In this review, we will be comparing RTi A3 and L200, two Passive Bookshelf speakers by Polk Audio Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Polk RTi A3 and Polk L200 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
What size room are the Polk RTi A3 and Polk L200 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 Polk L200 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 RTi A3 and L200 are 2-way speakers.
Driver |
Polk RTi A3 |
Polk L200 |
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
Woofer
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
1 x 6.5-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 L200 features a 1" Ring Radiator Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Polypropylene Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2600Hz.
Frequency Response
RTi A3 has a frequency range of 50-26k Hz whereas L200 has a frequency range of 46-38k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 46Hz, the L200 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 L200 which has a nominal impedance of 4 ohms. Lower impedance speakers, especially the ones that are rated at 4 ohms may put more pressure on the amplifier unit especially when played at high volume levels, so make sure the amp you pair with the L200 can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. RTi A3 sensitivity is rated at 89 dB and the L200's is rated at 85.5 dB. This 3 dB difference makes the Polk RTi A3 a more sensitive speaker compared to Polk L200, 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 200 watts RMS from the amp the whereas RTi A3 has a max power handling value of 150 watts RMS , 50 watts less than the L200.
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 L200 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 L200 has a rear 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 Polk L200'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 Polk L200 has external dimensions of 399.0 x 213.0 x 339.0mm ( 15-11/16 x 8-3/8 x 13-5/16inch) .
Polk L200 is 1.4mm narrower and 16.6mm less deeper than Polk RTi A3 but it is also 24.3mm taller.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Polk RTi A3 and Polk L200 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 Polk L200 is approximately 722.1cm2 / 111.9inch2. The RTi A3 requires 6% more surface area than the L200 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 Polk L200 weighs 10.00kg / 22lbs. This makes the L200 38% heavier than the RTi A3.
Here is a comparison of how RTi A3 and L200'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 Polk L200?
Here are the items that come with the L200:
2 Bookshelf loudspeakers 2 Grilles Cleaning cloth Owners Manual Online Registration
Sensitivity |
89 dB
vs
86 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
Mounting Bracket |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows mounting on walls |
Height |
374mm
vs
399mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
Price per pair* |
465USD
vs
1499USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
Max Input Power |
200 watts
vs
150 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
Low Frequency Response |
46 Hz
vs
50 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
High Frequency Response |
38k Hz
vs
26k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
Base Surface Area |
722cm2 (213x339mm)
vs
762cm2 (214x355mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
General |
Polk Audio RTi A3 |
Polk Audio Legend L200 |
Brand |
Polk Audio |
Polk Audio |
Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
Power Range |
20-150 watts |
30-200 watts |
Sensitivity |
89 dB |
85.5 dB |
Impedance |
8 ohms |
4 ohms |
Impedance |
n/a |
3 ohms |
Frequency Response |
50-26k Hz |
46-38k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
Woofer Size |
6.5" |
6.5" |
Woofer Composition |
Polymer composite |
Polypropylene |
Woofer Surround Material |
Butyl rubber |
Rubber |
Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
Tweeter Type |
Dome |
Ring Radiator |
Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
Crossover Frequency |
2800Hz |
2600Hz |
Firing Direction |
back and front |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
Height |
374.7mm (14.8") |
399.0mm (15.7") |
Width |
214.4mm (8.4") |
213.0mm (8.4") |
Depth |
355.6mm (14") |
339.0mm (13.3") |
Weight |
7.26kg (16lbs) |
10.00kg (22lbs) |
Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
Finish |
Real wood veneer |
MDF/Wood veneer |
Available Colors |
Black, Cherry |
Brown Walnut, Black Ash |
Mounting Bracket |
Keyhole |
No |
Recommended Stand Height |
24-31" |
22-26" |
Grille |
n/a |
Yes |
Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |