Polk Audio RTi A9 is a 3-way Passive Bass Reflex Floor-standing speaker by Polk Audio. It was released in 2008. It features a 1" Tweeter, 2 x 5.25" Midrange and 3 x 7" Polymer composite Woofer. The speaker has a frequency range of 30-26k Hz and a sensitivity of 90 dB. Polk RTi A9 has an MSRP of 1498$ per pair.
Room Size Suitability
The size of the room where you plan to use the Polk RTi A9 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 | Are you nuts? |
| Small Room | Poor |
| Mid-size Room | Average |
| Large Room | Good |
| Very Large Room | Good |
(* 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 A9 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
Frequency Response of the Polk RTi A9 Speaker
Polk RTi A9 has a Frequency response range of 30-26k Hz and Power Range of 50-500 watts. With a minimum frequency of 30 Hz, RTi A9 delivers deep bass that will likely satisfy most listeners, especially those who enjoy music. However, movie enthusiasts and music fans who prefer a full range of sound may still benefit from adding a subwoofer.
Here we have a comparison of how RTi A9's Low frequency value compares with the average, max and min Low frequency values in its class.
Low Frequency
Floor-standing Speakers
Thinking about a subwoofer for the Polk RTi A9?
Among the speakers in our database with a max MSRP price of 1500$ (Pair), there is only one Passive Floor-standing speaker that have the deeper bass levels than the Polk RTi A9's 30Hz:
Impedance and Sensitivity
Polk RTi A9's nominal impedance level is
8 ohms and has a sensitivity of
90 dB.
Sensitivity
Floor-standing Speakers
8 Ohms is pretty much the standard nominal impedance amongst stereo speakers and amplifiers so Polk Audio RTi A9 is not considered a difficult to drive speaker from nominal Impedance perspective.
Sensitivity
90dB of the Polk Audio RTi A9 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 A9 plays in your room →
What amplifier does the Polk RTi A9 need?
At normal listening levels in a medium room, about
7.5–120 W
per channel into 8 ohms.
Set your own conditions and we will rank every amplifier we cover.
Prefer to browse? Integrated amplifiers under $1,500, or every amplifier we cover.
Input Type
RTi A9 has 5-way post 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 A9 External Dimensions and Weight
Polk RTi A9 has external dimensions of (Height x Width x Depth) 48-1/16 x 10-11/16 x 21-1/2inch (1221.0 x 272.0 x 547.0mm ).
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 RTi A9 is approximately 1487.8cm2 / 230.6inch2.
To get a better perspective on the real life size of Polk RTi A9, let's compare it with a standard size Compact Disc which has a diameter of 4.7inch (120mm).
Polk RTi A9 Speaker Size Compared to a Compact Disc
Here we place the Polk RTi A9 virtually next to a standard width amplifier and turntable on a media center to get a better idea about the size.
Polk RTi A9 Floor-standing Speaker next to a Media Stand
Find speakers that fit your shelf or alcove → · Work out where they should sit in the room →
WeightThe Polk RTi A9 weighs 34.09kg / 75lbs per piece. Here is a comparison of how RTi A9's weight compares with the average, max and min weights in its class.
Weight
All Floor-standing Speakers
Weight
Floor-standing Speakers under $1500
Cabinet type and Materials
Polk RTi A9 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 A9 comes with 4 Screw-on spike 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 A9 is a front-firing port speaker, which gives you more flexibility compared to rear firing speakers when you need to place it close against a wall or other surfaces.
Available colors
Polk RTi A9 is available in Cherry.
Does the Polk RTi A9 come with a Grille?
RTi A9 comes with grilles. The purpose of the grille is to protect the delicate driver elements from external impacts while still allowing the sound to pass as clearly as possible.
What's in the Box of Polk RTi A9?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of RTi A9:
- Floor-standing speaker
- Detachable black cloth grille
- 4 Screw-on spike feet
- Owners Manual
- 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 A9.
Warranty
5 Years of parts warranty and 5 Years of labor warranty is generally provided by the manufacturer.