Equalization with REL six pack

To be clear, that was a direct quote from the REL website. Point being they developed a remote volume control even though they claim adjusting volume level for music to HT is a parlor trick.

My response was in the form of a warning showing a blatant contradiction regarding something as simple as adjusting gain. If I'm not mistaken their contradiction now extends to the use of low level connectivity for the line array systems? 

I apologize for my lack of forum clarity and a failed attempt at sarcasm toward a product (not you) that I personally found to be stunningly lacking in control as well as frequency response.

In my experience with this sub-bass speaker I disregarded the manufacturer setup procedure regarding high level connectivity and location suggestions which exacerbated exactly the frequency range at issue here.

Relocating the REL within my rooms bass mode and using an optimized low level signal from a Velodyne DD subwoofer the $9K REL came into its own. Unfortunately, its limited -6dB low frequency response clearly choked the program material that the Velodyne easily conveyed. I can't imagine simply adding five more units filling that void.

Again, my apologies. All the best with your project. M

avatar:  Gene Czerwinski  

Thanks for clarifying Gene. You bring up another point that had me scratching my head, which is why the three subs would be moved alongside the main speakers when an array is used, versus taking advantage of slightly different room placement to even out the bass. I assume this is because the crossovers of the upper units get dialed up higher and that begins to be more directional. So it works better to be next to the mains.

However I'm not inclined to second guess John Hunter and all the dealers who have set up thousands of six packs. My working  assumption is that they are right but I would just like to know why!

Just getting back to everyone because I have my six pack and it set up properly buy a local St Louis dealer. It is pretty amazing. Two things I learned help answer my questions that I originally posted:

1. Regarding the potential overlap of subwoofer output with the low frequencies of the main speakers, The dealer reminded me that in room response of the main speakers is not nearly what it is in an anechoic chamber. So there are bigger gaps in the low frequency then we might imagine. He did confirm that the goal is to make the subwoofers made perfectly with the main speakers and not create overlap. 

2. Regarding how subwoofers that are producing primarily low frequencies (although crossover of the subs does allow them to have some output into the hundred plus Hertz range), he told me something that for some reason I didn't know: harmonics of a fundamental note not only go upward but they also go downward. I don't know why I always assume they only went upward. So a human voice or an instrument is creating harmonics going all the way down and it's some of these lower harmonics that are just not reproduced well enough and fast enough by most main speakers. The subwoofers ability to reproduce those lens an air of ambience in reality that creates both conscious and subconscious improvements in the perception that you're listening to real people and real instruments in a real space.

My initial take on having a six pack is that it brings something to the system that no other upgrade can bring. It improves the general sense of reality, bringing more dimension to voices and instruments and more sense of a real room and real space. It also has a diffusing quality that some people might not like because the pinpoint imaging is not as clear, but overall I think is superior in terms of how a real room sounds with people playing instruments and singing. And one of the effects of this is that it makes digital sound much more analog. It makes almost everything I play through digital sound much less fatiguing and less flat, dimensionally.

Just thought I would share back with you guys some thoughts now that I have these up and running.

Thanks