This Subwoofer Brings the Bass You Didn’t Know You Were Missing (But Now Need)

REL Acoustics celebrates 35 years of subsonic splendor with the introduction of a new line of subwoofers called Serie S. British-born REL isn’t new to veteran audiophiles, who know it for pioneering—and proving—the virtues of what Decca Records called FFSS (Full Frequency Stereophonic Sound), an acronym coined in the early days of stereo, long before the advent of subwoofer technology.

Back then, no one could have imagined a home-audio system reproducing the deepest bass frequencies—those low notes that bring life and a corporeal presence to every piece of recorded music and film, without which, one relies on imagination. Bass is what we feel in our chest, what sets a pounding rhythm and gives added weight and energy to enhance our listening pleasure.

Yet because most loudspeaker systems are limited in bass extension due to their use of smaller-sized woofers and cabinets, lower frequencies generally roll off steeply from about 80 Hz. We know something’s there, because we hear the ghost of a double bass or kick drum, but the room-filling energy of the instrument—or bellowing Tyrannosaur—is never fleshed out and brought to life.

Adding a subwoofer also allows the main speakers to avoid straining to reproduce the lowest frequencies, so they can instead do what they do best in the upper bass, midrange, and treble ranges. This is where REL’s Serie S subwoofers become the missing puzzle piece in an audio system. And while acoustic science tells us that frequencies under 100 Hz are omnidirectional and therefore a single subwoofer stuck in a corner will suffice, experience proves that image specificity and sonic accuracy can only be achieved with at least a stereo pair of subs.

Under California-based president and lead designer John Hunter, REL has released subwoofers that combine Silicon Valley technology with old-world artisanal values, such as fine lacquered cabinets and impeccable craftsmanship. The Serie S features four models, the most advanced of which is the Carbon Special Black Label, at $4,999 for a single unit.

The 98-pound cabinet is relatively compact—about 19 x 16 x 22 inches (width x height x depth)—and  is finished in eight coats of piano black lacquer. Stainless-steel handles on the sides enhance the clean design aesthetic, as does a wood slat grille for listeners who prefer to obscure the imposing front-firing active transducer. And four knurled billet feet allow precise leveling.

The Carbon Special Black Label employs two carbon-fiber drivers—each measuring 12 inches in diameter—with the active driver firing forward, while the passive transducer fires downward. Together, these deliver startling dynamics and sound pressure with speed and agility, matched by tonal accuracy inherent in the lightweight cone material that clearly articulates the voice of instruments and eliminates thumping, one-note bass inherent in small, low-frequency-challenged loudspeakers.

The active driver uses a new suspension that allows almost 2.5 inches of cone excursion, moving huge volumes of air with precision and control. Inside the cabinet is a 900-watt hybrid amplifier that sustains peaks of 1,250 watts, and combines Class A/B current delivery with Class D power consumption and thermal efficiency.

Integrating a powered subwoofer system can be done a few ways, and REL chooses an analog solution for its natural sound. The High-Level Input connects directly to the speaker outputs of the main amplifier. Incorporating the subwoofer seamlessly with the main loudspeakers is accomplished via controls for crossover frequency, phase, and gain (volume) located on each cabinet’s rear panel.

For cable-adverse listeners, or where it’s impossible to conveniently run them, REL employs Airship Direct, an optional module that plugs discreetly into the rear panel and transmits wide-bandwidth signals wirelessly. All that’s needed is AC power to the sub.

When starting with a single stereo pair of RELs to handle frequencies to 20 Hz (or below, depending on room configuration), you will be effectively bringing real-live bass into the music-reproduction equation—and that can become addictive. Once one realizes what’s been missing, it may be impossible to go back. For those so enamored, the REL Serie S can be configured as a line array comprising a stack of up to three modules per channel, achieving floor-to-ceiling authority and scale in a way that brings music—and even dinosaurs—to life.