Polk Audio RTiA3 High Performance Bookshelf Loudspeaker, 40Hz-27kHz, Pair, Cherry

2020-06-14T20:00:00

I will never buy any speaker other than Polk Audio! This is my first purchase of any Polk product and the quality absolutely amazed me, and earned Polk Audio a CUSTOMER FOR LIFE! They even look as beautiful as they sound

Seanwd

Originally posted at

2019-01-28T08:36:40

You can't get better sound from a bookshelf speaker in this price range. Polk Audio has really designed a superb speaker system. Thanks Adorama .

WAYNE N.

2018-10-08T20:00:00

I'm rocking these RT1A3's with the Polk T15"s and couldn"t be more satisfied. The bass is clean,deep and punchy with clear highs and mids, no matter what the volume...

lilmicrodot

Originally posted at

2017-08-13T20:00:00

Just got it in today and plugged it (didn't bi amp it yet) and wow, so much detail and the bass is outstanding. I was surprised how big it was as well for some it may be a con but for me the sound quality makes up for it. Can't wait to use them as rear surrounds!

devin

Originally posted at

2017-06-01T15:51:32

These speakers have a very nice balance for their price point. They're especially good for movies and TV, they're okay for playing music. One consideration is how large they are. They are ~12" deep, so while they wall mount well, they stick out a lot.

Karim H.

2016-12-06T19:00:00

I’ve recently upgraded my receiver to a Yamaha R-S 500 (2.1 stereo, 75 Watts RMS), an external DAC for my computer (HiFiMe Sabre 9018 adaptive USB DAC) and these speakers that I bought nearly 6 months ago. I was using a budget ($110) Sherwood receiver. I added these speakers to the Sherwood and was very surprised at the additional amount of mid-range and mid to upper bass that they provided. The bass is tight and punchy. I can actually feel the bass on my couch from 12 feet away. I did not realize how bright my system was before the upgrade (overemphasis on treble). These speakers are hands down at least two levels above the BIC DV62si bookshelves that I was using with my Sherwood receiver. The Bic speakers are OK for what they are, nice budget speakers – but they should not be a life sentence! I listen to mainly classical. But I also listen to jazz, pop/rock, Irish Folk (like the Chieftains), etc.. While the Polk RTI A3s are great bookshelves, they were not enough in themselves to solve the other problems in my stereo set-up. The Sherwood lost too much detail when the volume was turned down to medium and to low. That problem was solved by the Yamaha receiver and the HiFiMe Sabre 9018 usb DAC. I use my computer to stream music (Spotify, Classical King FM) and play back CDs and MP3s. The DAC on my old computer was a drag on the music reproduction. My computer was 9 years old with maybe a $2 DAC chip in it. The Sabre DAC has a fantastically good signal to noise ratio (123 db) and after adding it to my new Yamaha, I actually needed to turn down the volume from -25 db to - 38 db. That DAC added more than 50% more power to the Yamaha. I use these Polks for 2.1 stereo and I also stream movies from Comcast Infinity. These speakers sound fantastic for all types of music and will work great as fronts for 5.1 surround sound movie watching. My apartment is about 750 sq feet and I can get the music uncomfortably too loud in the entire apartment with these bookshelves! My 75 watt receiver can easily drive them. For movies in 2.1 stereo, they are very clear and detailed and are wonderful with dialogue (even whispering is crystal clear!). My living room is about 200 sq feet and these speakers are fine for that size - even up to 350 sq feet or larger they should be fine. I also have the Polk Audio PSW 10. That Subwoofer is a good choice for an apartment. It provides the lower extension that is missing from the bookshelves. The bookshelves have good mid to upper bass, but one should not expect a 6.5" bass/midrange speaker to perform like a 10 or 12" subwoofer. For example, I listened to Eric Clapton’s Pilgrim CD (from 1998) and alternated turning on and off the subwoofer during playback. This step revealed how low the RTIs will go on their own and what a sub can add to the playback. The RTI A3s sound good on their own, but the sub makes the overall listening experience better. The sub is more needed for movies and pop/rock/country than for classical, but it even helps a little on some of my classical music. These speakers are large, but still fairly easy to place because of the rear power port. I have them about 4-5 inches off the wall and that does not affect the bass and make it sound boomy or muddled. The power port has a cone helps push the air/sound out sideways instead of straight into the wall. I highly recommend these speakers for all kinds of music as well as for home theater.

