Polk Audio RTI A7 Floorstanding Speakers Review
We’re not given to using unnecessary superlatives on hifi-reviews.com but in the case of the Polk Audio RTI A7 series speakers we’ll make an exception. Before I get down to brass tacks and share the technical ins and outs of the RTI A7s let me just say that these are some of best, most well rounded, warmest and all round kick ass floor standing speakers I’ve ever head the pleasure to listen to.
Sound
From the very moment we plugged these in we found them to have extremely accurate reproduction with a great warm sound, the RTI A7s have great stereo field imaging and as near to zero distortion as I’ve heard on systems in this price bracket (and to be honest in speakers a lot more expensive that shall remain nameless). We also found that as we continued to test these and they had a chance to “break in” they began to sound even warmer.
Polk Audio RTI-A7 black
Check Current pricing on Polk Audio RTI A7 speakers on Amazon
Build & Appearance
The RTI A7s have a nice heft a solid look the curved edges and real wood veneer give them a good modern sculpted look without making them look out of place in an every day rec room or study. The A7s are available in both black and cherry woood finishes.
Conclusions
We were beyond impressed with these speakers, they are incredible value for money and if you have the means I highly recommend picking up a pair. You will not be disappointed.
Manufacturers Specifications
A high-tech approach to accurate sound
This speaker’s carefully designed drivers undergo laser testing to help identify and eliminate resonance points, ensuring smooth, accurate response. Its asymmetric cabinet helps it deliver rich, clear sound by combating vibration and increasing rigidity. Polk’s exclusive PowerPort® technology reduces noisy air turbulence and increases low-frequency output. You’ll enjoy clear highs, rich bass, and open, natural-sounding midrange.
Additional high-end features
Two sets of gold-plated five-way binding posts let you biamp or biwire the RTi A7 for the best possible sound. An anti-diffraction grille helps it deliver a large, three-dimensional soundstage with pinpoint-accurate stereo imaging. Adjustable spikes provide stability on both carpeted and hardwood floors.
Dynamic Balance: Dynamic Balance is a proprietary Polk Audio technology using laser imaging to determine what combination of speaker materials create the least amount of resonance. Eliminating resonance in speakers results in a wide, smooth response and low distortion.
Polymer Composite Woofers: The speaker features two 7″ polymer composite woofers. Two 7″ woofers have the surface area of a single large woofer with the low mass and acceleration of small woofers, resulting in tighter, more accurate bass response. Each woofer uses a butyl rubber surround.
Polymer Composite Midranges: The speaker has one 6-1/2″ polymer composite midranges for smooth wide-range response with low distortion. For high performance durability, the midrange uses a butyl rubber surround.
Silk/Polymer Tweeter: The speaker has a single 1″ silk/polymer dome tweeter that provides clear, detailed highs. The tweeter features mylar bypass capacitors in the crossovers to extend high frequency response and improve detail and transparency. The tweeter also features low viscosity ferro-fluid cooling with a heat sink on the Neodymium magnet for superior heat dissipation, power handling and reliability.
Damped Asymmetric Hex Laminate (DAHLI) Cabinet Design: All-MDF construction with massive asymmetric cabinet bracing ensures a resonance-free enclosure for accurate sound. The asymmetric design is made from a 6-layer laminate with 5 viscous layers to create the optimal shear damping (OSD) system. The elegant styling aside, curved cabinets not only result in a stronger, more rigid and acoustically inert enclosure, but the curved walls also produce less audible coloration from panel resonances.
Power Port Venting System: The speaker has a rear-firing Power Port venting system built into its back plate for precise deep bass response. This venting system allows air velocity to slow gradually, vastly reducing air turbulence, and delivering greater bass efficiency than conventional ports.
Acoustic Resonance Control (ARC): Internal cabinet resonance can impart a “thick” character to voices. Polk’s patented Acoustic Resonance Control port system overcomes this problem. In addition to the Power Port venting system, the speaker has a front-firing port that is tuned to suppress the internal cabinet resonance, resulting in smooth, natural midrange reproduction.
Anti-Diffraction Grilles: The floating anti-diffraction grilles minimize grille diffraction for spacious, 3-dimensional imaging.
Dual 5-Way Binding Posts: The speaker has two sets of gold-plated 5-way binding posts connected by gold-plated jumpers. Using the dual 5-way binding posts, you can bi-amp or bi-wire the speakers.
Magnetically Shielded: The speakers are magnetically shielded, allowing you to place them near your television without distorting the picture.
Frequency Response: The overall frequency response is 20Hz-27kHz and the -3dB frequency response is 35-26kHz.
Adjustable Leveling Spike Feet: The adjustable leveling spike feet that can be screwed onto the bottom of the speaker’s attached base provide stability on any type of flooring. The spike feet adds approximately 0.875″ to the speaker’s overall height when screwed all the way in.
