Verdict

One of the more convincing endeavour at an ultra - compact immersive soundbar , the Polk MagniFi Mini AX surrender a sound that ’s fully grown and more dynamic than expected .

Pros

Cons

Key Features

Introduction

You ’d have recollect that with immersive formats , such asDolby AtmosandDTS :X , bigger is safe . But swelled often entail more speaker unit and more space at a with child expense .

So , rather than going bigger , marque have been getting smaller and more compact . skirt sound setupsremain an option for some , but for others , a small soundbar is all that ’s required .

That ’s where Polk ’s MagniFi Mini AX enters the discussion . There ’s been a upsurge in stocky soundbars since theSonos Beamkicked things off several long time ago , but late times have visualise teeny bar , like theLG Éclair , come along . Can a big sound flourish from such a small enclosure ?

Design

dry pint - sized is an apposite descriptor of the Polk MagniFi Mini AX ’s proportion . The main soundbar is 366 mm wide and 79 mm marvellous , which is actually bigger than the LG Éclair but still relatively tiny in the grand strategy of soundbars .

Because of its size of it , the MagniFi Mini AX is well suited to television set with screens of 50 - inch and littler . But having tried it with a 65 - inch OLED , the Polk still grapple to diffuse its sound to cover the bigger screen .

There ’s a semblance of modest stylus , with its acoustic mesh fabric overcompensate the midriff , but the stern grayish - black colour scheme ensures this is n’t a speaker to steal attention from a television set – nor should it .

Hidden within the fabric engagement is anOLED displaythat ’s visible from a seated position , showing which soundtrack is playing , informant , and audio mode .

On the top aerofoil , there are strong-arm buttons for power , generator , Bluetooth , and loudness , while around the back , you ’ll find HDMIeARC , digital ocular out , supplemental , and USB connections .

There are also status lights that bespeak whether the building block is touch base to Wi - Fi , the subwoofer and palisade speakers , plus a Connect release for joining it to other speakers .

The MagniFi Mini AX also comes with a downward - firing subwoofer that dwarf the main unit . As it ’s wireless , there ’s no cable required , but Polk Audio recommends it ’s place on the same wall and as tightlipped to the TV as possible , with no more than a 10 m distance between the sub and the chief unit of measurement .

The remote is hunky-dory – small , with all the necessary buttons ( and a few more ) to operate . I do like pressing its buttons provided more feedback , as these finger shallow and are n’t always responsive to touch .

Features

The Polk MagniFi Mini AX supports both Dolby Atmos and DTS :X , which is not always a given , as Dolby ’s bearing across streaming services seems to have kicked DTS into touch .

But just playing an Atmos or DTS :X racetrack does n’t necessarily mean that the soundbar is playing in “ three-D ” . In fact , for a bigger , more expansive soundscape , the MagniFi Mini AX needs to be in its 3D Mode , something Polk does n’t carry all too well unless you bother to learn the manual . Other modes include Music , Movie , and Night , which can be access through the remote .

Unlike the LG Éclair , the MagniFi Mini AX allow you to teem from a variety of sources . Those include Bluetooth 5.0 , along with Chromecast , AirPlay 2 , and Spotify Connect over Wi - Fi . The USB embrasure on the behind can be used for firmware updates or playing euphony , but it ’s limited to MP3 files .

Connection to Wi - Fi is done through Google Home , which is a simple enough mental process , but I always get nervy during a product update – it often confuses itself if the update take longer than usual .

Polk also includes its VoiceAdjust technology , which it claim raises the mass of negotiation in TV programmes and films without hyperbolise other sound .

There ’s a five - speaker raiment in the principal unit , with two 19 mm tweeters ( left and right ) alongside a left - centre - right ( also known as LCR ) array of 51 millimeter mid - equipment driver . The submarine has a 127 millimeter x 178 millimetre woofer , which , in the more common parlance , makes it an inviolable unit of measurement .

There ’s no voice ascendency and , therefore , no aboriginal support for Alexa or Google Assistant . There is an upgrade path by tot up the SR2 environment utterer , which cost £ 159 .

Sound Quality

yield the MagniFi Mini AX ’s midget dimensions , it would be unrealistic to expect reliable up - firing speakers to fire speech sound towards the ceiling , and that turns out to be the correct assumption . Polk uses its patented SDA ( stereo dimension array ) engineering to elaborate the soundstage and manoeuvre effects to achieve the depression of multiple loudspeaker system around you .

But I do n’t cogitate it achieves the effect it ’s going for , nor does it vocalize immersive in the lawful sense of the word . However , that does n’t intend this is n’t a dependable soundbar experience . It ’s the most satisfying I ’ve come across from this recent trend of ultra - compact soundbars – better than the LG Éclair and theCreative Stage 360 .

Things begin off on a unsatisfying government note when watching The Batman in the Movie mode . Despite the MagniFi Mini AX telling me the film is in Atmos , there ’s none of the expansiveness I ’d expect . Robert Pattinson ’s moody voiceover acquire priority in the initiative scene , with the music direct anonymously in the background . The symmetry of score , effects and dialogue seems off , and when Batman takes on some thugs at a train station , it ’s noticeably lacking in any visceral excitement .

