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Has Rel fallen out of favor with audiophiles?

I own a Rel Storm 3. which I've had for 10 yrs or so. My new hardwood floor has really opened things up, especially in the bass area. much more pronounced bass and excellent sound stage.  I was planning on upgrading my sub after completing the floor. My Rel Storm 3 is pushing at its max to keep up in a 5k+ cu ft  room. Ten yrs ago the Storm 3 was one of the best on the market. It integrates very wall into the 2 channel system. Now, there is SVS, Rhythmic, PSA  etc which have much better specs than the Rels for less $$$. But the question for me is whether they actually integrate with the main speakers as well as the Rel? I use mine  for music 95% of the time. Music doesn't need to plumb the 16hz range as much as HT does. And most of the reviews seem to come from HT sources, IE AVS forum and the various HT magazines. From what I can tell, then Rhythmic seems to cater to the audiophile more than HT. But how about a sealed  SVS ?. And will they both integrate as well as the Rel with the high level speakon input? 

So, for audipophiles, do you sacrifice the ultra low hz for the good integration of the Rel? Or do you go with then SVS, Rhythmic, etc with their lower octave output? IOW, do the integrate as well?
Thanks for your help

arte
artemus_5

Showing 6 responses by wolf_garcia

wolf_garcia
6,757 posts
 
That $199 add-on doesn't work with older RELs for reasons I find mysterious (does it require a specific input that older models lack?). In any case…LAME...
wolf_garcia
6,757 posts
 
When a driver is driven to extreme levels it can "compress" meaning it limits its own output by no longer responding to dynamics, having zero to do with recorded compression which is simply limiting extremes to squish loudness dynamics generally for higher overall volume...also, I don't care what REL publishes on their website regarding which mains work best with RELs (my main speakers use a "D'Appolito" array with a tweeter surrounded with equal output magnesium/aluminum woofers that are 3.75" with very large magnets in a tuned and ported column…surprisingly good bass within limits…flat to 50 hz, and rated to maybe 38hz which is somewhat misleading) as they have no idea what speakers you're going to use. I've always thought REL's use of "sub-bass" as opposed to subwoofer is silly as all you need to know is what they're doing…taking the speaker signal and filtering out the high frequencies…if you have small monitors that deliver bass to 60hz or 80hz or something, you adjust the REL to that frequency and that's it. The "not traditional" part of their hype is just not an actual thing.
wolf_garcia
6,757 posts
 
I never drive my RELs to compression, and they would likely shut themselves off if I tried and the bass would be WAY out of balance…I own a classic no longer available Mackie HR120 sub I use in my studio, and it's 500 class A/B watts driving an EAW 12 with a passive 12" radiator, and is basically flat to 19hz. I also use various 18" thousand watt plus subs in live sound mixing work, and no home audio sub will come close to what those can do...I know compression, don't like it, and won't allow my poor little RELs to partake in it.
wolf_garcia
6,757 posts
 
The adjustability of RELs, especially the older ones like mine (certain newer models dispense with some knobulation) , enables you (or, in my case, me) to easily "tune" them to the listening environment. My main speakers, although rated to 38hz or something (lame rating..they’re Silverline Preludes with 3.75" woofers) barely make a peep at 38hz. The sweet spot is around 50hz for the RELs step in. The wireless thing (Longbow?) they offer with new RELs might be a selling point for them, but REL is missing out on a pile of sales to current owners of their older stuff by not making one of these work with RELs like mine (it is, after all, all about me)…I’d buy one immediately, which would seriously free up placement options.
wolf_garcia
6,757 posts
 
The addition of "chicken head" knobs to the "High Level" volume pots on my RELs allows for the (not that frequent, but still) easy adjustment of bass levels as you can feel where the knob is, and hey, it gives the listener something to do with otherwise useless chicken heads.
wolf_garcia
6,757 posts
 
I use 2 older RELs with Canare cables I put together. A Q150e and a Q108eII and they're perfect, and each cost around 200 bucks (used of course). I suggest a "swarm" system if you want an ultimate sub experience that's still musical, or do what I did and get another REL…the RELs don't have the alleged distortion at low levels that others have claimed, and although I can't speak for the new stuff (well regarded anyway), the ones I've owned for years are built to last…just tighten the speaker screws from time to time.
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