Brilliant review! I've had mine for about 4 years now, and it's been a blast to use for college parties. At one point the fuse blew out and kept blowing out immediately after replacing it multiple times, so I reached out to RSL about it. Joe Rodgers emailed back and told me I needed a new amp, so he sent one over - free of charge. It's been working perfectly since then. Top-notch subwoofer with excellent customer support. Glad I was able to get my hands on one before they started selling out. Love it!!
You sold me on this review a while back and I've been trying to find this sub since then. I finally was able to snag two of these as an open box option. Just waiting on them to be delivered now. Really like your reviews. Keep up the great work!
Glad to see Howard and Joe Rodgers getting some love. Been a customer of RSL since 2012. Their current CG5/CG25 series is the foundation of my HT rig. Class acts, both. Great video bro!
Another vote here for this sub, I've had mine for a few years along with RSL speakers and everything sounds great. Alot of great home theater subs dont do so well with music but man this thing sounds amazing with music. Kick drums sound insanely realistic. For $430 or whatever the increased price is this sub is a no brainer imo.
Here and there a unicorn slips through. Like the JBL Stage A130, outperforms and out measures many speakers costing way more. I was thinking about getting the SVS Sb1000 pro.
One thing that is often overlooked on the RSL Speedwoofer 10s is it’s versatility in setup. One of the reasons I went with it is because it’s has both LFE and speaker levels connections. Very few subs had both in its price range and on most that did you had to select which connection you were going to use. I like that I could use both connections simultaneously in my setup and have a lot of control over how the sub blends with my speakers.
I will take the musical sub any day over the controlled extended base you get with a home theater sub only. I think this is a great review for you since this product is pretty popular. I was looking at these last week..lol
I wanted to get this sub... when i contacted RSL.. they mentioned that they dont have a genuine distributor's in India to ship the product....now i own REL HT1205.
@@edwinsprojects7039 depends on what you're using it for. The larger ported RSL will have a stronger low end and more output overall. The smaller and sealed 1003 will have a tidier presentation and disappear a little better. If you want as much bass for your money get the RSL for sure, if you want something that's going to look nicer in the room and not draw attention to itself get the 1003.
I have this sub and everything you say is spot on! Absolutely best in class in its' price. However, my system has evolved where I feel it's time to step it up a notch. From the sounds of it though looks like you'll definitely be holding on to the F12SE and I'm out of luck. ;-) Honestly, this is a great review and always keeping it real. Props!
Hi Fantastic review I am considering the RSL Speedwoofer for my Elac debut 5.1 system, but also considering the REL HT1003. Which do you recommend for a mix of music and movies? Thanks KW
The speedwoofer being ported and larger overall should play louder and extend lower with more output at the lowest of frequencies. The REL should play tighter with a touch more bass detail, and quicker transient response. This is a close one but since you're 50/50 I think you'll appreciate the stronger low end of the RSL a lot more but if you value aesthetics... well the choice is easy then :).
Awesome review. I was cross shopping this with the L12 actually. Ended up going with the L12 because I figured it would be worth the extra money. Glad you confirmed this since I was never able to hear the speedwoofer. I may start recommending this to people who can't quite swing the L12 now. Also the wireless option on the speedwoofer makes it a better option for those who need their sub to be placed behind their seating position or something, and can't run a cable for esthetic reasons.
The speedwoofer is excellent at $400 but Rythmik L12 is really something else. Essentially they're both dominant products at their respective price points.
I currently have a both in my house and the L12 is much tighter, a bit deeper and way nicer finished. The Speedwoofer finish is like a lunchbox, with sharp edges. My gloss white L12s are basically furniture grade from a quality standpoint. I like both but prefer the Rythmik by a fair amount. It satisfies my audiophile needs. The Speedwoofer had me almost there but not quite. I’d also add that I basically insist on running dual subs in an music rig and what is great about the RSL is that you can get duals for not a lot of money. Dual anything else is basically “too much $” in my headspace. Your situation may be different though. Oh, one last thing... customer service. Both companies made some mistakes on my order but with RSL, the owner Howard promptly emailed me and made things right. Enrique from Rythmik was super sporadic getting back to me. After like 6 unreturned messages I finally messaged the other owner Brian and got my issue fixed. So I’ll give RSL an A+ for customer service and Rythmik a C-. If anyone has comparison questions about these two products, lemme know.
I used to own a pair of these, and I think you nailed the review. I especially liked the comments on midbass, both regarding the RSL and more linear subs that go super deep but don't provide the most tactile experience. Personally I love tactile bass so that's I guess where we differ :) I also liked the comments on the obsession in audio with everyone constantly thinking and talking about how their $800 speakers sound like a $5000 pair. Or how it seems every product ever now "punches above its weight". It gets ridiculous.
@@NemoPropaganda Yeah still using a pair of them. Love em. But wouldn't mind having two 1508 Predators instead if I had the space! I think Ron is the best at reviewing 2-channel, hands down. Sean is good too but the man needs a break, he seems burned out. Shane has a great sense of humor, enjoy his different style. And then there is you, the sub king!
@@JPWinters honestly I just plugged it in and never looked back lol, I'll have to a/b it vs the internal node 2i dac some day. For power cables I just use the Maze Audio Ref4, so sexy!
Ha! Still watching your videos even though I am done with subwoofer buying for the foreseeable future. Just realized this half way through your presentation.
I do the same with zero fidelity and ShadoweliteHD lol, I just watch their videos like a TV show now :D. Or like Hitman89 can literally post anything and I will watch it, I love that mans content, if you're into gaming you should watch one of his videos, super entertaining!
Been waiting for this this one from you! Nailed it. Awesome review. I'm rocking two of these and definitely regard it as my best option for the price point. I'm glad to have the confirmation from an expert like yourself. Curious if you'd feel that two of these would be a better option than one $600-800 subwoofer.
I think that would really depend on what $600-$800 single sub you were comparing it to and what factors you were considering. For example a single REL T5x at $679 is "better" with respect to integration and transients but the RSL would still extend lower and play significantly louder. So really depends which metrics matter to you. Also depends what the rest of your system is. Basically too many factors :D
yes, sadly no review on those. They were on loan from a friend who had bought them second hand and I only had access them for 1 day. Aaaaaand, sadly they did have some damage so I could not make any fair assessment.
@@NemoPropaganda Hey Nemo, damn i just noticed them as well on the thumbnail and my eyes sparkled as i am interested in your opinion for speakers i have an interest in. I am a bit curious did they sound like " warm but lively " to you as well like Sean from ZF described them? Also how did you find out that they were broken if they had no visible damage? Thanks !
@@bloodbathory5624 the drivers were blown, most likely as a result of distortion or DC offset at some point in their life. They weren't totally blown but my ear is very sensitive to that kind of stuff. It's no fault of the speakers. Yes Sean's assessments as always are bang on.
Bro plz, don't be stupid, this comment makes my brain hurt... You want a subwoofer demo that you're gonna watch on your phone or laptop that probably have a -20db point at 500hz!! Are you crazy? Come on man, don't come with such bullshit next time you comment, think a little bit my man, the good lord gave you a brain, lets use it my friend.
Hello, thank you for your feedback ! I'm sold ! O'll get two of them ! A questionn: please provide information of 2 best, pivot on-ceilimg speakers and on wall center channel. Thank you !!!
Great review! Your knowledge and experience is very helpful. Do you have any thoughts on the Golden Ear Supersub XXL? I know it's not a new sub but it's definitely Intriguing and not much info about it out there
Thank you Josh, I have not heard it but at that price I would be more interested in hearing the KEF KF92 or REL S/810. Also a stamped basket at $2200 is a bit of a slap in the face to the consumer.
