Polk Audio MagniFi Max AX SR 7.1.2 Channel Sound Bar with Wireless 10" Subwoofer & SR2 Surround Speakers for Smart TV, Dolby Atmos and DTS:X, Polk's Patented VoiceAdjust & SDA Technologies, Black

After 8 months of using this system - No changes to my initial review. Has worked smoothly so far. No issues with connectivity, the system has been super stable. Polk hasn't issued any firmware updates in this period, so no new features to talk about. The Polk Magnifi Max AX SR (2023) system is a great performing system that gets overshadowed by the more hyped up systems like those from Samsung, Sonos, etc. I tested this Polk system against Samsung's flagship Q990D and couldn't notice the difference when it came to Dolby 5.1 with or without Atmos. Indeed, some aspects of the Polk system were better than Samsung's. The best aspects of the Polk system are: 1. Very easy setup. No app or login to the vendor site needed. Just plug in the soundbar, connect to TV with HDMI, and plug in the subwoofer and surround speakers. It just works. You may use the Google Home app to connect the soundbar to Wifi, but that's optional. 2. Easy to use remote with a substantial text display on the soundbar visible across the room. This is as simple as it gets. You may think that the lack of an app to fiddle with a lot of features is a drawback, but the system has the right controls on the remote and the minimalist design actually works well. 3. It automatically responds to your TV remote. No programming of any kind needed. 4. Provides 3 HDMI input ports, a rarity in this price range. With the right setting on the connected devices (I have a Fire Stick connected), the soundbar automatically switches to the right input when the corresponding device is activated. The TV is also turned on automatically via the HDMI CEC. A must-have feature if you have more than one device connected to the soundbar. 5. Dolby 5.1 with or without Atmos sounds very good. The subwoofer is substantial (10 inch, another rarity in this price range), and the surround speakers, though small, are loud and make a big difference. Compared to the Samsung flagship Q990D on the same scenes, I couldn't tell any difference. The thing to note though is that the sound quality varies as per the source material. You need premium subscriptions with Netflix, Amazon, Paramount+, etc to get Dolby Atmos, and movies from Max often sound subdued compared to these other streamers. Best performance will be with Blurays presenting uncompressed multichannel sound tracks. 6. The All-Stereo mode allows you to play music on all speakers, which is a great feature. Adds life to stereo 2.0 sources. I didn't see this in the Samsung Q990D. 7. The Polk system also allows you to balance the volume between the right and left surrounds. This is a very useful feature that lets you position the surround speakers wherever there is room in your setting and just adjust the balance to suit your seating position. On the flip side, I cannot tell whether the two upfiring speakers make any difference. Not just in this Polk system, but also in the Samsung flagship, which as up and side firing speakers. The sound always seem to come from the soundbar, not magically above your head. Perhaps this depends on your setup. The surrounds do make a big difference. Overall, the Polk Magnifi Max AX SR performs well and a great value for money especially if it's on sale. It's solidly built, easy to set up and use, and makes a difference in your movie experience. There is no hype or cult behind Polk, but it performs as good as more expensive systems at less than half the price. For those curious about the power output, there is no specs available from Polk. We can only deduce this from the input power consumption. The soundbar is rated at 120W, the subwoofer at 128W, and surround speakers at 18W each. Compare this to Samsung Q990D/F. Main soundbar input power is 41W, Subwoofer: 48W and Surround speakers: 19W each.

In a word "Wow". I have tried several sound bars in recent years and none were acceptable. I am used to using a 750watt 5.2 Receiver with full tower speakers with 3x 5" full range drivers and 1" tweeters. Recently we got some flooring done to our 20 year old floors and we wanted space to look cleaner. I did research and Enter the Polk MagniFi mini, one of my old audiophile buddies introduced me to Polk back in the day and reviews are on point with this setup as punching above its weight class. Dialogue particularly is very easy to understand without having to crank the system up and it fills up my family room with sound. We have vaulted ceiling which is not ideal for how speakers like this reproduce surround sound however the quality is remarkably good. Everyone in my family felt audio across many modes of content was exceptional, this included vinyl records, regular TV, Dolby Atmos, and others. Given this unit is rated for mid size or small rooms I was pleasantly surprised no need to go with a more expensive tier to get rich audio. Dont expect the base to be as good as a full size woofer but for what this is it just sounds great for all around audio at stock settings and makes TV watching and movies a pleasure. Our family room opens to kitchen and even 40 feet away from speaker audio is clear and speach is easy to understand. On my tower setup in stereo I was having to use subtitles or crank the audio up very high without using a center channel. And while for music those have slightly better range the balance of this system and ability to handle Atmos, DTS, and Dolby Digital cleanly and accurately outweighs the need for space taking towers. If you use full towers with center and woofer obviously that would win over this but we are talking about a compact design taking very little space that simply sounds fantastic. We are enjoying watching the Olympics hearing details like ice crackling, clear voices, and symphonic music. I see why this setup won awards and is rated so well! Value is exceptional, connectivity great, and I love that it has the 3.5 jack which we use for our record player to hookup. I also like that the display turns off quickly after adjusting volume so it doesnt distract you with LED lights. This is a great setup for anyone that wants great sound on a budget and you can hook up wireless rears if you want greater rear surround effects. Remote is simple but not needed as when you use ARC HDMI input you adjust volume with TV remote. We found auto setting works perfect for natural sound so functionality is just plain easy and out of box nothing else has compared with this setup to date.

