Menu

Do the REL G1 Mark II sub-woofer / sub-base speakers really earn their name as a “Rock of Gibraltar” for your System?

These new stacks of REL Sub-base systems in our “Transporter” reference room have opened a whole new door of musicality when listening to 2 Channel Ultra High End Stereo.  And in multi channel, the combo of the REL stacks left & right up front, and the JL Audio F212’s left & right centered in the back truly make concert DVD’s, Blu-Ray & Cable sound and feel live.  Actually, with your favorite song it takes your breath away.

You might think I owe a minor apology for the cliche’ of my post title, but I do suspect that REL Acoustics wanted that metaphor in place (the “G1” does in fact stand for Gibraltar), even if only in the most subtle manner 🙂

Well, I’m telling you with pleasure, these two Reference Line Array stacks, as REL calls them, transform your system in a bit more then a subtle manner.

In the A/V world, I believe subwoofers occupy the space in most folks minds as the speakers that mostly just go boom, when you’re watching a movie.  

However, when I think about the height, the depth and the feel of the soundstage in a 2 channel stereo system and how we all want that most accurate image of the live concert replayed in our homes, I have recently learned and experienced that having an accurately setup 2 channel sub base system is exactly what is missing from even the best of 3 way floorstander speakers.

What could be better, JL Audio filling in all the deep base punch in the back of the room, and a stack of 6 REL subs filling in the range of music so that the entire 15 to 120 hz bass comes in natural? These REL G1 stacks provide adjustment in each array of 3 that allow you to specify the range for each. Now all the music coming to you is provided at the different height levels of how they normally reach you and  in the most natural way that bass can warm your senses.

I have heard my friend and boss, Ed Masterson speak many times of how it is critical to establish a Reference room that is acoustically optimized and filled with well chosen  ultra high end gear.  Once you have that reference room, you can then gauge other rooms as to what might be missing or perhaps even superior to your reference room.  In our custom built reference room “The Transporter”, I might have thought that the soundstage couldn’t get much better. 

Addition: added on 09/13/2019

Below is an excerpt from a review from Audiophilereview.com, regarding an experience Paul had with Trent Suggs, Sales Manager for REL Acoustics and the REL G1 Mark II’s:

Trent went on to explain that subs are not especially intended to make things go “boom.” Rather, they are to complete what speakers sometimes can leave out, that being a FULL range presentation of the recording. Using a properly matched pair of subs in a two channel system allows for a more full soundstage from the lowest frequency to the highest. They can also add image width and depth. They tend to “raise” the level of the imaging and depending on where said imaging occurs, this might be a very welcomed condition. According to Trent, adding the correct pair of subs will add clarity, not only in the lower bass notes, but also the mids and to some degree the highs. Lastly, use of subs will make it easier for the speakers to reproduce mids and highs and not worry so much about lows. All said, I was still skeptical.”

(end 9/13/2019 addition)

Note, regarding the slideshow.  The first photo shows the front of the “Transporter” reference room before the REL Audio Sub-base speakers were in place. The JL Audio Fathom 212’s behind the left & right Wilson Alexx speakers are now in the back of the room (not because they’ve been bad), they just serve a different purpose then the REL’s and the JL’s finish the multi-channel system.  The next photos show the REL in their Reference Line Array stacks , along with a single sub, and the slides are completed with a couple of iPad photos I shot with the new stacks in place. (Believe me, we are waiting for the Real photographer to capture the awesome, Ed’s wife Erika 🙂

To be continued…

The-Machine-Concert-DVD-08-18-17-1400w
G1m2_Stack_3Q_NoFace-449x900
G1m2_Hero-900x844
G1m2_Stack_Back-347x900
G1m2_Stack_NoFace-365x900
Left-Transporter-REL
Right-Transporter-REL
previous arrow
next arrow

Audible Images AV is excited to be serving: Melbourne, Florida, Rockledge, Merritt Island, Cocoa Beach, Cape Canaveral, Port St. John, Satellite Beach, Space Coast, Vero Beach, Orlando, Daytona, Kissimmee, Central Florida, the entire state of Florida…and even the greater USA

Print Friendly, PDF & Email
Share This Page with buttons below, Facebook, Email and more...