Are REL the most Musical Subs?


Forgive me if I have created a redundant thread.  I don’t usually post in the Speakers area.

  I have a Paradigm sub in my basement HT that has apparently given up the ghost after about 20 years.  I’m not a huge bass listener.  We used to use the area for movies but lately a different room of the home has taken that over.  I listen to classical music and the system gets used primarily for SACD and Blu Ray.  No desire for multiple subs.  The front speakers are full range, setup is 5.1

  I added a REL sub to my 2 channel system a few years ago, an REL, and have been delighted with the results.  It doesn’t boom at me.  What it does do is add the low level percussion effects that composers such as Mahler, Shostakovich , and modernist composers add to reinforce bass lines.  I never realized, for example, how many gentle tympani and gong effects are in Shostakovich Babi Yar symphony.

The REL integrates all of this naturally without calling attention to itself.  The Paradigm in the basement never did this but it was an older design and more budget friendly.

  So I am inclined to replace the Paradigm with another REL in the basement but was wondering what the current thinking is with subs.  I haven’t paid much attention lately and the stuff that I have pulled discusses multiple subs, Atmos, etc, and doesn’t seem to address my needs.

  Placement will be different as well.  The current sub is placed between the front speakers, and the gear rack is on the other side of the room.  20 years ago I had the energy to bury the cables next to a baseboard heat along the all, after schlepping the sub over the basement testing placement spots,but with advances in DSP I’m now hoping to place the sub next to the rack

mahler123

There are more subs than REL which are musical. It’s kind of a silly question. SVS would be last on my list.

Not familiar with the sound of REL subs. However, I have an ongoing love affair with my pair of Vandersteen 2Wq subs with M5HP crossovers. They are out of production, replaced by a newer model, but they do pop up used from time to time. They blend seamlessly and easily with any speaker that goes down to 40Hz. Adjustable Q, and unlike REL, your main speakers see a roll off below 40Hz. I feel that this is a big plus over the REL. I like my Vandys so much that I would never consider a speaker that didn’t work with them.

I utilize Two SVS SB4000’s and drive them with very little signal.  Combined with my old 1978 LaScala's I would say that they are quite musical and not bloated in any way shape or form.  REL’s sound great but for me i chose a different path and couldn’t be happier.  These SB-4000’s are sourced from a Primaluna EVO300 Integrated with KT88’s driving the mains.

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