REL vs JL AUDIO

I have owned a pair of S510 and now a pair of fathom113v2. I had no problems with the sound or build quality of the RELs. They have the benefit of speaker level inputs for those of us without two line outs. They are easy to lift using their handles. With the help of an a remote acoustician, I was was able to well integrate and flatten the frequency response up to 60Hz where there was a 10db node that could not be solved because it was vertical/axial coming from the main speakers.

The acoustician recommended a JL CR1 crossover, so I bought the subs along with it. I had immediate buyers remorse because they are really expensive for me. The package arrived a few weeks ago, and I have just used factory recommended settings. The fathoms are much more feature rich than the S series, including auto turn-on, auto-equalization, a low frequency filter centered about 20Hz as well as a phase knob. They come with covers that I also use. I have only set it at the recommended 80Hz, set the 20Hz filter to -6db or so zeroed everything else. The CR1 eliminated the 60Hz issue. Nothing is particularly optimized, but bass is tighter with better resolution. The bass integration with the horn section of my JBLs is now better than with JBLs without subs, which has been an issue since I first bought the speakers. I would be happy with either brand, it is just that the JL offers a relative abundance of adjustability and I will not have to consider subs again.

@pedroeb --

People always choose only the most popular brand of subs which are not really the best

I'm wondering why they are not really the best, Is it due to one of these; better price, better advertising, better distribution, or simply a better product.

One could ask why are they rejected. I hope it's not exclusivity and bragging rights?

There must be a reason I'm not understanding. Is anyone who purchases a popular model judged as inferior?

What's really rejected is that which doesn't fit the narrative, and with subs that's anything that veers away from the smaller cube-sized, rather inefficient box and a, yes, typically well-known brand. I wouldn't deem anyone buying a pair of JL Audio, REL or SVS subs "inferior," I'm sure very good results can be had carefully implementing them in one's setup, but it's the other way 'round; those who go in different directions with (to audiophilia) lesser known brands like PSA, JTR, DSL, Funk Audio, DIY solutions and others usually aren't given a dime of attention from the audiophile community, and if they ever so rarely are it often comes down to perplexed  or derogatory comments that boil down to "ridiculous size," "overkill," "only useful for Home Theater," "are you trying to bring down the house?" and such. With that in mind try giving the impression that this "apocryphal" segment of lesser known brands and (god forbid) deviating solutions actually surpasses what's more readily accepted in audiophile circles, and any further interest has effectively fallen by the wayside.  

Seems like the people with the high end loudspeakers are using JL AUDIO. Is REL Midfi?......are you for real?...

What is for real is despite JL being made in the US....I see reports on here sharing shoddy support and some multiple failures but none for REL?

Call it midfi or not - REL subs work and while some may complain about blowing 4K on a sub made in China, everything else people pretty much everyday is made in China so........*shrug*😂

I'm wondering why they are not really the best, Is it due to one of these; better price, better advertising, better distribution, or simply a better product.

I'll go for a better product with less failures as possible and easy customer support. Some are super "Made in USA" only despite the stuff breaking down and having difficult customer support which is baffling. The sub could be made by a Martian in Nepal for all I care long as it works well.

REL is definitely mid fi. If you've had the pleasure to hear both side by side then you would agree. The REL sound is mushy and I'll defined compared to JL AUDIO.  REL doesn't have a driver that comes even close to the drivers JL AUDIO uses.  JL AUDIO spanks REL. REL=CHINESE JUNK