@@NemoPropaganda Dual kf92 's are definitely an option. I'm just not sure they have enough output for my large great room. Dual Rel S/812 isn't quit right for me for ascetic and physical cabinet depth. I wish Rel would have come out with a TX series sub with 12" driver. I'm still leaning towards dual sb3000. Sorry for rambling. Always appreciate your time
@@joshdekubber3631 it's all good brother, I love rambling myself :D I love it so much I film it and put on youtube lol. The SB-3000 is a beast of a subwoofer, if you're looking for maximum output from a small & good looking enclosure the SB3000 is the best for that. I like mine a lot, I just wasn't able to play it the way it needed to be played since my room was too small.
ok but say this rsl compared to the svs pb1000 pro... just returned the sb1000 pro as i found it to turn their satellites into a nice 3 way.. not a dis on the sub at all was very clear just more like a tower woofer than a sub, just not room filling 13x18-9 foot ceilings, speakers on the 13' wall.. then the only experience if had with sealed subs was car audio and i could feel those in my chest with simple fosgate sub and 300 rms amp... so was hoping for that kind of sound out of the sb1000... but it fell short of that to me
You have a medium sized room, I don't think a single SB-1000 would be enough so I'm not surprised. Car audio is very different than home audio, cabin gain can be wild on some cars but that's a whole other story so I'll just leave it at that. The RSL being ported will have more output and extension than the sealed SB-1000. The PB-1000 being ported and larger overall will have more output than the 10" RSL. If you're looking for a good budget sealed sub the Rythmik L12 is a killer option at $589. If you want ported either the RSL or PB-1000 should be able to fill your room. But if you're looking for theater levels of bass you should consider duals or a larger single subwoofer like the PB-2000 pro. Lastly out of all the subwoofers mentioned the RSL does have more of that chest feeling bass if that's what you're looking for while SVS ported subs have more rumble. Hope this helps.
@@NemoPropaganda that helps a lot thank you for the response... rsl sounds like what im after i like to be involved in the music and movies more than just here the room shake
@@NemoPropaganda worst part now... waiting over a month... this will test my patience to no end lol... decided to upgrade speakers as well to fluance signature bookshelf 5.0 system.. 4 bookshelves and a center...
I wonder which sub you’d recommend for my situation. RSL Speedwoofer 10 MkII vs B&W ASW608. Desktop, Audioengine HD3 (no room for larger skrs), Music 50%, Zoom20%, YT 30% of time, Room is 11”x10” w large table and buffet. I use a high-end 5.2 HT for movies & TV (90%) & music (10%). I’ve seen your comparison of Emotiva, Aperion and the B&W where you expressed your praise for the B&W for music. Do you still do so when compared to the RSL? I’m ok spending more on the B&W for a more enjoyable music listening experience. With the HD3’s, will the quality of the B&W be significantly be more discernible over the RSL?
Hi bro, I don't really recommend the ASW608 anymore these days, instead I suggest the REL T5X for customers that are willing to pay a little more to have excellent SQ but don't need a big sub. Conversly you can also go with the REL HT1003 MK2. Either option is better than the ASW608. As far as output is concerned the RSL is the king for the under $500 category but the more expensive REL options offer a level of fidelity that is not seen in the RSL or most other subs. If $500 is you rmax budget go for the RSL, if you can spend a little more get the REL HT1003 MK2.
Do like the comparisons with other subs, actually gives me an idea of "for the money", also, what are those speakers you've got up? Do like the look of them.
Mine will be here next week. I’m curious about something… I have an older M&K V125 that I have used over 15 years. Very musical, 12”, but sealed and only 125w. What can I expect if I run the RSL and the M&K together? Would they not be a good pairing? Should I do away with the V125 and just use the RSL.
A lot of people slept on the monolith 10 when it first came out for $500 or on sale for $450 with 500rms and has been known to get down to 16hz..now unfortunately version 2 of the 10 is $150 more than the original with the same specs..
You have posted this identical comment twice now in 9 days, if I see it a third time I will assume you are a bot and you will be blocked. If you are a real person then please do not do this.
Hi Can you help me decide between Polk Hts 10 and the Speedwoofer, I like the Polk's look and I have heard good reviews from them, but I don't want to lose performance for its looks, on the other hand my room is small, I was thinking of purchasing 2 Polk's for my small room I think is enough or should I get 2 Speedwoofer. Thanks.
Speedwoofer 10s is superior to the HTS10. Don't even waste your time thinking about it any further my bro. Also 1 Speedwoofer should be all you need :).
I’m having trouble getting the subwoofer to blend or sound right in my room when I pair it Polk LSiM 705s. Full range speakers. I just don’t use it the sub now. I wish I knew how to get it right.
Turn the frequency all the way down, set the phase to 0, turn up the gain a littlebit (you probaby had it too loud the first time). The subwoofer shouldn't dominate the music in any way. If you can't get it right turn the phase knob all the way to the other side and try again. Keep the frequency all the way down still. good luck.
I bought an elac 3010 on sale for $240ish for my 705s. I am currently looking for a speaker that sounds better than the polk lsim 705. I love mine. In fact with enough watts you may not need a sub. They do well. What components are you using?
@@jordantewari nice man! I would get an external class AB amp with more juice though. That's a high-end integrated but 90 watts isn't going to get you the bass output those can put out. Maybe Bi amp? Just my humble opinion. I push mine mostly with a Cambridge audio cxr200 (200 watts) and at times bi amp with a citation 7.1 (150 watts or 500 watts bridged) or a parasound 2250 v2. Depending on my mood, music, and dac I'm using.
I have a 400 to 600 dollar budget for a sub woofer to compliment my bedroom 2 channel system. I currently have a pair of dali zenzor 1s and an svs soundbase. I was looking at an rsl soeedwoofer,rel t5 x, or rhythmic l 12 as options. This is a music system first and I do like deephouse music and rap as well as classical jazz ect. The ported design is what intrigued me about the rsl as a lot of rap has 808 bass notes that dig deep. Any suggestions on which sub you would recommend? The svs soundbase has an optical out so this would potentially be used with my TV and double as a 2.1 channel but sound quality and accuracy is more important to me that boom bass .
@@NemoPropaganda awesome that's for your feedback and love ur channel. The no bs approach I'd great but you also give out tons of knowledge. You are an asset to the hifi community jeep up the good work!!
Is there a sub that has similar sound quality to this one but can dig deeper? I had a Speedwoofer 10S, the sound quality and integration with the speakers was amazing but it didn't dig deep enough for movies. I've had alot of different subs PSA, HSU, SVS, etc. and none of them blended in with my speakers as good as the RSL.
Hey Slickman! Sooo I'm guessing all the subs you've had have been ported subs, is that correct? If so the RSL plays more like a sealed sub with respect to transient response and things like that but still has the extension of a ported sub which is extremely rare at any price and especially so at $400. With that said the only one that has that same characteristic is the Rythmik FVX12.
you didn't compare this to REL HT1003, which is 'only' $100 more and sometimes they go on sale, so it's a fair comparison. so do you get more from the REL or this one is better for less?
@@Oeveoepaskaa bother? listen dude, i don't care about views, I do this for fun. I have already reviewed 3 different REL subwoofers, I can't review them all. You know I have this thing called a real life where I go to work, run a company, hang out with my friends, and this last part might really sound crazy but I have other hobbies too lol. Audio is just a small part of my life...
The HT1003 isn't going to have anywhere close to the output or power of the RSL. Going to be a totally different ballgame. But the HT1003 is going to be far superior for a small-medium music set up.
Dual asw608's or dual speedwoofers? I'm pairing these with emotiva t zero towers. The music I listen to needs good extension down into the mid 20s but I'm afraid the speedwoofers won't be articulate enough. I listen to a ton of electronic that has complex overlapping basslines and I need them to keep up. Dual asw608s would probably solve their issues with digging deep without running out of steam since I can turn both down a little to keep them from distorting while increasing the overall spl of the lower frequencies, but that would be about half the cost of the system. Is it worth spending that extra money? I was thinking I could probably lower the gain on the speedwoofers and get a little more control out of them.
eh, a few subwoofers I would take over the ASW608 would be the REL HT1003 and more importantly Rythmik L12. The ASW608 is good but the value proposition is poor unless you can find a used pair. While I love the SQ, the aforementioned REL and Rythmik are just as good and offer more SPL. With that said the speedwoofer should articulate plenty good for the tzero, why nor order 1 to start and see how you like it?
