BEST SUB FOR MUSIC

The Rel subs are nice well built subs, but not as good for music as the Vandersteen 2Wq. Because the Rel is like every other sub in the world - other than the Vandersteen - the way it gets hooked into your system is half the problem. The Rel and all others give you a line level connection that comes from your preamp. This means that the sub will only be augmenting the bass below where your speakers stop working. This doesn't help free your main speakers from any burden of making deep bass, nor does it relieve your power amp from any burden in the bass. The Vandersteen system will roll off your mains before the power amp making both perform much better than they do full range. Vandersteen does this with an unobtrusive 1st order crossover that consists of nothing more than a capacitor. Also, the Vandersteen sub gets its signal from you power amp and will take on the sound character of your amp which allows the sub to blend much more seemlessly than any other sub. Sorry Rel.

The Rel also hooks directly to your amplifier and benifits from this design as well.

Just want to put in another vote for the RELs. Probably a Stadium 3 used or Storm 3 new. With your equipment and budget I can't think of anything close. They are very adaptable and man are they fast. I am reticent to say don't look any further, because then you never learn about new things. I would say that you really should listen to both of these before buying a sub. You'll figure it out yourself. Happy listening

Todd

JM Labs Electra Sub SW900

I use a single REL Storm III with my Magnepan MG 1.6s. Great results. I use the Hi-Level connection which comes from the power amp to the REL. This Hi-Level connection allows the MG to operate as a full range speaker. It rolls off at its natural bass rolloff point (somewhere between 35Hz-40Hz). The REL starts at around 35Hz - 40Hz and goes down from there. I prefer it this way because the MG 1.6 sounds great as a full range speaker and I wouldn't want to screw that up by cutting the signal fed to the MG via the Low-Level connection option on the REL.

I have also heard the Strata III with MG 3.6s and was impressed.

If you really like a lot of deep, big bass consider the REL Stadium III, Stentor III or Studio III. I have heard the Stentor III and the Studio III in a Classe / Wilson Audio home theatre set up and it moved me (literally!).