OVERALL
ALTERNATIVES
SPECS
VS AVERAGE
REVIEWS
Scored using Soundbars Methodology v3.0
Soundbars Methodology v3.0
Mathematical & Unbiased Scoring
Products in this category are scored under Frontum Soundbars Methodology v3.0: the technical score from the specifications is the base, and independent expert and video reviews (up to ±0.5 points), owner opinions (up to ±0.3) and best-of lists (up to +0.3) move it up or down.
Explore Soundbars Methodology v3.0

Polk Signa S3 review: 108 specs compared

Avg. price:~£280N. of audio channels:2.1Audio output power:?HDMI ARC type:ARC

Polk Signa S3 Review: Compare 108 technical specifications and 1 expert and video reviews to see how this product ranks in the Soundbars category and whether it is worth buying.

Polk Signa S3
6.8/10

Overall score

Score
6.8/ 10
✕
What it is
Our main score for this model, 1–10. It combines specs, best-of lists, expert reviews and owners.
How we count it
Parts: Technical score 35%, List score 30%, Reviews score 25%, Sentiment score 10%
Marks: Each part gets a mark out of 10. For reviews, lists and owners, a typical model in this category gets about 8 and the best one gets 10.
No data yet: A part with no data shows "?". It counts as the mark of a weaker model in this category (4 in 5 models with data score higher). This way, models with reviews, lists and owners usually come out ahead.
Score distribution
â–¼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
â–² Better than 52% of models
Score components

35%

6.4

Technical score

30%

?

List scoreNot enough data yet, so we use 7.5, the mark of a weaker model in this category

25%

6.4

Reviews score

10%

?

Sentiment scoreNot enough data yet, so we use 6.8, the mark of a weaker model in this category

â–²Better than 52% of soundbars
7.4

Value for money

Value for money
7.4/ 10
✕
What it is
An indicator that combines the soundbar's overall rating with its cost.
When it matters
When you are looking for a soundbar with a good balance between audio quality, features, and price.
Score distribution
â–¼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
â–¼ Worse than 68% of models
Score components

70%

6.8

Overall score

30%

9.0

Price

â–¼Worse than 68%
6.4

Technical score

Technical score
6.4/ 10
✕
What it is
How good the specs are compared with the other models in this category, 1–10.
How we count it
Areas: We rate the specs in each area against the other models in this category.
Weighting: The areas that matter most to buyers count more. The shares are shown under Score components.
Share: The technical score is 35% of the overall score.
Score distribution
â–¼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
â–² Better than 65% of models
Score components

25%

5.9

Audio

18%

5.0

Formats

16%

6.9

Connectivity

14%

7.3

Controls

12%

6.3

HDMI

10%

7.1

Streaming

5%

7.5

Design

â–²Better than 65%
6.4

Reviews score

Reviews score
6.4/ 10
✕
What it is
Average grade from independent test sites, magazines and video reviewers, 1–10.
How we count it
Grades: Each review's own score is converted to 1–10; without one, we grade the review ourselves. Every review counts the same: written or video, short or full test.
Score: The average grade is 80% of the review mark; the number of reviews is the other 20% (1 review = 5, the typical number in this category = 8, the most-reviewed model = 10).
Enough data: With few reviews, the average grade is pulled toward the typical grade of this category. No reviews yet: 7.6 for now.
Share: Reviews count 25% of the overall score.
Score distribution
â–¼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
â–¼ Worse than 64% of models

6.4

Mark 7.5 is below the typical mark 8.0 of this category, so it cannot lift the score above the technical score

80%

8.1

Average grade

20%

5.0

Popularity

Grades by review (1)
1 video: 8.0/10. We use 3 reviews; the 2 missing count as the category's typical 8.2: (8.0 × 1 + 8.2 × 2) ÷ 3 = 8.1. Reviews count 25% of the overall score.
User ratings collected online are not part of this score.
â–¼Worse than 64%
?

