REL subwoofer interfacing and interaction

Posted by: bdnyc on 22 March 2002

I am considering adding a REL subwoofer to my system in anticapation of a full surround system, but it may actually remain a stereo for some time, and perhaps for good. As I understand it, you could run line level outputs from a Naim pre-amp power supply into the line level inputs of the sub, or use REL's preferred method of having their cable connect to the amp's output terminals.

Does anyone have any experience with these options, and what are your thoughts and experiences?

Thanks

Posted on: 23 March 2002 by Top Cat

REL themselves advocate connecting using speaker level outputs - the line-level outputs generally don't sound as good, although my own REL is an older Stentor and doesn't have this facility anyway.

FWIW, I don't use my REL these days - it does a sterling job as a side-table (with its smoked glass top and lovely oak construction) and I'll resurrect it when I rebuild my AV setup - once I get a new house...

TC '..'
"Girl, you thought he was a man, but he was a Muffin..."

Posted on: 23 March 2002 by J.N.

I knew Richard Lord before he was famous!

He still speaks to me, amazingly and I've had a Stadium 2 and 3 in my Naim system.

As others have said, he advocates driving off the speaker outputs to obtain the same 'character' of bass as the main system and to offer better integration.

The beauty of his designs is their range of adjustment and the ability to use them with subtlety, which very often gives the best effect.

He says that his subs (in Hi-Fi systems) should 'underpin' and not 'swamp'.

Posted on: 23 March 2002 by neil w

i use a rel stentor 2 in my system connected to the speaker leads at the amps end and rels own nuetrik connector at the sub
the intergration it provides is quite amazing and by the way it goes LOW
the rel adds a level of bass that the sbl's dont without distracting from the sbl's
in my av system the rel puts you in the middle of the bomb blast

Posted on: 25 March 2002 by Kevinbro

I just went through the "PAINFUL" REL-Naim Integration. It's worth it, if you can properly integrate the REL with the Naim sound.

I had to get the REL COMPLETELY OUT OF THE NACA5 LOOP, before it sounded good. In other words to the speaker's terminal posts. Any other setup messed up the NAIM sound. I happen to have a speaker (3A Royal Masters) which have several speaker terminal connection options and a totally disconnected tweater (no x-over). So I cut off the casing from the REL's wire and attached the leads to the tweater's terminal so only the jumper connected NACA5 to the Royal Masters' Mid/Woofer and tweater.

Coincidently, REL called NANA and they told them:

1) Don't do a sub with Naim
2) If you must, connect at line level, not speaker level.

However, REL advises you won't get the most integrated/best sound that way.

My advise: If you can, try to connect to the speaker posts (not Amp end) and then, try to get the REL's wire as far away from NACA5 as possible.

good luck,