RTi6

by Alex LaJeunesse, November 14, 2006

Strengths:

Every strength a bookshelf speaker could have.

Weaknesses:

I can't mount them in my brain.

Review:

I bought these on a budget. I wanted a good home stereo for about$1000, and these were the first speakers recommended to me at Tweeter. Along with it I got a Yamaha RX-797 receiver and the "matching" PSW10 sub and hit my pricepoint perfectly. I am no serious audiophile; I know enough to get by, but my god these things are amazing! This is the first time I've ever sat in front of my stereo for hours listening to all kinds of music. I don't really have anything to compare them to since this is my first real stereo, but for the price I can't imagine anything better! Simplicity at its best for sure.

by Brandon Phillips, November 6, 2003

Strengths:

very very clean sound, wide range for bookshelf speakers

Weaknesses:

not as natural sounding as the lsi, but still acceptional

Review:

I used to have the infinity entra three floorstanding speakers and these blew them away in clariy. I strongly recommend therse speakers to anyone who has minimal space and some budget. the rti series speakers are the second best sounding Ive ever heard. The lsi series speakers being first. I give them a 4.7/5.0

by m gonzales, November 25, 2004

Strengths:

Nice Crisp Highs, Clear Mids

Weaknesses:

None Here!

Review:

Great Speakers!!!!! big sound for the money. Crisp tweeters, Clear mids and just enough bass. Paired with a PSW404 subwoofer and your set. I highly recommend these for a small to medium size room. Hats off to the Polks Team.

by Bobet Faune, March 3, 2008

Strengths:

Best bookshelf for its range, excelent low, mid ang high, perfect for home theater and hi-fi.

Weaknesses:

none

Review:

I'm a great fan of Polk's RTis, now i have full set of RTi's for my home theater. Good sound quality, good for all indoor applications. Technically designed and crafted.

by Dr. Anthony F. Merante, November 2, 2003

Strengths:

Weaknesses:

Review:

Strong sound Well Built

by Derek Jacobsen, December 3, 2003

Strengths:

good mix of range.. to give a real nice sound stage with out overkill on any level..the look is also right on very elegant ..great job on these speakers ..

Weaknesses:

only weakness found so far is price compared to similar bookshelf speakers by other makers ..

Review:

I work for a local retailer of home audio products a nwe recently got the rti 6 bookshelfs in ...an i must say im so very impressed all the little imperfections of the previous series speakers where defintly fixed in this series...

by Brandon, December 13, 2003

Strengths:

very clean and natural sounding

Weaknesses:

none that i have found

Review:

I have not found a better bookshelf for its price and i have been looking for a long time. I hooked a pair of these up to an onkyo 6.1 reciever and they sound amazing. They sound great for any type of music or movies. They blow away most other types of floorstanding speakers.

by Ian Bortolotti, February 26, 2004

Strengths:

Very good range and clarity of sound. Bottom end is particularly impressive from such a small speaker enclosure. Very reasonable price. Very modern, sleek design.

Weaknesses:

None found.

Review:

The RTI-6 is by far the best bookshelf speaker I have heard in this price range. The overall sound is crisp and clear, with a far heavier bottom end than you would expect from such a compact cabinet. I compared these side by side with comparably priced Bose speakers and the difference in sound was absolutely and immediately apparent. I would highly recommend these speakers to anyone looking for quality sound at a very reasonable price. You will not be disappointed.

by Dusty Peterson, June 27, 2004

Strengths:

ultra high clarity,they realy look awsome ,they are very well built,and a nice small size.

Weaknesses:

none that i can see.

Review:

My best freind got thees speakers for me as a gift.I was using a pair of JBL 4408 studio monitos,and those are realy good speakers,however I will say the RTi6's look and sound better.I'v had them for one month now,and I had my freind over to have a listin,and he, like me, was amazed at how good they sound.MY freind has been a JBL fan for 25 years,but said, after hearing the RTi6's, that his next buy will be polk audio.

by Peter, July 30, 2004

Strengths:

Strengths: Real wood & good looks, extremely study and nonresonant cabinet, plenty of dynamic range, good quality rear connections, very balanced and neutral sound

Weaknesses:

Weaknesses: The exposed tweeter worries me, although that's because I have to get these onto a plane and move them back to where I go to college, soon. A little bit pricy, although I got them locally on closeout for far less.

