Google Cast. Instead, I am greeted with stripes of LEDs that go up and down based on the selected sound level and functions. To help in the bass area, the Magnifi Mini is equipped with a wireless subwoofer, with a 6.5-inch woofer in the bottom. The $499 MagniFi Mini AX also comes with a subwoofer. Items that are outside the plus service are 'purchased free' from the wall by the manufacturer / supplier in question. You may not use Content, including (but not limited to) icons, for any purpose or in any way other than those expressly permitted. . It does not have the log design, but instead resembles a medium-sized Bluetooth speaker. Music sounds just fine, and movies and TV work well. , [ : (, )] If you increase the level of the voices with the Voice function, a larger part of the voice register is amplified, than in Movie mode. 2022 Publish AS - LB Tech Reviews works according to the rules for good press practice. 2020 Publish AS. But Polk has included a ton of functionality in this tiny thing. On the front is an OLED ticker for relaying key information like sound adjustments. As a reader, you only have the right to use the Content on lbtechreviews.com for personal and non-commercial purposes. . All other formats must be converted to PCM in the TV for the soundboard to emit sound. It may take a while to get the feel of, but it works well and fits well in the hand. The MagniFi Mini AX includes five speaker drivers but none of them are up-firing. This means you can adjust sound settings right from the native menus of a Roku TV. Theres also a 3D audio mode that transforms stereo audio to 360-degree surround sound. That last trick isnt particularly novel and usually has mixed results, but its another trick in this soundbars large bag of them. The tiny soundbar is easy to use. You may download, link to and print Content from lbtechreviews.com for private and non-commercial purposes, provided you refer to the source, respect any rights notices and / or reservations. Especially if you are lucky enough to get the middle seat in front of the TV. Billingstadsletta 19 B By submitting your email, you agree to our, Polk crammed Dolby Atmos and a ton of features into this 15-inch soundbar, Sign up for the 3. Log in and get full access and recieve our newsletter and more. In addition to the very compact soundbar, Polk is also including a wireless subwoofer for that price. This also provides the best sound quality, as you do not have to go through compressed Bluetooth. , Thats why Music always sounds more natural and less sharp. Magnifi Mini sounds best in the Music sound mode. It does have Bluetooth for music playback, but it is, still intended to be in the TV room. . The MagniFi Mini AX manages to hack over 10 inches off of that, and frankly its dimensions and top-panel controls make it look more like a Bluetooth speaker than home theater gear. There is also an analog 3.5 mm cable, in case you want to connect to a source without digital output. R Series speakers for in-wall, wall-mounted or ceiling-mounted applications. Polk really covered all the bases here. , . 1. JBL Paragon was the ultimate speaker to impress the neighbours in Beverly Hills in the 1950s and 60s. In this way you can stream music directly to the soundboard from music services that support Chromecast. You can choose between different sound modes, and you can also adjust the dialog level up and down with a separate Voice function. If this is the size you are looking for, it is completely unrivaled. With both Bluetooth and Google Cast built-in, this soundbar has a wide range of uses. Polk also lets you dial back the bass or enable night mode to cut down on rumble if youre watching something late at night. ERP It also means that it does not have extended audio return (eARC), as it is only necessary to decode high-resolution audio formats. System , , . The soundscape is larger than you might think, particularly for the person sitting in the middle in front of the TV. Watch the presentation video of Magnifi Mini below: If you want the most out of listening to music, the soundbar can be connected to Wi-Fi networks with the Google Home app on your mobile. I had no expectations in advance for the small elusive soundbar, which weighs little and has a sky-high plastic feel. Use the port marked ARC on the TV, and the sound will be retrieved directly from the TV no matter what source you are watching. A little too subdued in the high range. I would argue that even the almost equally compact Sony HT-MT300, which is similar to the HT-MT500, only without Chromecast and network connection, is better acoustically. If you use the Movie mode, the dialogs will be even clearer, especially if you increase the dialogs with the Voice button. , According to Polk, the answer is 14.5 inches. See our ethics statement. . Surprisingly powerful sound for such a small soundbar. You can optionally add in the companys SR2 rear surround speakers for an extra $170.