lightning

Originally posted at

2016-11-16T08:26:47

Love these spoakers....I am using as surround speakers...sounds great with my other RTI series Floor and Center Speakers.

Suraj P.

2016-08-23T04:36:00

These speakers are larger than I thought. The weird shape made them a little difficult to mount. But the sound quality is quite impressive to me.

JIANWEN L.

2015-03-25T20:00:00

These are wonderful speakers. They give a full rich sound, full of warmth but still excellent detail. I waited a long time to get truly excellent speakers and these are exactly that.

Rateus

Originally posted at

2014-07-29T20:00:00

My A3s just arrived and I am very impressed. Great sound...excellent highs and impressive bass. You cannot go wrong with these speakers. Great value. The classic cherry finish looks awesome. A lot of bang for a great price, Craftsmanship is not dead!

rflowers

Originally posted at

2014-07-16T20:00:00

These are amazing speakers that have very good highs and lows. They can put out a very high quality sound even at high volumes, without getting disstored at all. They have a very good, strong bass that you don't need a subwoofer to enjoy music and movies. I mostly listen to electronic and house music, that needs very good speakers to listen to without getting disstored at loud volumes, which these do not get. The Polk-Audio Rti A3 are hands down the best bookshelf speakers I've ever had, and they give you so much more than their small price that you pay. I strongley recommend them.

EtaiK

Originally posted at

2014-07-08T20:00:00

Let me first say that I built some floor standing speakers years ago with Morel tweeters, Peerless HDS mid woofer and twin HiVi 8" woofers as sub range. The top is driven by my Marantz 90/channel, sub by Emotiva 185/channel. They are curved and finished in cherry and to date are the finest speakers I've ever heard. Now to compare my RTi A3 with my Klipsch 12" subwoofer, and I dare say they give my floor standing a run for their money in sound and looks. Now that's not bad comparing $2500 versus $1200. If anyone is wavering whether to buy these for critical listening, please stop; they are outstanding bookshelf speakers. The bass is tight and deep, but more important the dynamics and transition are as good as any speaker this size at any price. I spent months trialing most of the top bookshelf speakers and couldn't find these. My son convinced me to take a leap of faith and I'm glad I did. I highly recommend these as a bookshelf audiophile speaker.

Audiolad

Originally posted at

2014-06-22T20:00:00

Initially I was planning on a pair of TSX or the RTI A1 - but then I asked for a demo of the A3 too - and I was impressed the most. The demo system was the same as mine - SC-LX87 (or Elite SC-79 in USA). The sound was incredibly detailed and full-bodied - and so I bought them. Due to space limitations, wall mounting is my only option. This is an audiophile's nightmare - but then even with these limitations the A3s shine in the Pure Direct mode of SC-LX87 (my preferred mode) for most music. But in those few instance where the bass does get muddy or boomy, I simply switch to the Direct mode to pass it onto the subwoofer. It works brilliantly. These are worth more than every penny that one pays for them - though it is not much pennies anyway. For all those who want audiophile quality speakers without emptying the bank account - then these are highly recommended. Time now to get the Polk surrounds.

