{"id":121112,"date":"2021-01-09T05:12:49","date_gmt":"2021-01-09T05:12:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.techweekmag.com\/?p=121112"},"modified":"2021-04-08T08:40:36","modified_gmt":"2021-04-08T07:40:36","slug":"polk-audio-magnifi-mini-review-compact-and-affordable","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.stereoindex.com\/tech\/speakers\/polk-audio-magnifi-mini-review-compact-and-affordable\/","title":{"rendered":"Polk Audio Magnifi Mini Review \u2022 Compact and affordable"},"content":{"rendered":"

The soundbar has traditionally been considered a home theater compromise solution designed to save space and delight the eye.\u00a0And the miniature, relatively inexpensive option did not seem worthy of attention at all.\u00a0Acquaintance with the MagniFi Mini from Polk Audio began, I confess, without much enthusiasm and hope for any revelations.<\/p>\n

The first surprise awaited when unpacking.\u00a0The device does not give the impression of a budget product at all.\u00a0The case is surprisingly well-made, weighty, well-made from good materials.\u00a0We also encountered more expensive equipment, made less carefully.\u00a0The design of the entire MagniFi line, in deviation from the already familiar minimalism, is diluted with an aluminum frame on the front side and is characterized by smooth lines.\u00a0It is a matter of personal taste to applaud or criticize this approach.\u00a0It seemed to us moderately neutral and not boring at all.<\/p>\n

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In the modest size of the soundbar, the developers managed to fit four mid-range speakers with a diameter of 6 cm and a pair of 2.5 cm tweeters.\u00a0The switching arsenal is impressive too.<\/p>\n

There are HDMI, optics, analog stereo 3.5mm minijack and an Ethernet port.\u00a0Bluetooth and Wi-Fi were found in the wireless arsenal.\u00a0The latter supports the AC protocol at a frequency of 5 GHz and is equipped with an auto-connect button, there should be no problems with Apple routers.\u00a0The remote control deserves a separate mention.\u00a0With its compact size, it is so competently organized that blind control is mastered, without exaggeration, instantly.\u00a0A trifle, but an important one.<\/p>\n


\nThe device does not give the impression of a budget product at all.\u00a0The case is surprisingly well-made, weighty, well-made from good materials.\u00a0We also encountered more expensive equipment, made less carefully.<\/i><\/center><\/p>\n

Part of the sound range of 40-110 Hz, which is physically difficult for compact acoustics, is given to an active subwoofer.\u00a0It is much larger than the central unit, it is equipped with a radiator with a diameter of 16 cm and is assembled in a black plastic case of a bass-reflex type.\u00a0The port, as well as the woofer, is directed towards the floor, which, along with the wireless link, simplifies the placement of the bass module.<\/p>\n

There is no need to pull any wires other than the power cable to the subwoofer.\u00a0The utilitarian, inconspicuous design tends to hide the device from sight.\u00a0The upper region of the spectrum it fulfills, however, the human hearing is able to localize and place the subwoofer at a considerable distance from the soundbar is impractical.\u00a0The installation of the kit is simple and linear.<\/p>\n

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It is not necessary to delve into the abundance of functions for a long time due to their standard small assortment.\u00a0There is a choice of source, sound processing programs (music, movies or sports), you can activate the night mode, adjust the bass and voice levels.<\/p>\n

The latter works effectively in the case of a multi-channel movie track and increases the volume of the virtual center.\u00a0In quiet evening sessions, this feature has an extremely positive effect on dialogue intelligibility.\u00a0In large-scale scenes, it is better to reduce it, which will have a positive effect on the stereo effect.<\/p>\n

A full range of streaming services are available with a network connection.\u00a0When working with mobile gadgets, in addition to the usual Bluetooth, you can use the Google Chromecast function.\u00a0For a soundbar, which in most cases is a banal speaker, this is a nice bonus.<\/p>\n


\nWhen watching a movie, it seemed that a pair of serious speakers was hidden somewhere in the room, the performance is felt so voluminous and rich in low frequencies.\u00a0The image does not fit at all with the dimensions of the device.<\/i><\/center><\/p>\n

The sound of the Polk MagniFi Mini surprised us even more.\u00a0When watching a movie, it seemed that a pair of serious speakers was hidden somewhere in the room, the performance is felt so voluminous and rich in low frequencies.\u00a0The image does not fit at all with the dimensions of the device.\u00a0For cinema, this impression is perhaps the most important.\u00a0Action movies and computer games are properly supported.<\/p>\n

If, however, a meticulous approach to the analysis of the sound picture, then it is noticeable that in many respects this effect is due to ingenious digital processing, traces of which appear in synthetic notes, especially perceptible in the mid-frequency range.\u00a0The timbres are tuned to the feeling of being in a cinema hall, and a perfectionist music lover is unlikely to find this apparatus musical in the classical sense.<\/p>\n

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But, in fairness, this class of devices was initially created with different inputs, and here the balance of inevitable compromises in the target is almost one hundred percent.\u00a0As an addition to a modern TV, the device fully justifies itself.\u00a0Superiority over standard speakers is obvious, and the hassle of allocating space and the entire installation process is minimal.<\/p>\n

Also, MagniFi Mini successfully replaces the trendy wireless candy bar for listening to music from mobile gadgets.\u00a0There is no symphonic accuracy here, but most of the pop music genre will not suffer from this.<\/p>\n

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Specifications<\/h3>\n