Don't get your Dolby Atmos hopes up
If you have a TV with less than satisfactory sound, this is a decent setup. However, if you have a TV with decent sound or are looking to really enjoy yourself some Dolby Atmos, you might be disappointed.Out of the box, the sound is fairly muddled. There are some tonal changes you can make such as bass, treble, and even voice, but the sound never really satisfies. (I would point out that you can adjust the height, which proved helpful.) Upping the voice makes it sound kinda tinny, and leaving it as is out of the box, dialogue is just as hard to understand as it is coming from the TV speakers themselves.Dolby Atmos. I'm not sure why they include this in soundbars other than the fact that you can pair this with a set of rear channels, which I did not get, but I ... MoreIf you have a TV with less than satisfactory sound, this is a decent setup. However, if you have a TV with decent sound or are looking to really enjoy yourself some Dolby Atmos, you might be disappointed.Out of the box, the sound is fairly muddled. There are some tonal changes you can make such as bass, treble, and even voice, but the sound never really satisfies. (I would point out that you can adjust the height, which proved helpful.) Upping the voice makes it sound kinda tinny, and leaving it as is out of the box, dialogue is just as hard to understand as it is coming from the TV speakers themselves.Dolby Atmos. I'm not sure why they include this in soundbars other than the fact that you can pair this with a set of rear channels, which I did not get, but I imagine might make the Atmos sound more like it's meant to. However, with just the soundbar alone, there is no encompassing sound. Not even close. While you do hear a little more of a "surround sound", you definitely aren't going to think planes are flying overhead. I have a full 5.2 setup in my media room, and while it's not a "true" Atmos setup with either overhead speakers or up firing Atmos speakers, watching a movie in Dolby Atmos is really cool. It makes me want to add some speakers in my ceiling to get the true experience of Atmos.So if you are just looking for a decent sound bar setup, with a decent sub, this might work for you. It also has eARC for full pass through of HDMI signals, such as Dolby Vision, but I'm not sure what you'd be passing it through to. If your passing through signals then you're going to be better off with a home theater receiver and surround setup honestly.... Show more
GoVols
originally posted on bestbuy.com
Easy to set up, GREAT sound and looks! EXCELLENT!
I love deep clear sounding bass so I was looking for an upgrade to my TV’s current 3.1 system. I have to say, I was surprised at this system being so good considering the price. Soundbars have come a long way! I paid $1400 for my previous kit and I’m definitely getting an upgrade in sound and capability for half of the price.I have this mated to a 55-inch Sony OLED, which I thought would do best with a same brand bar. The setup for the Polk was much easier. There wasn’t yet another app to install, it used either the Apple or Google Home app and configured from there. It was really easy. The box was labeled as to how to open it as well, which made for an easy unboxing. Inside is a mount kit (no screws, due to them not knowing what kind of walls you have) which ... MoreI love deep clear sounding bass so I was looking for an upgrade to my TV’s current 3.1 system. I have to say, I was surprised at this system being so good considering the price. Soundbars have come a long way! I paid $1400 for my previous kit and I’m definitely getting an upgrade in sound and capability for half of the price.I have this mated to a 55-inch Sony OLED, which I thought would do best with a same brand bar. The setup for the Polk was much easier. There wasn’t yet another app to install, it used either the Apple or Google Home app and configured from there. It was really easy. The box was labeled as to how to open it as well, which made for an easy unboxing. Inside is a mount kit (no screws, due to them not knowing what kind of walls you have) which includes a paper guide for the holes and metal hangers.THE BASS! What an improvement over my previous system! I had heard that Polk was the brand to go to for bass, and for this model anyway, I agree! The lower end was filled out without distortion even when I cranked it up. Truly room filling! For such a compact, easy-to-install, and good looking system, I was surprised at how much it puts out.I wish I had gotten the system with the two rear speakers so that the effect would be “real” vs simulated. I tried some Dolby Atmos movie clips from Netflix, Disney+ and from some blurays that I have and I think I’ve been missing out by holding out with a 3.1 system for so long. This system has upward facing speakers that really do sound like sounds are above you and around you, even without the satellites connected. I can just imagine how great it sounds with the speakers… maybe I’ll get them for Christmas!Of the features it comes with, the Night Mode and “VoiceAdjust” were my favorite. My wife and I have gotten used to having captions on so that we can understand what someone said in a movie because of bad sound design or really loud environmental sounds and music. With VoiceAdjust, the volume of voices is increased over the rest of the sound of the video. I have it at +2 and wow does it make a difference.Again, I’m the type to match brands with my TV primarily due to ease of control. This was as easy to use because it does use eARC and that made configuring the speaker system zero steps. You just need to plug the HDMI ARC cable into the correct port and wait for the TV to configure itself. It will then push the audio to the system and get going. Your TV remote will then control all the major functions of the soundbar! (To do advanced sound settings, use the included IR remote)If you know how to use a Chromecast, then you know how to cast to this device. It’s really just as simple.I’ve tested this with various types of music and movies I can’t recommend this soundbar enough. It looks great and sounds great! They’ve made me a fan! Bravo!... Show more
wizozzie
originally posted on bestbuy.com
Excellent Sound System!