List score

List score
7.5/ 10
✕
What it is
How often independent test sites, magazines and video reviewers put this model in their best-of lists for this category.
How we count it
Points: The model in the most lists of this category gets 10; the others get 8 to 10 in proportion. In no list yet: 7.5. Lists count 30% of the overall score.
Enough data: Every list counts, even a single one. With fewer than 5 best-of lists in the category, this part is left out.
Lists with this model (0)
Not in any best-of list yet, so this part counts as 7.5. Models in a list get 8 to 10.
Not in any best-of list yet
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Where to buy
*As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
Best rankings
Available: ranking among products currently available (including other versions of this product).All: ranking among all products in the database.
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Soundbars model ranking

Ranked #117 of 324 models in Soundbars (Overall score)

Technical Specifications of soundbar Polk Signa S3

Technical score
Technical score
6.4/ 10
✕
What it is
How good the specs are compared with the other models in this category, 1–10.
How we count it
Areas: We rate the specs in each area against the other models in this category.
Weighting: The areas that matter most to buyers count more. The shares are shown under Score components.
Share: The technical score is 35% of the overall score.
Score distribution
â–¼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
â–² Better than 65% of models
Score components:

25%

5.9

Audio

18%

5.0

Formats

16%

6.9

Connectivity

14%

7.3

Controls

12%

6.3

HDMI

10%

7.1

Streaming

5%

7.5

Design

6.4
Reviews score
6.4
List score
?
Value for money
Value for money
7.4/ 10
✕
What it is
An indicator that combines the soundbar's overall rating with its cost.
When it matters
When you are looking for a soundbar with a good balance between audio quality, features, and price.
Score distribution
â–¼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
â–¼ Worse than 68% of models
Score components:

70%

6.8

Overall score

30%

9.0

Price

7.4
N. of audio channels
2.1
This soundbar offers 2.1 audio channels, more than 42.2% of soundbars and equal to 27.6% of soundbars.
Audio output power
?
Max SPL
?
Min frequency
?
Max frequency
20,000 Hz
Market range: <19k Hz – >20k Hz
This soundbar reaches a maximum frequency of 20,000 Hz, higher than 17.5% of soundbars and equal to 76.8% of soundbars.
Show more
Dolby Atmos
no
This soundbar does not support Dolby Atmos. 30.3% of soundbars include this feature.
DTS:X
no
This soundbar does not support DTS:X. 16.7% of soundbars include this feature.
Dolby TrueHD
no
This soundbar does not support Dolby TrueHD. 16.5% of soundbars include this feature.
DTS-HD Master Audio
no
This soundbar does not support DTS-HD Master Audio. 7.6% of soundbars include this feature.
Dolby Digital Plus
no
This soundbar does not support Dolby Digital Plus. 25.3% of soundbars include this feature.
Show more
N. of HDMI inputs
0
Market range: <0 – >5
This soundbar has 0 HDMI inputs, fewer than 41.5% of soundbars and equal to 58.5% of soundbars.
Wi-Fi connectivity
yes
This soundbar supports Wi-Fi connectivity. 71.5% of soundbars include this feature.
Wi-Fi version
?
Bluetooth connectivity
yes
This soundbar supports Bluetooth connectivity. 4.6% of soundbars include this feature.
Bluetooth version
?
Show more
Smartphone app
?
Remote control
yes
This soundbar has remote control. 17.5% of soundbars offer this feature.
Control panel
yes
This soundbar has control panel. 5.5% of soundbars offer this feature.
Voice assistant compatibility
yes
This soundbar supports voice assistant compatibility. 63.6% of soundbars include this feature.
Far-field microphones
no
This soundbar does not have far-field microphones. 7.1% of soundbars offer this feature.
Show more
HDMI version
?
HDMI ARC type
ARC
This soundbar has ARC as its HDMI TV-audio return type, which is more advanced than what 24.7% of soundbars and the same as what 46.5% offers.
HDMI-CEC support
yes
This soundbar supports HDMI-CEC. 29.2% support HDMI-CEC.
HDMI pass-through resolution
4K
This soundbar passes through 4K, which is higher resolution than 74.5% of soundbars and equal to 23.8% of soundbars.
HDMI pass-through frame rate
none fps
This soundbar supports HDMI pass-through up to none fps, lower than 21.4% of soundbars and equal to 78.6% of soundbars.
Show more
AirPlay
no
This soundbar does not support AirPlay. 19.9% of soundbars include this feature.
Chromecast built-in
yes
This soundbar supports Chromecast built-in. 88.9% of soundbars include this feature.
Spotify Connect
?
TIDAL Connect
no
This soundbar does not support TIDAL Connect. 9.2% of soundbars include this feature.
Amazon Music native support
?
Show more
Width
?
Height
?
Thickness
?
Weight
?
Build material
plastic
This soundbar is built from plastic, which is more premium than 3% of soundbars and equal to 92.6% of soundbars.
Show more

