In this review, we will be comparing SE 6000F and RTi A5, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from Paradigm and Polk Audio.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Paradigm SE 6000F and Polk RTi A5 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
Paradigm SE 6000F Key Specs
- 3-way Design
- 1" Tweeter
- 5.5" Midrange
- 3 x 5.5" Mineral-filled polypropylene Woofer
- 53-21k Hz Frequency Response
- 93 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:15-100watts
- Weight:20.00kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 1051.0" x 8-15/16" x 14-3/16"( 1051.0 x 228.0 x 361.0mm )
Polk RTi A5 Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1" Tweeter
- 2 x 6.5" Polymer composite Woofer
- 40-26k Hz Frequency Response
- 90 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:20-250watts
- Weight:18.18kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 1007.0" x 10-9/16" x 15-7/8"( 1007.0 x 269.0 x 404.0mm )
What size room are the Paradigm SE 6000F 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* |
Paradigm SE 6000F |
Polk RTi A5 |
| Near-field |
Poor |
Bad |
| Small Room |
Average |
Poor |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Average |
| Large Room |
Poor |
Good |
| Very Large Room |
Bad |
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.)
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the Paradigm SE 6000F 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 SE 6000F 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 |
Paradigm SE 6000F |
Polk RTi A5 |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 5.5-inch |
- |
|
Woofer
|
3 x 5.5-inch
|
2 x 6.5-inch
|
SE 6000F features a 1" Tweeter , a 5.5" Midrange and 3 x 5.5" Mineral-filled polypropylene Woofer . On the other hand, the RTi A5 features a 1" Tweeter and 2 x 6.5" Polymer composite Woofer .
Frequency Response
SE 6000F has a frequency range of 53-21k Hz whereas RTi A5 has a frequency range of 40-26k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 40Hz, the RTi A5 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the SE 6000F's min frequency of 53Hz.
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
SE 6000F and RTi A5 have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. SE 6000F sensitivity is rated at 93 dB and the RTi A5's is at 90 dB. This 3 dB difference makes the Paradigm SE 6000F 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.
SE 6000F can handle a max power of 250 watts RMS from the amp the whereas SE 6000F has a max power handling value of 100 watts RMS , 150 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.
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
RTi A5 features 5-way post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. SE 6000F has a Post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Paradigm SE 6000F's Post terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
SE 6000F 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 Paradigm SE 6000F 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 Paradigm SE 6000F's and Polk RTi A5's external dimensions. Paradigm SE 6000F has external dimensions of 1051.0 x 228.0 x 361.0mm ( 41-3/8 x 8-15/16 x 14-3/16inch) 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) .
Paradigm SE 6000F is 41mm narrower and 43mm less deeper than Polk RTi A5 but it is also 44mm taller.
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 Paradigm SE 6000F is approximately 823.1cm2 / 127.6inch2 and base area of the Polk RTi A5 is approximately 1086.8cm2 / 168.5inch2. The SE 6000F requires 24% less surface area than the RTi A5 which gives it a small advantage on placement in tight spaces.