I was in the market for a soundbar or in a better speaker system for my entertainment setup. I did a decent amount of research reading reviews, watching videos and comparing all my options. Based on my research and my setup, I decided to go with this because it seemed like the best option for me and I am not disappointed. My setup: High end gaming computer with a 42 inch LG C2 OLED tv with 2 additional 4k monitors as well as a work laptop connected to the tv and 1 of the 4k monitors. I wanted a decent sound system that I could hook both my tv and my computer into and still use it while my tv is serving as my main work computer monitor. I also wanted something that could take advantage of the EARC technology and still fit under my tv on my desk. I would like to say this specifically for anyone in my position. One thing that reviews you find online do not seem to talk about this in any way shape or form. I could just be stupid for not picking up on the obvious, but when spending this much money on a speaker system, I wanted to be sure. This soundbar DOES allow you to keep your TV connected through the EARC input as well as your computer connected to it through something like the optical input While using your system described above. I can have my TV using the hdmi from my work computer and listen to something on a 2nd monitor from my personal computer through the optical connection at the same time. Pros: compact design that fits under my tv on my desk without taking up too much space. Sound quality is very good for the size and speakers. Remote is ok and It is easy enough to switch between inputs on either the remote or the bar through the top buttons. Easy to connect the subwoofer to the soundbar. The cords are long enough to cable manage appropriately for even a desk that is completely open underneath . Cons: This could just be my computer/setup, but my optical out/sound drivers do not seem to support 5.1 or this level of sound. I do not get a full immersive surround sound experience while watching dolby atmos test videos on youtube. But, it is basically a 15 inch wide single speaker so I don't hold that against this. I do get a sense of surround and still very happy with the audio quality on this. Another con is that the system seems to have an auto off feature after being quiet/idle for a period of time. On my system, if it does cycle off, it causes my screens to flicker like a computer does when you change your primary monitor to monitor number 2 vs monitor number 1. Another thing that can happen is if I change the hdmi input on my tv from one computer to the other, it changes the input source on the soundbar from optical to tv causing the sound to go out on my computer. Slightly annoying, but not an issue since I can plan for it and just deal with it. But, this could also just be my specific use case setup. Overall I am very happy with this soundbar. If you are like me and using a high end big screen tv like the OLED LG C2 tv, I would suggest you at least put this near the top of your list for consideration.

Excellent performance and functionality. I bought this for my bedroom TV a few months ago. I have a full home theatre setup in my living room, with proper receiver and separate full sized speakers for all channels, etc., and this is almost as good. Well tuned for its purpose. My only reason for giving 4 stars is the recent price increase. It's still a reasonable value, considering the performance and quality. I ordered one at the new higher price for my daughter and son-in-law, and they're also very pleased with the experience. Initially, my subwoofer had issues connecting wirelessly to the soundbar. After trying everything, I talked with customer support, and they acknowledged the failure. They VERY quickly shipped me a replacement sub, which worked perfectly. So, kudos for good customer service.