@@NemoPropaganda Yeah I'm new to the speaker game. Trying to get as close to the Hifiman Sundara's (my best pair of cans) level of detail and tightness in the bass while also retaining that planar extension. I'm asking a bit much of my speakers at my budget, but thanks to your videos and expertise I feel a little more comfortable. I have only heard good things about REL, so I'll definitely look into the one you mentioned
I get what your saying about products being more expensive and better but i believe in the law of diminishing returns and after a certain price point i dont think general sound quality increases that much. For me its more like incremental increases like say 10-20% improvement and then you have things like cosmetic changes, exotic materials, nicer finishes etc . So me for i think people have to be cautious with buying expensive hifi as i don't think your always guaranteed that massive improvement buy spending a tonne of extra money on these things and some cheaper options offer much better value for money overall.
Fuck the law of diminishing returns. That extra performance gain and to have something that doesn't look like it's cheap as hell is value the me. I couldn't sleep at night knowing I should have spent a few extra bucks to get something that was better in many ways instead of being a cheap ass. My wife is a cheap ass and cheaper is not better. It's usually more of a headache. The product isn't as reliable, looks terrible and performs not as well. Audiophiles say the law of diminishing returns because it makes them feel better about themselves because they're cheap as fuck. Do yourself a favor and just buy what you want because it makes you happy. Don't worry about anyone else telling you that you spent too much. Those people telling you that you spent too much, all drive Kia's and Hyundai's. There's my rant for the morning. Sorry for venting. I just hate it when people bring up the point of diminishing returns. It's like, it's all they care about. All I care about is getting a great product that performs and looks great, no matter how much it costs.
@@dicmccoy you are obviously entitled to your opinion, albeit quite an aggressive one... Just like i am entitled to my opinion. The law of diminishing returns is very much real and relates to many things in life not just audio. But there are some people that feel happy to spend 2 or 3 times the amount just to gain 20% more and a nicer look/finish. There is a really interesting channel on here called GR research and this guy takes apart speakers to see what's actually inside of them. Its a real eye opener, in one video he takes apart a Dynaudio special 40, quite an expensive speaker and its not actually very special at all when you look at the parts used inside. So my opinion will stay the same , very expensive high end audio is over priced.
@HJC @Richard McCoy Hey guys, so let me chime in real quick, essentially diminishing return and value go hand in hand. The problem is "value" is a very personal thing. What is value to me is perhaps not value to everyone. The amount of money you have and the amount you are comfortable spending all play a big factor here. Expressing the improvement in percentages is also not ideal. 10-20% may not sound like a lot but boys lets be honest I think all 3 of us would happily take a 10-20% increase below the belt :D Suffice it to say 10-20% could be a big improvement in something. A man who is only 5'4" gaining 10% in height would be nearly 6ft tall. So that last 10% can really be a HUGE deal as we all know there is a huge difference between being 5'4" and 6ft tall.
@@NemoPropaganda 20 or 30% below the belt 🤣😅 So funny but true ! I upgraded my Hegel H90 to a H120 for a pretty small increase in sound quality there were a few differences in build quality that made a difference for me. But i had to pay £1200 extra for these relatively small differences and sometimes i wonder if it was really worth it 🤔
@@hclandscapes If it puts a smile on your face and helps you sleep at night, then yes. But if you're restless at night wondering if you had spent too much. Then no. I don't really care about the costs. I just look at products within my budget and make sure it's going to put a smile on my face.
Would it be normal for me to hear port chuffing if I play a constant 25 or 30hz signal to it? A few of my tracks I play that dig deep cause it to chuff out of its port. Other than that this subwoofer is awesome. I have my gain set to 65% and my powered speakers have the base level maxed out.
Most vented subwoofers will chuff when pushed to the limit. It just comes with the territory. You get a ton of output versus a similar sealed sub but you'll get some port noise near the limit.
@@NemoPropaganda with the gain only set to ~65% should I be pushing the limit in order to hear it produce chuffing from the port? I figured this was normal until I asked a couple people who claim their Speedwoofers don’t chuff at all. Currently I have them plugged into Klipsch r51pm’s (I know not the best powered bookshelf speakers) and I have the subwoofer volume at max (from the speakers not the gain nob on the actual box) other people who I have asked claim if they test this subwoofer at 25-30hz constant signal they get not port chuffing noise, which I think couldn’t be true, but I do not have a second one to check it against.
@@Kole208 gain is relative, your sub could be maxed out with the gain set to only half depending on the rest of your settings and source material. It's normal bro. Not everyone will notice, some people listen at lower volumes, some rooms hide it but most vented subs chuff at the limit, even big expensive ones like the SVS PB16 Ultra. That's one of the reasons a lot of theater enthusiasts are starting to use sealed 18" subs. If you're really worried maybe contact RSL just in case, they're very nice people.
@@NemoPropaganda I will say the subwoofer is fantastic especially using it in a smaller room, just have been a little worried about the chuffing here and there. It’s definitely significant if I play one of those signals mentioned above. I just wanted to make sure it was normal, cause everyone else I’ve spoken to who owns the subwoofer says theirs has none at all just about
@@Kole208 they probably don't have the volume turned up as loud, you probably have a more extreme taste for bass than you realize. Try to feel inside the port and make sure theres no obstruction or rough lip where the wood joins, tiny chance you could have got a bad cabinet but thats really rare. That's happened to me in car audio. The port should be smooth all the way through. If theres a hard edge it will chuff sooner.
@@NemoPropaganda Hi Nemo. Thank you and thanks again. I really really enjoy your non bullshit and non forever circle talking reviews, but you already knew that,, 😎. I see you got a couple of Triangles. Cool. Iw got the Signature Theta,s with the Signature center, and they are simply maaahvolous. Truly speakers for tired studio workers. Have the best of times, good luck with watever your doin´, and Im looking forward towards the next reiew from you. Cheers friend,, 🍻😋👍.
@@IrenESorius I read "marvelous" like an old aristocrat woman 🤣 Oh man thetas!? You really do have an epic system!! Sadly these will not be reviewed as I only had them for 24 hours, they were bought on the used market by a friend and potentially had been abused so I returned them to him right away.
ehhh, not really 🤦♂️ since I own it there is no time table, it'll most likely be last on my list since review samples get priority due to the limited time I have with them.
The ASW610 is an $800 subwoofer with only maybe 100w rms, it can't really compete here, if you can find a used one that would be a better deal. Tonally the 610 will be richer and offer up more bass detail but its SPL is very lacking for the price.
@@NemoPropaganda thanks for the response. In my setup right now i got Klipsch bookshelf speakers a r-112 klipsch sub but when i turn it up loud cant hear the bass anymore. Seems to me it doesn’t have enough mid bass. Correct?
@@KrsMpv ehhh that's kind of strange, it shouldn't do that, it could be running out of power if the room is big, without being there it's almost impossible to be sure. Try disconnecting your speakers and turn up the volume slowly to how loud it usually cuts out and see if at some point the sub stops getting louder. If so then it's running out of power and you need something stronger like an SVS SB-2000 or PB2000 if want a ported one :).
@@NemoPropaganda thank you i will try that! If so I might return it and try to run a dual svs setup or keep the Klipsch and add two speed woofers. Btw i listen to music 90% of the time. What do you think
I'm sorry, but especially in audio you hit a point of diminishing returns. I find it hard to believe that an $800 sub is twice as good as a $400 sub or a $400 sub is twice as good as a $200 sub or a $10,000 sub is astronomically better than a $1000 sub. Diminished returns is where we gotta draw a line in what gets you most of the way at the most effective cost.
