New stereo RELs arrive this weekend

[randmac]

Which REL's did you go for? I've been thinking about a single sub, perhaps the S/3 SHO for my (smallish) mid-sized room, but keep hearing reports that stereo subs will usually work out better. So now thinking about 2 T/9i or even T/7i's. REL says that quality is the same across all lines, hope that is true. Will be interested in hearing how your's work out.

[Coppy]

Try a pair of JLA’s e subs from Ivan. Reasonable and great sounding.

[Weirdcuba]

S/3. Awesome for my room and system. I had size limitations, or otherwise would have gone for the S/5. As it turns out (and based only on one day), the s3 is plenty

[Weirdcuba]

Get two.

[randmac]

Ok, thanks, stereo subs it is. However, like you, I too have size limitations so thinking about going even smaller.......if you or anyone else out there has experience with the REL ‘T’ series would really appreciate your comments.

[Weirdcuba]

You can see my rig in my signature. That’s in a very badly shaped room of about 16 x21 x 9 whither weird openings and crooks and corners - sucks for sonics). Jim smith who has forgotten more than many know about subs strongly recommended at least the s/3 for the room (two of them). I’d love the s/5, but the s/3 sounds awesome thus far and the wife would throw me out on my ear if they were any bigger. Like everything in this game though - any chance you can audition them?

[SCAudiophile]

Congratulations on the stereo subs....how does everything sound? Picture?

[randmac]

Thanks for providing more context in deciding on the s/3, Weirdcuba, even the WAF part of that equation is understandable (been there, done that). An in-home audition might be problematic, but I’m checking around my greater area for REL dealers. Since my room is a bit smaller than yours at 12x20x10 I figured that going smaller would be better, though your comments have me anxious to actually see the subs again in person to get a good understanding of the physical differences between models. As you have indicated, if the s/3 is much better sonically than the lower series subs, then size would certainly become less of a deciding factor…...shoehorning is something I’ve become good at.

Keep us posted as it goes....

[docmd2010]

Congrats on your new REL's.

I own a pair of 25's and have them very well integrated with my loudspeakers. Here's what I would do:
1. Once you have these plugged in, continuously play a song with some bass on repeat. It doesn't need to be loud, very low level is ok, as all you need is a little bit of driver excursion, as the components of the driver just need to loosen up. I would let them break in like such for probably a week. You can still listen to music as normal, but note that the performance of your REL's will improve after a week.
2. The REL manuals give several positions of stereo placement but i found that the subs were placed best at the same position as the speaker, but immediately lateral to them. You will need to crossover the subs depending on your loudspeaker. It took me about 2 months of fine tuning (small movements of the sub and playing with crossovers) to get the 25's fully dialed in.

The end result:

An amazing low end, which really improved the midrange presentation. When properly dialed in, my 25's disappeared. When sitting in my sweet spot, I had no idea where the music was coming from. Both my speaker and 25's were statues in the room.

[docmd2010]

Here's a photo of my mine connected. I have 4 JL audio 113's but I only use those for HT. The 25's are only used for 2 channel.