REL T/9x SE Midnight Black – New in Black as Italian Racing Red and Tangerine Dream Return
The REL T/9x Special Edition is the most powerful model in REL's T/x series, pairing a 10-inch FibreCarbon driver and a 10-inch passive radiator with a 300-watt RMS Class A/B amplifier. Midnight Black joins the range as a restrained alternative to the sports-car colours, which return in the shape of Italian Racing Red and Tangerine Dream. Having already put the subwoofer through its paces in a detailed review, we look at what the new finish means for the line-up and for anyone planning a stereo or home cinema system.
- The REL T/9x Special Edition, the most powerful subwoofer in REL Acoustics Ltd.'s T/x series, is now offered in the new Midnight Black finish, with Italian Racing Red and Tangerine Dream back on the order list. It combines a 10-inch FibreCarbon driver, a 10-inch passive radiator, a 300-watt RMS Class A/B amplifier and high-level Speakon, Cinch and LFE inputs; the recommended price in our earlier review was €1,549, though Austrian pricing for the three finishes has yet to be confirmed.
Some subwoofers are meant to disappear behind a sofa. The REL T/9x Special Edition is not one of them. REL Acoustics Ltd. clearly sees this model as a design statement as much as a bass reinforcement tool, and the latest news from the British company underlines the point: a new Midnight Black finish has been added, and the louder Italian Racing Red and Tangerine Dream versions are on sale again.
The message to music lovers is straightforward. Sound quality is only part of the brief when a system is assembled, and many buyers want the result to look as considered as it sounds. Hi-fi equipment has become an accepted element of a carefully furnished home, and REL is catering for exactly that mindset.
Key Facts REL T/9x Special Edition
- REL T/9x Special Edition
- New design finish: Midnight Black
- Italian Racing Red and Tangerine Dream available to order again
- Active high-end subwoofer from the REL T/x series
- 10-inch FibreCarbon driver with an additional 10-inch passive radiator
- Class A/B amplifier delivering 300 watts RMS
- High-level input via Neutrik Speakon, plus Cinch inputs
- Designed for demanding stereo and home cinema systems
- Already reviewed in detail at sempre-audio.at
What we heard: bass that makes a good system better
It would be easy to dismiss a special edition as a cosmetic exercise, so it is worth recalling what lies beneath the paintwork. In our detailed review, the REL T/9x Special Edition was paired with an Ayon Audio Spirit V Integrated Amplifier and a pair of Chario Aviator Ghibli loudspeakers. That is already a very fine-sounding stereo chain, and the question was whether a subwoofer could still add something.
It could. Carefully integrated low-frequency support opened up a good deal of untapped potential, and three qualities stood out: a greater sense of authority, livelier dynamics and a more relaxed overall presentation. The T/9x SE showed that a subwoofer can be a genuinely worthwhile addition to a classic two-channel hi-fi system, rather than a device reserved for home cinema.
Analogue by conviction
The technical recipe remains unchanged, and it is a deliberately traditional one. As the most powerful model in the REL T/x series, the T/9x SE uses a forward-firing 10-inch FibreCarbon driver, supported by a down-firing passive radiator of the same size. A MOSFET-based Class A/B amplifier supplies 300 watts RMS.
REL Acoustics Ltd. also remains faithful to an analogue philosophy. There is no DSP-based signal processing and no app control; all adjustments are made directly on the subwoofer using its physical controls. For listeners who would rather set up a system once and enjoy it than scroll through menus, that simplicity is part of the appeal.
Connections built around stereo
REL has always paid particular attention to how its subwoofers are tied into high-quality stereo systems. Alongside the usual Cinch sockets, the T/9x SE offers a high-level input via Neutrik Speakon, which allows a direct connection to the amplifier. Home cinema users are covered too, thanks to a separate LFE input.
Midnight Black: restraint as a statement
Previous special editions of the T/9x grabbed attention with bold colours drawn from exclusive automotive design. Midnight Black takes the opposite route. Its look is elegant and composed, giving the compact subwoofer a quietly confident presence.
This finish should find plenty of admirers in carefully designed living spaces. Not every music lover wants their audio system to create a strong colour contrast, and Midnight Black offers an alternative that does not sacrifice the exclusive character of the Special Edition.
Italian Racing Red and Tangerine Dream: two favourites return
The other two finishes could hardly be more different. Italian Racing Red and Tangerine Dream were part of the earlier Special Edition collection and draw unmistakably on the palette of high-end sports cars. Italian Racing Red is a rich, passionate shade that lends the T/9x SE a classic, sporting elegance. Tangerine Dream is a vivid orange that feels more contemporary and expressive.
Combined with the quality surfaces and distinctive design details of the Special Edition, both are meant to be seen. They are for owners who want their subwoofer to be a focal point of the room.
It is striking how much the character of a single product can change through the finish alone. Midnight Black wins people over with discretion, whereas Italian Racing Red and Tangerine Dream make a confident, individual statement.
All benefits at a glance
- A subtler option: Midnight Black adds an understated design variant to the Special Edition range.
- More choice: Italian Racing Red and Tangerine Dream can be ordered again for those who prefer a bolder look.
- Furniture-grade appeal: high-quality surfaces turn the subwoofer into a deliberate part of the interior.
- Authoritative low end: a 10-inch FibreCarbon driver and a passive radiator provide powerful bass reinforcement.
- Ample reserves: the Class A/B amplifier delivers 300 watts RMS.
- Adaptable connectivity: high-level, low-level and LFE inputs allow for a range of system set-ups.
- Proven sound: the acoustic qualities of the T/9x SE have already been confirmed in our review at sempre-audio.at.
Price and availability
According to REL Acoustics Ltd., the REL T/9x Special Edition is now also offered in the new Midnight Black finish, and the previously available Italian Racing Red and Tangerine Dream versions can be ordered again. In our earlier review at sempre-audio.at, the recommended retail price of the T/9x SE was given as € 1.549,-. We do not yet have current price confirmation for the three finishes on the Austrian market.
Getting to the point
It is good to see REL Acoustics Ltd. giving an already accomplished subwoofer another design option. Midnight Black should appeal above all to music lovers who prefer an elegant, understated look, while Italian Racing Red and Tangerine Dream continue to cater for those who like a deliberately flamboyant presence. Beneath the attractive finishes sits a subwoofer that sounds excellent, as we established in our detailed review.
| Product | REL T/9x Special Edition |
|---|---|
| Price | € 1.549,- |
Technical Specifications
| Product | REL T/9x Special Edition |
|---|---|
| Design | Active subwoofer with passive radiator |
| Active driver | 10-inch FibreCarbon long-throw |
| Passive radiator | 10-inch FibreAlloy, down-firing |
| Amplifier | Class A/B, MOSFET |
| Power | 300 watts RMS |
| Low-frequency limit | 27 Hz at -6 dB |
| Inputs | High-level Neutrik Speakon, low-level Cinch, LFE Cinch |
| Wireless | Optional via REL Arrow |
| Dimensions (W × H × D) | 370 × 430 × 393 mm |
| New design variant | Midnight Black |
| Returning variants | Italian Racing Red, Tangerine Dream |
| Brand | REL Acoustics Ltd. |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | REL Acoustics Ltd. |
| Distribution | Audio Tuning Vertriebs GmbH |
| More about this manufacturer at HiFi BLOG |
