Subwoofer insight.

Hi

Just went through something similar. Got some good advice here, which I implemented yesterday with great success!

Thread is here, might be worth your time looking at:

https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/active-line-level-crossover-with-subwoofer-out-help?lastpage=...

spacial reproduction

What exactly do you mean by that? 

Spacial reproduction has nothing to do with REL, or any particular sub for that matter. Whoever REL has hired for marketing isn't being paid enough. Anyone capable of that degree of mind control ought to be working for CIA or the Fed, its just astounding. Fully expect any day now to be reading REL has cured the common cold, brought peace to the mideast, eliminated dandruff and who knows maybe even cancer. Its just nuts.

Truth is any 4 subs spaced asymmetrically around the room will get you there. My system has 2 sealed, 2 ported, and one powered, and read the comments the bass is incredible, totally integrated, and 3D. This 5 subs completely disappear, the bass is as beautifully imaged as all the rest, and this has been the case no matter where they are moved ever since going from one to 4, and finally 5.

Sorry. Not saying REL doesn't make a good sub. Simply saying REL doesn't make a good enough sub for one to be better than 4. No one does. You want good bass, you get 4. Its that simple.

Of course the RELs sound more detailed because they are producing less music that would otherwise compete with the higher bass frequencies. The less bass a speaker produces the more detailed they seem. By saying you will never play anything with bass around 20hz you are writing off a lot of great classical, rock, electronic and modern pop such as Dutoit's Planets to the likes of Billie Eilish, King Crimson, Pink Floyd and many others. And as I said earlier, a sub that can reproduce below 20hz can do a much better job of reproducing 40hz.without strain. No decent sub will thump if set up correctly.

03-26-2020 6:50pm

spacial reproduction

What exactly do you mean by that?

Exactly.

The subtle details that make up the recording studio, the reflections of certain notes off the walls or ceiling, the subtleties of a breeze or noise coming from a nearby building that ’frames’ the space of the original scene sonically. Those subtle sounds and noises reproduced in the mid bass and bass are what helps to recreate the original sonice picture.

RELs do that with their high level connections, and an adjustment system and filters that help you dial them in so they Blend with your main speakers seamlessly. In my experience RELs help you reproduce the music or soundtracks much better than your mains do by themselves.

...Or you could build your own set of 10 or 15 world class subs from scratch like @millercarbon says he has. ;-)