The catch
JBL Bar 300 MK2
Compared with Polk, the body is 22.6 inches wider.
Side by side
JBL Bar 300 MK2 vs Polk MagniFi Mini AX compared: Polk saves width but adds a subwoofer, JBL stays within one low enclosure
Quick verdict
Bar 300 MK2 is the choice for a single enclosure, a lower bar and one direct HDMI source. Mini AX is the choice for a much narrower bar, a supplied subwoofer or a wired analog source. Network music and optical TV audio work on both, so the main decision is where the hardware and video connections will go.
Before you buy
Why, and what it costs you
Opposite bars may suit a narrow opening and a low screen
Only Polk’s body fits when 20 inches of width is available. Should height be the tighter constraint, JBL’s bar is 1.1 inches lower.
Where this comes from
Required clearance comes on top of this. Polk has 20 - 14.4 = 5.6 inches of total width remaining. JBL overshoots the opening by 37 - 20 = 17 inches. The height difference is 3.1 - 2 = 1.1 inches.
The catch
Polk MagniFi Mini AX
Its own location and power are required for the separate subwoofer.
JBL Bar 300 MK2
- Why pick it
- The first setup stays at one bar, with no separate bass box
- One compatible HDMI source goes straight into the bar
- The catch
- Compared with Polk, the body is 22.6 inches wider.
Polk MagniFi Mini AX
- Why pick it
- A 14.4-inch bar has to go between TV legs set close together
- A supplied subwoofer and a 3.5 mm analog input come from the start
- The catch
- Its own location and power are required for the separate subwoofer.
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What this page compares
One-box installation, a narrow TV stand, a direct HDMI source and a supplied subwoofer are the points of comparison between JBL Bar 300 MK2 and Polk Mini AX.
Bar 300 MK2 is the choice for a single enclosure, a lower bar and one direct HDMI source. Mini AX is the choice for a much narrower bar, a supplied subwoofer or a wired analog source. Network music and optical TV audio work on both, so the main decision is where the hardware and video connections will go.
Which one fits
Pick the situations that sound like you
I’d rather skip a separate subwoofer enclosure
Polk’s selected package includes a separate bass box, while the JBL offer is one bar.
- JBL Bar 300 MK2
- Better fit
- Polk MagniFi Mini AX
- Not suitable
Body width is limited to 20 inches
Polk is 14.4 inches and JBL is 37 inches wide, before placement allowances.
- JBL Bar 300 MK2
- Not suitable
- Polk MagniFi Mini AX
- Better fit
The bar has to take one HDMI video source
Polk has none, while JBL has one source input.
- JBL Bar 300 MK2
- Better fit
- Polk MagniFi Mini AX
- Not suitable
A direct connection is needed for a 3.5 mm analog source
Analog is not among JBL’s documented audio inputs, but Polk provides that input.
- JBL Bar 300 MK2
- Not suitable
- Polk MagniFi Mini AX
- Better fit
The screen and the stand are close together
JBL’s two-inch body is lower. Even so, you must still measure the actual screen edge and placement requirements.
- JBL Bar 300 MK2
- Caution
- Polk MagniFi Mini AX
- Caution
In practice
Differences you will notice
Opposite bars may suit a narrow opening and a low screen
Only Polk’s body fits when 20 inches of width is available. Should height be the tighter constraint, JBL’s bar is 1.1 inches lower.
How we worked this out
Required clearance comes on top of this. Polk has 20 - 14.4 = 5.6 inches of total width remaining. JBL overshoots the opening by 37 - 20 = 17 inches. The height difference is 3.1 - 2 = 1.1 inches.
Part of the Polk installation sits apart from the television
A separate powered subwoofer goes with its narrow bar. Because of that, the system needs two speaker locations even if the space under the TV is very small.
How we worked this out
One soundbar is what the selected JBL package contains. The Polk package has a bar plus a wireless subwoofer with a listed footprint of 7.2 by 15.6 inches. Wireless audio does not take away its power requirement.
A crowded TV’s wiring changes with the extra HDMI socket
One compatible player can plug into JBL, which then sends video on to the TV. Polk has no equivalent source input, so a full television may need an external switch or a different connection plan.
How we worked this out
Polk lists one HDMI eARC connection and no separate video-source input. JBL’s US table lists one HDMI video input and one eARC output. You still need to check the specific signal format.
Plug in your numbers
Is there room for the soundbar under your TV?
Measure the clear space under your TV. Count only the devices you will plug into the soundbar. Leave out the ones already connected to the TV. The numbers below are placeholders until you enter yours.
JBL Bar 300 MK2
Passes these checksIt measures 37 inches wide and 2 inches high, with 1 separate HDMI source input and 11.0 inches of total width to spare.
Polk MagniFi Mini AX
Fails these checksAt 3.1 inches tall, it is higher than the 3 inches below your picture.
Measure the top of an open shelf. This check does not cover enclosed cubbies. Detachable speakers count toward the docked width. Leave extra depth for cables and the TV stand. This checks size and port count only. Dolby Atmos, 4K/120Hz passthrough and the audio formats your TV supports are outside it.
