Polk Audio has announced its latest soundbar in the MagniFi series, and with spatial audio and Google Chromecast support, it could be its best soundbar yet.
The MagniFi 2 is promised to offer an “immersive surround-sound experience in a minimalist package”, thanks to its new 3D Audio Mode, according to What Hi-Fi?.
While that may sound like the kind of audio processing you get with Dolby Atmos, Polk hasn’t used the cinematic sound codec for its new bar – instead it relies on its own Stereo Dimensional Array technology to create virtual height channels, making it seem as though sound is coming at you from all angles without the need for upfiring tweeters.
Virtual 3D audio is rarely as convincing as true Atmos sound, but it can come pretty close and it’s allowed Polk to create a soundbar that has a smaller footprint than many upfiring Dolby Atmos speakers. That means it should be suitable for smaller spaces, though it does come with a wireless subwoofer to boost the bass, too.
Virtual 3D audio is rarely as convincing as true Atmos sound, but it can come pretty close and it’s allowed Polk to create a soundbar that has a smaller footprint than many upfiring Dolby Atmos speakers. That means it should be suitable for smaller spaces, though it does come with a wireless subwoofer to boost the bass, too.
Costing $499 / £499 (around AU$720), it’s cheaper than many of the best soundbars you can buy today; saying that, the Dolby Atmos-enabled Sony HT-X8500 costs just $299 / £350 / AU$599.
This news was originally published at techradar.com