In this review, we will be comparing BP-9040 and RTi A5, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from Definitive Technology and Polk Audio. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Definitive BP-9040 and Polk RTi A5 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
What size room are the Definitive BP-9040 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 Definitive BP-9040 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
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that BP-9040 is a 3-way design whereas the RTi A5 is a 2-way speaker. 3-way designs utilize a midrange driver in addition to the tweeter and woofer on 2-way designs. Designing a crossover for a 3-way speaker is a complicated process and generally increases the overall cost of the speaker.
Driver |
Definitive BP-9040 |
Polk RTi A5 |
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
2-way
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
Midrange
|
3 x 4.5-inch |
- |
Woofer
|
1 x 8-inch
|
2 x 6.5-inch
|
BP-9040 features a 1" annealed aluminum dome Tweeter , a 4.5" Midrange and 1 x 8" Polypropelene Woofer . On the other hand, the RTi A5 features a 1" Tweeter and 2 x 6.5" Polymer composite Woofer .
Frequency Response
BP-9040 has a frequency range of 22-40k Hz whereas RTi A5 has a frequency range of 40-26k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 22Hz, the BP-9040 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
BP-9040 and RTi A5 have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. BP-9040 sensitivity is rated at 92 dB and the RTi A5's is at 90 dB. This 2 dB difference makes the Definitive BP-9040 a more sensitive speaker compared to Polk RTi A5, 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.
BP-9040 can handle a max power of 300 watts RMS from the amp the whereas RTi A5 has a max power handling value of 250 watts RMS, 50 watts less than the BP-9040.
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.
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
RTi A5 features 5-way post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. BP-9040 has a 5-Way post, RCA which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
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 Definitive BP-9040's and Polk RTi A5's external dimensions. Definitive BP-9040 has external dimensions of 993.0 x 281.0 x 351.0mm ( 39-1/16 x 11-1/16 x 13-13/16inch) 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) .
Definitive BP-9040 is 14mm shorter and 53mm less deeper than Polk RTi A5 but it is also 12mm wider.
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 Definitive BP-9040 is approximately 986.3cm2 / 152.9inch2 and base area of the Polk RTi A5 is approximately 1086.8cm2 / 168.5inch2. The BP-9040 requires 9% 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 Definitive BP-9040 weighs 16.36kg / 36lbs and the Polk RTi A5 weighs 18.18kg / 40lbs. This makes the RTi A5 11% heavier than the BP-9040.
Here is a comparison of how BP-9040 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 Definitive BP-9040?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of BP-9040:
Tower loudspeaker6.5-feet AC power cordTop-plate (installed)Stabilizer base4 Floor guides4 Carpet spikes4 Screws4 NutsOwners ManualWhat Obsession Sounds Like card
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
Max Input Power |
300 watts
vs
250 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
Driver Setup |
3-way
vs
2-way
|
Have a dedicated mid-range driver |
Sensitivity |
92 dB
vs
90 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
Woofer Size |
8 inches
vs
6.5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
Low Frequency Response |
22 Hz
vs
40 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
High Frequency Response |
40k Hz
vs
26k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
Dolby Atmos Drivers |
Optional
vs
No
|
Dolby Atmos Compatibility |
Height |
993mm
vs
1007mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
Base Surface Area |
986cm2 (281x351mm)
vs
1086cm2 (269x404mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
Number of Woofers |
2
vs
1
|
More woofers |
Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections |
General |
Definitive Technology BP-9040 |
Polk Audio RTi A5 |
Brand |
Definitive Technology |
Polk Audio |
Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
Power Range |
50-300 watts |
20-250 watts |
Sensitivity |
92 dB |
90 dB |
Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
Frequency Response |
22-40k Hz |
40-26k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
Woofer Quantity |
1 |
2 |
Woofer Size |
8" |
6.5" |
Woofer Composition |
Polypropelene |
Polymer composite |
Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Butyl Rubber |
Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
Tweeter Type |
dome |
n/a |
Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
Midrange Driver |
4.5" |
No |
Firing Direction |
n/a |
front |
Physical Specs |
|
|
Height |
993.0mm (39.1") |
1007.0mm (39.6") |
Width |
281.0mm (11.1") |
269.0mm (10.6") |
Depth |
351.0mm (13.8") |
404.0mm (15.9") |
Weight |
16.36kg (36lbs) |
18.18kg (40lbs) |
Enclosure |
Passive Radiator |
Bass Reflex |
Finish |
MDF/Aluminum/Cloth |
Real wood veneer |
Available Colors |
Black |
Cherry |
Grille |
n/a |
Yes |
Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Biamp Inputs |
No |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |