The catch
Polk MagniFi Mini AX
Has no HDMI source input.
Side by side
Polk MagniFi Mini AX vs JBL Bar 500 MK2 compared: JBL suits low screens and takes a source directly, Polk suits narrow stands
Quick verdict
For a narrow opening, or for compatible Polk SR2 speakers you already own, MagniFi Mini AX is the choice. A low screen and one extra HDMI input point to Bar 500 MK2. Both can add optional rear speakers, though JBL requires current firmware and a matched Cove M1 or Cove P1 pair. Each package comes with a separate subwoofer that takes floor space.
Before you buy
Why, and what it costs you
A lower screen can still be blocked by the smaller bar
Polk is 22.6 inches narrower yet stands 1.1 inches taller. A 3-inch gap under the screen clears JBL’s stated body height, but it is shorter than Polk’s 3.1-inch body.
Where this comes from
Mounting clearance is not included in these measurements. 37 - 14.4 = 22.6 inches narrower. 3.1 - 2 = 1.1 inches taller.
The catch
JBL Bar 500 MK2
A lot more horizontal space is needed for the 37-inch bar.
Polk MagniFi Mini AX
- Why pick it
- A narrow opening has to take a 14.4-inch bar
- You own, or plan to buy, compatible Polk SR2 surrounds
- The catch
- Has no HDMI source input.
JBL Bar 500 MK2
- Why pick it
- One HDMI source plugs straight into the bar
- A lower 2-inch bar has to fit beneath the TV
- The catch
- A lot more horizontal space is needed for the 37-inch bar.
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What this page compares
Polk MagniFi Mini AX and JBL Bar 500 MK2 are compared here on a narrow TV stand, subwoofer floor space, an extra HDMI device and later surround speakers.
For a narrow opening, or for compatible Polk SR2 speakers you already own, MagniFi Mini AX is the choice. A low screen and one extra HDMI input point to Bar 500 MK2. Both can add optional rear speakers, though JBL requires current firmware and a matched Cove M1 or Cove P1 pair. Each package comes with a separate subwoofer that takes floor space.
Which one fits
Pick the situations that sound like you
The clear width on my TV stand is 20 inches
JBL’s 37-inch bar does not fit the width, while Polk’s 14.4-inch body does.
- Polk MagniFi Mini AX
- Better fit
- JBL Bar 500 MK2
- Not suitable
The screen clears the stand by only 3 inches
JBL’s stated bar height is 2 inches, and Polk stands 3.1 inches high.
- Polk MagniFi Mini AX
- Caution
- JBL Bar 500 MK2
- Better fit
I need one more HDMI source input
Polk lacks a source input, and JBL has one.
- Polk MagniFi Mini AX
- Not suitable
- JBL Bar 500 MK2
- Better fit
Down the road I want Polk SR2 rear speakers
Mini AX has a documented SR2 expansion.
- Polk MagniFi Mini AX
- Better fit
- JBL Bar 500 MK2
- Not suitable
An external subwoofer has no place to go
A separate powered bass box is in both selected packages.
- Polk MagniFi Mini AX
- Not suitable
- JBL Bar 500 MK2
- Not suitable
In practice
Differences you will notice
A lower screen can still be blocked by the smaller bar
Polk is 22.6 inches narrower yet stands 1.1 inches taller. A 3-inch gap under the screen clears JBL’s stated body height, but it is shorter than Polk’s 3.1-inch body.
How we worked this out
Mounting clearance is not included in these measurements. 37 - 14.4 = 22.6 inches narrower. 3.1 - 2 = 1.1 inches taller.
The shape of the subwoofer’s floor space can flip which looks smaller
Polk’s stated 7.2 × 15.6-inch body fits a floor opening 10 inches wide and 16 inches deep, before clearance. JBL’s 12.8-inch width is too much for it. With a shallower opening, JBL may be the better fit.
How we worked this out
Look at each of the two footprint dimensions on its own. Polk: 7.2 W × 15.6 D. JBL: 12.8 W × 12.8 D. A body that fits does not by itself establish acoustic clearance.
JBL gets you one source socket and not a full HDMI switch
A single streamer can plug straight into Bar 500 MK2. Two separate source devices cannot both use that one input unless there is another switching path. With Polk, both devices depend on TV or external connections.
