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  1. Table of Contents
  2. Top
  3. Main Differences
  4. Design
    1. Style - Bar
    2. Style - Subwoofer
    3. Style - Satellites
    4. Dimensions - Bar
    5. Dimensions - Subwoofer
    6. Dimensions - Satellites
    7. Mounting
    8. Build Quality
    9. In The Box
  5. Sound
    1. Stereo Frequency Response
    2. Stereo Frequency Response With Preliminary Calibration
    3. Stereo Soundstage
    4. Stereo Dynamics
    5. Stereo Total Harmonic Distortion
    6. Center
    7. Surround 5.1
    8. Height (Atmos)
    9. Sound Enhancement Features
  6. Connectivity
    1. Inputs/Outputs - Bar
    2. Audio Format Support: ARC/eARC
    3. Audio Format Support: HDMI In
    4. Audio Format Support: Optical
    5. Audio Latency: ARC
    6. Audio Latency: HDMI In
    7. Audio Latency: Optical
    8. Video Passthrough To TV
    9. Wireless Playback
  7. Additional Features
    1. Interface
    2. Bar Controls
    3. Remote
    4. Voice Assistants Support
  8. Comments

Polk Audio MagniFi MAX SR vs LG SP9YA

Side-by-Side Comparison

Products

Polk Audio MagniFi MAX SR
LG SP9YA

Tested using Methodology v1.3

Updated Jan 17, 2024 02:23 PM

SEE PRICE
BestBuy.com

Tested using Methodology v1.1

Updated Jan 12, 2024 07:43 PM

SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Polk Audio MagniFi MAX SR Picture
LG SP9YA Picture

Variants

  • MagniFi MAX SR (Black)
  • SP9YA (Black)

Our Verdict

Polk Audio MagniFi MAX SR

LG SP9YA

The LG SP9YA is better than the Polk Audio MagniFi MAX SR. The LG is a better built 5.1.2 setup that supports Dolby Atmos content. It also has a better soundstage performance, and more sound enhancement features like room correction. That said, only the Polk Audio comes with discrete satellites included.

0

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Black
MagniFi MAX SR
SEE PRICE
BestBuy.com

Notice: Two or more of the products selected have been tested with different test methodologies, so some of the results below aren't directly comparable. Learn how our test benches and scoring system work, and read more about the latest changes to our soundbars test methodology.

Main Differences for

Threshold 

0.10

Mixed Usage 

7.7
8.0

Height (Atmos) 
 

0.0
5.3

Audio Format Support: ARC/eARC 
 

6.3
10

Full Comparison

Design

Style - Bar  

Style photo - bar  

Polk Audio MagniFi MAX SR Style photo - bar
LG SP9YA Style photo - bar

Show text

Style - Subwoofer  

Style photo - sub  

Polk Audio MagniFi MAX SR Style photo - sub
LG SP9YA Style photo - sub

Sub Wireless 
 

Yes
Yes

Enclosure 
 

Ported
Ported

Show text

Style - Satellites  

Style photo - satellites  

Polk Audio MagniFi MAX SR Style photo - satellites
LG SP9YA Style photo - satellites

Satellite Wireless 
 

Yes
No

Show text

Dimensions - Bar  

Dimensions photo - bar  

Polk Audio MagniFi MAX SR Dimensions photo - bar
LG SP9YA Dimensions photo - bar

Width  

42.9" (109.0 cm)
48.1" (122.2 cm)

Height  

2.0" (5.0 cm)
2.3" (5.8 cm)

Depth  

3.7" (9.5 cm)
5.8" (14.7 cm)

Show text

Dimensions - Subwoofer  

Dimensions photo - sub  

Polk Audio MagniFi MAX SR Dimensions photo - sub
LG SP9YA Dimensions photo - sub

Width  

11.4" (29.0 cm)
8.7" (22.1 cm)

Height  

14.6" (37.0 cm)
15.4" (39.0 cm)

Depth  

13.8" (35.0 cm)
12.3" (31.2 cm)

Show text

Dimensions - Satellites  

Dimensions photo - satellites  

Polk Audio MagniFi MAX SR Dimensions photo - satellites
LG SP9YA Dimensions photo - satellites

Width  

7.9" (20.0 cm)
N/A

Height  

4.7" (12.0 cm)
N/A

Depth  

3.7" (9.5 cm)
N/A

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Mounting 
 

Bar Mounting Holes  

Polk Audio MagniFi MAX SR Bar Mounting Holes
LG SP9YA Bar Mounting Holes

Satellite Mounting Holes  

Polk Audio MagniFi MAX SR Satellite Mounting Holes
LG SP9YA Satellite Mounting Holes

