l would like to share my experience after comparing and testing two soundbars – Samsung HW-S50A vs Polk Audio MagniFi Mini AX. The Samsung HW-S50A was rated 4.8, while the Polk Audio MagniFi Mini AX has a rating 7.6. The soundbars are equipped with a different number of buttons, power, source, demo, volume down, volume up for the HW-S50A and power, source, demo, mute for the MagniFi Mini AX.
Each of the models under consideration has active amplification type. A noticeable difference is the number of channels that HW-S50A has 3.0 and MagniFi Mini AX has 3.1. These rivals can be compared in terms of power, 40 (overall) versus 10 (overall) according to devices. The built-in subwoofer is not implemented in any of these models. An external subwoofer can be connected to any of the units in this comparison. Rate 6 out of 10 received the Samsung HW-S50A for audio features and specs, but the Polk Audio MagniFi Mini AX received 4 out of 10.
The MagniFi Mini AX can play audio from Spotify.
Wireless Internet connection is realized only in the MagniFi Mini AX. Soundbars from this comparison have Bluetooth support. There are 0/1 HDMI inputs/outputs in the Samsung HW-S50A versus 1/0 HDMIs in the Polk Audio MagniFi Mini AX. As in the HW-S50A, so in the MagniFi Mini AX there is the HDMI Audio Return Channel (ARC). We rated the connectivity of the HW-S50A at 8 out of 10, while the MagniFi Mini AX was rated 5/10.
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.
Dolby Atmos audio decoder is onboard the MagniFi Mini AX. The MagniFi Mini AX can work with surround sound due to DTS:X support. The HW-S50A was rated 6/10, while the MagniFi Mini AX received a mark of 10/10 for multichannel surround.