Review:

These speakers are very easy to place and connect, and sound amazing through just about any hardware and with any source material. They may lack a tiny bit on upper midrange to handle very heavy metal songs, or that could just be my amplifier. Midbass is exquisite and tightly controlled. Their bass extension is quite good and these speakers are very light on the port noise...however, a dedicated subwoofer would be important for home theater use and for those who demand heavy bass. However, for smaller rooms, apartments, and dorms, a subwoofer is unnecessary and probably out of the question. Treble is detailed and clear without being overly harsh, although definitely quite eager. Power handling is quite high and it is difficult to make them distort before hurting your own eardrums or the amplifier itself. Overall, they make a fine component as either front bookshelf stereo speakers, front home theater speakers, or even rear channel speakers (although I feel they're too good for that delegation).

by Roger, August 1, 2004

Strengths:

perfect blend with the other polks. I think im in love again...hehe

Weaknesses:

nothing. But only annoying thing is why did you put the silver face on these when my others are black???

Review:

I purchased CSI50s RTI70Mains and FXI50s on Surround.With a Velodyne 12"sub.......oh my god when i added the RTI6s to them the sound was incredible.My buddies jaws dropped when i played the heat shootout scene.....!!!!!

by John Olona, August 5, 2004

Strengths:

Excellent build quality for the price. Real wood a bonus.

Weaknesses:

None that I can find yet.

Review:

Went to the Polks after I got fed up with my Acoustimas 15's from Bose. These matched up with the RTi4's, CSi3, and PSW404. The music and movies never sounded better !!!

by Emil Buktenica, August 8, 2004

Strengths:

Extraordinary sound quality, build quality, fit and finish. Astonishing value.

Weaknesses:

None

Review:

Don't let the price fool you! These are audiophile sperkers. Their sound is clear, open, and natural with great dynamics. They are pleasing to look at and very well made. I have owned bookshelf speakers from AR, KEF, B&W, and Boston Acoustics, and these Polks are easily the best of the bunch.

by John Deible, September 6, 2004

Strengths:

Excellent value, phenomenal sound.

Weaknesses:

None noted.

Review:

Excellent speakers at a clear "sweet spot" in terms of sound for the money. You can get speakers that sound good for less, and you can get better speakers for a lot more money. But these sound incredibly natural, clear, and full for a reasonable price. If $300-$400 sounds expensive to you, then give them a try and you'll probably find that they're worth every penny. If the price sounds cheap to you, then give them a chance. You'll probably like them nearly as much as you will most sets that cost $1000, and you'll have some change left to spend on a good center channel or sub. The highs are very clear and bright. Just listen to the cymbals in a few tracks and you will be amazed at the detail that you hear. The bass is also surprisingly good from speakers this small. I use a Velodyne sub and it adds real punch to the kick drums and double bass. It also frees up the low mids on the Polks so that they deliver better. But even without the subs, these speakers sound phenomenal. Placement is very important, so stands are highly recommended--get them both to the height of your ears. If you aren't used to audiophile equipment, you will also notice flaws in your recordings that you have never been able to hear before.

by Jack Arthur, October 23, 2004

Strengths:

natural sounding throughout

Weaknesses:

none

Review:

I got them on sale for $270 PR and they are the best sounding speakers I've ever owned. I wish I could get more of them at that price!

by Carlos, January 27, 2005

Strengths:

Sweet Powerfull Sound that can't be beat!

Weaknesses:

None.

Review:

Trully Unique Experience u will have with this Speakers!. Best Product u can by!

by Nick, February 26, 2005

Strengths:

Terrific clarity, detail, crisp sounds and GREAT bass for book shelf speakers.

Weaknesses:

None that I can tell of. Maybe that I don't have another pair??

