There’s something so appealing about a compact surround system. It provides a nice balance of audio quality with size, which is especially helpful in small homes. Why shouldn’t apartments experience surround sound too? The Polk Audio Magnifi Mini throws some good punches in terms of sound quality, with a few neat features to boot. It’s one of the best home theater systems for small places.
Why We Like It – Polk Audio Magnifi Mini Review
For those who don’t want to fiddle with a bunch of speakers. This surround system places all of its power into a single Bluetooth speaker that produces really good sound quality.
- Strong sound for a small device
- Compact design
- Has an HDMI port
- Treble is on the weaker side
- Better options available
Performance
For such a small home theater, the Polk Audio Magnifi Mini Soundbar has some big sound. It accomplishes this by shrinking 6 speakers into the Bluetooth speaker. Four speakers are 2.25-inch drivers, and the remaining two are 0.5-inch tweeters. Sound quality was good when it came to bass, lows and highs, but one misstep was with treble. One misstep was treble. It felt a bit on the weaker side; bass oftentimes overpowered treble. It could’ve been better with a small adjustment. We liked Night Mode in particular, as it allowed us to continue enjoying the performance without disturbing others. If you’re interested in a compact audio transmission system, check out our playGo USB review.
Design
The Polk Audio Magnifi Mini shrinks its performance into a single compact 4.3 x 13.4 x 3.2 inch device, one that can be moved to your TV or, better yet, on your coffee table for sound clarity. Don’t like wireless connectivity? No problem! It has an HDMI ARC port), optical, AUX, USB, and Ethernet; a Blu ray can take advantage of the HDMI input. With an Ethernet port, you can get a boost to streaming. A great design choice was the ability to use any remote control to alter settings or simply using voice adjustments. For a small, music streaming device, read our ROCKI PLAY review.
Value
There are better options, however. While the Polk Audio Magnifi Mini is good as far as sound bars go, it doesn’t quite reach that $300 price tag. And all the speakers are placed into one device, unlike the six-speaker system the Logitech Z906 5.1 has. Still, it’s closer to the right price than the Nakamichi Shockwafe Elite Home Theater System.
So, where does that put the Polk Audio Magnifi Mini? This wireless subwoofer is best in the hands of someone who wants to set it up and leave it alone—especially someone who has Google Cast, Google Home, and has a good Wi Fi connection. For something more, you might consider the JBL Bar 5.1.
Polk Audio Magnifi Mini Review Wrap Up
Aside from the so-so treble, our Polk Magnifi Mini review still proves the worthiness of this surround system. Its compact design never seemed to hinder its sound. We especially liked having the ability to switch between wireless and HDMI. If you’re someone who has a small apartment or home, this is one of the best options for you.