What you're talking about it value, and value can be highly personal. Remember diminishing return is not zero return. Expensive products are rarely better dollar for dollar than their cheaper counterparts but sometimes they are. The Speedwoofer is easily twice as good if not 3 times as good as a $200 subwoofer. The Rythmik FVX12 is easily twice as good as a Speedwoofer, and so on. But not all value is performance based either. Some people have to spend more on subs because their room is bigger and they simply need more output or extension. At the end of the day though, all that matters is everyone is happy with their purchases :)
no way brother, those subs are waaaay too big and heavy for me to bother with. I might consider trying something like a Rythmik E or F 15 but that's about the maximum size limit I'd play with.
I don't think it's an expectation for something to perform at 90% of something that costs more, it's the surprise when something does or at least approaches it. If you listen to something or buy something that is built like something that someone else is charging more for and it's something you would have otherwise been comfortable paying that price for...it's a win. I don't expect a Corolla to be almost an Avalon, but if it happens to be and is still 17k how am I supposed to feel about that? Products like this exist, though it may not be this one. You get more for your money in general, but you also are not getting all of the money you spend in the product that costs more. Everything we buy costs a fraction of what we pay for it to be made and that scales up the more we pay and the more prestigious it is. My 3 cents
I havn't heard the monolith but on paper it's much larger and should play louder. If it's for a theater the monolith may offer more output and room shaking rumble. If it's for the music the RSL should offer up better transient response and sound better for music while still offering up tons of room shaking bass for movies, just perhaps not as much rumble as the larger monolith. Again, this is just a guess as I've not heard the monolith.
@@NemoPropaganda Thank you for your feedback. After I read you comment I settled for the RSL. I do hope your channel grows, I have an easier time relating and following all your presentations.
why you ask twice lol? here it is again in case someone reads the comments and wants the answer: depends on what you're using it for. The larger ported RSL will have a stronger low end and more output overall. The smaller and sealed 1003 will have a tidier presentation and disappear a little better. If you want as much bass for your money get the RSL for sure, if you want something that's going to look nicer in the room and not draw attention to itself get the 1003.
I don't have a strong opinion of one over the other. Both are good. The RSL is cool because it has a strong bottom end and is still very tactile, the 1000 Pro is cool because it looks a little nicer, is smaller overall, and has a lot more setup options and features. Each one is a good value.
I don't know if you saw it but I put it to a vote in the community page, I had a speaker review ready at the same time and more people voted for the sub review so speaker review will be next weekend :)
@@NemoPropaganda I didn't but, I get it, the world is full of bass heads :) Enjoy your content for the most part, just getting a little subbed out, haha
are they better because they cost more? NO!!! they are better because of superior construction. but if you select audio gear just because it's expensive I'm not going to be in your way.
I completely agree however the two generally go hand in hand. Some companies may charge more for an inferior product or one that is at the end of its life cycle and wildly out dated but I think that is very rare. As always the consumer must make the smart decision and never buy just based off of price. Buying a subwoofer just based off of price might cause you to end up with something way to large lol
I disagree with ranking output and extension 100 percent on price No way the KEF goes as low or loud The SVS micro 3000 doesn’t come close to the 10S per CEA10 results available from Brent butterworth The Micro 3000 performs as well as the kef cube The money is in the brand name and engineering to get respectable results from a tiny cube with a tiny driver If comparisons of output are based on price /wattage. we wouldn’t need a review
i don't think I said the KC62 plays as loud but it certainly can extend lower at least before the active DSP kicks in and rolls it off, something I clearly mentioned in the video for that subwoofer. I don't believe I did a 3000 micro comparison in this video so i don't why that's being brought up. Furthermore I don't believe I at any point ranked output and extension based on price. If you watch my content regularly you'll see I generally correlate output/extension with the size of the overall subwoofer. I've even gone as far to say (in other videos) that wattage is not the end all of subwoofer output and other factors like Fs, cabinet, and overall system efficiency is often times more important. I can't say everything you want me to say in every single video as they would easily exceed 1 hour each. It is the end users responsibility to have some knowledge and general understanding of the fundamentals. If you want to judge me please do so on the body of my work and not a single page from the book and if you don't like my content that's cool too, notice in the video I never said "like & subscribe" because I don't give a shit.
@@NemoPropaganda but your wrong. The KEF will not extend as low ….and for all your whining about taking cabinet size into account you should know that. So should subscriber’s trying to make an expensive decision. U did say theKEF is“better in every way” Now the mention of the 3000 micro. Proven to not come close in output OR extension to the 10S ( i can link u up for a lesson in physics). And it costs 100 percent more as opposed to just 49 percent so ur corolla theory is shot to shit Sorry to be so rude but u really asked for it
Brilliant review! I've had mine for about 4 years now, and it's been a blast to use for college parties. At one point the fuse blew out and kept blowing out immediately after replacing it multiple times, so I reached out to RSL about it. Joe Rodgers emailed back and told me I needed a new amp, so he sent one over - free of charge. It's been working perfectly since then. Top-notch subwoofer with excellent customer support. Glad I was able to get my hands on one before they started selling out. Love it!!
good to know they stand behind their products!
You sold me on this review a while back and I've been trying to find this sub since then. I finally was able to snag two of these as an open box option. Just waiting on them to be delivered now. Really like your reviews. Keep up the great work!
Nice dude!!!
Glad to see Howard and Joe Rodgers getting some love. Been a customer of RSL since 2012. Their current CG5/CG25 series is the foundation of my HT rig. Class acts, both. Great video bro!
Thanks AJ! Yeah I've had my eye on this sub for a couple years now, really happy I finally got to hear it. Certainly lived up to the hype!
I wish they'd make an old school 3-way again.
Another vote here for this sub, I've had mine for a few years along with RSL speakers and everything sounds great. Alot of great home theater subs dont do so well with music but man this thing sounds amazing with music. Kick drums sound insanely realistic. For $430 or whatever the increased price is this sub is a no brainer imo.
Hey Ranjit, I totally agree! Glad you're enjoying it :)
Here and there a unicorn slips through. Like the JBL Stage A130, outperforms and out measures many speakers costing way more. I was thinking about getting the SVS Sb1000 pro.
Saw your review on that JBL! I really have my heart set on the a170 2.5 way Tower version of that bookie
One thing that is often overlooked on the RSL Speedwoofer 10s is it’s versatility in setup. One of the reasons I went with it is because it’s has both LFE and speaker levels connections. Very few subs had both in its price range and on most that did you had to select which connection you were going to use. I like that I could use both connections simultaneously in my setup and have a lot of control over how the sub blends with my speakers.
I will take the musical sub any day over the controlled extended base you get with a home theater sub only. I think this is a great review for you since this product is pretty popular. I was looking at these last week..lol
I wanted to get this sub... when i contacted RSL.. they mentioned that they dont have a genuine distributor's in India to ship the product....now i own REL HT1205.
Not to worry my friend, the 1205 is a very good subwoofer! I have one too and I love mine :D
@@NemoPropaganda would you Choose this RSL over the Rel HT 1003? Thanks:)
@@edwinsprojects7039 depends on what you're using it for. The larger ported RSL will have a stronger low end and more output overall. The smaller and sealed 1003 will have a tidier presentation and disappear a little better. If you want as much bass for your money get the RSL for sure, if you want something that's going to look nicer in the room and not draw attention to itself get the 1003.
I have this sub and everything you say is spot on! Absolutely best in class in its' price. However, my system has evolved where I feel it's time to step it up a notch. From the sounds of it though looks like you'll definitely be holding on to the F12SE and I'm out of luck. ;-) Honestly, this is a great review and always keeping it real. Props!
Thank's SC, I don't know if I'll keep the F12SE, I love it but a pair of T9x are on the way so who knows :D.
