Can anyone hear the difference when you add REL subwoofers when playing two channel

@jjss49 -  Funniest post ever.  You win!

The irony in it all - by the time we are old enough to buy expensive audio equipment we are too old to hear 😀

Well I can hear the difference in my system after getting my T-Zeros dialed in. 

This is a very old discussion.  I wonder how this got started again.

I added two REL SHO's and it was a game changer.

It took me over a year before I was finally able to get my pair of REL T7i integrated properly. 

The first time a heard REL subwoofers was with one T9.  The key is to add two large size REL's.  Otherwise, they really don't add much.

I am going to expound a bit on my original statement of a year's time to integrate. I had never had subwoofers in any iteration. Not in a vehicle even. I had followed RELs instructions in the manual for setting these up. Using the hi level speakon I had limited but unsatisfying results. No matter where I put them or how I angled them. I fiddled with crossover and gain setting knobs more than my wife's knobs. I gave up after a while and at the advice of another forum member and hooked them up via RCA and used my integrated's subwoofer controls and low/ hi pass filters. This gave me what I was looking for or so I thought. After using them in this manner I started thinking, "Could it be better?" and "Why does REL insist the Speakon hi-level connection is best?" These thoughts propelled me to seek. I went back to hi level and worked at it some more. Still disappointed. I reached out to REL and after quite a length (months) of time I was finally contacted by a tech. He had me turn my gain about halfway up and my crossover at 0. I had to 'walk' the crossover up slowly to hear it finally kick in. In other words, I had to not hear it before I could finally hear it. From there it was a matter of listening over a few days and adjusting which, in my case tended to be adjusting down incrementally on both crossover and gain. Have I got it perfected yet? Don't know, but I am finally getting what I paid for and it makes a huge difference in every aspect. Satisfying lows, thump when needed, grab you by the keester, rumbly in your tumbly bass if called for, Timbre, clarity of mids and highs and a much improved soundstage.

My journey could have been shortened quite a bit if the advice of bringing the crossover up from zero slowly had been in the manual. It is in a video online buried in the archives but I never knew about it. It also could have been shortened if REL had been more responsive to my emails and texts. I had almost given up on them but now they are tuned and integrated they are very good. Are there better? More than likely. But wow, what a difference.

a single REL S5/SHO immediately made a nice improvement to my large tower speakers...I added another a year later, and also an immediate benefit...I used a T/9i with Magnepans in a smaller room and also, immediate quite noticeable improvement...have also used the REL T/Zero lll with small monitors and they add a nice bit of lower frequencies, though not typical "subwoofer" but quite enjoyable...

dadork, clearly, your not a dork.

The improvements I think your seeking can be accomplished with the sub and room relationship, third party monitoring and equalization products using your subwoofer low level inputs. Unfortunately your subwoofers low frequency response has its limits in comparison to many other brands. 

Regardless, there aren't many low frequency rules. Your satisfaction is everything. Good luck with it.

Recently purchased a REL T5x to replace a PSB 125 sub. So far, the difference is that my front (and center) speakers are much more resolute and prominent. Best I can describe it is that it’s almost as if I’m finally hearing my front speakers for the first time ever. They’re way more prominent n’ present than before. It’s bizarre & mind bending. The REL enhances the fronts in a way that has me completely confused. Nonetheless, the PSB is ported, so I do kinda miss it’s longer & bolder bass extension, I think? 🤔

I can’t believe such an old discussion started up again.  At the time I first listened to a REL t9 matched with a pair of Vienna Acoustics Mozart speakers.  The Mozart’s already played down low and the small REL t9 was not able to be detected.  Right now I am pairing two REL SHO’s with a pair of Paradigm Prestige 85F speakers.  I can’t believe what the REL’s added.  The trick is to set the REL’s at the correct volume with the right crossover settings.  REL’s high level connection technology is genius.  The moment you can detect subwoofers they are too loud.  They need to act like additional woofers to seamlessly blend in.  My sound stage suddenly appeared.   

It is obvious while reading through this thread that some expect subwoofers to create unrealistic low-end bass that is beyond what was created in the recording; similar to a car stereo. The other half realizes that subwoofers support the system and play the low end extension that the mains are incapable of producing. The synergy between the mains and subs should be seamless; not noticeable. Some of the best sounding two channel systems I’ve ever heard had REL sub(s). I can certainly attest to the dramatic difference a single REL T7x made in my 2 channel office setup in a small room (13’ x 11’ x 9’). Another huge benefit of a sub(s) is the full sound at low listening levels. Lastly, I’ve owned SVS 2000 and JL Audio e112’s and neither were close to providing the sound quality of the REL. 

@millercarbon listening now to Flight of the Cosmic Hippo - with and without the REL T/9x (pair). 

Cool track...

And YES you can hear the difference