REL Acoustics
A good subwoofer is not heard — it is felt. It does not add bass to the music, it reveals the bass that was always there. That is the principle on which REL Acoustics was built, and it is the reason why audiophiles, music lovers and home cinema enthusiasts worldwide choose REL.
At Integration At Home we integrate REL sub-bass systems into your stereo and surround installation, perfectly matched to your Focal, Bowers and Wilkins or other loudspeakers and controlled via Control4.
Richard Edmund Lord: The Man Behind the Brand
REL stands for Richard Edmund Lord (1939-2017), the founder who coined the term “sub-bass system” and thereby defined an entirely new product category. Lord began his career in the British merchant navy as a radio operator, but his passion was music. In 1990, he founded REL Acoustics in Bridgend, Wales, out of sheer frustration with the subwoofers on the market. He built his first design in the window sill of his own home.
The first production model, the REL Stadium, laid the foundations that still hold true today: the subwoofer must be physically present, yet audibly invisible — the listener should not hear that the subwoofer is playing.
In 1995, REL moved to a larger facility in Bridgend. In 2005, Donald Brody and John Hunter joined the company. Hunter, today’s Chief Designer, modernised the design and technology while remaining faithful to Lord’s philosophy. In 2025, REL celebrates its 35th anniversary — 35 years of subwoofers that make the difference between good sound and extraordinary sound.
The High-Level Connection: The Secret Weapon
What fundamentally distinguishes REL is the high-level connection — an innovation by Richard Lord. The subwoofer is connected to the speaker terminals of the power amplifier via a Neutrik Speakon connector. Three wires connect the REL directly to the output terminals. An active circuit with high input impedance ensures that the subwoofer does not load the amplifier.
The advantage is stunning: the REL receives exactly the same signal as the main loudspeakers, including the full signature of the power amplifier. A McIntosh valve amplifier sounds different from a NAD HybridDigital — and the REL honours that difference. After reception, the active circuit feeds the signal to an optimised power amplifier with field-effect transistors, without coupling capacitors in the signal path.
In addition to high-level, every REL also offers low-level RCA inputs and an LFE input for the .1 channel. In a combined stereo/cinema installation, high-level and LFE are used simultaneously: high-level for music, LFE for film.
The REL Series
Reference Series – The Absolute Pinnacle
The No.25 commemorates REL’s 25th anniversary: a 15-inch driver of pure carbon fibre (70% lighter than a 10-inch cone, stronger than steel), 1,000-watt power amplifier, two independent parametric equalisers, built-in LongBow wireless receiver (zero compression), frequency reaching deep below 20 Hz. Multiple layers of piano lacquer. Stackable into Reference Line Arrays of three units per side. The No.32 and No.31 represent the absolute pinnacle of subwoofer design.
Serie S – Reference in Medium Chassis
The S/812: front-firing 12-inch ContinuousCast Alloy driver with carbon fibre reinforcement, plus downward-firing 12-inch SuperProgressive carbon passive radiator with variable stiffness. NextGen5 Class D 800 watts. PerfectFilter crossover. Bass down to 19 Hz. Stackable into Line Arrays. Piano black or gloss white (8 layers). Compatible with AirShip II wireless.
The S/510: 10-inch active, 12-inch passive, 500-watt NextGen3. Bass down to 22 Hz.
Serie T/x – The Best-Seller
More than 200,000 units sold. The T/9x: 10-inch active, 12-inch passive, 300-watt Class A/B (deliberately chosen for musicality), 27 Hz. The T/7x: 8-inch active, 10-inch passive, 200 watts, 30 Hz — the sweet spot. The T/5x: 8-inch, 125 watts, sealed design, 32 Hz, compact. Compatible with Arrow Wireless.
Serie HT – Cinema Without Compromise
The HT/1510 Predator: 15-inch CarbonGlas driver with extreme excursion, 1,000 watts with four 400W MOSFET output stages. Bass down to 20 Hz. Designed for Line Arrays: up to three units stacked. Compatible with HT-Air MKII wireless. The HT/1205 MKII (12-inch) and HT/1003 MKII (10-inch) in more compact formats.