Review:

INCREDIBLE! Every time I listen to these at high volume, I just smile. For $260 I am blown away by the quality of these speakers. I love bright sounding speakers (although not for everyone) and these provide so much detail and crisp sounds without sacrficing on the bass. The bass is what I'm really blown away by. I've owned several pairs of book shelf speakers over the years, some being twice as expensive, and none have delivered the full bass that these do. In my office, these are absolutely unbelievable speakers for the price. I love them and got my dad to buy a pair of his office as well (he loves them too). It's hard not to fall in love with these! Plus, they look great in cherry finish!!

by Marc, March 14, 2005

Strengths:

Great, crisp Highs, tight bass, and nice midrange. Great buy.

Weaknesses:

none

Review:

I purchased these speakers at Circuit City at a closeout cost of $127 for the pair. They were purchased to update an older system in my home office. These speakers are fantastic. Previously, I bought Polk Monitor 10b's back in the 80's and had not owned Polk Audio since then. Polk has not changed. The sound is crisp, clear, and the speakers are well made. This has to be my best buy ever. I am considering moving them to my main system.

by tony bowles, March 20, 2005

Strengths:

bass, clarity, takes alot of power

Weaknesses:

none that i can find and probably won't

Review:

i had just got a pair a couple of weeks ago im only seventeen and am already in the hi-fi world i have owned several pairs of speakers including mission magneplannars and so forth but for bookshelf speakers these are what u want to by if ur looking for great clarity and bass and most of all just all around good sound.

by daniel fields, March 24, 2005

Strengths:

big clean and clear sound...little box

Weaknesses:

who's looking

Review:

after looking over many reviews of quality bookshelf speakers, I finally settled on a pair of Polk Audio rti6's and a ci13 center channel speaker, I was delighted by their clairity and dynamic range, They're quality of construction and sound coupled with a rich looking exterior belied their modest cost. they have now been integated into a 6.1 a/v system worthy of the polk audio name. worthy of any mid priced

by Steve Borkowski, June 1, 2005

Strengths:

Excellence in range of sound. More bass than you would expect from a speaker this size. High frequencies are sweet and transparent.

Weaknesses:

Makes a speaker stand top heavy in a high traffic area.

Review:

These speakers are stunning! Bookshelf or not, they just sound incredible! Regardless of application, if you have a need for an excellent high end speaker, audition the RTi6. I am using them as rear speakers for my home theater. I have RTi12 in front with a CSi5 center. I am using a Martin Logan Grotto for my sub. The RTi6 is a perfect sonic match to the system. Capable of taking on the most demanding content with volume and clarity! Oh, and even these bookshelf speakers can be bi-amped! By the way, if one takes a fall from a speaker stand, it'll survive. They're also tough.

by marie, September 26, 2005

Strengths:

excellent dynamic sound range good price

Weaknesses:

none i can think of

Review:

Now im not giving them a five star rating because i own a pair, but these are really outstanding speakers. I just bought a pair due to the fact i blew the old speakers i had for my rears. well i must have spent a good couple of hours in the audio shop and tried a few different sorts of polk and other brands and the rti6's cater to my every need. good dynamic sound, crisp and clear with a nice amound of bass. Awsome:)

by William Haulenbeek, November 3, 2005

Strengths:

Heavy building material, Superior performance and price. Attractive enough for the most elegant of homes.

Weaknesses:

I thought long and hard. I'd be here all night trying to think of just one.

Review:

After owning strictly KEF speakers I thought I'd never switch until one of my woofers blew and I found out how hard it was to get a replacement. I bought a set of rti6 in cherry finish for a killer price and BAM! I'm hooked. Dollar for dollar you can't beat these things. I now have rti6 fronts, r15 rears, cs245i center and a JBL sub (thats next to be replaced by polk). The rti6 can cater to the serious audiophile in sound yet cater to the beginer's wallet. Mids are great and the highs are ear-piercing, clean as can be. I can't wait to upgrade my amp to see what these baby's can really do. They throw down with my entry level reciever and sound great with the rest of my polks. Well done POLK, you have a customer for life.

by Michael DelSignore, December 2, 2005

Strengths:

Dynamic clean sound, very attractive & non-intrusive size.

