Rel imo is a fantastic brand delivering quality products with unmatched finishing and effortless bass integration i wouldn't go anywhere else for a sub!!
I will definitely consider REL in the future when I start another system. There are so many good options out there. When you get caught up and have time, I think a subwoofer shootout video would be entertaining for everyone. SVS vs REL vs Rythmik vs HSU vs JL. 👍
@@dicmccoy the guy with the RUclips video that has one it is just absolutely the best sub money can buy for I believe a cool 8k or something. That is a damn nice looking sub though I have to say.
@@glennnichols4220 Yeah they look gorgeous. Too bad they're so big. I'm a 10" guy personally for music listening. I find bigger cones add a coloration to the sound. I've always been able to hear it. If they made a kick ass 10" version, then I'd be on it like white on rice.
I have this same sub running with a couple of 20 year old B&W DM 602"s changes the whole sound of the system its absolutely amazing i agree with the cheesy branding but who cares the sound is just phenomenal
I purchased two T9I's because i trusted the quality of REL, both of them vibrate at certain frequency levels though. They are superb value for money purely because of what they can do, the power, and control to the speaker cone is incredible. The vibration ruins the sound though, this vibration isn't present during surround sound but is during a lot of tracks within HI-FI use when CD is the source. I'm currently sending back my two T9I's to the factory because i'm not happy that i have almost £2000 of sub bass that creates vibration in an otherwise perfect and controlled sound.
Most of the subs integrate easily, but people want subs to replace their main speakers drivers with it. You dont... You just extend bass. If you have bookshelfs and you want to play loud in big room thinking that sub will fix them, then youre wrong.
@@20puskinas1992 I don't agree with the integration at all. I've own 9 powered subwoofers and I only had 2 that effortlesly integrated into my system to the point you couldn't hear the sub. Most subwoofers need to be meticulously placed and tuned in order for the possibility of great integration. Higher end subs from my experience are generally much easier.
@@buttonman1831 How it is hard? If speakers can go to 50hz then setup sub to play everything below it and not above that frequency. Both wont interfere with each other.
@@20puskinas1992 Not saying hard per se but for example. I had a SVS pb2000 and I could not find a perfect spot in the room which was 28x12. No matter where I placed it, I could localize the sound. My best solution in terms of sound, was to point the subwoofer facing almost backwards which looked stupid. The sub I bought after that a JL e112 I placed it in the same area and it integrated flawlessly. Blended with my speakers 100% to the point you couldn't determine where the sub sound was coming from once the phase adjustment was made. Very easy to integrate unlike the PB2000 which I could never integrate perfectly. Both subs had a similar frequency response in the low 20hz range. This isn't the first time I encountered this between high end and low end subs.
@@buttonman1831 pb is quite big ported speaker. Big ported ones integrate poorly, cause they are miles slower than small ones or the ones with better cone materials. I understand what you mean better now. Thanks for input.
Fantastic, thorough and incredibly useful review and comparison video! Though short and sweet, I love the comparison portion, especially since I own an svs closed sub! You certainly gave me/us a lot to chew on and consider, Sean. Thank you again!
REL is without a doubt one of the best, but most of all it is the fastest sub I have ever experienced. REL are pretty much the only sub that can keep up to the speed of Maggis and do them some justice. If you like pipe organ music, they are one to get as well; met a guy who had 2 of REL's largest and most powerful subs just for Pipe Organ music. Back in the day you used to have to sign a release form from the seller to take the larger subs home, just to protect REL from liability from home structure damage. LOL
Going to sticky this comment: 1) I genuinely appreciate the feedback and advice regarding camera focus. Please note that this is not a setup issue as much as it is a hardware issue. This old camera, which may or may not have been thrown to the ground in anger, is on its last legs. 2) For technical advice on how to connect the sub to your system, click on the description box and follow the link to RELS support page. I can review the product, but I cannot serve as an extension of their support team.
I just bought the REL HT /1003 sub to replace my cheap Tannoy Sfx. It’s an unbelievable improvement , I’m glad REl are making subs for people who can afford them.
Rel is a very good sub, Vandersteen has used hi level inputs for decades for subs and some of their speakers, it does make blending so much better for both.👍
9:05 You are one of the best hifi nuts on RUclips, you speak quickly (and I love that) and clearly. What has excited me @ nine o five is that I have experienced the same thing (with smoother treble). I made some speakers with a FR driver and a (normal) woofer in each speaker. And I disconnected the woofers to listen to the FR drivers in the speakers, by themselves (with a bit of bass cranked into them). And they aren't too bad for that pure point source sound (with light classical and stuff). But I found the treble to sound a bit gritty. lol And that grittiness completely disappears with the 10" woofers connected. The treble is way smoother with no sign of grittiness at all. wtf
I just recently purchased a rel r505 12" sub and oh boy. They really know how to make a sub and that one is like 10years old. It almost feels wrong that I can lift the crossover to 100+hz and I still cant locate the sub whatsoever! They do make unbelievable subs!
Slammin' (literally)I was already sold since REL fr past 20 years has been the music lovers choice.If you didn't get a Strata or other earlier sub you couldn't blend with most speakers and Maggies or Quads fowgettbout it.You could go with a monsterous servo sub (the Revel or Velodyne DD which I sold comes to mind) but it was brute force vs finesse.As you noted the newer ones are even better.At same time the review here didn't get into two salient points which are 1) REL's eschewing a DSP for room integration.When I spoke with them they said "were old school but it works and our easy to place assistance should optimize things".But for some below 500hrz DSP does seem like a good thing 2) the full range neutrik connector and low pass in the sub vs using the LF input.Many knowledgeable folks like Paul McGowan have championed what REL is saying about seeing the entire waveform but for me it's hard to wrap my head around it.Most HT folks will go with SVS or a same brand as mains sub and that's fine.But I would be interested about if your receiver or 2 channel amp (think your Parasound HINT 6) has a low pass filter is the relief of the mains doing bass duty mean that that is the option one would want to take?Unless I get a full outboard analogue or digital (read now MiniDSP) I would hook it to speaker taps but if I had the Halo / Hint stuff around with the option I wonder which I would choose.Again maybe obsessive audio dorkdom on my part here but otherwise another straightforward no BS of a good product.At this point wouldn't expect less on any given Sunday
I looked into this the dipole Method gets expensive and complicated quickly . Everyone likes the LRS but this is where it gets to be a pain , REL is a more feasible option especially compared to JL's price tag. Some run two T5 - Put the money elsewhere like micro dsp processing and maybe a crown for the Maggie's.
Did you have the chance to listen to the sub via LFE? just wondering if the proprietary connection REL offers is noticeably better? Awesome content btw!
Hell yeah Rel gets it ! High level input ! The best way for an active subwoofer connection for music playback to match signal output to front L&R speakers , Drinking from the same cup that was good Sean ! My number 1 video upload, on The tube is how 2 connect an Reciever/integrated amp without subwoofer rca out-put, 32k views and rising :) Thanks for the review Rel makes amazing audio !! (Class A ohh my )
REL makes incredible subs. I have a set of Martin Logan subs which are also very musical but also suitable for ht. Sealed cabinets, servo controlled. I heard the new balanced forces 12’s up against a SVS 13 ultra at a dealer. The ML was the clear winner imo.
I really wanted to see a review about velodyne or espesially rel subs. And it comes from you even better XD. Had my eyes in this brand for quite some time now. Nice review as always.
Let us know if you have any questions or would like us to give you a subwoofer recommendation based on your speakers and size. Feel free to email us at contactus@rel.net
I bought 2 SVS SB16 Ultras. The first octave and a half (20hz to 60hz) contains the dimensional information that lets you hear the acoustics of the venue. Playing the Michael Murray with Eugene Ormandy version of the SAINT-SAENS symphony NO.3 sounded and felt real. You can actually hear the height, width and depth of the ST. Francis de Sales church where the music was recorded. It took a lot of blood, sweat and tears to blend the subwoofers to the main speakers but the tears of joy at the end were worth it.
Hey Sean, thanks for doing a subwoofer review. Really cool that you did Darrell t7i as I own one. It is fantastic. I got lucky and found one on audiogon in mint condition for $600. I have another recommendation in high-level connections Subs. Not sure if you knew about them or anybody else. It's a brand called sumiko. I believe they are defunct as of now but they actually were affiliated with Rel at one point and it essentially looks like a r l. What's pretty cool about what's going on is there being closed out on audiogon so you can get them for a fraction of what they were making them a much better bargain than the rail line as of now until of course they sell out. Not trying to steal your thunder but just trying to help fellow audiophiles would getting some great product at a discount. I happen to get dual sumiko s .5 subwoofers for a total of $900. Class A B 150 W teach and their glorious.
Hi Ryan, We are no longer affiliated with Sumiko. The Sumiko subwoofers that were produced attempted to copy many features of a REL but were not made by our company or with the high standards for materials and design that we have become known for. Though the design looks similar, the difference in performance is night and day when comparing REL and Sumiko subwoofers.
@@RELAcoustics REL- Cool of you to chime in. As I stated. You were once affiliated with Sumiko. I own your T7i...Its awesome....I also own 2 Sumiko S.5's.....I disagree with your performance statement. The S.5's are fantastic with my Gallo Classico CL-4's. My good friend also owns your S3 and a Sumiko S.5. He agrees with me. REL has good stuff...so did Sumiko. I'm calling a spade a spade.
