Little help with REL subwoofers, please?

Rel S and Ref series are faster on specs, issue is whether one hears T as slow, if not than there is no problem. Same with Maggie's, I've heard them with a variety of medium to high end electronics, always enjoyed the sound qualities of these speakers.

 Generalizations aren't worth much in this highly subjective and individualistic hobby/obsession. And criticisms of China made components are political, what does that have to do with sound quality?  Furthermore, virtually all audio electronics have China made components within.

Update on my experience with the T9x, last night's listening session relatively large expansion of sound stage, and bass starting to loosen up and gaining in impact. These improvements due to burning in of every single component from 10/2 Romex tie in to monoblock amps dedicated circuit, AC receptacle, power cords, T9x and high level cable. Really in awe of the extent of this ss expansion, I've gained less from far more expensive equipment changes in past. For years I've considered my Klipschoen's ss couldn't be bettered, life size three dimensional images, great organization and focus such that individualization of each performer easily heard. Take the subs out and ss collapses, absolutely amazing! I'm now considering how a pair of Rel Reference could improve upon TX performance, may step up to these if my room can handle it. Other amazing thing is only one click crossover change since sub installation, seems these may be set it and forget it subs, no more of those constant  fine tuning changes that drove me crazy with past subs! I also expect further improvements with experimentation with high level cabling. Obviously, Rel philosophy has won me over.

I've tried a number of subs over the years, even with dsp could never get coherent sound with main speakers. With dsp the problem wasn't so much with boom, but rather timing with main speakers, always a step behind or slow, once heard could never be unheard.

So, buying into Rel philosophy I recently purchased two T9X, last night first listening session with them. So, first impressions, first time I've heard coherence from subs with main speaker! Improvement in sense of sound stage ambience most noticeable change. bass extension more subtle with my Klipschorns. Perhaps it was recordings I played last night, but there was no earth shaking, wall rattling bass, just a bit of extension and fullness on bottom end, really integrated well with my initial settings on crossover and level. This bass performance quite different from my Wyred 4 Sound Genesis clone sub, which has the more spectacular, impactful bass sound.

@northman 

As I mentioned previously, I'm not seeking a sub that brings attention to itself, have had that in previous subs, my take is that type of sub is for home theater setups or bass heads. I want my subs to be invisible, simply an extension of my main speakers, so far this is exactly what the two Rel T9x are delivering. Totally seamless bass delivery is what I'm getting, couldn't be happier at this point. Right now I have the T9x crossover at aprox. 43hz with volume at 3 clicks (monoblock setup so volume aprox. double stereo amp), initial setup was aprox. 46hz, 3 clicks, this with modified Klipschorns. Room is 13'W x 30'L, absolutely no bass boom, and more importantly bass keeps up with Klipschorn bass. I've previously owned big subs, 15" to 18" woofers with and without dsp, while the Rel's don't reach down as deep as prior subs, and may not be as impressive with certain kinds of music, lets say EDM (electronic dance music), they outperform those subs in the ability to play fast, tuneful, and most importantly coherently with my main speakers. The Rel philosophy is maximizing coherency with main speakers, this is by far the most important single aspect I desire in subs, these Rel's are delivering thus far. I am using power cords specifically chosen for max transparency, speed, Oyaide R1 AC receptacle on same dedicated circuit as monoblocks, I will be experimenting with diy high level wire, already have some tin plated Duelund copper wire I need to hook up to Speakon connector, may try some Mundorf silver/gold wire in future, dc cables I made are awesome with this wire. Experimenting with PC's and high level cabling is worthwhile according to many Rel users.

My suggestion would be to try a pair of the X series, if you like Rel philosophy and sound qualities stick with them. I thought about the S series vs X, but they seem more oriented towards dual use as home theater and music system subs. I'd only add, the second Rel sub is a necessity for me, experimenting with running a single results in incoherent or un-centered sound stage, (monoblocks require the second for both channel bass). Adding the second also both speeds up and fills out bass.]

My take on subs is its far more about personal sound quality preferences, room, and main speakers than the subs themselves.

The fact is I've enjoyed the db or low level input type subs with certain recordings and times of day I chose to listen. And I did the obsession with measurements, crawl methods, dsp, interconnects, power cables thing. My issue was I could never get a wholly consistent perfectly coherent sound to my main speakers. Different recordings and volume levels always found me making fine adjustments to crossover and gain settings on subs. I'll admit coherency is amongst most important aspects of sound quality for me, this once I had single driver speakers in a bedroom system I used to run. The magical coherency I had with that setup sensitized me forever to  incoherency. I've also built my system for max transparency, resolution at relatively low volume listening settings.

Thus far in my admittedly limited listening sessions with the Rel's I've finally found subs that meet my need for coherency, I only hear my Klipschorns. I've no doubt this would not be everyone's cup of tea, they'd be asking where are the subs.

I've been done with subs for years, the Genesis sub and dsp still sits here unused and forlorn. Its only lately that I decided to give the Rel's a try, and this driven far more by the improvements in sound staging people reported vs bass augmentation. My Klipschorns in room response at my listening position certainly aren't bass shy what with my extreme attention to getting maximum seat to the walls, custom birch ply plate at top to get full seal,  non stock woofer and crossover. Only missing lowest octives with pipe organs, synth bass.

So, in my case these Rel's exactly what I was looking for, just a bit more reach in lowest freq, and most impressively, the added sound stage ambience, greater recording venue information adds to an already impressive illusion of performers in room that horn speakers do like no other.

In the end each person has to decide for themselves, based on parameters I mentioned above, what subs will work best for themselves. @northman , Only hearing a pair of T7x or 9x in your room and setup will provide the answer for you. I'd only suggest going to another low level input sub with dsp will require another intense setup procedure. If I were you I'd trial a pair of Rel t's and if they don't fit your needs only then move in another direction.

@pennfootball71 I don't hear any sense of these being slow thus far. I suspect Rel subs very difficult to make generalizations about since main speakers and amps have relatively large influence on how subs perform. So far, with my Klipschorns, the T9x has virtually no impact on bass performance per se, don't really reach lower, just a bit of db boost in freq. where in room response at my listening position begins to roll off. These all about sound stage expansion for me.

Going into Rel purchase,  speed was of utmost concern for me, assumed these might be slow. Using this reasoning I partnered with Ac receptacle and power cords that I know supply fast, tight bass, considering silver high level speakon wire if I hear some slowing in future.

If these are slow, my past subs and present Genesis sub would be slower than slow, even with dsp slower than high level circuit in these Rels. I'm also open to the fact that over time I may hear some sense of slowness, why I may wish to upgrade to Reference models at some point.