Make the electric switch to the 3D Mode , and there ’s more room for effect , medicine and dialogue to rest . Everything sound bigger and hold more weight as the soundscape becomes improbable and wider .

The sound of gunshots and sparks from a taser is depicted more convincingly , and as Batman lays into the crowd , there ’s more clarity and wound detail to the smasher that are amped up , compared with the Movie mood ’s tame approach – and all without recruit the bulk .

There are height effects to remark in the dojo fight shot from The Matrix Resurrections , but they do n’t carry a convincing presence for an Atmos soundscape .

spiel Star war : The Force Awakens , the MagniFi Mini axe easily serves up a telling sound for a soundbar of its size : it does n’t push audio into a room , but it ’s a big , dynamical , energetic and exciting performer .

The subwoofer survives its face-off with Blade Runner 2049 ’s dynamical track entire , with bass conveyed in a adult , loud and impressively sinewy way . The sub pack tidy sum of heft and , arguably , too much at its nonremittal level , as it can , at time , steal the limelight from other effects .

The 3D Mode really brings to fall the loudspeaker system ’s dynamic power . As K ’s thread maker railroad car lands on Sapper Morton ’s farm , it ’s very forte . But as soon as the spinner touches down , it becomes quiet and serene , with the soundbar seamlessly flowing through loud and smooth scenes with confidence .

Again , the MagniFi Mini AX ’s sense of stature effects is more in the main limit than specific , but for a small soundbar , it catch the tone of sounds correct .

The sound of raindrops hitting metal in the scene between K and Joi is blot on , step do n’t sound thin or heavy - handed , and using the VoiceAdjust elevates dialogue in the view between K and Sapper . But the bar can also bring up nearby sound , like that of garlic boiling on a hob .

With Terminator : Dark Fate , the cable car chase in Mexico has proved a problem for some soundbars in terms of protecting dialogue from the cacophony of peculiar effect .

With the MagniFi Mini AX , duologue always remains hearable , even without VoiceAdjust . Again , the subwoofer receive a good workout : as Grace tears into Rev-9 with her shotgun , it feels like the Terminator ’s body is about to rip in half from the volley of shots .

The torpedo go bass - happy when I tried Sicario , but there are control for adjustments ( I put it down to -2 ) . Overall with Sicario , the whole system place in a performance that sounds natural , with dialogue grounded in clearness . o.k. detail is carry well and ambient auditory sensation are picked up to emphasize scenes , like the sound of a humdrum air conditioner while Kate and Reggie wait outside a get together room .

What ’s the MagniFi Mini AX like with programme TV ? Again , it ’s a clear and elaborated carrying into action with a65 - inch LG G2 , and this time around , the Movie mode voice vainglorious than the 3D one , connote it should be used with non - immersive rail only . Watching the Women ’s Euros and flick on the VoiceAdjust boost the commentary but also amplified the surrounding effects .

In the Music mode , there ’s a decent rhythmic ability and powerful basso that gives Harry Styles ’ As it Was weightiness along with a crispness that does n’t teeter into harshness or sibilance . Music over Chromecast sound crisper and more wide than Bluetooth , but the deviation between the two is smaller than you might anticipate .

Latest deals

Should you buy it?

Comparing it with the likes of Sonos and Denon , what you get here is effectively one-half of what you ’d yield for those steel . You ca n’t argue against that in note value terms .

Powerful ? perfectly , but the hoagy can drive home plenty of welly with some need tracks , but bass levels can be adjusted if that ’s an issue .

Final Thoughts

Is the Polk MagniFi Mini AX a truly immersive soundbar ? Not really , but for an ultra - stocky barroom , it ’s the most convincing effort I ’ve heard . In the right modality , it ’s a boastfully - sounding , dynamical and exciting performer , backed by a subwoofer that save mass of power .

Its eARC support set aside it to be give lossless audio from suitable sources and DTS :X support is welcome – although you will desire to check that that your TV can pass through DTS soundtrack ( LG TVs ca n’t ) .

This soundbar ’s Mary Leontyne Price puts it up against the likes of Sonos and Denon , and while they ’re both well - sounding efforts , those two model do n’t come with a subwoofer as part of the parcel . If you ’re after a more cinematic performance at abode , the MagniFi Mini AX is well worth checking out .

Trusted Score

How we test

We test every soundbar we review good over an extensive period of fourth dimension . We use diligence standard trial to compare features properly . We ’ll always say you what we find . We never , ever , admit money to review a product .

Find out more about how we prove in ourethics insurance .

FAQs

Yes you’re able to . The Mini AX back the SR2 wireless speaker , which can be added to create butt / surroundings effectual groove

Full Specs

Sustainability

Trusted Reviews ’ holds the fact that worldwide warming is not a myth as a effect economic value and will endlessly strive to help protect our satellite from impairment in its commercial enterprise drill .

As part of this mission , whenever we review a intersection we send the troupe a series of questions to serve us gauge and make transparent the impact the machine has on the environment .

We currently have n’t received answers to the inquiry on this product , but will update this page the import we do . you’re able to see a elaborated breakdown of the questions we take and why in oursustainability info page .