Polk MagniFi Mini with SDA

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Comments

  • heiney9
    heiney9 Posts: 25,203
    Appreciate a mini review after you've had some time with it.

    I have been turning on the main (2 ch) rig lately when watching Netflix, DVD's and even TV. The main rig uses 9 vacuum tubes and the amp is single ended class A. I'd like to alleviate some of the wear and tear on the main rig so installing the Magnifi Mini would be perfect for everyday use. And then firing up the main rig for movie night, etc.

    My living room space is just a tad on the smaller size open into the dining room so I think this would work wonderfully for everyday use vs. the cheap and tinny TV speakers.

    H9
    "Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | EE Avant Pre | EE Mini Max Supreme DAC | MIT Shotgun S1 | Pangea AC14SE MKII | Legend L600 | BlueSound Node 3 - Tubes add soul!
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  • rooftop59
    rooftop59 Posts: 8,121
    I wonder why this instead of a woodbourne? The can be had for around 250 new on under 200 used on eBay. Seems like a much more substantial, well built speaker?
    Living Room 2.2: Usher BE-718 "tiny dancers"; Dual DIY Dayton audio RSS210HF-4 Subs with Dayton SPA-250 amps; Arcam SA30; Musical Fidelity A308; Sony UBP-x1000es
    Game Room 5.1.4:     Denon AVR-X4200w; Sony UBP-x700; Definitive Technology Power Monitor 900 mains, CLR-3000 center, StudioMonitor 350 surrounds, ProMonitor 800 atmos x4; Sub - Monoprice Monolith 15in THX Ultra
    Bedroom 2.1     Harmon Kardon HK3490; Bluesounds Node N130; Polk RT25i; ACI Titan Subwoofer
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  • heiney9
    heiney9 Posts: 25,203
    edited November 2016
    DSkip wrote: »
    SDA technology and a subwoofer.

    Ditto.

    I'm also interested in the voice enhancement. Sometimes shows or movies with a low level voice track, it's hard to hear unless you crank up the volume on the TV and then when some action starts you blow the speakers out (figuratively).

    H9

    "Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | EE Avant Pre | EE Mini Max Supreme DAC | MIT Shotgun S1 | Pangea AC14SE MKII | Legend L600 | BlueSound Node 3 - Tubes add soul!
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  • motorhead43026
    motorhead43026 Posts: 3,904
    Sweet, looking forward to it.
    The best way to predict the future is to invent it.

    It is imperative that we recognize that an opinion is not a fact.
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  • rooftop59
    rooftop59 Posts: 8,121
    heiney9 wrote: »
    DSkip wrote: »
    SDA technology and a subwoofer.

    Ditto.

    I'm also interested in the voice enhancement. Sometimes shows or movies with a low level voice track, it's hard to hear unless you crank up the volume on the TV and then when some action starts you blow the speakers out (figuratively).

    H9

    lets be clear: this is not a subwoofer. Its a woofer, made to give the setup a reasonably full range (maybe into the mid 40s at the lowest, but I can't find the specs???). The dual 5.5 woofers in the woodbourne will likely give you better overall bass response.

    Second, while I find the voice enhancement interesting, I find it is rarely needed with halfway decent speakers. Again, lets be clear: the things in your flat panel tv aren't speakers, they are two cell phones shoved into the panel. You can never hear the dialogue in modern flat panels. But in my def tech incline desktop speakers (awesome, very small, and under 2 bones), dialogue is never a problem.

    As for the SDA tech, I admit that it the only thing that really intrigues me. Now if best buy ever gets it in, I would like to hear it, but I certianly wouldn't order without hearing.

    Having said that, i will be interested in y'all's thoughts, as I am mildly interested in the product...
    Living Room 2.2: Usher BE-718 "tiny dancers"; Dual DIY Dayton audio RSS210HF-4 Subs with Dayton SPA-250 amps; Arcam SA30; Musical Fidelity A308; Sony UBP-x1000es
    Game Room 5.1.4:     Denon AVR-X4200w; Sony UBP-x700; Definitive Technology Power Monitor 900 mains, CLR-3000 center, StudioMonitor 350 surrounds, ProMonitor 800 atmos x4; Sub - Monoprice Monolith 15in THX Ultra
    Bedroom 2.1     Harmon Kardon HK3490; Bluesounds Node N130; Polk RT25i; ACI Titan Subwoofer
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  • rooftop59
    rooftop59 Posts: 8,121
    DSkip wrote: »
    I heard it and thought it was the full range sig series until they told me otherwise.

