By far the best review I have ever viewed on SUBS. Not overly tech talk! The way you pointed out the SQ vs the SPL is what sold me. I'm not the SPL guy. As a matter of fact I've been quite content without the addition of a sub. But I had an experience listening to an SQ sub and I now want one. The fact that REL can disappear is magic and it's that magic I am looking for. Many thanks! Even the CEO of REL was not as convincing. Just plain speak and straight to the highlights and comparisons, how refreshing!!!!!!!!!
I've been watching a lot of videos about Subwoofers and especially the Rel Ti-Tx series. Your emphasis of Sound Quality (SQ) versus Sound Pressure Level (SPL) in subwoofers is very useful and gets to the heart of the subwoofer debate. Your comparisons of the different subs in a similar range as the t9x is very useful. "Real music vs. fake music" is a great way to consider a listeners needs. I ordered a pair of T9x this morning. Thanks!
@@PremKumar-vt1hq Yes, as long as your source material is good. If you're using bluetooth for music for example maybe they will sound similar but with a good source like CD or High-Res streaming the difference should be very noticeable.
@@NemoPropaganda What a great and constructive reply! You give lots of great hints and analogies. Not just a home theater vs music, but type of music, and type of music format. And as you mention, one’s typical listening volume. (Mine is on the medium/loud side)
Dude, you make GREAT videos... you paint a beautiful picture of how speakers/subs sound with just words and bring out many good points. I truly love your reviews!
Many thanks Nemo. I have been watching your videos for a long while and your precise description of subs is so educational I bought a TX9 yesterday. No regrets thanks
awesome, this is my favorite kind of comment to see, I want to help people get off the merygoround of research and get back to enjoying the music :) Keep in mind that thing will need about 5-10 hours of break in so it will get much louder after break in and you'll probably end up turning it down from whereever its set so don't worry too much about perfect integration until you have about 10 hours on it. Congrats on the new sub, excellent choice!!
What a great video. Thank you for making this video and giving such an easy to understand review of the REL. I was thinking about getting the T7/X, but based on your comments and the dimensions of your test room, I think I'll go with the T9/X instead. Keep up the great work!
Loved the review. I am a REL fanboy at this point. I just got a t7X to replace a t9i and I was flipper back and forth yesterday to compare. The 7x seems to hit just as hard as the 9i but does it faster and with more clarity. It really is amazing how much the changes to the T series improved the sound. I thought the i series was great until I heard this. The x series just blends away. I thought it was mostly marketing but your review of the t5x made me want to give it a shot and I am glad I did. So thank you for these. If you are on the fence or wondering if an upgrade is worth it… it is IMO.
Thank you for sharing Peter. It’s hard for me to suggest the upgrade from i to x as i range was still fantastic. I guess it depends if you have the cash or if its a stress.
@@NemoPropaganda I get where you’re coming from. I just needed another sub for a small home theatre so I moved the t9i to it so I could pick up the x for my music system 😁
@@ABHORRANCE831 It dug a tad bit deeper and had a bit more rumble. The latter probably due to the slower nature of the bigger and slower driver. I am running my 9i in my home theatre right now. It’s a smaller room and provides plenty for me. However, if I didn’t already have it I probably would have went with the REL HT12 for my home theatre. Depends on your application. If you are more music I’d go with the 7x and if your more movie but still want a musical sub the 9i is hard to argue with. Just don’t expect that HT slam you get with other HT subs.
Thoroughly enjoyed your T7X review. And I continued with the T9X. Thanks for the comparison to SVS n KEF. Especially the difference between SQ and SPL buyers and subs. Great review. 🌈👍
Just watched this again. I just gotta say. I have no idea why you don’t have 10x the subscribers. Your actual content in just as good as the other hifi reviewers. Just cause you don’t have fancy B roll doesn’t mean the actual meat and potatoes isn’t on par or better than the others.
Because Zero Fidelity already exists and I'm just a a better looking version of him with less data points :D ahahaha, jk jk, he's a friend of mine but all jokes aside though. Who knows, I'm happy with the channels size and growth though :).
@@NemoPropaganda Sean seems to be a very down to earth dude. Love his content too, well just keep doing what you doing and I’m sure it will keep growing😉
After watching this excellent video on the T9x and trusting in your subwoofer expertise, I decide to buy one. WOW! It adds an extra dimensionality to my system. Incredible! Thanks Nemo! 👍
Thank you! Your channel is very refreshing an ON NONSENSE. I love the way you explain everything that many of us don't understand or don't know when it comes to purchasing audio equipment. I think I'm going with TWO REL T9X Subwoofers with my KLIPSCH Heresy IV speakers in my 25 x 25 x 12 room. Can't wait to hear them! Thanks NEMO!
I bought a T9x this week and connected it to my LS50W's .1/LFE using the arrow wireless system for a 2.1 mixed HT/Music living room setup. The T7x would have had plenty of extension for my medium-sized room but the T9x was available and will grow with me over time (renter here). It delivers for both with powerful, taught, articulate bass. It does so with ease and singleness of purpose that make it stand out to me.
@@NemoPropaganda They’re awesome; never would’ve discovered REL or that I’m an SQ customer without your channel so thank you. My local shop is also marketing JL Audio as an SQ brand which surprised me given your impression they’re the King of SPL but personally haven’t heard them. They have an upgrade program so I may audition in a few years.
@@parkermackenzie9848 compared to other subs I can see people thinking of JL as an SQ sub as it does have very good sound quality. I would say they are the highest sound quality SPL subs I've ever heard.
Nemo, based on your review and taking the time to reply to my questions...I went for it! I have two T9X's arriving any day now....very psyched. I'm gonna connect the 2nd one with their Arrow wireless thingy.....appreciate you. Thanks
wooo, congrats!!!!!! I hope you enjoy then :) don't forget break-in is real, about 10 hours should be mostly done though so don't worry too much about getting them dialed in perfectly right away.
Hi Nemo. Thanks for the thoughtful review. I notice in one shot on this video you have a pair of Focals on stands with the T9x's. That's pretty much exactly what I'll have in a month or so! I ordered a pair of the new Focal Aria Evo X no 1's, (they're back-ordered as I really want the green finish...) Along with them will be a pair of REL T9x's, in white :) Considering the living room colors I think it will all look beautiful besides sounding great, with Primaluna CDP and Primaluna Integrated. Currently I'm listening to a pair of oooold original Meadowlark Kestrels, (small 2-way floor-standers), with a T7x in the corner of a very large living room (25 x 35 x 10). The REL makes a huge difference. Very good sounding combo. Can't believe I waited this long for a REL. Based on budget and room considerations I think the Focals and T9x's should be a nice combination. Again, thanks for your reviews. Much appreciated.
that should be a great setup, Focal & REL go together extremely well!! Except the Kanta No1, that speaker is just a bastard and very difficult to setup with a subwoofer for some reason.
I listen to all sorts of music: classical, new age, hip hop, pop, EDM and more. I ended up getting a pair of Rythmik E15SE subs in piano black. Overkill for my room? Absolutely but I am sooo satisfied with my purchase. The setup took less than 5 minutes and I've been in bliss ever since.
Love Rythmik subs! I own the F12SE. Had a pair originally but 1 actually sounded better in my room for music. If it was a mixed theater setup I would have kept the duals though.
@@NemoPropaganda I can see that. But your videos always flow nicely. Your take on people's ability to know what they're looking for (spl vs sq) could definitely be a video in itself. Took me forever to decide because I wanted both (home theater + stereo setup). We could all use extra tips!
@@raphaelmeillat8527 ah yes indeed, that's an important one, I did make a video about it, it's the REL vs. SVS. video, that was the whole point of that video. But everyday I learn more effieicent ways to explain these things so what was an entire video of it's own can now be a 2 minute clip in another video.
Shame that I don’t even know your actual name, anyways I love your patience to reply all my novices questions 😊 really helpful!! Hope you continue with that as I can see you going to be very popular soon!!! Best, love watching your videos!!
I'll respond to comments for as long as I can, if I had 100k subs and 2000 comments on each vid I probably would slow down though. Most larger channels either pay someone to answer comments or simply don't engage because it starts to take up a ton of time.
My beloved Velodyne HGS 12 sub finally died for the last time, which was top of the line for it's day (SQ + SPL but big $), and I'm ordering a T9X now. I'm a two channel SQ listener all the way. Don't give a darn about thump thump SPL theater subs. Back in the day, Velodyne was one of only a few brands that was SQ and SPL "musical" sub. Thanx for the review.
you're in for a pretty serious treat, Velodyne was nowhere near as good as we all give them credit for, 20 years ago maybe, not today though. Everyone that upgrades from a Velodyn to a REL or Rythmik is usually blown away by the difference. Velodyne was great at making big bass in a compact enclosure that didn't dominate the presentation but the note to note distinction was god awful, no doubt caused by the dsp's available back then.
I found the T9/x lacking in most uses and returned it. In my room and my system, it didn't do it for me. On some tracks it sounded good, some others where I knew there was some base notes, it just didn't deliver. It is a small box and only does 27HZ, and fit/finish/looks are great, but there's far better subs for that $ in my view. It may still be a good choice for those with limited space, small rooms, etc, was not the right fit for me.
awesome review! watched a lot of your reviews! we went to the shop this weekend and listned to both the T9x and HT1205MK2, i thought to go home with the T9x because of the reviews and looks but diddnt.. I missed the low notes in music with the T9x! it sounded kind of flat in our opinion, just trying to get the low notes but just diddnt .. and the HT picked them up just fine! maybe its slower and less detailed than the 9x but also this wasn't what i experienced. i liked the looks of the T9x better though... anyway im happy that i went to the store to compare the 2 and maybe i get an T9x one time to join the HT one day =) keep up the good work!
Nice! The HT range is awesome, I think a lot of people would be happier with an HT. T/X & HT are both really great subs, just different. A lot of people enjoy the lighter tone of the T/X while others enjoy the stronger low end of the HT :)
@NemoPropaganda awesome that you took the time to give an response! Yes the HT gave me a better feeling .. listened with my daughter to Billy Eilish and diddnt hear the half song on the T9x same as with songs from the prodigy or Tool ao Korn songs... but the HT was nice full but not boomy at all... Happy with it.... Now get the right adjustments... think I set the crossovers of the speakers and sub to 80 first and run my audyssey again... Maybe it gets even better!
I'm considering 2 x T/9x to complement my ported floorstanders in a 2-channel music system in a 19x22x8 room that is open to a hallway and open staircase to upstairs level. I can't find anywhere whether the LPF in the T/9x is 24dB per octave (to best match the roll off of my ported mains which are approx -6dB at 50Hz in room) or only 12dB per octave. Any ideas?
Hi Darren, the T9X blended so well with all my speakers I never felt the need to ask REL about the slope. I have found variable slope to be a helpful setup tool with other subwoofers that offer it but with the T9X it just blended with everything. Hope this helps.
Great video....most under rated hifi channel in UTOOB....its should 60K not 5.69K! Keep rocking and hope to see you growing. Please try to review more expensive speakers (1000-3000$)
Thank you bro, maybe will do in the future :). For now the channel is a bit small to get such expensive review samples. But I’m sure I will in the future.
Thank you for this review, it has really been very helpful. I am currently looking at different sub-options for two-channel music listening only and have been a little confused over my options, especially when most subwoofer reviewers focus on how much bass subs have, which is not at all what I am interested in. Your explanation of the differences between SQ and SPL subs was very helpful. My question is if you have tested the next level of REL subs in the S series and how they compare overall to the T/ T9. Also what other subs do you recommend purely on an SQ level for matching with some premium speakers and amplification?
Hi Tony, it really depends on a lot of factors including personal taste. If you're looking for subs with the best integration & SQ Rythmik & REL are the ones. Some people like their sub to be a little more in your face with its presence and that's were JL Audio is a great option, some people want a good all around sub with a ton of features and SVS is fantastic at that while others might want killer extension in a small form factor and KEF is dominant at that. I have not heard the S sub from REL but a user in my free discord has owned both if you want to hop in there and ask :)
Nice! I'm sure REL or your dealer would be happy to help but I always suggest you just experiment for yourself. The T9X is fairly simple to setup with very few options unless you're doing dual theater/music and using both LFE & highlevel.
@@NemoPropaganda Your video helped immensely. And everything you said about the T9X is spot on. When I heard it in the store I was blown away. Then hearing it in my listening environment I'm convinced this is one of the very best Subs on the market. The things I like best are the total adjustability/control and the imaging. By that I mean you literally can't tell where the low frequency response is actually coming from. I bought this on the recommendation from my Audio Advisor and so glad I bought the REL T9X
@@jeffreyscott4564 Very nice, I'm happy to hear you're loving it. Feel free to hop in our free discord if you want to share any pics of the setup: discord.gg/nemopropaganda
Hey Nemo, i got my gain setting on 4-5 on my 7ti in my 13x16 ft room, higher than that it gets boomy, what am I doing wrong? Set up everything as per the instructions, in the corner diagonally behind the right speakers at the pressurization point.
Every room is different. You might have a room with strong bass (like me). Try putting it next to one of the speakers instead, set phase to 180, and blend frequency as needed.
Great video! I love my Rythimik but your videos make me want to try a bunch of different subs to see what I’m.missing. I’m def an SQ person. I love that my Rythmik sounds like an extension of my Maggies and is impossible to locate. Does a great job for movies too.