@@NemoPropaganda Just let me know i'm ready if you decide. :-)
looks like they have a newer version now, hope you can get 1 for us
I will :)
Hi Fantastic review I am considering the RSL Speedwoofer for my Elac debut 5.1 system, but also considering the REL HT1003. Which do you recommend for a mix of music and movies? Thanks KW
The speedwoofer being ported and larger overall should play louder and extend lower with more output at the lowest of frequencies. The REL should play tighter with a touch more bass detail, and quicker transient response. This is a close one but since you're 50/50 I think you'll appreciate the stronger low end of the RSL a lot more but if you value aesthetics... well the choice is easy then :).
Awesome review. I was cross shopping this with the L12 actually. Ended up going with the L12 because I figured it would be worth the extra money. Glad you confirmed this since I was never able to hear the speedwoofer. I may start recommending this to people who can't quite swing the L12 now. Also the wireless option on the speedwoofer makes it a better option for those who need their sub to be placed behind their seating position or something, and can't run a cable for esthetic reasons.
The speedwoofer is excellent at $400 but Rythmik L12 is really something else. Essentially they're both dominant products at their respective price points.
I currently have a both in my house and the L12 is much tighter, a bit deeper and way nicer finished. The Speedwoofer finish is like a lunchbox, with sharp edges. My gloss white L12s are basically furniture grade from a quality standpoint.
I like both but prefer the Rythmik by a fair amount. It satisfies my audiophile needs. The Speedwoofer had me almost there but not quite.
I’d also add that I basically insist on running dual subs in an music rig and what is great about the RSL is that you can get duals for not a lot of money. Dual anything else is basically “too much $” in my headspace. Your situation may be different though.
Oh, one last thing... customer service. Both companies made some mistakes on my order but with RSL, the owner Howard promptly emailed me and made things right. Enrique from Rythmik was super sporadic getting back to me. After like 6 unreturned messages I finally messaged the other owner Brian and got my issue fixed. So I’ll give RSL an A+ for customer service and Rythmik a C-.
If anyone has comparison questions about these two products, lemme know.
I used to own a pair of these, and I think you nailed the review. I especially liked the comments on midbass, both regarding the RSL and more linear subs that go super deep but don't provide the most tactile experience. Personally I love tactile bass so that's I guess where we differ :) I also liked the comments on the obsession in audio with everyone constantly thinking and talking about how their $800 speakers sound like a $5000 pair. Or how it seems every product ever now "punches above its weight". It gets ridiculous.
Yeah, honestly that's why I like channels like Zero Fidelity, NRD, & Sparechange so much, they never say that kind of stuff. You still using the 1205?
@@NemoPropaganda Yeah still using a pair of them. Love em. But wouldn't mind having two 1508 Predators instead if I had the space! I think Ron is the best at reviewing 2-channel, hands down. Sean is good too but the man needs a break, he seems burned out. Shane has a great sense of humor, enjoy his different style. And then there is you, the sub king!
@@NemoPropaganda Currently trying different power cords on my Schiit BiFrost 2. It changes the sub bass a lot. Hope you're enjoying the Modius.
@@JPWinters honestly I just plugged it in and never looked back lol, I'll have to a/b it vs the internal node 2i dac some day. For power cables I just use the Maze Audio Ref4, so sexy!
Reminds me of the Peerless XXLS-P835016 10" Black Aluminum Cone Subwoofer which goes for $160 USD by itself.
I too saw that resemblance, my guess is that's the OEM it's based off of and most likely a custom/upgraded version made exclusively for RSL.
Ha! Still watching your videos even though I am done with subwoofer buying for the foreseeable future. Just realized this half way through your presentation.
I do the same with zero fidelity and ShadoweliteHD lol, I just watch their videos like a TV show now :D. Or like Hitman89 can literally post anything and I will watch it, I love that mans content, if you're into gaming you should watch one of his videos, super entertaining!
Been waiting for this this one from you! Nailed it. Awesome review. I'm rocking two of these and definitely regard it as my best option for the price point. I'm glad to have the confirmation from an expert like yourself. Curious if you'd feel that two of these would be a better option than one $600-800 subwoofer.
I think that would really depend on what $600-$800 single sub you were comparing it to and what factors you were considering. For example a single REL T5x at $679 is "better" with respect to integration and transients but the RSL would still extend lower and play significantly louder. So really depends which metrics matter to you. Also depends what the rest of your system is. Basically too many factors :D
Hey Nemo, great review - couldn't agree with you more! This is a great little sub for $400.
Aye thank you! I just watched your mic review video, very good!
Be nice to hear it. Never understand why there are reviews of audio equipment with no sound demo.
how would a sound demo help though bro? Especially with bass??
Do I see the triangle genese trios I the background? Looking forward to the review!
yes, sadly no review on those. They were on loan from a friend who had bought them second hand and I only had access them for 1 day. Aaaaaand, sadly they did have some damage so I could not make any fair assessment.
@@NemoPropaganda Hey Nemo, damn i just noticed them as well on the thumbnail and my eyes sparkled as i am interested in your opinion for speakers i have an interest in. I am a bit curious did they sound like " warm but lively " to you as well like Sean from ZF described them? Also how did you find out that they were broken if they had no visible damage? Thanks !
@@bloodbathory5624 the drivers were blown, most likely as a result of distortion or DC offset at some point in their life. They weren't totally blown but my ear is very sensitive to that kind of stuff. It's no fault of the speakers. Yes Sean's assessments as always are bang on.
Your review is filled with words and more words, a demo would be nice.
Bro plz, don't be stupid, this comment makes my brain hurt... You want a subwoofer demo that you're gonna watch on your phone or laptop that probably have a -20db point at 500hz!! Are you crazy? Come on man, don't come with such bullshit next time you comment, think a little bit my man, the good lord gave you a brain, lets use it my friend.
@@NemoPropaganda a slight criticism you just call me names and go berzerk, you just accept praises are you? Just grow up.
@@yttean98 I didn't call you any names lol, what you said was stupid, it's okay, we all say stupid things sometimes.
Great review! It sound like RSL could bump there price up $50 and no one would flinch.
I would say yes if they upgraded the vinyl wrap to something more heavy duty and higher end looking like what Emotiva uses on the SE12 and B1+.
I would gladly pay $50 if they upgraded the cabinet by getting rid of the razor sharp edges and corners. Yuck. Good sub though.
Hello, thank you for your feedback ! I'm sold ! O'll get two of them !
A questionn: please provide information of 2 best, pivot on-ceilimg speakers and on wall center channel.
Thank you !!!
Hi Luis, I don't have any experiene with in ceiling speakers but the Emotiva Airmotiv Vaulta look promising.
@@NemoPropaganda Hemo, thank you so much for your recommendation ans your quick response !
I'll continue following you !
Sincerely,
Great review! Your knowledge and experience is very helpful.
Do you have any thoughts on the Golden Ear Supersub XXL? I know it's not a new sub but it's definitely
Intriguing and not much info about it out there
Thank you Josh, I have not heard it but at that price I would be more interested in hearing the KEF KF92 or REL S/810. Also a stamped basket at $2200 is a bit of a slap in the face to the consumer.
Thank you! I agree with all that. I guess I just needed to hear it from you. It's off the list
@@NemoPropaganda Dual kf92 's are definitely an option. I'm just not sure they have enough output for my large great room. Dual Rel S/812 isn't quit right for me for ascetic and physical cabinet depth. I wish Rel would have come out with a TX series sub with 12" driver. I'm still leaning towards dual sb3000. Sorry for rambling. Always appreciate your time
@@joshdekubber3631 it's all good brother, I love rambling myself :D I love it so much I film it and put on youtube lol. The SB-3000 is a beast of a subwoofer, if you're looking for maximum output from a small & good looking enclosure the SB3000 is the best for that. I like mine a lot, I just wasn't able to play it the way it needed to be played since my room was too small.
