In this review, we will be comparing RTi A1 and RTi A3, two Passive Bookshelf speakers by Polk Audio.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Polk RTi A1 and Polk RTi A3 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Polk RTi A1 | Polk RTi A3 |
|---|
| Brand | Polk Audio
United States · founded 1972 | Polk Audio
United States · founded 1972 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Dome | 1" Dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 5.25" Polymer composite | 6.5" Polymer composite |
|---|
| Frequency response | 60-26k Hz | 50-26k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 89 dB | 89 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 20-125 watts | 20-150 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 5.44kg / 12lbs | 7.26kg / 16lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 12.0" x 7.3" x 11.5"
304.8 x 187.5 x 292.1mm | 14.7" x 8.4" x 14.0"
374.7 x 214.4 x 355.6mm |
|---|
RTi A1 and RTi A3 are members of Polk Audio's RTi series of speakers. Below you can find the loudspeakers from this series.
What size room are the Polk RTi A1 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:
| Listening Environment* |
Polk RTi A1 |
Polk RTi A3 |
| Near-field |
Poor |
Poor |
| Small Room |
Average |
Average |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Good |
| Large Room |
Average |
Average |
| Very Large Room |
Poor |
Poor |
(* 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.
Drivers
Both RTi A1 and RTi A3 are 2-way speakers.
Polk RTi A1Polk RTi A3
TweeterWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
Polk RTi A1 |
Polk RTi A3 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 5.25-inch
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
RTi A1 features a 1" silk polymer composite Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5.25" Polymer composite Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 1900Hz. 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
RTi A1 has a frequency range of 60-26k 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 RTi A1's min frequency of 60Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Bookshelf class in our database.
Low Frequency
Bookshelf 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
RTi A1 and RTi A3 have the same Impedance of 8 ohms and their sensitivity is also same at 89 dB.
Sensitivity
Bookshelf 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 A3 can handle a max power of 150 watts RMS, whereas RTi A1 has a max power handling value of 125 watts RMS, 25 watts less than the RTi A3.
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 RTi A1 and RTi A3 features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or bi-wiring.
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both RTi A1 and RTi A3 have back and front firing ports.
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 Polk RTi A1's and Polk RTi A3's external dimensions. Polk RTi A1 has external dimensions of 304.8 x 187.5 x 292.1mm (12.0 x 7.3 x 11.5inch) 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 clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 26.9mm wider, 69.9mm taller and 63.5mm deeper than Polk RTi A1.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Polk RTi A1 and Polk RTi A3 in scale.
Comparison image of Polk RTi A1 and Polk RTi A3 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 RTi A1 is approximately 547.7cm2 / 84.9inch2 and base area of the Polk RTi A3 is approximately 762.4cm2 / 118.2inch2. The RTi A1 requires 28% less surface area than the RTi A3 which gives it a small advantage on placement in tight spaces.
Here is another comparison that shows both speakers on a BDI Octave Media Cabinet, next to a standard size amplifier and turntable in scale:
Size Comparison image of Polk RTi A1 and Polk RTi A3 on a Media Console
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 Polk RTi A1 weighs 5.44kg / 12lbs and the Polk RTi A3 weighs 7.26kg / 16lbs. This makes the RTi A3 33% heavier than the RTi A1.
Here is a comparison of how RTi A1 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 Polk RTi A1?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of 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
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
 Height |
304mm
vs
374mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
547cm2
vs
762cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
382USD
vs
465USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Max Input Power |
150 watts
vs
125 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Woofer Size |
6.5 inches
vs
5.25 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
50 Hz
vs
60 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
| General |
Polk Audio RTi A1 |
Polk Audio RTi A3 |
| Brand |
Polk Audio |
Polk Audio |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
20-125 watts |
20-150 watts |
| Sensitivity |
89 dB |
89 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
60-26k Hz |
50-26k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
5.25" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Polymer composite |
Polymer composite |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Butyl rubber |
Butyl rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Dome |
Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
1900Hz |
2800Hz |
| Firing Direction |
back and front |
back and front |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
304.8mm (12") |
374.7mm (14.8") |
| Width |
187.5mm (7.4") |
214.4mm (8.4") |
| Depth |
292.1mm (11.5") |
355.6mm (14") |
| Weight |
5.44kg (12lbs) |
7.26kg (16lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
Real wood veneer |
Real wood veneer |
| Available Colors |
Black, Cherry |
Black, Cherry |
| Mounting Bracket |
Keyhole |
Keyhole |
| Recommended Stand Height |
28-36" |
24-31" |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
Siblings in Polk Audio's RTi series, so they share a family sound. It comes down to size, output and price.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | B | Polk RTi A3 digs deeper - 50Hz against 60Hz. |
| Amplifier needs | evenly matched | Similar sensitivity (89dB vs 89dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Headroom | evenly matched | Similar power handling (125W vs 150W). |
| Size | depends | Polk RTi A1 is easier to place; Polk RTi A3 is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability | depends | Polk RTi A1: bi-amping; Polk RTi A3: bi-amping. |
| Price | A | Polk RTi A1 is cheaper - $382 against $465, about 18% less. |
A Polk RTi A1 B Polk RTi A3
depends neither is better in the abstract - it turns on your room, your system 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?
The usual trade-off: Polk RTi A3 measures better, Polk RTi A1 costs about about 22% more% less. Whether that gap is worth the money is the call only you can make - and in a normal room it is often smaller than the numbers suggest. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 60Hz anyway, which makes the cheaper Polk RTi A1 much easier to justify. In a large or open-plan room, Polk RTi A3 has the cabinet volume to fill it more easily; in a small room, near a wall or at desk distance, Polk RTi A1 is the easier speaker to get right.
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.