I like the way you describe the difference between SQ and SPL subs. You do it so well I prefer your channel over others. I'm for sure SQ guy. I've ordered a B&M 805 D4 powered by MICHI 5 and am looking for a matching sub. REL recommends S/510, but after watching your videos I leaning towards one or two T/5x. I live in a condo, and my listening position would be about 10' from the speakers (from the couch to TV). The living room, combined with the dining room, is about 12.5x27' with vaulted ceilings. I'm not a fan of punchy bass, my main purpose is for classical music. What is your opinion, should I step up for bigger T/7x or T/9x?
woo, lucky for you brother I have the s510 and red t9x in for review right now so my memory is fresh!! Right now i'm using the Platimon with those subs which is in a similar tier as your 805 D4 albeit a little more affordable. So the reality is this, you have a shared wall, bass can be an issue with any sub if you crank the volume too much. With that said I do not suggest restricting yourself to something small out of worry for the neighbor, instead you must be smart with your listening habits, keep the volume down past 9pm or even 8pm if you can for example. Larger subs do more than simply play louder, they have a larger sense of scale & sound more effortless which will be important with your highend speakers. I love t5x but bare minimum I would suggest is to start with 1 t9x and add a second one later if you want to. As amazing as t9x is the s510 really is a step up in many ways so I do agree with REL's suggestion. However the t9x will for sure get the job done nicely, there is a gentleman in my discord that has a similar system to you and his room is even larger, we were both worried the single t9x would not be enough but his home decor demanded only a single sub and he was very happy with the results. Hope that helps.
Got my T/5x today, love it, it's great for music and I have it set up that my LFE also gives out the bass of all channels, Marantz sr5015. The position I chose to put it in the middle of the speaker driver just to the side.
@@MT-eb2dx good, I'm happy you're enjoying this. Don't become one of those audiophiles that gets so serious over everything lol, it's hobby and should always be fun :D
Hi there, Need an expert advise. living room is 17x22 but my listening position is half of it and felt my subwoofer rel ht1205 is not performing that well specially on low volume music. But does pretty well on movies. My setup is marantz sr6014, def tech bp9060 , center as CS9040 and Rel Ht/1205. Rel does not wake up at lower volumes (example: at mid 30's or 40's) but performs well at higher volumes 60's and 70's. Looking for a sub which is punchier on lower volumes specially while listening to TH-cam music. I am ok to go for a dual sub setup. So, replacing rel with an svs pb series sub solve my problem? Thinking of pb4000 or sb16 ultra. Your advise is greatly appreciated. Thank you!
That's a really tough question to answer, I've not heard the Pb4000 and I've only heard the SB16 at reference volumes. My specialty is really 2ch music. On a room that size for dual duty I would do something like a pair of Rythmik FVX12.
Hi Nemo, Just wanted to ask you, the REL HT1205 sub what i have... I get a mild electric shock when powered on... I mean its only on the metal on the back side... is it something normal? I have spoken to the dealer and he says it's normal.... What do u think?
Like when you flip the switch it shocks you? No that is not normal my bro, email REL, if you're in your warranty period I'm sure they will get you taken care of. I was just using my 1205 yesterday for an a/b comparison so I did lots of switching on and off, I didn't experience anything like that. The only thing I can imagine that would be normal is if you're in a climate where there is a lot of static and static shock may be normal for that region then perhaps.
Does it feel good? I like a little zap every now and then lol. In all seriousness, have you plugged a tester into the outlet it's plugged into? You can get a cheap tester for around $10 at home store. Maybe a ground fault with the wiring?
@@erics.4113 - Yes i have a tester and it glows when i touch the metal switch. So its nothing to do with my house...i have carried around in 3 different houses and confirmed that its something not normal in my Subwoofer. 😭
Bought this sub to go with an Ambeo soundbar on the recommendation of where I bought the LG OLED 77 and Ambeo soundbar. I said it would be for mostly movie and reg tv . Only music would be from streaming or what the music channels are on local Xfinity cable. Had them out a few times and tried different settings etc .Not sure what was wrong , but just not satisfied with the sub sound performance ! I returned it, so now on the fence of going with the Rel HT-1205 or the SVS SB-2000 ?
what aspects specifically dissapointed you? your room may have some bass issues that may require dual subs. The T9X while not the most dominant subwoofer is still of a respectable size being a 10" with 300w. If that was a let down you might need to jump up to something much stronger like a JL D110, KEF KF92 or Rythmik FVX12 or something like a pair of HT1205 or SB1000/2000 Pro.
Doubt you will read comment under old video but will give a shot. I have kf92 which is great for movies and music alike. Recently I was thinking to add either another kf92, for better dispersion as I use fraction of Kf92 power, or try to add REL specially for music listening via my Arcam AVR. Now big question is what would be better for music in medium size room with ls50 metas - two kf92s (bonus in movies), two t7x high pass and lfe connected, or 1x t9x. With high pass because I use mono blocks single Rel afaik is a no go so last option would be connected via lfe. All would be room corrected with Dirac with base management. For stereo music listening lfe would be disabled in second option (t7x). Btw for those speakers and room size Rel recommends t7x
both subs are great, just different. REL recommends running speakers full range and not using high pass. Anyway the T7X cannot come close to the extension of the KF92 but will offer up more bass fidelity and nuance detail. However if you use both KF92 and T7X at the same time then that nuance detail will be lost. Since REL is very popular my advice is to demo them locally first as they are very different from what you currently have. You may love it, but you also may hate it.
output? No! A 3" difference when discussing the diameter of a circle will account for a rather large amount of surface area and in this case that means the 13" driver of the SB3000 has about 69% more cone area than the T9X. That's a substantial difference in size, the SB3000 will have a lot more output than the 10" REL T9X. Very rarely does a 10" have similar output to a 13" though they do exist if you're willing to pay for it like the JL Audio E110.
Have you tried both high and low level connections? Is there a noticeable difference at all? Some say high level sounds much better as it apparently uses different filters. I recently invested in the S400MKIIs and have a T9/x from my prior setup. I’m still researching different amplifiers at the moment so I haven’t tested the high level yet as the cable is still in the factory packaging. I’ve only used low level on the T9/x in my previous LS50W2 setup so I was curious as to your thoughts on this matter. Thanks for your detailed reviews! :)
High & low level use the same filter. There is a slight difference, maybe 10%. The biggest benefit of high level is it bypasses the sub output and most AVR have crappy filters on their sub output. If you have really good pre-outs the difference will be even smaller. On my preamp I don't think you can really hear a difference but if I use a cheaper $500 amp then high level is obviously better because the REL filter is better than the $500 amp sub output.
I use the high level and it sounds great, but the subwoofer thumps when you turn your integrated on. I asked Rel about it and they told me to turn on the integrated on before the subwoofer if it really bothered me.
@@NemoPropaganda I have left amps on before but I’m a little hesitant to leave my integrated on. It has two VU analog meters that are lighted so it would put wear on the lights. I think I might be able to turn those off so I guess it’s an option. My Technics doesn’t accept banana plugs so I have to run the speaker wire from the subwoofer and speakers together, I’m not sure this is a problem. I put a small splice in the subwoofer wire just like Rel required and it worked fine accept the thump. It’s an option for sure. I could shut off the sub each time and power up the integrated first. The thump doesn’t bother me, I’m just concerned that the thump is not good for my equipment. Thank you for your suggestion .
@@williemclean3224 I'm with you on that, I keep the lights on my preamp off because I too am worried about wearing them out. I don't think the thump is damaging anythign at all, the HT guys deal with it all the time. Some thing it has to do with the AC in the house, others thing its the amps, nobody really knows. Then there are some subs that thump just when you turn them on. Soft start solves the problem entirely but not all amps have it which is weird because even the cheap emotiva TA1 has soft start where its essentially on mute when it starts and then the volume ramps up after a few seconds.
Could you maybe cover even higher class of subwoofers like the s series, g25hp, or JL audio stuff? Of course, the one I should really be asking is your back.
To comment on this whole thread, all 3 of those brands (JL, REL, Rythmik) performance-wise are all high end just different. JL cannot offer a review sample and I have reviewed many Rythmik subwoofers already. Personally I'm not sure I want to review any 100+ lb subwoofers. It's just not fun for me.
@@NemoPropaganda there are smaller stuff in that price range like goldenear subs. I think its worth while to ask if its better to get 2 of your highly rated subs around $1000 like the t9x or go for one more capable sub. How capable depends on if you think the deminiationing returns still warrant double the price again.
@@En_Joshi-Godrez I don't really believe in diminishing return. At some point you're paying for exclusivity but that's another story altogether. The choice of 1 expensive sub vs 2 more affordable subs should be more based on the room, what your goals are, and what you can accommodate. If your room will look too congested with a pair subs then perhaps it's better to get a single bigger or more capable sub. But if you can accommodate dual subs but perhaps the price is too high, maybe start with one and buy the second one a year later.
Would these pair well or blend with a couple large Bookshelf shelf speakers with 6.5 inch midbass woofers that go down to 55hz? Or is a pair of T7x a better match regardless of room size?
Yes, thats exactly the kind of speaker I used for this review (Focal Aria 906). I have not heard 7x though. REL themselves or a dealer should know which is best for each room since they have all the models on hand usually :)
Nemo, Can you recommend a pair of XLR to XLR Interconnects? I want to connect my Rotel RSP-1582 Preamp/processor to my Musical Fidelity M6s PRX Power Amplifier. I have used Audioquest Red River Interconnects but I find them ridiculously expensive. 3 feet of just one cable goes for over $200. Any suitable replacements that give me a bigger bang for my buck? I'm looking for 3-4 feet per cable. Thanks So Much! David-
@@NemoPropaganda Hi Nemo, I'm having a lot of trouble with getting realistic height of midrange vocals & instruments out of NY Totem Acoustic Tribe Mini Speakers. I have a few other ideas before I decide to sell them. If I decide to go with a different speaker, it would be the Focal Chora 826 which is being closed out at 40% of the MSRP.. Amazon has the lowest price. 2 questions for U. Do you have any ideas on how elevate the midrange output of my Totem Tribes? Also, have you heard any Focal Chora Speakers in their current lineup? If so, do you think these speakers will pair well with my HTM72 S2 for home theater surround sound? (I use B&W Speakers on the rear-side walls and a pair behind the listening position. My 2 new REL 10" Subwoofers sound amazing! I appreciate any input you can provide. Thanks!
@@davidstein9129 Focal speakers generally are not known for their midrange, I'm not sure this is the direction you want to go in. Try to audition them first if possible. What you're describing could also be a room issue. Try pulling the speakers out from the walls a bit. The Chora is a great speaker, but it's midrange is not pronounced or forward in any way.
@@NemoPropaganda Thanks Nemo, I took your advice and brought my speakers more into my listening room by 2&1/2 feet..It made a huge difference in rausin
Have you listened to any BK subwoofers? In the uk they are pretty cheap and offer a similar sound to REL, i think they were the same company years ago or used to share components?
it depends on the room but dual subs generally will help provide more even bass distribution from seat to seat, allow for greater headroom, and further reinforce the lower frequencies. Many people still find 1 sub more than plenty, myself included.
Hey Nemo , not sure who to ask about my t9x issue. It's already been returned, but I really like the way it sounds. My sub has to set very close to my wooden HiFi cabinet, at the left side but forward. The sub started moving in and out very fast, I turned the volume on the amplifier down. The fluttering stopped. Every time I would try to turn it up past 3 maybe it would start moving out of control while playing records. It did not do that when I ran it through my DVD player and watch d a concert. It sounded great. Went back to the record and it started fluttering again. I had the Emotiva se12 , passive radiator , same location, same turntable, same everything. It never did that. So I don't know why is. Sets on a hardwood floor over a basement. But I don't have much turntable jumping, so the floor is pretty taunt for a wooden floor. Just wondering if there could be anything wrong with that r e l causing it to do that. Any idea? Appreciate you and all the work that goes into infofun videos.
Hello friend ! I wanted to ask you what you said about high level connection comes from you trying each of your subs or just based on what Rel said. I have less experience with different sub but the few i've tried sounded way better with high level : Focal, yamaha, Rel,... The only times it competes with high level is when you have separates. Preamplifier and power amps. On an integrated with line out it always sound better to go high level. The timing was better for me.
It's based on my own experience and understanding of the circuit. All high level inputs do is convert the signal to low level and send it through the exact same circuitry as the RCA inputs. Most subwoofers high-level connection is a $6 part and is designed for legacy connections. If it sounds better like that for you even on non-REL subwoofers it may be possible that your preamps RCA or sub output is either not that good or adding some coloration. This is common with cheap AVR's where the sub output is not a direct signal and instead ads some effects of it's own that usually mess with the sound. In a situation like that high level will be a more pure signal. Since my channel is only for 2ch stereo 99% of what I talk about is with respect to 2ch stereo that doesn't use any sound processing. I hope this helps answers your questions but at the end of the day we all do what sounds best so it's okay if we disagree as long as we're both enjoying great sound :).
@@NemoPropaganda thanks for the answer. Make sense. I had the same impression. Sadly it's more than cheap avr. A lot of Sub 2k integrated have in general bad RCA output. That's why using a proper preamp is the winning combo. The fault isn't in the sub but upstream. With more context i can see that we have the same experience. Sorry I don't know what legacy connection is ? But i know the conversion mechanism in subs and you're right.
I picked up some Focal On Wall 302 in my living room for a 5.1.4 and of course stereo for music. The fairly clean looks come at the cost of low-end extension, so they kinda need a 70-80 Hz crossover (rated for 50). What sub would you pair with that for about 17 square meters / 180 square ft? Right now I have T9X and 1205 on my list. Focal's own Sub 1000 F would fit within the budget as well. I am leaning a bit more towards 12 inches since it is home theater first. I think 15 inches might be a tad too much for the size of the room and crossover frequency. I definitely want to enjoy low volumes too without the neighbors complaining all the time.