Specifically, I am reviewing the Polk Magnifi Max AX with (2) SR2 surround speakers. This system is advertised in different ways like 5.1 or 7.1. They both have the exact same sound bar and subwoofer. With the 5.1 the SR2 rear speakers can be bought separately and added at a later date. Just make sure you are getting the Magnifi Max AX model! I just bought a new 77 LG C3 television and decided against the LG sound bar system because the reviews were not great. The hook for me with this system was the clear voice technology that works pretty well and every other feature works exceptionally well and has exceeded my expectations by alot. Take your time and learn the remote like the back of your hand and you will thoroughly enjoy this system. Tip: Adjusting all the different sound mode strength levels are simple and only requires a quick press and RELEASE of each function button followed by the plus or minus button for Bass, surround, voice adjust, etc. The surround button has 2 adjustments with a balance adjustment requiring a little longer hold of the button before releasing. I use Xfinity Cable TV and have an iPhone 14 Promax as far as my input sources. I listen to Pandora and Sirius XM via Bluetooth from my iPhone and it is the cleanest, clearest and most enjoyable listening experience sound imaginable in the all stereo mode that you can’t even put into words. ( Correction from my earlier post) After taking a deeper dive into many of the different listening modes available, I experimented with setting up the built-in Chromecast, listening via Apple AirPlay, Bluetooth, or the Pandora app within the TV, I found that they all sounded pretty comparable and you only need to choose any one of the modes above that is easiest for you to use. You really can't go wrong with either one. I would refer you to Polk user manual online for instructions. Furthermore, make sure you are in the "all stereo mode" and NOT the music mode from your Polk remote. I have not yet found the music mode helpful for anything yet, not to say I won't find a use for it in the future. It is simple with lots of different options, just learn the system.) The "all stereo mode" is great for sports as well and seems to separate the sounds between the announcer and the rest giving you a surround type feel making you feel like you are there. The Movie function is also to die for with Netflix movies and feel like you are at a movie theater. Before I purchased this system, I called the Polk customer service to ask about the wifi range for the rear speakers and they informed me that 15-foot max is recommended which almost deterred me from buying it but I took a chance. The 15 ft recommended range is totally incorrect because I have a distance of exactly 23.5 feet from the sound bar to the rear speakers and works flawlessly without any pops, crackles or any other interference whatsoever. This is a fantastic system in every way possible and Polk has done a remarkable job here. I have 2 suggestions to Polk audio: 1. Retest the wifi range and ADVERTISE it!! My room is only so long to test but again, my system is flawless at 23.5 ft. and please educate the customer service on the new recommended range. 2. I can live with the black rear speakers but the rest of my family can’t and prefers white on the walls. ( as you can see from the pics I won that battle) It would be great if you could make just the REARS in white as an option. This system is a strong BUY IMO!!! Thanks for reading..

Love it. I have a rolling TV cart. It's just right size and the sound is good. Not professional man cave stuff but works!

This was and still is a total nightmare!! I was so excited to receive what I trusted would be a great sound system. I was so confident it would be great that I also purchased the extended warranty and paid for Amazon installation to be certain it was correctly installed. The installers were horrible! They ripped the box apart without concern for needing it if there was an issue. It was not properly working when they left. The surround sound speakers could barely be heard and were crackling & not in sync with the soundbar. Same issue with the enormous, heavy bass speaker. They advised me to adjust it via the preferred settings that are not easily accessible! After only about 15 minutes they crashed altogether! The "settings" were of no use as there was no sound to adjust or try to sync with the soundbar. Even before they crashed the sound was not clear. The voice assist did not help clarify. The soundbar I was replacing sounded far better despite being far less expensive. Shockingly, the installers asked what my plan was for the soundbar I was replacing stating it was a quality soundbar they would gladly take!! As if receiving an expensive defective, poor sound quality sound system weren't enough disappointment, I had to carefully unhook the system and package it all back up in the box the installers nearly destroyed along with the styrofoam that was partially destroyed. Then I had to get the very heavy monster bass speaker back into the nearly unusable packaging as well as well as the other components. It was a total nighmare and very physically & mentally taxing. It took hours to get it all packaged up & put the box back together. After managing to successfully & carefully do all that & getting it sucessfully returned the very next day I was informed that my refund to my Amazon Prime Visa would take 30 days. Now I have no sound bar and cannot order a different one until my refund is processed to allow the charge for this one to be released to protect my credit. I am beyond disappointed! This is by far the worst item I have ever purchased on Amazon! That's saying a lot hence I buy EVERYTHING on Amazon, including groceries. I have convinced MANY others to become Prime members and assured them Amazon customer service is excellent. I hope that remains true and my refund will be issued promptly so I can order a quality sound system! -UPDATE!: After tracking my prompt return and verifying it was received, I requested a prompt refund. I was shut down hence informed they retain the right to issue refunds within 30 days. Meanwhile I'm paying interest on an expensive, defective sound system that I returned nearly a month ago. NOW, I'm being informed that due to Feb. being a short month my refund won't be processed or issued until March! That means I will be paying interest for 2 months thus continuing to prevent me from purchasing a quality sound system for another month!! I am beyond disappointed! This is outrageous as well as a deplorable way to treat a long time loyal Prime member or ANY customer! Now I'm left wondering if I will EVER receive my refund while they received it back nearly a month ago while I'm paying daily interest on it! Hmm...You have the info to decide for yourself how to proceed!

As a retiring couple in the midst of downsizing, we found this sound bar system to be ideal for our smaller home. We've had plenty of large sound systems for our previous televisions (and even a movie room), but this convenient system lacks a punch for its small footprint. Set up was quick and easy, system fully adjustable, and enough bass for even the loudest action scenes! Also very reasonably priced among its competitors.