Option A
JBL, Bar 300MK2
JBL Bar 300 MK2
Take the low cabinet and Wi-Fi features of the 500 MK2, drop the separate subwoofer, and you have the Bar 300 MK2. One HDMI source can plug straight into it, which helps when the TV is already out of ports. Optional surrounds need current firmware and two Cove M1 or two Cove P1 speakers, bought separately.
- Best for
- The first setup stays at one bar, with no separate bass box
Facts we checked
- Supplied speaker package: One soundbar
- Main-bar width: 37 inches
- Main-bar height: 2 inches
- HDMI video-source inputs: 1
Option B
Polk Audio, MagniFi Mini AX
Polk MagniFi Mini AX
No other bar here is narrower than the Mini AX, so it can work between TV feet that sit close together. The tiny bar does not make this a one-box setup, though, because the included subwoofer puts part of the system on the floor.
- Best for
- A 14.4-inch bar has to go between TV legs set close together
Facts we checked
- Supplied speaker package: Soundbar and wireless subwoofer
- Main-bar width: 14.4 inches
- Main-bar height: 3.1 inches
- HDMI video-source inputs: None
Spec by spec
Where they really differ
| Spec | JBL Bar 300 MK2 | Polk MagniFi Mini AX | In practice |
|---|---|---|---|
| Supplied speaker package | One soundbar | Soundbar and wireless subwoofer | No separate bass-box position is needed for JBL in the selected package. |
| Main-bar width | 37 inches | 14.4 inches | Polk takes 22.6 inches less horizontal space. |
| Main-bar height | 2 inches | 3.1 inches | Before placement allowances, JBL is 1.1 inches lower. |
| HDMI video-source inputs | 1 | None | Source switching is left to the television with Polk, whereas JBL can accept one compatible source. |
| Analog audio input | No analog input in the listed connections | 3.5 mm input | A suitable wired analog source has a direct route into Polk. |
| Physical rear-speaker expansion | Optional matched Cove M1 or Cove P1 pair with current firmware | Optional Polk SR2 surrounds | Optional surround routes exist for both. Polk uses compatible SR2 speakers, and JBL needs current firmware and a matching Cove pair. |
Trade-offs
What each pick costs you
With JBL Bar 300 MK2
- No analog audio input appears in the listing. Adding Cove is optional and costs extra, and it needs current firmware along with two Cove M1 or two Cove P1 speakers.
With Polk MagniFi Mini AX
- It is the taller bar, and it has no separate HDMI source input.
Change of plan
When the answer changes
What is supplied has to stay as a single enclosure
Go with JBL Bar 300 MK2. Bar 300 MK2 comes as one soundbar and no separate subwoofer.
The body has 20 inches of clear width
Go with Polk MagniFi Mini AX. JBL’s body does not fit that width, though Polk’s 14.4-inch body does, before clearance checks.
The bar needs to keep two HDMI sources connected directly
Neither model fits. Polk has no source input, and JBL has one.
Decision guide
How to decide
Bar 300 MK2 fits a single enclosure, a lower bar and one direct HDMI source, while Mini AX fits a much narrower bar, a supplied subwoofer or a wired analog source. Both support network music and optical TV audio, so the deciding factor is where the hardware and video connections will go.
Consider width and height on their own
Under a low screen, JBL's wider body can be easy to position, yet it may be impossible between narrow TV feet. Polk solves the width problem but stands another 1.1 inches taller. Before choosing, sketch the available opening or measure it directly. A body that clears the furniture still needs the manufacturer's unobstructed placement space.
Put the subwoofer in the room plan
From the start, Mini AX comes with its matching subwoofer. That helps when a separate bass enclosure is part of the intended setup, though it needs a location and a mains outlet. Bar 300 MK2 keeps the supplied speaker hardware beneath the TV. The package difference does not establish which one gives better bass in your room.
Tally your sources before picking the audio connection
Television audio and network music both reach either bar. JBL's separate HDMI input matters when a compatible player needs a direct route into the bar, whereas Polk's analog input fixes a different wiring problem. Before assuming any HDMI input will pass your preferred mode, check the source's resolution, refresh rate and HDR requirements.
What this page can’t tell you
- Bass output, speech clarity and surround effects have not been measured by us. This comparison does not assume universal HDMI-format support just because an input socket is present.
By the numbers
What the data shows
What we found across the soundbars we compare, plus the checked facts behind each finding.
Show the facts and the math
| Product | Needs it meets | Facts we checked | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|
| JBL Bar 300 MK2 |
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| Polk MagniFi Mini AX |
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Ready to buy
See today’s price and what owners say
Open either model on Amazon for the current price, customer reviews and delivery options.
JBL Bar 300 MK2
The first setup stays at one bar, with no separate bass box
See price & reviews on AmazonPolk MagniFi Mini AX
A 14.4-inch bar has to go between TV legs set close together
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