@@stephencosta6814 Thanks Steve! My English is much better typing versus speech to text LOL! Feel free to ask me any questions about Sumiko subs. Believe it or not. The Sumiko's weigh more and offer more watts. They also have a cool lit up logo on top of the sub:) At least I like it:):) REL's are great!!! But there is just a better bargain out there...until the Sumikos sell out.
@@raymondtaveras9371 yes the bass is well controlled, but what it does for soundstage, imaging, vocals.... Calling it a subwoofer doesn't do it justice.
Very happy for you as long as you take time set it up you will be rewarded great sound like I said if you got it from rel themselves you have 60 day to try it out or you can upgrade by playing the difference I have some MartinLogan dynamo 700 and the 1000 they sound good but when you spend time with the t5 you won’t want to go back to the dynamo subwoofers
I run a pair of Energy ESW V8 subwoofers based on a cast aluminum frame 8" fibreglass driver in a heavily braced cabinet and each has a 200W RMS ~ 800 peak BASH amp. The ESW V8 is in a nicely done gloss black cabinet. I prefer it to the REL finishes I have run across. I run my subs for augmentation of bass not reinforcement, with my Wharfedale Diamond 9.1's. No home theatre here just music. IMHO it works awesome. I totally agree with running them speaker level in vs via RCA.
Very informative review. I have 2 T7i Subs expected to arrive today. I also have KEF LS50 Meta speakers ordered (unfortunately, temporarily on backorder). I'm looking forward to hearing all of it. Thanks for the info!
Have Meta’s arrived and if so how do they sound with real the two Rels? I’ve got LS50’s and will be ordering a T7i this week so interested to hear your thoughts
@@spokeinteractive1833 I received the LS50 Meta shipment on Wednesday of this week. They are sitting on a table under my TV until I receive the speaker stands that are being built. So, not ideal. However, there is a very noticeable difference between the KEF/REL combo vs my previous setup. Currently, my Sony DA4ES receiver is driving them. I recently purchased a Hegel H190 which hasn't been out of the box, yet, as I'm waiting on backorder for a Salamander audio rack (don't want to get the Hegel out until I have a place to put it). I'm trying to be patient as I wait to get everything in and properly placed. But, I think your question was about the RELs. They're great. They're capable of plenty of rumble, if you choose to set them up that way...and they produce very good detail vs where many other subs just vibrate a room. So far, I'm happy that I decided on REL and that I bought 2 of them.
@@mtkreger I ended up getting 2 x T5i’s instead of one T7i as I got a great deal on a used one. They’re here and I’m setting them up the weekend. The metas with the Hegel and the two T7i’s is going to sound insanely good
@@mtkreger they’ve arrived and have been set up. The result is superb, the LS50’s (in my room anyway) have definitely been improved by the sub. The low end of badly improved and you have the superb detail that the Ls50 brings. Seriously happy with the addition of the subs. I’ve heard £2000 floor standers that don’t sound this good
PS Audio, for someone who probably makes subs, that's pretty good evidence that REL is good. Someone commented to me that PS Audio "makes" REL subs (but I don't think so).
I think that REL subs fantastic. I am lucky to own a REL Stadium 2 sub. To this day, it is still one of if not the finest sounding subwoofer for 2 channel audio. It cost over a grand in the late 90's and is still going strong to this day paired with my Tannoy XT 8F's. It's a wicked piece of furniture as well!
Zero Fidelity especially in a small room. I’m only using 25% of its max. volume, so that’s more than enough bass. Like you mentioned getting a lot of bass is easy these days, but quality bass is a whole different story
dennem I have a REL T5i paired with a REL Quake and its amazing. (Was concerned about using two different subs, but they work very well together). Been a REL user for many years, and the make great products.
I wonder myself if I should've stuck with the T5i. I got two T7i's and had a heck of a time avoiding coupling between the walls and the subs themselves. I bumped up the subs on SVS feet to reduce the seismic energy in the room and placed them in opposing corners of the room. Had to turn them way down too. Sounds pretty good, but not perfect. If the system was on concrete floors in the basement I think I'd be getting better results.
Hello I’m a new subscriber here, I found your channel very helpful. Which one is better this subwoofer or the new REL HT 1205? I’ll be using it both for Hi-Res music and Home theatre. But will be more for music.
The home theatre one is not made for music. It’s probably going to be too slow for optimal performance and be more difficult to integrate. HT stands for Home Theatre, I guess.
Nice description, I am interested in the T9i and assume it offers similar but bigger performance. A couple notes of interest - there isn't a sensing trigger that powers the subwoofers on from standby- you will need to manually switch them on or leave them powered all the time. They are not the only subwoofer that accepts high level speaker inputs, JL Audio does (and others) and the results are fantastic with respect to integration. My only reservation on the T9i is their lack of depth and amplifier power compered to the competition.
So on a REL, if you use the High Level Input option, you hook the sub up to a speaker output on your amplifier. Assuming you're using a two channel amp, then you're also using that same channel to power your speakers, right? As I understand it, you're "sharing" the output signal between the sub and your front channel. By hooking up the REL in this way, are you in anyway diminishing the signal / wattage going to your main speakers? I'd assume the answer is "no", but I'm wanting to make sure I'm understanding this High Level Input feature. Thanks.
@Zero Fidelity Great job bro! I'm a big fan of Rel I just have the old model but one day I'll get their new news soon & did Rel give you a discount code? ;-)
IMHO, going with a pair of subs is the way to go. I changed from a single large sub to a pair of smaller T9i’s and the imaging and integration to the main speakers KEF R3’s is much better.
I have a Martin Logan Sub (the small one) and months later I'm still trying to find the right everything to integrate it with my speakers. I got the Sub New for $40 bucks so I don't have much to complain, and I have found several set ups that I thought sounded best, BUT I GET THE FEELING that the JOB I want out of my SUB is only going to found with REL!
Btw, my little sub had reviews from you and so many other reviewers I trust to be Musical, rather than a window rattling earthquakes for Disney/Marvel/Star Wars movies.
crowshik the t5 will work but if you buy from rel on their website they give you 60 day to try it or upgrade to any other sub you want I have tried the t5 and with careful placement you will get that magic you are looking for my speakers are fairly large and go down to 28 hertz and I thought the rel T5 wasn’t going to do anything for my speakers and I was amazed they also ofer a wireless connection for I believe 200 dollars if you don’t want to use the long cable it has proven to be a good great sub for music and very good for movies too it would be better two t5 for movie but one setup right with amaze you or if you want more upgrade it
Due to the quickness of our subwoofers they pair very well with electrostatic speakers. Let us know if you have any questions or would like us to give you a subwoofer recommendation based on your speakers and size. Feel free to email us at contactus@rel.net
These are the only subs you want for Maggie’s, any of them. I looked and listened to as many subs over a couple of years with my upgraded 1.7i's as could well as 3.7i's. From the T7i to the S/5 SHO. They are amazingly accurate. The only downside is the cost. Because they are so critically accurate they lack the boom/bloom bass most subs have. So you’re going to want a pair. On the plus side, you will never regret the cost once you have them, because no other sub comes close. Only have room for one sub? Just get the next size up. And I might as well warn you that the price increase from the T series to the S series is substantial.
redstarwraith: My front end is an OPPO UDP 205 with some mods to the transport power supply and the transport itself, better upper bearing plate, heavier transport case and some Dynamat where I could fit it in. I like this because of the DAC filter selections allowing for different attack and roll off points. Have a lousy album from the 60’s? Brick Wall is perfect! But for that only and nothing else. My amp is a AHB-2 from Benchmark. I love this amp! No coloration or effect whatsoever. What you put in is exactly what comes out. I also have a Schitt Loki for poorly recorded pieces, since I can flip a switch and remove it entirely from the system. I have a Schitt Freya with vintage 40’s ONS tubes, but it just muddies things up, so is not in the mix anymore. Instead I use it with my KEF R300’s in my studio, it’s brilliant with those speakers.
redstarwraith: Oh, with a 12x16x8 listening room 85 is as high as I can stand for stadium rock stuff. Double bass and piano with Jazz are clear as a bell, with the subs. And the detail in hired Classical is awesome.
Zero Fidelity I have the big Rythmik fv25hp in my theater and it’s very impressive. I always wondered how musical the smaller subs are. I also have an older Paradigm Servo 15 which works great with music.
Hey Sean,ever heard BK Electronics models such as the XXLS400 (I've got the DF version) ? I wonder how it would compare to these REL... I read that BK used to produce parts for REL too.
Another sub hipped me to BK Electronics. Looks real interesting. Whatever you read about BK designing drivers/parts for REL is at least partly fabricated. REL designs most of their stuff in-house (although manufacturing is done mostly overseas).
@@ZeroFidelity BK Electronics used to design and manufacture subwoofers entirely for REL back in the nineties. BK went on to manufacture for other brands, but BK's own products are based on this strong background and are still built entirely in-house in the UK.
This video playlist should answer any questions you have about connecting a REL to your Emotiva gear. ruclips.net/video/MiF5_F3e0Ww/видео.html If you have any other questions don't hesitate to reach out.
