Polk Audio RTi A1 is a 2-way Passive Bass Reflex Bookshelf speaker by Polk Audio. It features a 1" Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5.25" Polymer composite Woofer. The speaker has a frequency range of 60-26k Hz and a sensitivity of 89 dB. Polk RTi A1 has an MSRP of 382$ per pair but can often be found around 229$ per pair.
Room Size Suitability
The size of the room where you plan to use the Polk RTi A1 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 | Poor |
| Small Room | Average |
| Mid-size Room | Good |
| Large Room | Average |
| Very Large Room | 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.)
Polk Audio's RTi Series of Loudspeakers
RTi A1 is a member of Polk Audio's RTi series of Passive speakers. Below you can see the main specs of these speakers.
Polk Audio RTi Series Speakers
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Frequency Response of the Polk RTi A1 Speaker
Polk RTi A1 has a Frequency response range of 60-26k Hz at ±3dB and Power Range of 20-125 watts. With a minimum frequency of 60 Hz, RTi A1 delivers moderate bass depth so depending on your use case, you might want to consider adding a subwoofer to your system.
To focus on the subwoofers that are in a similar price range with Polk RTi A1, check out the Powered Subwoofers under $500. Alternatively, find the Full list of Powered Subwoofers regardless of the price.
Here we have a comparison of how RTi A1's Low and High frequency values compare with the average, max and min Low and High frequency values in its class.
Low Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
High Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
Crossover frequency of the Polk RTi A1?
The Crossover frequency of the RTi A1 is set to 1900Hz. This is the threshold frequency where the higher frequency signals over this level are sent to the tweeter and the lower-frequency signals are sent to the woofer by the crossover component.
Impedance and Sensitivity
Polk RTi A1's nominal impedance level is
8 ohms and has a sensitivity of
89 dB.
Sensitivity
Bookshelf Speakers
8 Ohms is pretty much the standard nominal impedance amongst stereo speakers and amplifiers so Polk Audio RTi A1 is not considered a difficult to drive speaker from nominal Impedance perspective.
Sensitivity
89dB of the Polk Audio RTi A1 is an average sensitivity for stereo speaker so it is neither easy nor difficult to drive Sensitivity wise.
Check the amplifiers that are in a similar price range to the Polk RTi A1:
Input Type
RTi A1 has Pair of Dual 5-way Binding Posts - Gold-Plated type connectors and lets bi-amping/bi-wiring. Bi-wiring can enhance the overall transparency of your loudspeakers by using separate speaker wires for the low and high-frequency drivers from a single amplifier. Bi-amping, on the other hand, involves using separate amplifiers for the high and low-frequency drivers, potentially resulting in a greater dynamic range and reduced distortion.
Polk RTi A1 External Dimensions and Weight
Polk RTi A1 has external dimensions of (Height x Width x Depth) 12.0 x 7.3 x 11.5inch (304.8 x 187.5 x 292.1mm ).
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 RTi A1 is approximately 547.7cm2 / 84.9inch2.
To get a better perspective on the real life size of Polk RTi A1, let's compare it with a standard size Compact Disc which has a diameter of 4.7inch (120mm).
Polk RTi A1 Speaker Size Compared to a Compact Disc
Here we place the Polk RTi A1 virtually next to a standard width amplifier and turntable on a BDI Octave Media Cabinet to get a better idea about the size.
Polk RTi A1 Speaker next to an amplifier and turntable
WeightThe Polk RTi A1 weighs 5.44kg / 12lbs per piece. Here is a comparison of how RTi A1's weight compares with the average, max and min weights in its class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
Weight
Bookshelf Speakers under $500
How does the Polk RTi A1 compare to the Polk Audio RTi A3?
One of the natural alternative to the Polk RTi A1 is the RTi A3 which is located one step higher in Polk Audio's Passive Bookshelf selection.
Here is a scaled size comparison of these two speakers to give you an idea how their external dimensions compare:
Comparison image of Polk RTi A1 and Polk RTi A3 Size and External Dimensions
Check the Detailed Comparison of Polk RTi A1 vs RTi A3 for more details.
Cabinet type and Materials
Polk RTi A1 has a
Bass Reflex type cabinet and a Real wood veneer finish. Bass Reflex type loudspeakers (aka Ported, Vented or Reflex Port) have enclosures that uses a port, hole or vent cut into the cabinet. Ported designs are generally more efficient than the Sealed designs.
Speaker Feet
Polk RTi A1 comes with
8 Self-adhesive rubber feet which you can use to secure your loudspeaker on the surface that you are putting on. It is always recommended to use some kind of feet under all types of speakers. Besides limiting the movement of the speakers, it also compensates for non-flat surfaces and limits the contact surface area of the speaker. Rubber based feet also help isolating the vibrations within certain frequency ranges.
Port Position
Polk RTi A1 is a back and front-firing port speaker
Available colors
Polk RTi A1 is available in Black and Cherry.
Wall Mounting
RTi A1 has Keyhole mounting bracket that makes it possible to mount on walls and similar surfaces easily.
What's in the Box of Polk RTi A1?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of RTi A1:
2 Cherry bookshelf speakers 2 Self-tapping screws 8 Self-adhesive rubber feet Owner's Manual Template Online registration sheet Polk Audio product brochure
Recommended Accessories
Here is a list of accessories that we think you may need for the Polk Audio RTi A1.
- Speaker Cable and Connectors
- Vibration Isolators: IsoAcoustics isolators more affordable options too.
- Acoustic Panels and Treatments: Your room is as important as your stereo equipment so acoustic treatments goes a long way in improving the overall performance.
- Speaker Stands: Stands bring your bookshelf speakers to ideal height (rule of thumb is to have the tweeter level with your ear in your listening position), helps stability and acoustical isolation.
User's Manual
For more information about how to setup, use and maintain the Polk Audio RTi A1, use the direct link below to download the official manual document:
Download User Manual for Polk RTi A1
Official Brochure
Here is a link to download the official brochure for the Polk Audio RTi A1 speaker:
Official Brochure for Polk RTi A1
Official Product Page
Official manufacturer's product page for the Polk Audio RTi A1 speaker can be found below:
Official Product Page for Polk RTi A1
Warranty
5 Years of parts warranty and 5 Years of labor warranty is generally provided by the manufacturer.