Floorstanding
This product is a vintage Polk model and is not available for sale, but it may still be available in some stores as a closeout or used product. The following text is taken from the original sales brochure for this product and does not reflect current availability. If you happen to have any question or concerns about this product, or any other Polk Audio product, feel free to contact our Customer Service Department at 1-800-377-7655 Monday - Friday, 9am - 5:30pm EST
RTi12
High output floorstanding loudspeaker
Real Wood, Real High Performance
REAL WOOD, REAL HIGH PERFORMANCE
Why settle for vinyl speakers when you can have the warmth and beauty of real wood at the same price, with speakers from the RTi Series. They are wonders of industrial design: real wood, radiant with metallic highlights and racing car lines. Classic Polk performance in a design that speaks to today's high-end home décor. True performance art.
INNOVATIVE DESIGN
The new standard in all out musical performance, the RTi12 floorstanding loudspeaker is the epitome of "Real Wood, Real High Performance." Its three 7" woofers benefit from having the surface area of a single large woofer with the low-mass and acceleration of small woofers. So RTi12 bass response is tighter, punchier, more accurate; accentuated by the addition of PowerPort Plus Bass Venting Technology.
- Three 7" woofers have the surface area of a single large woofer with the low-mass and acceleration of small woofers, for a high force-to-mass ratio -- bass response is tighter, punchier, more accurate.
- Dynamic Balance® polymer composite drivers for smooth wide-range response with low distortion.
- PowerPort® Plus bass venting for superior clean, low distortion bass that you can really feel.
- 1" silk dome tweeter with a neodymium magnets for clear, detailed highs; heat-sinked (shown right) for superior heat dissipation, power handling and reliability.
- Dual, bi-ampable gold-plated 5-way binding post inputs (with wide holes for large-gauge bare wire connections) for the most secure connections and the most versatile wiring applications.
- Butyl rubber surrounds for high performance durability
- Acoustically inert stamped driver baskets.
- Floating anti-diffraction grilles minimize grille diffraction for spacious, 3-dimensional imaging.
- Magnetic shielding for safe placement near video sources.
- Mylar bypass capacitors in the crossovers extend high frequency response and improve detail and transparency.
- Acoustic Resonance Control (ARC Port) technology for more natural midrange reproduction.
Anti-Resonant Enclosure
- All-MDF construction with massive asymmetric cabinet bracing ensures resonance-free enclosures for accurate sound. (Cutaway view of RTi12 shown left, bracing is similar on other RTi models)
- Adjustable leveling feet in an outrigger base to provide stability on any type of flooring.
- Real Wood finishes at vinyl prices.
PowerPort® Plus
Driver Complement | |
|---|---|
| Tweeter | |
| Quantity | 1 |
| Diameter | 1" (2.54cm) |
| Type | Silk/Polymer composite dome |
| Midrange | |
| Quantity | 2 |
| Diameter | 5 1/4" (13.34cm) |
| Type | Polymer Composite Dynamic Balance with rubber surround |
| Subwoofer | |
| Quantity | 3 |
| Diameter | 7" (17.78cm) |
| Type | Polymer Composite with Rubber surround |
Electrical | |
|---|---|
| Total Frequency Response | 18Hz-27kHz |
| Upper -3dB Limit | 26 kHz |
| Lower -3dB Limit | 30 Hz |
| Nominal Impedance | 8 ohms |
| Efficiency | 90 dB |
| Crossover | |
| Mid-High Array Crossover | 1.8kHz, 12dB/octave low and high pass. 120Hz 12dB/octave high pass |
| Subwoofer Crossover | 120Hz, 12dB/octave low pass |
| Recommended Amplifier Power | 50-500 watts per channel |
| Inputs | Dual (bi-amp) gold plated 5-way binding posts |
Amplifier Specs | |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Type | 0 |
Dimensions | |
|---|---|
| Cabinet Dimensions | |
| Height | 50 1/8" (127.32cm) |
| Width | 7 3/4" (19.68cm) |
| Depth | 21" (53.34cm) |
| Enclosure Type | |
| Mid-High Array Enclosure Type | Sealed |
| Subwoofer Enclosure Type | Ported via Power Port Plus |
Shipping | |
|---|---|
| Total Shipping Weight | 88.00 pounds |
| Included Accessories | Outrigger levelling/carpet spikes |
Warranty | |
|---|---|
| Speaker Warranty | 5 years parts and labor |
Specifications, dimensions and features subject to change without notice. For more information call us at 1-800-377-7655 (USA and Canada). Outside of North America call +1 (410) 358-3600.
Customer Reviews
73 reviews with an average of 5
Write your own reviewby Chris, October 27, 2008
8 out of 13 people found this review helpful.Strengths:
Sound quality
Weaknesses:
Flimsy grills so be carefull when moving them. I cracked one by holding it in the middle. Superglue will take care of it. Don't be mister maucho when moving the 88lbs speaker alone.
Review:
How could anyone give these speakers less than 5 stars? You will hear minute details you never heard before. An amp or sub isn't needed with a decent receiver like the avr-987 but the bass is enhanced with a good amp. I listen to more music with these speakers.
by Tom Zarbo, November 21, 2006
5 out of 8 people found this review helpful.Strengths:
Soundstage and Imaging
Weaknesses:
Low bass really isn't there (need subwoofer, even for just music)
Review:
I've had the Rti-12's for over a year, and I think that they are among the clearest sounding speakers for under $2,000. In the store, and at home the bass seems to be lacking a bit, not much, but a subwoofer is a necessity in my opinion, even if just used for music. I doubt the advertised 30 Hz low end on these speakers as published. It doesn't matter though, these speakers are clean sounding even at unbearable volumes, and they never complain with unnatural noises, ever. At loud volumes with bass-heavy music, the woofers hardly move at all, so with all those woofers producing bass, less is required of each woofer, thereby reducing distortion. The idea works well. These speakers play clean. When you close your eyes and listen to a favorite piece of music, they disappear... You literally can't tell where the speakers are without looking. The sound stage seems to include all the area in between them, and extends to several feet on either side of each speaker. It really is a super imaging system. I opted for the cherry finish, and it's flawless, just beautiful. I will own these for my entire life (Lord willing) and be happy with them!
by Anthony, October 17, 2003
4 out of 7 people found this review helpful.Strengths:
Soft, Clean, Detailed and Tight. Did I mention Full?
Weaknesses:
If there is one weakness to the RTi12, it has to be the weight and the size. I live in a small home, and I'll have to readjust the furniture to get them in.
Review:
Let me be the first to review the new Polk RTi12 loudspeaker. My brother-in-law owns an audio/video retail outlet, so I have an opportunity to try all the latest gear any time I get the urge. I compared the RTi12’s and the competition using a plethora of amps, receivers, DVD and CD players. I set up the equipment in the test room so that I could toggle the speakers through a speaker selection switch. As such, I avoided possible questions about the relative differences in the source gear. I’ll start off by saying that I was the biggest proponent of Paradigm loudspeakers on this side of the planet, but after hearing the new RTi12, my loyalty has swayed. My listening session lasted about 8 hours total – with several breaks in between. I compared them to every Paradigm loudspeaker in the store (all Studio and Monitor series), and the Polk came out on top every time. This new Polk unit will scare the competition. The sound is soft, has tremendous depth, great detail, and fills the room. I have never believed that price equals quality, however, the asking price, compared to the competition, seems reasonable. I’m not an expert audio/video critic (as my review demonstrates), but all else being equal, I’ll take this over the Paradigm every time. Keep in mind that I used both jazz and classical source material to compare the loudspeakers. I’m not sure that rock/dance/metal/movies will reveal clear differences.
by Rodney Tyson, November 15, 2006
2 out of 6 people found this review helpful.Strengths:
Good bass and clarity through all ranges. Very nice for a medium to large room.
Weaknesses:
A Denon DRA-685 with a 12 band equilizer will cook the tweeters and mids at a volume of 1/2 to 3/4. I have done this three times.
Review:
RTi12's are great speakers. The overall sound is amazing. Great clarity with piano music and rock as well. I have a Denon DRA-685 for power.
by Toni B, November 22, 2006
2 out of 5 people found this review helpful.Strengths:
Beautiful design. Absolutely fabulous sound. No sub- YES- NO SUB NEEDED!!
Weaknesses:
Grills. Don't take them on and off. Feet. Carefull, they're plastic. Hard to maneuver because of their weight and size.
Review:
After reading some postings about the 12's lack of bass I felt compelled to write my own review.The 12's actually can produce a prodicious amount of bass- provided you run A LOT of juice to them.Also make sure that your pre/pro is set up for front speakers LARGE. I am running 2 Audiosource AMP300's in mono to each of my 12's and those three 7 inch woofers are BARKING!!These amps are rated at 470 watts RMS each in mono. If your woofers are'nt moving or you can't FEEL air coming from your ports, you are starving these behemoths of the power they need. Couple 1 or 2 powered subs and you have enough bass to make the local club come knocking to tell you to turn it down. These speakers are gorgeous, loud ,and CLEAR! Please don't hesitate to buy them. Good work PolkAudio.
by Glenn Menard, December 25, 2003
1 out of 4 people found this review helpful.Strengths:
crisp, clear highs; extremely accurate voice reproduction; tight bass that will fill your room.
