Home Speaker Asylum

General speaker questions for audio and home theater.

Before I take exception.

I would preface that sub performance is incredibly room dependent and my sonic preferences are subjective. I understand your comparing only REL subwoofers, but unless I'm mistaken you question the performance of some other products without any direct comparison.

In my two channel room the REL Studio III I auditioned was easily bettered in direct comparison by my Velodyne DD 18 in many areas of performance.

Firstly, the big Velodyne integrated into the system far better than the REL. Functionally, the Velodyne was less noticeable in use than the REL while producing more bass girth. This is what most usually call musical. Using the Velodyne to measure the REL confirmed a far more spiked in room frequency response regardless of its location. Using the Velodyne to control the REL's EQ helped a great deal to flatten the subs response but it still had that sluggishness that I hear from down firing subs. Again, an area of subjective taste. Still, you can't turn down what ain't there.

It's 2011. Subwoofer room equalization should be simple to accomplish and with multiple settings and phase control. The Velodyne can accomplish this with the touch of one button or done manually using a laptop.

I'm not fond of the methods of connectivity on the REL. I don't find any disadvantage using line level connection with the Velodyne.

The feel of the Studio III's output was far less substantial, not the loudness but the way a sub loads the room. In this regard the REL was a mouse.

I have since replaced the DD 18 with two DD 12+.

I am an upright and electric Bass player and I'm listening to studio and in home pre production track files in my work. I'm always amazed by professional reviewers describing how well a speaker or sub portrays the tone of a double Bass as bass quality. The ability of a system to produce the kick (bass) drum is a far more realistic measure. A good sub should be able to integrate seamlessly as well as provide the extra low frequency slam found in .1 channels. Mine do.



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