Polk Signa S4 Review: A Soundbar With Awesome Sound

Most built-in TV speakers are bad and everyone needs a dedicated audio system. In a sea of look-alike black boxes it can be difficult to decide which is right for you. The Signa S4 is simple and boring, and it does what you need.

It might not be a great option at first, but after a few weeks of listening to the system, I recommend it to anyone looking for an easy audio upgrade. Don't mess with satellite speakers, tricky menus, or any other setup? Maybe the Signa S4 is for you.

It's out of the box.

The new Polk soundbar is a black, fabric-wrapped stick that is about 3 inches high, 4 inches deep, and 41 inches long, and is easily slim enough to fit under the TV's screen. It comes with a small black box that is easy to hide and a wireless subwoofer that only needs to be connected to a wall outlet.

Most modern TVs have an audio return channel port, so you don't need to plug the included cable into the one on your TV.

If it doesn't work immediately, you may have to set it up in your TV's audio settings menu. Don't fret if you don't have an ARC port. The Signa S4 has an optical input that can be used to grab high-quality digital sound. It comes with both cables. The S4 can be put under a wall-mounted TV, but I tested it on a wide TV stand.

The simplicity extends to the remote. You can choose between Music, Film, and Night mode settings. If that's the case, you have volume controls and a bare-bones EQ adjustment for bass. Night mode limits the bass so you don't annoy your neighbors. My only complaint? It is hard to know what you are pressing in a dark room.

The sound of sound.

The Signa S4 is a lot more powerful than it looks. It can do digital surround sound by bouncing audio off the walls of your room, but it can also do object-based surround sound thanks to two up-firing speakers that bounce audio off the ceiling.

You won't get the same level of sound quality from a system with dedicated surround speakers and more drivers in the bar, but the Signa S4 delivers significantly better sound quality. You will hear some audio behind you and sound spread out farther to the sides, which helps pull you into the action when watching sports, playing a game, or catching up on a show.