Polk Magnifi Mini AX review

Polk’s Magnifi Mini is a superb soundbar for these on a funds, however what about customers that need extra bang for his or her buck? Polk’s new Magnifi Mini AX appears to be like to supply the identical compact design with a lift to efficiency with sensible options like Google Dwelling and AirPlay 2 assist, Dolby Atmos and extra.

The problem is that it’s rather more costly than its predecessor, placing it up towards heavy hitters from the likes of Sonos and JBL. Does the Magnifi Mini AX have what it takes to compete?

Design & Construct

• Accessible in black or white
• Small, however mighty
• PC-tower-esque sub is a bit unpleasant

The very first thing which will shock you about Polk’s newest is simply how compact it’s. Measuring in at simply 365 x 104 x 78mm, the dainty soundbar calls for surprisingly little valuable area in your TV unit. Nonetheless, don’t let it idiot you.

Due to its deep, concave design, it’s broad sufficient to create a sound that fills the room – and all whereas trying surprisingly smooth. Accessible merely in black, it’s hardly a speaker that embraces the full-colour spectrum, however when the core unit appears to be like this slick, it’s exhausting to complain.

Whereas the soundbar itself appears to be like impressively stylish, the towering four-legged sub is lower than elegant. Channelling the power of a miniature PC Tower, it’s a weird and clunky-looking shell for the Polk’s low-end, protruding like a shrunken piece of furnishings.

Fortunately, what it lacks in beauty, it greater than makes up for in sonics. Regardless of its abrasive design, the subwoofer delivers the place it counts – however extra on that later.

Sporting a matte black end, the standalone sub isn’t offensive, however due to the sheer quantity of area it calls for, these with a penchant for inside design might need to nestle it behind plant pots or extra aesthetically pleasing furnishings.

Tom Regan / Foundry

Eyebrow-raising subwoofer design apart, the remainder of the Magnifi AX Mini feels pleasing premium. Whereas many producers provide a web page or two of ‘fast begin’ documentation, the Polk refreshingly comes with a full-on guide, making setup a painless affair. It’s this sort of premium really feel and care that defines the Polk AX Mini.

Coming with a pleasingly slick and durable distant, you may simply do all the pieces from switching sound profiles, to boosting the bass in your favorite Boiler Room set.

Connectivity

• Optical, Ethernet, and Wi-Fi
• HDMI eARC
• Bluetooth and AUX
• Dolby Atmos and DTS: X

Due to the aforementioned guide, setup is pleasingly simple. For Android customers, the Polk Mini AX syncs effortlessly with Google Dwelling, instantly connecting it to the Wi-FI, downloading firmware updates and permitting you to fit it into any present multi-room speaker setup.

Like most trendy soundbars, the Polk AX Mini gives up a wealth of connectivity choices. From the ye olde AUX port, to the middling optical and vastly superior HDMI eARC port, there are a mess of the way to route your TV’s audio to Polk’s newest soundbar. It really works completely with each Dolby Atmos and DTS:X too, effortlessly syncing with appropriate TVs or audio receivers in an effort to provide up a wealthy and detailed sound.

As soon as related through HDMI eArc, the system hyperlinks seamlessly together with your present TV distant, permitting you to regulate the Polk’s quantity with a easy click on of your TV distant.

Tom Regan / Foundry

Sound High quality

• Clear, balanced sound
• Respectable however restricted bass output
• Spectacular readability and element

Regardless of the speaker’s modest dimension, it has an enormous attain, and when paired with the unpleasant sub, it does an admirable job at filling even the most important of dwelling rooms. But it’s the totally different audio profiles that basically assist make this technique sing.

Armed with a deluge of various audio settings, the default ‘Film’ mode does precisely what it says on the tin, permitting your chosen popcorn flick or TV present to punch throughout with aplomb. Because the sub-bass snarls throughout the top of DVader’s rampage in Obi-Wan, I’m instantly immersed within the CG-led carnage. It’s an audio efficiency that’s enhanced when switching to the pre-set audio modes.

The film mode gives up a surprisingly cinematic efficiency, feeling grandiose and hitting all the suitable notes It’s all admirably well-balanced and might simply maintain its personal towards the offended snarl of a filled-to-capacity washer mid-cycle.

Tom Regan / Foundry

The AX’s music setting is equally spectacular, amplifying a reside model of Thundercat’s ‘Them Adjustments’ in all its groove-ridden glory. The place many subs merely produce an excessively low and distorted rumble, right here the sub and speaker work splendidly in tandem, making certain the bass tones hum warmly because the staccato vocals purr satisfyingly over the combination.

It appears like a sound system constructed for having fun with a band’s studio periods and YouTube rips of live shows, with the AX Mini admirably delivering all the pieces from melancholic Tiny Desk’s to distortion-soaked Audiotree Reside periods.

For the avid gamers on the market, the 3D mode does an admirable job at making a wider audio profile, stretching atmospheric audio to impressively broad ranges.

For many who must take heed to neighbours, Polk has you lined. Together with a late-night mode that amplifies voices and lowers bass tones. Night time mode makes a post-Midnight watch of Stranger Issues a refreshingly non-neighbour-bothering expertise. Quieting the roaring sub and boosting the treble, the earnest teen dialogue is delivered with crystal readability, and when the scares come, I not have to fret about any floor-shaking sonics.

Value & Availability

Costing $499/£429/€479, the Polk Magnifi Mini AX isn’t the most affordable soundbar round. Priced at over $200/£130 greater than its predecessor -the Magnifi Mini – the AX is way extra of an funding than its youthful sibling, placing it up towards premium bar-and-sub combos just like the $499/£549 JBL Bar 5.1 or Polk’s personal $499/£499 Magnifi 2.

In the event you’re , you may choose up the Polk Magnifi Mini AX immediately from Polk (at a slight low cost on the time of writing) alongside retailers like Amazon each within the US and the UK. To see the way it compares to the competitors, check out our hand-picked number of the perfect soundbars.

Tom Regan / Foundry

Verdict

For these gentle on area that need massive sound, you’d be hard-pressed to do higher than Polk’s newest. Whereas its tower-like subwoofer could also be a sight that results in sore eyes, when you’ve got an HDMI eARC connection, the audio satisfaction you’ll acquire greater than negates the wonky aesthetic.

Due to its intelligent use of well-considered audio profiles, and choices for numerous connections, the MagniFi Mini AX feels suitably premium – a system constructed to final. The optical efficiency, nevertheless, is disappointingly lacklustre. For these with out an eARC-compatible TV, the middling audio gained’t be sufficient to justify the AX’s hefty price ticket. For everybody else, nevertheless, the intelligent sensible options, room-filling sound and ease of use make the Magnifi Mini AFX an utter delight.

In the event you aren’t gentle on area, nevertheless, the spectacular Dolby Atmos efficiency of the Vizio M-Series M512a-H6 may make it a greater choice.

Nonetheless, In case you are on the lookout for a small soundbar with massive sound, then look no additional.

Specs

• Audio system
• 3x 2-inch mids (soundbar)
• 2x 0.8-inch tweeters (soundbar)
• 5 x 7-inch woofer (sub)
• Ports: HDMI (eARC), optical digital, 3.5mm, USB-A (updates solely)
• Dolby Atmos
• DTS:X
• Polk SDA 3D Audio
• Google Chromecast for Audio
• Apple AirPlay2
• Spotify Join
• Bluetooth 5.0
• 365 x 104 x 78mm (soundbar)
• Colors: Black