Mountable Bar 
 

Yes
Yes

Bar Brackets Included 
 

Yes
Yes

Mountable Satellites 
 

Yes
No

Satellite Brackets Included 
 

No
No

Build Quality 
 

7.0
8.0

Build quality photo  

Polk Audio MagniFi MAX SR Build quality photo
LG SP9YA Build quality photo

Show text

In The Box 
 

In The Box photo   

Polk Audio MagniFi MAX SR In The Box photo
LG SP9YA In The Box photo

Show text

Sound

Stereo Frequency Response 
 

8.4
8.3

Stereo Setup  

Polk Audio MagniFi MAX SR Stereo Setup
LG SP9YA Stereo Setup

Raw Frequency Response  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Frequency Response Small  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Channels 
 

5.1
5.1.2

Tested Preset 
 

Music
Standard

Slope 
 

-0.28
-0.26

Standard Error 
 

2.69 dB
2.22 dB

Low-Frequency Extension 
 

27.5 Hz
33.2 Hz

High-Frequency Extension 
 

17.5 kHz
19.9 kHz

Show text

Stereo Frequency Response With Preliminary Calibration 
 

8.4
8.3

Frequency Response Calibrated  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Suggested Preset 
 

Music
Standard

Suggested Bass Setting 
 

-1
-1

Suggested Treble Setting 
 

N/A
1

Slope 
 

-0.01
-0.06

Standard Error 
 

2.44 dB
2.18 dB

Low-Frequency Extension 
 

28.3 Hz
33.2 Hz

High-Frequency Extension 
 

18.0 kHz
19.9 kHz

Show text

Stereo Soundstage 
 

7.0
7.5

Crosstalk  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Crosstalk Error 
 

3.23 dB
2.14 dB

Show text

Stereo Dynamics 
 

7.6
8.0

Dynamic Range Compression  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

SPL @ Max Volume 
 

95.2 dB SPL
91.8 dB SPL

DRC @ 90dB 
 

1.82 dB

DRC @ Max Volume 
 

3.08 dB
0.92 dB

Show text

Stereo Total Harmonic Distortion 
 

7.0

THD  

See details on graph tool

Weighted THD @ 80dB 
 

0.65

Weighted THD @ Max Volume 
 

3.19

Show text

Center 
 

8.5
7.7

Center Setup  

Polk Audio MagniFi MAX SR Center Setup
LG SP9YA Center Setup

Frequency Response  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Localization 
 

Discrete
Discrete

Slope 
 

0.00
-1.47

Std. Err. 
 

2.90 dB
3.95 dB

SPL @ Max Volume 
 

94.5 dB SPL
86.8 dB SPL

Weighted THD @ 80dB 
 

0.35
1.10

Weighted THD @ Max Volume 
 

1.22
7.83

Show text

Surround 5.1 
 

5.3
4.8

Surround Setup  

Polk Audio MagniFi MAX SR Surround Setup
LG SP9YA Surround Setup

Frequency Response  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Localization 
 

Discrete
Phantom (Side Firing, Bar)

Slope 
 

-4.25
1.67

Std. Err. 
 

12.78 dB
7.19 dB

SPL @ Max Volume 
 

93.0 dB SPL
92.5 dB SPL

Weighted THD @ 80dB 
 

0.73
0.85

Weighted THD @ Max Volume 
 

4.07
7.18

7.1 Rears 
 

No
No

Show text

Height (Atmos) 
 

0.0
5.3

Height Setup  

Polk Audio MagniFi MAX SR Height Setup
LG SP9YA Height Setup

H Frequency Response  

Polk Audio MagniFi MAX SR H Frequency Response
See details on graph tool

Localization 
 

Not Supported
Phantom (Up Firing, Bar)

Slope 
 

N/A
-0.12

Std. Err. 
 

N/A
5.73 dB

SPL @ Max Volume 
 

N/A
79.4 dB SPL

Weighted THD @ 80dB 
 

N/A
2.00

Weighted THD @ Max Volume 
 

N/A
0.29

Show text

Sound Enhancement Features 
 

4.8
9.2

Room Correction 
 

No
Yes

Dialogue Enhancement 
 

Yes
Yes

Auto-Volume/Night Mode 
 

Yes
Yes

Subwoofer Level Adjustment 
 

No
Yes

Bass Adjustment 
 

Yes
Yes

Treble Adjustment 
 

No
Yes

EQ 
 

Presets
Presets

Surround Level Adjustment 
 

Yes
Yes

Rear Level Adjustment 
 

No
Yes

Height Level Adjustment 
 

No
Yes

Virtual Surround 
 

No
Yes

Show text

Connectivity

Inputs/Outputs - Bar 
 

Physical Connections Bar Photo 1  

Polk Audio MagniFi MAX SR Physical Connections Bar Photo 1
LG SP9YA Physical Connections Bar Photo 1

Physical Connections Bar Photo 2  

Polk Audio MagniFi MAX SR Physical Connections Bar Photo 2
LG SP9YA Physical Connections Bar Photo 2