Weaknesses:

Some may want to enhance the bass with a matching polk subwoofer.

Review:

Excellent sound for the size & price. highly recommended with 24" stands. cherry finish is very rich. Clarity beyond belief.

by Russell Jozwiak, December 7, 2005

Strengths:

These play bigger than their size would make you believe possible.

Weaknesses:

Plastic grills. Cheap looking and flimsy. Not a typical Polk trademark.

Review:

If you are looking for a big sound from a little speaker, look no further! I have been a Polk fan for years (Model 10a's 1981 which I still have.) My wife and I bought some Rt35i( older version) for my son and was Totally Impressed! Well I was looking for some for my apartment and C.C. was clearing them out. I couldn't pass up the price. When I first hooked them up, I played the Nutcracker and could not believe my ears! I had to go up and listen to the speakers to make sure I didn't have the 10's playing! Let them break in for about 30 hours and loosen up then they really come alive. The subtleties of the music really comes out at moderate listening levels. The bass is impressive! The live version of Hotel California's bongo's on Hell Freezes Over shakes the room. I could go on and on but, why? Their Polk's! I compared Polk's with Klipsch and there is NO comparison! The Klipsch are very bright.

by Kevin Humphrey, January 6, 2006

Strengths:

Awesome speakers. These rock!

Weaknesses:

none. The grills look good to me.

Review:

These babies can handle the power. I am actually not coming close to giving them their full range because I am using these as my rear surrounds. My fronts are Polk Audio RTi8's. You can't go wrong with these. If you have the money for floorstanding in front these make great rears. But would be great for mains.

by Bob, February 26, 2006

Strengths:

Fast, clean bass. Crystal clear mid-range.

Weaknesses:

High frequencies could be more detailed.

Review:

I own RTi6s, Paradigm Studio 20 V.3s and I just bought Polks LSi7s last week. Of the 3, the RTi6s are the least expensive, the most sensitive, sound best at low volume, have the fastest, clearest bass, the best midrange clarity and the best imaging. The Paradigms bass goes a little lower a little smoother. The midrange and highs are more neutral and delicate, but the imaging sounds slightly veiled. The Polk LSi7s have the most detailed high frequencies. But the bass is thin and needs a subwoofer. On some recordings high frequencies can sound cold and even shrill.

by Tyler, March 23, 2006

Strengths:

Amazing all around!

Weaknesses:

none that i have found

Review:

Amazing speakers. I have never heard anything like these, everything is so defined.

by Rick Stuby, May 8, 2006

Strengths:

Overall sound quality and value for the dollar. Build quality and Cherry veneer finish.

Weaknesses:

Absolutely none!! Some of the best audio dollars I have ever spent.

Review:

I bought these on sale at Tweeter for 15% off after looking at them for several months. They will be used for a 2 channel system in my bedroom with a vintage Pioneer SX-980 receiver.They are a very natural,uncolored sounding speaker. The bass is quite respectable for a bookshelf sized speaker(although for larger rooms or HT applications you'll probably need a sub). The midrange sounds just right to me (especially female voices) and the tweeters are detailed but not too bright. They have very good imaging and present a deep, wide soundstage. I watched the DVD " Allison Krauss and Union Station Live" last night and I could close my eyes and place each instrument in the room. To me that is the best compliment you can give to say that you are listening to music not speakers. And these speakers have a better build quality than anything in their price range. The Cherry veneer finish is absolutely GORGEOUS!! Very highly recommended!!

by Dr. Love these speakers, May 9, 2006

Strengths:

Crisp, detailed sound. Good bass for thier size.

Weaknesses:

After 6 months use I can't think of any weakness.

Review:

These babies rock. I use them in my HT as the fronts, CSi3 centre, RTi4 rears and PSW505 sub. This set up blends perfectly. I highly recommend matching these with the PSW505 or PSW404 for full sounding bass (but if you don't have a good sub you won't think you're missing much - the RTi6 bass is descent).

by Thinus Rabie - South Africa, July 18, 2006

Strengths:

Amazing bass and overall balance.