RajC

Originally posted at

2014-04-29T20:00:00

If you're looking for a bookshelf speaker that has all the bases covered, the Polk rtiA3 is the one. Excellent highs and very solid base, a total home run! The cabinet construction, is a work of art, and would definitely accent any Home Theater decor. Great looks and Great sound, from a bookshelf speaker, now that's Awesome. So, weather you're watching the game or a movie on Family night. The Polk rtiA3 is a definite MVP.

jboy23

Originally posted at

2014-04-24T20:00:00

I have only had these speakers for a few days now, so not even through the break in process. I upgraded my A1's to these because I felt the A1's lacked the mid and bass that I wanted for my Fronts. Subsequently, the A1's became my surrounds. These A3's have the same clear high tones as the A1's but provide better lows. The soundstage is wonderful- wide, open and beautiful. The Veneer Finish is very attractive. The speaker is solid. My only complaint is the 'cheap' keyhole mounting attached to it. A speaker at this pricepoint should have a better option. Enclosed are 2 drywall screws for the keyhole mounting, lol. Talk about an accident waiting to happen. The speaker's size and weight are too much, imo, for a single drywall screw. Aside from the keyhole, wall mounting options are limited. Between the bi-pole speaker connectors and the power port, there is not much room. Wide Wall Mounts are recommended. With all that said, the speaker is wonderful and sounds great!

BriDown

Originally posted at

2013-12-08T19:00:00

At first i bougth these speaker for surround dutties hopping to buy floorstanders in future. Gues wat ? I never looked bc i just purchace two subs. These bookshelf are the best thing ul ever need

Nhlanhla

Originally posted at

2013-01-24T19:00:00

Just bought these for music listening. I've been using them as a B speaker stereo setup feeding by my Onkyo ht 3300. These speakers sounds so beautiful and I mounted them on the walls. Gradually I will complete the HT setup to Polk and will use them as my front speakers. Will buy CSi4 as a center and F/XiA4 as my surrounds after collecting a good money in my pocket :)

Dinesh

Originally posted at

2012-06-26T20:00:00

Before this I had TSi200 Polk audio speakers, were very high, then I purchased RTiA7, Excellent speakers but were power hungry. I would have purchased High powered amp. I had an amp OnkoyoVLC-A5 not fulfilling its demand. then I purchased RTiA3. Very good Book shelf speakers do not require too much space. High is very rich, mid is soft. what you can you expect from book shelf speakers is there.

Dr N.

Originally posted at

2012-05-13T20:00:00

Let me first say that like some other reviewers, I have not been active in the sound reproduction industry for quite some time. In fact, after my beloved AR 2ax speakers died from rheostat corrosion (the Achilles' heal for that speaker), I contented myself with headphones for several years, so I was uncertain how to proceed when I finally decided to switch back. I bought the RTiA3 based on advice from people on a sound restoration blog. I was not disappointed. Putting on a CD I had known for many years, the sound from these speakers blew me away. They have a wonderful three dimensionality to them that I never heard from my 2ax's and their about half the size!

Stewart G.

Originally posted at

2012-02-15T19:00:00

I've been a fan of Polk speakers since the early 90's and these A3s continue my love of Polk. Very well designed, reasonably priced and they handle the wide variety of music that I listen too. An awesome sounding bookshelf speaker.

Bill M.

Originally posted at

2012-02-03T19:00:00

So this review is also a comparison to my RTi A1?s. The high and midrange frequency presence is excellent, the low end clean and not overplayed. I mainly listen to Classical music where clarity is a must, and these RTi A3?s are outstanding! The linearity of frequency transition, highs to lows, is nearly seamless. There is a bit of a dip in midrange, as compared to my RTi A1?s, but as close to perfect as you can get. Now moving to more contemporary music, listening to Chicago?s ?Chicago Transit Authority? on CD, Question 67 & 68 absolutely blew me away! The opening which includes bass, percussion and horns hits solid and the clarity is amazing. Again, the low end, although a bit more present then with the RTi A1?s, is not overplayed and very natural sounding. Like the RTi A1?s, the Polk RTi A3 speakers will deliver in as nearly a perfect sound as you may find.

Michael C.

