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Polk Audio 265 RT

In-wall speaker

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Item# 107265RT offer details

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Polk Audio

Our take on the Polk Audio 265 RT

by Marshall Chase

This Polk speaker practically disappears
No, it isn't magic. But it's close. A member of Polk's "RT Vanishing" series, the 265 RT offers stellar sound in an inconspicuous design that hides in your wall. Close your eyes, and you might just think you're listening to a bookshelf speaker. The 265 RT is voice-matched to Polk's renowned RTi series, so you can put together a system mixing in-wall and floor-standing or bookshelf speakers — whatever suits your room and your decorating sense best.

A terrific trio of drivers
You can bank on great performance. Dual 6-1/2" woofers and a pivoting silk-dome polymer tweeter deliver wide frequency response, from deep bass to crystal-clear highs. Built-in switches let you tailor the sound to match your specific room and installation. Finish off by painting the magnetic Sheer-Grille™ to match your wall color and the '265 is ready for showtime.

An optional in-wall bracket is recommended for installing the 265-RT in-wall center channel speaker in a home with new construction.

Got wire?
Most speakers don't include any. Learn more about in-wall wiring at the Crutchfield Learning Center.
Shop our selection of in-wall speaker wire.

Highlights:

  • 1" swivel-mount silk/polymer dome tweeter
  • dual 6-1/2" woofers
  • sound-shaping controls
  • frequency response 45-25,000 Hz (-3dB)
  • handles up to 200 watts
  • sensitivity 91 dB
  • 8-ohm impedance
  • paintable Sheer-Grille™ for stealth installation
  • cutout: 7-1/4"W x 19-3/16"H
  • mounting depth: 3-1/4"
  • warranty: limited lifetime
  • Our 60-day money-back guarantee
Shop all Polk Audio In-wall Speakers
     

    Hands-on research from the Crutchfield Labs (what are the Labs?)

    Features and Specs

    Features and Specs
    Enclosure Type
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    In-wall
    Video Shielded
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    No
    Tweeter
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    Dome
    Midrange Size
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    ---
    Woofer Size
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    6.5
    Woofer Composition
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    Polymer Composite
    Woofer Surround
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    Rubber
    Power Range (Watts)
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    10-200
    Sensitivity
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    91 dB
    Impedance (Ohms)
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    8
    Frequency Response
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    45-25kHz
    Connector Type
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    Spring post
    Bi-Amp Inputs
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    No
    Parts Warranty
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    Lifetime
    Labor Warranty
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    Lifetime

    Product Research

    Product Research
    What's in the box?

    Download owner's manual

    • Rectangular in-wall speaker
    • Foam rubber port plug
    • White metal grille
    • Mounting template
    • Owner's Manual
    • Sheer-Grille Painting instructions
    • Online Registration Card
    • Polk Audio product brochure

    Our Product Research Team

    At Crutchfield, you'll get detailed, accurate information that's hard to find elsewhere. That's because we have our own in-house Product Research team — they open the box, verify contents, check the owner's manual, and record dimensions, features and specs. We stay on top of new products and technologies to help people make informed choices.

    Vanishing Series In-Wall Loudspeakers: The Polk Audio Vanishing Series 265-RT in-wall loudspeaker features a precision-engineered, minimally flanged design. Polk's exclusive Sheer-Grille protrudes only 7mm from its surroundings, and installs virtually-flush in your wall. Mounting the speaker is simple with a one-cut, drop-in installation and the rotating cam stabilizing system. The speaker provides superior high-performance sound from its dual 6.5" woofers and aimable 1" tweeter with Reflective Room Compensation control.

    Driver Technology
    Infinite Enclosure Design
    Connections
    Mounting Options

    Driver Technology

    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-wall loudspeaker.

    Dual Woofers: The 265-RT in-wall loudspeaker employs dual 6.5" Dynamic Balance mineral composite polypropylene cone woofers with rubber surrounds for a smooth, consistent frequency response. The drivers feature a lightweight, strong composite basket that works in conjunction with Klippel Optimization to keep moving parts in rigid alignment while further damping performance-robbing resonances.

    Silk Dome Tweeter: The speaker employs a 1" Dynamic Balance silk polymer composite dome tweeter for crisp, clear imaging. The high-performance tweeter features a 15° swivel housing, for more direct high frequency control, excellent off-axis imaging and more placement flexibility.

    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 (3500-6000Hz) where room acoustics most often interfere with performance. The switch has two settings:

    • Filter 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 "Filter" 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 in-wall loudspeakers are timbre-matched to Polk Audio's high-performance RTi bookshelf and floor-standing loudspeakers. This allows you to match them to an existing Polk Audio home theater speaker system and enjoy 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-wall speaker is 30Hz to 27kHz, and the -3dB frequency response is 45 to 25kHz.

    Infinite Enclosure Design

    Infinite Baffle Tuning: Infinite Baffle Tuning uses the virtual enclosure of the in-wall space for deep bass response and superior overall sound.

    PowerPort Bass Venting: The 265-RT features Polk Audio's patented PowerPort Bass Venting. The oblong-shaped port has rounded edges which smooth air turbulence at the mouth of the port to eliminate distortion. A foam rubber port plug is included, and should be inserted when the speaker is installed in an area larger than a standard open stud bay.

