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Polk Audio 70-RT In-ceiling speaker

Item # 10770RT

This great-sounding speaker hides in plain sight Polk's Vanishing Series 70-RT speakers stand out audibly ...

This great-sounding speaker hides in plain sight Polk's Vanishing Series 70-RT speakers stand out audibly ...

Item # 10770RT

Every order includes

  • Free lifetime tech support
  • 60-day price-drop protection
  • 60-day returns
In stock
$199.00 each

Other options

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Expert help 400+ hours training Virginia-based

About the Polk Audio 70-RT

Product highlights:

  • sold individually
  • frequency response 48-25,000 Hz (-3dB)
  • three-way speaker design includes:
    • 3/4" silk/polymer dome tweeter
    • 2-1/2" midrange speaker
    • 5" x 7" Dynamic Balance® woofer
  • dual port bandpass enclosure for better bass response
  • selectable tweeter level switch for more flexible speaker placement
  • handles up to 125 watts RMS
  • sensitivity 90 dB
  • 8-ohm impedance
  • paintable Sheer-Grille™ for stealth installation
  • cutout diameter: 6-1/2"
  • overall diameter: 8-1/8"
  • mounting depth: 8-1/2"
  • warranty: lifetime
  • MFR # AW1170-A
  • Item # 10770RT

Separate amplifier required.

What's in the box:

Polk Audio 70-RT owner's manual

If you need assistance accessing this owner's manual, please give us a call.
  • In-ceiling speaker
  • White metal grille
  • Mounting template
  • Owner's Manual
  • Sheer-Grille Painting instructions
  • Online Registration Card
  • Polk Audio product brochure

More details on the Polk Audio 70-RT

Stacey B.

Features & specs

Features
Quantity in Package Single
Tweeter Soft-Dome
Aimable Tweeter No
Woofer Composition Polypropylene
Woofer Surround Rubber
Connector Type Spring post
Bi-Amp Inputs No
Built-in Back-box No
Moisture Resistance
Indoor (Moisture-resistant) No
Outdoor (Partial Exposure) No
Outdoor (Full Exposure) No
Specs
Tweeter Size 0.75
Midrange Size 2.5
Speaker Shape Round
Woofer Size 5 x 7
Cutout Width 6.5
Cutout Height 6.5
Mounting Depth 8.5
Power Range (Watts) 10-125
Sensitivity 90 dB
Impedance (Ohms) 8
Frequency Response 48-25kHz
Parts Warranty Lifetime
Labor Warranty Lifetime
The Polk Audio 70-RT replaces these items:

Product Research

Features

Dynamic Balance Technology: Laser-imaging technology allows Polk Audio engineers to see the entire vibrating surface of a driver and tweeter. This allows the engineers to actually see performance-robbing distortion develop on the speaker cone. Using this data, they can determine the Dynamic Balance of their high-tech materials, and alter the geometry and construction of the speaker to effectively tune out the offending resonance. Exclusive Dynamic Balance Composite Material Technology delivers sound that is effortlessly clean and clear, even at lifelike volume levels.

Klippel Optimized Motor Structures: The Klippel Distortion Analyzer allows Polk engineers to optimize each driver's motor structure, voice coil alignment and suspension to insure smooth, unimpeded movement even at extreme listening levels. This is especially important in the shallow depth area afforded an in-ceiling loudspeaker.

Full-Range 3-Way Driver Array: The Vanishing Series 70-RT in-ceiling loudspeaker employs a new innovative patent-pending design from Polk that's like having a full-range, full-size speaker in a small inset lighting fixture. To do this, Polk designed a deep well and mounted a 'Cassini Oval' woofer above & behind the main driver array. By adding a woofer for low frequency response, the midrange & tweeter is freed up to provide more efficient detail. This innovative deep diagonal positioning allows the 70-RT cutout to be just 6.5" in diameter. This full-range 3-way driver array results in the kind of broad coverage and big performance usually achieved only with bigger box speakers. The 70-RT in-ceiling loudspeaker features the following three drivers.

  • Tweeter: One 0.75" Dynamic Balance silk/polymer dome tweeter
  • Midrange: One 2.5" Dynamic Balance mineral filled polypropylene cone.
  • Woofer: One 5"x7"  Dynamic Balance 'Cassini Oval' mineral filled polypropylene woofer.