Weaknesses:
What, only THREE woofers per speaker! Come on, you could have fit another one in there somewhere!
Review:
I am in the process of upgrading my home theatre system and knowing it would have the most impact, I started with the main and center speakers first. I first spied the RTi12's while browsing for speakers on line and could tell from their contstruction that these weren't "your father's Oldsmobile". I looked in my area for a set on display so that I could hear them, but did not find any, probably because they are a fairly new design. I must admit, I didn't look as hard as I could because I had some polk products before and knew the engineers at Polk Audio wouldn't let their consumers down. I ended up purchasing them sight unseen (sound unheard?) along with a CSi5 center channel speaker. While I don't claim to be knowledgable enough to qualify as a true audiophile, I certainly know what sounds good and these speakers are amazing! After hooking them up I listened to everything from a digital master of Pink Floyd's "Dark Side of the Moon" to the sound track from "Cats" and excerpts from just about all types of music in between. Incredible sound! At first they just put a huge smile on my face and blew me away. The more I listened, the more convinced I was that I had made the right choice. The highs are crisp and clear, the voice reproduction is extremely accurate, and the bass is very tight (no lingering sound here!). I figured it was time to give the CSi5 some equal time, so I started wathching the first "Lord of the Rings" movie. Again, there was no doubt in my mind that I had made the right choice. The timbre-matched speaker was very accurate. Every nuance and whisper could be clearly heard. Bottom line: If you're like me and want champagne, but have a beer budget, you're not going to get more for your money than you will with the RTi12's!!
by B Rader, July 30, 2005
1 out of 4 people found this review helpful.Strengths:
Excellent sound reproduction, a must for movie fans!
Weaknesses:
Very large! MAKE SURE YOU TURN THEM UPSIDE DOWN BEFORE YOU OPEN THE BOX! If not, the plastic on the bottom of the speaker will split. The feet must be put on before you stand these up. They also have cheap grill covers made of plastic. Be very careful removing it. You may never want to go to a theater again after purchasing these.
Review:
An excellent looking and sounding speaker. It is very large and was obviously meant for bigger rooms. The sound is clearer and more defined than all of my local cinemas. You will not go wrong nuying these as they are the cream of the crop in mid to entry level Polks!
by Jim, March 10, 2007
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.Strengths:
Biampable, capable of high output, clear across the freq range, cost competitive.
Weaknesses:
Polk could be more specific about power requirements in their literature at their web site. I benefitted from these comments, but it could have said more.
Review:
I read all reviews before my purchase. Both for these and the LSi series. Consulted experts and learned alot. Polk customer support also gave me their opinion regarding power necessary to best enjoy these the way they were meant to be used. The plastic feet were cones that screw in to crossmembers which were better than I pictured based on reviews. They should be fine unless abused. Grills are flimsy, but probably designed that way to be transparent to the sound. I had to remove the grill of the CSi5's to remove the packaging material. It was possible to do this and maintain the grills by being careful (thanks to reading reviews ahead of time). I power my RTi12's by biamping Adcom GFA 5503 (200 wpc for woofers) and GFA 535 (60 wpc for tweeters). These amps I bought on line for $850 total. Polk says this is first rate set up for these speakers and it did not require me to open the speakers or defeat the internal crossovers (as Polk literature advises - see biamping). There is alot to be said for why this is a good set up. I don't have room. It has alot to do with distortion and "sound coloring" by high current amps themselves. The result is that I am totally satisfied with the RTi12's and CSi5. I have older speakers for the rear channels which are not worth spending $500 to upgrade to me. The RTi12's do sound better as they are turned up to an aggressive volume (you can hear the detail better). Especially good were CD recordings of Classical Thunder I (really demonstrates the clarity of all frequencies) and Classic Rock (very satisfying deep bass response). I have a 250 wpc subwoofer, but it got lost in the high volume rock music. I heard it again during the home theater DVD's. The sub is appreciated for home theater, but probably not necessary for listening to hard rock at aggressive volumes in fact you might overdrive it and not know it. The RTi12's will probably play by using a receiver (I have a HK AVR65 (65wpc high current amp)), but until you use external high current amps like the ADcom's, I do not believe these speakers will be worth the money. (Beware of thinking an IC amp like Sony (120 wpc) or comparable will be adequate. They do not compare to high current amps.) Once you power them adequately as I have, they are everything you could want in a speaker for either home theater, or loud rock music. I purchased RTi12's instead of the LSi25's because I felt the three smaller woofers would respond quicker and give much better bass response. I am glad I did. You would think the 10" woofer would give better low end response, but the three 7" woofers do remarkable. For those who didn't rate these very high, especially for lack of bass response, I have to conclude they probably were not using enough high current power. Unless you have the high current amp power to drive these, or intend to upgrade you amps to eventually have such power, these speakers will probably not be worth the money and you should get LSi9's or RTi8's. I am at the age I can afford the set up I have. This is my first set of speakers costing over $100 each, and first time using external amps. I feel this set up will last me the next 20 years. Be careful buying old speakers, they might develop dry rot after a few years. I was very tempted to buy used 3000p's (with powered woofers) which might have been good for many years, but I am satisfied with the new RTi12's. Harmon Kardon AVR65 for processing signals Adcom GFA 5503 for CSi5 and woofers of RTi12's Adcom GFA 535 for RTi12 tweeters HSU 250 wpc sub Yamaha 50 wpc rear surrounds driven by AVR65 No neighbors near enough to disturb. Not recommended for apartment use. Knock's the pictures off the walls!
by Willie, November 17, 2007
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.Strengths:
Accurate Bass, detailed highs and mids Value and overall food sounding speaker
Weaknesses:
Bass is fast,but not as detailed as the LSI 25's.
Review:
I purchased these speakers for a second system in my house that is used with a Rotel RB 1090 Amp; Adcom GFP 750 Pre-Amp; Arcam CD72T CD Player; Cambridge D500SE CD Player; Musical Fidelity A3.24 DAC; Musical Fidelity Tube Buffer and Power Supply. My cables are Nordost Red Dawn Balanced from the Pre AMP to AMP and Nordost Red Dawn and Nordost Baldur RCA's. I am actually using a Single Bi-Wire Set up on the speakers with a pair of Audioquest Gibraltar speaker cables. Surprisingly, I have not been a fan of Audioquest cables, but the Gibraltars work very will the Rotel Amp and Polk Speakers. For the reproduction of music at this price point, there is not a better bargain. These speakers require an amplifier with a lot reserves and high current capability. These speakers are not for the casual receiver user with low wattage. In fact, too little power will blow your speakers due to the added distortion played through the speakers. I also own the LSI 25's as well which I am using with a Classe CA2200 Power Amp, Ayre K5XE Pre Amp, and Ayre CX7E with Balanced cables throughout with Nordost Heimdall's and Straight Wire Maestro's Speaker Cables Bi-Wire Set 2 pairs (4 in total)connected to the the LSI 25's. From a comparison standpoint between the two speakers. To me, the LSI 25's have more detail (Highs and Mids), better bass definition and pitch than the RTI12's. Do not get me wrong, the RTI 12's have accurate bass, detailed highs and midrange, but The Ring Tweeter on the LSI'25 gives it the edge; the higher end equipement provides a little help as well. Prior to buying the LSI 25's in 2004; the RTI12's in 2007, I listened to various brands including B&W 800 series, Aerial Acoustics 7B and 9t's, and Martin Logan Summits. Which is pretty good company to be with. However, I chose my speakers based on sound reporduction and value. I really like the B&W 803D and 802D's, but the price differential was not worth the extra dough. Perhaps, I'll used these speakers for a while!!! Good Job on Sound Reproduction and Quality.
by Kelly Miller, December 14, 2010
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.Strengths:
Clear pure sound
Weaknesses:
the weight, for lack of a real reason, but the weight is what helps drive the Bass into the house floors/walls.
Review:
I have the Harmon Kardon AVR 7200 to push these and there is no shortage of power. When I run a Professional audio Tune-up test from the Video Essentials NTSC DVD,the sub starts sooner and clearer then my 10" Velodyne powered sub,($2800. new). There is absolutely NO distortion. When running the frequency tests,the sounds are beyond my ears. I can clearly notice the speakers kick in around 40 Hz,well, I can feel the room shake,but cannot audibly hear the tone until about 80. The spike feet do their job! At the upper end,I stop hearing around 22,000 Khz,but I can see from my dogs face,her ears rise,I know the speakers are still going strong through the 27,000 Khz signal sent from the test. The SACD's I have; sound the best I've ever heard and the frequency from them is way beyond the human ear (Personally I don't see the purpose of this format since no one can hear up to 100,000 Khz) Despite this rating only being on the newer models, this Monitor is NO less a speaker then anything Polk has now or in the future.
by Drummerchaotic, December 23, 2012
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.Strengths:
Amazing sound stage.
Weaknesses:
Power hungry.
