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

I need some positive feedback on a rel upgrade so have a question. I have an all naim system and have been making upgrades over time. I upgraded my speakers to a pair of B&W 805d3 & have been using a pair of rel t5i for some time now along with a pair of baseline blue Naim connections cable which helps blend there performance even more all in a small room. I’m now thinking it’s time to upgrading the pair of t5i to a pair of s510. Do you think this would be a positive upgrade adding to the overall performance soundstage and an overall a better match for the b&w d3 ? Just curious if there is someone else out there with a similar system upgrade that came help. Thanks Gil

My Dad has a single S/510  and it's a great sub.  Two in stereo would be great, they are quite a bit larger but if you have the space...    it's about 16x 16 x18 deep

For me it is REL, as I own a pair of Carbon Limiteds and a pair of Carbon Specials.  These subs are amazing and integrate seamlessly.  I replaced a pair of Paradigm subs and so much better, way less boom and localization, and I know how to integrate them.  the fellow who bought the Paradigms replaced SVS subs.  I had several M / K subs back in the day, and almost all of their plate amplifiers have failed or had issues.  And yes, you need two for the best integration.

I've have RELs, SVSs, and one old Def Tech sub, and since my RELs go way down past 50Hz to the bottom, I love running them set very low in Hz and run my Raidho D2s full range. The bottom fill-in is superb and never calls attention to itself. This is in a music only system.