You can adjust bass and voice to find the right mix for your room. In my setup, I raised the center channel to the max to help offset the deep bass. But it's still small enough that you can tuck it in a corner, and the extra oomph really improves the sound. By You will receive a verification email shortly. Since you have only two choices, it's not hard to remember which is which. You might not need every tool for every procedure. Tom's Guide is supported by its audience. published 13 March 15. Movie seemed to focus more on the center channel to make dialogue more pronounced. Because it lacks HDMI, there's no on-screen display. If you choose Movie, the lights flash in one pattern; if you choose Music, they flash in a different arrangement. Visit our corporate site (opens in new tab). The MagniFi boasts big, room-filling sound, especially when it comes to movies and television. When hes not reviewing speakers, hes probably listening to one anyway. The more expensive Sonos Playbar sounds better for music, but the MagniFi produces much more bass a key to making the movie- and TV-watching experience immersive. Fortunately, you can teach your TV remote to control the main functions, like power and volume. Michael Gowan covers soundbars, TVs, portable speakers and other audio- and video-related topics for Toms Guide. John Bonham's drums boomed and Robert Plant's vocals soared on "Trampled Under Foot," though the missing high end took some of the attack out of Jimmy Page's guitar. The unit comes with just one way to connect to your TV: a single optical digital port. The system doesn't offer a two-channel mode, which is how most music sounds best. New York, NY 10036. It's also less likely to block remote signals to the TV an annoyance you'll find with some taller units, like the Sony HT-CT370 (35.5 x 4.5 x 2 inches) and the Sonos Playbar (35.4 x 5.5 x 3.4 inches). The case houses three 3-inch drivers: center, left and right. The 13 x 12 x 9-inch wireless subwoofer is larger than many that come with soundbars, and includes a 7-inch woofer. Michael Gowan Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, I connected the MagniFi to my TV with the optical digital audio cable.
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. On the MagniFi, the drum and bass line at the core of Mark Ronson and Bruno Mars' "Uptown Funk" thumped with plenty of drive, but the horns fell short. Polk MagniFi Soundbar made for amplifying the TV volume. At 38 x 3 x 2 inches, the MagniFi features one of the lowest profiles of any soundbar I've tested, which makes it easy to slip the speaker beneath your TV. It had limited range, and I found I needed to push buttons multiple times for the unit to react. Heres why you can trust us. It worked well enough, mainly because the unit doesn't feature that many options. And while the acoustic bass on Cannonball Adderley's jazz classic "Autumn Leaves" sounded rich and detailed, the horns lacked crispness. The subwoofer helps songs sound rich, but a lack of treble keeps the system from besting the Sonos Playbar for music playback. There was a problem. Cate Blanchett's voiceover at the beginning of The Fellowship of the Ring resonated with gravitas, and Kevin Spacey's drawl as Frank Underwood in House of Cards was easy to distinguish during his frequent asides. Accessibility, Bluetooth Wireless Technology with aptX and NFC. Hes written about music and technology for more than 20 years for a raft of publications including Wired, Mens Journal, PC World and Macworld. To pair the soundbar with a Bluetooth device, you press the Bluetooth button on the unit and then find "Polk MagniFi" in the list of available devices on your phone, tablet or computer. It offers few frills, but if you're only interested in adding great sound to your TV, the MagniFi is an excellent choice. With the wireless subwoofer, it shakes and rattles better than other soundbars in this price range, like the Sony HT-CT370. These are some common tools used to work on this device. Terms Tom's Guide is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. You can also select between two sound modes movie or music to modify the sound. The slim Polk MagniFi soundbar produces a ton of bass, and makes movies and TV shows sound great. The MagniFi ships with a "credit-card-style remote" meaning it's small and not very functional. When Katniss Everdeen (played by Jennifer Lawrence) shot down the planes attacking District 8 in Mockingjay Part 1, the force of the explosions rumbled my floor, thanks to the big subwoofer. There's a Bluetooth button for enabling a wireless connection for music. If needed, you can manually sync the two by pushing the button on the back of the soundbar and back of the subwoofer. At a glance, the Polk MagniFi doesn't seem big enough to fill a room with sound, but it does it with ease. Please refresh the page and try again. If you have an Android device with NFC, you can pair it by touching the mobile device to the soundbar and confirming that you want to pair. The soundbar and wireless sub come paired they synced as soon as I turned them on. Thank you for signing up to Tom's Guide. On top, the MagniFi includes the unit's controls: Power, Volume, Bass and "Voice," which controls the center channel volume. Instead, LED indicators flash to show levels and modes. When I listened to songs, the music setting sounded better than the movie setting, but it still introduced unneeded processing to the mix. The soundbar excelled at both dialogue and action scenes. Some other soundbars, like the Sony HT-CT370, come with HDMI, which can be more convenient especially if your TV doesn't come with an optical digital connection. The MagniFi's shortcomings only become apparent when playing music. LED indicators on a soundbar with more features, like the Yamaha YAS-203, aren't as effective. Released on September 29, 2014, identified by model number AM8111-A. The MagniFi also includes a 3.5mm analog input. Today's best Polk MagniFi: Slim Soundbar with Booming Bass deals, We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices, Streaming Box Battle: Roku vs. Apple TV vs. Chromecast, Samsung Unpacked Event August 2022 Galaxy Z Fold 4, Galaxy Z Flip 4, Galaxy Watch 5 and more, Galaxy Z Flip 4, Galaxy Z Fold 4 may usher in a 'mainstream moment for foldables, Marvel's first X-Men movie title just quietly leaked, Nintendo shutting down 3Ds and Wii U eShops heres when, The best tech tutorials and in-depth reviews, Try a single issue or save on a subscription, Issues delivered straight to your door or device. If you are having difficulties with the Polk MagniFi Soundbar, try referring to the troubleshooting page, 2022 iFixit Licensed under Creative Commons Privacy