Review:
I am truly amazed at how the speakers sound. To be honest I didn't really think they would be that much better than my vega's, I was really surprised, they blew my veg's out of the water. The soundstage on the speakers is amazing, not just left to right but front to back also making for the absolute best that I have ever had in my possession, I love these, and I really like the fact I don't have to crank these to enjoy ( never thought I'd say that), but when you want to the blow the roof off turn up the volume and they will deliver. They only thing I can say bad is they are power hungry, I used a hundred watt per channel adcom and the speakers begged for more power so I hooked up my 200 wpc adcom it really brought the bass out so I would have to say these speakers are power hungry even tho polk states that 50 wpc is enough to drive them, I would say 200 wpc minimum for these to make the bass sound as bass should sound it was a little weak with the 100 wpc amp. All in all I just could not be happier and now I am a huge polk fan. Buy these!!!
by Jim, December 23, 2012
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.Strengths:
Good sound quality for the money. Able to handle any type of music.
Weaknesses:
These speakers are very power hungry. You need at least 200w to get them going.
Review:
Overall in my opinion, for the money I feel these are great speakers. I've ran mine on amplifiers from Marantz to Classe'. These speakers sound better the more power you put into them.
by Michael, May 1, 2013
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.Strengths:
Extremely Dynamic and Realistic Natural Sounding. Extremely Accurate Definition of all Instruments. Outstanding Crossovers.
Weaknesses:
Very Rigid Drivers for extremely High Concert Level Listening. Some Average Quality recording tracks may need some Loudness Boost on Low level listening due to the Rigid Rock Solid Build of these Monsters.
Review:
I wrote a review on these on Nov. 29th 2009 and I still just love these Baby's. I've read some mixed reviews on these, mostly positive however some people trying to understand these coming alive under higher power and volumes. In many respects this is true. However I believe it is because these drivers are so rigid and do need to be powered to make them move. I've noticed this with Best of CD's, Example Blue Oyster cult. Some cuts, the recording is Slightly below average on Oomph on the kick Drum and bass so the track sounds a little weak of Flat. Other tracks are perfect. The answer with these is Loudness boost on low Volume to push these rigid baby's. My Kenwood KR-V6040 Receiver does not have any Boost or loudness(Also 4Channel Stereo with 2 Ch Dolby surround) and at 110 Watts/per ch. Drives them very loud at just 1/5 Volume. My preference is fine without Loudness however. I may upgrade later and find this feature to be an option however on my next 7.2 Receiver. I have yet to even bring the RTI12's to half volume due to size of my living room however my acoustics are very good and the deep defined bass these create, I must emphasize DEFINED because you can hear every note on how each instrument is played. These Towers also have extremely excellent crossovers in them so the music is very Natural and defined. You can clearly hear the instrument notes / separation in the definition. I wanted to really say that these Drivers are very Rigid and need either a good recording, or Low volume Boost if they are not pushed a little. Hope this helped. Thanks again POLK for a Classic and Awesome Sounding and Looking Loudspeaker Legend.
by Warren Touchette, April 3, 2004
0 out of 3 people found this review helpful.Strengths:
Incredable detail and range. Very low frequencies are extremely attainable with the right power supply. Denon Yamaha Marantz Nakamichi etc. simply will not show off these speakers. Seperate amps are an absolute must.
Weaknesses:
Expensive power supply is required but I must say it was like finding a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow once set up with a powerful enough amp!!!
Review:
After listening to jm lab,totem,monitor audio,paradigm,mirage and few others need not mentioning I managed to come to the conclusion that there was truly nothing out their that offered everything thr RTI12 had to offer for the price. I do however have to say that the consumer with a home theatre reciever will not get the range or authority out of these that they posess with the right amplification. Bottom line is that if you truly want to here these speakers run a good power supply as I hooked them up to a Denon 3802 and I was very dissapointed, however after conecting them to a Bryston 4B they came to life with an unbelievable level of punch and detail that came across as smooth as butter with vocals to die for!!!
by D Shaw, April 22, 2004
0 out of 3 people found this review helpful.Strengths:
Power handling, bass response, clarity, overall build quality, aesthetically pleasing.
Weaknesses:
Is the rear plastic port shroud really providing any benefit? The bottom front cover plate can have the tabs break off easily; don't remove them, there's no reason to!
Review:
I've listened to various speakers: Infinity, Klipsch, Definitive Technologies, JBL, and Bose. I really believed I would end up with a pair of Infinity Alpha 50s because of their CMMD, good sound, and I have an all-Infinity set up. Klipsch were very clear and focused, but a tad bright and more expensive. I heard the RTi12s at Circuit City from a salesperson who really knows his stuff (he does pro installation on the side). He highly recommended them. The sound test and the price sold me. I didn't plan on spending $1k for the pair, but they retail for much more and I didn't need a subwoofer since these play down to 30Hz (not 18Hz). Why spend $700 for a front pair and $300 for an inadequate sub? Buy these, and eventually buy a quality sub that plays down to 20Hz. I do agree with the other reviewer that a quality amp/receiver is required. I've tried a Denon 2803, Yamaha RX-V1400, Onkyo TX-NR800, and a Harman-Kardon AVR-525. The HK is rated the 'weakest' at 70watts/ch. but sounds better than all the others. It is heavier than the others too, and I attribute this to the power supply/transformer. The Polks are really great sounding and powerful! I now need to replace my center channel Infinity with the CSi5.
by shawn, July 9, 2004
0 out of 3 people found this review helpful.Strengths:
i have a denon avr-3805 rated at 120 per channel and let me tell you ,you dont need monster power to make these things shine!
Weaknesses:
speaking for my self i have not found one... polk rti12s are awewsome!!!
Review:
all i have to say is the polk rti12 loud speaker are the best ive heard in a long long time.....
by Lee Askew, July 22, 2004
0 out of 3 people found this review helpful.Strengths:
Superb Sound, Clarity, Depth Build quality.
Weaknesses:
Absolutely None. Get someone to help you lift them, they are heavy buggers.
Review:
Well I have Just installed my new RTi12's. And I gota say I have been blown away by these speakers. They look (and sound) great. I got the cherry wood finish, and am very happy. They weight a few pounds, so if you gota pick them up take a friend with you to help. I originally ordered RTi10's and were happy with them, but due to a slight mixup (to long to go into here) I was offered an upgrade to the 12's. I gota say that I was happy with the 10's that I initially received as I had heard them instore so I knew what I was getting. A nice clear sound reasonable bass (my sub's on backorder) plus they didnt have the 12's instore and they were a little outside my budget anyways. Getting back to the 12's, I set then up expecting them to sound somewhat better, but was completely BLOWN AWAY by how good these things sound. If I had have heard the 12's initially I would have had to have bought them and hung the price. I wanted speakers which would not only sound great for home theatre but would also sound fantastic when playing a music cd. I have heard many speakers which are great for home theatre but simply put, 'die in the backside' when playing a music cd. I was jumping out of my skin. The 12's fit the bill perfectly. I agree with a previous posting. I have a Denon 3805 (a superb unit) (120watts per channel) and its VERY LOUD! Loud enough for the next door neighbour to come and have a listen. A 120watt amp will certainly drive these babies. But as everyone knows, sheer sound volume isnt everything. I put my favourite Fleetwood Mac cd on, powered up the amp and sat back to enjoy. Fleetwood has never sounded better. Crystal clear vocals, the power of the subs are superb they add a soft richness which fills the room. It sounds like they are playing for real in my living room so to speak, you can hear every instrument. I'm matching the 12's with a 505 sub, CSi5 centre and Rti 4's for surround and rears. I cant wait for the sub & centre to arrive from backorder for the full home theatre experience. I loaded up TopGun for a 5channel stereo config only config and was once again blown away, I cant wait till I get the full theatre setup completed. I still cant believe the difference between the 10's and the 12's, I still like the 10's but the 12's are on another level. I will post an update when its all setup. If you are considering either the Rti8/10 or 12's, hang the extra $$$ and goto the 12's, I can safely guarentee that you wont be disapointed the 12 are worth the extra.
by Robert Jackson, November 20, 2004
0 out of 3 people found this review helpful.Strengths:
Nice flat response. Deep bass you would find in some of the older vintage speakers,way before hometheater and the powered sub. Good price
Weaknesses:
Plastic
Review:
I collect speakers for a hobby. It has been a while sence I had a polk in my house. I have been on a vintage thing for bit. Buying up ebay. It has been a long time since I have heard a new speaker that has impressed me without paying a arm and a leg for. I just bought me a pair and I am impressed. I use late 70S receivers from the receiver wars. (pioneer sx1980,sansui,marantz) So sub is not needed. Plenty of power. These things really sound great for the money. and They can handle the power of some of the big boys.Recomended.
by Fredrick Campbell, November 20, 2004
0 out of 3 people found this review helpful.Strengths:
Great separation, tight bass, clear vocals, etc... And aesthetically pleasing to boot. No sub required.
Weaknesses:
If you find one, a real one, let me know.
Review:
These are the best speakers for the money anywhere. The sound is excellent leaving you with nothing desired. No matter your taste, these are the speakers to buy. I bought these on a whim. How?, I had a pair of RT800i and was please with them, but had the urge to upgrade. What a wonderfully fulfilling whim. I consider myself a music lover with probably the most eclectic taste of anyone. To put these to their paces, I listened to R&B (R. Kelly & Usher), Rap (Old School), Hip-Hop (50 cent), Jazz (Candy), Rock (Steve Miller band), Easy-Listening (James Taylor & Barry Manilow), Disco (Various), Country (Randy Travis) and more. After catching my breath and calling my uncle to tell him of my life changing listening experience, I decided to try them with my home theather. Again, they left me lifeless. System used to review: Yamaha RX-V3000 Integra DPS-8.3 DVD Player Polk Audio RM7500 with PSW650 subwoofer
by Tropic-Al, December 31, 2004
0 out of 3 people found this review helpful.Strengths:
Detailed highs.Impressive lows.Aesthetic appeal for most looking for a tower.
