In this review, we will be comparing two different type of speakers . SVS Ultra Evolution Pinnacle is a Floor-standing speaker whereas the RTi A3 is a Bookshelf speaker.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of SVS Ultra Evolution Pinnacle and Polk RTi A3 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
SVS Ultra Evolution Pinnacle Key Specs
- 3-way Design
- 1" Dome Tweeter
- 5.25" Midrange
- 4 x 8" Composite glass-fiber Woofer
- 24-40k Hz Frequency Response
- 88 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 6ohms
- Power Range:20-300watts
- Weight:43.90kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 1275.0" x 11.8" x 18.1"( 1275 x 300 x 460.7mm (D) )
Polk RTi A3 Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1" Dome Tweeter
- 6.5" Polymer composite Woofer
- 50-26k Hz Frequency Response
- 89 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:20-150watts
- Weight:7.26kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 374.7" x 8.4" x 14.0"( 374.7 x 214.4 x 355.6mm )
What size room are the SVS Ultra Evolution Pinnacle 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* |
SVS Ultra Evolution Pinnacle |
Polk RTi A3 |
| Near-field |
Are you nuts? |
Poor |
| Small Room |
Poor |
Average |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Good |
| Large Room |
Good |
Average |
| Very Large Room |
Good |
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.)
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the SVS Ultra Evolution Pinnacle 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.
**This post contains affiliate links, and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking
through my links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Drivers
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that Ultra Evolution Pinnacle is a 3-way design whereas the RTi A3 is a 2-way speaker. 3-way designs utilize a midrange driver in addition to the tweeter and woofer on 2-way designs. Designing a crossover for a 3-way speaker is a complicated process and generally increases the overall cost of the speaker.
| Driver |
SVS Ultra Evolution Pinnacle |
Polk RTi A3 |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
2 x 5.25-inch |
- |
|
Woofer
|
4 x 8-inch
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
Ultra Evolution Pinnacle features a 1" aluminum Dome Tweeter , a 5.25" Midrange and 4 x 8" Composite glass-fiber Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 140HZ and 1800Hz. 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
Ultra Evolution Pinnacle has a frequency range of 24-40k Hz whereas RTi A3 has a frequency range of 50-26k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 24Hz, the Ultra Evolution Pinnacle can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to 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 Floor-standing class in our database.
Low Frequency
Floor-standing Speakers
High Frequency
Floor-standing Speakers
SVS Ultra Evolution Pinnacle
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
Ultra Evolution Pinnacle is a 6 ohms speaker compared to the RTi A3 which has a nominal impedance of 8 ohms.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Ultra Evolution Pinnacle sensitivity is rated at 88 dB and the RTi A3's is rated at 89 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the Polk RTi A3 a more sensitive speaker compared to SVS Ultra Evolution Pinnacle, 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.
Ultra Evolution Pinnacle can handle a max power of 300 watts RMS from the amp the whereas RTi A3 has a max power handling value of 150 watts RMS, 150 watts less than the Ultra Evolution Pinnacle.
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 Ultra Evolution Pinnacle and RTi A3 features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or bi-wiring.
SVS Ultra Evolution Pinnacle's Gold-plated 5-way terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Ultra Evolution Pinnacle has a rear firing port whereas RTi A3 has a 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 SVS Ultra Evolution Pinnacle's and Polk RTi A3's external dimensions. SVS Ultra Evolution Pinnacle has external dimensions of 1275 x 300 x 460.7mm (D) ( 50.2 x 11.81 x 18.14”) whereas Polk RTi A3 has external dimensions of 374.7 x 214.4 x 355.6mm ( 14.7 x 8.4 x 14.0inch) .
SVS Ultra Evolution Pinnacle is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 85.6mm wider, 900.3mm taller and 105.4mm deeper than Polk RTi A3.
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 SVS Ultra Evolution Pinnacle is approximately 1383.0cm2 / 214.4inch2 and base area of the Polk RTi A3 is approximately 762.4cm2 / 118.2inch2. The Ultra Evolution Pinnacle requires 81% more surface area than the RTi A3 which gives it a small disadvantage on placement in tight spaces.
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