Sound quality: Polk Audio's MagniFi Mini AX has decent overall sound quality - this model reproduces music and dialog reasonably well despite the obvious shortcomings in its sound. In the Music sound mode the bass has good impact and goes fairly deep, but is a bit prominent and somewhat boomy. Midrange is fairly even, but is somewhat hazy, plasticky and congested, and a bit grainy. Treble is fairly extended, and a bit subdued, smeared and sizzly. Does a so-so job of recovering the room ambience from the recording and the overall sound is somewhat congested. When playing back stereo program material in the Music sound mode the sound stage extends somewhat above and beyond the sides of the soundbar enclosure, but lacks depth. The other sound modes had a noticeable effect on the sound field and/or tonal balance. When 5.1 channel program material is played back in the Music sound mode the width and height of the sound stage expands, and depending on the program material extends well beyond the height and width of the soundbar enclosure, but lacks depth. The various sound modes had a noticeable effect on the sound field and/or tonal balance. When Dolby Atmos material is played back in the Music EQ mode, the width and height of the sound stage expands and depending on the program material can fill the front end of the room; audio imaging can extend up and above from the front of the room to almost directly overhead depending on the program material, but there was no sense of depth and there was no rear surround effect; sounds that should have been in the rear come from the front. The Night sound mode has a noticeable effect on the sound field and tonal balance, the other sound modes have a more subtle effect if any. There was no significant difference between HDMI, analog, optical, Bluetooth, and WiFi inputs. Dolby Atmos and/or DTS:X program material can only be played when the soundbar is used with a TV that has a HDMI ARC connection that supports Dolby Digital+ and/or DTS-HD High Resolution Audio, or a HDMI eARC connection that supports Dolby Digital+ or Dolby Digital TrueHD and/or DTS-HD Master Audio or DTS-HD High Resolution Audio. The system can provide satisfying volume in a medium sized room.
TV ease of use: Very good overall.
Features ease of use: Acceptable overall.
