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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
wolf_garcia
6,692 posts
 

I've acquired a few used RELs over the years (costing from 200 to 300 bucks each) using one in my stereo TV rig and two in the hifi heap and they all work as designed. If one dies they were so inexpensive I'd replace it immediately with another REL as I like the "high level" Speakon connection from the amp business. I make my own REL cables with very nice speaker wire. Multiple subs make a huge difference really and no DSP is allowed! I turn the RELs up or down a little sometimes, or use a Schiit Loki Max to help out if needed (rarely, but man...what a brilliant device). 

pureclarity
66 posts
 

I never hear earthquake mentioned anymore. Phusis, what a fantastic explanation. 

alan60's avatar
alan60
175 posts
 

Velodyne.

sparksgja
35 posts
 

I have recently bought a new sub from Arendal, their 1723 1S. They are a Norwegian direct to consumer manufacturer with distribution in Chicago (I believe) in the USA. They offer a range of both speakers and subwoofers that all come highly recommended by their customers, plus there are some very good online reviews. What I especially like is that they are designed to be corner (speaker ) facing in, plus they offer an excellent app for both Apple and Android that allows easy fine tuning and really straightforward integration. They also offer RCA and XLR inputs, plus a 10 years warranty and 60-day auditioning period, and free pre-purchase advice. I use my Arendal sub with my Sonus Faber VIII’s in a 2 channel HiFi setup. The sub is great and very musical. My only comment is they are about to release a brand new range very soon. So I’d speak to them about that timing, even though they offer an upgrade path to recent purchasers. I also looked at REL, SVS and Rythmik but both REL and Rythmik rely on speaker output for integration, which is not as flexible from a room correction perspective as that provided by Arendal and SBS. Hope that helps.

 

akg_ca's avatar
akg_ca
2,225 posts
 

At it’s $3K cap pricepoint, the  ATC C1 Sub Mk2 bested all comers in my system.

Highly recommended.

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