Originally posted at

2012-01-19T19:00:00

These speakers sound like mini floor standing models no distortion clean looks and sound all together perfect mids and crisp highs no need to lower the treble (to stop a loud county singers high pitch voice) is just clears everything to levels in which come out clean and clear. Excellent imagery expecially paired with a. Csi a6 center they match very well as far as designs and clarity.

Nathan b.

Originally posted at

2011-01-06T19:00:00

I've been listening to these speakers for 1.5 years now. I decided it's time to write a review, given how much I've enjoyed these speakers. They get better over time. Although this is obvious, it is very important to power them with a good, clean signal. The speakers have an amazing sound stage and provide a very solid amount of bass. If you are looking slamming bass, of course a sub is required. I actually love bass - but to my surprise I haven't felt the need to buy a sub! I listen to classic rock, hindi, gangsta rap, electronic, jazz - actually a wide range of music. These produce an amazing full sound with most music. I highly recommend these speakers if you're constrained for space or if you are purchasing your first set of "nice" speakers.

S G.

Originally posted at

2010-10-01T20:00:00

I am a dyed-to-the-wool british speaker fanatic because I abhor uncontrolled and wayward bass, midrange and treble profiles - very much the characteristic of most american speakers in the market at the entry/budget level category. Such acoustic profile sound great at first (perfect for parties actually), but once you run out of steam or get down serious, its fatiguing. Make no mistake, I've been weaned on american electronics ever since I learned how to listen to music when I was a toddler, my grandfather a proud owner of a renowned american speaker brand with the abbreviations AR which was the best sounding, well engineered and reasonably priced speaker at that time. Over the years, and several speaker pairs later, I've profiled american speakers as perfect for parties or rock jams, japanese speakers are perfect for classical and instruments, and if you want a balance of these, get the europeans - the british for that matter for their high price-performance ratio. Also, as personal experience have taught me from this audiophile journey, if you're in a budget - you deserve crappy sounding speakers, and if you want good sounding ones - be prepared to cough out a kidney or liver or other vital organs out to blackmarket sale. Let's just say the RTiA3 upped up the ante when it comes to sonic quality and pricing, a lost trait forgotten by the americans during the hippy days. This is my first day as a proud owner of a Polk Audio Speaker. You guys have restored my grandfather's mindset that speakers are supposed to sound good, look good inside and out, and costs a little. Thanks Matthew Polk, you earned a gold star in my books that speakers need not be expensive to sound great.

Juan R.

Originally posted at

2010-09-12T20:00:00

I have a 5 piece Dynaudio Audience (60/40/c120) speaker system and am very spoiled with its neutrality. Recently, I've had to buy a pair of bookshelf speakers (my wife's preference) for our living room and didn't want to spend as much as I paid for my Dyns. I put a $500 budget for whatever is best out there and tested models from PSB, KEF, Energy, Klipsch, and a lot more. I was blown away with the sound coming from these babies and for $400 it was a steal. They sounded almost (I say again, almost) like my Dyns for 1/3 the price. I played "Way Down Deep" by Jeniffer Warnes and my jaw dropped on hearing how these played the bass. One of the sales guys (who never heard this song) was very surprised to hear how deep they go. He thought I was testing it with a sub. :) Anyone wanting to build a good HT on a budget, trust me you'll love these!

apc

Originally posted at

2010-06-05T20:00:00

All I have to say Polk audio amazing you get what you pay for!