Weaknesses:

None other than ... why did I only get to hear of this Company only in 2006 ?

Review:

Wow ...What awesome sound ! I had some Jamo speakers which I was using for rears , and after they blew I bought 2 pairs RTi6 Polkaudio speakers. They are connected rears 1 and 2 and I have found them to be unbelieveable !Definately hooked for life ...as these speakers are very well balanced regarding sound & pricing . Well done Mr Polk .. We here in South Africa highly recommend your products!

by meir cohen---israel, August 17, 2006

Strengths:

clean and clear sound,fast and tihgt bass,very powerfull as a book s. speakers,looks very good

Weaknesses:

i wish i had them few years ago

Review:

first,sorry about my bad english (: the rti6 is a fantastic speaker,its looks very good and the sound is clean,clear and well balanced.i have the rti6 less then a 3 days and i love them!yet they still not break-in and i expect they will be even better. i heard jbl,jamo,kef,b&w,bose,but the rti6 is the best.

by Pete Puleo, New Jersey, September 8, 2006

Strengths:

Rich midrange and clean smooth highs

Weaknesses:

None.......

Review:

Hat's off to Polk on a GREAT sounding speaker. I have teamed up these 6's with a Polk PS202 sub for use in our Den for stereo sound from the TV/CD/DVD. Perfect........Clean crisp highs, rich detailed midrange and the sub to pump out the lowest octaves........perfect combo. And through Crutchfield, a great value.

by Berko - Hungary, February 27, 2007

Strengths:

Extremely tender, soft, and true bass coupling with clean mids (strings are exceptional) and detailed highs. Highs could be more bright somewhere. On louder volume the floor vibration can be felt without any distortion. It’s nice of a bookshelf speaker. Rather pretty work.

Weaknesses:

My english.

Review:

In the beginning i thought custumer reviews can only be self-advertisement at Polk’s homepage. I’m disappointed positively. My RTi6 beggars B&W, JmLab, and Kef iQ3 which was RTi6’s biggest enemy in my esteem. I need hardly say that it was my best purchase over many years. Hats off to Polk’s crew!

by Butch, March 9, 2007

Strengths:

The cherry finish is beautiful. The sound is incredible. What more could you want out of a bookshelf speaker?

Weaknesses:

None that I have found yet.

Review:

I have been living with these speakers for about 11 months now. All I can say is WOW!!! For a bookshelf speaker the range is incredible. The bass is acceptable, the mid's are strong and clear and the highs are crisp & clean. I would highly recommend these to any one.

by Bob Palermo, May 11, 2007

Strengths:

Good solid bass for a bookshelf speaker.

Weaknesses:

None really. They just want to be driven by a powerful amp, which is not a problem for most.

Review:

Just upgraded to these from the Monitor 40s. I was looking for a better bass response with my 2-channel system and got it with these. No complaints here as they sound just as good as speakers twice the price.

by Roman, June 25, 2007

Strengths:

Incredible looks, incredible sound, incredible value. Nothing sounds better at this price range

Weaknesses:

Being a bass addict, they seem to be a little weak on the low end (can't complain for a bookshelf speaker, though) but paired with a PSW12 and they're PERFECT.

Review:

These were part of my first speaker setup that cost more than fifty or 60 dollars. After loads of research and saving money, I decided to pair these speakers with a PSW12 and a Harman Kardon reciever. After ordering these I was pretty worried as to how they would sound, I have never bought high-end audio gear and never spent this much money on audio before, but I put my trust in these user reviews and went with Polk Audio. I did not regret it. I have owned these speakers for about three months now, and I am still AMAZED at the sound these things make. Every time they sound better and better. A few friends had expensive "high end" Bose speakers systems and laughed at my 2.1 setup when I first told them about it, but were quickly put to SHAME with these babies. One of them even sold his entire Bose system and will buy a pair of RTi8's. These speakers are simply unbelievable, they exceeded all my expectations and hopes. HATS OFF to Polk Audio.

by Mike, August 1, 2007

Strengths:

Nice even sound. Beautiful real wood finish. (Black Oak)

Weaknesses:

The grilles look kind of cheapy but I wouldn't dog polk audio to much because of that. These are really nice bookshelf speakers and you are not going to do any better, period!

