REL Acoustics was founded in 1990 in Bridgend, Wales, by Richard Edmund Lord, who was dissatisfied with the subwoofers available on the market at the time; the name is derived from his initials. In 2005, when Lord decided to retire, the company was acquired by John Hunter and Donald Brody, who, with Sumiko, had been managing sales in the United States for about ten years. Today, the headquarters operativa is in Berkeley, California, and REL continues to focus on just one type of product: subwoofers, along with the cables and wireless systems to connect them.
The feature that has distinguished REL since the first models is the high-level connection. Instead of receiving the signal from a preamp or LFE output, the subwoofer takes it from the amplifier's final stage, the same one that drives the speakers, via a Neutrik Speakon connector and a dedicated cable. The sub thus works with the signal that actually reaches the speakers, with their same character, and can be connected to any amplifier, even those without a subwoofer output. The low-level and .1/LFE inputs remain available for home theater. On the more expensive models, the cones are made of carbon fiber.
The range begins with the compact Tzero MKIII and continues with the T/x Series, consisting of the T/5x, T/7x, and T/9x, plus the T/9x SE with a 10-inch driver, 10-inch passive radiator, and 300-watt Class A/B amplifier. The S Series, refreshed in 2025, includes the S/550 and S/850, with CarbonAlloy drivers and passive radiators, the Carbon Special Black Label with a carbon fiber cone, and the 212 Black Label with four 12-inch drivers—two active and two passive—and 1.000 watts; there's also the 212/SX. At the top are the Reference No. 35, with a 12-inch woofer and 900 watts, and the No. 36, with a 15-inch driver and 1.000 watts.
Alongside these lines are more specific offerings: the Classic 98 and Classic 99, with walnut veneer and floor-firing paper speakers, designed for owners of vintage systems; the slim Planar PL1 and PL2, designed for wall mounting; and the HT Series, with the HT/1003 MKII, HT/1205 MKII, and HT/1510 Predator, designed for home theaters. To avoid running cables across the room, the Arrow transmitter, designed for the T/x Series, and AirShip II for the higher-end models.
The choice starts with the room and the speakers. In a medium-sized living room with bookshelf speakers, a T/7x or T/9x completes the low end without overwhelming the room; with large floorstanding speakers or in large rooms, it's best to go with the S/850 or Carbon Special Black Label. Those with a vintage system will find the Classics an aesthetic match, while those without space for a cubic cabinet might consider the Planars, which perform best close to the wall. For multichannel systems, the HT Series is the most direct option; for stereo, REL also recommends the use of two subwoofers, one per channel, tuned in pairs.
In our Carpi showroom, you can listen to REL subwoofers in your listening room and discuss with us the model and connection best suited to your speakers. The same products can be ordered online at audiocostruzioni.com with shipping, and if you have any questions about the combination or adjustment you can write to us via email before purchasing.