@@NemoPropaganda Thanks man Seriously you're a huge help!!
Kindly review SB-1000 (not pro) and how does it compare to Rythmik L12
I only have the Pro version here sorry, I don't review discontinued products.
@@NemoPropaganda 👍. Will still be worth it. Will wait.
ok but say this rsl compared to the svs pb1000 pro... just returned the sb1000 pro as i found it to turn their satellites into a nice 3 way.. not a dis on the sub at all was very clear just more like a tower woofer than a sub, just not room filling 13x18-9 foot ceilings, speakers on the 13' wall.. then the only experience if had with sealed subs was car audio and i could feel those in my chest with simple fosgate sub and 300 rms amp... so was hoping for that kind of sound out of the sb1000... but it fell short of that to me
You have a medium sized room, I don't think a single SB-1000 would be enough so I'm not surprised. Car audio is very different than home audio, cabin gain can be wild on some cars but that's a whole other story so I'll just leave it at that. The RSL being ported will have more output and extension than the sealed SB-1000. The PB-1000 being ported and larger overall will have more output than the 10" RSL. If you're looking for a good budget sealed sub the Rythmik L12 is a killer option at $589. If you want ported either the RSL or PB-1000 should be able to fill your room. But if you're looking for theater levels of bass you should consider duals or a larger single subwoofer like the PB-2000 pro. Lastly out of all the subwoofers mentioned the RSL does have more of that chest feeling bass if that's what you're looking for while SVS ported subs have more rumble. Hope this helps.
@@NemoPropaganda that helps a lot thank you for the response... rsl sounds like what im after i like to be involved in the music and movies more than just here the room shake
@@robc7812 Based on what you're saying I think so too. Order it asap though, they have a bit of a wait time :).
@@NemoPropaganda worst part now... waiting over a month... this will test my patience to no end lol... decided to upgrade speakers as well to fluance signature bookshelf 5.0 system.. 4 bookshelves and a center...
Good sub but..I got a monolith 10 thx sub for around $450 when they have free shipping..it's 500 rms but it is a lot bigger and takes up more room..
Are those the Triangle Genese Speaker s. How did you like them? How did they compare?
Yes they are. I only had them for about 24 hours (long story) so I don't really have an opinion on them but man were they good looking!!
I wonder which sub you’d recommend for my situation. RSL Speedwoofer 10 MkII vs B&W ASW608. Desktop, Audioengine HD3 (no room for larger skrs), Music 50%, Zoom20%, YT 30% of time, Room is 11”x10” w large table and buffet. I use a high-end 5.2 HT for movies & TV (90%) & music (10%). I’ve seen your comparison of Emotiva, Aperion and the B&W where you expressed your praise for the B&W for music. Do you still do so when compared to the RSL? I’m ok spending more on the B&W for a more enjoyable music listening experience. With the HD3’s, will the quality of the B&W be significantly be more discernible over the RSL?
Hi bro, I don't really recommend the ASW608 anymore these days, instead I suggest the REL T5X for customers that are willing to pay a little more to have excellent SQ but don't need a big sub. Conversly you can also go with the REL HT1003 MK2. Either option is better than the ASW608. As far as output is concerned the RSL is the king for the under $500 category but the more expensive REL options offer a level of fidelity that is not seen in the RSL or most other subs. If $500 is you rmax budget go for the RSL, if you can spend a little more get the REL HT1003 MK2.
Do like the comparisons with other subs, actually gives me an idea of "for the money",
also, what are those speakers you've got up? Do like the look of them.
Hi Sly Foxx! Those are the Triangle Genese Trio! Certainly are a beauty!
@@NemoPropaganda yeah they look it.👍
Mine will be here next week. I’m curious about something… I have an older M&K V125 that I have used over 15 years. Very musical, 12”, but sealed and only 125w. What can I expect if I run the RSL and the M&K together? Would they not be a good pairing? Should I do away with the V125 and just use the RSL.
I'm not a fan of mixing subs like that but I also believe experimentation is free so have some fun and see what happens :)
A lot of people slept on the monolith 10 when it first came out for $500 or on sale for $450 with 500rms and has been known to get down to 16hz..now unfortunately version 2 of the 10 is $150 more than the original with the same specs..
You have posted this identical comment twice now in 9 days, if I see it a third time I will assume you are a bot and you will be blocked. If you are a real person then please do not do this.
That sub is mighty impressive.🤓
Hi
Can you help me decide between Polk Hts 10 and the Speedwoofer, I like the Polk's look and I have heard good reviews from them, but I don't want to lose performance for its looks, on the other hand my room is small, I was thinking of purchasing 2 Polk's for my small room I think is enough or should I get 2 Speedwoofer.
Thanks.
Speedwoofer 10s is superior to the HTS10. Don't even waste your time thinking about it any further my bro. Also 1 Speedwoofer should be all you need :).
Thanks
I’m having trouble getting the subwoofer to blend or sound right in my room when I pair it Polk LSiM 705s. Full range speakers. I just don’t use it the sub now. I wish I knew how to get it right.
Turn the frequency all the way down, set the phase to 0, turn up the gain a littlebit (you probaby had it too loud the first time). The subwoofer shouldn't dominate the music in any way. If you can't get it right turn the phase knob all the way to the other side and try again. Keep the frequency all the way down still. good luck.
I bought an elac 3010 on sale for $240ish for my 705s. I am currently looking for a speaker that sounds better than the polk lsim 705. I love mine. In fact with enough watts you may not need a sub. They do well. What components are you using?
@@ufarkingicehole as1100 Yamaha.
@@jordantewari nice man! I would get an external class AB amp with more juice though. That's a high-end integrated but 90 watts isn't going to get you the bass output those can put out. Maybe Bi amp? Just my humble opinion. I push mine mostly with a Cambridge audio cxr200 (200 watts) and at times bi amp with a citation 7.1 (150 watts or 500 watts bridged) or a parasound 2250 v2. Depending on my mood, music, and dac I'm using.
Any thoughts on how this would compare to the similarly priced BIC Acoustech Elite Series PL-300 ($429)?
Hey Jag, no I've never heard a BIC subwoofer.
I would place my bet on this boutique, very high specced sub to slaughter the mass production, Amazon Special Bic.
@@Audfile that's pretty much my guess also.
@@NemoPropaganda yeah, for quality of sound, punch, separation of bass tones. I'm sure the bic will flap your wall hangings, about it.
@@Audfile the bic is a good buy digs super deep for movies and has power, but is a little sloppy if ur looking for more articulate bass for music.
I have a 400 to 600 dollar budget for a sub woofer to compliment my bedroom 2 channel system. I currently have a pair of dali zenzor 1s and an svs soundbase. I was looking at an rsl soeedwoofer,rel t5 x, or rhythmic l 12 as options. This is a music system first and I do like deephouse music and rap as well as classical jazz ect. The ported design is what intrigued me about the rsl as a lot of rap has 808 bass notes that dig deep. Any suggestions on which sub you would recommend? The svs soundbase has an optical out so this would potentially be used with my TV and double as a 2.1 channel but sound quality and accuracy is more important to me that boom bass .
Rythmik L12 gets my vote, it'll hit that 808 bass you're looking for easily and still have tons of fidelity.
@@NemoPropaganda awesome that's for your feedback and love ur channel. The no bs approach I'd great but you also give out tons of knowledge. You are an asset to the hifi community jeep up the good work!!
@@anthonyalvarado1635 i appreciate that, thank you!
So I have the speedwoofer but ready to move up but not too much. What sub should I get for around 1000$ mostly music and games.
Rythmik L12 or F12-400.
Is this too much for under a desk with LSX. I am thinking about the Rel T Zero MK3
I think it will be fine, I'd go as large as a Rythmik L12 but not larger.
