A compact Dolby Atmos- and DTS:X sound bar system to create a cinema experience in your living room.
Despite being rather compact, especially compared to the average Samsung and LG single-unit soundbar, Polk’s Magnifi Mini AX packs some powerful sound that enables movie- and series fanatics to enjoy a cinema-like audio experience in the comfort of their own living room, gamers to take their PC- or console gaming emersion up a notch, or audiophiles to get the best out of their favourite tunes.
The Polk MagniFi Mini AX is a compact (366 x 104 x 79mm) soundbar and subwoofer combination that supports both Dolby Atmos as well as DTS:X surround sound standards and is perfect for users who don’t have a lot of space but still want big sound. A whopping 200 watts of sound power is on offer, half of which emanates from the sound bar that boasts a front array driver complement consisting of a 1″ (2.54 cm) h x 3″ (7.62 cm) w (Oval) for the midrange and 0.75″ (1.91 cm) d (round) tweeter. It delivers excellent sound quality even at the highest volumes, whether you are streaming your favourite tunes or watching a series on Disney+/Netflix/Amazon Prime Video/Showmax.
Adding to the emersion of the auditory experience is Polk’s patented Stereo Dimensional Array (SDA) surround technology that creates an expansive soundstage and detailed stereo image. The natural multi-dimensional sound experience is unique to Polk MagniFi sound bars. In addition, the soundbar packs four different user modes (Music, Movie, 3D, and Night) that enable users to fit the capabilities of the device to the specific audio listening experience.
Setup is easy, thanks to the one-cable set-up that works with any TV via HDMI eARC/ARC (HDMI cable included), optical, or AUX-in. Convenient OLED display makes settings easy to understand whether it is on/off and what method of input the soundbar is currently on etc. Plus, MagniFi works with most TV remotes and even sports a compact remote for convenient input from the bed. The setup is quite versatile as you can stream music via Apple AirPlay 2 or movies/series via Google Chromecast functionality using Wi-Fi, or the likes of Spotify over Bluetooth from your smart mobile device. Podcast/vodcast listeners will really appreciate Polk’s VoiceAdjust feature that allows for every word of dialogue to be as clear as possible as this really made our favourite tech, motoring and NBA podcasts come to life.
As mentioned above, you do not just get the soundbar alone, as it is complemented by the standalone subwoofer. In this instance, it is a 182 x 396 x 371mm unit that packs in a 127 x 178mm downward-firing speaker delivering great bass to accompany the fantastic sound from the soundbar. Beats fans might miss the unnatural dollop of deep bass, but everyone else will be more than happy with the bass levels delivered by this subwoofer.
Ultimately, the Polk Magnifi Mini AX audio system is compact but packs an amazing sound for an approachable pricetag, as the recommended retail price is R7999. This makes it more expensive than a 2.1 soundbar and subwoofer combo from the likes of Samsung or Sony which is around R4-5000, but you will not get the same level of audio quality, volume, features, or clarity. If you are a true audiophile looking for the best sound and lots of features, this is the soundbar for your living room/bedroom.
