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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
Post removed 
sns
3,351 posts
 

In my experience Rel subs easily most coherent sub I've tried, I'm running two and they simply act as extensions of my Klipschorns which provide strong in room response down to 32hz. Boom and spectacle in bass not my thing, for that I have Genesis clone sub with dsp. Generally I want invisibility in my subs, the Rels fit the bill like no others I've tried.

soix
9,727 posts
 

Several thoughts as I’ve recently done a bit of research on subs:

  • REL makes good subs but do not have a monopoly on naturally integrating into a system. Any good, properly-positioned and dialed-in sub will integrate seamlessly.
  • You should seriously consider adding a second sub especially to your 2-channel system. Two subs can provide substantial benefits over just one and three or four even more so. But two subs should be considered a minimum as it’s such an improvement over a single sub.
  • Placing a sub between the speakers is very rarely the best place to get optimal in-room performance from a subwoofer, so having to place the sub elsewhere could very well work to your benefit especially if you do some basic homework on optimal sub placement (I can provide some helpful links if desired). This is even more important for your 2-channel system if you haven’t already addressed this.
  • For your HT system I’d recommend SVS subs for several reasons. They offer good performance and high value as they sell direct, include a very helpful app to make integration much easier, have excellent customer support, and they offer a 45-day, risk-free trial including shipping both ways. I’d recommend two SB1000 Pro subs as they’re small/inexpensive yet still get you to an honest 20Hz, but if you’re constrained to one sub an SB2000 or SB3000 will still provide a very satisfying HT experience for relatively not much $$$. Rhythmik subs are even a bit better but are a little more expensive and don’t have the convenient setup software that SVS offers.

Hope this helps, and best of luck.

mahler123 OP
3,396 posts
 

My experience in my REL is also that it’s the most musical sub I’ve ever encountered.  Besides Paradigm I’ve also owned subs from B&W, Sony and Polk .

  I’ve heard good things about SVS.  If they are roughly equivalent to REL I’d just stick with the known quantity.  I also like that TEL is sold by a dealer that I have a long history with.  I’ve come to hate having to ship bulky audio products and be at the mercy of the likes of UPS.  Now if the SVS was vastly superior to REL I might be tempted…

  I don’t know if multiple subs would really make a difference?  25 years ago the thinking was that bass was unidirectional and that a properly set up sub should do the job.  Of course the dealers will try to persuade one otherwise 

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