Polk Audio RTi A3 is a 2-way Passive Bass Reflex Bookshelf speaker by Polk Audio. It was released in 2008. It features a 1" Dome Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Polymer composite Woofer. The speaker has a frequency range of 50-26k Hz and a sensitivity of 89 dB. Polk RTi A3 has an MSRP of 465$ per pair but can often be found around 279$ per pair.
Room Size Suitability
The size of the room where you plan to use the Polk RTi A3 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 A3 is a member of Polk Audio's RTi series of Passive speakers. The RTi range were Polk Audio's popular mid-tier home speakers with dynamic-balance drivers. Below you can see the main specs of these speakers.
See all 4 Polk Audio RTi models compared »
Polk Audio RTi Series Speakers
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Frequency Response of the Polk RTi A3 Speaker
Polk RTi A3 has a Frequency response range of 50-26k Hz at ±3dB and Power Range of 20-150 watts. With a minimum frequency of 50 Hz, RTi A3 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 RTi A3's Low frequency value compares with the average, max and min Low frequency values in its class.
Low Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
Thinking about a subwoofer for the Polk RTi A3?
Crossover frequency of the Polk RTi A3?
The crossover frequency of the RTi A3 is set to 2800Hz. 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 A3'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 A3 is not considered a difficult to drive speaker from nominal Impedance perspective.
Sensitivity
89dB of the Polk Audio RTi A3 is an average sensitivity for stereo speaker so it is neither easy nor difficult to drive Sensitivity wise. Work out how loud the Polk RTi A3 plays in your room →
What amplifier does the Polk RTi A3 need?
At normal listening levels in a medium room, about
9.5–150 W
per channel into 8 ohms.
Set your own conditions and we will rank every amplifier we cover.
Prefer to browse? Integrated amplifiers under $500, or every amplifier we cover.
Input Type
RTi A3 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.
Work out what gauge speaker cable this run needs →
Polk RTi A3 External Dimensions and Weight
Polk RTi A3 has external dimensions of (Height x Width x Depth) 14.7 x 8.4 x 14.0inch (374.7 x 214.4 x 355.6mm ).
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 A3 is approximately 762.4cm2 / 118.2inch2.
To get a better perspective on the real life size of Polk RTi A3, let's compare it with a standard size Compact Disc which has a diameter of 4.7inch (120mm).
Polk RTi A3 Speaker Size Compared to a Compact Disc
Here we place the Polk RTi A3 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 A3 Speaker next to an amplifier and turntable
Find speakers that fit your shelf or alcove → · Work out where they should sit in the room →
WeightThe Polk RTi A3 weighs 7.26kg / 16lbs per piece. Here is a comparison of how RTi A3's weight compares with the average, max and min weights in its class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
Weight
Bookshelf Speakers under $500
Cabinet type and Materials
Polk RTi A3 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 A3 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 A3 is a back and front-firing port speaker.
Available colors
Polk RTi A3 is available in Black and Cherry.
Wall Mounting
RTi A3 has Keyhole mounting bracket that makes it possible to mount on walls and similar surfaces easily.
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
Recommended Accessories
Here is a list of accessories that we think you may need for the Polk Audio RTi A3.
- Speaker Cable and Connectors
- Vibration Isolators: IsoAcoustics isolators are our favorite isolators but you may find 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 A3, use the direct link below to download the official manual document:
Download User Manual for Polk RTi A3
Official Brochure
Here is a link to download the official brochure for the Polk Audio RTi A3 speaker:
Official Brochure for Polk RTi A3
Official Product Page
Official manufacturer's product page for the Polk Audio RTi A3 speaker can be found below:
Official Product Page for Polk RTi A3
Warranty
5 Years of parts warranty and 5 Years of labor warranty is generally provided by the manufacturer.