Probably a stupid question but here goes! With many subs (including the T7i) incorporating a passive radiator that "fires" downwards, what are the considerations (if any) for the floor on which the sub stands (albeit on short legs)? Most of us have carpets or rugs laying over suspended floorboards or concrete; I presume some of the output from the vertically-mounted radiator will be colored by these floor differences? Many thanks!
Thanks for the review. Thanks for comparing this to the past t5 model. A better comparison would be the t5i. I have heard it is significantly better than the t5. I wish you would have talked more about the benefits of using 2 subs. Or perhaps of using 2 small rels instead of one larger model, thanks!
Hi Pranab, For a room that is roughly 200-300 square feet, the T/7i would perform very well with those Klipsch speakers. If the room is closer to 300 square feet or more you would likely be better off with a T/9i. If you have any questions feel free to email us at contactus@rel.net
Zero Fidelity it’s been great seeing all the interest and you put together a great review. We’re just trying to step in and help out answering a few questions.
@@ZeroFidelityWhat do you think of the combro RP-600m + REL T7i + Boyuu Reisong A10 match? Just order the A10 (due to your review!), and now I'm browsing for some speakers to match and I am doubting between getting Klipsch RP6000f towers or just the RP600m with a subwoofer. Thanks!
REL makes us challenge our thinking: pre out to REL sub amp has less circuits but more delay than pre out to stereo amp to REL sub amp. If it doesn't make sense but it works, then it works. Reminds me of the ASR guys insisting Yggdrasil cannot possibly work.
Nice review, I am sold on the REL "quality" enough to check them out. How well would they integrate with speakers that have decent low end output -e.g. 45 Hz or so, without using filters on the main speakers?
What speakers would you be looking to pair the REL with? A speaker's low end output is measured in an anechoic chamber (an-echoic meaning "non-reflective, non-echoing, echo-free") that is designed to completely absorb reflections of either sound or electromagnetic waves. Speakers cannot reproduce these results in a typical listening environment because rooms are never acoustically perfect like the test environment so you aren't getting the same low end output you might think. Also, there would be no need to run a filter on your main speakers. By setting the crossover on the REL to just beneath the low end of your main speakers there will be a seamless transition within your systems low end.
@@RELAcoustics I have measured the response in my room with RTA software and there is decent output down to 20Hz that starts rolling off 35 Hz or so. I would want the RELs to play in parallel with my main speakers because setting the crossover so low it wouldn't provide much punch or output.
Hi Shaun. Really enjoy your advise and that's why I'd like your recommendation on a good subwoofer to complement a pair of Elac Uni-Fi's hooked up to a Sonos Amp. Thanks.
Very nice little subwoofer. Still loving my Velodyne F-1500-R Bought new in 1995, SERVO 15" driver, they were ahead of all other subwoofers at the time with the lowest distortion. ...........and it plays SO LOW with quality for MUSIC..
Love old Velodyne gear. The HGS18 was a destination piece to me. Heck, even the CHT15 was a badass consumer-grade sub. Sold tons of those things as a CC sales associate back in the day.
@@ZeroFidelity Thanks so much for YOUR comment about Velodyne! I was afraid you were going to yell at me for hijacking your product review (O; That HGS18 must have really been something! I remember well visiting some audiophiles that had the original ULD-18 and how impressed I was with that! One fellow had it running with a pair of Apogee DIVA's !! That was quite the system back in the day .. Ok, back to your regularly programmed channel.....
@@garysmith8455 haha No worries. The only time I get grumpy is when people lay down strong opinions or judgements about something that they clearly have no experience with. Keep rockin' with the Velo woof! :)
Great review. I 100% agree with the branding being a bit too much. Honestly just by looking at the thing I had the feeling it's a cheap ordinary sub. I would love them to take it back a notch. Mine is on its way. I hope I will be as satisfied with them as you seemed.
Hey Sean at the very start of the video where the T7i is shown in your room, it looks like the T7i is on some sort of isolation platform. Which platform is that, Sean? Or does anyone else know? I feel like I may have seen it in other Zero Fidelity videos...
i really like that REL is focusing on sound quality, and its nice to see that the new svs sb3000 that i think might be the best sounding subwoofer svs have made, and its still not sound quality oriented. its an all rounder as i suspected. that you mentioned dsp delay is great, people barely ever mention that issues. and the only knob you have on a sufferer to fix that is phase knob adding even more delay to get the phase issues aligned. still i cant put a passive radiator subwoofer in my home, its has some sound quality compromises but at least i know now that it still can be better than some sealed subwoofers. from reviews over the years i have made a short list of subwoofers i think might be the best for sound quality and are sealed(price range 900-2500 dollar): monitor audio have quite a few in at various prices, own the gold w15 myself. JL audio make some good ones, hope you get a chance to review that brand for sure. focal REL has the G1 Mark II but it is so much money.... i dont think the cheaper HT series is made for sound quality, but should compete with svs. i am probably forgetting some, am from Europe so i know most about whats going around here.
I have an SVS SB2000 and its an excellent sub for home theater and music. I haven't heard the SVS SB3000 yet but if its an upgrade to the one I have it has to be amazing. My SB2000 I picked up is a little bit over half the price of this REL ($600.00) and i can't compare the 2 as I don't own both. I've seen other reviews on the REL and it is an amazing subwoofer for what it is. I would never take this REL over the SB2000 as the SVS is more versatile and sound quality in 2 channel is just amazing. Getting 2 RELs to match the output of the SVS would cost over 2,000 dollars and it still won't hit 15hz like my SB2000 will in my theater room. Case closed...
@@williamjohnson6102 i use Canadian brands. My theater room has a paradigm 3 way center channel, axiom bookshelf speakers with 2 5 1/4 inch mid bass drivers, and Fluance multi directional side speakers basically are 2 speakers built into 1 offset at opposing 45% angles. These speakers are paired with the SVS SB2000. I favor these Canadian brands as they are all tuned in an anechoic chamber first then fine tuned in a listen room by the company. I also own Martin Logan tower speakers and have owned PSB front tower speakers. I also have Polk bookshelf speakers and Andrew Jones bookshelf speakers that are in upstairs bedrooms.
pete detraglia that sounds like an awesome setup/setups. I’m trying to figure out if adding a sub or dual subs would be worth it in a non dedicated room.
the video just explained that even the new svs is not as good as a smaller rel subwoofer. enjoy what you have but know that its not the best at the price. sound quality is the most important metric, then comes how low it plays. but i would also be hesitant to recommend rel over sb3000, because its to low a price point to get good sound quality and low bass, i want a subwoofer to do everything. as long as you got 1 good one adding another is great. having a bad suboofer and adding more is not sound quality approach. home theater is no excuse to getting bad subwoofers.
Get a black one then - the grille looks great on it. The top plate is not just a plate but part of the internal design. My REL T9i just has REL on the sides of the feet so doesn't really show. I use Focal Aria 936's and play The Blues Band very loud all the time. These subs are grrreat!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I have a shu research and it didn't come with plastic feet it came with spikes and solid rubber feet.I've had subwoofers by the company you're chilling right there and dollar-for-dollar I'll take an SVS or an HSu any day of the week
Great review. Your point about how adding a sub is as much about how it changes the overall sound (e.g. perceived frequency response and sense of scale) is spot on! I was always about the mid range and didnt really care too much about the bass. That was until I tried a good sub.. :-) A friend of mine was about to change his whole system, which he had been somewhat discontent with for a long time. 6 month ago he got a Rel T5i and has forgotten about upgrading anything else.
You don't mention the REL T0, a great sub if you don't really need the bottom octave -- which one rarely does for music. It has the same features as the other three (including the neutrik connector) and is a tiny (c. 9") cube). Picked mine up new in a sale for £249 (c.$303) in beautiful gloss white. Goes a treat with my Dali Menuet SE's, also picked up new in a sale for £999 (c.$1215).
Great content as always. Sean if you want to be amazed, try a BK Electronics sub. Based in the UK, they do not advertise and only sell direct. They have high level nutrik input as with REL (the best connection for impulse response speed) and have made subs for years for other manufacturers and now make their own. They are AMAZING value for money. Their new 12 inch with additional passive (the 300SB-PR) is superb and am deciding on one myself at the moment. I have their older version with a high spec Peerless XLS 10 inch and another Peerless 10 inch passive (and 300 w of good old A/B). Amazing build, most are compact, beautiful real wood finishes and amazing performance with music but also goes low for movies. Mine goes from below 20hz in room. Check one out. It will not go back. I have been into subs for 30 years and can attest these cannot be beaten for the money. I have had many over the years, REL (x 5 different models), B&W (x4), MJ Acoustics (x3), Velodyne (x3), Sunfire (x2), SVS (x2), Eclipse (x1) and 2 older M&K units. I am most happy now with BK for the overall combo of finish vs size vs performance.
I appreciate it Alex! Not sure if I'll ever have a chance to check them out, which is a shame, but what you said certainly sounds exciting! Especially given how many of the same products we've tried.
Im not a fan of tiny subs even for music. I like the non distorted control and low end extension in organs, edm etc. Also take a look at PSA, JTR and Rythmik. They make great subs.
