Polk Audio RC85i is a 2-way Passive In-wall In-wall speaker by Polk Audio. It was released in 2005. It features a 1" Hard-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 8" Polypropylene Woofer. The speaker has a frequency range of 50-20kHz and a sensitivity of 90 dB. Polk Audio RC85i has an MSRP of 279$ per pair.
Room Size Suitability
The size of the room where you plan to use the Polk Audio RC85i is a crucial factor in your decision. We have assessed its suitability for various room sizes based on its dimensions and maximum power output:
| Listening Environment* |
Suitability |
| Near-field | Average |
| Small Room | Good |
| Mid-size Room | Average |
| Large Room | Poor |
| Very Large Room | Bad |
(* 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.)
Polk Audio's RC Series of Loudspeakers
RC85i is a member of Polk Audio's RC series of Passive speakers. The RC range are Polk Audio's affordable in-wall and in-ceiling custom-install speakers. Below you can see the main specs of these speakers.
Polk Audio RC Series Speakers
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Frequency Response of the Polk Audio RC85i Speaker
Polk Audio RC85i has a Frequency response range of 50-20kHz and Power Range of 20-100 watts. With a minimum frequency of 50 Hz, RC85i delivers moderate bass depth so depending on your use case, you might want to consider adding a subwoofer to your system.
Here we have a comparison of how RC85i's Low frequency value compares with the average, max and min Low frequency values in its class.
Low Frequency
In-wall Speakers
Thinking about a subwoofer for the Polk Audio RC85i?
Impedance and Sensitivity
Polk Audio RC85i's nominal impedance level is
8 ohms and has a sensitivity of
90 dB.
Sensitivity
In-wall Speakers
8 Ohms is pretty much the standard nominal impedance amongst stereo speakers and amplifiers so Polk Audio RC85i is not considered a difficult to drive speaker from nominal Impedance perspective.
Sensitivity
90dB of the Polk Audio RC85i is an average sensitivity for stereo speaker so it is neither easy nor difficult to drive Sensitivity wise. Work out how loud the Polk Audio RC85i plays in your room →
What amplifier does the Polk Audio RC85i need?
At normal listening levels in a medium room, about
7.5–100 W
per channel into 8 ohms.
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Prefer to browse? Integrated amplifiers under $300, or every amplifier we cover.
Input Type
RC85i features Spring clip type connectors. Bi-amping and Bi-wiring are not possible.
Work out what gauge speaker cable this run needs →
Polk Audio RC85i External Dimensions and Weight
Polk Audio RC85i has external dimensions of (Height x Width x Depth) 12.7500-inch x 8.6875-inch x 3.5000-inch (324.0 x 221.0 x 89.0mm ).
Base Surface Area
Base surface area of a loudspeaker may become a determining factor when the space in your room or desk is limited.
The base area of Polk Audio RC85i is approximately 196.7cm2 / 30.5inch2.
Find speakers that fit your shelf or alcove →
Cabinet type and Materials
Polk Audio RC85i has a
In-wall type cabinet.
What's in the Box of Polk Audio RC85i?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of RC85i:
- 2 White in-wall speakers
- 2 White grilles
- 1 Cardboard Mounting Template
- Owners Manual
- Online registration sheet
- Product Registration Card
Recommended Accessories
Here is a list of accessories that we think you may need for the Polk Audio RC85i.
Warranty
Lifetime of parts warranty and Lifetime of labor warranty is generally provided by the manufacturer.