HT1205 MK2 is a fantastic option if you want to make sure you have enough output & extension. The T9X is no slouch but you will get more room rumble out of the 1205 MK2.
I apologize if you have already done so and I have missed it. But it’d be cool to see a review of the HSU-ULS-15 MK2 if you could get your hands on it.
Hey Matt, despite being only 20 minutes down the road Hsu Research will not respond to any of my emails so at this point I have zero interest in reviewing their products.
Looking for opinions here...looking to upgrade my REL Q150e by adding a T9X...shall I pair those two in my system or just go with the single T9X? or maybe a pair of T7X's?.. LMK your thoughts..
depends on your room size and speakers. I'd probably only use the new sub. The Q150E is fairly old at this point and REL has made a lot of improvements so I say sell it so someone else can get some joy from it :)
@@NemoPropaganda Greatly appreciate your reply...my room is 20x18'...please answer one more...should I go with one T9x or two T7x's...your opinion is very helpful..thanks
@@martinolson761 hmmm, that's a bigger room, 1 or 2 T9X should be great, of course your listening habits will be the final determining factor. You currently own a 12" so going down to a 8" t7x might be too small for you. You may find more enjoyment going to a single 1205 MK2 or T9X but you may wish for a second T9X depending on your listening habits.
@@NemoPropaganda Actually the Q150e is a single 10" driver...I assume the T7X is a far better sub....so I'm leaning towards two of these for my system...unless I can convince the boss to go T9x...thanks.
Ok, I have a set up question. Maybe I should call/email REL. I'm looking at a pair of T7X's but I need to run them XLR and not HL, I need to crossover my Magnepan 3.7i's and the only way is with using something like my Emotiva XSP-1's bass management. Am I missing anything or is this correct. I'm between a pair or the REL's or SVS SB3000
Rel recommended that I buy an s510 to best match my Totem Tribe tower speakers but I just couldn't spend the 3k plus for the s510 so opted for a t9x. I hope I don't regret not getting the one Rel recommended. I'm thinking the t9x will do the job and do it well. Thanks for the review.
Hi Ron, I know many people who were receommended S510 but couldn't handle the price tag so they went for the T9X, many of them could afford it but theres something about a sub over $2k that gives a lot of us cold feet. Anyhow, I digress, all of them were pretty darn happy with the results. Now if you're expecting to pressurize a medium or larger room with theater levels of bass a single T9X won't do that but, if you're looking to enhance your music or add some fullness to your movies while retaining the highest level of bass fidelity then I'd say you got the perfect sub.
Matched with 5-6in driver bookshelf speakers, is the T7x ever better with speed than the 9x? Room size 12x22x8.5. Ik you said the 9x is better at everything, but do you think the larger driver on the 9x can sound not quite matched as well with smaller speakers? Thanks!
I think you can go either way. I would not worry about the 9x blending with smaller speakers. While the 7x should blend better with something that has a 4" driver both subs blend extremely well so I'd say just buy the one you want :)
Yes absolutely, I owned an asw608 for 2 years, it's a great little sub but it has its limits, having a pair helps but even the 610 is very limited, they extend low but run into distortion quickly. The T9X pair will sound tonally richer, give you more bass fidelity, and play fuller, cleaner, and louder.
Thank you! I listened REL T9X at Best buy Magniloa. Also I listened KEF kube 12 in the same room. IMO, KEF is bit more cleaner, more natural, and also bit more louder at around 30hz than REL. But the Price of KEF is only half of REL( in KEF Store), I bought 2 KEF 12. It really improved the sound quality from B&W 608, It blend well with main speakers and more independent, more punch and made whole range of music more clear. Thanks Again.
I swear you can read my mind because you describe my Rel subwoofers perfectly! "If one wants a high performance subwoofer sound then one should go to someone who only deals with a high performance sound!" BTW Rel subwoofers are not English... they are Welsh 🧐Hence the red dragon
You do a great job , lots of information + how you see it . Still listening to my Emotiva RS 11 with the Wharfedale "Linton's " thru a Primaluna Prologue integrated , 200 sf living room, vaulted ceiling. Had two T5i's ,nice but ended up with the RS 11.$1299. like that 500 watts , even though I'm sure I have never kicked it in ,laff . Thinking about this t9x now. Maybe I'm missing more than I know😲 !
Thanks for replying. I just took the t9x plunge. Found an open box deal. Really anxious to get it and plug it in. B.t.w. , you do a very good job with your reviews. Very comfortable and informative & never boring. Having all those nice subs there ,,,I'm jealous !!
Thank you for the explanation between the 2 types. I thought that there was a difference. Seems that I need both and just connect one or the other depending on exactly what I am doing.
@@deankim6687 yeah with a rotator cuff injury :( I bench literally 95lbs bro, I can bench way more of course but my shoulder won't let me so I'm just out here repping light weight a million times 🤦♂️
@@deankim6687 that's exactly what happened to me, I wasn't even lifting that much and my form was good. I just have less clearance in the joint on the right side, it's just how I'm built. Kinda frustrating but could be worse so it's all good.
Thoughts on a t9x vs f12 vs sb3000 for 80% music 20% movies/tv? Room is 13x18. Think I prefer a more subtle sound so prob not svs like you said in the video
As far as REL or SVS I made a video to answer that question you can find it here: th-cam.com/video/rEz03XkcslI/w-d-xo.html. As far as T9X vs F12 I discussed that in this video that you are commenting on when I get the comparisons portion. Both have excellent SQ, the larger Rythmik will play louder and extend lower, the smaller REL will look better in the room, have a higher WAF, and still play plenty loud & low, just not as loud & low as the larger 12".
Lovely no bs review 👍 I want a sub in my life but my small room has a horrible resonance at 40hz, it was very pronounced with my kef r3 meta, it must be something to do with the kef backfiring port as it became almost unnoticeable now while playing the f500sp! My fear is that a sub will bring it back, how do you deal with sub resonance issues without filling up the room with basstraps? maybe setting the sub at lower volume than the speakers or via equalization?
The R3 Meta's port is tuned at 40hz, the F500SP seems to be tuned higher, maybe around 50hz so your room is extending the F500SP's natural roll off while it was doubling down on the R3 Metas bass output. Square rooms and small rooms usually have this issue. You'll want to stay away from any vented subs with a port tuning frequency of 40hz, so no consumer grade best buy crap. You'll want to get a sub that was made for smaller rooms like the REL T5X, you certainly can go bigger as long as you can turn the frequency down enough but most subs don't let you turn the bass below 50hz. REL & Rythmik generally let you go down to 30hz though.
conversly you can get something with room correction like the Buchardt sub-10, that's another way if you want more extension without going too large and having too many room issues.
@@NemoPropaganda that's so interesting, yes my room is nearly square! f500sp sound sweet (I'm so glad I came across your review!) and I can keep them much closer to the wall then the r3s. I'll follow your advice for sure, not vented port tuning frequency of 40. I thought about the SUB10 but its a bit overcomplicated to my taste, I'm really tempted to get a T5X or T7X. Thanks again Nemo, you're video are so informative!
@@NemoPropaganda I think you're right, will need to get a sub10 if I want to get most out of a sub, it doesn't make sense getting a rel to set it at 30hz. thanks again!
@@memania- just to be clear there is nothing wrong with setting a rel to 30hz if thats what sounds best in your room, most of the time I had the S510 it was set to 30hz.
Hey Jas, at low volume like 70-75db in a small room the KC62 extends like a ported 12. Once you turn up the volume you start to lose that due to the active dsp where most other subs will stay consistent.
I’m guessing the high level inputs in the Sonus Faber subwoofers are similar to the REL. I read somewhere that REL and Sonus Faber had the same parent company (probably the McIntosh Group) and back in the day Sonus Faber speakers were often packaged with REL subwoofers (like they are often packaged with McIntosh electronics today. So REL was sold off and Sonus Faber started making their own subwoofers that are a lot like the RELs. More expensive but beautifully crafted, if you don’t like the REL look or just want to match the fine furnishings look of Sonus Faber speakers. I’d be happy to hear from someone that know more about this than I do. Not an expert. But I’m considering going with the Sonus Faber Olympicas and so trying to figure out if it’s worth it to me to pay more for subs to match the look.
this is a very common misunderstanding but the high level input is not what makes REL special or great. It's the entire package. I believe they had the same US distributor at one point but that's it. I do not know about REL making subwoofers for anyone else but the Gravis I & II subs do seem to be eerily similar in design to some generation of T5 and T9.
@@NemoPropaganda Yeah, I was just saying it’s probably the same technology, given what I read. I guess the parent company that owned both companies has access to the same designs, and why start from scratch if you own all the R&D. Again, just going by one article the video said he wasn’t sure if anyone made a high level input like REL does and I think it’s probably the same in the Sonus Faber. I agree there is a lot more to it but it would be interesting to see a side by side comparison or review. I guess if they are of equal sound quality then it might be worth it to some to spend more for the different look of the Sonus Faber. The Sonus Faber also have an app for setup and adjustment, which I didn’t see anything about on the REL site.
@@williamhicks2763 if I had to guess I'd imagine they sound pretty different since REL has been on their own for awhile now and series T has had a few revisions to the drivers to the point they are completely different now. I know the plate amps have also had a few revisions from T to TS to TX but who knows. For the price I hope the sonus subs are amazing.
I'm not sure, since I use mono blocks I need 2 subs if using the high-level input. I think the 9x pair is as big as I can run in this room so If I do anything bigger like S812 and up I'd need to use 1 via the more traditional line level input. My preamps line level is extremely good and very close to the SQ of the high level but since I don't have the ability to demo a single S812 or Carbon Special with high level I'm not sure how REL would feel about that. I will ask them their thoughts next time we chat :). For what it's worth personally I would love to check out the carbon special but there is such a thing as too big for the room. At least for music systems.
Would love to see you reviewing a Rel S series! I use mono block too. Quite an headache for me as I don’t have much space & my speaker goes down to 30hz - less than 10db. So I doubt if a T series would fit me. Maybe I need to get the Rythmik
@@ericyum6729 I might get an S510 for review but I'm not sure. If you only fit 1 sub the Rythmik F12SE is an excellent choice and extremely hard to beat. When it comes to the best SQ subs Rythmik & REL are at the top of my list. REL is more dynamic while Rythmik has more extension. Either way you can't go wrong.
I think it would depend more on the room, associated equipment, and what it needs to sound it's best. REL should be able to answer this question directly for any potential customers.
Hey Nemo, Just was curious as to what company you purchased your acoustical panels from? Have a similar size room with NAD and Maggie's. Sounds amazing. Need to go to the next step with my room. Next step after room treatment is sub. Thinking either T5x Rel or Kef 62. Thanks for doing the vids...they're GREAT!
the ones you see in the video are just polyester panels I ordered from Amazon (search DEKIRU 20 Pack Acoustic Panels Sound Dampening Panels), the real acoustic panels you can't see are at the first reflection points and made by GIK (gobo panel).
Hi Nemo…LOVE your reviews! I am running Dynaudio Contour 20s in a 12'x14’ room with 8’ ceilings. Stereo music. I do not listen real loud. Do you think a pair of Rel T/5x Subs will do it for me???
With a setup like that I think you'd be happy with any of the T/X range, it just comes down to room aesthetics, how much bass you want, and what you want to spend. Our rooms are similar in size, I found the T5X to offer plenty but the 9x pair is also worth every penny with it's larger sense of scale, more fidelity, an even stronger bottom end, etc... Personally I'm still torn between which one to pick for my own system :D It's like Porsche Cayman or Porsche Cayman GTS, you're still getting a Porsche :).
@@NemoPropaganda COOL! I do live in an apt., and there's lots of concrete, so I am thinking that the T/5x subs will have me grinning and keep my neighbor from frowning. 👍🏻 Thanks for all your thorough reviews that have brought me to this conclusion.
@@NemoPropaganda well…there are a LOT of great products out there and it is a little overwhelming. First thing is to assess my situation, my system, my wants/priorities. Then…TAKE MY TIME…Don't rush in. My conclusion is that I REALLY want two KEF K62s…but $3K is more than twice the price of two T/5x subs. …These will be just fine. 🙂 Good reviewers like you really are vital in sorting thru the maze!!!!
I wonder what your perspective is on this: People suggest turning down the sub until it integrates with the speakers and disappears into the presentation. But if the sub is properly integrated and used at reasonable volumes, does a bigger sub (15" vs 12") really provide any more impact or presence?
as with all things it depends on the room and many other factors. In a larger room a larger sub may sound more effortless and natural than a smaller one. it's important to view integration as a spectrum. What's most important is you have the sub type you want (SQ or SPL), next is that it's cable of it's intended function, and finally it should be properly sized to the needs of the room. I guess that's how I view it at least.
@@samray3461 so it depends on the weight of the vehicle and what you’re trying to accomplish. Shoving an LS1 into a miata is fun but some people would say thats not a daily driver but to some it is. Drivability is on a spectrum. How’s that?
I love the rel logo on my Sub, people who complain usually don’t have the money tu buy one ,but they would love one Fantastic . Like a friend of mine used to make fun of apple ,but I knew deep down he wants one but could not afford it. One day he gets a new job and the first he buys is an I phone😂😂😂
You're videos are amazing, they are my reference point for buying my first subwoofer, the only problem is I can't make my mind up !!! Then spend further hours going thru them again. I have a 15ft x 13ft room and have ordered a powernode with a pair of ls50 meta's. I only use the set up for music, is the KC62 the best match or are there cheaper alternatives ???????
hey bro ! i have question for you man ! i just sold my SVS SB-2000 pro because i want a more sound quality sub for music ! and people directed me to REL.. and i want to ask your opinion if i should get 2x T/5X or 1X T/9X . which option will give me better sound quality and better punchy clean bass? thank you !