Weaknesses:
**EXTREMELY**flimsy (plastic) grilles.Matching wood grilles would have been better.
Review:
This is quite a beautiful speaker both with and without the grill.The silver face is really a matter of love it or hate it.Aesthetically in my opinion the silver matches most of the newer tv's out there.The sound is crisp with very detailed highs and good lows.This 88lb. tower has a very suprisingly small "footprint".Even in a small room it will not stick out to far from the walls, unless of course you mated them to a wall hung plasma.In my opinion a speaker this size looks best next to a widescreen rptv where the height of it will not domineer a smaller direct view model.Beautiful design with impressive sound :)
by Darius, February 20, 2005
0 out of 3 people found this review helpful.Strengths:
Detail Midrange Response, tight bass and awsome looks!
Weaknesses:
Plastic grills, DO NOT TAKE THEM OFF UNLESS YOU HAVE TO!
Review:
Awsome speakers! Wonderful midrange response and tight bass. Before this i own a pair of BNW 803 which i sold to purchase this speakers and i tought those were great, polk out did themselves on this speakers. BNW are so expensive and over rated, you must demo this speakers and see the difference. I got a great deal on this from JR Music, i can finally appreciate my Rotel Amps. GREAT job Polk!
by Steve Borkowski, March 7, 2005
0 out of 3 people found this review helpful.Strengths:
Excellent full range of sound. Silk tweeter keeps very high frequencies crisp, but not shrill. Extended low end response to 18hz is tight, not booming. Mid bass has just the right amount of warmth to convey good transient attack without being boxy. Ability to bi-amp these speakers is a plus.
Weaknesses:
Can't think of a single one.
Review:
My brother in law blew me away with his Bowers and Wilkens speakers he has. I was looking for something as close to that as possible, but within my budget. I auditioned Klipsch, Infinity, JBL, Definitive, Sapphire, and KEF. When I heard the Polks, I was astounded. The clarity and richness of sound was amazing! They actually sound better at home than at the store! There are almost no words to describe how good these speakers are. You can hear the subtle vibrations of the strings in a upright bass, the delicate attack of a cloth covered mallet striking a drum, true spatial separation between left and right with all sounds correctly positioned in between. We purchased the cherry speakers and they look like a fine piece of furniture.
by Sath Men, April 14, 2005
0 out of 3 people found this review helpful.Strengths:
High quality built, incredible mids response, and as said beautiful piece furniture, very reasonable value.
Weaknesses:
I've found none.
Review:
What can I say, switching from Bose Acc.15 cube to rti12. The Rti12 floorstanding, Csi5 center, rti6 surround are incredible speakers package, a perfect companion with rich, crisp sounds. With my Denon 4800's, you don't have to be an audiophile savvy to notice the clarity, the tightness of its bass, and the mix range. Bass? I no longer need my Velodyne sub unless I want to knock my pictures off the wall. Plus, they are good looking speakers with or without grilles, for me especially, when I set them alonside my 10' fp screen, and its cherry colour blends gracefully with my cherry floor.
by David, May 21, 2005
0 out of 3 people found this review helpful.Strengths:
To me no sub needed.
Weaknesses:
This is really not a weakness but to get best performance (true with any speaker of this size an type)give them power. I'm runnig Adcom GFA 535 2 @ 65 Per. Sounds good! There saying give me more. Time to do an upgrade on the amp.
Review:
More I listen the more pleased I'am! Good depth imaging of music and home theater. I like music in 2 channel stereo. These do the job!
by Mr. Sevilla, July 29, 2005
0 out of 3 people found this review helpful.Strengths:
Oh my God....This is the Heaven. Nevermind with this, I don´t want go out from my room. i have 3100 cds and all that sounds better. I love the progressive rock and this speaker rules...Is the best from polk to my. great value.
Weaknesses:
None.
Review:
Incredible sound. Rti 12 Front Rti 8 Surround Csi 5 Center Psw 505 Bass Wow...I can tell one thing...This Rti12 are best than Lsi25 and cheaper...Oh, yeah.
by Freddie, August 7, 2005
0 out of 3 people found this review helpful.Strengths:
Great work Polk...
Weaknesses:
None-
Review:
Wow..."Thick is a brick" from jethro Tull never sound like now...
by K.D. Pearce, August 18, 2005
0 out of 3 people found this review helpful.Strengths:
Over all good construction.
Weaknesses:
Weak grills.
Review:
Replace a pair of Bose 901's with these, and I couldn't be happier. I'm pushing these with a pair of pre-amp and a control amp, for a total of 650 watts. They really come to life at about 400 watts. It's a pure joy to lisen to them.
by G. Navarro, September 14, 2005
0 out of 3 people found this review helpful.Strengths:
Wide and flat response. Good clarity everywhere. Great looking. Reasonable price too! They sound super impressive at just a Watt or two, but hit em with 100W and you'll smile!
Weaknesses:
Since these things never seem to struggle even with my amp going way over it's 0dB rating, I'm on the hunt for a larger amp!!
Review:
Coupled with my Onkyo Integra 165 WPC power amp these things absolutely create the best sounding music I've ever heard! The depth is far superior to my Klipsch units that are now relegated to AV duty. Furthermore, the Klipsch units run out of steam at loud levels and just get irritating. The Polk's on the other hand, just get more impressive as the volume goes up. The bass is super clean and FEELS more like a high quality sub. Great job, Polk!
by Greg, September 20, 2005
0 out of 3 people found this review helpful.Strengths:
Good price.
Weaknesses:
None. Don't worry about the grills. True, they are somewhat delicate. Just take your time removing or installing them.
Review:
I can not believe how well these things deliver crisp highs, smooth mids and tight bass. I'm driving them with a Pioneer Elite VSX-74TXVI (140W per channel) and they sound better the harder I drive them. I can not wait to bi-amp them. I cannot imagine ever needing to upgrade. You have to see them in person. The pictures do not do them justice. They are truly works of art. I admire them everytime I walk by them. (No, I don't work for Polk!)
by Adrian, September 30, 2005
0 out of 3 people found this review helpful.Strengths:
Deep, tough, rich, full and live bass. Outstanding mid,great look especially cherry finish.
Weaknesses:
Plastic grill, plastic spikes.
Review:
Overall superb speakers. High tones are a little bit disappointing, but maybe it's just my CD/DVD or AMP fault. So if somebody has high-end AMP please test it on opera arias. The highest soprane is very "cruel" for all speakers. I would love to hear it on Parasound, Marsh, Antique Sound Lab, PS Audio. So if somebody have/had opportunity to hook up RTi12 to one of these, please submit it. When I got my speakers one of the plastic front plate was broken. But Polk sent me brand new one for free. Great company, great customer service, outstandind and irreplaceable products. RTi12 are great speakers even for fussy and choosy audiophile. Simply the best.
by Kevin, September 30, 2005
0 out of 3 people found this review helpful.Strengths:
Loud, crisp, clean sound, beuatiful looking speakers, handles any genre of music...I'm really happy..can't find a better speaker for them Money...
Weaknesses:
I hear alot of complaints about the grills..I haven't had any problems (depends if the shipping box was tossed around/ they ship grills seperated from speaker now)Don't drop one the front face rip's right of nails and all..should use some silicone adhesive for extra strength and seal...( seen one at the store that fell apart) but I still bought mine..
Review:
Wow..These puppies are pretty loud and clear for the buck...can't complain at all..they look beautiful...sound awesome...though the plastic feet and base could of been a metal and the front kickplate could of been aluminum or something...but otherwise they handle just awesome...I'm using a Rotel RB1080 to power them... they are still hungry..should of got the 1090... also have CSi5 RTi4 x2 FXi3 X2 using Yamaha RXV2500 with rotel's for power RB1080 x1 (front's biwired) RB1066 x2 (all the rest Bi-amped../except FXi3) Now I'm lookinf for a sub or two to accompany the setup.. Can't wait to hear the full potential.. Kevin
by Mike Rooney, October 3, 2005
0 out of 3 people found this review helpful.Strengths:
clear highs and mids, tight smooth bass. When I stand next to them, I feel small.
Weaknesses:
A bit heavy, but who cares?
Review:
I am still in love with my RTi-10s, but they have since been relocated as rear speakers. The PSW-10 has left the room altogether. These are excellent speakers, assuming you are powering them adequately. 300w p\c seems most comfortable. If you have a subwoofer, get rid of it; you don't want to muddy up the beautiful bass these monsters put out.
by Graeme B, October 13, 2005
0 out of 3 people found this review helpful.Strengths:
Almost dont need a sub with these bad boys, very attractive
Weaknesses:
Feet spikes should have been aluminum at a price like this plastic is cheesy.....
