I have a REL S3 in my system. Prior to the REL, I tried multiple subs with great frustration, so much so that I gave up on ever integrating a sub. I don't recall why I decided to give it another shot but I went and bought the REL and couldn't be more pleased. Easy to integrate and plenty of low end extension for me. I will say that I have my crossover set more to enhance the mid range (not that my Sopra's aren't great at that) than to have bombastic bass.
80hz? How do you know, because there are only notches on the crossover sertting, no hz markings. So how many notches do you count ? I assume you are using the high level connection ?
I have a T5i integrated with my ProAc Response D2’s. It’s the musicality that I love about the REL. I don’t want a $700 sub that overpowers my much more expensive main speakers. I want it to compliment them. Are they for everyone? Of course not. Nothing is in audio. But it works perfectly for me.
As Rel states, this is the result when gain and crossover settings are just right : Big, rich timbres and air everywhere there should be in, around, and above the soundstage with focus, clarity, grounding to voices. It's not just about the bass. When turning on your REL sub doesn't give you an extra lift in soundstage and air (on appropriate recordings of course) as stated above the gain and crossover settings are not where they need to be. It's not about picking a random volume you feel good about, it's about finding the exact right volume setting (again, the air around instruments and voices, making them sound alive),by switching off your left-brain and using the right half .
I use the line level connection. I tried both and didn't find a tremendous difference, so I stuck with low level so that I can set independent high and low pass filters on the sub and speakers, and so that I can adjust the sub level using the know on the front of my integrated rather than have to bend over behind the sub. With both high and low level inputs the sub never goes above ~7-8 notches.
upsell from what i have tried. do the calculation with a similar output but less expensive speaker and see what it spits out....
I run two T-Zeros with with my Magnepan LRSs. After moving the system into a much bigger room (20x20) I added the second sub. Now the system's got more than enough low end heft for a music only setup. Merges perfectly with the Maggies...
Not what Rel recommends but if you prefer it that way..... Have you read this (it's about using the .lfe connection for ht, but might be of use for you as well) : Getting What You Pay For - REL Acoustics "Set the built-in crossover in your receiver or processor to 200 Hz in order to send as wideband a signal as possible so that the REL’s crossover has enough information to sculpt with. Do NOT make the mistake of leaving the factory crossover of 80Hz for this reason."
Yes I have used the arrow for the past 2 years and it's worked well. Initially it was set up 40' away and it still worked! It's now much closer and works flawlessly allowing me to place the sub in the room where I want. It also accomodates .1/LFE and high level connections simultaneously.
A big room might be different but I can’t imagine needing much more than my T3 (the small one). And I’m not anti-subwoofer. It was surprisingly easy to integrate. A few days of tweaking a couple of times and then it was dialed....to my ears. It sounded good and I wasn’t going to touch it. I’d be interested in hearing another in my room for stereo bass. I can’t imagine you’ll have a problem with “not enough output or extension compared to competitors”.
Looking at your room size 19X14...I would think you have a number of REL options, particularly IF you can mount the sub in a corner. Anything from a T5i on up should work...depending on your music choice.
Appreciate the feedback. Is there something unique about the S/510 design that makes them able to compliment say my Spendor D7's better than something from the Ti-line of REL subs? I see REL touting that the S/510 "plays with refined speed, remarkable attack, generous scale, and pinpoint accuracy" but they also quote HiFi+ saying that the T9i is an excellent subwoofer for the audiophile. Both models have a 10-inch driver...yet a $1500 cost differential.
I think as you go up in the REL line you get a larger powered unit and in some cases a larger driver. As to ability, that's a subjective thing, but I can tell you that I would rather have two T5i's than say one S/510...and for less $$.
Yep, as far as I can tell they have paired the REL suggested model to be comparable with the PRICE of the speakers, not the specs. So the Spendors, Harbeths, Devore, Focals, etc all get paired with 512 or 812 while the Monitor Audio or Martin Logan get paired with the Ti series. I'm thinking the T9i may work with for me just as well as a S/510.
You’re probably onto something there. Why one sub? Why not a pair of something smaller like a T5i or T7i? I can’t say enough about the virtues of stereo subs, especially if you listen to older recordings with hard panning where all the bass or drums is off to one side of the soundstage. They become a true extension of the speaker they’re supporting in a way that isn’t possible with a single sub.
Agreed, my room is bigger at 23x13 and one T7i is plenty! But knowing what I know now, I might have gone for 2x T5i instead of 1x T7i. If budget allows I would certainly go for 2 subs of the Ti series instead of 1 S/510.
I use a pair of REL T5i's in a very small room, connected via minidsp 2x4 hd. The subs' volume is set to max and then minidsp brings it down at certain frequencies, eliminating all peaks and dips. With the help of room gain, I get +10dB at 20 Hz in my listening position.
My room/speaker configuration wouldn't easily allow for two although I know that's preferable. I was considering placing one sub between my speaker pair along the front wall in order to get some balance and not load one corner too much.
I've only had my pair of T/5i's for a few weeks but my experience is in line with what's described here. No boom or floor rattling, but it's as if a whole world of of low-end information that I didn't know was there has suddenly been exposed. Now bass is as fleshed-out and detailed as mids and highs. Integration has been successful as far as I can tell. The bass notes seem to be timed perfectly with the rest of the music and emanate from the correct place in the soundstage. I haven't had time to play around with placement, so the subs are still in the same spots I plopped them when they arrived, directly behind and a bit to the outside of the mains. But this is working well so far. Gain and crossover are at about the 10 o'clock position.
That's what logic dictates but not how Rel works. Read up on as many articles as you can on the Rel homepage! I also tried mine in center position, not as good as the corner. The Rel needs to load your room, most of the times it works best from a corner if you only have one (and even with 2). If you can't put your Rel sub where it NEEDS to be because of room restrictions or otherwise, you might as well save some money and get another cheap sub because you won't be getting full benefits anyway (imo).
@bever70 Appreciate the insight. I'm in no hurry to get a sub...simply contemplating benefits at some point and pondering how i'd implement. This is helpful.
Not necessarily correct. I utilize two subs and neither are in the corner ( my room and set up won’t allow for it). While corner placement is nice if you can accommodate it, with judicious placement in regards to the mains, and a lot of set-up experimentation, a great blend and low extension can be achieved.
Does the REL wireless transmitter work well or is it a huge sonic downgrade over hardwire? I would have more flexibility to add a pair if I could go wireless but I'm highly suspect of the SQ.
anyone compare the t9i to the t7i? seems like the t9i would play slightly bigger and louder but does it give up anything to the t7i. ? more difficult to integrate? does the t7i have a dominant note?