    Now that's pretty high praise! You've piqued my interest dear sir...
    Living Room 2.2: Usher BE-718 "tiny dancers"; Dual DIY Dayton audio RSS210HF-4 Subs with Dayton SPA-250 amps; Arcam SA30; Musical Fidelity A308; Sony UBP-x1000es
    Game Room 5.1.4:     Denon AVR-X4200w; Sony UBP-x700; Definitive Technology Power Monitor 900 mains, CLR-3000 center, StudioMonitor 350 surrounds, ProMonitor 800 atmos x4; Sub - Monoprice Monolith 15in THX Ultra
    Bedroom 2.1     Harmon Kardon HK3490; Bluesounds Node N130; Polk RT25i; ACI Titan Subwoofer
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  • heiney9
    heiney9 Posts: 25,203
    rooftop59 wrote: »
    heiney9 wrote: »
    DSkip wrote: »
    SDA technology and a subwoofer.

    Ditto.

    I'm also interested in the voice enhancement. Sometimes shows or movies with a low level voice track, it's hard to hear unless you crank up the volume on the TV and then when some action starts you blow the speakers out (figuratively).

    H9

    lets be clear: this is not a subwoofer. Its a woofer, made to give the setup a reasonably full range (maybe into the mid 40s at the lowest, but I can't find the specs???). The dual 5.5 woofers in the woodbourne will likely give you better overall bass response.

    Second, while I find the voice enhancement interesting, I find it is rarely needed with halfway decent speakers. Again, lets be clear: the things in your flat panel tv aren't speakers, they are two cell phones shoved into the panel. You can never hear the dialogue in modern flat panels. But in my def tech incline desktop speakers (awesome, very small, and under 2 bones), dialogue is never a problem.

    As for the SDA tech, I admit that it the only thing that really intrigues me. Now if best buy ever gets it in, I would like to hear it, but I certianly wouldn't order without hearing.

    Having said that, i will be interested in y'all's thoughts, as I am mildly interested in the product...

    So you said all this and you haven't even heard it yet? :# I don't expect it to be a full blown home theater, but something that greatly enhances everyday TV/video watching w/o having the wear and tear on the main rig.
    "Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | EE Avant Pre | EE Mini Max Supreme DAC | MIT Shotgun S1 | Pangea AC14SE MKII | Legend L600 | BlueSound Node 3 - Tubes add soul!
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  • Nightfall
    Nightfall Posts: 10,086
    heiney9 wrote: »
    w/o having the wear and tear on the main rig.

    I assume you're talking specifically about putting hours on amplifier vacuum tubes? I leave my SS stuff on 24/7 without worries, I'm not even really worried about putting hours on the small signal tubes I have.
    afterburnt wrote: »
    They didn't speak a word of English, they were from South Carolina.

    Village Idiot of Club Polk
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  • heiney9
    heiney9 Posts: 25,203
    edited December 2016
    Nightfall wrote: »
    heiney9 wrote: »
    w/o having the wear and tear on the main rig.

    I assume you're talking specifically about putting hours on amplifier vacuum tubes? I leave my SS stuff on 24/7 without worries, I'm not even really worried about putting hours on the small signal tubes I have.

    Yes, mostly the wear and tear on the signal tubes and rectifier (9 of them in total). Not just the hours but the constant on/off cycle. I don't leave my SS amp on 24/7 as much anymore because I don't listen as consistently as I used too.

    The signal tubes I use are expensive and rare so idle hours are not really what I want to do. I don't mind watching a movie with the main rig on. But for everyday use of Netflix, DVR content, Smart TV watching I'd rather use something like the Polk Magnifi Mini.

    H9

    "Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | EE Avant Pre | EE Mini Max Supreme DAC | MIT Shotgun S1 | Pangea AC14SE MKII | Legend L600 | BlueSound Node 3 - Tubes add soul!
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  • heiney9
    heiney9 Posts: 25,203
    I have this thing about not paying retail..........ever! So if anyone see's this discounted somewhere please post the linky. I am checking the usual sites periodically, but as soon as it's on sale, I'm popping for one.

    I mean this is the Holiday's so I expect some sort of sale even though it's brand spanking new!

    H9
    "Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | EE Avant Pre | EE Mini Max Supreme DAC | MIT Shotgun S1 | Pangea AC14SE MKII | Legend L600 | BlueSound Node 3 - Tubes add soul!
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  • msg
    msg Posts: 10,211
    Skip. Slacking.
    I disabled signatures.
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  • msg
    msg Posts: 10,211
    haha
    yes. still slacking, because you didn't post it here :p
    I disabled signatures.
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  • D2Lo
    D2Lo Posts: 352
    Well, the German's seem to like it :-) At least as far as I can tell with english subtitles turned on.
    https://youtu.be/MkzuVfm7JcE

    This video might make a bit more sense:
    https://youtu.be/tu5C6Pvrz1s
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