Dimensions: The main body of the speaker is 8.6875″ wide but the speakers attached feet extend beyond each side of the speaker, giving the speaker and overall width of 10.6875″.
Polk Audio RTI-A7 Cherry
Check Current pricing on Polk Audio RTI A7s (Cherry) on Amazon
Driver Complement
Subwoofer
2 – 7″ Diameter (17.78cm)
Polymer Composite with Rubber Surround
Midrange
1 – 6-1/2″ Diameter (16.51cm)
Polymer Composite Dynamic Balance with rubber surround
Tweeter
1 – 1″ Diameter (2.54cm)
Silk Polymer Composite Dome
Electrical
Overall Frequency Response: 20Hz-27kHz
Lower -3dB Limit: 35Hz
Upper -3dB Limit: 26kHz
Nominal Impedance: 8 ohms
Recommended Amplifier Power: 20-300 w/channel
Efficiency: 89 dB
Inputs: Dual (bi-amp)5-way binding posts
Details:
- video-shielded
- bass-reflex (ported) design
- frequency response 35-26,000 Hz (-3dB)
- handles 20-300 watts
- 1″ Dynamic Balance® silk/polymer tweeter
- 6-1/2″ Dynamic Balance polymer composite midrange
- dual 7″ Dynamic Balance polymer composite woofers
- PowerPort Plus technology improves bass response without introducing distortion
- 8-ohm impedance
- sensitivity 89 dB
- dual 5-way binding post terminals
- real wood veneer finish
- 10-11/16″W x 41-5/8″H x 18-1/4″D
- warranty: 5 years
- RRP: $649.95 per speaker (Check Current pricing on Polk Audio RTI A7 speakers on Amazon
)
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July 3, 2009
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Aiki В· 
10 Comments
Tags: Floorstanding Speakers, Polk Audio, RTI A7 В· Posted in: Speakers
10 Responses
Polk Audio RTI A1 Bookshelf Speakers Review | HiFi Reviews - July 22, 2009
[...] both with the grills on and off. I thought they stood up well to their more expensive cousins the Polk Audio RTI-A7 Speakers at lower volume levels. All in all the RTI-A1 speakers are well worth the money and if used in an [...]
Hello…i have jsut purchased an audiolab 8000 S amp…and was planning to pair the same with the RTI A7. Any one with a view on whether the pairing works or not? Cheers
I’ve not tried this combination but by the looks of the specifications and recommended set ups the AUDIOLAB 8000 Series Series amplifiers and the Polk Audio RTI A7s should be a great match. The RTI A7s are well able for whatever the 8000 S amp will throw at them (Up to 300 watts at 8 ohms). If you have a good experience with this setup I’d love to hear your thoughts about it.
THE POLKAUDIO RTI A7 ARE A GREAT SPEAKERS ,PUNCHY VIVID SOUND ALL THE WAY WITH ALL KIND TYPE OF MUSIC. GREAT WITH ROCK AS WELL AS WITH CLASSIC MUSIC. CHERRY FINISH AND GREAT BULDINGS.REAL STRONG WOOD, AND MOST OF ALL;GREAT SOUND.
THE BASS IS FULL AND PUNCHY AND I DONT NEED ANY SUB.NOT AT ALL.
MY POLK RTIA7 WORKING GREAT WITH MY ROTEL RA-1070(100WPC).
ALSO ROCK GREAT WITH MY HARMAN-KAEDON HK 3480(120WPC),BUT NOT SO WELL WITH MY NAD C372(150WPC).
MY NAD AMP. C372 WORKING VERY GOOD WITH MY POLK RTI6(GREAT BOOKSHELF SPEAKERS)
I ALSO OWEN POLK LSI9 BUT THE POLK RTAI7 IS GREAT FULL ALL AROUND FREE STANDING SPEAKRES!!!
POLK RTIA7 AND AUDIOLAB 8000 AMP. GREAT MATCH.
I got them yesterday. They are divine. Getting better by the hour. More than yesterday, less than tomorrow – I suppose. Only regret – wasted 18 years with Bose.
polkaudio has few great speakers:
lsi 9
rti6
rti A7
AND NOW THE NEW LSI M !!!
I’m seriously considering the rti A7′s I have a NAD C372 AMP
Meir mentioned they don’t sound so good with this AMP. I’d be interested to find out more details as to why he thinks this.
Interesting. Do you mean John Meyer? Can you point me at the article/post where he said that? Id be interested in reading his opinion. Cheers,
i have been very happy with my rti a7s. at first i used a integra 6.9 bi-amped its about 180 wpc. and now i use a simaudio titan with a simaudio processor. they sound better the louder i turn them up!
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