Sony HT-X8500 vs Polk Audio MagniFi Mini AX review

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l would like to share my experience after comparing and testing two soundbars – Sony HT-X8500 vs Polk Audio MagniFi Mini AX. The Sony HT-X8500 was rated 6, while the Polk Audio MagniFi Mini AX has a rating 7.6. The soundbars are equipped with a different number of buttons, power, volume down, volume up, input, Bluetooth for the HT-X8500 and power, source, demo, mute for the MagniFi Mini AX.

Audio features

Each of the models under consideration has active amplification type. A noticeable difference is the number of channels that HT-X8500 has 2.1 and MagniFi Mini AX has 3.1. A built-in subwoofer is available only in the Sony HT-X8500. Rate 6 out of 10 received the Sony HT-X8500 for audio features and specs, but the Polk Audio MagniFi Mini AX received 4 out of 10.

Streaming services

The MagniFi Mini AX can play audio from Spotify.

Connectivity

Wireless Internet connection is realized only in the MagniFi Mini AX. Soundbars from this comparison have Bluetooth support. There are 1/1 HDMI inputs/outputs in the Sony HT-X8500 versus 1/0 HDMIs in the Polk Audio MagniFi Mini AX. As in the HT-X8500, so in the MagniFi Mini AX there is the HDMI Audio Return Channel (ARC). Connecting devices via USB is possible in both models. We rated the connectivity of the HT-X8500 at 8 out of 10, while the MagniFi Mini AX was rated 5/10.

Features

The manufacturer of the MagniFi Mini AX provides a device control application. The Polk Audio MagniFi Mini AX equipped with a microphone. The models under consideration cannot become part of a multiroom system.

Multichannel surround

Manufacturers equipped both units with Dolby Atmos audio decoder. Units from this comparison can process surround sound due to DTS:X support. The same score of 10/10 was put to the soundbars for multichannel surround support.

Advantages Sony HT-X8500 over Polk Audio MagniFi Mini AX

Advantages Polk Audio MagniFi Mini AX over Sony HT-X8500