The Polk Audio Magnifi Max AX SR uses two up-firing drivers built into the bar to ricochet sound off the ceiling, creating the illusion of height. The frequency response on these channels is rather boomy, as there’s a peak in the bass and a lack of emphasis in the mids and treble. Certain sound effects, like voices, are less clear, while bass-centric sounds like explosions tend to overpower the mix.
Subjectively, the bar’s soundstage with height content is just okay. The surrounds seem disconnected, missing, or overpowered at times, possibly due to the uneven frequency response on these channels. The sub brings a solid rumble in the bass, but voices are hard to hear in the mix. You can improve this slightly by activating the ‘Voice’ preset, which is nice. Overall, though, most of the action seems centered at the front, and the bar doesn’t achieve much height. Busier, more action-packed scenes like car chases tend to hide some of these issues, but they’re more noticeable with scenes that have less going on.
