In this review, we will be comparing Aria 906 and RTi A3, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Focal and Polk Audio. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Focal Aria 906 and Polk RTi A3 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
What size room are the Focal Aria 906 and Polk RTi A3 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 Focal Aria 906 and Polk RTi A3 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 Aria 906 and RTi A3 are 2-way speakers.
Driver |
Focal Aria 906 |
Polk RTi A3 |
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
Woofer
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
Aria 906 features a 1" TNF aluminum/magnesium Inverted Hard Dome Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Flax Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2800Hz. On the other hand, the RTi A3 features a 1" silk polymer composite Dome Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Polymer composite Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2800Hz.
Frequency Response
Aria 906 has a frequency range of 55-28k Hz whereas RTi A3 has a frequency range of 50-26k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 50Hz, the RTi A3 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Aria 906's min frequency of 55Hz.
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 Bookshelf class in our database.
Low Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
High Frequency
Bookshelf 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
Aria 906 and RTi A3 have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Aria 906 sensitivity is rated at 89.5 dB and the RTi A3's is at 89 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the Focal Aria 906 a more sensitive speaker compared to Polk RTi A3, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Bookshelf 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.
Aria 906 can handle a max power of 150 watts RMS from the amp the whereas Aria 906 has a max power handling value of 120 watts RMS , 30 watts less than the RTi A3.
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 A3 features Pair of Dual 5-way Binding Posts - Gold-Plated posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. Aria 906 has a Binding post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Aria 906 has a rear firing port whereas RTi A3 has a back and front firing ports.
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 Focal Aria 906's and Polk RTi A3's external dimensions. Focal Aria 906 has external dimensions of 391.0 x 228.0 x 288.0mm ( 15-3/8 x 8-15/16 x 11-5/16inch) whereas Polk RTi A3 has external dimensions of 374.7 x 214.4 x 355.6mm ( 14.7 x 8.4 x 14.0inch) .
Polk RTi A3 is 13.6mm narrower and 16.3mm shorter than Focal Aria 906 but it is also 67.6mm deeper.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Focal Aria 906 and Polk RTi A3 in scale.
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 Focal Aria 906 is approximately 656.6cm2 / 101.8inch2 and base area of the Polk RTi A3 is approximately 762.4cm2 / 118.2inch2. The Aria 906 requires 14% less surface area than the RTi A3 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 Focal Aria 906 weighs 8.64kg / 19lbs and the Polk RTi A3 weighs 7.26kg / 16lbs. This makes the Aria 906 19% heavier than the RTi A3.
Here is a comparison of how Aria 906 and RTi A3's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
What's in the Box of Focal Aria 906?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Aria 906:
2 Bookshelf loudspeakers 2 Cloth grilles User manual
What's in the Box of Polk RTi A3?
Here are the items that come with the RTi A3:
2 Cherry bookshelf speakers 2 Self-tapping screws 8 Self-adhesive rubber feet Owner's Manual Template Online registration sheet Polk Audio product brochure
Sensitivity |
90 dB
vs
89 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
High Frequency Response |
28k Hz
vs
26k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
Base Surface Area |
656cm2 (228x288mm)
vs
762cm2 (214x355mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
Max Input Power |
150 watts
vs
120 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
Low Frequency Response |
50 Hz
vs
55 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections |
Mounting Bracket |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows mounting on walls |
Height |
374mm
vs
391mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
Price per pair* |
465USD
vs
2198USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
General |
Focal Aria 906 |
Polk Audio RTi A3 |
Brand |
Focal |
Polk Audio |
Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
Power Range |
25-120 watts |
20-150 watts |
Sensitivity |
89.5 dB |
89 dB |
Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
Impedance |
4.6 ohms |
n/a |
Frequency Response |
55-28k Hz |
50-26k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
Woofer Size |
6.5" |
6.5" |
Woofer Composition |
Flax |
Polymer composite |
Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Butyl rubber |
Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
Tweeter Type |
Inverted Hard Dome |
Dome |
Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
Crossover Frequency |
2800Hz |
2800Hz |
Firing Direction |
rear |
back and front |
Physical Specs |
|
|
Height |
391.0mm (15.4") |
374.7mm (14.8") |
Width |
228.0mm (9") |
214.4mm (8.4") |
Depth |
288.0mm (11.3") |
355.6mm (14") |
Weight |
8.64kg (19lbs) |
7.26kg (16lbs) |
Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
Finish |
MDF/Glass/Leather |
Real wood veneer |
Available Colors |
Walnut, Black |
Black, Cherry |
Mounting Bracket |
No |
Keyhole |
Recommended Stand Height |
24-28" |
24-31" |
Grille |
Yes |
n/a |
Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Biamp Inputs |
No |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |