Everyone needs a the dedicated sound system that comes with their TVs — seriously, the best built-in TV speakers to be terrible. But in one the black box sea looks the samedecide which one is right for you can ask learn some terms. That’s why I love Polk’s new Signa S4: It’s a Volvo scooter with a soundbar — simple and boring, and it does exactly what you need.
At first, it may not leapfrog as a great option, plus it’s a bit spend at $399, but after a few weeks of listening to this soundbar and subwoofer combo, it’s now the system I recommend to anyone looking for an easy audio upgrade. Don’t want to mess with satellite speakers, complicated menus, or to put it bluntly not at all Setting? Signa S4 may just be for you.
Outside the box
The new Polk soundbar is a black fabric-wrapped bar that’s about 3 inches high, 4 inches deep, and 41 inches long, easily thin enough to fit under the bezel of every TV I’ve tested. It comes with a wireless subwoofer (it’s wireless in that it only needs to be connected to a wall outlet), a small black box that’s easy to hide wherever power is most convenient.
Once you’ve placed the soundbar underneath the TV, the subwoofer near the outlet, and plugged both into a power source, all you need to do is plug the included HDMI cable into the HDMI ARC (audio return channel) port on your TV. friend ; most modern TVs have an HDMI port labeled as “ARC”. The soundbar will automatically connect and be ready to play — at least that’s how it works on the various Vizio and LG TVs I’ve tested.
If it doesn’t work right away, you may have to set it up in your TV’s audio settings menu under “ARC Settings,” especially if your set is older. if you do not there is an ARC HDMI port, fret not! You can also use the Signa S4’s optical input for high-quality digital audio. (It comes with both optical and HDMI cables.) Universal mounting holes on the back make it easy to place underneath a wall-mounted TV, but I tested the S4 on a wide TV stand.
This simplicity also extends to the remote control. You can choose between Music, Movie, and Night Mode settings (represented by clip art on the buttons). Otherwise, you’ve got the volume controls and simple EQ adjustments for the bass. Night mode limits the bass so you don’t disturb your neighbors who are watching Keanu Reeves movies at 3am. My only grip? I wish the buttons were backlit — it’s hard to tell what you’re pressing in a dark room.
Atmos sound
It might look like a super basic 2.1 soundbar, but the Signa S4 is very powerful. It can create digital surround sound by bouncing sound off the walls of your room, but it’s also capable of creating Dolby Atmos object-based surround sound, thanks to two amp speakers. sound coming from the ceiling.
You won’t hear the same level of immersion you get from a system with dedicated surround speakers and more drivers in the bar, like much more expensive equipment. Samsung HW-Q950A, but the Signa S4 delivers significantly better sound quality than its non-Atmos-capable peers. You will hear some sounds behind you and the sound spreads further out to the sides, which really helps pull you into the action when watching sports, playing FIFA 22or catch up latest episode of Halo.