Polk Signa S3 vs the average soundbar

246810TotalAudioFormatsConnectivityHDMIStreamingControlsDesign
  • Wi-Fi connectivity
    This soundbar supports Wi-Fi connectivity, the average soundbar does not.
  • Built-in Chromecast
    This soundbar supports Chromecast built-in, the average soundbar does not.
  • Subwoofer included
    This soundbar has subwoofer included, the average soundbar does not.
  • Multiroom ecosystem support
    This soundbar supports multiroom ecosystem support, the average soundbar does not.
  • Higher video pass-through
    This soundbar passes through higher-resolution video than the average soundbar (4K vs none).
    4K vs none
  • Supports voice assistants
    This soundbar supports voice assistant compatibility, the average soundbar does not.
  • AptX support
    This soundbar supports aptX, the average soundbar does not.
  • Newer HDCP support
    This soundbar has a more recent HDCP version than the average soundbar (2.2 vs none).
    2.2 vs none
  • Subwoofer included
    This soundbar has subwoofer included, the average soundbar does not.
  • AptX support
    This soundbar supports aptX, the average soundbar does not.
  • Wi-Fi connectivity
    This soundbar supports Wi-Fi connectivity, the average soundbar does not.
  • Higher video pass-through
    This soundbar passes through higher-resolution video than the average soundbar (4K vs none).
    4K vs none
  • Newer HDCP support
    This soundbar has a more recent HDCP version than the average soundbar (2.2 vs none).
    2.2 vs none
  • Built-in Chromecast
    This soundbar supports Chromecast built-in, the average soundbar does not.
  • Multiroom ecosystem support
    This soundbar supports multiroom ecosystem support, the average soundbar does not.
  • Supports voice assistants
    This soundbar supports voice assistant compatibility, the average soundbar does not.
  • Less advanced HDMI ARC type
    This soundbar has ARC as its HDMI TV-audio return type, while the average soundbar has eARC.
    ARC vs eARC
  • 0.75 in inch smaller subwoofer driver size
    This soundbar has a lower subwoofer driver size than the average soundbar (5.3 in vs 6 in). The average soundbar uses a subwoofer driver size of 6 in.
    5.25 in vs 6 in
  • No USB playback support
    This soundbar does not support USB playback support, the average soundbar does.
  • 9.9% lower review score
    Reviews score
    6.4/ 10
    ✕
    What it is
    Average grade from independent test sites, magazines and video reviewers, 1–10.
    How we count it
    Grades: Each review's own score is converted to 1–10; without one, we grade the review ourselves. Every review counts the same: written or video, short or full test.
    Score: The average grade is 80% of the review mark; the number of reviews is the other 20% (1 review = 5, the typical number in this category = 8, the most-reviewed model = 10).
    Enough data: With few reviews, the average grade is pulled toward the typical grade of this category. No reviews yet: 7.6 for now.
    Share: Reviews count 25% of the overall score.
    Score distribution
    â–¼
    <55-66-77-88-99-10
    â–¼ Worse than 64% of models

    6.4

    Mark 7.5 is below the typical mark 8.0 of this category, so it cannot lift the score above the technical score

