The $499 MagniFi soundbar can deliver 4.1-channel sound from a 2.1 driver configuration, along with “convincing” height effects, Polk Audio promises.

Polk Audio has decided to skip immersive Dolby Atmos and DTS:X sound formats for its latest soundbar, opting instead for a new 3D audio scheme that can deliver “engulfing” surround sound from a 2.1-channel configuration, the audio manufacturer says.

Slated to ship next month for $499, the MagniFi 2 soundbar features a six-driver array, including two oval-shaped mid-bass drivers and a tweeter for each left and right channel, along with a wireless subwoofer for low-frequency effects.

While a 2.1-channel configuration might sound a little chintzy for a $500 soundbar, Polk Audio says that its proprietary SDA (Stereo Dimensional Array) audio processing combined with its new 3D Audio mode allows the MagniFi 2 soundbar to deliver the equivalent of 4.1-channel sound—that is, front left, front right, surround left, surround right, and low-frequency channels, along with a “phantom” center channel, “convincing” height effects, and minimal crosstalk (audio intended for one channel that’s leaking into another).
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