Hey Brother im definitely stuck between both camps plus you know I suffer from A.P. In your opinion do you think I could maybe achieve The Best of Both Worlds with Rel S Series? Enjoy your weekend out on the boat. I can't wait to come back to Arizona in about a month
@@gleamtarrest6310 You must wait for the review as I'm still learning about it :D but so far I like it a lot, the sound is more rich and emotionally engaging and I like that a lot!
Good vid. You come across as genuine....👍👍 I had a listen to the t9x the other day, good sub. Im thinking of getti g the 7x . I love in an aprtment with neighbours below. I noticed quite a lot of bass comi g from under the unit, from the passive radiator. Will a down firing radiator mean the neighboirs below will hear more from.me, or not? Should i put the sub on a stone platform if i get it? I have wooden floorvoards atm. Thank you!
Possibly, but bass loads the room regardless of driver arrangement. When I was in an apartment I did have a 1.25” granite slab underneath my subwoofer with a sheet of 1/8” rubber on the wood floor underneath the granite. It helped a lot but at the end of the day it mostly depends on how well the apartment is built :). I’ve found keeping the volume down after 8:30pm generally helped me avoid complaints.
While searching for info about REL(need a sub(s) with high level connection), I found your channel. Very informative and I like your honesty and your style! My room is 6x3.60x2.40 metres, do you think 2xRel T5x would be sufficient for music only. I live in an apartment, so no really loud listening. Would 1 or 2x Rel T9x have enough output for movies? I owned the Rythmik F12, could you compare 1xT9x to 1xRythmik F12 output wise? I'm doubting to go full Rels or only Rel for music and Rel+ JL Audio D110 for movies. I will make an appointment to go listen to some Rels, but not listening in your own room is always tricky. I saw you mentioning in 2 videos that you find JL Audio an SPL brand. That surprises me, have you heard JL's? I'm curious why you do not find JL Audio to be on the SQ side? Personally I find JL to be SQ subs with much SPL:-). I owned the JL Audio F112 and Rythmik E15 and F12. Currently I have the JL Audio D110+D108. Integration for music with both brands is great. I also owned the SVS SB2000 and XTZ10.17 Edge and could not integrate them to my liking for music listening. For music I have a slight preference for Rythmik over JL Audio, I prefer the 'snappier' sound the Rythmiks gives. But I'm the only one, every one else(3 people :-)) I know who owned Rythmik and JL Audio prefered JL Audio over Rythmik for music.
Hey Cobra, I havn't heard JL for a long time now, I'll admit I could be wrong, maybe it was the room I heard them in many years ago. It's hard to say what will be "enough" 1 F12 will have more headroom and extension than 1 T9x by a fair amount as it's a larger sub. The two are incredibly close with respect to fidelity. For the T5x pair again it's hard to say if it will be enough. It certainly was enough for me and just for fun I added my F12 as a third sub set to handle 30hz and below and holey hell that was insanely awesome! Still though on their own I felt the 5x pair offered plenty of bass but how much bass is "enough" is so personal. I would email REL and ask them since they have more experience with setting up subs in different size rooms than I do :). I'm trying to get my hands on a JL sub but they're pretty darn pricey and JL said they can't send me a review sample because their inventory is too low due to the chip shortage.
@@NemoPropaganda Thx Nemo for your quick reply. For a small room like yours and stereo orientated, I think the JL Audio Dominion series would be fine. The E- and F series are better but the Dominions are great little subs. The Rythmik F12 was more than enough for me for movies, so maybe 1 REL T9x would be enough. Interesting that you find both soundwise on par with each other, very different approaches. I listened to music with only the JL Audio D110 and listened with only the D108. I liked the integration(could also be placement) with the D108 better and heard enough bass. I think 2x Rel T5x would be fine for music in my room. 2 Rels and 1 Rythmik must be impressive to listen too 😀 I'm gonna listen to some Rels and will based on that, make my decision. For now 2xRel T5x+ 1x JL D110 or 2x Rel T9x are my preferred options.
@@cobraatje123 I think 2 t5x would be enough for 80% of people, but i just get scared to say for sure YES because some people are crazy bass heads lol Like if you want the boosted bass sound T5X is not for you, but if you want the balanced bass sound the a T5X pair will sound amazing! But if you listen to bass heavy music like edm past 85dB like 90+ you may want to move up to 7x or 9x. Either way the options you're considering are both awesome!
@@NemoPropaganda I contacted REL and they advised me for my room and speakers, Raidho mini monitors, the S series. But the S series I find too big(WAF) and too expensive. I had a listening session @ a REL dealer; listened to the REL T5x, T9x and my JL D110. I listened in a room a bit bigger than my room. I could take all the time I needed to listen and compare. Set up was with Elac bookshelfs with ribbons like my Raidho's have. It took me a few minutes to get used to the duller less detailed and imo less sound from the Elacs compared to my Raidho's. First I listened to the T9x for about 30 minutes, then switching to the T5x. Within seconds it was clear to me that in a relatively 'bigger' room and using a high crossover, the T9x was the better sub. The sound collapsed a bit and there was no more the wall of sound with the T5x. JL D110 vs T9x. The REL dealer found REL to be better :-). I preferred the JL D110, a bit more 'punchier' bass that I like a bit more. Both great subs and very good integration. If I did not needed high Level+LFE connections I would have kept my JL's. I decided to buy 2xT9x to be on the save side with movies ;-)
@@cobraatje123 As long as the room isn't too big the 9x is amazing, but it is a small sub, a pair can do amazing things but if the room is really big like 20x24ft or something like that it may reach it's limit with movies since movies can be incredibly demanding with bass. Also how loud you listen is a big factor. Personally I'm not trying to recreate theater levels of volume, I just want it to sound fantastic around 75-80db, that's all my baby ears can handle :D
Great review Brother Nemo! If one cannot use the high level inputs, and that is taken out of the equation, does that close the gap between the REL and the Rhythmik in terms of SQ for music?
Hi AJ, REL and Rythmik don't have any gap in terms of SQ to begin with :) Sure I can say something like the T9X is more dynamic and it's texture is a little more detailed while the F12SE extends lower and is more full with it's texture but at this point we are splitting hairs of the split hairs. high level vs low level on my system was a small difference honestly. When I tried it on the cheaper iotaVX amp then high level seemed to show more of an improvement.
@@NemoPropaganda Thanks man, that is very useful feedback, as always. I have had an order in for the 2-10 Tekton sub,but I placed that back in April and they still haven't gotten the plate amps in yet. So Im thinking about just canceling and ordering a Rhythmik or REL. So the fact that you've heard so many different subs really is valuable info for me. Appreciate you!
@@ajzepp8976 that's funny because I just called tekton asking for a 2-10 sample :). They are indeed out of plate amps. Funny thing is RSL uses the same plate amps so I'm guessing they're just buying all of them.
@@NemoPropaganda It's a really interesting little sub...if you talk to the again, tell them I said to fill your sample order before mine so you can make a video and tell me if its any good! lol
@@ajzepp8976 my set up is the two-hole Enzo XL from Tekton. In my room a single 7ti seems to work just fine. I use cello music to calibrate the settings. Cello and piano duets -- get that right and the job is done. And…..I got the AP real bad. Lusting after new upgrade. Seems like I’ve spent a fortune on slow horses, fast women and audio gear. Probably would’ve just wasted it on clothes for the kids, otherwise.
I'm not sure since I have not heard the 9i but I have heard both 5i and 5x. So for current owners I think the I range is fantastic. If you have some extra cash laying around you may enjoy the upgrade. But if you have to stress a bit to get the cash together perhaps it's best to keep the i series because it's already really good.
I’m gonna say no. The TZero can work for a micro system but is better suited to multi channel HT reinforcement. Like connected to a pair of satellite speakers in the rear to give a bigger sense of realism.
Hi Nemo, I’m looking for a subwoofer, preferably a stereo pair, to use for music and movies. What brands/models would you recommend? Any help would be greatly appreciated.
@@NemoPropaganda Hi Nemo, thank you for the quick reply. Budget for subwoofers (single or pair) is $5,000.00 +/-. Would love to spend less and put more money into other complements but I know the woofers are critical. Ratio is roughly 70% music, 25% movies at least for the next 1-3 years. Thank you for your time.
@@rockp5396 I'm not sure your room size and how much bass you want but a pair of REL T9X would be great, if those are too small for you the Rythmik F12SE is equally as amazing, and if that's still not big enough their larger ported FVX12 is insanely good for music (just as good as the best sealed subwoofers) and still has tremendous output for reference theater experience. They of course have even larger models like F15 and F18 if you want larger but that's where I would look since you're 70% music.
@@NemoPropaganda Awesome, I will check out these options. Do you have experience with JL? If yes, do you feel they are worth the money and a good option for my 70% music mix?
@@NemoPropaganda I would love to hear them. They're supposed to combine the musicality of the T series with the extension of the HT series. My end game setup is to have dual S/812.
By far the best review I have ever viewed on SUBS. Not overly tech talk! The way you pointed out the SQ vs the SPL is what sold me. I'm not the SPL guy. As a matter of fact I've been quite content without the addition of a sub. But I had an experience listening to an SQ sub and I now want one. The fact that REL can disappear is magic and it's that magic I am looking for. Many thanks! Even the CEO of REL was not as convincing. Just plain speak and straight to the highlights and comparisons, how refreshing!!!!!!!!!
Hey Kenton, thank you for the kind words. I always believed everyone loves bass as long as they get the type of bass that is best for their taste :)
Just picked up a pair of T9x too. Nemo your are the gold standard for subwoofer reviews. Thank you
Thank you for the kind words my man and HUGE congratulations on getting an awesome pair of subs!!!!
I've been watching a lot of videos about Subwoofers and especially the Rel Ti-Tx series. Your emphasis of Sound Quality (SQ) versus Sound Pressure Level (SPL) in subwoofers is very useful and gets to the heart of the subwoofer debate. Your comparisons of the different subs in a similar range as the t9x is very useful. "Real music vs. fake music" is a great way to consider a listeners needs. I ordered a pair of T9x this morning. Thanks!
Wooo! Congratulations, that's a fine purchase :D. I might end up buying the review sample myself.
@@NemoPropaganda I have dual HT1003. Will replacing dual HT1003 with T/9X would be significant upgrade to SQ? My room size is 15 by 13.
@@PremKumar-vt1hq Yes, as long as your source material is good. If you're using bluetooth for music for example maybe they will sound similar but with a good source like CD or High-Res streaming the difference should be very noticeable.
@@NemoPropaganda What a great and constructive reply! You give lots of great hints and analogies. Not just a home theater vs music, but type of music, and type of music format. And as you mention, one’s typical listening volume. (Mine is on the medium/loud side)
@@edmundgil6008 thank you sir!
Thanks again for spending the time comparing the variety of SQ first subwoofers you've had the privilege of listening to.
Thank you for watching Rocco :)
This was a great discussion. Very, very helpful. Thanks for sharing, Brother Nemo!
Dude, you make GREAT videos... you paint a beautiful picture of how speakers/subs sound with just words and bring out many good points. I truly love your reviews!
Thank you my man, I appreciate you saying that.
Thx. Just got this. At first, couldn’t tell it wasn’t even on. You’re totally right, it blends beautifully with speakers.
Great to hear!
Many thanks Nemo. I have been watching your videos for a long while and your precise description of subs is so educational I bought a TX9 yesterday. No regrets thanks
awesome, this is my favorite kind of comment to see, I want to help people get off the merygoround of research and get back to enjoying the music :) Keep in mind that thing will need about 5-10 hours of break in so it will get much louder after break in and you'll probably end up turning it down from whereever its set so don't worry too much about perfect integration until you have about 10 hours on it. Congrats on the new sub, excellent choice!!
What a great video. Thank you for making this video and giving such an easy to understand review of the REL. I was thinking about getting the T7/X, but based on your comments and the dimensions of your test room, I think I'll go with the T9/X instead. Keep up the great work!
Loved the review. I am a REL fanboy at this point. I just got a t7X to replace a t9i and I was flipper back and forth yesterday to compare. The 7x seems to hit just as hard as the 9i but does it faster and with more clarity. It really is amazing how much the changes to the T series improved the sound. I thought the i series was great until I heard this. The x series just blends away. I thought it was mostly marketing but your review of the t5x made me want to give it a shot and I am glad I did. So thank you for these.
If you are on the fence or wondering if an upgrade is worth it… it is IMO.
Thank you for sharing Peter. It’s hard for me to suggest the upgrade from i to x as i range was still fantastic. I guess it depends if you have the cash or if its a stress.
@@NemoPropaganda I get where you’re coming from. I just needed another sub for a small home theatre so I moved the t9i to it so I could pick up the x for my music system 😁
@@pmizz7959 Do you find the T9i to dig deep enough for home theater?
@@ABHORRANCE831 It dug a tad bit deeper and had a bit more rumble. The latter probably due to the slower nature of the bigger and slower driver. I am running my 9i in my home theatre right now. It’s a smaller room and provides plenty for me. However, if I didn’t already have it I probably would have went with the REL HT12 for my home theatre. Depends on your application. If you are more music I’d go with the 7x and if your more movie but still want a musical sub the 9i is hard to argue with. Just don’t expect that HT slam you get with other HT subs.
5 Gold Stars!! I LOVE my T9i and now understand better why I do. Keep up the good work!
Happy to help :)
Thoroughly enjoyed your T7X review.
And I continued with the T9X.
Thanks for the comparison to SVS n KEF. Especially the difference between SQ and SPL buyers and subs.
Great review. 🌈👍
Glad it was helpful :)
“It’s a limited production model, let’s not talk about it”
Haha, I love this guy
I learn so much from watching your videos. A job well done!
