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The Polk Audio Signa S4 is great for casual listening, but its entry-level price means buyers will miss out on an immersive surround sound experience and expanded wireless connectivity options. Overall, its a budget-friendly pick for first time soundbar buyers.
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Table of Contents
Product Snapshot
Overview
The Polk Audio Signa S4 is an entry-level 3.1.2 soundbar setup that was first released in 2021, and like most high-end speakers, it includes a subwoofer.
The subwoofer adds a low bass effect to its sound but doesn’t produce the kind of thunderous output that bass lovers would appreciate.
It also doesn’t ship with any satellite speakers, but it can render Dolby Atmos content, and its soundstage is good enough for owners to be able to locate and identify exactly what direction distinct sounds are coming from.
The soundbar’s elegant design is similar to what you’ll find among top-notch soundbars, but its wired connectivity options are somewhat limited to an Optical Audio In, a HDMI ARC, and an AUX port.
Its wireless connectivity is also not the best since the speaker only works with Bluetooth-capable devices and does not support WiFi connectivity, Apple AirPlay, or Chromecast.
Consensus
our Verdict
The sturdy Polk Audio Signa S4 is a 3.1.2 channel soundbar that delivers great treble and good bass, with clear vocals thanks to a dialogue adjustment feature, but wireless connectivity is limited to Bluetooth.
Its also has Dolby Atmos but low bass makes movies less immersve. There’s also no voice assistant support, and surround sound is missing since surround sound content is downmixed into stereo.
On the flip side, it offers good enough tested latencies of 84ms and 100ms over ARC and Optical inputs to keep audio-visuals well synchronized.
The soundbar also has one USB for file downloads and an Analog AUX port, which is a very limited port selection. Overall, the Signa S4 will work for the basic user who is just concerned about good audio.
ReasonS to Buy
Well-balanced sound output
The Signa S4 works well for TV and music listening, as it offers clear vocals. However, bass levels are low, so cinematic action scenes lack deep rumbling bass.
Good vocal clarity
The S4’s vocal reproduction is clear and easy to discern, especially because of its dialogue enhancement feature.
Loud max volume
The Sgna S4 has a loud max volume, rated at 84 dB per our tests. This should be enough for casual listeners; however, compared to other alternatives in its category, it is pretty average.
Reason to Avoid
No support for surround sound
The S4’s lack of support for surround sound means its output does not get as immersive as some would prefer.
Smart features and connectivity
There areThere’s no smart connectivity features or WiFi support on the Signa S4, so owners will only be able to stream content to it through Bluetooth. However, audio-visuals are well-synchronized thanks to its 84ms latency, which is average compared to other options in our list of tested soundbars.
Mediocre bass levels
The S4 has pretty mediocre bass levels, so its bass levels will likely disappoint bass lovers.
Polk Audio Signa S4 Specs
Bluetooth Enabled
Yes
Depth
3.74"
Dialogue Enhancement Feature
Yes
Energy Star Certified
Yes
Equalizer Settings
Basic
HDMI ARC
Yes
Height
2.36"
Number of Audio Channels
3.1.2
Subwoofer
Included
Surround Sound Supported
Dolby Atmos
Voice Assistant
No
Wall Mountable
Yes
Weight
21.2 lbs
Width
41.18"
Wireless Connectivity
Bluetooth
Wireless Subwoofer Connectivity
Yes
Works With
Bluetooth
All Specs
Test Results
These are the most important criteria to test for Soundbars based on our comprehensive Testing Methodology.
Low End Roll Off (Hz)
54.17
High End Roll Off (Hz)
15,342.664
Max Volume Test (db)
87.1
Latency (ms)
84
THD @ 80dB
0.97
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The Polk Audio Signa S4 is an entry-level 3.1.2 soundbar setup that was first released in 2021, and like most high-end speakers, it includes a…
The Polk Audio Signa S4 is an entry-level 3.1.2 soundbar setup that was first released in 2021, and like most high-end speakers, it includes a subwoofer.
The subwoofer adds a low bass effect to its sound but doesn’t produce the kind of thunderous output that bass lovers would appreciate.
It also doesn’t ship with any satellite speakers, but it can render Dolby Atmos content, and its soundstage is good enough for owners to be able to locate and identify exactly what direction distinct sounds are coming from.
The soundbar’s elegant design is similar to what you’ll find among top-notch soundbars, but its wired connectivity options are somewhat limited to an Optical Audio In, a HDMI ARC, and an AUX port.
Its wireless connectivity is also not the best since the speaker only works with Bluetooth-capable devices and does not support WiFi connectivity, Apple AirPlay, or Chromecast.
The Polk Audio Signa S4 ships with a Digital Optical Cable that the Samsung HW-Q600A does not include, but the Samsung soundbar gets slightly louder…
The Polk Audio Signa S4 ships with a Digital Optical Cable that the Samsung HW-Q600A does not include, but the Samsung soundbar gets slightly louder than the S4 and has a Full HDMI In port that the S4 does not. The HW-Q600A also offers a graphical EQ preset that makes its sound easier to adjust and customize than the Signa S4.
While the Polk Audio Signa S4 is a 3.1.2 channel setup, the Sonos Arc is a 5.0.2 channel sound system, giving it a better soundstage….
While the Polk Audio Signa S4 is a 3.1.2 channel setup, the Sonos Arc is a 5.0.2 channel sound system, giving it a better soundstage. The Sonos Arc supports Dolby Atmos, which is lacking in the S4, but the S4’s most significant advantage is that it ships with a subwoofer, while the Sonos Arc does not.
While the Polk Audio Signa S4 supports Bluetooth streaming, it misses out on WiFi connectivity, which its predecessor, the Polka Signa S3, actually supports. However,…
While the Polk Audio Signa S4 supports Bluetooth streaming, it misses out on WiFi connectivity, which its predecessor, the Polka Signa S3, actually supports. However, the Signa S4 can play Dolby Atmos content while the Signa S3 cannot.