    80%

    8.1

    Average grade

    20%

    5.0

    Popularity

    Grades by review (1)
    1 video: 8.0/10. We use 3 reviews; the 2 missing count as the category's typical 8.2: (8.0 × 1 + 8.2 × 2) ÷ 3 = 8.1. Reviews count 25% of the overall score.
    User ratings collected online are not part of this score.
    6.4 vs 7.1
  • 2.55x more expensive
    Polk Signa S3 is more expensive than the average soundbar (£280 vs £110).
    £280 vs £110
  • 2.2% worse value for money
    Polk Signa S3 has worse value for money than the average soundbar (7.44 vs 7.6).
    7.44 vs 7.6
  • 9.9% lower review score
    Reviews score
    6.4/ 10
    ✕
    What it is
    Average grade from independent test sites, magazines and video reviewers, 1–10.
    How we count it
    Grades: Each review's own score is converted to 1–10; without one, we grade the review ourselves. Every review counts the same: written or video, short or full test.
    Score: The average grade is 80% of the review mark; the number of reviews is the other 20% (1 review = 5, the typical number in this category = 8, the most-reviewed model = 10).
    Enough data: With few reviews, the average grade is pulled toward the typical grade of this category. No reviews yet: 7.6 for now.
    Share: Reviews count 25% of the overall score.
    Score distribution
    â–¼
    <55-66-77-88-99-10
    â–¼ Worse than 64% of models

    6.4

    Mark 7.5 is below the typical mark 8.0 of this category, so it cannot lift the score above the technical score

    80%

    8.1

    Average grade

    20%

    5.0

    Popularity

    Grades by review (1)
    1 video: 8.0/10. We use 3 reviews; the 2 missing count as the category's typical 8.2: (8.0 × 1 + 8.2 × 2) ÷ 3 = 8.1. Reviews count 25% of the overall score.
    User ratings collected online are not part of this score.
    6.4 vs 7.1
  • 2.55x more expensive
    Polk Signa S3 is more expensive than the average soundbar (£280 vs £110).
    £280 vs £110
  • 2.2% worse value for money
    Polk Signa S3 has worse value for money than the average soundbar (7.44 vs 7.6).
    7.44 vs 7.6
  • 0.75 in inch smaller subwoofer driver size
    This soundbar has a lower subwoofer driver size than the average soundbar (5.3 in vs 6 in). The average soundbar uses a subwoofer driver size of 6 in.
    5.25 in vs 6 in
  • No USB playback support
    This soundbar does not support USB playback support, the average soundbar does.
  • Less advanced HDMI ARC type
    This soundbar has ARC as its HDMI TV-audio return type, while the average soundbar has eARC.
    ARC vs eARC

Video reviews

Hands-on testing, unboxing, and real-world video evaluations

8.0
DJ Andrew Yates
≈ estimated
08/02/2021
Setup and review · music and movie listening
Verdict
The Polk Signa S3 is not the best in its class, but it is a worthy contender with clear sound and strong music performance.
Shop video
Overview video
Overview video
Overview video

Third-party reviews

What customers like about Polk Signa S3

  • Clear sound, especially with music.
  • The low profile fits under a TV.
  • Setup is quick: plug in and go.
  • Movie and night modes are useful.
  • Chromecast built in and Wi-Fi make streaming easy.
  • Dialogue enhancement helps speech come through.

What customers don't like about Polk Signa S3

  • It is not a true surround substitute.
  • It has no rear speakers.
  • There is no Dolby Atmos or DTS:X support.
  • The 5 ft HDMI cable in the box may be too short.
  • There is no manual audio delay adjustment.

Verdict

For a TV that sits on a low stand, the Polk Signa S3 is a tidy and easy choice. Its low profile fits under a TV, and setup is simply a matter of plugging it in. Music sounds clear, and the bar supports Chromecast, Wi-Fi and aptX Bluetooth, so streaming from a phone is simple. Dialogue enhancement helps voices stand out in films, and the movie and night modes suit late viewing. The trade-off is surround. It has no rear speakers and no Dolby Atmos or DTS:X, so the room does not feel enveloped. The HDMI cable in the box is 5 ft, which may be too short for some setups. It fits a buyer who wants clear sound for TV and music in a living room, with streaming built in, and who does not expect a cinema feel.

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