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REL Acoustics
Website:https://rel.net/
Est. year: 1990
REL Acoustics is a British subwoofer specialist founded in 1990 by Richard Edmund Lord, whose first designs were built in Wales. The company makes nothing but subwoofers and bass systems, and it is closely associated with the high-level connection method, in which the sub is wired directly to the main amplifier's speaker outputs instead of relying only on a preamp or LFE signal. After more than 35 years REL remains a dedicated bass company with a wide catalogue spanning music and home cinema systems.
Range & what it's known for
The current catalogue is organised into series that run from compact units to large flagship systems. The T series, including the T/7x and T/9x, forms the core of the range, the Serie S with models such as the S/510, S/550 and S/850 sits above it, and the HT series, with the HT/1205 and HT/1510 Predator, is aimed at home theatre. At the top sit the Reference models, numbered No.31, No.32, No.35 and No.36, alongside the Classic 99 and limited Carbon Special editions. REL also offers the Arrow wireless transmitter for linking a sub without a long cable run. The defining engineering trait across the range is the high-level input, which takes its signal from the same amplifier that drives the main loudspeakers.
Who owns it and where it's made
REL Acoustics Ltd is a privately held company. In 2005 John Hunter, previously the owner of the American distributor Sumiko, and Donald Brody took over the business and reorganised it, and Hunter kept REL when Sumiko later changed hands. According to Hunter, the company handles drivers, amplifiers and cabinets itself rather than buying them in as finished parts. Founder Richard Edmund Lord, who coined the term sub-bass system for his products, died in 2017.
The lineup in this catalog
Subwoofers across several series, from roughly GBP 500 for the smallest models up past GBP 8,000 for flagship Reference-series systems.
Who it's for
REL is aimed at a stereo pair that needs deeper bass without a change in its character, in a system whose owner is comfortable running a speaker-level connection from the amplifier. A T series model is the usual first step, the Serie S adds larger drivers and more output for bigger rooms, and the Reference numbers are the destination for owners of high-end systems. Home cinema users can pick the HT models, and anyone planning a pair or a stack of subs can stay within one series.
Range & what it's known for
The current catalogue is organised into series that run from compact units to large flagship systems. The T series, including the T/7x and T/9x, forms the core of the range, the Serie S with models such as the S/510, S/550 and S/850 sits above it, and the HT series, with the HT/1205 and HT/1510 Predator, is aimed at home theatre. At the top sit the Reference models, numbered No.31, No.32, No.35 and No.36, alongside the Classic 99 and limited Carbon Special editions. REL also offers the Arrow wireless transmitter for linking a sub without a long cable run. The defining engineering trait across the range is the high-level input, which takes its signal from the same amplifier that drives the main loudspeakers.
Who owns it and where it's made
REL Acoustics Ltd is a privately held company. In 2005 John Hunter, previously the owner of the American distributor Sumiko, and Donald Brody took over the business and reorganised it, and Hunter kept REL when Sumiko later changed hands. According to Hunter, the company handles drivers, amplifiers and cabinets itself rather than buying them in as finished parts. Founder Richard Edmund Lord, who coined the term sub-bass system for his products, died in 2017.
The lineup in this catalog
Subwoofers across several series, from roughly GBP 500 for the smallest models up past GBP 8,000 for flagship Reference-series systems.
Who it's for
REL is aimed at a stereo pair that needs deeper bass without a change in its character, in a system whose owner is comfortable running a speaker-level connection from the amplifier. A T series model is the usual first step, the Serie S adds larger drivers and more output for bigger rooms, and the Reference numbers are the destination for owners of high-end systems. Home cinema users can pick the HT models, and anyone planning a pair or a stack of subs can stay within one series.
