Sound quality: In the Music sound mode with the Voice setting at maximum, Polk Audio's MagniFi delivers sound quality that falls in the fair range, meaning that it has sonic shortcomings that leave a lot to be desired when listening to music but don't rule it out for dialog. The bass has good impact, but is a bit boomy and deepest bass is lacking. Midrange is fairly even, but is hazy and grainy. Treble is recessed and spitty. The sound is somewhat echoey, the system doesn't really do a good job of recovering room ambience (the sense of the acoustic space in which the music was recorded), is congested, and lacks treble air, fine detail, and complexity. In Movie mode the sound gets louder, and reducing the voice setting from the maximum setting makes the sound even more echoey. The sound bar can provide satisfying volume in a medium sized room.
TV setup and ease of use: Very good overall. Programming the soundbar to respond to a TV remote was quick, easy, and straight forward, but the instructions do not specify what functions can be programmed (we found power, volume up/down, and mute can be programmed). All appropriate cables for TV connection are included with the system. If this model has been programmed to respond to a TV remote control volume and mute commands it can work seamlessly with most TVs. If you decide to use the soundbar's remote instead you'll find it uncluttered and that the controls are well labeled and for the most part in logical groupings. The console has power, source, volume, and mute controls that are well marked and easy to see and access. All of the display indicators including power and mute status are visible from a typical listening position. The source and DSP (digital sound processing) effects mode indicators consist of unlabeled patterned and color coded lights that require the instruction manual to decode. The momentary graphical volume display has very rough increments.
Features setup and ease of use: Good overall. The remote is uncluttered with controls that are well labeled and for the most part in logical groupings. The console has power, source, volume, and mute controls are well marked and easy to see and access. All of the display indicators including power and mute status are visible from a typical listening position. The source and DSP effects mode indicators consist of unlabeled patterned and color coded lights that require the instruction manual to decode. The momentary graphical volume display has very rough increments. Bluetooth pairing is very easy - when input is switched to Bluetooth the soundbar is automatically in pairing mode (too bad the instructions don't make this clear). Optional NFC pairing is available for use with Bluetooth devices that have that feature.
