In this review, we will be comparing C 95 II and RTi A5, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from Jamo and Polk Audio.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Jamo C 95 II and Polk RTi A5 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Jamo C 95 II | Polk RTi A5 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" | 1" |
|---|
| Woofer | 2 x 6" Composite | 2 x 6.5" Polymer composite |
|---|
| Frequency response | 37-24k Hz | 40-26k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 89 dB | 90 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 6 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 50-165 watts | 20-250 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 19.91kg / 43.8lbs | 18.18kg / 40lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 38-5/8" x 9-11/16" x 15-1/16"
982.0 x 247.0 x 383.0mm | 39-5/8" x 10-9/16" x 15-7/8"
1007.0 x 269.0 x 404.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Jamo C 95 II 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:
| Listening Environment* |
Jamo C 95 II |
Polk RTi A5 |
| Near-field |
Bad |
Bad |
| Small Room |
Poor |
Poor |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Average |
| Large Room |
Good |
Good |
| Very Large Room |
Poor |
Average |
(* Approximate Room sizes: Small < 100sq. ft / 9 m2,
Mid-size: 100-220 sq. ft / 9-20 m2, Large 220-400 sq. ft / 20-36 m2, Very Large: >
400 sq. ft / 36 m2.
Average Floor Height: 9" / 2.7m. Typical room sizes differ from country to country, and the actual
listening experience changes depending on floor height, room shape, surface materials, listening
position, speaker locations, etc.)
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
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through our links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Drivers
Both C 95 II and RTi A5 are 2-way speakers.
Jamo C 95 IIPolk RTi A5
TweeterWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
Jamo C 95 II |
Polk RTi A5 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 6-inch
|
2 x 6.5-inch
|
C 95 II features a 1" Tweeter and 2 x 6" Composite Woofer. On the other hand, the RTi A5 features a 1" Tweeter and 2 x 6.5" Polymer composite Woofer.
Frequency Response
C 95 II has a frequency range of 37-24k Hz whereas RTi A5 has a frequency range of 40-26k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 37Hz, the C 95 II can go slightly deeper then the RTi A5's min frequency of 40Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Floor-standing class in our database.
Low Frequency
Floor-standing Speakers
Neither pair reaches down to 20Hz, the usual definition of full-range, which is normal for speakers of this size. If you want the bottom octave for movies or bass-heavy music, add a subwoofer to whichever you choose. Visit our Powered Subwoofers section to find out more about the available options.
Impedance and Sensitivity
C 95 II 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. C 95 II 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 Jamo C 95 II, 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. Staying
within that range gives nominal performance; driving the speaker beyond its maximum wattage can damage it.
RTi A5 can handle a max power of 250 watts RMS, whereas C 95 II has a max power handling value of 165 watts RMS, 85 watts less than the RTi A5.
Note that higher power handling does not make a speaker louder: that depends mainly on
sensitivity and impedance. The calculator below shows how loud each of these actually plays
on a real amplifier.
Which plays louder on your amplifier?
Starting with a popular amplifier — change it to the one you own, or any you are
considering, and watch both numbers move.
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
Both C 95 II and RTi A5 features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or bi-wiring.
Jamo C 95 II's Posts terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Cabinet Type and Port Position
C 95 II 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 Jamo C 95 II with its rear-firing port.
Physical Specs
The size of a speaker can sometimes be an important decision factor due to space constraints or in some cases purely for esthetic reasons. In this section, we are going to compare Jamo C 95 II's and Polk RTi A5's external dimensions. Jamo C 95 II has external dimensions of 982.0 x 247.0 x 383.0mm (38-5/8 x 9-11/16 x 15-1/16inch) 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).
Polk RTi A5 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 22mm wider, 25mm taller and 21mm deeper than Jamo C 95 II.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Jamo C 95 II and Polk RTi A5 in scale.
Comparison image of Jamo C 95 II and Polk RTi A5 Size and External Dimensions
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 Jamo C 95 II is approximately 946.0cm2 / 146.6inch2 and base area of the Polk RTi A5 is approximately 1086.8cm2 / 168.5inch2. The C 95 II requires 13% 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 Jamo C 95 II weighs 19.91kg / 43.8lbs and the Polk RTi A5 weighs 18.18kg / 40lbs. This makes the C 95 II 10% heavier than the RTi A5.
Here is a comparison of how C 95 II 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 Jamo C 95 II?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of C 95 II:
- Floorstanding loudspeaker
- Grille
- 4 Outrigger feet
- 4 Spikes (pre-installed on outrigger feet)
- 4 Rubber feet
- 8 Machine screws
- 2 Jumper-straps (pre-installed)
- Hex-key
- User Manual
- Important Safety Instructions
- Warranty Information
What's in the Box of Polk RTi A5?
Here are the items that come with the RTi A5:
- Cherry floor-standing speaker
- Detachable black cloth grille
- 4 Screw-on spike feet
- Owners Manual
- Online registration sheet
- Polk Audio product brochure
 Low Frequency Response |
37 Hz
vs
40 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Height |
982mm
vs
1007mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
946cm2
vs
1086cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Max Input Power |
250 watts
vs
165 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
6 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 High Frequency Response |
26k Hz
vs
24k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Port Position |
Front
vs
Rear
|
Gives more flexibility placing close to walls |
 Price per pair* |
798USD
vs
918USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Jamo Concert 9 Series C 95 II |
Polk Audio RTi A5 |
| Brand |
Jamo |
Polk Audio |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
50-165 watts |
20-250 watts |
| Sensitivity |
89 dB |
90 dB |
| Impedance |
6 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
37-24k Hz |
40-26k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
6" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Composite |
Polymer composite |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Butyl Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
front |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
982.0mm (38.7") |
1007.0mm (39.6") |
| Width |
247.0mm (9.7") |
269.0mm (10.6") |
| Depth |
383.0mm (15.1") |
404.0mm (15.9") |
| Weight |
19.91kg (43.8lbs) |
18.18kg (40lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Wood-grain vinyl |
Real wood veneer |
| Available Colors |
Black |
Cherry |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
A generation apart: Jamo C 95 II is the newer design, against a 2008 model. Newer is not automatically better, but the older one is more likely to be discounted or near run-out.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass |
A |
Jamo C 95 II digs deeper - 37Hz against 40Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Amplifier needs |
evenly matched |
Similar sensitivity (89dB vs 90dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Amplifier match |
B |
Polk RTi A5 is the easier load at 8 ohms. |
| Headroom |
B |
Polk RTi A5 takes more power (250W vs 165W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size |
depends |
Similar cabinet size - neither is easier to fit. |
| Expandability |
depends |
Jamo C 95 II: bi-amping; Polk RTi A5: bi-amping. Jamo C 95 II sits in a wider range (7 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price |
B |
Polk RTi A5 is cheaper - $798 against $918, about 13% less. |
A Jamo C 95 II
B Polk RTi A5
depends neither is better in the abstract - it turns on your room, placement or how you will use them.
Only specs published for both speakers are judged; anything missing on either side is left out rather than guessed.
Which should you choose?
Polk RTi A5 has the edge on paper, though the margin is not large. The rows marked "depends" may matter more to you than the score does. Match it to your room: we rate Jamo C 95 II the better fit for a mid-size room, and Polk RTi A5 for a very large room.
And remember what a spec sheet cannot show: how each looks in your room and whether the finish suits it, what dealer support and warranty are like where you live, and how they actually sound to you. If you can hear them first - ideally with your own music - that will tell you more than any number above.