Classic Series
The Classic 99 and Classic 98: a nostalgic journey to the golden age of stereo. Single downward-firing driver, walnut veneer and classic design. Beneath the skin, modern REL technology: fast, controlled bass. Equally at home with vinyl as with hi-res streaming.
Line Arrays: The Holy Grail of Bass
A REL Line Array is not a stack of subwoofers — it is a fundamentally different approach to bass reproduction. When two or three RELs per side are stacked, bass gains a height component that corresponds to how we experience bass in the real world.
The bottom unit handles the deepest overtones and produces floor vibrations. The middle unit delivers crisp attack and articulation. The top unit adds the flutter and shimmer of instruments in the air. The result is bass with three dimensions — depth, width and height — that no single subwoofer can match.
Line Arrays are available with Reference, Serie S and Serie HT. Serie T/x excels in stereo pairs and REL 3D configurations.
REL in Your Home Cinema and Stereo Installation
The high-level connection links the REL to your McIntosh, NAD or Marantz power amplifier for seamless stereo integration. The LFE input connects to your processor for the .1 channel during film. One REL excels in both applications.
REL offers three wireless systems: AirShip II (Reference, Serie S), Arrow Wireless (Serie T/x) and HT-Air MKII (Serie HT). Zero compression, ultra-low latency.
Cinema and Music Scenes
Movie night: The NAD T 778 switches to Dolby Atmos, the JVC projector starts, the Multivision Screens screen descends, the Focal Atmos speakers activate, the REL S/812 Line Array delivers the depth that hits your chest. The Integratech LED strips dim, the Delta Light spots switch off, the Gira curtains close — all with one press of a Niko switch or Basalte touchscreen.
Stereo music: The REL T/9x in a stereo pair, connected via high-level to your McIntosh MC275 or NAD M33 V2, complements the Focal Aria or Bowers and Wilkins 700 Series with the depth and spaciousness that completes the music.
Why REL at Integration At Home
A REL sub-bass system is the foundation that transforms your complete audio installation. The high-level connection guarantees seamless integration with any amplifier. The choice between stereo pairs, 3D configurations and Line Arrays offers a solution for every room and ambition. At Integration At Home, we advise you on the right REL model and optimal placement for your loudspeakers, amplifier and room, and integrate the whole into your Control4 smart home.
One point of contact for bass you feel, not hear.
Frequently Asked Questions about REL Acoustics
REL sub-bass systems are connected via a high-level Neutrik Speakon connection directly to the speaker terminals of your power amplifier. This means the sub receives exactly the same signal as your main loudspeakers, including the signature of the amplifier. This ensures seamless integration that conventional subwoofers with only line-level inputs cannot match.
Serie T/x is ideal for most stereo and multiroom installations. Serie S offers reference performance for discerning listeners in medium to large rooms. Serie HT is optimised for home cinema with maximum impact. The Reference Series is for those who want the absolute best. Integration At Home advises based on your room, loudspeakers and preferences.
Yes. Every REL offers both high-level and LFE inputs that can be used simultaneously. High-level for stereo music via your power amplifier, LFE for the .1 channel from your home cinema processor. This way, one REL excels in both applications.
A Line Array is a vertical stack of two or three RELs per side. This adds a height component to bass, just as we experience bass in the real world. The result is three-dimensional bass with more impact, articulation and spaciousness than a single subwoofer can deliver. Line Arrays are available with Reference, Serie S and Serie HT.
REL subwoofers are controlled as part of the audio and cinema signal path. Control4 switches on the power amplifier or AV processor, and the REL responds automatically via auto-on/standby or 12V trigger. Integration At Home configures the REL as an integral part of your cinema and music scenes.
Contact us by phone at 0487/59.46.38 or email cedric@iahome.be. We advise on the right model, optimal placement and connection (high-level, LFE or both) for your loudspeakers and amplifier. From consultation to listening demonstration: one point of contact for bass you feel.
