In this review, we will be comparing RTi A3 and Carina BS243.4, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Polk Audio and ELAC. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Polk RTi A3 and ELAC Carina BS243.4 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
What size room are the Polk RTi A3 and ELAC Carina BS243.4 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 RTi A3 and ELAC Carina BS243.4 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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through my links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Drivers
Both RTi A3 and Carina BS243.4 are 2-way speakers.
Driver |
Polk RTi A3 |
ELAC Carina BS243.4 |
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
Woofer
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
1 x 5.25-inch
|
RTi A3 features a 1" silk polymer composite Dome Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Polymer composite Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2800Hz. On the other hand, the Carina BS243.4 features a 1" JET AMT (Ribbon) Tweeter and 1 x 5.25" Aluminum Woofer .
Frequency Response
RTi A3 has a frequency range of 50-26k Hz whereas Carina BS243.4 has a frequency range of 46-30k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 46Hz, the Carina BS243.4 can go slightly deeper then the RTi A3's min frequency of 50Hz.
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 Bookshelf class in our database.
Low Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
High Frequency
Bookshelf 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
RTi A3 is a 8 ohms speaker compared to the Carina BS243.4 which has a nominal impedance of 6 ohms.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. RTi A3 sensitivity is rated at 89 dB and the Carina BS243.4's is rated at 85 dB. This 4 dB difference makes the Polk RTi A3 a more sensitive speaker compared to ELAC Carina BS243.4, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Bookshelf 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.
RTi A3 can handle a max power of 150 watts RMS from the amp the whereas Carina BS243.4 has a max power handling value of 100 watts RMS, 50 watts less than the RTi A3.
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
Both RTi A3 and Carina BS243.4 features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or bi-wiring.
Cabinet Type and Port Position
RTi A3 has a back and front firing port whereas Carina BS243.4 has a bottom firing ports.
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 RTi A3's and ELAC Carina BS243.4's external dimensions. Polk RTi A3 has external dimensions of 374.7 x 214.4 x 355.6mm ( 14.7 x 8.4 x 14.0inch) whereas ELAC Carina BS243.4 has external dimensions of 321.0 x 205.0 x 247.0mm ( 12-5/8 x 8-1/16 x 9-11/16inch) .
Polk RTi A3 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 9.4mm wider, 53.7mm taller and 108.6mm deeper than ELAC Carina BS243.4.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Polk RTi A3 and ELAC Carina BS243.4 in scale.
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 A3 is approximately 762.4cm2 / 118.2inch2 and base area of the ELAC Carina BS243.4 is approximately 506.4cm2 / 78.5inch2. The RTi A3 requires 51% more surface area than the Carina BS243.4 which gives it a small disadvantage on placement in tight spaces.
Here is an another comparison that shows both speakers on a BDI Octave Media Cabinet, next to a standard size amplifier and turntable in scale:
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 A3 weighs 7.26kg / 16lbs and the ELAC Carina BS243.4 weighs 6.70kg / 14.7lbs. This makes the RTi A3 8% heavier than the Carina BS243.4.
Here is a comparison of how RTi A3 and Carina BS243.4'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 A3?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of 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
What's in the Box of ELAC Carina BS243.4?
Here are the items that come with the Carina BS243.4:
2 Bookshelf loudspeakers 4 Jumper straps (pre-intalled) Operating Instructions
Max Input Power |
150 watts
vs
100 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
Sensitivity |
89 dB
vs
85 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
5.25 inches
|
Larger woofer |
Mounting Bracket |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows mounting on walls |
Price per pair* |
465USD
vs
1500USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
Low Frequency Response |
46 Hz
vs
50 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
High Frequency Response |
30k Hz
vs
26k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
Height |
321mm
vs
374mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
Base Surface Area |
506cm2 (205x247mm)
vs
762cm2 (214x355mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
General |
Polk Audio RTi A3 |
ELAC Carina BS243.4 |
Brand |
Polk Audio |
ELAC |
Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
Power Range |
20-150 watts |
30-100 watts |
Sensitivity |
89 dB |
85 dB |
Impedance |
8 ohms |
6 ohms |
Frequency Response |
50-26k Hz |
46-30k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
Woofer Size |
6.5" |
5.25" |
Woofer Composition |
Polymer composite |
Aluminum |
Woofer Surround Material |
Butyl rubber |
Rubber |
Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
Tweeter Type |
Dome |
JET AMT (Ribbon) |
Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
Crossover Frequency |
2800Hz |
n/a |
Firing Direction |
back and front |
bottom |
Physical Specs |
|
|
Height |
374.7mm (14.8") |
321.0mm (12.6") |
Width |
214.4mm (8.4") |
205.0mm (8.1") |
Depth |
355.6mm (14") |
247.0mm (9.7") |
Weight |
7.26kg (16lbs) |
6.70kg (14.7lbs) |
Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
Finish |
Real wood veneer |
MDF/Polymer |
Available Colors |
Black, Cherry |
Satin Black,Satin White |
Mounting Bracket |
Keyhole |
No |
Recommended Stand Height |
24-31" |
24-28" |
Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
3 Years |
Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
3 Years |