Subs, where to start... Some use downward firing drivers & others use forward firing drivers, why?
The really great thing about downward firing subs are their "coupled-to-room" sound, the ability to work with your room to create a smooth seamless presentation is fantastic. This is achieved by controlling the distance from the first boundary to the drive unit using certain height feet. In a downward firing subs case the first boundary it encounters is the floor, this makes tuning a sub easier. This also means that it can create a more constant & controlled response, Great! However it's not all good news, for those of us after all out trouser flapping & chest pounding bass, we'll need to look elsewhere.
That's where forward firing subs come in. Some people will argue that subs are omnidirectional... I disagree when it comes to a design that is forward firing. Why is it any different to a traditional pair of speakers? It's simply in most cases using a larger single driver and operating at a lower frequency range (the frequency part is what i think many people mean when it's omnidirectional, because you can still hear these larger soundwaves its okay to hide a sub away) Although you can hide a sub behind sofas etc. it's certainly not the best place to position it in my opinion. With a forward firing sub you get so much more slam & attack, which is why I believe it's important to let your sub breathe into the room, firing across the longest length of a room eg. from corner to corner, to give it more control without booming or humming.
There are pros and cons to both designs, so why can't you have both?... Well you can. It's REL's T-7!
To be honest when I first laid eyes on the T-7 I didn't think it was going to work that well. I had preconceptions that the 8" active downward firing driver would clash with the 10" passive forward firing driver creating a mushy unfocused presentation... I was wrong, very wrong.
The REL T-7 is now amongst some of my most favoured subwoofers. The first reason for this is REL's use of both downward & forward firing drivers.
Secondly is the use of hi-fi quality power supplies, toroidal to be exact, partnered with high current Class A/B amps. These are the same types of transformers & amplifier designs being used in some of the best stereo amplifiers being made today. The use of these helps marry the sub to your speakers (if using the same power supply & amp designs in your amplifier).
Thirdly is REL's use of input filters, this is what I think has got me really hooked on REL subwoofers. Borrowed from its more expensive sibling (Serie R) the new input filters are considerably quicker than previous REL designs & many other speaker manufacturers sub designs. The signal that comes into the back panel inputs of the subwoofer then out to the drivers is lightening fast! Giving REL subwoofers the ability to start and stop fast enough for you to hear even the biggest of sub bass frequencies in movies or music with a layered, controlled & textured response. Something I can't say for all subwoofer designs.
Fourthly is REL's high level connection (for music) as well as the standard LFE RCA input (for movies). The high level connection allows for seamless integration to your speakers, not just because you are presented with volume & crossover controls separate to the LFE RCA input, but because you connect the sub to your amp via the speaker terminals (using a cable made up of x1 yellow cable-left positive, x1 red cable-right positive, and x1 black cable left & right negative) taking the lovely character of your amp to your sub as well as the speakers.
The REL T-7 ticks all the boxes. It's compact, it's fast and agile, it sounds much bigger than it looks, & it can improve music and movies like no other. In my opinion REL could charge more for performance like this, so grab one before they change their minds!
If you're in the market for a new sub I strongly urge you to audition this first.
Book a demo today, or listen to REL's T-7 at our up coming [Event]
Audio-T Enfield
Tel: 0208 367 3132
Email: enfield@audio-t.co.uk
Thanks
Simon
