- REL Acoustics Ltd. promotes the REL Classic 99 as a mid-century design subwoofer that delivers powerful performance and a commanding presence.
Are you looking for a subwoofer that really stands out, not only because of its unique design but also because of its outstanding acoustic performance? Then the latest solution from REL Acoustics Ltd. could be just what you’re looking for, because the REL Classic 99 offers all this and more in an impressive, state-of-the-art design. Discreet restraint? No, that’s not what we’re looking for here. Instead, REL Acoustics Ltd. is sending a clear message that a subwoofer should be presented with pride as an essential part of any audio system.
According to subwoofer specialist REL Acoustics Ltd., the new REL Classic 99 is clearly based on the highly successful REL Classic 98, which was launched last year. However, the new REL Classic 99 is not simply a slightly larger, more powerful model that can play a little louder, according to the company. Rather, they have pushed development forward to create a subwoofer that can play even more accurately and with even greater finesse. And yes, it can also play louder if really necessary…
REL Acoustics Ltd. – The subwoofer specialist with a philosophy all of its own
Before we take a closer look at our test candidate, however, we would like to introduce its manufacturer, as it is one of the few specialists on the market that is solely dedicated to the development and manufacture of subwoofers.
This is somewhat unusual, as most subwoofers on the market today are made by loudspeaker manufacturers who primarily use them to round off their conventional product ranges, especially in the home cinema sector, so that they can offer their customers a one-stop solution. Specialised suppliers such as REL Acoustics Ltd., on the other hand, are particularly keen to offer a wide range of products that provide optimised solutions for all requirements.
REL Acoustics Ltd., for example, rightly emphasises that a subwoofer is, of course, considered an essential solution in home cinema, as it is part of any modern surround sound configuration. However, it is also clear that subwoofers should be indispensable tools in a classic stereo HiFi solution, as they can turn a fine system into something outstanding. They are convinced that subwoofers are precision tools that are simply indispensable for audiophile performance.
The top of the REL Classic Line
Looking at the product range of REL Acoustics Ltd., it is impossible not to notice that the design is based on a modern, timelessly elegant design language. Our current test candidate, the REL Classic 99, stands out, like its direct predecessor, the REL Classic 98, with a completely different design. The manufacturer itself refers to it as a mid-century design, a design trend that has dominated the US market for years, but is also finding fans here in the UK, not least with the so-called industrial look.
Design language in mid-century design
The fact is that while most models from REL Acoustics Ltd. feature high-gloss lacquered surfaces, the REL Classic 99 is the new top model in the REL Classic Line with a real wood veneer cabinet.
The REL Classic 99 is by no means modest; in fact, with dimensions of 400 × 534 × 350 mm, it is a thoroughly impressive subwoofer that also weighs in at an impressive 22,4 kg.
This is a clear indication of the solid workmanship, with the developers opting for 32 mm thick MDF finished with walnut veneer. Aluminium accents and black aluminium feet milled from solid aluminium add the finishing touches to the attractive design.
The subwoofer’s connection panel is also finished in dark metal, with white gold rotary encoders that, like the manufacturer’s emblem on the top, are designed to stand out visually and thus form part of the design concept.
A subwoofer that can deliver something special
The new REL Classic 99 is designed to be a subwoofer that can deliver something special, according to REL Acoustics Ltd. A subwoofer that exudes confidence and can certainly be seen as a statement piece in its class.
At its core, it is a closed-back down-firing subwoofer, which means it uses a downward-firing chassis, in this case a generously sized 12-inch driver.
12-inch amended pulp-on-paper down-firing inverted cone driver
According to the data sheet, the developers have opted for a 12-inch Amended Pulp-on-Paper Downfiring Inverted Cone Long Stroke Driver. This is a solution with a particularly long stroke and therefore the ability to move a lot of mass, whereby the driver is designed so that the membrane is particularly light but also very rigid, allowing it to follow any deflection particularly easily and accurately.
The diaphragm material consists mainly of very light paper, which is pressed into shape while hot, making it very rigid. A centre cap, also made of paper, is then applied to this paper driver, but this is made of handmade paper.
