In this review, we will be comparing RTi A3 and RTi A3, two Passive Bookshelf speakers by Polk Audio Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Polk RTi A3 and Polk RTi A3 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
RTi A3 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 A3 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:
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the Polk RTi A3 and Polk RTi A3 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 RTi A3 are 2-way speakers.
Driver |
Polk RTi A3 |
Polk RTi A3 |
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 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 A3 and RTi A3 has exactly the same frequency range of 50-26k Hz.
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 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. 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 and RTi A3 has the same power range of 20-150 watts.
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 RTi A3 features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or bi-wiring.
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both RTi A3 and RTi A3 have back and front 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 RTi A3'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 RTi A3 has external dimensions of 374.7 x 214.4 x 355.6mm ( 14.7 x 8.4 x 14.0inch) .
In this case, we can see that Polk RTi A3 and Polk RTi A3 have the exact same height, width and thickness.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Polk RTi A3 and Polk RTi A3 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 RTi A3 is approximately 762.4cm2 / 118.2inch2.
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 RTi A3 weighs 7.26kg / 16lbs.
Here is a comparison of how RTi A3 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 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 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
General |
Polk Audio RTi A3 |
Polk Audio RTi A3 |
Brand |
Polk Audio |
Polk Audio |
Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
Power Range |
20-150 watts |
20-150 watts |
Sensitivity |
89 dB |
89 dB |
Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
Frequency Response |
50-26k Hz |
50-26k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
Woofer Size |
6.5" |
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 |
2800Hz |
2800Hz |
Firing Direction |
back and front |
back and front |
Physical Specs |
|
|
Height |
374.7mm (14.8") |
374.7mm (14.8") |
Width |
214.4mm (8.4") |
214.4mm (8.4") |
Depth |
355.6mm (14") |
355.6mm (14") |
Weight |
7.26kg (16lbs) |
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 |
24-31" |
24-31" |
Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |