In this review, we will be comparing AE509 and RTi A5, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from Acoustic Energy and Polk Audio. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of AE509 and Polk RTi A5 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
What size room are the AE509 and Polk RTi A5 speakers good for?
The size of the room in which you are planning to use these loudspeakers is an important decision factor. Here we have compared their suitability to various sizes of environments considering their size and max power parameters:
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the AE509 and Polk RTi A5 compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one of these loudspeakers is the better choice for you.
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Drivers
Both AE509 and RTi A5 are 2-way speakers.
Driver |
AE509 |
Polk RTi A5 |
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
Woofer
|
2 x 5-inch
|
2 x 6.5-inch
|
AE509 features a 1" carbon fibre dome with waveguide Tweeter and 2 x 5" carbon fibre cone Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2800Hz. On the other hand, the RTi A5 features a 1" Tweeter and 2 x 6.5" Polymer composite Woofer .
Frequency Response
AE509 has a frequency range of 32Hz - 28kHz whereas RTi A5 has a frequency range of 40-26k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 32Hz, the AE509 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the RTi A5's min frequency of 40Hz.
Below graphs depict how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average values of the Min and Max Frequencies of other speakers in the Floor-standing class in our database.
Low Frequency
Floor-standing Speakers
High Frequency
Floor-standing Speakers
None of these speakers achieves full range experience which is commonly agreed as 20Hz-20kHz. In order to achieve lower lows / deeper bass, we recommend you pair these with a subwoofer. Visit our Powered Subwoofers section to find out more about the available options.
Impedance and Sensitivity
AE509 is a 6 ohms speaker compared to the RTi A5 which has a nominal impedance of 8 ohms.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. AE509 sensitivity is rated at 89 dB and the RTi A5's is rated at 90 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the Polk RTi A5 a more sensitive speaker compared to AE509, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Floor-standing Speakers
Power Range
Power
range is the range of input power in watts RMS that a loudspeaker is designed to handle. While using an amplifier within this range ensures the nominal performance , inputting a power that is higher than the max wattage can result in a damaged speaker.
AE509 can handle a max power of 250 watts RMS from the amp the whereas AE509 has a max power handling value of 175 watts RMS , 75 watts less than the RTi A5.
Keep in mind that a higher max power handling value doesn't necessarily make that a louder speaker
compared to a lower max handling speaker. Loudness or the sound level is also impacted by parameters
such as Impedance, sensitivity and system efficiencies.
Cabinet Type and Port Position
AE509 has a rear firing port whereas RTi A5 has a front firing ports. Polk RTi A5's front-firing port gives more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls compared to AE509 with its rear-firing port.
Physical Specs
Size of a speaker can sometimes become an important decision factor due to space constraints or in some cases purely for esthetic reasons. In this section, we are going to compare AE509's and Polk RTi A5's external dimensions. AE509 has external dimensions of 1000.0 x 185.0 x 270.0mm ( 39.4 x 7.3 x 10.6inch) whereas Polk RTi A5 has external dimensions of 1007.0 x 269.0 x 404.0mm ( 39-5/8 x 10-9/16 x 15-7/8inch) .
Polk RTi A5 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 84mm wider, 7mm taller and 134mm deeper than AE509.
Base Surface Area Comparison
Base surface area of a loudspeaker may become a determining factor when the space in your room or desk is limited.
The base surface area of the AE509 is approximately 499.5cm2 / 77.4inch2 and base area of the Polk RTi A5 is approximately 1086.8cm2 / 168.5inch2. The AE509 requires 54% less surface area than the RTi A5 which gives it a small advantage on placement in tight spaces.
Weight Comparison The weight of a loudspeaker can become an important factor if you need to move and reposition the unit often. Weight of a speaker can also "sometimes" be an indicator of the rigidity of the enclosure and the quality of the internal components used. The AE509 weighs 22.00kg / 48.4lbs and the Polk RTi A5 weighs 18.18kg / 40lbs. This makes the AE509 21% heavier than the RTi A5.
Here is a comparison of how AE509 and RTi A5's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Floor-standing class.
Weight
All Floor-standing Speakers
What's in the Box of Polk RTi A5?
Here are the items that come with the RTi A5:
Cherry floor-standing speakerDetachable black cloth grille4 Screw-on spike feetOwners ManualOnline registration sheetPolk Audio product brochure
Low Frequency Response |
32 Hz
vs
40 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
High Frequency Response |
28k Hz
vs
26k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
Height |
1000mm
vs
1007mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
Base Surface Area |
499cm2 (185x270mm)
vs
1086cm2 (269x404mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
Max Input Power |
250 watts
vs
175 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
Sensitivity |
90 dB
vs
89 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
6 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
Woofer Size |
6.5 inches
vs
5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
Port Position |
Front
vs
Rear
|
Gives more flexibility placing close to walls |
General |
Acoustic Energy AE509 |
Polk Audio RTi A5 |
Brand |
Acoustic Energy |
Polk Audio |
Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
Power Range |
up to 175 watts |
20-250 watts |
Sensitivity |
89 dB |
90 dB |
Impedance |
6 ohms |
8 ohms |
Frequency Response |
32Hz - 28kHz |
40-26k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
Woofer Size |
5" |
6.5" |
Woofer Composition |
carbon fibre cone |
Polymer composite |
Woofer Surround Material |
n/a |
Butyl Rubber |
Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
Tweeter Type |
dome with waveguide |
n/a |
Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
Crossover Frequency |
2800Hz |
n/a |
Firing Direction |
rear |
front |
Physical Specs |
|
|
Height |
1000.0mm (39.4") |
1007.0mm (39.6") |
Width |
185.0mm (7.3") |
269.0mm (10.6") |
Depth |
270.0mm (10.6") |
404.0mm (15.9") |
Weight |
22.00kg (48.4lbs) |
18.18kg (40lbs) |
Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
Finish |
Resonance Suppression Composite (RSC) |
Real wood veneer |
Available Colors |
Piano Gloss Black, Piano Gloss White, American Walnut wood veneer |
Cherry |
Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Biamp Inputs |
n/a |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
Parts Warranty |
|
5 Years |
Labor Warranty |
|
5 Years |