Reflective Room (Tweeter) Compensation Control: An easily accessible Reflective Room (Tweeter) Compensation switch allows you to make detailed adjustments to optimize the sound for any installation. The switch can be used to digitally compensate for harsh reflective surfaces. The switch doesn't merely reduce high frequencies, it actually allows you to "notch-out" a specific area of the spectrum (3,500-6,000Hz) where room acoustics most often interfere with performance. The switch has two settings:

  • Reflective Setting: If your listening room is very reflective, with smooth sheetrock walls, hardwood floors, and non-cushioned furniture, the sound will be overly "bright" and unnatural. Selecting the "Reflective" setting compensates for the effect of reflectivity in a hard room. Tweeter attenuation flattens room response, without hindering higher frequency response, for warmer, more realistic sound and more accurate imaging.
  • Normal Setting: If your room is not reflective, with curtains, artwork, lots of cushioned furniture and carpeting, sound will be absorbed by the room, resulting in more realistic reproduction and more accurate imaging. In this case, select the Normal setting.

Timbre-Matched: The Polk Audio Vanishing Series RT in-ceiling loudspeakers have been timbre-matched with Polk's RTi Series loudspeakers. Timbre-matching with the same internal components, and the same lightweight polymer composite cone material, insures utterly seamless blending from speaker to speaker. Timbre-matched speaker components will insure the same true response throughout your system.

Frequency Response: The overall frequency response of the in-ceiling speaker is 34Hz to 27kHz, and the -3dB frequency response is 48 to 25kHz.

Dual Bandpass Ports: The Vanishing Series in-ceiling speaker employs dual Bandpass Bass Ports, smoothly funneling the angled woofer's detailed low-frequencies down around the midrange and tweeter array. The port design eliminates "chuffing", so the small, practically invisible in-ceiling speakers achieve superior full-range blending and broad coverage with surprisingly deep bass.

15° Angled Baffle: A 15° angled baffle allows you to direct the mids & highs for the particular application; simply by rotate the speaker in the desired directions and tighten down the rotating cams.

Wafer-Thin Sheer-Grille: The Polk Audio Vanishing Series in-ceiling speakers feature Polk's exclusive wafer-thin Sheer-Grille, a magnetically secured grille that protrudes only 7mm from its surroundings. The Sheer-Grille can be painted to match your décor, making it virtually indistinguishable from its surroundings. The Sheer-Grille has nearly transparent, ultra-small perfs, and are acoustically inert, for dynamic, unimpeded sound and more uniform coverage, even in larger rooms.

Note: When painting the grille, it is highly recommend that you use a can of spray paint matched to the color of the surrounding ceiling. Brushes or rollers should not be used to paint the grille, as this will clog the perf holes.

Gold-Plated Spring-Loaded Posts: The 70-RT has a gold-plated pair of spring-loaded binding posts that can accept up to 12-gauge wire, single banana plugs, or pin connectors.

Applications: You can use the Polk Audio Vanishing Series in-ceiling loudspeaker as in-ceiling rear surroundsor overhead channels to complete an RTi Series speaker system, or for superior dynamics in practically invisible multi-zone music systems.

Rotating Cam System: The speaker utilizes a rotating cam system to ensure a secure, vibration-free installation. There are four rotating cams to hold the speaker securely to the ceiling. The 70-RT can be installed in new or existing construction. In existing ceilings, use the included cardboard template for one-cut, drop-in simplicity. Pre-construction brackets (107PB50, sold separately) are available for new-build or open-ceiling retro-fitting.

Overall Dimensions (with grille) Diameter = 8.125"
Depth = 8.625"
Cutout Dimensions Diameter = 6.5"
Total Mounting Depth Depth = 8.5"
Mounting Depth (using 1/2 drywall) Depth = 8"

Note: There is an eyebolt on the back of the speaker that can be used for an extra measure of installations security.

