In this review, we will be comparing 65 RT and RC55i, two Passive In-wall speakers by Polk Audio
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Polk Audio 65 RT and Polk Audio RC55i first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
Polk Audio 65 RT Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1" Soft-Dome Tweeter
- 6.5" Polymer Composite Woofer
- 50-25kHz Frequency Response
- 90 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:10-125watts
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 324.0" x 7.2500" x 0.0000"
Polk Audio RC55i Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 0.75" Hard-Dome Tweeter
- 5.25" Polypropylene Woofer
- 70-20kHz Frequency Response
- 89 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:20-100watts
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 245.0" x 6.1875" x 2.0120"( 245.0 x 158.0 x 52.0mm )
What size room are the Polk Audio 65 RT and Polk Audio RC55i 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* |
Polk Audio 65 RT |
Polk Audio RC55i |
| Near-field |
Poor |
Average |
| Small Room |
Average |
Good |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Average |
| Large Room |
Average |
Poor |
| Very Large Room |
Poor |
Bad |
(* 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 Polk Audio 65 RT and Polk Audio RC55i compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one of these loudspeakers is the better choice for you.
**This post contains affiliate links, and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking
through my links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Drivers
Both 65 RT and RC55i are 2-way speakers.
| Driver |
Polk Audio 65 RT |
Polk Audio RC55i |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
0.75-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
1 x 5.25-inch
|
65 RT features a 1" Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Polymer Composite Woofer . On the other hand, the RC55i features a 0.75" Hard-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5.25" Polypropylene Woofer .
Frequency Response
65 RT has a frequency range of 50-25kHz whereas RC55i has a frequency range of 70-20kHz. With a minimum frequency of 50Hz, the 65 RT can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the RC55i's min frequency of 70Hz.
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 In-wall class in our database.
Low Frequency
In-wall Speakers
High Frequency
In-wall 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
65 RT and RC55i have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. 65 RT sensitivity is rated at 90 dB and the RC55i's is at 89 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the Polk Audio 65 RT a more sensitive speaker compared to Polk Audio RC55i, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
In-wall 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.
65 RT can handle a max power of 125 watts RMS from the amp the whereas RC55i has a max power handling value of 100 watts RMS, 25 watts less than the 65 RT.
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
65 RT features Spring clip type posts and RC55i has a Spring clip type posts. None of these speakers 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 Polk Audio 65 RT's and Polk Audio RC55i's external dimensions. Polk Audio 65 RT has external dimensions of ( 12.7500-inch x 7.2500-inch x 0.0000-inch) whereas Polk Audio RC55i has external dimensions of 245.0 x 158.0 x 52.0mm ( 9.6250-inch x 6.1875-inch x 2.0120-inch) .
Polk Audio RC55i is 27mm narrower and 79mm shorter than Polk Audio 65 RT but it is also 52mm deeper.
What's in the Box of Polk Audio 65 RT?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of 65 RT:
Rectangular in-wall speakerFoam rubber port plugWhite metal grilleMounting templateOwners ManualSheer-Grille Painting instructionsOnline Registration CardPolk Audio product brochure
What's in the Box of Polk Audio RC55i?
Here are the items that come with the RC55i:
2 White in-wall speakers2 White grilles1 Cardboard Mounting TemplateOwners ManualOnline registration sheetProduct Registration Card