Sound quality: Polk Audio's Signa S4 Fair overall sound quality - this model has sonic shortcomings that leave a lot to be desired when listening to music but don't rule it out for dialog. In the Music sound mode the bass has good impact and goes fairly deep but is a bit prominent and boomy. Midrange is a touch thin, somewhat grainy, and echoey, and a bit hazy. Treble is extended and fairly even, but a bit smeared and sizzly. Does a decent job of recovering room ambience, but the echoey quality of the midrange gives the sound an artificial "processed" quality and the overall sound is somewhat congested. The overall dynamic range may suddenly and very noticeably sound compressed with some program material. With stereo program material the sound image extends somewhat above, but not much to the sides of the soundbar, and lacks depth. The various sound modes have a noticeable effect on the sound field and/or tonal balance. With Dolby digital multi-channel program material the sound image extends a somewhat above and beyond the sides of the soundbar, but still lacks depth. While the Night sound mode had a noticeable effect on the volume and tonal balance of the sound, there was no obvious difference between the Music and Movie sound modes. When playing Dolby Atmos material 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 rear surround effect, and sounds that should have been in the rear come from the front. The various sound modes have a noticeable effect on the sound field and/or tonal balance when Dolby Atmos material is played back. There was no significant difference in sound quality between the HDMI, optical, analog, Bluetooth, and USB inputs when playing two channel program material. Dolby Atmos program material can only be played when the soundbar is used with a TV that has a HDMI ARC connection that supports Dolby Digital+, or a HDMI eARC connection that supports Dolby Digital+ or Dolby Digital TrueHD. The system can provide satisfying volume in a medium sized room.
TV setup and ease of use: good overall.
Features setup and ease of use: Fair overall.