I received the Polk Audio MagniFi Max AX Dual 2.5” Drivers Three 0.75” Tweeters and Four 1” X 3” Mid-Woofers Sound Bar with Wireless Subwoofer in Black. I must say I am blown away with the sound and bass of this unit!This unit is big and heavy, the soundbar has Dolby Atmos DTX plus Polk Audio 11 speakers with dedicated center channels, the sub-woofer has a 10" speaker that is massive, the speaker is on the bottom facing the floor (see pic). This is twice the size as the one I have been using for years. What an upgrade, didn't know what I was missing until I got the Polk Audio MagniFi Max AX.The installation and setup is easy and all the cables you need to get things up and running are included. I connected the soundbar to the TV via HDMI cable that was included ... MoreI received the Polk Audio MagniFi Max AX Dual 2.5” Drivers Three 0.75” Tweeters and Four 1” X 3” Mid-Woofers Sound Bar with Wireless Subwoofer in Black. I must say I am blown away with the sound and bass of this unit!This unit is big and heavy, the soundbar has Dolby Atmos DTX plus Polk Audio 11 speakers with dedicated center channels, the sub-woofer has a 10" speaker that is massive, the speaker is on the bottom facing the floor (see pic). This is twice the size as the one I have been using for years. What an upgrade, didn't know what I was missing until I got the Polk Audio MagniFi Max AX.The installation and setup is easy and all the cables you need to get things up and running are included. I connected the soundbar to the TV via HDMI cable that was included to the ARC/eARC as recommended by Polk. I than connected to the Google Home App via Wi-Fi without any problems. The subwoofer connects wirelessly right out of the box with no setup required, which was great!Once everything was up and running, I started to play around with the treble and bass, also switching between TV, Movie, and Music Modes. The Polk Audio MagniFi Max has a deep pounding bass you can feel in the whole room, the treble is crisp and clear. The sound was incredible, I absolutely love it!... Show more
Lisakay011
originally posted on bestbuy.com
Fantastic bar with a ton of features
I’ve been really impressed with this bar so far. I moved to a house with a much different layout and needed to give up my 5.1 system. While this obviously isn’t the same, this system decodes Dolby Digital and DTS signals well, and sound great. The wireless sub paired up easily and has stayed connected with no issues since day one. I control the soundbar using an ARC out from my TV and the connection has been seamless with no issues. It also has the ability to connect to a wireless network, and works well with Google Cast/AirPlay streaming and can be controlled via the Google Home app as well. It helps even more that the bar is pretty slim so it doesn’t take up a ton of space like some of the taller ones from other companies.... Show more
StartSelectAdam
originally posted on bestbuy.com
Great system
The Polk MagniFi Max AX high-performance home theater sound bar is a top-of-the-line device that provides cinematic surround sound audio that makes movies, TV, video games, and music come to life. With an advanced eleven-speaker array, Dolby Atmos and DTS:X certification, and patented SDA surround technology, the sound bar offers a wide, immersive sound stage that will enhance any viewing or listening experience. The Polk’s Voice Adjust technology also works to deliver crystal clear dialogues without affecting the rest of the soundtrack, ensuring that you never miss a word of your favorite shows or movies.One of the standout features of the MagniFi Max AX is its ability to stream music from a variety of sources, including smartphones, tablets, and PCs via Wi-Fi, ... MoreThe Polk MagniFi Max AX high-performance home theater sound bar is a top-of-the-line device that provides cinematic surround sound audio that makes movies, TV, video games, and music come to life. With an advanced eleven-speaker array, Dolby Atmos and DTS:X certification, and patented SDA surround technology, the sound bar offers a wide, immersive sound stage that will enhance any viewing or listening experience. The Polk’s Voice Adjust technology also works to deliver crystal clear dialogues without affecting the rest of the soundtrack, ensuring that you never miss a word of your favorite shows or movies.One of the standout features of the MagniFi Max AX is its ability to stream music from a variety of sources, including smartphones, tablets, and PCs via Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, AirPlay 2, Chromecast, Spotify Connect, or Alexa MRM. This allows for seamless integration with your existing devices and provides a convenient way to access all of your favorite music and podcasts. Additionally, the sound bar has an easy, one-cable set-up via HDMI eARC/ARC (HDMI cable included), optical, or AUX inputs and works with most TVs.Overall, the Polk MagniFi Max AX is an excellent choice for anyone looking for a high-performance home theater sound bar. The included plug-and-play subwoofer with a 10” downward-firing driver and the option to add timbre-matched SR2 wireless speakers (sold separately) to the soundbar system to create a 7.1.2 immersive surround sound system make it an ideal choice for a complete home theater setup. It is a great investment for anyone looking to elevate their home entertainment experience.... Show more
petes4141
originally posted on bestbuy.com
Love it....