Review:
These are just amazing never thought I could hear such highs and lows at thesame time JVC 8010 driving them but not enough power so went out and got a new Yamaha RX-Z1 WOW you need power to drive these bad boys
by francour, October 24, 2005
0 out of 3 people found this review helpful.Strengths:
FULL range, great clarity even at loud volumes, really fills a room.
Weaknesses:
absolutely none.
Review:
these speakers rock. i ran them at a volume that made my ears hurt, (for fun i listened to several different music discs)and the clarity and range never lost anything, and i could hear no distortion. (i couldn't hear much of anything afterward.) under normal circumstances i don't blast my music loud like that, but i wanted to see what these puppies could do. these are among the best sounding speakers on the market, hands down. oh, and movies sound great with these in a surround sound system as well.
by Ed Vega, November 3, 2005
0 out of 3 people found this review helpful.Strengths:
Clear Highs, Incredible Mids and Unreal Bass. Very well balanced Speaker.
Weaknesses:
Absolutly None
Review:
Just one word to describe the RTI12's... *Awesome* ! Yes, they are very power hungry but once you feed them with the right power supply they simply shine. I am driving them with a NAD C-162 Pre Amp and two NAD C-270's power amps wow! I listen pretty much to everything from Classical to Classic Rock, Pop, Alternative, Progressive, and Jazz etc etc. Every CD I play is a real treat to my ears.
by Khoa Nguyen, November 7, 2005
0 out of 3 people found this review helpful.Strengths:
Tight bass, clear treble and overall sound is excellence. The speaker itself is beautiful too!
Weaknesses:
absolutely none!
Review:
just one word! this is the wonderful speaker for the price
by elijah, November 16, 2005
0 out of 3 people found this review helpful.Strengths:
Wonderfull set of speakers. Bass is strong,highs are clear
Weaknesses:
none
Review:
Have these with cs400i center. rt55i surround, fxi 30 rear surround,psw 450 sub, all driven byonkyo tx-nr1000 reciever. These things shine. Music is cleaner, movies are explosive. The best speskers on the market.For 121.96 each at cc cant beat them.
by Ghislain Gauvreau, January 9, 2006
0 out of 3 people found this review helpful.Strengths:
they made a sound in life.i mean you can fell it in your chest.the high and mid are more then perfect...
Weaknesses:
MY AMPLIFIER LOL:) a amplifier for the 3 subwoofers are a possibilitie for the rti12 but there's not a weaknesses.Weaknesses??? not with polk!
Review:
i lock my home theater in a room lol i think its normal??? this is my setup front rti12 center csi5 surround rti8 rear rti10 sub psw505 this set cost to me 5000$$can without receiver SONY strda7100es es Home Theatre Receiver this receiver is 2700$$ when i listen a movie with this home theater is BETTER then a FAMOUS PLAYER lol:)THIS IS THE BEST SPEAKER YOU CAN HAVE ON THE MARKET...stop trying to find a good brand because this is the leader.THANKS POLK
by Chris Hull, January 9, 2006
0 out of 3 people found this review helpful.Strengths:
Great looks, awesome sound, very sturdy.
Weaknesses:
heavy, need gobs of power to truely make them shine
Review:
I have now owned these speakers for about a year now, and let me tell you they are awesome! The highs are excellent as well as the lows, but would still definately recommend a subwoofer to go along with them especially while watching movies. These love power and the more you feed them the better they sound. I have the cherry ones and let me tell you they are beautiful.
by D.G., January 16, 2006
0 out of 3 people found this review helpful.Strengths:
There pretty.
Weaknesses:
none
Review:
Matthew Polk and his crew have decided not to publish negative reviews so dont waste your time. I bought a pair of these and was not satisfied or impressed but you will probably not get to read this so i'll tell you on the streets every chance I get.
by Mike Manilla, January 23, 2006
0 out of 3 people found this review helpful.Strengths:
Handle large amounts of power, very loud and clean...Well made like the first generation (SRS)'s.
Weaknesses:
None...They just keep getting better and better..
Review:
I think Polk Audio nailed this one.. I have demo several speakers and I ended up purchasing this set. I have the CineNova amp with over 600 Watts per channel and the Denon AVR-3805 Receiver. I cranked up the volume on my favorite classical song...Wow very brite and clear..Then I put a Pink Floyd C.D,wow massive amounts of bass,very little distortion at clipping around 500 watts.. Most speakers I have demo are just for surround sound and sound like rubbish with music.If you have the power you will be happy with them..If you are just running the basic receiver you may not be really happy with them because these babys are for high end volumes and massive power amps.. They come to life at 150 watts and have the sound of concert speakers at higher volumes....
by Stace, January 27, 2006
0 out of 3 people found this review helpful.Strengths:
Design...beauty...construction...sound. They are Polks aren't they? Need I say more?
Weaknesses:
weight and too much speaker for apartment life. ha ha ha
Review:
If you have the receiver to push these monsters like the Onkyo 801 (by itself or add another 120w amp.) then you will LOVE these speakers. They are some of the best sounding speakers I have ever heard. Clear and clean and very powerful. But you HAVE to push them with lots of power. Run them with a 300 watt powered sub (that I won't name on this site) and you too can run 3 different families out of the apartment above you in a years time. ha ha ha!!! I'm just waiting on the next victims to move in. Thanks Polk!!
by Rob, March 3, 2006
0 out of 3 people found this review helpful.Strengths:
Great Mid-bass and High's. Look great as do all of Polk's speakers.
Weaknesses:
Low bass response, get a sub. Plastic pointed feet not ideal for hardwood floors. They make an indent eventually into the surface. These should come with a set of flat, adjustable leveling feet.
Review:
These are the best speakers you can own for the price. I have had a Polk CSi3 center channel and FXi3 surround speakers for a couple of years but I recently purchased the RTi12's with a PSW-505 and WOW these pound!! I am using a Onkyo TX-DS797 receiver to power them and I can't image how loud these would be with an external amplifier. If you want really low bass response for movie explosions or Hip-Hop music than get a powered subwoofer. My home theater room literally shakes the whole house.
by christian, March 6, 2006
0 out of 3 people found this review helpful.Strengths:
Great set of floor towers.. still new and in aaah. Very full sound, replacing the rt10 what a difference.
Weaknesses:
not a weakness, but the cabinet is a bit bulky, but that comes with the amount of drivers it has. I dislike the weak plastic speaker covers, but they are in a place where you are watching TV not playing or running into them, no official complaints!
Review:
Great look with the cherry. Fantastic sound running off of a pioneer vsx72... Polk here is your review: WOW
by David M Olson, March 20, 2006
0 out of 3 people found this review helpful.Strengths:
They are built very well,and they can play music very loud without distortion.And you can't get any better for home theater
Weaknesses:
not much base at low level.without a sub woffer.
Review:
The RTi12's are simply the best home theater speaker's out there for under 2k a pair.They are tite and very clean.And if you like to play your music load with no distortion,the RTi 12's are for you.They are a good looking speaker to.They seemed a little big at first,But now they look right at home.
by Kelvin L Moses, March 22, 2006
0 out of 3 people found this review helpful.Strengths:
Strengths: clear, tite, very clean playback whether its a movie or music cd. beautiful piece of furniture.
Weaknesses:
weakness: front cover is suspect, bulky
Review:
review: these are the best speakers you can purchase under 2k. no distortion at all. I have owned my speakers now for more than 8 months and I'm still impressed every time I listen to them. I've owned Bose 701's and the new 901IV's, compared them to infinity and some higher priced speakers, I won't name, when shopping to replace my bose and the RTI 12's blew me away. For those complaining about lack of bass look at your receiver. I have Denon 3805 and lack of bass is not a problem
by Steven Menk, April 22, 2006
0 out of 3 people found this review helpful.Strengths:
Sound Quality, Power Handling, Being a darn good speaker.
Weaknesses:
Front grill quality.
Review:
For the most part I'll just re-affirm what has already been said here. The RTi12s are really, really big. They are really, really loud. The sound really, really good. The frequency response is broad and flat, no dead spots, no artificial highs. The highs are crisp and clear but smooth and natural and not overstated. The bass is very, very, strong but very tight. A friend who thought he had a good set of speakers, after listening to my RTi12s, remarked that he had forgotten that bass players play more then 4 notes. Although I haven't measured it directly, it is obvious that the intermodulation characteristics of these speakers is really, really, good. Compared to speakers with similar frequency response but worse intermod, a track with a bass playing the fundamentals under a guitar playing chords often blends them together which sounds okay, but a speaker that separates them sounds really nice and much more realistic. The RTi12 would be an example of the latter. I guess the key phrase I keep using here is "really, really good". I think the RTi12s are as high up the curve of price to performance as it gets. You might be able to get speakers that are 10% better but you'll pay twice as much. But now the criticism. Now that I've paid $1300 for your speakers, can I send you like $20 for a better set of plastic things to go on the ends? I glued the one back on to my RTi12, but I broke the same one off my CSi5 and my cleaning lady and dog are pointing fingers and paws at each other about what happened to the one on my FXi5.
by G Cooper, May 24, 2006
0 out of 2 people found this review helpful.Strengths:
Overall clarity, strength of sound and punch, especially at the low end.
Weaknesses:
I just can't hear any.