Review:

I just received these today from an online purchase. Installed them, fired up my reciever and was immediately blown away. These RTi6's sound amazing. The more I listen the better they sound. Not to boomy on the base, nice smooth mids and sweet highs. I couldn't be more happier. The titanium face and real black oak venner is just gorgeous, giving the RTi6's a much more pricier appearance. For the price, these are a steal. You couldn't get a better sounding more attractive pair of bookshelves. Well done polk audio!

by Zac, August 13, 2007

Strengths:

Great sound and beautiful finish. The sound really fills the room. Mid range and highs are extremely detailed.

Weaknesses:

None that are relevant to a speaker in this price range.

Review:

Having an audiophile for a father I went into college perhaps a bit spoiled. After listening to high end equipment for 18 years I was more than let down by the performance of desk speaker systems. Owning a full stereo in college requires both space and money I did not have. And so, the long hunt began to find big, clean sound from small and relatively inexpensive speakers. The search ended when I heard a pair of the RTi6 bookshelf speakers at Tweeter. The sound these babies pump out is simply beyond anything else in the price range I was looking at, including popular models by Klipsch and Infinity. My current setup rocks the dorm room like nothing else on campus. Here is the full set up: Speakers: Polk RTi6 Subwoofer: JBL Venue Sub10 Receiver: Yamaha RX-V61 CD Changer: Yamaha CDC 697 The receiver deals out 100 watts per channel, which is probably ideal for the speakers, which are rated up to 125 watts, seeing as the sensitivity is rather low. With any bookshelf speakers, the bass response left something to be desired. A small sub should be all you need. The mid range and the highs are excellent and crystal clear. Sure, they don't sound like the Cambridge Soundworks Towers at home, but they provide all the listening pleasure a small room could ever need. Give the speakers a break in period of a couple weeks. Mine keep sounding better with time. A good receiver and shielded cables will drive these to their full potential.

by Tom, August 26, 2007

Strengths:

Well built. The Cherry wood is excellent. Sound is excellent for the size of these Speakers

Weaknesses:

NONE....

Review:

Great Speakers...

by Brian, August 27, 2007

Strengths:

Warm, LOUD, bi-wireable(not sure it makes a big diff), sturdy beautiful wood cabinet, pretty good freq range.

Weaknesses:

Requires speaker stands (duh). But seriously, you could potentially put $100 towards floorstanding if you didn't buy nice speaker stands (if FS interest you). Sub will optimize listening experience.

Review:

I researched speakers for 2 weeks and demoed several that I was interested in or that I heard good things about. I was looking to stay under $1500. Speaker systems in my price range included Klipsch RB-52 and BOSE Acoustimass. Both the BOSE and Klipsch demonstrated excellent clarity and highs, probably better than the RTi6, but lacked the warmth presented by the mids that the RTi6 can provide. Some would say that adding a sub to the Klipsch or BOSE systems adds that warmth, but I personally thought that the mids were still missing from the systems I demoed(I think that the higher end Klipsch systems are more capable of providing this, but I wasn't about to break the budget). Bottom line, these are a GREAT set of speakers, and beauty is in the ear of the beholder. I bought 4, 2 for front and 2 for rear in a 5.1 system that easily fills my 15'x15' theatre room. Paired with CSi3 center channel, PSW404 sub, and Onkyo TX-SR605 rx'er, and WOW. I got the 5.1 setup for $1100 (not including rx'er($450) or speaker stands($200 for 4 stands), easily under my budget, which gets them the wife approval factor. I purchased the Sanus NF30 stands for them and I would highly recommend.

by Rick, October 15, 2007

Strengths:

Everything

Weaknesses:

None

Review:

These Things are awesome. Much Better Than Mr. Ross's G@y Bose speaker set up. They sound better than my old Polk RT1000i's

by Derek Buckingham, February 27, 2008

Strengths:

Crisp highs, best 2 way bookshelf ive heard

Weaknesses:

they are very large large depth wise for bookshelfs, but that gives them stronger midbass

Review:

Excellent bookshelf speakers. Crisp highs and midrange with solid mid bass. Some people may complain that the lows are not good enough and they are fools. Who would run deep low bass to a two way speaker? Get a pwrd sub for the deep lows. I was so impressed that I bought four of these rti6s and ran them off a 120 watt a channel harmon kardon receiver. Ive got a crossover taking out all the deep lows below 110 hz and sending them to the 2 subs. Its an awesome setup.

by Michael Parker, March 29, 2008

Strengths:

Surprizing bass for this size speaker. Excellent clarity.