Hi Sean I’m wondering what is the crossover setting you used for the P3ESR? I’m planning to get this sub for my P3ESR as well after watching your review. I love my P3ESR but probably one of its weakness compared to the bigger Harbeths are probably lack of body, probably the Rel subs would help. Cheers!
Imho REL designs & builds great sub bass speakers (I got a "Q 150 E") - but be aware the acoustic properties of your room are very important, so please, first try to figure out the ideal spot to place your sub bass to get max. enjoyment. I did and the result is awesome: for the very first time I can hear - even feel - the lowest notes of the pipe organ music I like very much. It's (almost) as good as attending a real pipe organ concert in a large church of cathedral. Btw. Mr. J. S. Bach is my favorite composer - I love Baroque music, on condition it's reproduced using a high end audio system. Yes, I think REL did a wonderful job, it's definitely high end quality imho. Thank you !
I know this is video is a little old now, but I could use your help. Could you show the actual hook up to your amp, so I can see how its done? I like to see the options available besides LFE.
This is funny. I meant for the review to go live at 8 AM local time. Instead, I published it by accident. D'oh! EDIT: What's not quiteeee as funny are the recent issues with my camera. I had to re-film entire sections of this review due some technical issues. I suppose this day was inevitable. It's lived a long, good life.
@@ZeroFidelity OK I found the comment. We can make this work! Increasing your light levels will allow you to use a higher F-stop and increase your depth of field. Additionally setting your point of focus between you and the other subject (middle ground) should render both items in sharp focus. Setting your focal point with a tape measure from the exposure plane of the camera will remove any guesswork. You don't really NEED a screen to monitor. Just do a trial run with the modified setup and you will be set forever.
Is there any problem connecting this to a McIntosh solid state amp with autoformers? Would you use the 2, 4, or 8 ohm tap; or just connect it to the same tap as your main speakers. Thanks for the review. I have had REL on my radar for a while. I am also considering JL audio. Not sure which way I will go.
You can buy 2 SVS SB 1000S for the same price as the REL- OK you are not getting the bells and whistles and there is absolutely nothing wrong with the sound of SVS with music playback.
$1600 rec retail out here....I've had my eye on this sub to pair with my Elac navis for a little while now. For the most part I'm happy with the Elac's as is and I do own a very large sub made by a local company that is paired with my 'big' system & floorstanders. Not sure what I'd do to run this, given my speakers r active. The store told me there's some workaround, but given I'm still a bit undecided (although I do want 1), I haven't looked into it further myself. My room is what I guess you might call medium, but it's airy. That is the room is totally open with staircase, kitchen all in the space, plus glass doors to a balcony. So, even though the listening 'room' isn't large, the space itself on totality isn't that small. It's a bit awkward. And yes, other than the ugly branding it is partly appealing due to its size and the type of bass it creates for my space. Great review Sean....just in case you were wondering 😂 Further, I'm totally digging your content of late that appears to be totally your own, what you love, not just same ol same ol that proliferates the net. Cheers man!!!
The Navis with a subwoofer would be excellent! I got one of the first but the port chuffing in a couple of songs made me return it, and I've been shopping for a year now... I'll try the IN-8 next, but if you get a sub and use it with your Navis I'd love to see a video of your review. Outstanding soundstage and zero hiss from what I remember!
@@stevenswall Thanks Steven, yup I reckon they'd pair really well. How I'd do that is a bit of an unknown. A video review...interesting idea, not the review concept itself, but I video. I've never tried anything like that before....not sure I have the equipment, but I do have a decent mic if that's essentially all that's needed. Anyway, sub first. 😃
What are you running for your source when using those active ELAC speakers? We should be able to help you figure out the best way to connect a REL to those.
@@RELAcoustics Hi....thank you for the reply and interest. My source/streamer is a Cambridge cxn v2...files contained on a NAS. The store where I bought the gear told me there was a 'workaround', however for the time being I've not progressed the discussions - not through lack of interest, primarily due to getting used to the sound of the speakers to determine what exact sub I wanted. That also was suggested by the store to ensure I'd be satisfied with my purchase. So, I just use balanced interconnects from Cambridge to Elac navis'. By the by...the store/owner was highly complimentary of rel to the point of saying sure he has other brands, but knowing how I listen to music I wouldn't be happy with anything else. There's a bold statement & kudos to rel. Cheers!!
@@nostro1001 Since you are using the streamer's balanced outputs to send signal to your active speakers, you can use the unbalanced RCA outputs to send signal to the low level input on the REL subwoofer. The T/7i only has a single low level input RCA jack, so you will need to use a y-cable connected to both the left and right RCA outputs on your streamer to connect to the REL.
Question: The connection to the speakers go to the B speakers, correct? The video that Rel does on connection, show the wires to the amp/receiver to the MAIN speakers..... a little confused.
Hi Sean. I need help to connect the REL T7 to my IOTA VX mono blocks set up. in a nut shell i run a NP 3 to a SA 3 connected to 2- PA 3 and a pair of Triangle Genese Trio. Thank you
Question for the masses. I have a Marantz 6014, Emotiva XPA DR3 amp, KEF R3s (left right and center) and Klipsch surrounds. If you had $1200, would you use 2 T5is or a single T7i ?
![VENEZUELA vs. ARGENTINA [1-1] | RESUMEN | ELIMINATORIAS SUDAMERICANAS | FECHA 9](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/SJfoPdeOPCQ/mqdefault.jpg)
5Ti is more than enough for my small listening room! Unbelievable, quality base and replaces my cinema SUB! Made for music.
Rel imo is a fantastic brand delivering quality products with unmatched finishing and effortless bass integration i wouldn't go anywhere else for a sub!!
I will definitely consider REL in the future when I start another system. There are so many good options out there. When you get caught up and have time, I think a subwoofer shootout video would be entertaining for everyone. SVS vs REL vs Rythmik vs HSU vs JL. 👍
Richard check into Funk Audio. They are the best of the best
@@glennnichols4220 Whoa! They're in Sechelt, BC? I wish I knew that when I was there last month.
@@dicmccoy the guy with the RUclips video that has one it is just absolutely the best sub money can buy for I believe a cool 8k or something. That is a damn nice looking sub though I have to say.
@@glennnichols4220 Yeah they look gorgeous. Too bad they're so big. I'm a 10" guy personally for music listening. I find bigger cones add a coloration to the sound. I've always been able to hear it. If they made a kick ass 10" version, then I'd be on it like white on rice.
Rel cheap out on components.
Lifespan is about 5-10 years.
I still own rel stentor III for like 21 years with zero issues.
So sad...
I have this same sub running with a couple of 20 year old B&W DM 602"s changes the whole sound of the system its absolutely amazing
i agree with the cheesy branding but who cares the sound is just phenomenal
The badging doesn't bother me at all. Very nicely built , sound so nice.
@@jerryjohnson4625 - the badging isnt too in your face from a distance unless the room is sporting light cannons.
Agree badging is cheesy. Understated badging would be more premium looking in my opinion.
I'm running two S3s with my Maggies. Very pleased with the set up.
I purchased two T9I's because i trusted the quality of REL, both of them vibrate at certain frequency levels though. They are superb value for money purely because of what they can do, the power, and control to the speaker cone is incredible. The vibration ruins the sound though, this vibration isn't present during surround sound but is during a lot of tracks within HI-FI use when CD is the source. I'm currently sending back my two T9I's to the factory because i'm not happy that i have almost £2000 of sub bass that creates vibration in an otherwise perfect and controlled sound.
I feel the same way about JL, would be nice to have a review of their E or F series.
REL is based in Wales, in the town where I was born. 'Great to hear that their products are so highly regarded!
Biggest add to my system for sound enhancement. Love this product.
When a subwoofer integrates easily into a system, that is a sign of a good subwoofer.
Most of the subs integrate easily, but people want subs to replace their main speakers drivers with it.
You dont... You just extend bass.
If you have bookshelfs and you want to play loud in big room thinking that sub will fix them, then youre wrong.
@@20puskinas1992 I don't agree with the integration at all. I've own 9 powered subwoofers and I only had 2 that effortlesly integrated into my system to the point you couldn't hear the sub. Most subwoofers need to be meticulously placed and tuned in order for the possibility of great integration. Higher end subs from my experience are generally much easier.
@@buttonman1831 How it is hard? If speakers can go to 50hz then setup sub to play everything below it and not above that frequency. Both wont interfere with each other.
@@20puskinas1992 Not saying hard per se but for example. I had a SVS pb2000 and I could not find a perfect spot in the room which was 28x12. No matter where I placed it, I could localize the sound. My best solution in terms of sound, was to point the subwoofer facing almost backwards which looked stupid. The sub I bought after that a JL e112 I placed it in the same area and it integrated flawlessly. Blended with my speakers 100% to the point you couldn't determine where the sub sound was coming from once the phase adjustment was made. Very easy to integrate unlike the PB2000 which I could never integrate perfectly. Both subs had a similar frequency response in the low 20hz range. This isn't the first time I encountered this between high end and low end subs.
@@buttonman1831 pb is quite big ported speaker. Big ported ones integrate poorly, cause they are miles slower than small ones or the ones with better cone materials.
I understand what you mean better now.
Thanks for input.