Just watched this again. I just gotta say. I have no idea why you don’t have 10x the subscribers. Your actual content in just as good as the other hifi reviewers. Just cause you don’t have fancy B roll doesn’t mean the actual meat and potatoes isn’t on par or better than the others.
Because Zero Fidelity already exists and I'm just a a better looking version of him with less data points :D ahahaha, jk jk, he's a friend of mine but all jokes aside though. Who knows, I'm happy with the channels size and growth though :).
@@NemoPropaganda Sean seems to be a very down to earth dude. Love his content too, well just keep doing what you doing and I’m sure it will keep growing😉
Fantastic review! Thank you for taking the time to do the review on this sub!
After watching this excellent video on the T9x and trusting in your subwoofer expertise, I decide to buy one. WOW! It adds an extra dimensionality to my system. Incredible!
Thanks Nemo! 👍
I'm happy to hear you're enjoying it, congrats!
Thank you! Your channel is very refreshing an ON NONSENSE. I love the way you explain everything that many of us don't understand or don't know when it comes to purchasing audio equipment. I think I'm going with TWO REL T9X Subwoofers with my KLIPSCH Heresy IV speakers in my 25 x 25 x 12 room. Can't wait to hear them! Thanks NEMO!
Thank you for the kind words Ron, that sounds like a great room! We have a free discord if you want to post some pics. Link is in the description.
I bought a T9x this week and connected it to my LS50W's .1/LFE using the arrow wireless system for a 2.1 mixed HT/Music living room setup. The T7x would have had plenty of extension for my medium-sized room but the T9x was available and will grow with me over time (renter here). It delivers for both with powerful, taught, articulate bass. It does so with ease and singleness of purpose that make it stand out to me.
Hey Parker I'm so happy to hear it was a win for you, that's awesome!!! I still miss the T9X and wish I still had them here :(.
@@NemoPropaganda They’re awesome; never would’ve discovered REL or that I’m an SQ customer without your channel so thank you. My local shop is also marketing JL Audio as an SQ brand which surprised me given your impression they’re the King of SPL but personally haven’t heard them. They have an upgrade program so I may audition in a few years.
@@parkermackenzie9848 compared to other subs I can see people thinking of JL as an SQ sub as it does have very good sound quality. I would say they are the highest sound quality SPL subs I've ever heard.
Nemo, based on your review and taking the time to reply to my questions...I went for it! I have two T9X's arriving any day now....very psyched. I'm gonna connect the 2nd one with their Arrow wireless thingy.....appreciate you. Thanks
wooo, congrats!!!!!! I hope you enjoy then :) don't forget break-in is real, about 10 hours should be mostly done though so don't worry too much about getting them dialed in perfectly right away.
@@NemoPropaganda Thanks dude! I'll take care in breaking them in...cheers
Hi Nemo. Thanks for the thoughtful review. I notice in one shot on this video you have a pair of Focals on stands with the T9x's. That's pretty much exactly what I'll have in a month or so! I ordered a pair of the new Focal Aria Evo X no 1's, (they're back-ordered as I really want the green finish...) Along with them will be a pair of REL T9x's, in white :) Considering the living room colors I think it will all look beautiful besides sounding great, with Primaluna CDP and Primaluna Integrated. Currently I'm listening to a pair of oooold original Meadowlark Kestrels, (small 2-way floor-standers), with a T7x in the corner of a very large living room (25 x 35 x 10). The REL makes a huge difference. Very good sounding combo. Can't believe I waited this long for a REL. Based on budget and room considerations I think the Focals and T9x's should be a nice combination. Again, thanks for your reviews. Much appreciated.
that should be a great setup, Focal & REL go together extremely well!! Except the Kanta No1, that speaker is just a bastard and very difficult to setup with a subwoofer for some reason.
I listen to all sorts of music: classical, new age, hip hop, pop, EDM and more. I ended up getting a pair of Rythmik E15SE subs in piano black. Overkill for my room? Absolutely but I am sooo satisfied with my purchase. The setup took less than 5 minutes and I've been in bliss ever since.
Love Rythmik subs! I own the F12SE. Had a pair originally but 1 actually sounded better in my room for music. If it was a mixed theater setup I would have kept the duals though.
Great review as always. You always manage to include lots of interesting tidbits in a short amount of time! Thanks for your videos
I actually left so much out on this video I might have to make a part 2 lol. Thank you though :).
@@NemoPropaganda I can see that. But your videos always flow nicely. Your take on people's ability to know what they're looking for (spl vs sq) could definitely be a video in itself. Took me forever to decide because I wanted both (home theater + stereo setup). We could all use extra tips!
@@raphaelmeillat8527 ah yes indeed, that's an important one, I did make a video about it, it's the REL vs. SVS. video, that was the whole point of that video. But everyday I learn more effieicent ways to explain these things so what was an entire video of it's own can now be a 2 minute clip in another video.
Shame that I don’t even know your actual name, anyways I love your patience to reply all my novices questions 😊 really helpful!! Hope you continue with that as I can see you going to be very popular soon!!! Best, love watching your videos!!
I'll respond to comments for as long as I can, if I had 100k subs and 2000 comments on each vid I probably would slow down though. Most larger channels either pay someone to answer comments or simply don't engage because it starts to take up a ton of time.
Absolutely, thank you
My beloved Velodyne HGS 12 sub finally died for the last time, which was top of the line for it's day (SQ + SPL but big $), and I'm ordering a T9X now. I'm a two channel SQ listener all the way. Don't give a darn about thump thump SPL theater subs. Back in the day, Velodyne was one of only a few brands that was SQ and SPL "musical" sub. Thanx for the review.
you're in for a pretty serious treat, Velodyne was nowhere near as good as we all give them credit for, 20 years ago maybe, not today though. Everyone that upgrades from a Velodyn to a REL or Rythmik is usually blown away by the difference. Velodyne was great at making big bass in a compact enclosure that didn't dominate the presentation but the note to note distinction was god awful, no doubt caused by the dsp's available back then.
I found the T9/x lacking in most uses and returned it. In my room and my system, it didn't do it for me. On some tracks it sounded good, some others where I knew there was some base notes, it just didn't deliver. It is a small box and only does 27HZ, and fit/finish/looks are great, but there's far better subs for that $ in my view. It may still be a good choice for those with limited space, small rooms, etc, was not the right fit for me.
I bloody love it when you call out hateres and fanboys....ppl need to live and lit live
Thanks Wezz, yeah it's just the typical internet shit, people repeating shit other people have said without having any first hand experience.
Thanks!
great review! I def appreciate SQ-oriented subwoofers and I love the REL subs. I have also had great experiences with older M&K subs too.
awesome review! watched a lot of your reviews!
we went to the shop this weekend and listned to both the T9x and HT1205MK2, i thought to go home with the T9x because of the reviews and looks but diddnt.. I missed the low notes in music with the T9x! it sounded kind of flat in our opinion, just trying to get the low notes but just diddnt .. and the HT picked them up just fine! maybe its slower and less detailed than the 9x but also this wasn't what i experienced. i liked the looks of the T9x better though... anyway im happy that i went to the store to compare the 2 and maybe i get an T9x one time to join the HT one day =)
keep up the good work!
Nice! The HT range is awesome, I think a lot of people would be happier with an HT. T/X & HT are both really great subs, just different. A lot of people enjoy the lighter tone of the T/X while others enjoy the stronger low end of the HT :)
@NemoPropaganda awesome that you took the time to give an response!
Yes the HT gave me a better feeling .. listened with my daughter to Billy Eilish and diddnt hear the half song on the T9x same as with songs from the prodigy or Tool ao Korn songs... but the HT was nice full but not boomy at all... Happy with it....
Now get the right adjustments... think I set the crossovers of the speakers and sub to 80 first and run my audyssey again...
Maybe it gets even better!
Thank you for the help, not really ready to shop yet but you sure help mate
that's what I'm here for :D feel free to join the discord if you want to chat more with like minded people: discord.gg/pNtZkqh8
I'm considering 2 x T/9x to complement my ported floorstanders in a 2-channel music system in a 19x22x8 room that is open to a hallway and open staircase to upstairs level. I can't find anywhere whether the LPF in the T/9x is 24dB per octave (to best match the roll off of my ported mains which are approx -6dB at 50Hz in room) or only 12dB per octave. Any ideas?
Hi Darren, the T9X blended so well with all my speakers I never felt the need to ask REL about the slope. I have found variable slope to be a helpful setup tool with other subwoofers that offer it but with the T9X it just blended with everything. Hope this helps.
Fantastic channel, thank you.
Great video....most under rated hifi channel in UTOOB....its should 60K not 5.69K!
Keep rocking and hope to see you growing.
Please try to review more expensive speakers (1000-3000$)
Thank you bro, maybe will do in the future :). For now the channel is a bit small to get such expensive review samples. But I’m sure I will in the future.
Thank you for this review, it has really been very helpful. I am currently looking at different sub-options for two-channel music listening only and have been a little confused over my options, especially when most subwoofer reviewers focus on how much bass subs have, which is not at all what I am interested in. Your explanation of the differences between SQ and SPL subs was very helpful. My question is if you have tested the next level of REL subs in the S series and how they compare overall to the T/ T9. Also what other subs do you recommend purely on an SQ level for matching with some premium speakers and amplification?
Hi Tony, it really depends on a lot of factors including personal taste. If you're looking for subs with the best integration & SQ Rythmik & REL are the ones. Some people like their sub to be a little more in your face with its presence and that's were JL Audio is a great option, some people want a good all around sub with a ton of features and SVS is fantastic at that while others might want killer extension in a small form factor and KEF is dominant at that. I have not heard the S sub from REL but a user in my free discord has owned both if you want to hop in there and ask :)
Does this kind of downfiring passive radiator sub benefit from an isolation platform?
I'm not sure, you can experiment with it but remember the passive is like a port, it really only gets going at certain lower frequencies.
I am looking for a pair of wireless subwoofers for a medium size room for both music and theatre. I am more on the spl size. What would you recommend?
Hey Dane, have you looked at the SVS SB3000? That should put a huge smile on your face :)
REL are the masters of sub bass equipment. They specialise in sub bass.
Just bought one to compliment my Rotel 1580m2, B&W 703s2 and am trying to figure out the best wiring configuration.
Nice! I'm sure REL or your dealer would be happy to help but I always suggest you just experiment for yourself. The T9X is fairly simple to setup with very few options unless you're doing dual theater/music and using both LFE & highlevel.
@@NemoPropaganda Your video helped immensely. And everything you said about the T9X is spot on. When I heard it in the store I was blown away.
Then hearing it in my listening environment I'm convinced this is one of the very best Subs on the market.
The things I like best are the total adjustability/control and the imaging. By that I mean you literally can't tell where the low frequency response is actually coming from.
I bought this on the recommendation from my Audio Advisor and so glad I bought the REL T9X
@@jeffreyscott4564 Very nice, I'm happy to hear you're loving it. Feel free to hop in our free discord if you want to share any pics of the setup: discord.gg/nemopropaganda
Hey Nemo, i got my gain setting on 4-5 on my 7ti in my 13x16 ft room, higher than that it gets boomy, what am I doing wrong? Set up everything as per the instructions, in the corner diagonally behind the right speakers at the pressurization point.
Every room is different. You might have a room with strong bass (like me). Try putting it next to one of the speakers instead, set phase to 180, and blend frequency as needed.
Great video! I love my Rythimik but your videos make me want to try a bunch of different subs to see what I’m.missing. I’m def an SQ person. I love that my Rythmik sounds like an extension of my Maggies and is impossible to locate. Does a great job for movies too.
If you have Rythmik subs you're in a good place, no need to try anything else imo unless there is something you don't like about them.
@@NemoPropaganda I love it. A big improvement over my old Klipsch sub I bought years ago.
I like the way you describe the difference between SQ and SPL subs. You do it so well I prefer your channel over others. I'm for sure SQ guy. I've ordered a B&M 805 D4 powered by MICHI 5 and am looking for a matching sub. REL recommends S/510, but after watching your videos I leaning towards one or two T/5x. I live in a condo, and my listening position would be about 10' from the speakers (from the couch to TV). The living room, combined with the dining room, is about 12.5x27' with vaulted ceilings. I'm not a fan of punchy bass, my main purpose is for classical music. What is your opinion, should I step up for bigger T/7x or T/9x?
woo, lucky for you brother I have the s510 and red t9x in for review right now so my memory is fresh!! Right now i'm using the Platimon with those subs which is in a similar tier as your 805 D4 albeit a little more affordable. So the reality is this, you have a shared wall, bass can be an issue with any sub if you crank the volume too much. With that said I do not suggest restricting yourself to something small out of worry for the neighbor, instead you must be smart with your listening habits, keep the volume down past 9pm or even 8pm if you can for example. Larger subs do more than simply play louder, they have a larger sense of scale & sound more effortless which will be important with your highend speakers. I love t5x but bare minimum I would suggest is to start with 1 t9x and add a second one later if you want to. As amazing as t9x is the s510 really is a step up in many ways so I do agree with REL's suggestion. However the t9x will for sure get the job done nicely, there is a gentleman in my discord that has a similar system to you and his room is even larger, we were both worried the single t9x would not be enough but his home decor demanded only a single sub and he was very happy with the results. Hope that helps.
Got my T/5x today, love it, it's great for music and I have it set up that my LFE also gives out the bass of all channels, Marantz sr5015. The position I chose to put it in the middle of the speaker driver just to the side.
nice dude!
@@NemoPropaganda meanwhile I tried high level output. You where not wrong. This is fun.