How we worked this out
Polk lists a TV eARC connection and no separate HDMI source input. JBL lists 1 HDMI input.
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.
Polk MagniFi Mini AX
Fails these checksAt 3.1 inches tall, it is higher than the 3 inches below your picture.
JBL Bar 500 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.
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
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 narrow opening has to take a 14.4-inch bar
Facts we checked
- Bar width: 14.4 inches
- Bar height: 3.1 inches
- HDMI source input: None
- Included subwoofer footprint: 7.2 × 15.6 inches
Option B
JBL, Bar 500MK2
JBL Bar 500 MK2
A 10-inch subwoofer comes with the Bar 500 MK2, along with a low-profile bar and no rear speakers to position. Its cabinet slides under more low TVs than taller rivals can, though the bass box still needs a spot on the floor. If you want surrounds later, you need current firmware plus two Cove M1 or two Cove P1 speakers, which are sold separately.
- Best for
- One HDMI source plugs straight into the bar
Facts we checked
- Bar width: 37 inches
- Bar height: 2 inches
- HDMI source input: 1
- Included subwoofer footprint: 12.8 × 12.8 inches
Spec by spec
Where they really differ
| Spec | Polk MagniFi Mini AX | JBL Bar 500 MK2 | In practice |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bar width | 14.4 inches | 37 inches | Spaces under the TV that are far narrower still fit Polk. |
| Bar height | 3.1 inches | 2 inches | JBL sits lower even though its body is much wider. |
| HDMI source input | None | 1 | A video source can go into the JBL first, then on to the TV. |
| Included subwoofer footprint | 7.2 × 15.6 inches | 12.8 × 12.8 inches | Polk is deeper, though narrower. Measure the exact floor position you intend to use. |
| Later rear speakers | Optional Polk SR2 surrounds | Optional matched Cove M1 or Cove P1 pair with current firmware | Optional surround routes exist for both. Pick the compatible speaker family and add the extra pair to your budget. |
Trade-offs
What each pick costs you
With Polk MagniFi Mini AX
- A low screen can be obstructed by its 3.1-inch height even though the body is narrow.
With JBL Bar 500 MK2
- The subwoofer in the box is 12.8 inches wide.
Change of plan
When the answer changes
The bar has to be no wider than 20 inches
Go with Polk MagniFi Mini AX. Mini AX measures 14.4 inches across.
I need a single direct HDMI source input
Go with JBL Bar 500 MK2. One comes with Bar 500 MK2.
I have no place for a separate subwoofer
Neither model fits. An external bass box comes in both selected packages.
Decision guide
How to decide
MagniFi Mini AX suits a narrow opening or compatible Polk SR2 speakers you already own, and Bar 500 MK2 suits a low screen plus one extra HDMI input. Either can add optional rear speakers, but JBL needs current firmware and a matched Cove M1 or Cove P1 pair. Both packages include a separate subwoofer that needs floor space.
Check width and height on their own
Mini AX is unusually narrow, and that helps when TV legs or furniture limit horizontal space. Being compact in width does not make it the lower bar, though. A screen that sits close to the stand may be easier to cope with using Bar 500 MK2, as long as its wider body fits without obstructing the TV supports.
The subwoofer still has to go somewhere
In both packages a separate wireless subwoofer handles the bass. Wireless refers to the audio link and does not free it from mains power. Polk's narrow, deep cabinet and JBL's squarer one suit different floor openings. Leave the ventilation and acoustic space they need, and do not wedge either into a compartment that only nominally matches.
Pick the full speaker system first, and count sources after
If you already own Polk SR2 surrounds or specifically want that system, Mini AX has the edge. JBL now offers an optional Cove route with current firmware, using two Cove M1 or two Cove P1 speakers set up through JBL One. Compare complete system prices and do not treat expansion as exclusive to Polk. When both plans fit the budget, JBL still adds one source input for a crowded TV.
What this page can’t tell you
- Low-bass output and surround performance have not been measured by us. Driver size and cabinet dimensions are facts about installation and do not rank sound quality.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Polk MagniFi Mini AX |
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| JBL Bar 500 MK2 |
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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.
Polk MagniFi Mini AX
A narrow opening has to take a 14.4-inch bar
See price & reviews on AmazonJBL Bar 500 MK2
One HDMI source plugs straight into the bar
See price & reviews on AmazonEach link opens in a new tab.
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