Hello,
I own both brands. As a reliability issue for JL, that was with the older E Series. I believe it was the volume pot or something basic. The V2 are really reliable and in the F series they have 80% more adjustment nodes than the V1 series. The issue with JL Audio VS REL is cost. With REL you can get a smaller T series sub with the Speakon connection and it is as smooth as silk. It looks like the Carbon series in REL is like the ESeries in JL with a Speakon connection. With JL F110 series you have the same specs with a cheaper price and a smaller foot print. If you want the Speakon connection then go with REL. If you are going RCA connections then go with JL. The best system is two JL F110 subs and the JL CR1 crossover. It lets you dial in the perfect crossover point on your subs but more importantly your main speakers. The F110 have 18 point room correction. They play at the same frequency as the bigger RELs do but at a cheaper price, a smaller footprint, and with one driver. So in a nutshell it’s REL at a cheaper cost at the lower end. Since you are going to $8000 I say go with the JL. Regardless of brand pick up a JL CR1 crossover as long as you are using a separate amplifier. At these price point it’s JL Audio. You are getting way more bang for your buck. No pun intended. The F series is so good you will not look back. As long as you do not need the Speakon connection. The JL is so good I have not even needed the room correction.
I own both brands. As a reliability issue for JL, that was with the older E Series. I believe it was the volume pot or something basic. The V2 are really reliable and in the F series they have 80% more adjustment nodes than the V1 series. The issue with JL Audio VS REL is cost. With REL you can get a smaller T series sub with the Speakon connection and it is as smooth as silk. It looks like the Carbon series in REL is like the ESeries in JL with a Speakon connection. With JL F110 series you have the same specs with a cheaper price and a smaller foot print. If you want the Speakon connection then go with REL. If you are going RCA connections then go with JL. The best system is two JL F110 subs and the JL CR1 crossover. It lets you dial in the perfect crossover point on your subs but more importantly your main speakers. The F110 have 18 point room correction. They play at the same frequency as the bigger RELs do but at a cheaper price, a smaller footprint, and with one driver. So in a nutshell it’s REL at a cheaper cost at the lower end. Since you are going to $8000 I say go with the JL. Regardless of brand pick up a JL CR1 crossover as long as you are using a separate amplifier. At these price point it’s JL Audio. You are getting way more bang for your buck. No pun intended. The F series is so good you will not look back. As long as you do not need the Speakon connection. The JL is so good I have not even needed the room correction.