

Fortunately, good old-fashioned Dolby Digital decoding and conventional 5.1-channel simulated surround are present, and they work well. You can't expect advanced audio features like Dolby Atmos on a $200 soundbar.

It's become a common feature on soundbars, but it's still good to see on a budget system. The most useful is Bluetooth connectivity, which lets you stream music wirelessly to the system from your smartphone, tablet, or other Bluetooth device. The S1 doesn't get too fancy, but it has a few handy features. Two rows of three buttons provide access to different audio modes and voice enhancement settings: the top row of three lets you choose between Movie, Music, and Night sound modes, while the bottom offers three levels of Polk's Voice Adjust feature. It features individual rockers for both master volume and bass, along with a mute button and dedicated source buttons for aux, Bluetooth, and optical. The included remote is a short, wide wand (4.7 by 1.7 by 0.7 inches) with several more useful controls than the five on the soundbar itself. The back holds only a power connector, a green power LED, and a sync button. The front is covered in grille cloth with a glossy black cutout for the bass port, the only part that isn't a flat surface or 90-degree angle. While the soundbar has a slight curve on the front to prevent it from looking too much like a basic black rectangle, the subwoofer is little more than a box measuring 13.5 by 6.6 by 12.2 inches. The wireless subwoofer is even more blocky and simple than the soundbar. A pair of keyhole mounts let you hang the soundbar on a wall.

The back holds the S1's power connector and optical and 3.5mm audio inputs on two indentations angled outward. Best Malware Removal and Protection Softwareįive small, circular buttons rest on the top of the soundbar, just behind the grille's edge: Bluetooth, power, source, volume up, and volume down.