Fantastic, thorough and incredibly useful review and comparison video! Though short and sweet, I love the comparison portion, especially since I own an svs closed sub! You certainly gave me/us a lot to chew on and consider, Sean. Thank you again!
REL is without a doubt one of the best, but most of all it is the fastest sub I have ever experienced. REL are pretty much the only sub that can keep up to the speed of Maggis and do them some justice. If you like pipe organ music, they are one to get as well; met a guy who had 2 of REL's largest and most powerful subs just for Pipe Organ music. Back in the day you used to have to sign a release form from the seller to take the larger subs home, just to protect REL from liability from home structure damage. LOL
That's mad, I'd love to have to sign a document to buy a sub like that. Just for lols
“Sometimes less is more”
Perfect
Going to sticky this comment: 1) I genuinely appreciate the feedback and advice regarding camera focus. Please note that this is not a setup issue as much as it is a hardware issue. This old camera, which may or may not have been thrown to the ground in anger, is on its last legs. 2) For technical advice on how to connect the sub to your system, click on the description box and follow the link to RELS support page. I can review the product, but I cannot serve as an extension of their support team.
Hello Sean. Win a room 3x5x2.5 with Harbeth P3 would to consider two T5i or a single T7i?
I just bought the REL HT /1003 sub to replace my cheap Tannoy Sfx. It’s an unbelievable improvement , I’m glad REl are making subs for people who can afford them.
Rel is a very good sub, Vandersteen has used hi level inputs for decades for subs and some of their speakers, it does make blending so much better for both.👍
45 th Parallel What?? How?? I don’t understand. The low level signal is much cleaner.
9:05 You are one of the best hifi nuts on RUclips, you speak quickly (and I love that) and clearly. What has excited me @ nine o five is that I have experienced the same thing (with smoother treble). I made some speakers with a FR driver and a (normal) woofer in each speaker. And I disconnected the woofers to listen to the FR drivers in the speakers, by themselves (with a bit of bass cranked into them). And they aren't too bad for that pure point source sound (with light classical and stuff). But I found the treble to sound a bit gritty. lol And that grittiness completely disappears with the 10" woofers connected. The treble is way smoother with no sign of grittiness at all. wtf
I just recently purchased a rel r505 12" sub and oh boy. They really know how to make a sub and that one is like 10years old. It almost feels wrong that I can lift the crossover to 100+hz and I still cant locate the sub whatsoever! They do make unbelievable subs!
Slammin' (literally)I was already sold since REL fr past 20 years has been the music lovers choice.If you didn't get a Strata or other earlier sub you couldn't blend with most speakers and Maggies or Quads fowgettbout it.You could go with a monsterous servo sub (the Revel or Velodyne DD which I sold comes to mind) but it was brute force vs finesse.As you noted the newer ones are even better.At same time the review here didn't get into two salient points which are 1) REL's eschewing a DSP for room integration.When I spoke with them they said "were old school but it works and our easy to place assistance should optimize things".But for some below 500hrz DSP does seem like a good thing 2) the full range neutrik connector and low pass in the sub vs using the LF input.Many knowledgeable folks like Paul McGowan have championed what REL is saying about seeing the entire waveform but for me it's hard to wrap my head around it.Most HT folks will go with SVS or a same brand as mains sub and that's fine.But I would be interested about if your receiver or 2 channel amp (think your Parasound HINT 6) has a low pass filter is the relief of the mains doing bass duty mean that that is the option one would want to take?Unless I get a full outboard analogue or digital (read now MiniDSP) I would hook it to speaker taps but if I had the Halo / Hint stuff around with the option I wonder which I would choose.Again maybe obsessive audio dorkdom on my part here but otherwise another straightforward no BS of a good product.At this point wouldn't expect less on any given Sunday
A great product for pairing with Maggies specifically. JL Audio is excellent as well.
Magnepan recommends dipole subs
I looked into this the dipole
Method gets expensive and complicated quickly .
Everyone likes the LRS but this is where it gets to be a pain ,
REL is a more feasible option especially compared to JL's price tag.
Some run two T5 -
Put the money elsewhere like micro dsp processing and maybe a crown for the Maggie's.
great job you completely outdid your self. thank you for the perfect review.
Did you have the chance to listen to the sub via LFE? just wondering if the proprietary connection REL offers is noticeably better? Awesome content btw!
Running stereo Rels T9s with KEF R3s and I love it!
What amp?
@@billblake7815 McIntosh MA6700 and an RME ADI-2 DAC.
Thanks for the great review, Sean. I bought a T7i based on your review. I does blend quite well with my Maggies.
Hell yeah Rel gets it ! High level input ! The best way for an active subwoofer connection for music playback to match signal output to front L&R speakers , Drinking from the same cup that was good Sean ! My number 1 video upload, on The tube is how 2 connect an Reciever/integrated amp without subwoofer rca out-put, 32k views and rising :) Thanks for the review Rel makes amazing audio !! (Class A ohh my )
REL makes incredible subs. I have a set of Martin Logan subs which are also very musical but also suitable for ht. Sealed cabinets, servo controlled. I heard the new balanced forces 12’s up against a SVS 13 ultra at a dealer. The ML was the clear winner imo.
I really wanted to see a review about velodyne or espesially rel subs. And it comes from you even better XD. Had my eyes in this brand for quite some time now. Nice review as always.
Let us know if you have any questions or would like us to give you a subwoofer recommendation based on your speakers and size. Feel free to email us at contactus@rel.net
I bought 2 SVS SB16 Ultras. The first octave and a half (20hz to 60hz) contains the dimensional information that lets you hear the acoustics of the venue. Playing the Michael Murray with Eugene Ormandy version of the SAINT-SAENS symphony NO.3 sounded and felt real. You can actually hear the height, width and depth of the ST. Francis de Sales church where the music was recorded. It took a lot of blood, sweat and tears to blend the subwoofers to the main speakers but the tears of joy at the end were worth it.
Hey Sean, thanks for doing a subwoofer review. Really cool that you did Darrell t7i as I own one. It is fantastic. I got lucky and found one on audiogon in mint condition for $600. I have another recommendation in high-level connections Subs. Not sure if you knew about them or anybody else. It's a brand called sumiko. I believe they are defunct as of now but they actually were affiliated with Rel at one point and it essentially looks like a r l. What's pretty cool about what's going on is there being closed out on audiogon so you can get them for a fraction of what they were making them a much better bargain than the rail line as of now until of course they sell out. Not trying to steal your thunder but just trying to help fellow audiophiles would getting some great product at a discount. I happen to get dual sumiko s .5 subwoofers for a total of $900. Class A B 150 W teach and their glorious.
Thanks so much for the tip I don't think you are stealing Glory I think you are contributing
good fact
Hi Ryan, We are no longer affiliated with Sumiko. The Sumiko subwoofers that were produced attempted to copy many features of a REL but were not made by our company or with the high standards for materials and design that we have become known for. Though the design looks similar, the difference in performance is night and day when comparing REL and Sumiko subwoofers.
@@RELAcoustics REL- Cool of you to chime in. As I stated. You were once affiliated with Sumiko. I own your T7i...Its awesome....I also own 2 Sumiko S.5's.....I disagree with your performance statement. The S.5's are fantastic with my Gallo Classico CL-4's. My good friend also owns your S3 and a Sumiko S.5. He agrees with me. REL has good stuff...so did Sumiko. I'm calling a spade a spade.
@@stephencosta6814 Thanks Steve! My English is much better typing versus speech to text LOL! Feel free to ask me any questions about Sumiko subs. Believe it or not. The Sumiko's weigh more and offer more watts. They also have a cool lit up logo on top of the sub:) At least I like it:):) REL's are great!!! But there is just a better bargain out there...until the Sumikos sell out.
Great looking fit, and finish on that sub. Great size to fit in my smaller room!
Hello Sean @zerofidelity . Did you use the sub with the P3ESR? If yes, where did you cross the sub?
Just got a T5i, working very well with my Totem Mites.
Alan Kirschbaum its a great sub the bass is all quality so beautiful I have had it in my system
@@raymondtaveras9371 yes the bass is well controlled, but what it does for soundstage, imaging, vocals.... Calling it a subwoofer doesn't do it justice.
Very happy for you as long as you take time set it up you will be rewarded great sound like I said if you got it from rel themselves you have 60 day to try it out or you can upgrade by playing the difference I have some MartinLogan dynamo 700 and the 1000 they sound good but when you spend time with the t5 you won’t want to go back to the dynamo subwoofers
Excellent review Sean thanks! Do you have any experience with the SVS SB 4000?
I am leaning towards the REL due to your positive review👍🏽
I always love to hear your thoughts and ideas. Have you had any experiences with Rythmik subs, and if so, what're your thoughts on them?
I run a pair of Energy ESW V8 subwoofers based on a cast aluminum frame 8" fibreglass driver in a heavily braced cabinet and each has a 200W RMS ~ 800 peak BASH amp. The ESW V8 is in a nicely done gloss black cabinet. I prefer it to the REL finishes I have run across. I run my subs for augmentation of bass not reinforcement, with my Wharfedale Diamond 9.1's. No home theatre here just music. IMHO it works awesome. I totally agree with running them speaker level in vs via RCA.
