Polk, a Sound United brand, is an award-winning designer and manufacturer of high-performance loudspeakers. Founded in 1972 on the premise that everybody deserves great sound, Polk is the market share leader in premium home theater speakers in North America, and is a leading manufacturer of sound bars, headphones, wireless speakers, mobile and marine speakers and amplifiers, and other high-performance audio products. The new sound bars support both Dolby Atmos and DTS:X along with Polk's patented Stereo Dimensional Array (SDA) technology for immersive sound, and AirPlay 2 is a welcome inclusion for Apple fans. Google Chromecast, Spotify Connect, and Works with Alexa services are also supported thanks to both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity.

Polk MagniFi Max SR Review – wireless surround sound! Polk MagniFi Max SR Review – wireless surround sound!

The unit comes with a music mode so we opted to use that for this part of our testing. But as we always say, choosing a specific sound mode has to do a lot with the personal preferences of each user so we strongly advise you to try them all and decide for yourself which one sounds better to your ears. Earlier this year, Polk Audio pulled off a real tour de force with the Polk MagniFi Mini AX soundbar, an ultra-compact model capable of creating surround sound in Dolby Atmos and DTS:X without obscuring the screen. A compactness made possible by the brand’s exclusive Stereo Dimensional Array (SDA) processing. The Polk MagniFi Mini AX soundbar offers an enveloping soundstage from a compact, discreet device thanks to Stereo Dimensional Array (SDA) spatialization technology. Everyone loves surround sound, right? But no one can be bothered to accommodate it any more – all those speakers and cables running everywhere. Soundbars are far more convenient. No matter how much they try, however, none have managed a convincing ‘virtual surround’ effect. The nifty Polk MagniFi Max SR soundbar doesn’t even try to go virtual. Besides, there are more ways to play, thanks to the Polk’s Wi-Fi connection. This enables AirPlay 2 and Chromecast streaming, while there’s also Bluetooth, although no indication of any high-quality Bluetooth codecs, so use the Wi-Fi streaming if you’re able.

Both MagniFi Max AX and MagniFi Max AX SR models also include wireless subwoofers for extended bass response, but the MagniFi Max AX SR adds two wireless surround speakers for a more sonic immersion.

Magnifi Max AX | Polk Audio Magnifi Max AX | Polk Audio

I got the Sony HT-7000 and SA-SW5 sub a few months ago and the recently released SA-RS5 wireless upfiring rears a couple of weeks ago. Very hefty price overall, but sounds incredible, is well specced if you’re hooking up consoles etc and it gets updates. VRR pass through support is hopefully incoming, but I’m a few years off having a VRR tv anyway. On the other hand, this keeps you from needing to ride the volume in bombastic scenes, while still keeping effects like gunshots and explosions appropriately palpable. You’ll also be getting deeper sub-bass for the money than Sonos' bar because, unlike Polk's bar, the Arc does not include a subwoofer. Polk also includes its VoiceAdjust technology, which it claims raises the volume of dialogue in TV programmes and films without amplifying other sounds. However, the Philips Fidelio B5 offers the same sort of form factor, but more balanced sound – if you can still find one for sale. New Flagship Systems Elevate Movie, TV, Gaming and Music Experiences with Immersive Surround Sound and Deep Bass ImpactThe soundbar does not have any rear speakers in the box although Polk does offer a bundle of this model with the rear speakers included. Unfortunately the one we have for testing does not have these. Internal Hardware The MagniFi Max AX and MagniFi Max AX SR leverage 50 years of Polk speaker design expertise to deliver Polk’s best sound bar to date, and with Polk’s patented Stereo Dimensional Array (SDA) and Voice Adjust technologies, the Magnify Max AX and MagniFi Max AX SR will fill any room with exceptional sound without filling the room with speakers. Add built-in wireless music streaming and you have the ultimate all-in-one entertainment hub. Metaxas & Sins Ethereal Electrostatic Headphone Amplifier Now Available from Reel Sound Distribution October 27, 2023 Atmos effects were as good as possible with a system using up-firing drivers. You will have some sense of elevation but sounds will not come directly from the top layer. Certain effects felt like coming slightly above our test TV which is still very good. But you’re paying a premium for that wireless surround sound – not some faux surround, trying (and failing) to be bounced off walls; but genuine surround with wireless rear speakers. For cinema immersion, the Polk is definitely a better option than any of the one-box solutions around.