This item replaced a Bose 3-2-1, and I'd say the Bose had a more pleasant, balanced sound for low/medium background music. However after a month, I've learned to really appreciate the Polk. It syncs perfectly with the TV and whatever source I connect to it. For movies, the sound very clear (I would sometimes have difficulty understanding the dialogue on the Bose). The most impressive sound feature is the BASS. I've had very good stereo systems (Marantz/Denon) paired with Kenwood speakers, but I've never heard base from system quite like this. For music, this system sounds good at lower volumes but really comes alive when set to about 40. For movies, the bass appropriately adds volume to action scenes without interfering with the entire movie (I keep the bass setting ... MoreThis item replaced a Bose 3-2-1, and I'd say the Bose had a more pleasant, balanced sound for low/medium background music. However after a month, I've learned to really appreciate the Polk. It syncs perfectly with the TV and whatever source I connect to it. For movies, the sound very clear (I would sometimes have difficulty understanding the dialogue on the Bose). The most impressive sound feature is the BASS. I've had very good stereo systems (Marantz/Denon) paired with Kenwood speakers, but I've never heard base from system quite like this. For music, this system sounds good at lower volumes but really comes alive when set to about 40. For movies, the bass appropriately adds volume to action scenes without interfering with the entire movie (I keep the bass setting at 2 mostly). The system has quick settings for Auto, Movie, TV, Music, and Night (no bass) that appropriately adjust the overall sound. Playing Spotify via bluetooth is a breeze and used often.... Show more
Disappointed
originally posted on bestbuy.com
Next best thing to a custom surround sound system
I have a very complex home audio setup with two dual-zone Denon receivers feeding three TVs and two 5.1 surround sound systems with in-ceiling speakers and free-standing subwoofers. The neglected room in this setup is the covered back patio area which uses the TV’s built-in speakers for audio. Plans were to eventually add another surround sound receiver and in-ceiling speakers for the patio. Given the environment with hard surfaces of a concrete floor and two brick walls, coupled with the expanse of the outdoors beyond the screens, I knew that getting good sound would be challenging.I came across this Polk soundbar and what attracted me to it were the up-firing Dolby ATMOS height speakers. I thought that might help expand the spatial image in this challenging ... MoreI have a very complex home audio setup with two dual-zone Denon receivers feeding three TVs and two 5.1 surround sound systems with in-ceiling speakers and free-standing subwoofers. The neglected room in this setup is the covered back patio area which uses the TV’s built-in speakers for audio. Plans were to eventually add another surround sound receiver and in-ceiling speakers for the patio. Given the environment with hard surfaces of a concrete floor and two brick walls, coupled with the expanse of the outdoors beyond the screens, I knew that getting good sound would be challenging.I came across this Polk soundbar and what attracted me to it were the up-firing Dolby ATMOS height speakers. I thought that might help expand the spatial image in this challenging environment. Another issue was location of the soundbar. Like most, this one is designed to be placed below the screen, likely on a table or wall mounted. For several reasons, I wanted the soundbar to be above the screen. One is that being outside, even under a roofline, I figured that would be better protected from any blowing rain. Second, this is on a brick wall, so it’s not easy to place new outlets and the builder installed the power and A/V connections near the ceiling. I wanted to minimize the number of visible wires on the wall.I mounted the soundbar about 6 inches above the TV, giving myself a bit of room for when I want to replace the current 55” with something larger. The subwoofer sits on the floor, to the left of the table below the TV. Mounting was very easy. It's held onto the wall with two bolts that hook through slots on the back plastic panel. Personally, I would have preferred it to use metal brackets, but I will assume that Polk has engineered the plastic to appropriate thickness to hold that weight (close to 15lbs). Connections and setup were very easy. I used an HDMI cable to feed the soundbar’s TV input from the ARC input on the TV. Whatever programming is select on the TV will be output on the soundbar. The subwoofer connects wirelessly right out of the box with no setup required.Now, for the sound…Wow! I’ve had soundbars before, but this is truly amazing. The ATMOS height speakers make a huge difference. Even given the challenges of the room, this sounds phenomenal. I won’t say that it competes with a high-end 5.1 or 7.1 custom system, but it sounds darned good for 30 minutes of installation time and half the price of good in-ceiling speakers. The sound is very clear and the VoiceAdjust feature really works to amplify speech. There is a great spatial presence to the audio, and the subwoofer is strong and clear without being “boomy” or “clippy”. Even so, without rear speakers, itI’ve tried the wifi and Bluetooth connections and they are seamless. The only thing I will mention about Bluetooth is that it automatically disconnects and shuts off after a period of time if there is no audio. If you want to use a Bluetooth audio source, you may find yourself having to turn on the power if it hasn’t been used in a while. I used Google Home for the wifi setup and it was simple and works well. Overall, I am very happy with this soundbar. I highly recommend it.... Show more
Rudeney
originally posted on bestbuy.com
Simply dynamite sound bar - worth every penny!