@@MT-eb2dx good, I'm happy you're enjoying this. Don't become one of those audiophiles that gets so serious over everything lol, it's hobby and should always be fun :D
Hi there,
Need an expert advise. living room is 17x22 but my listening position is half of it and felt my subwoofer rel ht1205 is not performing that well specially on low volume music. But does pretty well on movies. My setup is marantz sr6014, def tech bp9060 , center as CS9040 and Rel Ht/1205. Rel does not wake up at lower volumes (example: at mid 30's or 40's) but performs well at higher volumes 60's and 70's. Looking for a sub which is punchier on lower volumes specially while listening to TH-cam music. I am ok to go for a dual sub setup. So, replacing rel with an svs pb series sub solve my problem? Thinking of pb4000 or sb16 ultra. Your advise is greatly appreciated.
Thank you!
That's a really tough question to answer, I've not heard the Pb4000 and I've only heard the SB16 at reference volumes. My specialty is really 2ch music. On a room that size for dual duty I would do something like a pair of Rythmik FVX12.
@@NemoPropaganda thank you for your reply and suggestion !
I would love for you to review the REL S510. Any chance that may happen? Awesome job as always!
I'm sure I'll review one at some point :)
@@NemoPropaganda dying to know your thoughts. You break that shit down so well I do not think I have seen anyone compare the two other than REL.
Extremely well done!! Thank you so much
Hi Nemo,
Just wanted to ask you, the REL HT1205 sub what i have... I get a mild electric shock when powered on... I mean its only on the metal on the back side... is it something normal? I have spoken to the dealer and he says it's normal.... What do u think?
Like when you flip the switch it shocks you? No that is not normal my bro, email REL, if you're in your warranty period I'm sure they will get you taken care of. I was just using my 1205 yesterday for an a/b comparison so I did lots of switching on and off, I didn't experience anything like that. The only thing I can imagine that would be normal is if you're in a climate where there is a lot of static and static shock may be normal for that region then perhaps.
@@NemoPropaganda - Yes when i flip the switches it shocks me... Let me talk to REL team about this.. Thanks bro 👍
Does it feel good? I like a little zap every now and then lol.
In all seriousness, have you plugged a tester into the outlet it's plugged into? You can get a cheap tester for around $10 at home store. Maybe a ground fault with the wiring?
@@erics.4113 - Yes i have a tester and it glows when i touch the metal switch. So its nothing to do with my house...i have carried around in 3 different houses and confirmed that its something not normal in my Subwoofer. 😭
Bought this sub to go with an Ambeo soundbar on the recommendation of where I bought the LG OLED 77 and Ambeo soundbar. I said it would be for mostly movie and reg tv . Only music would be from streaming or what the music channels are on local Xfinity cable. Had them out a few times and tried different settings etc .Not sure what was wrong , but just not satisfied with the sub sound performance ! I returned it, so now on the fence of going with the Rel HT-1205 or the SVS SB-2000 ?
what aspects specifically dissapointed you? your room may have some bass issues that may require dual subs. The T9X while not the most dominant subwoofer is still of a respectable size being a 10" with 300w. If that was a let down you might need to jump up to something much stronger like a JL D110, KEF KF92 or Rythmik FVX12 or something like a pair of HT1205 or SB1000/2000 Pro.
Doubt you will read comment under old video but will give a shot. I have kf92 which is great for movies and music alike. Recently I was thinking to add either another kf92, for better dispersion as I use fraction of Kf92 power, or try to add REL specially for music listening via my Arcam AVR. Now big question is what would be better for music in medium size room with ls50 metas - two kf92s (bonus in movies), two t7x high pass and lfe connected, or 1x t9x. With high pass because I use mono blocks single Rel afaik is a no go so last option would be connected via lfe. All would be room corrected with Dirac with base management. For stereo music listening lfe would be disabled in second option (t7x). Btw for those speakers and room size Rel recommends t7x
both subs are great, just different. REL recommends running speakers full range and not using high pass. Anyway the T7X cannot come close to the extension of the KF92 but will offer up more bass fidelity and nuance detail. However if you use both KF92 and T7X at the same time then that nuance detail will be lost. Since REL is very popular my advice is to demo them locally first as they are very different from what you currently have. You may love it, but you also may hate it.
In the uk this sub is the same price as theSVS sb3000,
Would this Rel tx9 compete with bass output when compared to the sb3000?
output? No! A 3" difference when discussing the diameter of a circle will account for a rather large amount of surface area and in this case that means the 13" driver of the SB3000 has about 69% more cone area than the T9X. That's a substantial difference in size, the SB3000 will have a lot more output than the 10" REL T9X. Very rarely does a 10" have similar output to a 13" though they do exist if you're willing to pay for it like the JL Audio E110.
Have you tried both high and low level connections? Is there a noticeable difference at all? Some say high level sounds much better as it apparently uses different filters.
I recently invested in the S400MKIIs and have a T9/x from my prior setup. I’m still researching different amplifiers at the moment so I haven’t tested the high level yet as the cable is still in the factory packaging. I’ve only used low level on the T9/x in my previous LS50W2 setup so I was curious as to your thoughts on this matter.
Thanks for your detailed reviews! :)
High & low level use the same filter. There is a slight difference, maybe 10%. The biggest benefit of high level is it bypasses the sub output and most AVR have crappy filters on their sub output. If you have really good pre-outs the difference will be even smaller. On my preamp I don't think you can really hear a difference but if I use a cheaper $500 amp then high level is obviously better because the REL filter is better than the $500 amp sub output.
I use the high level and it sounds great, but the subwoofer thumps when you turn your integrated on. I asked Rel about it and they told me to turn on the integrated on before the subwoofer if it really bothered me.
I've used the entire TX range with 4 different amps and didn't experience that. The 4 amps I used are Kinki, Hegel, Emotiva, and IotaVX.
@@NemoPropaganda I have the Technics SU G 700 M2 integrated. Not sure why it’s doing it.
@@williemclean3224 have you considered leaving it all on? My main system mostly stays on year round.
@@NemoPropaganda I have left amps on before but I’m a little hesitant to leave my integrated on. It has two VU analog meters that are lighted so it would put wear on the lights. I think I might be able to turn those off so I guess it’s an option. My Technics doesn’t accept banana plugs so I have to run the speaker wire from the subwoofer and speakers together, I’m not sure this is a problem. I put a small splice in the subwoofer wire just like Rel required and it worked fine accept the thump. It’s an option for sure. I could shut off the sub each time and power up the integrated first. The thump doesn’t bother me, I’m just concerned that the thump is not good for my equipment. Thank you for your suggestion .
@@williemclean3224 I'm with you on that, I keep the lights on my preamp off because I too am worried about wearing them out. I don't think the thump is damaging anythign at all, the HT guys deal with it all the time. Some thing it has to do with the AC in the house, others thing its the amps, nobody really knows. Then there are some subs that thump just when you turn them on. Soft start solves the problem entirely but not all amps have it which is weird because even the cheap emotiva TA1 has soft start where its essentially on mute when it starts and then the volume ramps up after a few seconds.
Cayman is a great car -- got one as a loaner during covid and man it was fun!
Could you maybe cover even higher class of subwoofers like the s series, g25hp, or JL audio stuff? Of course, the one I should really be asking is your back.
Are jl audio as good as rel strictly for music though? Im looking at a dominion d110, or rel tx7
@Yama Fanboy JL subs start atound $1k and their flagship is $12.5k
To comment on this whole thread, all 3 of those brands (JL, REL, Rythmik) performance-wise are all high end just different. JL cannot offer a review sample and I have reviewed many Rythmik subwoofers already. Personally I'm not sure I want to review any 100+ lb subwoofers. It's just not fun for me.
@@NemoPropaganda there are smaller stuff in that price range like goldenear subs. I think its worth while to ask if its better to get 2 of your highly rated subs around $1000 like the t9x or go for one more capable sub. How capable depends on if you think the deminiationing returns still warrant double the price again.
@@En_Joshi-Godrez I don't really believe in diminishing return. At some point you're paying for exclusivity but that's another story altogether. The choice of 1 expensive sub vs 2 more affordable subs should be more based on the room, what your goals are, and what you can accommodate. If your room will look too congested with a pair subs then perhaps it's better to get a single bigger or more capable sub. But if you can accommodate dual subs but perhaps the price is too high, maybe start with one and buy the second one a year later.
Would these pair well or blend with a couple large Bookshelf shelf speakers with 6.5 inch midbass woofers that go down to 55hz? Or is a pair of T7x a better match regardless of room size?
Yes, thats exactly the kind of speaker I used for this review (Focal Aria 906). I have not heard 7x though. REL themselves or a dealer should know which is best for each room since they have all the models on hand usually :)
Somehow I missed this but man, your love for this shit really shows here. Appreciate you!
I am highly offended 😶ahaha jk jk, yeah man I love this shit, listening to music is like my meditation.
Nemo,
Can you recommend a pair of XLR to XLR Interconnects? I want to connect my Rotel RSP-1582 Preamp/processor to my Musical Fidelity M6s PRX Power Amplifier.
I have used Audioquest Red River Interconnects but I find them ridiculously expensive. 3 feet of just one cable goes for over $200.
Any suitable replacements that give me a bigger bang for my buck?
I'm looking for 3-4 feet per cable.
Thanks So Much!
David-
the guys in my discord have all agreed Worlds Best which is commonly sold on Amazon is their preferred affordable cable company.
@@NemoPropaganda Thanks for this valuable information Nemo.
@@NemoPropaganda Hi Nemo,
I'm having a lot of trouble with getting realistic height of midrange vocals & instruments out of NY Totem Acoustic Tribe Mini Speakers.
I have a few other ideas before I decide to sell them.
If I decide to go with a different speaker, it would be the Focal Chora 826 which is being closed out at 40% of the MSRP..
Amazon has the lowest price.
2 questions for U.
Do you have any ideas on how elevate the midrange output of my Totem Tribes?
Also, have you heard any Focal Chora Speakers in their current lineup?
If so, do you think these speakers will pair well with my HTM72 S2 for home theater surround sound?
(I use B&W Speakers on the rear-side walls and a pair behind the listening position.
My 2 new REL 10" Subwoofers sound amazing!
I appreciate any input you can provide.
Thanks!
@@davidstein9129 Focal speakers generally are not known for their midrange, I'm not sure this is the direction you want to go in. Try to audition them first if possible. What you're describing could also be a room issue. Try pulling the speakers out from the walls a bit. The Chora is a great speaker, but it's midrange is not pronounced or forward in any way.
@@NemoPropaganda Thanks Nemo,
I took your advice and brought my speakers more into my listening room by 2&1/2 feet..It made a huge difference in rausin
Have you listened to any BK subwoofers? In the uk they are pretty cheap and offer a similar sound to REL, i think they were the same company years ago or used to share components?
I have not, they certainly do look like a "cousin" for lack of a better word.
What do I lose by not having a pair of T9Xs and using only one T9X in my 24’x16’ ft living room? I have an Arcam AVR31 if that affects your answer.
it depends on the room but dual subs generally will help provide more even bass distribution from seat to seat, allow for greater headroom, and further reinforce the lower frequencies. Many people still find 1 sub more than plenty, myself included.
@@NemoPropaganda thank you sir. That’s worth a sub to me.
See what I did there?!
@@undertowbill bahahaha, most excellent!
Hey Nemo , not sure who to ask about my t9x issue. It's already been returned, but I really like the way it sounds. My sub has to set very close to my wooden HiFi cabinet, at the left side but forward. The sub started moving in and out very fast, I turned the volume on the amplifier down. The fluttering stopped. Every time I would try to turn it up past 3 maybe it would start moving out of control while playing records. It did not do that when I ran it through my DVD player and watch d a concert. It sounded great. Went back to the record and it started fluttering again. I had the Emotiva se12 , passive radiator , same location, same turntable, same everything. It never did that. So I don't know why is. Sets on a hardwood floor over a basement. But I don't have much turntable jumping, so the floor is pretty taunt for a wooden floor. Just wondering if there could be anything wrong with that r e l causing it to do that. Any idea?
Appreciate you and all the work that goes into infofun videos.
I couldn't say brother, I don't use phono myself and I've never had any issue like that.
Hello friend !
I wanted to ask you what you said about high level connection comes from you trying each of your subs or just based on what Rel said.
I have less experience with different sub but the few i've tried sounded way better with high level : Focal, yamaha, Rel,...
The only times it competes with high level is when you have separates. Preamplifier and power amps. On an integrated with line out it always sound better to go high level. The timing was better for me.
It's based on my own experience and understanding of the circuit. All high level inputs do is convert the signal to low level and send it through the exact same circuitry as the RCA inputs. Most subwoofers high-level connection is a $6 part and is designed for legacy connections. If it sounds better like that for you even on non-REL subwoofers it may be possible that your preamps RCA or sub output is either not that good or adding some coloration. This is common with cheap AVR's where the sub output is not a direct signal and instead ads some effects of it's own that usually mess with the sound. In a situation like that high level will be a more pure signal. Since my channel is only for 2ch stereo 99% of what I talk about is with respect to 2ch stereo that doesn't use any sound processing. I hope this helps answers your questions but at the end of the day we all do what sounds best so it's okay if we disagree as long as we're both enjoying great sound :).
@@NemoPropaganda thanks for the answer. Make sense. I had the same impression. Sadly it's more than cheap avr. A lot of Sub 2k integrated have in general bad RCA output. That's why using a proper preamp is the winning combo. The fault isn't in the sub but upstream.
With more context i can see that we have the same experience.
Sorry I don't know what legacy connection is ? But i know the conversion mechanism in subs and you're right.
@@yannick930 For the way I'm using the word Legacy it just means old fashion. So legacy connection is like old style connections.
