Important Specs Overview
Speaker type: passive, 3 way, front ported
Continuous power handling: 150 W
Peak power handling: 500 W
Impedance: 8 ohms
Sensitivity: 90 dB/W/m
Frequency response range: 18 – 27k
Driver size: 5.25 in (midrange); 7 in (subwoofer)
Unit weight: 80 lbs
Cabinet dimensions: 9 x 21.5 x 49 in (width x depth x height)
Warranty: 5 years
*When nominal/RMS power isn’t specified by manufacturer, we use an approximation of ~30% of the specified peak/dynamic power for comparison purposes.
Review And Discussion
Polk’s RTiA9 is the larger of two tower speakers in the RTiA lineup. In addition to having more size, power, and range, the 9s has an augmented design that features an additional midrange woofer, much like the larger bookshelf RTiA speakers do.
The result is a very large, very heavy, and very complete standalone 3-way speaker that boasts impressive power and range specs. A pair of ~150W tower speakers will certainly suffice in a full fledged home theater setting. But what really makes the RTiA9 standout is the excellent range, no doubt creditable to dual subwoofers built in with their own crossover per a 3-way design. These speakers are really designed to be able to sound great on their own, whereas most other 2-way speakers are actually designed to sound best in tandem with at least a subwoofer, and ideally more ancillary surround speakers.
The speaker is built with MDF with a wood grain pattern (comes in black or cherry), and the drivers are made of plastic polymer, which is a common design choice since it’s well rounded, durable, easy to consistently reproduce, and relatively inexpensive. Polk offers a 5 year warranty on all it’s passive speakers which is pretty top of the line coverage.
Our Overall Take, As Compared To The Competition
The RTiA9 is an older speaker that, as a result, has now become significantly discounted. It looks to be one of the best values you can get on a 3-way speaker that has as much power as it does. If you’re looking for high end reproduction without the need for ancillary speakers, then a pair of these is, as of now, a very solid choice.
Many people won’t need so much power though, so there’s no need to pay for it. Polk actually makes a variety of less expensive 3-way tower speakers that are great in their own right and will be a better fit for many. Check out the links below for some such alternative recommendations.
See the RTiA9 tower Speaker on Amazon (affiliate link)
See our current picks for the overall best budget floorstanding tower speakers