Review:
I have had a pair of RTi12's matched with the CSi5 center and a PSW303 sub for over 16 months now and they continue to rock the house. A Yamaha receiver at 100 wpc supplies the power. I get fantastic results playing live concert DVDs with DTS codex. The clarity is exceptional and the sound gets better the louder it plays. There is absolutely no discernable distortion. I have waited a while to post a review to provide an opportunity to test the setup under various conditions and to establish reliability. You cannot go wrong with these speakers.
by Steve Borkowski, June 4, 2006
0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.Strengths:
The RTi12's did not change too much through break in. They still sound better in home than at Tweeter!
Weaknesses:
Grill and it's connection points are not very strong. If Polk offered an upgraded grill, I'd buy it! Still, if you don't take them on or off much (like me) they do fairly well. Nonetheless, Polk should revise the grills. I think the posts on the speakers are good enough, just improve on the grill mount receivers. Don't let the grills stop you though! The RTi12s are fantastic!
Review:
I've had my RTi12 for a year now and they still amaze me. I go tthem broke in and they didn't change too much. They still sound sweet. For some programming, I have sort of settled in myself, but then when I pull out some of my library to play, I am blown away all over again! New people we have over for parties and such are amazed. Most never comprehend the size! I've had many tell me how amazing they sound for being such 'thin' speakers! I don't get as many opportunities to open them up like I used to, but when requested, they impress everyone! I absolutely love these speakers! My system: Onkyo HTR-500 Receiver Denon 1920 DVD Xbox Live Dell Dimension 2400 Time Warner Digital box Pioneer XM RTi12 (Front Main) CSi5 (Center) RTi6 (Rear) Martin Logan Grotto (Sub)
by trevor, September 2, 2006
0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.Strengths:
they work
Weaknesses:
not what i wanted
Review:
thought i got a good deal when i bought these on sale but i was let down by the imaging and the soundstage that these provided
by Bob, September 19, 2006
0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.Strengths:
Clear and precise. I have lots of power so they can be put through the ringer
Weaknesses:
front grills are weak.
Review:
I have the 12's up front, RTi-8's in the back with a PSW505 as the sub. I am amazed how clear and dynamic my music has become. I use lots of power which is a must for the 12's.
by Marc Turcotte, November 10, 2006
0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.Strengths:
built like a tank in box construction and power handling
Weaknesses:
you need a lot of power to push thies puppies proper
Review:
I have owned the polks RTI 12 for close to a year now and i had wished i bought a new amp first I have a Dennon 1804 and it does not have enough power to do justice. Any one thinking of thies speakers I sugest to you 130 watts rms HIGH CURRENT ANY any less and you could be disapointed. Over all they sound better then my last tower PSB IMAGE i also have the csi 3 fx3 and a infinty ps 10 sub. To all who read this i also have the monster power conditioner 3600 mk 2 and all ultra cabling and that does'nt mean a thing if you dont have power to push the polks.
by Amen, December 1, 2006
0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.Strengths:
dynamics, sound stage, speed, and roll off.
Weaknesses:
I really don't like all the plastic and the grill is a little scary to handle. Other than that for the price I am cool all the way around.
Review:
These speakers are awesome for the price to me. But of course I would say they suck if I had a small power supply. It is almost like feeding a jet engine diesel fuel. It's not going to fly unless you feed the beast’s high current with a power supply that keeps up with each beat of their hearts. I read some say one of the weaknesses is that it is too heavy. To me I would like them heavier for a more solid cabinet.33% speaker, 33% crossover, 33% cabinet = 100% breath taking. I started of with a HK avr7300 because I like to hear progression. Not saying the HK is bad just doesn’t fit the puzzle well enough for me. I then moved to an ATI 2505 (5X250 watts) using 4 channels for the towers. The beasts started to breathe fire. I then moved to a BAT vk-500 with bat-pak and then I began to melt to the sweet sound of each beat of their hearts and said "it's alive". Now I do own 18k towers and know what it feels to melt to music at least to my ear. I know there are far better speakers but I like to keep my new car and money saved up for a house. Back to the beast, hands down they are the best speakers I have heard for the price. Enjoy what ever direction you decide to go. I will say this, look for something to match your puzzle. I would have not liked these speakers if I did not have the means to feed them. It would be a sad story of a weak animal. Don't let me discourage you though. There are good receivers out there to push them. I lean toward onkyo W.R.A.T amps for the price. Either way I wish you the best in your search for good, sweet, fantastic sound. cheers
by Mister G, December 19, 2006
0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.Strengths:
Sound quality, design - will perform flawlessly in any circumstance from Mozart Requiem to Techno to Jazz and for course for movies.
Weaknesses:
Nothing...but will make your friends jealous!
Review:
I have a Denon 4603 and Denon DVD 3910, with the biggest HDMI cables from DVI gear. These are the best speakers I have ever heard B&O don’t come close, I have them too. The sound quality will definitely please any audiophile. The amp is 120 per channel so you do need some power. I also have the CSi5 front and the FXi5 back. Sound better then any movie theater in SoCal. Plus the PSW1000 sub blows away anything. Definitely need DTS 6.1. Make sure to get good speaker cables got mine from bluejeanscable.com. Amazing!!
by Bill, January 15, 2007
0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.Strengths:
Great speaker just what the doctor ordered. This will be a collector. Get them now!
Weaknesses:
Plastic feet just does not go well with the heavy nice wood cabinet.
Review:
I have had these great speakers since they came out. I have 3 amps hooked up. A Pioneer Elite (100 watts) which has a old Sansui Amp 919 (150 watts) connected to it for the bass, and a Nakamichi PA-5 (100 watts) for the highs. Remember there are 12 speakers to run here. Super speakers! Got power!
by Stuart, January 15, 2007
0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.Strengths:
- Everything I can think of.
Weaknesses:
- None comes to mind.
Review:
I have done research for over three years on a hi-fi system for both music and movies. Three years ago I decided to get all Polk's speakers and a Denon receiver. Just over a month ago I came across Crutchfield's 2-year, 0% APR for 24 months offer and I jumped all over it. Due to my budget I decided to get the Rti10's for the front, Rti 5's for surround, CSi 3 for center and PSW10 for a sub.... Well, not even two weeks from getting all speakers, cables, etc, etc, I decided to upgrade to the next level up on all of them Two weeks later, just two days before Christmas '06, I got new RTi12s for front, CSi 5 for center, RTi 6 for surround and PSW12 for sub, all cherry. I can not be any happier!!!. The only element I did not change was the Denon 3806 - 125 watts - that drives this set up. I have been learning how to twick the receiver for the last four weeks (since I originally order all components) to achieve better sound for music and movies. I came up with really good custom settings and everything was good until just today when I decided to bi-amp the front RTi12s and... WOWWWWWWWWW!!! these puppies sound amazingly much better than they did before. If I was happy yesterday - let me tell you, I am extremely - extremely happy today. I reset all the EQing I did, went for the "Pure" setting on the amp and geez!!! this speakers respond. They are just too clear, too deep, too tight, too sharp, but at the same time soooo smooth that really is a pleasure to listen to all kinds of music. And to finally be fair to the other Polk speakers in my set, the surround is just amazing!!! They complement each other so well and also my 5 year old Mistubishi Diamond 65" HD TV, that I don't even want to go to the movie theatre anymore. Coming from someone who owns a studio in the entertainment industry, believe me - with the right amp, these Polk speakers are just insane.
by mikeyhonda, January 30, 2007
0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.Strengths:
Perfect soundstage, amazing sound reproduction. Stunning looks.
Weaknesses:
Grills are weak and cheap.
Review:
I never thought that I would have a home theatre system like the one I just finished building in a dedicated room. I went with Polk speakers all the way around, except for the sub. My mains are RTi12's, the center is CSi5, surrounds are FXi5's and the rear channel is CSi3. The fronts and center are bi-wired with IXOS cable and the rear and surrounds are wired traditionally. Let me tell you that the sound from this speaker set-up transcends everythng else I have ever heard, and I am just not saying that, because I am very critical of my gear. At first I was a little surprised because the speakers sounded a little dull. I calibrated my Pioneer Elite VSX 56 txi and set all the speakers to large and the speakers came to life. The first cd I listened to was DMB Live at the Gorge in direct\stereo and then I listened to it again in Dolby Pro IIx. Words cannot desribe the sound. The soundstage is remarkable. It was as if I was at the concert. I could not determine where the sound was coming from. The room I built is exactly 24 long by 14 wide in my basement. I used R13 accoustically shieled insolation and greenboard. All the cables are internal. The next item I played was Gears of War on XBOX 360 in Dolby Digital EX. If war has a sound I can tell you that it probably sounds like this. The soundstage of the speakers were put to a test that they passed without question. The first DVD I played was King Kong HD. I saw the movie at the theatre and I did not realize that the soundtrack for the movie was so developed and layered. The RTi12's sounded better than the theatre speakers--probably for several reasons including the size of my room. These speakers demand attention. Since I have finished the room I have had several friends and family members over to watch movies or sports. Each of them made some comment about the look of the speakers before I fired the system up. When they hear the system they are mostly blown away. I do have on complaint with the RTi12s. The covers are very weak. If you pull them off, be careful not to break them. If you are looking for a great home theatre speaker set-up I whole-heartedly recommend going with the Polk set-up I have. You will be amazed.
by mkasper70, March 8, 2007
0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.Strengths:
Exceptional sound at all levels, loud or soft.