Had those subs. Sweet setup. Very smart pairing to those Wharfs. Enjoy!
Another excellent reviews Sean. Cheers 🙂
Very informative review. I have 2 T7i Subs expected to arrive today. I also have KEF LS50 Meta speakers ordered (unfortunately, temporarily on backorder). I'm looking forward to hearing all of it. Thanks for the info!
Have Meta’s arrived and if so how do they sound with real the two Rels? I’ve got LS50’s and will be ordering a T7i this week so interested to hear your thoughts
@@spokeinteractive1833 I received the LS50 Meta shipment on Wednesday of this week. They are sitting on a table under my TV until I receive the speaker stands that are being built. So, not ideal. However, there is a very noticeable difference between the KEF/REL combo vs my previous setup. Currently, my Sony DA4ES receiver is driving them. I recently purchased a Hegel H190 which hasn't been out of the box, yet, as I'm waiting on backorder for a Salamander audio rack (don't want to get the Hegel out until I have a place to put it). I'm trying to be patient as I wait to get everything in and properly placed.
But, I think your question was about the RELs. They're great. They're capable of plenty of rumble, if you choose to set them up that way...and they produce very good detail vs where many other subs just vibrate a room. So far, I'm happy that I decided on REL and that I bought 2 of them.
@@mtkreger I ended up getting 2 x T5i’s instead of one T7i as I got a great deal on a used one. They’re here and I’m setting them up the weekend. The metas with the Hegel and the two T7i’s is going to sound insanely good
@@spokeinteractive1833 Congrats on the 2 T5is. I'm sure you will enjoy them.
@@mtkreger they’ve arrived and have been set up. The result is superb, the LS50’s (in my room anyway) have definitely been improved by the sub. The low end of badly improved and you have the superb detail that the Ls50 brings. Seriously happy with the addition of the subs. I’ve heard £2000 floor standers that don’t sound this good
Paul McGowan and Gutenberg both recommend rel.... Love my rel
PS Audio, for someone who probably makes subs, that's pretty good evidence that REL is good. Someone commented to me that PS Audio "makes" REL subs (but I don't think so).
I think that REL subs fantastic. I am lucky to own a REL Stadium 2 sub. To this day, it is still one of if not the finest sounding subwoofer for 2 channel audio. It cost over a grand in the late 90's and is still going strong to this day paired with my Tannoy XT 8F's. It's a wicked piece of furniture as well!
Yes old rel subs had gorgeous wood veneers. I miss that about rel.
Love my T5i. Saving money for the second one.
Heck yeah. Would take two T5i's over one T7i any day. Enjoy!
Zero Fidelity especially in a small room. I’m only using 25% of its max. volume, so that’s more than enough bass. Like you mentioned getting a lot of bass is easy these days, but quality bass is a whole different story
dennem I have a REL T5i paired with a REL Quake and its amazing. (Was concerned about using two different subs, but they work very well together). Been a REL user for many years, and the make great products.
I wonder myself if I should've stuck with the T5i. I got two T7i's and had a heck of a time avoiding coupling between the walls and the subs themselves. I bumped up the subs on SVS feet to reduce the seismic energy in the room and placed them in opposing corners of the room. Had to turn them way down too. Sounds pretty good, but not perfect. If the system was on concrete floors in the basement I think I'd be getting better results.
@@amirjubran1845 That sounds like a case of big of a sub for the room size...
I have a pair of the REL T7i and I totally agree with your comments. Very nice review...thanks :-)
Ah...become adicted on REL....so much that pair 2×REL T9s with ATC SCM 40.....AND 2×REL TZero with ATC SCM 7....and mostly..they makes me happy👍😊🙌
Hello I’m a new subscriber here, I found your channel very helpful. Which one is better this subwoofer or the new REL HT 1205? I’ll be using it both for Hi-Res music and Home theatre. But will be more for music.
The home theatre one is not made for music. It’s probably going to be too slow for optimal performance and be more difficult to integrate. HT stands for Home Theatre, I guess.
Nice description, I am interested in the T9i and assume it offers similar but bigger performance.
A couple notes of interest - there isn't a sensing trigger that powers the subwoofers on from standby- you will need to manually switch them on or leave them powered all the time.
They are not the only subwoofer that accepts high level speaker inputs, JL Audio does (and others) and the results are fantastic with respect to integration.
My only reservation on the T9i is their lack of depth and amplifier power compered to the competition.
I have 2 T7i subwoofers. Both have an auto sensing standby power switch on the back.
So on a REL, if you use the High Level Input option, you hook the sub up to a speaker output on your amplifier. Assuming you're using a two channel amp, then you're also using that same channel to power your speakers, right? As I understand it, you're "sharing" the output signal between the sub and your front channel. By hooking up the REL in this way, are you in anyway diminishing the signal / wattage going to your main speakers? I'd assume the answer is "no", but I'm wanting to make sure I'm understanding this High Level Input feature. Thanks.
Also want to know.
Aka do you need to have a more powerful amp if using high level input?
No, it draws no power from the amplifier. The load is negligible.
@Zero Fidelity Great job bro! I'm a big fan of Rel I just have the old model but one day I'll get their new news soon & did Rel give you a discount code? ;-)
The Rel T9is are going pretty cheap at 1000$ if you can workout a deal with the dealer.
IMHO, going with a pair of subs is the way to go. I changed from a single large sub to a pair of smaller T9i’s and the imaging and integration to the main speakers KEF R3’s is much better.
Agreed. Subs are best experienced in pairs. Be it with music or HT.
Thank you for this indepth review and I am strongly considering this to use with my bookshelves. How are they for hard rock/metal music? Thanks!
It’s so hard to believe something with such low wattage can be so good. I do think that it will be a beautiful pairing for my LS50 Wireless
you'll be wasting some of their potential cuz you won't be able to connect through what is really its piece de resistance - the high level connection.
The T7i has a 200 watt amp, not 20.
spoiler9112 who said its 20?
@@darpanbhuyan1909 4:04
I own a Rel Strata V to add what my Proac Tablettes can't deliver...the dream!
I have a Martin Logan Sub (the small one) and months later I'm still trying to find the right everything to integrate it with my speakers. I got the Sub New for $40 bucks so I don't have much to complain, and I have found several set ups that I thought sounded best, BUT I GET THE FEELING that the JOB I want out of my SUB is only going to found with REL!
Btw, my little sub had reviews from you and so many other reviewers I trust to be Musical, rather than a window rattling earthquakes for Disney/Marvel/Star Wars movies.
October 19 . Just before life changed . Anyway I’m looking at the 7 and the 9, and the classic 98, 99. Great video though thanks
Do you have any opinions on the High Level Input vs a sub with EQ and room correction like the Martin Logan Dynamo X lineup?
I am a big fan of eq below 150 hz, the difference is night and day.
Love the sound, can’t stand the look with that old fashioned font all over it.
Great review! Would you recommend a T5i with KEF LS50s driven by a primare i22 in a 15’x15’ room, mainly for music?
crowshik the t5 will work but if you buy from rel on their website they give you 60 day to try it or upgrade to any other sub you want I have tried the t5 and with careful placement you will get that magic you are looking for my speakers are fairly large and go down to 28 hertz and I thought the rel T5 wasn’t going to do anything for my speakers and I was amazed they also ofer a wireless connection for I believe 200 dollars if you don’t want to use the long cable it has proven to be a good great sub for music and very good for movies too it would be better two t5 for movie but one setup right with amaze you or if you want more upgrade it
Sounds like these might be the ticket with the Magnepan LRS, although everyone is always saying matching subs to Maggies is tricky.
Due to the quickness of our subwoofers they pair very well with electrostatic speakers. Let us know if you have any questions or would like us to give you a subwoofer recommendation based on your speakers and size. Feel free to email us at contactus@rel.net
These are the only subs you want for Maggie’s, any of them. I looked and listened to as many subs over a couple of years with my upgraded 1.7i's as could well as 3.7i's.
From the T7i to the S/5 SHO. They are amazingly accurate. The only downside is the cost. Because they are so critically accurate they lack the boom/bloom bass most subs have. So you’re going to want a pair. On the plus side, you will never regret the cost once you have them, because no other sub comes close. Only have room for one sub? Just get the next size up. And I might as well warn you that the price increase from the T series to the S series is substantial.
@@needlesswords what do you drive them with?
redstarwraith: My front end is an OPPO UDP 205 with some mods to the transport power supply and the transport itself, better upper bearing plate, heavier transport case and some Dynamat where I could fit it in. I like this because of the DAC filter selections allowing for different attack and roll off points. Have a lousy album from the 60’s? Brick Wall is perfect! But for that only and nothing else. My amp is a AHB-2 from Benchmark. I love this amp! No coloration or effect whatsoever. What you put in is exactly what comes out. I also have a Schitt Loki for poorly recorded pieces, since I can flip a switch and remove it entirely from the system. I have a Schitt Freya with vintage 40’s ONS tubes, but it just muddies things up, so is not in the mix anymore. Instead I use it with my KEF R300’s in my studio, it’s brilliant with those speakers.
redstarwraith: Oh, with a 12x16x8 listening room 85 is as high as I can stand for stadium rock stuff. Double bass and piano with Jazz are clear as a bell, with the subs. And the detail in hired Classical is awesome.