Optical Audio In 
 

1
1

HDMI ARC 
 

1 (shared)

HDMI Out 
 

ARC
1 (shared)

HDMI 2.1 Class Bandwidth 
 

No

Full HDMI In 
 

3
1

Analog Audio In 3.5mm (Aux) 
 

1
No

RCA In 
 

No
No

USB for Files 
 

No
1

Ethernet 
 

1
No

Subwoofer Output 
 

No
No

Show text

Audio Format Support: ARC/eARC 
 

6.3
10

Dolby Atmos 
 

Not Supported
Yes

Dolby Digital 
 

Supported
Yes

Dolby Digital Plus 
 

Not Supported
Yes

Dolby TrueHD 
 

Not Supported
Yes

DTS 
 

Supported
Yes

DTS:X 
 

Not Supported
Yes

eARC 
 

Yes

DTS-HD MA 
 

Not Supported
Yes

PCM Channels 
 

2.0

5.1 PCM (eARC only) 
 

Yes

Show text

Audio Format Support: HDMI In 
 

6.3
10

Dolby Atmos 
 

Not Supported
Yes

Dolby Digital 
 

Supported
Yes

Dolby Digital Plus 
 

Not Supported
Yes

Dolby TrueHD 
 

Not Supported
Yes

DTS 
 

Supported
Yes

DTS:X 
 

Not Supported
Yes

DTS-HD MA 
 

Not Supported
Yes

PCM Channels 
 

2.0

5.1 PCM 
 

Yes

Show text

Audio Format Support: Optical 
 

10
10

Dolby Digital 
 

Supported
Yes

DTS 
 

Supported
Yes

PCM Channels 
 

2.0

Show text

Audio Latency: ARC 
 

9.4

ARC Latency Video  

PCM-2.0 ch 
 

69 ms

PCM-5.1 ch 
 

69 ms

Dolby MAT (PCM) Atmos 
 

N/A

Dolby Digital 
 

75 ms

Dolby Digital Plus 
 

N/A

Dolby Digital Plus Atmos 
 

N/A

Show text

Audio Latency: HDMI In 
 

9.5
7.5

HDMI Latency Video  

Latency Video  

PCM-2.0 ch 
 

68 ms

PCM-5.1 ch 
 

68 ms

Dolby MAT (PCM) Atmos 
 

N/A

Dolby Digital 
 

87 ms

Dolby Digital Plus 
 

N/A

Dolby Digital Plus Atmos 
 

N/A

ARC 
 

82 ms

Optical 
 

66 ms

Full HDMI In 
 

75 ms

Show text

Audio Latency: Optical 
 

3.8

Optical Latency Video  

PCM-2.0 ch 
 

332 ms

Dolby Digital 
 

348 ms

Show text

Video Passthrough To TV 
 

7.8
0.0

1080p Max Refresh Rate 
 

120Hz

1080p @ 4:4:4 Max Refresh Rate 
 

120Hz

4k Max Refresh Rate 
 

60Hz

4k @ 120Hz @ 10-Bit 
 

Not Supported

4k @ 4:4:4 Max Refresh Rate 
 

60Hz

8k Max Refresh Rate 
 

30Hz

HDR10 Passthrough 
 

Yes
Yes

HDR10+ Passthrough 
 

No

Dolby Vision Passthrough 
 

Yes

HDMI Forum VRR Passthrough 
 

No

4k @ 60 Hz Passthrough 
 

Yes

FreeSync Passthrough 
 

No

G-SYNC Passthrough 
 

No

ALLM Passthrough 
 

No

4k @ 60 Hz @ 10 bit Passthrough 
 

Yes

4k @ 60 Hz @ 4:4:4 Passthrough 
 

Yes

Show text

Wireless Playback 
 

9.0
10

Bluetooth 
 

Yes
Yes

Wi-Fi Playback 
 

Yes
Yes

Chromecast built-in 
 

Yes
Yes

Apple AirPlay 
 

No
Yes

Spotify Connect 
 

No
Yes

Show text

Additional Features

Interface 
 

Interface photo  

Polk Audio MagniFi MAX SR Interface photo
LG SP9YA Interface photo

Display 
 

No
Yes

Show text

Bar Controls 
 

Controls photo  

Polk Audio MagniFi MAX SR Controls photo
LG SP9YA Controls photo

Show text

Remote  

Remote photo  

Polk Audio MagniFi MAX SR Remote photo
LG SP9YA Remote photo

Show text

Voice Assistants Support 
 

Amazon Alexa 
 

No
No

Google Assistant 
 

No
No

Apple Siri 
 

No
No

Microphone Mute 
 

No
No

Show text

Check Price

Black
MagniFi MAX SR
SEE PRICE
BestBuy.com

Polk Audio MagniFi MAX SR

LG SP9YA

Comments

  1. Comparison

Polk Audio MagniFi MAX SR vs LG SP9YA: Main Discussion

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