Weaknesses:
Plastic feet?
Review:
I have owned several pairs of Polk Audio speakers over the last 15 years. They all have sounded very good to me, but I have also always driven them with high power-high current amps. Recently I purchased an Adcom GFA-5500. It brought life to my old Polk speakers, but I decided to "up the ante" and go the the RTi12's. I never expected any speaker to sound this good. It truly is amazing. I've read the reviews, and I see one particular giving this speaker the lowest rating. That person must be driving these speakers with a $199 receiver! For those of us who know what high current power can do for even the most modest of speakers... we have been rewarded with the RTi12's. I certainly am glad I made this purchase!
by Michael S. Dougherty, May 8, 2007
0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.Strengths:
Beautiful audio reproduction for music and movies. Drop dead georgeous cabinetry.
Weaknesses:
None that I have encountered.
Review:
After many years I have finally been able to assemble a fully matched 7.1 home theater. RTi12's at front and surround, CSi5 at center, RTi4's at back surround. Powered by a Pioneer VSX-84TXSi which, at 140 watts per channel, is more than sufficient for this setup. Don't know what level some of the reviewers are listening at, but these speakers produce theater-level audio at the half-way mark of the receiver. Bi-amplification may be right for those who just love to run speaker wire, but I get all I need with just one amp. Music, especially the high-end SACD and DVD-Audio recordings are superb, but then everything that I have thrown at these speakers is reproduced to perfection. All that and affordable to boot. What more could one possibly ask?
by Jim Hand, September 8, 2007
0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.Strengths:
The cleanest, crispest, most uncolored sound I have ever heard. Beautiful finish and built solid.
Weaknesses:
The grilles require delicate handling. The cabinets are deep so unobtrusive placement can be difficult. But, they sound so good I don't care how far they stick out!
Review:
I'm a 2 channel stereo addict. I always have been;I always will be. After 30 years of faithful service and a bit of dry rot setting in it was time I replaced my JBL L100s. I researched potential candidates for almost 12 weeks before deciding I wanted a set of Polk speakers. A friend who plays bluegrass music had an old set that were as huge as stacked guitar amps and while I'm not much of a bluegrass fan I really liked the clean, uncolored sound of them. I shopped around for nearly another month before I found a pair of pre-owned RTi 12s at a good price and bought them. One was damaged in transit and was replaced with a new unit. There is no sound quality difference between the brand new one and its several year old mate. That says alot for how well they age! The sound of these speakers is so clear, so pure, and uncolored it's quite an emotional rush to hear them. Even music I thought I knew thouroughly is a new listening experience through them. Everything I listen to is like hearing it for the first time again. My music ranges from Frank Zappa to Kronos Quartet, Miles Davis to Bob Marley, Led Zeppelin to the Clash, the Cramps to Skinny Puppy. These speakers perform flawlessly and spectacularly no matter what I feed them. I still spin vinyl and play the occasional tape, too. Again the music is so perfect I can get overly emotional at times hearing it. I added a PSW 1000 to the system for some added bass punch and was so pleased I added a second one because my listening area is less than ideal. The bass was quite good from the RTis but it did lack a bit of oomph at lower volumes, especially with reggae music. At volume they more than held their own never sounding brash or overly bright. I drive them with a pair of Carver TFM 35x amps, running bridged at which they are rated at 700 watts. I recently had to send one amp out for service and am currently driving the speakers with a single TFM 35x in stereo mode which is rated at 250 WPC. Truthfully, except at extremely high volumes I can't tell any difference in the audio quality of what these speakers produce between the pair of amps at 700 WPC or the 250 WPC single amp. After having had the Rti 12s for some time now I would not hesitate to buy them again. I doubt I would even consider another speaker.
by Joshua Roley, October 29, 2007
0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.Strengths:
massive bass useing ther right amp for EQ ,then adding stereo amp for more power" dont need sub if you calibrate system right.
Weaknesses:
must buy amp to match! or use good sounding amp with stereo amp powerhouse.
Review:
hi I am a audiosalesman whos been playin with RTI 12's alot for over a year and I have found that the speakers bass section stands out best with a harmon/kardon" musthave good power $1k and up models" being that the low end bass on a harman is extended as being part of their sound and so far are the lowest bass section. . the tight 5 1/4 mid give accurate mids,treble adds smooth extened highs. I also tried other popular brand name amps and nothing for these preformed better, I hope I can get my hands on a pair , or maybe the new ones with my harman. loud ,low, let GOOOO!
by V Tran, November 11, 2007
0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.Strengths:
Tight bass, heavy, good looking. The high sounds good when standing far from it. However, be sure to choose a good amp/receiver for clean and warm high.
Weaknesses:
My pocket. Not many receivers can power these well. They need 300Wpc, and I now have to save up to buy a couple amps. The high does not sound clean when standing close to it.
Review:
I bought almost a complete set: rti12, rti8, rti6, and csi5. These speakers sound great for movies. For music, however, you will need lots of power for tight, heart-pounding bass.
by JASON, January 15, 2008
0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.Strengths:
every aspect of these speakers cannot be matched. they look great next to the 52" LCD. they are big...but still look sleek.
Weaknesses:
I have not found any...and I bet I never will.
Review:
Amazing quality!!!! the people that are commenting about poor sound just do not have the resources to power these bad boys. By far the best sounding speakers I have owned and ever heard at a high performance stereo shop. you cannot go wrong with these speakers as your fronts, and the RTI 8s as your rear speakers. Get the power to push these and you will hear amazing quality
by Gary Holmes, February 9, 2008
0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.Strengths:
Great sound playing Cds or movies they are so clear, im hearing my cds in a totally new sound. I had bose cube system before.
Weaknesses:
Grills are flimsy, Very heavy.
Review:
Great sounding speaker, Crisp Highs and Good mid-range sound, nice bass , but still run my sub woofer. Ihave RTi12s for front, CS2 for center and monitor 60s for surround and RTi4s for the back surround and a 500w Infinity sub-woofer, And all powered by a Denon AVR-2808CI 110 watts per channel. I was a little afraid of buying the RTI12s Thinking a might not have the power to get the best sound but thats not an issue they sound great.
by KS, April 20, 2008
0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.Strengths:
Sonic integrity, versatility, value for money.
Weaknesses:
Fixed in the RTi 2008 series designs, the RTi12 features a superfluous cosmetic plate assembly below the grille. It serves only to fill some vertical space and expose a logo. I removed mine.
Review:
About a month ago, I bought a pair of RTi12s as the outgoing model (they were replaced by the RTi 2008 series.) Little did I know how lucky my timing was; two weeks later, there were no more to be had. And I'd gotten them at just below half of MSRP. It was the price that got me to buy when I did, but now that I have lived with the RTi12s for a while, progressively adding components to my stereo, tuning it all, and trying to stay true to my goal of a modest budget, I believe that if I had paid the normal street price I would be no less impressed. And I am impressed! According to Polk Audio, "Mid-level amplifiers and receivers will bring out the best performance from RTi models", and thus not high-end audiophile gear, they imply. I believe them, but not because the audible result is less than exemplary. This is why: As part of correspondence with one of Polk Audio's customer service reps, Ken (a cool guy and very helpful), I wrote "So far, I have found a combination of two things to be most successful: setting the Onkyo DX-7555 CD player's digital filter to 'slow' (more analog-like, relaxed and warm) and rolling off the receiver's treble knob slightly. Since I don't have an dedicated equalizer, this seems to be my best bet. When I reduced the mid/treble amp's levels, I lost dynamics and sonority in the midrange, especially the lower mids. Like some other owners, I find the RTi12 to be a bit bright. I can't speak for them, but by 'bright' I don't mean harsh in the treble range. Rather, with respect to treble, it almost seems they were designed to compensate for less capable equipment upstream in the audio chain. True, with the CD player's filter set to 'sharp' (more digital-like and flat) I hear shimmering air in the sound field and almost bionic sibilance in choral music. The RTi12s reproduce this faithfully. But some instruments suffer from this. And more importantly the spectral balance does: the lower midrange and bass sound de-emphasized and uninspired. It's perceptual, not technical, but there it is. Anyway, so far I have found that the RTi12 midrange drivers want to be hit hard. So I'm hitting them." I wrote this before I read Polk Audio's statement about pairing the RTi12 with mid-level components. So I think my guess about "less capable equipment upstream" was right. Granted, my other components _are_ modest. I have heard that my Onkyo CD player is as close to high-end as you can get without spending several times more. And I cannot believe that most listeners would even be able to appreciate the difference. But what is important is that no matter what it feeds the RTi12s (by way of an AudioSource Amp One/A for the mid/treble), they reproduce it: the desirable and undesirable. Years ago, I was a musician for many years; toward the end, a professional. During that time I focused on sound as a thing in itself, which led to my practice of sound design, synthesis and production, in addition to writing and playing. I know sound. And the RTi12s, when used in a modest system that has been tuned at all (speaker placement, component isolation, etc.) deliver truly beautiful sound. Highly recommended. NB: These speakers do not implement true bi-amping. Rather, they allow their internal passive crossover to be driven by two full spectrum amplified signals. In true bi-amping, an active crossover first divides the full spectrum signal into (typically) two sub-spectra, each of which feeds a separate amplifier, which in turn drives separate speakers. Thus each amp is more efficient because it is burdened only by its part of the full spectrum, not the whole thing. Also, active crossovers are usually more accurate than passive ones. I guess one advantage of the RTi12's pseudo-bi-amping scheme is to keep the load on each amplifier at 8 ohms. Thus each amp will still do as much work as if they were used alone (because they are amplifying the full spectrum signal), but will not do any more work (because they are driving only one set of speakers, bass or mid/treble, not both sets.) Or something -- I don't really know! Another more obvious advantage is the ability to set the levels of one or the other amplifier, to change the balance between the output of low and high frequencies. Similarly, a particular amp can be chosen for use with the highs vs. the lows. I chose my AudioSource amp for the highs because of its reputation for transparency. Lastly, it permits summing the output of two amplifiers. This is important since (as many have pointed out) the RTi12 is very power hungry. Give it some power and it sounds good. Give it lots of power and it sings with a beautiful voice.
by Robert, April 23, 2008
0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.Strengths:
Simply amazing looking, Beautiful sounding with lots of low end, no need for a sub if you power them right, Built like a brick s*!t house(SOLID)!