Is there a sub that has similar sound quality to this one but can dig deeper? I had a Speedwoofer 10S, the sound quality and integration with the speakers was amazing but it didn't dig deep enough for movies. I've had alot of different subs PSA, HSU, SVS, etc. and none of them blended in with my speakers as good as the RSL.
Hey Slickman! Sooo I'm guessing all the subs you've had have been ported subs, is that correct? If so the RSL plays more like a sealed sub with respect to transient response and things like that but still has the extension of a ported sub which is extremely rare at any price and especially so at $400. With that said the only one that has that same characteristic is the Rythmik FVX12.
you didn't compare this to REL HT1003, which is 'only' $100 more and sometimes they go on sale, so it's a fair comparison. so do you get more from the REL or this one is better for less?
as @Oeveoepaskaa has mentioned I do not have the HT1003 so a direct comparison would be too much guessing.
@@Oeveoepaskaa bother? listen dude, i don't care about views, I do this for fun. I have already reviewed 3 different REL subwoofers, I can't review them all. You know I have this thing called a real life where I go to work, run a company, hang out with my friends, and this last part might really sound crazy but I have other hobbies too lol. Audio is just a small part of my life...
The HT1003 isn't going to have anywhere close to the output or power of the RSL. Going to be a totally different ballgame. But the HT1003 is going to be far superior for a small-medium music set up.
@@Oeveoepaskaa thank you, sorry I just get frustrated when people bring up "views" and stuff like that, i get a little sensitive.
Is this good for the party music like edm,techno or etc.?thanks.
Yes absolutely, I love EDM and listen to a lot of it. Check out Play by Alan Walker!
Awesome review and well said. Very nice with my Emotiva ta-100 & Elac debut 2.0 b6.5.
That's a great system!
Dual asw608's or dual speedwoofers? I'm pairing these with emotiva t zero towers. The music I listen to needs good extension down into the mid 20s but I'm afraid the speedwoofers won't be articulate enough. I listen to a ton of electronic that has complex overlapping basslines and I need them to keep up. Dual asw608s would probably solve their issues with digging deep without running out of steam since I can turn both down a little to keep them from distorting while increasing the overall spl of the lower frequencies, but that would be about half the cost of the system. Is it worth spending that extra money? I was thinking I could probably lower the gain on the speedwoofers and get a little more control out of them.
eh, a few subwoofers I would take over the ASW608 would be the REL HT1003 and more importantly Rythmik L12. The ASW608 is good but the value proposition is poor unless you can find a used pair. While I love the SQ, the aforementioned REL and Rythmik are just as good and offer more SPL. With that said the speedwoofer should articulate plenty good for the tzero, why nor order 1 to start and see how you like it?
@@NemoPropaganda Thanks for the insight. I'll do just that. :)
@@NemoPropaganda Yeah I'm new to the speaker game. Trying to get as close to the Hifiman Sundara's (my best pair of cans) level of detail and tightness in the bass while also retaining that planar extension. I'm asking a bit much of my speakers at my budget, but thanks to your videos and expertise I feel a little more comfortable. I have only heard good things about REL, so I'll definitely look into the one you mentioned
Still waiting for mine
I get what your saying about products being more expensive and better but i believe in the law of diminishing returns and after a certain price point i dont think general sound quality increases that much. For me its more like incremental increases like say 10-20% improvement and then you have things like cosmetic changes, exotic materials, nicer finishes etc .
So me for i think people have to be cautious with buying expensive hifi as i don't think your always guaranteed that massive improvement buy spending a tonne of extra money on these things and some cheaper options offer much better value for money overall.
Fuck the law of diminishing returns. That extra performance gain and to have something that doesn't look like it's cheap as hell is value the me. I couldn't sleep at night knowing I should have spent a few extra bucks to get something that was better in many ways instead of being a cheap ass. My wife is a cheap ass and cheaper is not better. It's usually more of a headache. The product isn't as reliable, looks terrible and performs not as well. Audiophiles say the law of diminishing returns because it makes them feel better about themselves because they're cheap as fuck. Do yourself a favor and just buy what you want because it makes you happy. Don't worry about anyone else telling you that you spent too much. Those people telling you that you spent too much, all drive Kia's and Hyundai's.
There's my rant for the morning. Sorry for venting. I just hate it when people bring up the point of diminishing returns. It's like, it's all they care about. All I care about is getting a great product that performs and looks great, no matter how much it costs.
@@dicmccoy you are obviously entitled to your opinion, albeit quite an aggressive one...
Just like i am entitled to my opinion.
The law of diminishing returns is very much real and relates to many things in life not just audio.
But there are some people that feel happy to spend 2 or 3 times the amount just to gain 20% more and a nicer look/finish.
There is a really interesting channel on here called GR research and this guy takes apart speakers to see what's actually inside of them.
Its a real eye opener, in one video he takes apart a Dynaudio special 40, quite an expensive speaker and its not actually very special at all when you look at the parts used inside.
So my opinion will stay the same , very expensive high end audio is over priced.
@HJC @Richard McCoy Hey guys, so let me chime in real quick, essentially diminishing return and value go hand in hand. The problem is "value" is a very personal thing. What is value to me is perhaps not value to everyone. The amount of money you have and the amount you are comfortable spending all play a big factor here. Expressing the improvement in percentages is also not ideal. 10-20% may not sound like a lot but boys lets be honest I think all 3 of us would happily take a 10-20% increase below the belt :D Suffice it to say 10-20% could be a big improvement in something. A man who is only 5'4" gaining 10% in height would be nearly 6ft tall. So that last 10% can really be a HUGE deal as we all know there is a huge difference between being 5'4" and 6ft tall.
@@NemoPropaganda 20 or 30% below the belt 🤣😅
So funny but true !
I upgraded my Hegel H90 to a H120 for a pretty small increase in sound quality there were a few differences in build quality that made a difference for me.
But i had to pay £1200 extra for these relatively small differences and sometimes i wonder if it was really worth it 🤔
@@hclandscapes If it puts a smile on your face and helps you sleep at night, then yes. But if you're restless at night wondering if you had spent too much. Then no. I don't really care about the costs. I just look at products within my budget and make sure it's going to put a smile on my face.
Would it be normal for me to hear port chuffing if I play a constant 25 or 30hz signal to it? A few of my tracks I play that dig deep cause it to chuff out of its port. Other than that this subwoofer is awesome. I have my gain set to 65% and my powered speakers have the base level maxed out.
Most vented subwoofers will chuff when pushed to the limit. It just comes with the territory. You get a ton of output versus a similar sealed sub but you'll get some port noise near the limit.
@@NemoPropaganda with the gain only set to ~65% should I be pushing the limit in order to hear it produce chuffing from the port? I figured this was normal until I asked a couple people who claim their Speedwoofers don’t chuff at all. Currently I have them plugged into Klipsch r51pm’s (I know not the best powered bookshelf speakers) and I have the subwoofer volume at max (from the speakers not the gain nob on the actual box) other people who I have asked claim if they test this subwoofer at 25-30hz constant signal they get not port chuffing noise, which I think couldn’t be true, but I do not have a second one to check it against.
@@Kole208 gain is relative, your sub could be maxed out with the gain set to only half depending on the rest of your settings and source material. It's normal bro. Not everyone will notice, some people listen at lower volumes, some rooms hide it but most vented subs chuff at the limit, even big expensive ones like the SVS PB16 Ultra. That's one of the reasons a lot of theater enthusiasts are starting to use sealed 18" subs. If you're really worried maybe contact RSL just in case, they're very nice people.
@@NemoPropaganda I will say the subwoofer is fantastic especially using it in a smaller room, just have been a little worried about the chuffing here and there. It’s definitely significant if I play one of those signals mentioned above. I just wanted to make sure it was normal, cause everyone else I’ve spoken to who owns the subwoofer says theirs has none at all just about
@@Kole208 they probably don't have the volume turned up as loud, you probably have a more extreme taste for bass than you realize. Try to feel inside the port and make sure theres no obstruction or rough lip where the wood joins, tiny chance you could have got a bad cabinet but thats really rare. That's happened to me in car audio. The port should be smooth all the way through. If theres a hard edge it will chuff sooner.