@@NemoPropaganda Ah ok, I understand.
I picked up some Focal On Wall 302 in my living room for a 5.1.4 and of course stereo for music. The fairly clean looks come at the cost of low-end extension, so they kinda need a 70-80 Hz crossover (rated for 50). What sub would you pair with that for about 17 square meters / 180 square ft? Right now I have T9X and 1205 on my list. Focal's own Sub 1000 F would fit within the budget as well. I am leaning a bit more towards 12 inches since it is home theater first. I think 15 inches might be a tad too much for the size of the room and crossover frequency. I definitely want to enjoy low volumes too without the neighbors complaining all the time.
HT1205 MK2 is a fantastic option if you want to make sure you have enough output & extension. The T9X is no slouch but you will get more room rumble out of the 1205 MK2.
I apologize if you have already done so and I have missed it. But it’d be cool to see a review of the HSU-ULS-15 MK2 if you could get your hands on it.
Hey Matt, despite being only 20 minutes down the road Hsu Research will not respond to any of my emails so at this point I have zero interest in reviewing their products.
@@NemoPropaganda wow I didn’t realize how close they were to you. I can’t blame you for that one.
@@mattolsziewski7164 yeah, they wouldn't even have to ship anything lol, oh well.
Looking for opinions here...looking to upgrade my REL Q150e by adding a T9X...shall I pair those two in my system or just go with the single T9X? or maybe a pair of T7X's?.. LMK your thoughts..
depends on your room size and speakers. I'd probably only use the new sub. The Q150E is fairly old at this point and REL has made a lot of improvements so I say sell it so someone else can get some joy from it :)
@@NemoPropaganda Greatly appreciate your reply...my room is 20x18'...please answer one more...should I go with one T9x or two T7x's...your opinion is very helpful..thanks
@@martinolson761 hmmm, that's a bigger room, 1 or 2 T9X should be great, of course your listening habits will be the final determining factor. You currently own a 12" so going down to a 8" t7x might be too small for you. You may find more enjoyment going to a single 1205 MK2 or T9X but you may wish for a second T9X depending on your listening habits.
@@NemoPropaganda Actually the Q150e is a single 10" driver...I assume the T7X is a far better sub....so I'm leaning towards two of these for my system...unless I can convince the boss to go T9x...thanks.
In the UK, we can pick up the T9i for £749 whereas the new T9x is £1299, does this make the old model a bargain ?
Absolute bargain! The T/i range is awesome!
@@NemoPropaganda Just bought the T9i, thank you for your help |!
Wooo! Congrats Jason!
Ok, I have a set up question. Maybe I should call/email REL. I'm looking at a pair of T7X's but I need to run them XLR and not HL, I need to crossover my Magnepan 3.7i's and the only way is with using something like my Emotiva XSP-1's bass management. Am I missing anything or is this correct. I'm between a pair or the REL's or SVS SB3000
I think you should watch this video first: th-cam.com/video/rEz03XkcslI/w-d-xo.html it should help you decide.
Question: thinking of doing REL T9X for high level & Rhytmic 15 or 18 for LFE.
What’s your thoughts?
Rythmik & REL play very well together.
Rel recommended that I buy an s510 to best match my Totem Tribe tower speakers but I just couldn't spend the 3k plus for the s510 so opted for a t9x. I hope I don't regret not getting the one Rel recommended. I'm thinking the t9x will do the job and do it well. Thanks for the review.
Hi Ron, I know many people who were receommended S510 but couldn't handle the price tag so they went for the T9X, many of them could afford it but theres something about a sub over $2k that gives a lot of us cold feet. Anyhow, I digress, all of them were pretty darn happy with the results. Now if you're expecting to pressurize a medium or larger room with theater levels of bass a single T9X won't do that but, if you're looking to enhance your music or add some fullness to your movies while retaining the highest level of bass fidelity then I'd say you got the perfect sub.
Thank you for an excellent and detailed review!!!
Matched with 5-6in driver bookshelf speakers, is the T7x ever better with speed than the 9x? Room size 12x22x8.5. Ik you said the 9x is better at everything, but do you think the larger driver on the 9x can sound not quite matched as well with smaller speakers? Thanks!
I think you can go either way. I would not worry about the 9x blending with smaller speakers. While the 7x should blend better with something that has a 4" driver both subs blend extremely well so I'd say just buy the one you want :)
If I replace 3 B&W subwoofers (two asw608 one asw 610,) with Two REL T9X , do you think it will be huge upgrade?
Yes absolutely, I owned an asw608 for 2 years, it's a great little sub but it has its limits, having a pair helps but even the 610 is very limited, they extend low but run into distortion quickly. The T9X pair will sound tonally richer, give you more bass fidelity, and play fuller, cleaner, and louder.
Thank you! I listened REL T9X at Best buy Magniloa. Also I listened KEF kube 12 in the same room. IMO, KEF is bit more cleaner, more natural, and also bit more louder at around 30hz than REL. But the Price of KEF is only half of REL( in KEF Store), I bought 2 KEF 12. It really improved the sound quality from B&W 608, It blend well with main speakers and more independent, more punch and made whole range of music more clear. Thanks Again.
I swear you can read my mind because you describe my Rel subwoofers perfectly!
"If one wants a high performance subwoofer sound then one should go to someone who only deals with a high performance sound!"
BTW Rel subwoofers are not English... they are Welsh 🧐Hence the red dragon
You do a great job , lots of information + how you see it . Still listening to my Emotiva RS 11 with the Wharfedale "Linton's " thru a Primaluna Prologue integrated , 200 sf living room, vaulted ceiling. Had two T5i's ,nice but ended up with the RS 11.$1299. like that 500 watts , even though I'm sure I have never kicked it in ,laff . Thinking about this t9x now. Maybe I'm missing more than I know😲 !
The RS11 is a different beast, it's more about output and force while the T9X is more about fidelity and nuance detail.
Thanks for replying. I just took the t9x plunge. Found an open box deal. Really anxious to get it and plug it in. B.t.w. , you do a very good job with your reviews. Very comfortable and informative & never boring. Having all those nice subs there ,,,I'm jealous !!
@@jerryjohnson4625 thank you for the kind words, don't be jealous though, my rooms a mess lol
Thank you for the explanation between the 2 types. I thought that there was a difference. Seems that I need both and just connect one or the other depending on exactly what I am doing.
That's definitely an option. I know people with both :).
@@NemoPropaganda I bought both and use SVS for movies and Rel for music in different systems and rooms. Loving the results!
I wish you could review the Rythmik F15hp and G25hp. SQ and SPL?
oh man, I don't know about that, personally I'm very curious but they're so heavy, my poor back :(, shit anyone's poor back lol.
Nemo Propaganda C’mon man, I know you lift!
@@deankim6687 yeah with a rotator cuff injury :( I bench literally 95lbs bro, I can bench way more of course but my shoulder won't let me so I'm just out here repping light weight a million times 🤦♂️
Nemo Propaganda Ah OK. I tore mine years back from dumbbell shoulder press. The rotator cuff injury is the lifters nemesis. lol
@@deankim6687 that's exactly what happened to me, I wasn't even lifting that much and my form was good. I just have less clearance in the joint on the right side, it's just how I'm built. Kinda frustrating but could be worse so it's all good.
Thoughts on a t9x vs f12 vs sb3000 for 80% music 20% movies/tv? Room is 13x18. Think I prefer a more subtle sound so prob not svs like you said in the video
As far as REL or SVS I made a video to answer that question you can find it here: th-cam.com/video/rEz03XkcslI/w-d-xo.html. As far as T9X vs F12 I discussed that in this video that you are commenting on when I get the comparisons portion. Both have excellent SQ, the larger Rythmik will play louder and extend lower, the smaller REL will look better in the room, have a higher WAF, and still play plenty loud & low, just not as loud & low as the larger 12".
Lovely no bs review 👍 I want a sub in my life but my small room has a horrible resonance at 40hz, it was very pronounced with my kef r3 meta, it must be something to do with the kef backfiring port as it became almost unnoticeable now while playing the f500sp!
My fear is that a sub will bring it back, how do you deal with sub resonance issues without filling up the room with basstraps? maybe setting the sub at lower volume than the speakers or via equalization?
The R3 Meta's port is tuned at 40hz, the F500SP seems to be tuned higher, maybe around 50hz so your room is extending the F500SP's natural roll off while it was doubling down on the R3 Metas bass output. Square rooms and small rooms usually have this issue. You'll want to stay away from any vented subs with a port tuning frequency of 40hz, so no consumer grade best buy crap. You'll want to get a sub that was made for smaller rooms like the REL T5X, you certainly can go bigger as long as you can turn the frequency down enough but most subs don't let you turn the bass below 50hz. REL & Rythmik generally let you go down to 30hz though.
conversly you can get something with room correction like the Buchardt sub-10, that's another way if you want more extension without going too large and having too many room issues.
@@NemoPropaganda that's so interesting, yes my room is nearly square! f500sp sound sweet (I'm so glad I came across your review!) and I can keep them much closer to the wall then the r3s.
I'll follow your advice for sure, not vented port tuning frequency of 40.
I thought about the SUB10 but its a bit overcomplicated to my taste, I'm really tempted to get a T5X or T7X.
Thanks again Nemo, you're video are so informative!
@@NemoPropaganda I think you're right, will need to get a sub10 if I want to get most out of a sub, it doesn't make sense getting a rel to set it at 30hz. thanks again!
@@memania- just to be clear there is nothing wrong with setting a rel to 30hz if thats what sounds best in your room, most of the time I had the S510 it was set to 30hz.
Does the KC62 from KEF go lower to your ears?
Hey Jas, at low volume like 70-75db in a small room the KC62 extends like a ported 12. Once you turn up the volume you start to lose that due to the active dsp where most other subs will stay consistent.
@@NemoPropaganda but at the low volumes, does it beat the T9X or a pair of T5x, regarding low extension.
@@DJJASProductions with respect to extension yes, it literally extends like a huge ported sub at low volume.
I’m guessing the high level inputs in the Sonus Faber subwoofers are similar to the REL. I read somewhere that REL and Sonus Faber had the same parent company (probably the McIntosh Group) and back in the day Sonus Faber speakers were often packaged with REL subwoofers (like they are often packaged with McIntosh electronics today. So REL was sold off and Sonus Faber started making their own subwoofers that are a lot like the RELs. More expensive but beautifully crafted, if you don’t like the REL look or just want to match the fine furnishings look of Sonus Faber speakers. I’d be happy to hear from someone that know more about this than I do. Not an expert. But I’m considering going with the Sonus Faber Olympicas and so trying to figure out if it’s worth it to me to pay more for subs to match the look.
this is a very common misunderstanding but the high level input is not what makes REL special or great. It's the entire package. I believe they had the same US distributor at one point but that's it. I do not know about REL making subwoofers for anyone else but the Gravis I & II subs do seem to be eerily similar in design to some generation of T5 and T9.
@@NemoPropaganda Yeah, I was just saying it’s probably the same technology, given what I read. I guess the parent company that owned both companies has access to the same designs, and why start from scratch if you own all the R&D. Again, just going by one article the video said he wasn’t sure if anyone made a high level input like REL does and I think it’s probably the same in the Sonus Faber. I agree there is a lot more to it but it would be interesting to see a side by side comparison or review. I guess if they are of equal sound quality then it might be worth it to some to spend more for the different look of the Sonus Faber. The Sonus Faber also have an app for setup and adjustment, which I didn’t see anything about on the REL site.
@@williamhicks2763 if I had to guess I'd imagine they sound pretty different since REL has been on their own for awhile now and series T has had a few revisions to the drivers to the point they are completely different now. I know the plate amps have also had a few revisions from T to TS to TX but who knows. For the price I hope the sonus subs are amazing.
I like the way you can set Rels and then leave them alone and you pretty much ignore them. I always was aware of my SVS SB-2000s.
agree, it's just a different kind of presentation. Some people like noticing their sub while others don't.
Hi, have you tested or going to test any os the Rel S series or Carbon Special or Reference range and how do they sound and compare. Thank you.
I'm not sure, since I use mono blocks I need 2 subs if using the high-level input. I think the 9x pair is as big as I can run in this room so If I do anything bigger like S812 and up I'd need to use 1 via the more traditional line level input. My preamps line level is extremely good and very close to the SQ of the high level but since I don't have the ability to demo a single S812 or Carbon Special with high level I'm not sure how REL would feel about that. I will ask them their thoughts next time we chat :). For what it's worth personally I would love to check out the carbon special but there is such a thing as too big for the room. At least for music systems.
Would love to see you reviewing a Rel S series! I use mono block too. Quite an headache for me as I don’t have much space & my speaker goes down to 30hz - less than 10db. So I doubt if a T series would fit me. Maybe I need to get the Rythmik
@@ericyum6729 I might get an S510 for review but I'm not sure. If you only fit 1 sub the Rythmik F12SE is an excellent choice and extremely hard to beat. When it comes to the best SQ subs Rythmik & REL are at the top of my list. REL is more dynamic while Rythmik has more extension. Either way you can't go wrong.
I've heard a single REL S510 is better than 2 REL T9x.
Worth a test?
I think it would depend more on the room, associated equipment, and what it needs to sound it's best. REL should be able to answer this question directly for any potential customers.
Hey Nemo, Just was curious as to what company you purchased your acoustical panels from? Have a similar size room with NAD and Maggie's. Sounds amazing. Need to go to the next step with my room. Next step after room treatment is sub. Thinking either T5x Rel or Kef 62. Thanks for doing the vids...they're GREAT!
the ones you see in the video are just polyester panels I ordered from Amazon (search DEKIRU 20 Pack Acoustic Panels Sound Dampening Panels), the real acoustic panels you can't see are at the first reflection points and made by GIK (gobo panel).