I wonder how the RSL Speedwoofer or a Rythmik 12 servo subwoofer would compare to the Rel for music?
My thoughts exactly, love to see a Rythmik sub reviewed and compared to the SVS and REL.
I had Rythmiks back in the day. I really need to hear their latest stuff - as many people keep bringing up the name.
Zero Fidelity I have the big Rythmik fv25hp in my theater and it’s very impressive. I always wondered how musical the smaller subs are. I also have an older Paradigm Servo 15 which works great with music.
RSL Speedwoofer works for me, solid build, nice tone and for $400 delivered a real deal.
I've got a f15hp rythmik sub and it would blow the equivalent REL out of the water for integration parameters and all out power.
I find it funny that I agree with everything you said in this video. GJ!
Hey Sean,ever heard BK Electronics models such as the XXLS400 (I've got the DF version) ? I wonder how it would compare to these REL...
I read that BK used to produce parts for REL too.
Another sub hipped me to BK Electronics. Looks real interesting. Whatever you read about BK designing drivers/parts for REL is at least partly fabricated. REL designs most of their stuff in-house (although manufacturing is done mostly overseas).
@@ZeroFidelity BK Electronics used to design and manufacture subwoofers entirely for REL back in the nineties. BK went on to manufacture for other brands, but BK's own products are based on this strong background and are still built entirely in-house in the UK.
I was just looking at the REL T5i again. You pushed me over the edge......now just to figure out how to hook it up with my Emotiva gear.
This video playlist should answer any questions you have about connecting a REL to your Emotiva gear. ruclips.net/video/MiF5_F3e0Ww/видео.html
If you have any other questions don't hesitate to reach out.
Probably a stupid question but here goes! With many subs (including the T7i) incorporating a passive radiator that "fires" downwards, what are the considerations (if any) for the floor on which the sub stands (albeit on short legs)? Most of us have carpets or rugs laying over suspended floorboards or concrete; I presume some of the output from the vertically-mounted radiator will be colored by these floor differences? Many thanks!
Thanks for the review. Thanks for comparing this to the past t5 model. A better comparison would be the t5i. I have heard it is significantly better than the t5. I wish you would have talked more about the benefits of using 2 subs. Or perhaps of using 2 small rels instead of one larger model, thanks!
Brandon Burr Yes me too!! Would be very interested to know how two t5i’s would match the Buchardt S400 in stereo, versus just one t7i.
Two T5i or one T7i in medium room with P3ESRs? I think two would be better ...
@@dvmisk I agree. 2 small subs vs one larger one is what I would go with as well. That would complement the harbeths nicely!
Thank you Sean for another great upload. Do they gel well with Klipsch RP 600m as well?
Hi Pranab,
For a room that is roughly 200-300 square feet, the T/7i would perform very well with those Klipsch speakers. If the room is closer to 300 square feet or more you would likely be better off with a T/9i. If you have any questions feel free to email us at contactus@rel.net
Hmm. I see REL is browsing the comments section. haha Anyways, to answer your question: It should be a pretty good match.
Zero Fidelity it’s been great seeing all the interest and you put together a great review. We’re just trying to step in and help out answering a few questions.
@@ZeroFidelity Your baseball cap charisma has been drawing lot of attention lately..lol
@@ZeroFidelityWhat do you think of the combro RP-600m + REL T7i + Boyuu Reisong A10 match? Just order the A10 (due to your review!), and now I'm browsing for some speakers to match and I am doubting between getting Klipsch RP6000f towers or just the RP600m with a subwoofer. Thanks!
Hi, nice review, have one question please. Is Rel t5i good for home theatre system paired with Monitor audio bronze in 18 square meter room? Thx
REL makes us challenge our thinking: pre out to REL sub amp has less circuits but more delay than pre out to stereo amp to REL sub amp. If it doesn't make sense but it works, then it works. Reminds me of the ASR guys insisting Yggdrasil cannot possibly work.
Yes. I have a XTZ 10, 300W and it is far superior with highout. It is no magic, it´s timing.
Could you tell me what is the diffusor you use behind your speakers the wall with the scattered foam. And are you happy with it.
Nice review, I am sold on the REL "quality" enough to check them out. How well would they integrate with speakers that have decent low end output -e.g. 45 Hz or so, without using filters on the main speakers?
What speakers would you be looking to pair the REL with? A speaker's low end output is measured in an anechoic chamber (an-echoic meaning "non-reflective, non-echoing, echo-free") that is designed to completely absorb reflections of either sound or electromagnetic waves. Speakers cannot reproduce these results in a typical listening environment because rooms are never acoustically perfect like the test environment so you aren't getting the same low end output you might think. Also, there would be no need to run a filter on your main speakers. By setting the crossover on the REL to just beneath the low end of your main speakers there will be a seamless transition within your systems low end.
@@RELAcoustics I have measured the response in my room with RTA software and there is decent output down to 20Hz that starts rolling off 35 Hz or so. I would want the RELs to play in parallel with my main speakers because setting the crossover so low it wouldn't provide much punch or output.
Hi Shaun.
Really enjoy your advise and that's why I'd like your recommendation on a good subwoofer to complement a pair of Elac Uni-Fi's hooked up to a Sonos Amp.
Thanks.
This one
Very nice little subwoofer. Still loving my Velodyne F-1500-R Bought new in 1995, SERVO 15" driver, they were ahead of all other subwoofers at the time with the lowest distortion. ...........and it plays SO LOW with quality for MUSIC..
Love old Velodyne gear. The HGS18 was a destination piece to me. Heck, even the CHT15 was a badass consumer-grade sub. Sold tons of those things as a CC sales associate back in the day.
@@ZeroFidelity Thanks so much for YOUR comment about Velodyne! I was afraid you were going to yell at me for hijacking your product review (O; That HGS18 must have really been something! I remember well visiting some audiophiles that had the original ULD-18 and how impressed I was with that! One fellow had it running with a pair of Apogee DIVA's !! That was quite the system back in the day .. Ok, back to your regularly programmed channel.....
@@garysmith8455 haha No worries. The only time I get grumpy is when people lay down strong opinions or judgements about something that they clearly have no experience with. Keep rockin' with the Velo woof! :)
@@ZeroFidelity Thank you my man, keep on with your great reviews!!! hmmmmm........what could be next......?
Great review. I 100% agree with the branding being a bit too much. Honestly just by looking at the thing I had the feeling it's a cheap ordinary sub. I would love them to take it back a notch. Mine is on its way. I hope I will be as satisfied with them as you seemed.
Hey Sean at the very start of the video where the T7i is shown in your room, it looks like the T7i is on some sort of isolation platform. Which platform is that, Sean? Or does anyone else know? I feel like I may have seen it in other Zero Fidelity videos...
i really like that REL is focusing on sound quality, and its nice to see that the new svs sb3000 that i think might be the best sounding subwoofer svs have made, and its still not sound quality oriented. its an all rounder as i suspected.
that you mentioned dsp delay is great, people barely ever mention that issues. and the only knob you have on a sufferer to fix that is phase knob adding even more delay to get the phase issues aligned.
still i cant put a passive radiator subwoofer in my home, its has some sound quality compromises but at least i know now that it still can be better than some sealed subwoofers.
from reviews over the years i have made a short list of subwoofers i think might be the best for sound quality and are sealed(price range 900-2500 dollar):
monitor audio have quite a few in at various prices, own the gold w15 myself.
JL audio make some good ones, hope you get a chance to review that brand for sure.
focal
REL has the G1 Mark II but it is so much money.... i dont think the cheaper HT series is made for sound quality, but should compete with svs.
i am probably forgetting some, am from Europe so i know most about whats going around here.
I have an SVS SB2000 and its an excellent sub for home theater and music. I haven't heard the SVS SB3000 yet but if its an upgrade to the one I have it has to be amazing. My SB2000 I picked up is a little bit over half the price of this REL ($600.00) and i can't compare the 2 as I don't own both. I've seen other reviews on the REL and it is an amazing subwoofer for what it is. I would never take this REL over the SB2000 as the SVS is more versatile and sound quality in 2 channel is just amazing. Getting 2 RELs to match the output of the SVS would cost over 2,000 dollars and it still won't hit 15hz like my SB2000 will in my theater room. Case closed...
pete detraglia, what kind of speakers are pairing the sb 2000 with?
@@williamjohnson6102 i use Canadian brands. My theater room has a paradigm 3 way center channel, axiom bookshelf speakers with 2 5 1/4 inch mid bass drivers, and Fluance multi directional side speakers basically are 2 speakers built into 1 offset at opposing 45% angles. These speakers are paired with the SVS SB2000. I favor these Canadian brands as they are all tuned in an anechoic chamber first then fine tuned in a listen room by the company. I also own Martin Logan tower speakers and have owned PSB front tower speakers. I also have Polk bookshelf speakers and Andrew Jones bookshelf speakers that are in upstairs bedrooms.
pete detraglia that sounds like an awesome setup/setups. I’m trying to figure out if adding a sub or dual subs would be worth it in a non dedicated room.
the video just explained that even the new svs is not as good as a smaller rel subwoofer. enjoy what you have but know that its not the best at the price. sound quality is the most important metric, then comes how low it plays.
but i would also be hesitant to recommend rel over sb3000, because its to low a price point to get good sound quality and low bass, i want a subwoofer to do everything. as long as you got 1 good one adding another is great. having a bad suboofer and adding more is not sound quality approach.
home theater is no excuse to getting bad subwoofers.