I've been a sound bar user for a number of years - my thinking was always that while a sound bar traded off some on overall sound stage depth and quality, you gained a good bit on simplicity of setup since you didn't have to wire in / mount satellites and whatnot. It also made the wiring significantly easier without the need for a large receiver (thanks to TVs with optical out and, more recently ARC/eARC). And mind you, this was not with cheap sound bars. So I usually ran a sound bar in my living room and a full multi-piece surround setup in my family room/theater.But with this set, Polk has worked some sort of black magic and squeezed sound and features better than an entire (and more expensive) receiver + individual satellites/subwoofer. I mean, the sound is ... MoreI've been a sound bar user for a number of years - my thinking was always that while a sound bar traded off some on overall sound stage depth and quality, you gained a good bit on simplicity of setup since you didn't have to wire in / mount satellites and whatnot. It also made the wiring significantly easier without the need for a large receiver (thanks to TVs with optical out and, more recently ARC/eARC). And mind you, this was not with cheap sound bars. So I usually ran a sound bar in my living room and a full multi-piece surround setup in my family room/theater.But with this set, Polk has worked some sort of black magic and squeezed sound and features better than an entire (and more expensive) receiver + individual satellites/subwoofer. I mean, the sound is just incredible. The sound stage is astonishingly deep and the clarity is wonderful. Even without the wireless rear speakers (which I did end up adding, more for completeness than anything), it's really room filling sound. It can also replace a receiver because it has multiple inputs that it can act as the switch for - 3 HDMI and optical audio inputs - as well as it's own built WiFi, Bluetooth and streaming applications, including a built-in Chromecast. Just crazy. The push-button enhancements do actually work as they say, boosting voices (which some setups tend to lose a bit) and boosting bass. And it supports the latest sound standards in Dolby Atmos and DTS: X which really (Atmos that is) increase the directional audio - the speakers in the sound bar aim in different directions to help create great directional audio even from a single sound bar that's in one place....It's not the smallest sound bar (though Polk does offer a more compact option / version if you want it - I did not test that one as I did not have that particular need). And it's certainly not the cheapest - the old adage of "you get what you pay for" does certainly apply here AND it was still much cheaper than buying a high end set of receiver + speakers. What it is then is simply the BEST sound bar I've ever used. Or heard. Period. And I can highly recommend it if you want great sound for your set up.... Show more
Brett
originally posted on bestbuy.com
Solid Sounding System with super simple setup
There is a lot to love about this sound bar and subwoofer in addition to the price. Having just recently set it up, that is the part that I still find most amazing. There was virtually no setup other than unpacking it and plugging it in. I plugged the HDMI cable into the eARC/ARC port of the sound bar and TV and then plugged it in. Turned on the TV and the sound bar simply worked. It turned off and on with the TV and the TV remote controlled the volume with no additional setup at all. Next, I plugged in the wireless subwoofer and within seconds it had automatically paired with the sound bar. There is a sync button on the back of both to pair them. However since they automatically pair, I assume this is only for connection issues. In literally less than 10 minutes ... MoreThere is a lot to love about this sound bar and subwoofer in addition to the price. Having just recently set it up, that is the part that I still find most amazing. There was virtually no setup other than unpacking it and plugging it in. I plugged the HDMI cable into the eARC/ARC port of the sound bar and TV and then plugged it in. Turned on the TV and the sound bar simply worked. It turned off and on with the TV and the TV remote controlled the volume with no additional setup at all. Next, I plugged in the wireless subwoofer and within seconds it had automatically paired with the sound bar. There is a sync button on the back of both to pair them. However since they automatically pair, I assume this is only for connection issues. In literally less than 10 minutes both units were out of the box and working. Setup really was totally automatic.The next thing I did was setup AirPlay. This was as complicated as holding the power button for 7 seconds and then connecting to the WiFi setup in the settings of my iPhone. This process was less than five minutes and worked flawlessly. My setup was fairly simple as I only wanted to use it with my TV and AirPlay. However there are three additional non-ARC HDMI ports to attach other devices to the speaker