In this review, we will be comparing two different type of speakers by Polk Audio. Polk Audio Monitor XT60 is a Floor-standing speaker whereas the RTi A1 is a Bookshelf speaker.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Polk XT60 and Polk RTi A1 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
What size room are the Polk XT60 and Polk RTi A1 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 Polk XT60 and Polk RTi A1 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 XT60 and RTi A1 are 2-way speakers.
Driver |
Polk XT60 |
Polk RTi A1 |
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
Woofer
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
1 x 5.25-inch
|
XT60 features a 1" Terylene dome Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Bi-laminate paper Woofer . On the other hand, the RTi A1 features a 1" silk polymer composite Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5.25" Polymer composite Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 1900Hz.
Frequency Response
XT60 has a frequency range of 38-40k Hz whereas RTi A1 has a frequency range of 60-26k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 38Hz, the XT60 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the RTi A1's min frequency of 60Hz.
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
XT60 and RTi A1 have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. XT60 sensitivity is rated at 86 dB and the RTi A1's is at 89 dB. This 3 dB difference makes the Polk RTi A1 a more sensitive speaker compared to Polk XT60, 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.
XT60 can handle a max power of 200 watts RMS from the amp the whereas RTi A1 has a max power handling value of 125 watts RMS, 75 watts less than the XT60.
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 A1 features Pair of Dual 5-way Binding Posts - Gold-Plated posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. XT60 has a 5-Way post 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 Polk XT60's and Polk RTi A1's external dimensions. Polk XT60 has external dimensions of 929.0 x 231.0 x 253.0mm ( 36-9/16 x 9-1/16 x 9-15/16inch) whereas Polk RTi A1 has external dimensions of 304.8 x 187.5 x 292.1mm ( 12.0 x 7.3 x 11.5inch) .
Polk RTi A1 is 43.5mm narrower and 624.2mm shorter than Polk XT60 but it is also 39.1mm deeper.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Polk XT60 and Polk RTi A1 in scale.
Comparison image of Polk XT60 and Polk RTi A1 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 Polk XT60 is approximately 584.4cm2 / 90.6inch2 and base area of the Polk RTi A1 is approximately 547.7cm2 / 84.9inch2. The XT60 requires 7% more surface area than the RTi A1 which gives it a small disadvantage on placement in tight spaces.
What's in the Box of Polk XT60?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of XT60:
Floorstanding loudspeakerGrille (attached)Owners ManualOnline Product Registration
What's in the Box of Polk RTi A1?
Here are the items that come with the RTi A1:
2 Cherry bookshelf speakers 2 Self-tapping screws 8 Self-adhesive rubber feet Owner's Manual Template Online registration sheet Polk Audio product brochure