Get a black one then - the grille looks great on it. The top plate is not just a plate but part of the internal design.
My REL T9i just has REL on the sides of the feet so doesn't really show. I use Focal Aria 936's and play The Blues Band
very loud all the time. These subs are grrreat!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
you NEED to review those Usher speakers you have. I have some Usher CP-6381 and they are by far one of the best speakers I've ever owned.
I have a shu research and it didn't come with plastic feet it came with spikes and solid rubber feet.I've had subwoofers by the company you're chilling right there and dollar-for-dollar I'll take an SVS or an HSu any day of the week
id love to see you review rythmik audio subs
Nice diffusor panels in the beginning. What are those exactly?
Great review. Your point about how adding a sub is as much about how it changes the overall sound (e.g. perceived frequency response and sense of scale) is spot on! I was always about the mid range and didnt really care too much about the bass. That was until I tried a good sub.. :-) A friend of mine was about to change his whole system, which he had been somewhat discontent with for a long time. 6 month ago he got a Rel T5i and has forgotten about upgrading anything else.
You don't mention the REL T0, a great sub if you don't really need the bottom octave -- which one rarely does for music. It has the same features as the other three (including the neutrik connector) and is a tiny (c. 9") cube). Picked mine up new in a sale for £249 (c.$303) in beautiful gloss white. Goes a treat with my Dali Menuet SE's, also picked up new in a sale for £999 (c.$1215).
Great content as always. Sean if you want to be amazed, try a BK Electronics sub. Based in the UK, they do not advertise and only sell direct. They have high level nutrik input as with REL (the best connection for impulse response speed) and have made subs for years for other manufacturers and now make their own. They are AMAZING value for money. Their new 12 inch with additional passive (the 300SB-PR) is superb and am deciding on one myself at the moment. I have their older version with a high spec Peerless XLS 10 inch and another Peerless 10 inch passive (and 300 w of good old A/B). Amazing build, most are compact, beautiful real wood finishes and amazing performance with music but also goes low for movies. Mine goes from below 20hz in room. Check one out. It will not go back. I have been into subs for 30 years and can attest these cannot be beaten for the money. I have had many over the years, REL (x 5 different models), B&W (x4), MJ Acoustics (x3), Velodyne (x3), Sunfire (x2), SVS (x2), Eclipse (x1) and 2 older M&K units. I am most happy now with BK for the overall combo of finish vs size vs performance.
I appreciate it Alex! Not sure if I'll ever have a chance to check them out, which is a shame, but what you said certainly sounds exciting! Especially given how many of the same products we've tried.
Which bk are you using? I like the idea of the t9I rel but wish I could go lower for movies too.
Im not a fan of tiny subs even for music. I like the non distorted control and low end extension in organs, edm etc. Also take a look at PSA, JTR and Rythmik. They make great subs.
Hi, have you been able to compare this Rel with the T/9i. If so what is your impression please? Thank you.
Hi Sean I’m wondering what is the crossover setting you used for the P3ESR? I’m planning to get this sub for my P3ESR as well after watching your review. I love my P3ESR but probably one of its weakness compared to the bigger Harbeths are probably lack of body, probably the Rel subs would help. Cheers!
@H. G. Wells Good to know that, btw what do you gain when you add REL to the P3ESR? Is it more body to the sound?
Great review
Hello friend. Is Rel T7i an active or passive subwoofer? Thanks 💗💗💗
Imho REL designs & builds great sub bass speakers (I got a "Q 150 E") - but be aware the acoustic properties of your room are very important, so please, first try to figure out the ideal spot to place your sub bass to get max. enjoyment. I did and the result is awesome: for the very first time I can hear - even feel - the lowest notes of the pipe organ music I like very much. It's (almost) as good as attending a real pipe organ concert in a large church of cathedral.
Btw. Mr. J. S. Bach is my favorite composer - I love Baroque music, on condition it's reproduced using a high end audio system. Yes, I think REL did a wonderful job, it's definitely high end quality imho. Thank you !
I know this is video is a little old now, but I could use your help. Could you show the actual hook up to your amp, so I can see how its done? I like to see the options available besides LFE.
This is funny. I meant for the review to go live at 8 AM local time. Instead, I published it by accident. D'oh! EDIT: What's not quiteeee as funny are the recent issues with my camera. I had to re-film entire sections of this review due some technical issues. I suppose this day was inevitable. It's lived a long, good life.
Zero Fidelity lol!
Autofocus should be turned off.
@@ryanamendt8363 Manual Focus, on the current camera, won't work in my situation. I explained this to somebody else in the comments section below. :)
@@ZeroFidelity OK I found the comment. We can make this work! Increasing your light levels will allow you to use a higher F-stop and increase your depth of field. Additionally setting your point of focus between you and the other subject (middle ground) should render both items in sharp focus. Setting your focal point with a tape measure from the exposure plane of the camera will remove any guesswork. You don't really NEED a screen to monitor. Just do a trial run with the modified setup and you will be set forever.
set it right? what do you mean by that. Can you put a video on how to setup this sub?
Is there any problem connecting this to a McIntosh solid state amp with autoformers? Would you use the 2, 4, or 8 ohm tap; or just connect it to the same tap as your main speakers.
Thanks for the review. I have had REL on my radar for a while. I am also considering JL audio. Not sure which way I will go.
Autoformers should be no issue. Would advise consulting REL for the final word.
If you would like tips on integrating a REL in your system feel free to email us at contactus@rel.net
You can buy 2 SVS SB 1000S for the same price as the REL- OK you are not getting the bells and whistles and there is absolutely nothing wrong with the sound of SVS with music playback.
$1600 rec retail out here....I've had my eye on this sub to pair with my Elac navis for a little while now. For the most part I'm happy with the Elac's as is and I do own a very large sub made by a local company that is paired with my 'big' system & floorstanders.
Not sure what I'd do to run this, given my speakers r active. The store told me there's some workaround, but given I'm still a bit undecided (although I do want 1), I haven't looked into it further myself.
My room is what I guess you might call medium, but it's airy. That is the room is totally open with staircase, kitchen all in the space, plus glass doors to a balcony. So, even though the listening 'room' isn't large, the space itself on totality isn't that small. It's a bit awkward.
And yes, other than the ugly branding it is partly appealing due to its size and the type of bass it creates for my space.
Great review Sean....just in case you were wondering 😂 Further, I'm totally digging your content of late that appears to be totally your own, what you love, not just same ol same ol that proliferates the net.
Cheers man!!!
The Navis with a subwoofer would be excellent!
I got one of the first but the port chuffing in a couple of songs made me return it, and I've been shopping for a year now... I'll try the IN-8 next, but if you get a sub and use it with your Navis I'd love to see a video of your review.
Outstanding soundstage and zero hiss from what I remember!
@@stevenswall Thanks Steven, yup I reckon they'd pair really well. How I'd do that is a bit of an unknown.
A video review...interesting idea, not the review concept itself, but I video. I've never tried anything like that before....not sure I have the equipment, but I do have a decent mic if that's essentially all that's needed. Anyway, sub first. 😃
What are you running for your source when using those active ELAC speakers? We should be able to help you figure out the best way to connect a REL to those.
@@RELAcoustics Hi....thank you for the reply and interest.
My source/streamer
is a Cambridge cxn v2...files contained on a NAS.
The store where I bought the gear told me there was a 'workaround', however for the time being I've not progressed the discussions - not through lack of interest, primarily due to getting used to the sound of the speakers to determine what exact sub I wanted. That also was suggested by the store to ensure I'd be satisfied with my purchase.
So, I just use balanced interconnects from Cambridge to Elac navis'.
By the by...the store/owner was highly complimentary of rel to the point of saying sure he has other brands, but knowing how I listen to music I wouldn't be happy with anything else. There's a bold statement & kudos to rel. Cheers!!
@@nostro1001 Since you are using the streamer's balanced outputs to send signal to your active speakers, you can use the unbalanced RCA outputs to send signal to the low level input on the REL subwoofer. The T/7i only has a single low level input RCA jack, so you will need to use a y-cable connected to both the left and right RCA outputs on your streamer to connect to the REL.
I have used the same model for 8 years
Question: The connection to the speakers go to the B speakers, correct? The video that Rel does on connection, show the wires to the amp/receiver to the MAIN speakers..... a little confused.
Hi, will you get a chance to review the new 7x?
Hi Sean. I need help to connect the REL T7 to my IOTA VX mono blocks set up.
in a nut shell i run a NP 3 to a SA 3 connected to 2- PA 3 and a pair of Triangle Genese Trio.
Thank you
Hi Sean---would this sub pair well with Dynaudio Special 40s? Thanks
Question for the masses. I have a Marantz 6014, Emotiva XPA DR3 amp, KEF R3s (left right and center) and Klipsch surrounds. If you had $1200, would you use 2 T5is or a single T7i ?
Can you please tell me how the main speakers are fed. Do the speaker wires that go to the sub piggy back on the main speaker cables?