Weaknesses:

It's a bookshelf size speaker, it produces a very suprizing amount of bass at lower to mid sound levels. Get a sub. I paired them with a DSW 400 Pro from Polk and I would put this combo up against anything in its class. if you don't have the funds for a sub like that, there are cheaper options

Review:

Outstanding speaker for this price range. The first impression I had when I unpacked the box was how heavy these are. These are serious speakers.The fit and finish are outstanding and the cherry grain is beautiful. I hooked them up to my Marantz 2270 and played Fleetwood Mac's Rumours album. You know that ear to ear grin you get when you put your foot down in a car that you did not expect to be very powerful and it pins you to the seat? Yeah. Like that. Maybe it is the the bookshelf size that colored my expectations. If you see 5 foot tall floor standers you expect them to rock. Friends have come over and said "Wow, those look nice" I just say "Listen to this" and they get that same smile.

by Michael Yaggi, May 15, 2008

Strengths:

Lots of bass crisp overall sound and wall mounting capability right out of the box

Weaknesses:

I have not found any. And if I did I would be the first to say so

Review:

I am very impressed from the sound quality out of these bookshelf speakers. I currently have them mounted on my wall, my neighbors are not very fond of the thumping bass that comes out of these bad a** speakers.

by B. Lee (Rutgersftw), May 18, 2008

Strengths:

I'd like to thank Polk Audio for producing a beautiful set of speakers that have changed the way I hear my music and movies forever. These are the best speakers in the price range that I have heard, and Polk Audio has won a loyal and ardent supporter for life (hopefully another 80 years or so, so I'll be sending lots of money your way)!

Weaknesses:

None. My love is complete and blind (or in this case, deaf) to any shortcomings.

Review:

The RTi6 is an unbelievably dynamic little loudspeaker. I love these speakers in ways it's inappropriate for a man to love anything but his wife. I searched high and low to find a bookshelf or small floorstander with the strength but also the finesse to satisfy me and was willing to pay thousands to find it. I needed quality sound. I listened to Jamo (E800 - $799/pr), Aperion (532LR - $360/pr), and Infinity (Primus 152 - $159/pr or less) and began to lose hope I'd ever hear that sound, the sound in my head that I needed from my humble system. Then, I stumbled across the wonderful Club Polk forum and read the glowing impressions of these RTi speakers and thought they were worth a listen. My mind was blown. The first time I heard these, and mind you, I'm talking three feet apart through a cruddy receiver at different heights, I was transported. The soundstage, the clarity - it's all there. These are muscular, lively, and awesome. I've since placed them on stands, separated, and bi-wired for giggles and each minor upgrade yields rewards. These speakers clicked with me, and I feel like I could spend my whole life looking for something better or I could decide that, for now, Polk's RTi series is where it's at. And it is. FWIW, I also listened to LSi9s and chose the RTis. Price was a factor, but the RTis sound is more involving and less neutral. The LSis are also 4 ohm speakers that crave juicy power me and my Onkyo can't provide. RTis hit a sweet spot of price and quality that can't be beat! Buy these (or their successors, the RTi A1 or A3) now! Listening impressions: BASS! From a bookshelf, no less. With music, bass guitars and drums come at you with palpable slap and presence. Very nice. During movies with lots of low hysterics like Hot Fuzz or Indiana Jones/Star Wars type stuff you are reminded they are bookshelves, but with even a modest sub you'll be grinning ear to ear. MIDRANGE! So natural and effortless. Acoustic guitars and male vocals come through wonderfully. Clear, yet powerful. TREBLE! Who dares call these "bright?" I've driven these via an Onkyo TX-8522, a Panasonic SA-XR57, and finally an Onkyo TX-SR605 - budget receivers labeled "bright" by many. With all three receivers, I felt the RTi6 were laid back, much more laid back than a pair of RTi8s I also had a chance to hear but liked ever so slightly less (but midrange addicts may be better served by the floorstanders).