Hi Nemo…LOVE your reviews! I am running Dynaudio Contour 20s in a 12'x14’ room with 8’ ceilings. Stereo music.
I do not listen real loud. Do you think a pair of Rel T/5x Subs will do it for me???
With a setup like that I think you'd be happy with any of the T/X range, it just comes down to room aesthetics, how much bass you want, and what you want to spend. Our rooms are similar in size, I found the T5X to offer plenty but the 9x pair is also worth every penny with it's larger sense of scale, more fidelity, an even stronger bottom end, etc... Personally I'm still torn between which one to pick for my own system :D It's like Porsche Cayman or Porsche Cayman GTS, you're still getting a Porsche :).
@@NemoPropaganda COOL! I do live in an apt., and there's lots of concrete, so I am thinking that the T/5x subs will have me grinning and keep my neighbor from frowning. 👍🏻 Thanks for all your thorough reviews that have brought me to this conclusion.
@@bobb.9917 Awesome! That's always my goal, help people stop obsessing and just make a decision :)
@@NemoPropaganda well…there are a LOT of great products out there and it is a little overwhelming. First thing is to assess my situation, my system, my wants/priorities. Then…TAKE MY TIME…Don't rush in. My conclusion is that I REALLY want two KEF K62s…but $3K is more than twice the price of two T/5x subs. …These will be just fine. 🙂
Good reviewers like you really are vital in sorting thru the maze!!!!
Thank u, Rel are very good, happy Xmas
Hey Tony, Merry Christmas to you also :)
I wonder what your perspective is on this: People suggest turning down the sub until it integrates with the speakers and disappears into the presentation. But if the sub is properly integrated and used at reasonable volumes, does a bigger sub (15" vs 12") really provide any more impact or presence?
as with all things it depends on the room and many other factors. In a larger room a larger sub may sound more effortless and natural than a smaller one. it's important to view integration as a spectrum. What's most important is you have the sub type you want (SQ or SPL), next is that it's cable of it's intended function, and finally it should be properly sized to the needs of the room. I guess that's how I view it at least.
@@NemoPropaganda But can you restate your answer and only use car references? 👌 Appreciate you 100%
@@samray3461 so it depends on the weight of the vehicle and what you’re trying to accomplish. Shoving an LS1 into a miata is fun but some people would say thats not a daily driver but to some it is. Drivability is on a spectrum. How’s that?
@@NemoPropaganda Now you're speaking my language!
I love the rel logo on my Sub, people who complain usually don’t have the money tu buy one ,but they would love one Fantastic . Like a friend of mine used to make fun of apple ,but I knew deep down he wants one but could not afford it. One day he gets a new job and the first he buys is an I phone😂😂😂
Hey mate, did you listen to a S/510? Would you go with that instead of a T9/X for better audiophile/home cinema balance?
no not yet :(
You're videos are amazing, they are my reference point for buying my first subwoofer, the only problem is I can't make my mind up !!! Then spend further hours going thru them again. I have a 15ft x 13ft room and have ordered a powernode with a pair of ls50 meta's. I only use the set up for music, is the KC62 the best match or are there cheaper alternatives ???????
I’d go for the T9i you mentioned or maybe a pair. KC62 is great but you’re paying for the size.
hey bro ! i have question for you man ! i just sold my SVS SB-2000 pro because i want a more sound quality sub for music ! and people directed me to REL.. and i want to ask your opinion if i should get 2x T/5X or 1X T/9X . which option will give me better sound quality and better punchy clean bass? thank you !
I believe we're talking in the discord about this?
@@NemoPropaganda haha yes we are ty bro
How does this compare to Rythmikaudio f12se ?
I believe I covered that in the video, did you watch the whole thing?
Hey Brother im definitely stuck between both camps plus you know I suffer from A.P. In your opinion do you think I could maybe achieve The Best of Both Worlds with Rel S Series?
Enjoy your weekend out on the boat. I can't wait to come back to Arizona in about a month
What audio source & what type of DAC do you have?
Associated equipment with links is always listed in the Description box.
@@NemoPropaganda u ike the terminator?
@@gleamtarrest6310 havn’t heard that one yet. Love the Ares though.
@@NemoPropaganda I am sorry,I meant Aeris 2...tell me about the sound
@@gleamtarrest6310 You must wait for the review as I'm still learning about it :D but so far I like it a lot, the sound is more rich and emotionally engaging and I like that a lot!
Good vid. You come across as genuine....👍👍
I had a listen to the t9x the other day, good sub. Im thinking of getti g the 7x . I love in an aprtment with neighbours below. I noticed quite a lot of bass comi g from under the unit, from the passive radiator. Will a down firing radiator mean the neighboirs below will hear more from.me, or not? Should i put the sub on a stone platform if i get it? I have wooden floorvoards atm. Thank you!
Possibly, but bass loads the room regardless of driver arrangement. When I was in an apartment I did have a 1.25” granite slab underneath my subwoofer with a sheet of 1/8” rubber on the wood floor underneath the granite. It helped a lot but at the end of the day it mostly depends on how well the apartment is built :). I’ve found keeping the volume down after 8:30pm generally helped me avoid complaints.
@@NemoPropaganda great, thanks v much :))
While searching for info about REL(need a sub(s) with high level connection), I found your channel.
Very informative and I like your honesty and your style!
My room is 6x3.60x2.40 metres, do you think 2xRel T5x would be sufficient for music only.
I live in an apartment, so no really loud listening.
Would 1 or 2x Rel T9x have enough output for movies? I owned the Rythmik F12, could you compare 1xT9x to 1xRythmik F12 output wise?
I'm doubting to go full Rels or only Rel for music and Rel+ JL Audio D110 for movies.
I will make an appointment to go listen to some Rels, but not listening in your own room is always tricky.
I saw you mentioning in 2 videos that you find JL Audio an SPL brand.
That surprises me, have you heard JL's? I'm curious why you do not find JL Audio to be on the SQ side?
Personally I find JL to be SQ subs with much SPL:-).
I owned the JL Audio F112 and Rythmik E15 and F12. Currently I have the JL Audio D110+D108. Integration for music with both brands is great.
I also owned the SVS SB2000 and XTZ10.17 Edge and could not integrate them to my liking for music listening.
For music I have a slight preference for Rythmik over JL Audio, I prefer the 'snappier' sound the Rythmiks gives.
But I'm the only one, every one else(3 people :-)) I know who owned Rythmik and JL Audio prefered JL Audio over Rythmik for music.
Hey Cobra, I havn't heard JL for a long time now, I'll admit I could be wrong, maybe it was the room I heard them in many years ago. It's hard to say what will be "enough" 1 F12 will have more headroom and extension than 1 T9x by a fair amount as it's a larger sub. The two are incredibly close with respect to fidelity. For the T5x pair again it's hard to say if it will be enough. It certainly was enough for me and just for fun I added my F12 as a third sub set to handle 30hz and below and holey hell that was insanely awesome! Still though on their own I felt the 5x pair offered plenty of bass but how much bass is "enough" is so personal. I would email REL and ask them since they have more experience with setting up subs in different size rooms than I do :).
I'm trying to get my hands on a JL sub but they're pretty darn pricey and JL said they can't send me a review sample because their inventory is too low due to the chip shortage.
@@NemoPropaganda Thx Nemo for your quick reply.
For a small room like yours and stereo orientated, I think the JL Audio Dominion series would be fine.
The E- and F series are better but the Dominions are great little subs.
The Rythmik F12 was more than enough for me for movies, so maybe 1 REL T9x would be enough.
Interesting that you find both soundwise on par with each other, very different approaches.
I listened to music with only the JL Audio D110 and listened with only the D108.
I liked the integration(could also be placement) with the D108 better and heard enough bass.
I think 2x Rel T5x would be fine for music in my room. 2 Rels and 1 Rythmik must be impressive to listen too 😀
I'm gonna listen to some Rels and will based on that, make my decision.
For now 2xRel T5x+ 1x JL D110 or 2x Rel T9x are my preferred options.
@@cobraatje123 I think 2 t5x would be enough for 80% of people, but i just get scared to say for sure YES because some people are crazy bass heads lol Like if you want the boosted bass sound T5X is not for you, but if you want the balanced bass sound the a T5X pair will sound amazing! But if you listen to bass heavy music like edm past 85dB like 90+ you may want to move up to 7x or 9x. Either way the options you're considering are both awesome!
@@NemoPropaganda I contacted REL and they advised me for my room and speakers, Raidho mini monitors, the S series.
But the S series I find too big(WAF) and too expensive.
I had a listening session @ a REL dealer; listened to the REL T5x, T9x and my JL D110.
I listened in a room a bit bigger than my room.
I could take all the time I needed to listen and compare. Set up was with Elac bookshelfs with ribbons like my Raidho's have.
It took me a few minutes to get used to the duller less detailed and imo less sound from the Elacs compared to my Raidho's.
First I listened to the T9x for about 30 minutes, then switching to the T5x.
Within seconds it was clear to me that in a relatively 'bigger' room and using a high crossover, the T9x was the better sub.
The sound collapsed a bit and there was no more the wall of sound with the T5x.
JL D110 vs T9x. The REL dealer found REL to be better :-). I preferred the JL D110, a bit more 'punchier' bass that I like a bit more.
Both great subs and very good integration.
If I did not needed high Level+LFE connections I would have kept my JL's.
I decided to buy 2xT9x to be on the save side with movies ;-)
@@cobraatje123 As long as the room isn't too big the 9x is amazing, but it is a small sub, a pair can do amazing things but if the room is really big like 20x24ft or something like that it may reach it's limit with movies since movies can be incredibly demanding with bass. Also how loud you listen is a big factor. Personally I'm not trying to recreate theater levels of volume, I just want it to sound fantastic around 75-80db, that's all my baby ears can handle :D
Great review Brother Nemo! If one cannot use the high level inputs, and that is taken out of the equation, does that close the gap between the REL and the Rhythmik in terms of SQ for music?
Hi AJ, REL and Rythmik don't have any gap in terms of SQ to begin with :) Sure I can say something like the T9X is more dynamic and it's texture is a little more detailed while the F12SE extends lower and is more full with it's texture but at this point we are splitting hairs of the split hairs. high level vs low level on my system was a small difference honestly. When I tried it on the cheaper iotaVX amp then high level seemed to show more of an improvement.
@@NemoPropaganda Thanks man, that is very useful feedback, as always. I have had an order in for the 2-10 Tekton sub,but I placed that back in April and they still haven't gotten the plate amps in yet. So Im thinking about just canceling and ordering a Rhythmik or REL. So the fact that you've heard so many different subs really is valuable info for me. Appreciate you!
@@ajzepp8976 that's funny because I just called tekton asking for a 2-10 sample :). They are indeed out of plate amps. Funny thing is RSL uses the same plate amps so I'm guessing they're just buying all of them.
@@NemoPropaganda It's a really interesting little sub...if you talk to the again, tell them I said to fill your sample order before mine so you can make a video and tell me if its any good! lol
@@ajzepp8976 my set up is the two-hole Enzo XL from Tekton. In my room a single 7ti seems to work just fine. I use cello music to calibrate the settings. Cello and piano duets -- get that right and the job is done.
And…..I got the AP real bad. Lusting after new upgrade.
Seems like I’ve spent a fortune on slow horses, fast women and audio gear. Probably would’ve just wasted it on clothes for the kids, otherwise.
Worth the upgrade compared with the T/9i ?
Exactly. The T9 I are all on sale now so thinking of grabbing a couple.
I'm not sure since I have not heard the 9i but I have heard both 5i and 5x. So for current owners I think the I range is fantastic. If you have some extra cash laying around you may enjoy the upgrade. But if you have to stress a bit to get the cash together perhaps it's best to keep the i series because it's already really good.
What do you think of the REL tZero subwoofer for a room about the size of yours? I’m trying to decide if the TZero is enough for me. Thanks!
I’m gonna say no. The TZero can work for a micro system but is better suited to multi channel HT reinforcement. Like connected to a pair of satellite speakers in the rear to give a bigger sense of realism.
Hi Nemo, I’m looking for a subwoofer, preferably a stereo pair, to use for music and movies. What brands/models would you recommend? Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Two questions: 1. budget? 2. what's your ratio of music to movies?
@@NemoPropaganda Hi Nemo, thank you for the quick reply. Budget for subwoofers (single or pair) is $5,000.00 +/-. Would love to spend less and put more money into other complements but I know the woofers are critical. Ratio is roughly 70% music, 25% movies at least for the next 1-3 years. Thank you for your time.
@@rockp5396 I'm not sure your room size and how much bass you want but a pair of REL T9X would be great, if those are too small for you the Rythmik F12SE is equally as amazing, and if that's still not big enough their larger ported FVX12 is insanely good for music (just as good as the best sealed subwoofers) and still has tremendous output for reference theater experience. They of course have even larger models like F15 and F18 if you want larger but that's where I would look since you're 70% music.
Forgot to add, there is of course larger REL models like Predator 1508 too but I have not them.
@@NemoPropaganda Awesome, I will check out these options. Do you have experience with JL? If yes, do you feel they are worth the money and a good option for my 70% music mix?
Nemo have you ever heard the REL S series S/812 or S/510?
No I have not :(
@@NemoPropaganda I would love to hear them. They're supposed to combine the musicality of the T series with the extension of the HT series. My end game setup is to have dual S/812.
@@Slickman2006 come hell or high water I will at some point review the S range at some point.
Do you think this sounds better than the SVS sb 2000 pro?
th-cam.com/video/rEz03XkcslI/w-d-xo.html