should you have a more complicated setup. It also has optical digital input.The controls on the speaker are very simple and straightforward. They are pretty much the same on the speaker or the (rather bland and unimpressive looking) remote. I do wish that the controls on the speaker were in the front rather than in the back (center on top), so they were more accessible since I had to put my sound bar on the floor as there was no way to fit it on my TV stand between the TV legs. (The bar is not compact by any means, likely enhancing the sound) However, there is an elevation adjustment on the sound bar (haven’t been able to find anything that explains what it does exactly) that I adjusted all the way up and the sound actually sounds like it is at the TV level. I assume that is what this adjustment is for, to adjust the sound relative to where the bar is located.Regardless, this speaker system sounds amazing for the price. The sound is clear and crisp, and the subwoofer, while not house shaking, provides more than adequate bass. The system maintains a superior sound to a very high volume, much higher than I would ever listen to it at for any period of time. The system has several more bells and whistles for real audiophiles. It supports Dolby Atmos which sounds great. It has a few modes such as TV, Music, Movie, etc. However, so far I have been content with the auto mode which appears to select the most appropriate mode for what you are listening to. AirPlay sounds just as good as the wired sound. There is also a VoiceAdjust feature which I expected to be just a gimmick, but the adjustable feature really does make a significant difference in how dialogue is heard.Finally, I have to address how this speaker looks. While not as glossy or edgy as more pricey speakers, the sound bar looks very good. It has a cloth like exterior that would fit into any décor. The bar has a (very) small LCD screen that displays such things as the source, mode, and volume. While small, it actually is quite functional and looks good. The subwoofer is larger than I would have liked, but looks good and is basically a black box like most subwoofers. All lights and controls are on the back leaving a clean look to the cube.My only major complaint is that there is no app to control the system from my phone. I kept waiting to find this in the quick start guide, but it doesn’t appear it is possible without third party hardware. I searched the App Store and found nothing. This was very disappointing. Other negatives are that it only has built in support for Alexa. No HomeKit/Siri compatibility. Also only has Spotify built in unlike other systems I have with multiple streaming services built in. For the money, this is a solid, great sounding speaker system, lacking only in Smart Home technology.... Show more
fllbbfan
originally posted on bestbuy.com
This is the one to get.
I've been using a Klipsh Cinema 600 for about 3-4 yrs but unfortunately it stopped working. It was a good soundbar and using it made me realize that you need a system with a 10 inch subwoofer because soundbars in general are not that strong (compared to a Home Theater system with a receiver), so an 8 inch subwoofer just doesn't cut it in most soundbars. After some research on the current soundbars I decided to get the Polk MagniFi Max AX since it had the 10 inch subwoofer and it was reasonably priced. This thing sound so much better than the Bose soundbars I tested at my local Best Buy and the Klipsh Cinema 600 I was using. It completely buries my other previous soundbars I used in the past (Klipsh RSB14 and a Sony model I can't remember) It has amazing clarity and ... MoreI've been using a Klipsh Cinema 600 for about 3-4 yrs but unfortunately it stopped working. It was a good soundbar and using it made me realize that you need a system with a 10 inch subwoofer because soundbars in general are not that strong (compared to a Home Theater system with a receiver), so an 8 inch subwoofer just doesn't cut it in most soundbars. After some research on the current soundbars I decided to get the Polk MagniFi Max AX since it had the 10 inch subwoofer and it was reasonably priced. This thing sound so much better than the Bose soundbars I tested at my local Best Buy and the Klipsh Cinema 600 I was using. It completely buries my other previous soundbars I used in the past (Klipsh RSB14 and a Sony model I can't remember) It has amazing clarity and the subwoofer has that nice pounding bass that you can definitely hear. You can individually adjust the bass volume but I only went barely above mid volume on the bass since it started to overpower the other sounds.Now, this is not AV Receiver level of power and you shouldn't be expecting that from pretty much ANY soundbar, because it just cannot put out that kind of power. But, if you're like me and are done with speaker placement and running wires, this Polk soundbar is for you. Trust me, unless you're expecting insane power out of your $500 soundbar, this is the one for you.... Show more
DanielV
originally posted on bestbuy.com