by John Brown, May 25, 2008

Strengths:

1)Awesome extension down to 40 hz. 2)Bi-ampable/ bi-wireable 3)Beautiful looks, esp. in cherry finish

Weaknesses:

1) Smaller sounstage/ not the smooth bass extension as the Paradigm mini-monitor 2) Hard to find up here in Canada

Review:

I have heard a lot of rhetoric to the effect that Polk Rti series and below aren't "Real Polk engineering" like the LSi series. If they aren't "Real Polk" they sound pretty darn good. You need to listen for yourself to conclude whether a certain transducer measures up to your particular needs and expectations. I am not a spolksman for Polk, in fact I usually prefer Paradigm.I'm a very fussy,critical listener and the only way I can sum these up is that they have perfect sound for my tastes. The highs are perfect- not too itchy and bright- and the bass is awesome.The mid-range is more pronounced than the Paradigm mini-monitor. They function perfectly as mains for both movies and music. I defintely recommend bi-wiring them, it makes a big difference over leaving the jumpers on. (In fact in my experience, I think most speakers that are bi-wiring capable sound much better when bi-wired) Too bad I returned these to the Future Shop because I wanted the Cherry model, not the boring black. Now that I want them, they are discontinued. It's very hard now, if not impossible, to find up here in Canada at a reasonable price. I actually like the Rti6 better than the new RtiA3.They are the big brother of the Rti4, which was featured favorably in Stereophile as having improved bass and highs over the its legendary predecessor, the Rt25i...

by Jimmie, July 23, 2008

Strengths:

1-Sounds excellent, looks good

Weaknesses:

None

Review:

I read some reviews that stated that these speakers were better for surround sound systems than the Bose 301's. I have had my system set up since 1993 with the Bose 301's for the front, a Polk C250S for the center, Bose 21's for the rear and a Velodyne SPL-1000 ( recently upgraded from a CT-100 ) for the sub. The arguement was that the Bose 301's were designed for "Room Filling Sound" which defeats the directionality of a normal speaker. After reading reviews for many days I decided on these. If they did not work I would use them to replace a cheap pair of Infinity 5-1/4" speakers in my system in the bed room. Wow, these are great. They have more Bass than the 301's and the guys were absolutely correct. The surround effect is much more pronounced than with the Bose 301's. The 301's are now in the bedroom for listening to music. I also got a CSI3 for the center speaker to match the RTI6's ( the CSI5 would not fit under my TV ). I think they should make the CSI5 23" long so it will fit in a 24" opening. These are the best speakers I have ever owned.

by Mario, October 14, 2008

Strengths:

clean highs

Weaknesses:

bottom end sounds unatural m,like plastic tupperware

Review:

I bought a polk sub to try to complete the poor bottom end,but the drums domt sound natural they sound like someones drumming on plastic carbage can covers.I`m very tormented by their failure to reproduce sound naturally. I gave a 3 because the top end is clean. Sound like tupperware

by Pete, June 28, 2009

Strengths:

natural eq, top end detail, tight, transparent, wall mount brackets, good connectors

Weaknesses:

I thought they looked good but not so much now...vocals can get lost if poorly mounted/located...get them up up and apart.

Review:

I have used these for listening and monitoring during music production and found them to be extremely good for both. Running them off a small rotel integrated amp with short chunky cables and mounted up and apart...it can be hard to stop appreciating the sound for cost... first heard the polk bookshelf in the 90s with once a rotel integrated amp and was pretty much sold on the combination in many ways. used lots of monitors since and still think the sounds from an active rokit 5s are the most transparent...but should stay on the subject, however recommend those who have not to go check them out... for home studio work they are suitable.