Skip to main content

Polk showcases a shrunken sound bar and hi-fi speakers at CEDIA 2016

Polk is a company that offers both classic audio components like passive speakers, as well as newer, more technology-driven products like Bluetooth headphones. In its showing at CEDIA on Thursday, the company showed both of those sides, announcing the new MagniFi Mini compact sound bar, as well as its new Signature Series line of speakers.

MagniFi Mini

Measuring only 13.4 inches long and 3.1 inches tall, the Polk MagniFi Mini is described as a perfect companion for TVs in bedrooms and other smaller spaces. Despite the small size, it manages to pack in four 2.25-inch drivers and two 12mm tweeters. Polk says the MagniFi Mini is “universally compatible” with any television, cable box, or satellite remote control, meaning you won’t need a separate remote to control it.

“As home entertainment solutions continue to evolve, and TVs continue to become thinner, sound bars are increasingly in demand for users looking to boost their home theater and, ultimately, their TV-watching experience,” Michael Greco, Polk Audio global brand director, said in a statement “In step with Polk Audio’s tact for innovation, the MagniFi Mini delivers the performance of sound bars more than twice its size.”

MagniFi Mini
Image used with permission by copyright holder

For a compact sound bar, the MagniFi Mini is surprisingly feature packed. It packs an HDMI input and wireless subwoofer, as well as Polk’s Voice Adjust and SDA (stereo dimensional array) surround sound, which the company says does away with the audio “clutter” that can come from sound bars, making for a clear center channel. Google Cast is also supported, allowing easy playback from mobile devices.

The MagniFi Mini will sell for $299 and includes an optical cable and HDMI cable in the box. It will be available beginning in October from the Polk Audio website, as well as Amazon, Crutchfield, and other retailers.

Signature Series

While much of the new Signature Series is focused on home theater, the S60, S55, and S50 floor-standing tower speakers are the most audiophile-focused, though they can also work within a surround sound system. The flagship Signature S60 features three 6.5-inch drivers, while the S55 features two 6.5-inch midrange drivers, and the S50 has two 5.25-inch drivers. All of these speakers feature Polk’s PowerPort design, which it says smoothly transitions air flow from the speaker’s port into the listening area.

The S60 speakers sell for $450 each, while the S55 sell for $330 each, and the S50 can be had for $250 each. The S55 will be available at the end of September, while the S60 and S50 will be released in October.

The Signature Series also features two center channel speakers in the S35 and S30. Both are meant to offer clear, full-range sound while remaining unobtrusive at the same time –the S35 only stands 4 inches tall, for example. Both feature 1-inch terylene tweeters, and the S35 features six 3-inch drivers, while the S30 features two 5-inch drivers. The S35 will sell for $300 and will be available at the end of September, while the S30 will be available in October and sell for $230.

Finally, the Signature Series also features two different models of bookshelf surround speakers in the S20 and S15. Meant to act as front or rear speakers in 5.1-channel, 7.1-channel, or 9.1-channel home theater systems, both models feature a 1-inch terylene tweeter. The S20 features a 6.5-inch mica-reinforced polypropylene cone, while the S15 features a 5.25-inch cone. The S20 will sell for $300 and will be available in October, while the S15 sells for $230 and will go on sale at the end of September. An even smaller model, the S10, will sell for $200 and will also be available in October.

For more information on these products, see the Polk Audio website.

Kris Wouk
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Kris Wouk is a tech writer, gadget reviewer, blogger, and whatever it's called when someone makes videos for the web. In his…
Best Buy TV deals: Save on QLED TVs, OLED TVs, and 8K TVs
The Vizio V-Series 4K TV in the living room.

Landing some savings on a new TV is a pretty easy feat, as retailers are almost always willing to dish out some good TV deals. This is especially true of Best Buy, which is regularly discounting models by many of the best TV brands. Best Buy currently has a lot of TV deals to shop, and they include picture technologies that include QLED TVs and OLED TVs, as well as resolutions that range from 4K to 8K. We’ve rounded up all of the Best Buy TV deals worth shopping right now, so if you’re looking for a new centerpiece for your living room, basement, or home theater, read onward for more details.
Insignia F30 50-inch 4K Fire TV -- $230, was $300

A 50-inch 4K TV is a good size to suit most rooms, and the Insignia F30 has almost everything you could hope for in a TV this size. It presents all of your favorite content in breathtaking 4K resolution, and HDR technology provides a wide range of color details and sharper contrast, making movies more immersive and things like sports more impactful. Versatile connectivity ports make it easy to connect home theater peripherals. This TV also offers smart features like Alexa voice control, DTS Studio Sound, and Apple AirPlay. And because the Insignia F30 is a Fire TV, it will give you instant access to over 500,000 streaming movies and TV episodes, and access to thousands of channels and apps.

Read more
Yes, YouTube TV is kind of broken tonight
YouTube TV and Hulu apps on the Roku homescreen.

The YouTube TV live guide is just one feature that's down for subscribers this evening. Phil Nickinson / Digital Trends

If you've fired up YouTube TV this evening and are trying to figure out why things are kind of broken all over the place, know that you're not alone. The most popular streaming service in the U.S. is seeing some fairly significant issues tonight.

Read more
The 5 best YouTube TV alternatives in 2024
best youtube tv alternatives alternative 5

YouTube TV is among the most popular live TV streaming services in the U.S., with more than 8 million subscribers as of early 2024. That's about a twice as many as Hulu With Live TV, and far more than that of Sling TV. But that doesn't mean that you won't at some point decide to test the waters elsewhere, especially given its March 2023 price increase. The good news about these streaming services is that it's as easy to pause or cancel them as it is to sign up for them in the first place. The question is what to try next.

There's a lot of overlap between the services, but not every service has the same channels or options as YouTube TV. Or maybe you're looking to spend less, and pare things back accordingly. YouTube TV costs $73 a month, and some of its closest competitors also hit that price point. Others are less expensive.  That's not to say that you'll be able to replace YouTube TV at the same price. And the list of YouTubeTV tips and tricks is a strong selling point. It's hard to beat unlimited DVR, six profiles per account, and the ease of account management that comes with everything being tied into the Google ecosystem. You might have to pay more for the same channels. But that doesn't mean you shouldn't take a look.

Read more