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REL 12" Carbon vs JL Audio 12" Fathom

I decided to make a new thread on this.  Plenty of people love both of these.  I am looking for two new 12" high end musical subs for two channel audio.  I am familiar with and LOVE the REL Carbon Limited's. The New Carbon Specials are supposed to be even better.  But now I am looking at the JL Audio Fathom F112v2's.  Because they have EQ that would be great for my boomy basement.  I want: 12", super musical and fast for high end audio.  I also want EQ. But are the JL's as musical as the REL's?  We are truly comparing similar spots in each company's line...12" sealed, $4000 list.  Would love to hear from folks who have compared...Happy Holidays!  Ken
fastfreight

Showing 2 responses by m-db

m-db's avatar
m-db
937 posts
 
["mijostyn; I hate muddy bass. I like my bass lean and tight. I want to feel every kick drum beat and I want to hear every single note a bass plays. I always adjust my system so that there is a 2 dB or so dip centered on 125 Hz covering about 1 octave and increasing volume from 75 Hz down so that the bass is up 5 dB at 20 Hz. This approach gives me the bass I like which is what I think most people mean when they say "fast."]
+1
Mostly analog I can't mess with the 125Hz neighborhood but I'm just below you, slightly feathering in my crossover EQ in the high 60's.  

I had both of these brands in the house for a short time. There was a huge adjustability and performance disparity between the two. 
Aside from the speaker level connectivity convenience R. E. Lord designed in back in the day, adding some low frequency pressure is better than no sub at all.   
m-db's avatar
m-db
937 posts
 

@james633  I can understand your persistence. Since the early 20teens the only worthy subwoofer innovations combined with functional build quality that didn't take their manufacture into the exotic cabinet centric five $ figures were Velodyne USA and JL Audio.

Since their respective second versions, even the exotics are still playing functionality Ketchup. As I read your plight I pray for longevity of my own subs whose Euro NOS design has literally doubled in price!

Has the manufacturer offered any accommodation as an owner of five E models or do you think thats reserved for the upper end F Series?      

 

 

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