john

Originally posted at

2010-03-18T20:00:00

Finish: Super high quality, the real wood veneer is beautiful, the cabinet is very well put together, the grilles are solid and firm. These speakers are a no brainer at their price point. I love the port in the back and the new curved shape. Will be doing some detailed comparisons with my 7 year old Polk RTI 6's which are still running strong. Sound: what can I say. Balanced, musical, detailed, refined and punchy. Reminds me of Rega. These speakers play the music just right for whatever type you listen too. I compared them with the british brands MA, B&W, Mission...the French, Triangle and others. For their size and their price, there is no way I would consider anything else. The silk dome tweeters are better than before and provide much of the detail found in metal dome tweeters but you can actually listen to music for more than 5 minutes. The woofers display a liquid midrange which in my opinion, beats the 2-way popular models from MA and B&W. I've owned the MA RS series as well as the Gold series, I've also used the B&W 600 series and the CM series. These speakers are 90%-95% of the CM sound but they cost 3 times less. Plus the cabinets are real wood, you get a 5 year warranty and a person who will answer the phone. My Polks match well with Rotel, Roksan, Creek, Rega and Yamaha/Denon receivers, what else can I ask for.. Their consistency in performance and their ability to sound good with many types of cables is unparalleled. I will by the A1's, A5's and the center channel soon. The best speakers under $1000 period!

Ignacio M.

Originally posted at

2009-08-24T20:00:00

Got these speakers to replace my rt35 Polk audio speakers which kicked serious butt. Decided to go with these as a upgrade and didn't know what to expect in comparison. Well, There's no comparison these baby rock and handle my Onkyo 875 Receiver with no problems . I got these as my new fronts and my back and surround speakers r the Fxi A6 . Along with Polk Audio CSi A6 for the center channel and DSW PRO 500 Polk Audio as the sub. And my home theatre really, really rocks. Love it.

Ron

Originally posted at

2009-01-05T19:00:00

My endless quest for the "perfect" speaker may have ended, at least for awhile. I loved these little guys right out of the box. Having most recently used (for bookshelves) the PSB Image B25, I immediately noticed less boxiness and more body in all respects. These speakers are authoritative and have very respectable bass, although I will be using my sub at times. If one of the best tests is solo-piano sound, the A3's have passed with flying colors. Female vocals, too. A tad forward, to be sure, but not tizzy or tiring. Quite an achievement.

bugner

Originally posted at

2008-11-23T19:00:00

I also own the previous generation RTi6 speakers. These are an evolutionary improvement, more marked in style and less so in sound. So many of the reviews here are from self-professed audiophiles who toss around adjectives like Stereophile critics but... they're not. Subjective comments like "bright" or especially "better for HT" might be a little helpful to some, but that "brightness" is a measured 5db boost in the top octave and "better for HT" is pointless - a speaker should be a good reproducer of sound, and last I checked movies and music operated within the same audible frequency range. It's easy to let a few crazy people who think they know a lot more than they do about audio proselytize about cables, amplifiers, power cleaners, etc - but the fact of the matter is that for almost all of us (myself included) we want speakers that pull us into music, reveal all elements of a film soundtrack (especially dialog) and look nice while they do it. On those criteria, the Polk RTi A3 are an absolute home-run. I run them through a NAD C325BEE integrated amplifier and a bunch of different components (or "sources," if I wanted to sound like a silly man with a bunch of silly electronics). I find that the enhanced top end works really well with all but the most compressed sources; my LP collection sounds better than ever on these speakers, better than I've ever heard. These speakers are perfect for the fan of rowdy rock and roll, country, or anything with a little grit in it. Listen to some Neil Young or The Band's Music From Big Pink... you'll thank me. I've watched many many movies with these, and they deliver the goods. Watching Wall-E last night showed how deeply these extend (thanks to their largish cabinets) and I'm happy using them without a sub. I know I'm missing the bottom octave, but I don't touch a lot of pipe organ and the roll-off is so sweet anyway. Again, most of the self-proclaimed experts here and elsewhere will insist you need a sub to listen to music without the basic knowledge of music theory to know just how little music information exists below 40hz. I digress. In short, these are a roaring value that can be found almost anywhere. I prefer them to the LSi7 speakers in my room as their character is a lot more rocking. Up against the RTi6, they sound very very similar. I'm hard pressed to find differences; the A3s look a little smoother which might be why I thought they sounded smoother. Anyway, there are many choices from Paradigm, PSB, and Infinity that I like in this price range. I'll admit to choosing the A3s because I like their cabinets the best, and I don't regret it - they're great and I hope to get a decade out of them.

Ben

Originally posted at