 

 

The Polk Audio 70-RT replaces these items:


Adding...
Polk Audio LC65i

Polk Audio LC65i

In-wall speaker
  • 1" swivel-mount Ring Radiator tweeter and 6-1/2" woofer
  • frequency response 45-26,000 Hz
  • sound-shaping controls

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Customer Q&A

6 questions already asked

Q
Does this speaker need a back box in-ceiling to prevent sound from spreading into other rooms of the house?
22islander  Jul 19, 2024
1 answer
A
The Polk Audio 70-RT does not require a back box for excellent sonic performance, Andy. If you want to prevent sound spreading to other rooms, you can use the Dynamat En-Wall Enclosure system in the link below to reduce unwanted noise transfer. https://www.crutchfield.com/p_15450506/Dynamat-En-Wall-Enclosure-System.html
bo  Jul 19, 2024 (Staff)
Q
Are the speakers air-tight against the ceiling? If not will the speakers perform as designed in an air tight enclosure?
thomas  Oct 21, 2020
2 answers
A
It doesn't have a gasket, but I have never seen any dust around it indicate it isn't.
corey  Jan 03, 2021
A
Yes, very.. Had the Geek Squad put them up. House was pre wired. And I love them bought three. I think they will.
gary  Oct 21, 2020
Q
Can these speakers be placed in an outdoor covered patio?
todd  Aug 17, 2020
3 answers
A
Can you, yes. Should you no. It's not for outdoors. Their is cloth under the grill. I am pretty sure the grill is steal and may rust.
corey  Aug 21, 2020
A
Hello, I purchased these speakers for our living room in our brand new custom house, and am thoroughly pleased with our purchase. I also have a screened in back porch just outside our living room that I installed a set of Polk RC-80i speakers on due to a recommendation from Crutchfield's staff. The RC-80i is great for outdoor applications, and we're also very happy with the sound out there. Hope this helps.
derek  Aug 17, 2020
A
Covered patio? I don't see why not, they have a "flush" profile, so, there shouldn't be any issue with the elements (if mounted in the ceiling. I hope this helps (BTW, they sound awesome!!).
david  Aug 17, 2020
Q
I have an onkyo AV receiver HT-R550 that I purchased from crutchfield a few years back now and is still running real good. I would like to add ceiling speakers to the system for house music that I can either listen to or rock to. The house isn't huge so I was thinking 1 speaker per room which would position the speakers no more then 20 feet apart from each other. The other thing I would like to do is add a outside speaker to total 4 for the "b" side of the stereo system. Will these polk 70-RT's work well in this configuration?
chris  Dec 17, 2017
1 answer
A
Actually, no; they would not. For single speaker mounts, it's best to use "stereo input" speakers so you'll still get both the left & right channels of audio from the single mounting location. For multi-room distributed audio systems, I highly recommend contacting the Crutchfield A/V Design Group: https://www.crutchfield.com/Institutional/diy.aspx This specially trained group of advisors can help design your multi-room system and recommend the specific components and cabling you'll need to get the performance and capabilities you require in each location.
ryan  Dec 27, 2017 (Staff)
Q
Do these aim straight down or at a little bit of an angle...in the picture (speaking in ceiling) it looks like the woofer and tweeter have a little bit of an angle?
jeffrey lee  Sep 17, 2015
5 answers
A
Yes, these can be slightly angled.
riley  Sep 19, 2015
A
Yes these do aim straight down - there is an angle to the main driver but it is funneled down a tube and projects the sound evenly out of the front of the speaker with the midrange and tweeter - the speaker is well balanced and sounds great. I would suggest you download the user manual and check out the line diagrams on page 4 - it will show you how the speaker is configured.
christopher  Sep 18, 2015
A
They are placed angular behind the face plate aiming down. If you are planning for front three then voice is modular and perfect as per placement. But if placed one or two odd in corners then you would definitely hear better facing down
pankaj  Sep 18, 2015
A
They have a little bit of an angle.
nathan  Sep 18, 2015
A
They aim straight down once installed. The electronics and rear housing do sit on an angle. They work and sound great in my 5.2.4 Atmos setup.
mark  Sep 18, 2015
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Polk Audio 70-RT each
$199.00 each

Looking for more?

Check out the next model in this lineup.


Adding...
Polk Audio 90-RT

Polk Audio 90-RT

in-ceiling speaker
In stock
4.5 out of 5 stars
36 reviews
$299.00 each

Bigger speakers for fuller sound

The Polk Audio 90-RT offers these features:
  • 3-1/4" midrange
  • 6" x 9" woofer
  • frequency response: 43-25,000 Hz (-3dB)
Compare all details
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