Weaknesses:
If you can find a weakness in these speakers at this price range then you need to get new stereo equipment and get your head checked A.S.A.P...... seriously. LOL.
Review:
Purchased the Rti 12's new on clearance for a third of the msrp and let me tell you these are the best speakers I have ever heard in the sub 5K price range. Power them right and you would be hard pressed to find an affordable speaker to match, They do need allot of power, I power them with a Marantz SR-14EX receiver @ a true 140W a channel and have just recently purchased a Yamaha MX-D1 (500w x 2 ) reference amplifier to power these bad boys, I will review again when I get the new amp set in place. They are also the most solid speakers I have ever seen @ 88lbs each they are monstrous and very nice and tall. The only thing that I would have liked to have seen different is to have had aluminum feet and spikes. But it is what it is! I LOVE THEM!!!!!
by Ben, June 7, 2008
0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.Strengths:
Sound clarity, price, perfomance. In cherry these speaks are just sexy looking.
Weaknesses:
You must be joking.
Review:
These speakers are amazing, I have a 120 watt reciever (Sony STR-DG1000) that drives these perfectly. I amped them with a pair of Audiosource Amp-300 which are 470 watts bridged in mono, I had heard there was a huge difference in sound quality so I had to amp them. The only difference the amps made was I didn't have to turn up my reciever volume as loud, so I returned them. If you don't have a very, very large room, you don't need to amplify these. They give amazing sound clarity. If you aren't getting enough bass, you should get a subwoofer to go with these (I have a PSW10 and I'm going to buy a PSW1000 to go with it). You will get better bass with a 500$ subwoofer than spending 800-900$ on amplifiers (not to mention that the amps I had weighed about 45 lbs each and took up a lot of space). Anyway, I get about as much bass out of both of these with the bass turned all the way up as I do out of my PSW10, so you don't really even need a sub unless you like feeling your couch shake during shoot-outs and explosions. These are awesome, and you can get a good deal on them now that the RTi-A9's are out.
by Eric, August 16, 2008
0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.Strengths:
These speakers look and sound incredible, with crystal clear highs, mids, and exceptional bass response!
Weaknesses:
None.
Review:
I've got an incredible wife that got these for me on my birthday! I've got an Onkyo receiver pushing a polk surround bar, a PS125 sub, and now I've got the RTi12's that add incredible volume to my home theater! They sound good with either music or movies, and have a full range sound that will make you feel like you are actually there! Don't be afraid to crank them up, they can handle the abuse!
by Steve Smith, October 30, 2008
0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.Strengths:
Incredible clarity, detail, and imaging, large soundstage, great power and presence. Good freaquency response across the range. Great cabinents and build quality.
Weaknesses:
None, I found a great deal on a black pair so I bought those, I whish I had a cherry pair though to match my cherry RTi10s and RTi8s. The cherry looks so good. The black is not bad, I just prefer the cherry. Of course this is no fault of Polk's, I'm just ranting.
Review:
Simply outstanding! These things sound great for home theater and music (I listen to both about 50/50). In home theater these have clarity and detail that I never heard before. Music is simply awesome through these things. Highs, mids, and lows are all superb with great imaging, detail, and clarity. At first I was driving these with an Onkyo 806 reciever and they sounded very good, but they did not get really loud (or so I thought) when the volume was cranked. I later found out that was just because these were so clear. I was also pushing a pair of RTi10s, RTi8s, and a CSi5 with the reciever as part of a 7.2 system with two powered subs (Polk DSW pro 400 and Klipsch Sub-12), so the speakers wer using everything my reciever could give and more. I later added a Monster Power MPA 3250, 3 channel, 250 wpc amp to power the front RT110s and the CSi5 center. The amp really woke these speakers up. Clarity and detail improved even more, and the soundstage became much larger. These speakers are outstanding in 2 channel stereo mode with the amp and sound great when listening in 7.2 mode for home theater as well. For the first time I can truly say that I am satisfied with my system and look forward to getting home each and every day to listen to these things. If you can find a pair, doyourself a favor and pick them up. You will not be sorry!
by Ryan, February 17, 2009
0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.Strengths:
These speakers have deep bass and crisp highs and mids. I could not ask for more
Weaknesses:
Both grilles came broken from shipping and I would have liked to have seen some metal feet instead of plastic. Polk's CS took care of me right away with replacement grilles.
Review:
These speakers were purchased for a college graduation present and I have been thrilled to death. These speakers have a warm sound with crisp clean highs. The bass is better than I expected after seeing that they were "hard to drive". I admit the woofers do not throw as far as on my RT35i's, but they don't have to in order to produce the same volume levels. They do seem to sort of "come alive" when the knob on the receiver gets to say 10 o'clock, but they are not yet broken in yet either.
by Ryan Bathe, July 30, 2009
0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.Strengths:
Great sound quality, crisp highs, solid midrange, punchy bass
Weaknesses:
None
Review:
These speakers are the best you can get for the money. and I have absolutely no doubt in my mind I could not have spent my money any better. These are such great speakers and you are going to have to drop a lot more money to even come close to passing these up. If you have a potential deal out there, stop reading reviews, stop trying to reaffirm your beliefs, JUST BUY THESE
by Michael, November 29, 2009
0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.Strengths:
Clarity and Imaging is phenomenal.These speakers just sound so natural and flat.
Weaknesses:
Just very big. I read how some people blamed shipping for cracking the Grills however it happens from not laying them on their sides when you open them. This happened to me with one of them because of their size, I leaned one forward not knowing grill was facing downward because my girlfriend got me in a hurry and could not wait for me to open them. Fixed grill crack with Super Glue
Review:
I've read some reviews that have said how power hungry the RTI12's are however I am running the RTI12's thru a Kenwood KR-V6040 Reciever 110 Watts per Ch. and these are extremely loud at 1/4 Volume on Ch. A I use KLH in line B with 3-way KLH with 15 in. Woofers that handle 300 watts. The Polks sound better however together these sound very good together. I'm going to switch out the KLH for an unopened pair of POLK RT7 Bookshelf speakers I bought when I worked at Circuit City in 1998. The RTI12's are simply outstanding with Home Theater or all music from Classic to Metal. These Speakers are built extremely solid and are the best sounding speaker I have ever used or listened to Hats off to POLK. I seen these being cleared out for the next series and got a blowout deal. I wish I had a 2nd set. My walls shake with just the 1 set with the KLH Very Happy with these. Thanks Again POLK for a Legend.
by A George, March 23, 2010
0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.Strengths:
Excellect response if you have the right Amplifier, no subwoofer is needed, and the Ability to BI-Amp is beyond all aspects, as usual Polk has produced another outstanding product. The clarity of these small woofers with the ability to perform as one Heavy Duty woofer is a remarkable achievement on the part of Polk.
Weaknesses:
None.
Review:
When I first considered purchasing new speakers, I recalled purchasing a pair of Polks RT Series from the Wiz back in the early Ninetys,for my nephew and I was very amazed at the sound reproduced from such a small product. I purchased the RTI12 over a year ago and have connected them to various Amplifiers. Harmon Kardon AVR7300 110 watts x (7) or 125 watts x (2)the Harman Kardon is known for its High Currency output although it was not able to perform efficiently at low bass levels. Onkyo TX-SV525 80 Watts x (2) Onkyo is known for its heavy output Power Transformers, they performed extremely well although I think the power output was not sufficient enough to get response from the speakers that they were capable of delivering, on the other hand the Realistic STA-2700 rated @ 100 Watts x (2) with Loudness and a Midrange control it brought out the true overall response, I purchase these speakers a year ago and have never hear them sound soo good in an overall range. I am consider treating myself and purchasing another pair.
Vintage Product
This product is considered a "Recent" or "Vintage" Polk Audio model. It is not a part of our current product lineup. It may still be available in some stores as a "close out" or "used" product. Information provided here about this product may not reflect current realities and does not imply availability. If you happen to have a question or concern about this product, contact our Customer Service Department at 1-800-377-7655 M-F 9am - 5:30pm EST. Chances are we remember it.
RTi12 Media
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