    Wafer-Thin Sheer-Grille: The Polk Audio Vanishing Series in-wall 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 wall. Brushes or rollers should not be used to paint the grille, as this will clog the perf holes.

    Connections

    Gold-Plated Spring-Loaded Posts: The 265-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.

    Mounting Options

    Applications: You can use the Polk Audio Vanishing Series in-wall loudspeaker as main left and right speakers mounted alongside your flat screen TV, 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 eight rotating cams to hold the speaker securely to the wall.

    Installation: The 265-RT can be installed in new or existing construction:

    • Existing Construction: In existing walls, use the included cardboard template for one-cut, drop-in simplicity.
    • New Construction: Pre-construction brackets (sold separately) are available for new-build or open-wall retro-fitting.

    Dimensions:

    In-Wall Dimensions Model # 265-RT
    Overall Dimensions (with grille) Width = 8.875"
    Height = 20.875"
    Cutout Dimensions Width = 7.25"
    Height = 19.1875"
    Product Depth (including grille & wiring) Depth = 3.75"
    Mounting Depth (using 1/2" drywall) Depth = 3.25"
     

    Product Reviews

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    Reviews for the Polk Audio 265 RT

    Average Customer Review:

    4 people say:

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    Showing: 1-4 of 4
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    5 out of 5

    Polk Audio 265 RT

    Written By JH, Glenwood Springs, CO on Saturday, March 23, 2013
    Crutchfield Customer Review (What's this?)
     
    The speakers are being used for music. They are matched to Polk 550 sub. Still working to adjust sound between sub and 265 RT, but am happy with the sound quality. These were super easy to install. Used "you-tube" and Crutchfield site for tips on installation. I have not painted the grille yet but speakers fit well into wall and look decent.
    Pros:
    Easy install, decent sound.
    Cons:
    None
    Was this review helpful?    Yes | No
     
    5 out of 5

    265RT

    Written By Tony 7.1, San Antonio Texas on Monday, December 31, 2012
    Crutchfield Customer Review (What's this?)
     
    Awesome Speakers especially for the price! I bought this along with the RC 55, 65, and 85 in wall speakers for my 7.1 system and it sounds amazing! My suggestion though would be to get a great receiver to get the maximum sound you are looking for. I lucked out as i have a friend who upgraded to a 11.2 system and sold me his $1500 Pioneer receiver for $400! God is Good and my system sounds Great! The installation was easy to install as i had my room pre-wired for a 7.1 system so all i had to do was cut out the holes in the walls and install. Once installed I painted the grill as the instructions said with spray paint and my Theater Room looks amazing! I'm not one to pay somebody to do what I can do myself and I'm no professional but the installation was a breeze and my room looks professional grade! Also, they sent me the Polk PSW111 for free with my purchase and OMG! My room is booming! I haven't had to push the limits of my system but I have turned it way up and the sound is crystal Clear! My wife talked me into getting the 7.1 and I'm glad she did because I am one satisfied customer. Thanks Crutchfield!
    Pros:
    Easy Installation
    Cons:
    none so far
    Was this review helpful?    Yes | No
     
    4 out of 5

    Only one complaint

    Written By Anonymous, pittsburgh, pa on Sunday, February 26, 2012
    Crutchfield Customer Review (What's this?)
     
    I LOVE these speakers and hands down I would have given them a 5 but the reason I gave them a 4 is due to the poor construction/design of the magnets that hold the speaker grill/cover in place. The problem I had with ALL 4 of the speakers I purchased was after I placed the cover on and then removed it to make adjustments the magnets pulled out from their "glued" position on the speaker and stuck to the cover; something I did not expect and actually took me a minute to realize it happened after I tried to place the cover back on only to discover that it would not "stick" to the speaker frame. So I figure the little magnets will not stay in place unless they are glued back on the speaker, which I have not attempted to do. For the price this is just something I think should not be a problem. The result: my speaker covers are in place, but there are corners that are not flush with the speaker/wall making for a not so clean finished look.
    Pros:
    Sound is great.
    Cons:
    Read my review.
    4 out of 4 people found this helpful
    Was this review helpful?    Yes | No
     
    4 out of 5

    pretty sweet

    Written By Rob, Cincinnati, OH on Friday, March 18, 2011
    Crutchfield Customer Review (What's this?)
     
    Got this one as a center in a 5.1 system. Awesome full sound. Worth the price.
    The sound is sparkley and clear with lots of detail. I had set this system up
    and was listening to some music before the sub was delivered and in my 12 x 15
    room the sound was decently rich. More to the point, I heard a lot of nuance
    that was not apparent either in good headphones or my crappy old speakers. For
    my $ this was a good value choice.
    7 out of 7 people found this helpful
    Was this review helpful?    Yes | No
     
    1-4 of 4

    Accessories

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    UL-listed speaker wire is designed to be run through walls and is building code compliant. See all categories & accessories

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    Rated 5-stars by consumers

    For a more in-depth review and enhanced detailed information on the Polk Audio 265 RT, please visit the Crutchfield website product page (/S-Ca7Iy51GMFd/p_107265RT/Polk-Audio-265-RT.html ).

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