The membrane constructed in this way ensures that the surface has a very special property and a chaotic, disordered structure that results simply from the fibres of the material. This in turn ensures that no unwanted reflections occur even on the smallest scale, ultimately guaranteeing excellent self-damping of the driver.
This, in turn, is the basis for the REL Classic 99’s ability to deliver impressive precision combined with enormous power and dynamics, especially since the woofer is housed in an extremely robust, flow-optimised stainless steel enclosure.
Powerful, effective Class D amplifier, no DSP
Once again, we come to a crucial point when it comes to subwoofers from REL Acoustics Ltd., because the company is firmly convinced that while the market is increasingly relying on state-of-the-art DSP algorithms, these are frowned upon at REL. From the specialist’s point of view, they mean that the signal is no longer reproduced accurately in terms of timing. All a subwoofer needs is a high-quality filter, and this is guaranteed by the fully analogue REL PerfectFilter front end.
This powers the powerful amplifier of the REL Classic 99, which is based on proven Class D technology and designed to deliver a deliberately warm sound character in order to achieve a vintage sound that is perfectly suited to this product line, as the manufacturer candidly puts it.
However, this should not be confused with the REL Classic 99 not being absolutely precise; quite the opposite is true. Although the sound is somewhat warmer in character, the performance is very detailed, rich in nuances, always precise in timing and, it should be emphasised, extremely powerful, reaching well below 20 Hz.
450 watts in Class D provide a solid foundation for everything, whether it’s cinema blockbusters in your home cinema or powerful symphonies in stereo, and it’s also easily enough to really push the limits of what an audio system is capable of and have some real fun – your neighbours may enjoy it a little less…
Incidentally, from the manufacturer’s point of view, no DSP support is required for optimal adaptation to a wide variety of audio systems or for perfect integration into the room, so no app is available.
Cables or wireless?
The REL Classic 99 has a modest but solidly equipped connection panel, which in turn has a special feature that is also typical of REL Acoustics Ltd. Yes, you will of course find the usual connections in the form of RCA sockets for LFE and line-in, but from REL Acoustics Ltd.’s point of view, the high-level input, designed as a high-level NEUTRIK Speakon, is particularly relevant. According to the specialists, this should always be the preferred input, and the cable for connecting the high-level outputs of the amplifier to the actual speaker systems via the subwoofer is supplied with the subwoofer.
It should also be mentioned that REL Acoustics Ltd. does not want to shy away from current market trends, so consumers also have the option of controlling the subwoofer without a signal cable. The REL HT-Air MKII Wireless or the REL AirShip II are available as optional extras.
Hands-on experience
First of all, we really like the design of the REL Classic 99. Subwoofer specialist REL Acoustics Ltd. has clearly made a bold statement here, as it has not tried to conceal anything, but rather to design a subwoofer that stands out, not only in terms of sound, but also in terms of its appearance in the room.
It certainly looks great alongside speaker systems that also feature a striking, distinctive design.
Once the subwoofer has found its place, it’s time to set it up, and we strongly recommend taking your time to do this, especially if you are new to subwoofers.
We also recommend taking advantage of the extensive range of videos available on the REL Acoustics Ltd. website. These videos provide detailed information about the company’s unique philosophy and explain in detail how to best integrate the subwoofer into different configurations and then optimally adjust it.
This is a wealth of knowledge that you can gain along the way, which can then be directly applied to achieve the perfect integration of the subwoofer into your own living environment and listening room.
Therefore, we don’t want to go into any further detail here. REL Acoustics Ltd. has really done a perfect job, and even we were able to learn a thing or two.
In any case, our test candidate was put through its paces with a Musical Fidelity M8xi integrated amplifier and a pair of KEF Blade 2 speakers, a combination that might lead one to believe that a subwoofer is completely unnecessary. But as is so often the case, the better is the enemy of the good, as the saying goes…
This configuration in particular demonstrated the positive effect that a truly precise, confident subwoofer can have on a setup that is already working well in principle. Of course, this is not about pure power, which is required, for example, in a solution that lacks depth in principle. Rather, precision paired with sovereignty through sufficient power is required, and this is precisely where the strength of the REL Classic 99 lies, as our test shows in a very, very impressive way.
The performance suddenly gains detail, the soundstage becomes wider, it reaches deeper into the room, and everything seems much lighter and more relaxed. If you deactivate the subwoofer, it almost seems as if everything collapses. Okay, that may be a bit of an exaggeration; of course, it only seems that bad in the moment, but it shows how significantly the REL Classic 99 can improve sound quality with minimal effort. You might even be tempted to use two subwoofers to give each speaker some support in the lowest frequency range.
Of course, we also tested the REL Classic 99 in a configuration that is probably more obvious to many, namely in combination with rather slim, compact speakers that gratefully accept all the additional support they can get in the lowest frequency range. It was really fun to give our little Italian speakers, a pair of Chario Aviator Ghibli, a more than worthy performance in our large listening room with the REL Classic 99 at their side, connected to a Technics SU-R1000 stereo integrated amplifier. Ultimately, however, an excellent result was to be expected, so the bottom line is not quite as impressive as when you add a subwoofer that is extremely attractively priced to a HiFi system with very exclusive speakers and very powerful electronics and achieve an enormous improvement here too.
Prices and availability
The new REL Classic 99 is already available from specialist retailers and, as already mentioned, only in the elegant walnut finish presented here. The recommended retail price is € 2.099,-.
Getting to the point
At first glance, the REL Classic 99 may not be the typical subwoofer from specialist REL Acoustics Ltd., thanks to the slightly different design line chosen by the developers for this REL Classic Series solution, which they describe as mid-century design. The manufacturer itself describes this solution as ‘lifestyle meets design’, promising a subwoofer that you don’t hide away discreetly, but proudly display alongside a pair of fine loudspeaker systems. From an acoustic point of view, the REL Classic 99 has nothing to hide, doing everything it can to make a big impression. As our test shows, this is an extremely precise system that is by no means lacking in power. The REL Classic 99 can play just as subtly and nuanced as it can powerfully and with the appropriate volume. A clear recommendation is therefore the only correct conclusion of our listening sessions with the REL Classic 99.
| Product | REL Classic 99 |
|---|---|
| Price | € 2.099,- |
The REL Classic 99 is a particularly exciting addition to the REL Acoustics Ltd. product portfolio. As the flagship model of the REL Classic Series, it is aimed at those who do not want to hide their subwoofer away, but instead want to showcase it thanks to its attractive mid-century design. However, the REL Classic 99 cannot really be hidden anyway, as it is all too capable of making itself heard, impressing with its enormously precise, highly nuanced sound, which, despite its Class D amplifier, is rather warmer, in keeping with the vintage hi-fi character that this powerful, powerful subwoofer aims to convey.
Positive
- Impressive precision in performance
- Extremely confident and dynamic response
- Can play impressively loud
- Very appealing mid-century design
- Impeccably crafted
- Flexible use thanks to optional wireless control
Negative
- Requires more time to install, but it’s worth it because you get very fine results – so in that respect, it’s not really a disadvantage
Test Environment
- Musical Fidelity M8xi Integrated Amplifier
- KEF Blade 2
- Technics SU-R1000 Stereo Integrated Amplifier
- Chario Aviator Ghibli
- Lab12 Gordian
- KECES IQRP-1500 Isolated Quantum Resonance Power Conditioner
- Signal cables from AudioQuest
- Speaker cables from Nordost
- clic AV furniture
- Roon NUCLEUS+
- Eversolo DMP-A6 Master Edition
| Brand | REL Acoustics Ltd. |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | REL Acoustics Ltd. |
| Distribution | Audio Tuning Vertriebs GmbH |
| More about this manufacturer at HiFi BLOG |
Conclusion
Sound
Design
Handling
Price/Performance
Excellent
REL Acoustics Ltd. advertises the REL Classic 99 as a mid-century design subwoofer that is powerful and confident in appearance, exudes vintage HiFi charm and yet offers state-of-the-art features, promising nothing that it cannot deliver to the letter.