Hmmm,, weird. 🤔
Saw today that my comment was deleted.
Best reviews as always Nemo. ⭐/⭐
Thank you Irene, I appreciate you!
@@NemoPropaganda
Hi Nemo. Thank you and thanks again.
I really really enjoy your non bullshit and non forever circle talking reviews, but you already knew that,, 😎.
I see you got a couple of Triangles. Cool.
Iw got the Signature Theta,s with the Signature center, and they are simply maaahvolous. Truly speakers for tired studio workers.
Have the best of times, good luck with watever your doin´, and Im looking forward towards the next reiew from you.
Cheers friend,, 🍻😋👍.
@@IrenESorius I read "marvelous" like an old aristocrat woman 🤣 Oh man thetas!? You really do have an epic system!! Sadly these will not be reviewed as I only had them for 24 hours, they were bought on the used market by a friend and potentially had been abused so I returned them to him right away.
Great to hear your thoughts on this sub. Can't wait for your review on the SB-1000 Pro! Is that coming soon?
ehhh, not really 🤦♂️ since I own it there is no time table, it'll most likely be last on my list since review samples get priority due to the limited time I have with them.
@@NemoPropaganda that makes sense bro but man I can’t wait!
@@NemoPropaganda What made you buy it with all the subs you have tested?
@@WWeiss-nv5vz I wanted to hear it and had too much pride to ask for a review sample :).
What about compared to B&W asw610?
The ASW610 is an $800 subwoofer with only maybe 100w rms, it can't really compete here, if you can find a used one that would be a better deal. Tonally the 610 will be richer and offer up more bass detail but its SPL is very lacking for the price.
Is a sealed sub better for hip hop music?
it doesn't really work that way. It just depends what your taste is and what you're looking for in the sound.
@@NemoPropaganda thanks for the response. In my setup right now i got Klipsch bookshelf speakers a r-112 klipsch sub but when i turn it up loud cant hear the bass anymore. Seems to me it doesn’t have enough mid bass. Correct?
@@KrsMpv ehhh that's kind of strange, it shouldn't do that, it could be running out of power if the room is big, without being there it's almost impossible to be sure. Try disconnecting your speakers and turn up the volume slowly to how loud it usually cuts out and see if at some point the sub stops getting louder. If so then it's running out of power and you need something stronger like an SVS SB-2000 or PB2000 if want a ported one :).
@@NemoPropaganda thank you i will try that! If so I might return it and try to run a dual svs setup or keep the Klipsch and add two speed woofers. Btw i listen to music 90% of the time. What do you think
@@KrsMpv 1 or 2 speedwoofers will be the best value. Or 1 svs sb-2000 pro. That’s a tough choice honestly.
I'm sorry, but especially in audio you hit a point of diminishing returns. I find it hard to believe that an $800 sub is twice as good as a $400 sub or a $400 sub is twice as good as a $200 sub or a $10,000 sub is astronomically better than a $1000 sub. Diminished returns is where we gotta draw a line in what gets you most of the way at the most effective cost.
What you're talking about it value, and value can be highly personal. Remember diminishing return is not zero return. Expensive products are rarely better dollar for dollar than their cheaper counterparts but sometimes they are. The Speedwoofer is easily twice as good if not 3 times as good as a $200 subwoofer. The Rythmik FVX12 is easily twice as good as a Speedwoofer, and so on. But not all value is performance based either. Some people have to spend more on subs because their room is bigger and they simply need more output or extension. At the end of the day though, all that matters is everyone is happy with their purchases :)
Great review! It's time to start reviewing rhe big boys 18" and 21"
no way brother, those subs are waaaay too big and heavy for me to bother with. I might consider trying something like a Rythmik E or F 15 but that's about the maximum size limit I'd play with.
I don't think it's an expectation for something to perform at 90% of something that costs more, it's the surprise when something does or at least approaches it. If you listen to something or buy something that is built like something that someone else is charging more for and it's something you would have otherwise been comfortable paying that price for...it's a win.
I don't expect a Corolla to be almost an Avalon, but if it happens to be and is still 17k how am I supposed to feel about that? Products like this exist, though it may not be this one. You get more for your money in general, but you also are not getting all of the money you spend in the product that costs more. Everything we buy costs a fraction of what we pay for it to be made and that scales up the more we pay and the more prestigious it is. My 3 cents
Yeah, I just think value is a personal thing.
This or the Monolith 10in THX? The Monolith is on sale for about the same price.
I havn't heard the monolith but on paper it's much larger and should play louder. If it's for a theater the monolith may offer more output and room shaking rumble. If it's for the music the RSL should offer up better transient response and sound better for music while still offering up tons of room shaking bass for movies, just perhaps not as much rumble as the larger monolith. Again, this is just a guess as I've not heard the monolith.
@@NemoPropaganda Thank you for your feedback. After I read you comment I settled for the RSL. I do hope your channel grows, I have an easier time relating and following all your presentations.
@@ivangarciaramos3940 Thank's Ivan, I appreciate that!!
That Mono 10" THX gets great reviews. 500 watts and 75 lbs!
Great comparison.
thank you hector, I did also review the new version if you want to see that :)
HELP!!! RSL Speedwoofer 10s or Rel HT1003? N
why you ask twice lol? here it is again in case someone reads the comments and wants the answer: depends on what you're using it for. The larger ported RSL will have a stronger low end and more output overall. The smaller and sealed 1003 will have a tidier presentation and disappear a little better. If you want as much bass for your money get the RSL for sure, if you want something that's going to look nicer in the room and not draw attention to itself get the 1003.
I bought two and can't come up with anything better for what I spent.
I agree
This or SVS SB 1000 pro?
I don't have a strong opinion of one over the other. Both are good. The RSL is cool because it has a strong bottom end and is still very tactile, the 1000 Pro is cool because it looks a little nicer, is smaller overall, and has a lot more setup options and features. Each one is a good value.
Here we've got, another sub.......
I don't know if you saw it but I put it to a vote in the community page, I had a speaker review ready at the same time and more people voted for the sub review so speaker review will be next weekend :)
@@NemoPropaganda I didn't but, I get it, the world is full of bass heads :) Enjoy your content for the most part, just getting a little subbed out, haha
@@ericjohnson829 did you catch the dali oberon review? Also Speaker review is coming next weekend :)
@@NemoPropaganda I did and appreciated it, I had been gaining interest in Dali of late! Look forward to it, thanks for what you do!
12:34 🤣lol
are they better because they cost more? NO!!! they are better because of superior construction. but if you select audio gear just because it's expensive I'm not going to be in your way.
I completely agree however the two generally go hand in hand. Some companies may charge more for an inferior product or one that is at the end of its life cycle and wildly out dated but I think that is very rare. As always the consumer must make the smart decision and never buy just based off of price. Buying a subwoofer just based off of price might cause you to end up with something way to large lol
I disagree with ranking output and extension 100 percent on price
No way the KEF goes as low or loud
The SVS micro 3000 doesn’t come close to the 10S per CEA10 results available from Brent butterworth
The Micro 3000 performs as well as the kef cube
The money is in the brand name and engineering to get respectable results from a tiny cube with a tiny driver
If comparisons of output are based on price /wattage. we wouldn’t need a review
i don't think I said the KC62 plays as loud but it certainly can extend lower at least before the active DSP kicks in and rolls it off, something I clearly mentioned in the video for that subwoofer. I don't believe I did a 3000 micro comparison in this video so i don't why that's being brought up. Furthermore I don't believe I at any point ranked output and extension based on price. If you watch my content regularly you'll see I generally correlate output/extension with the size of the overall subwoofer. I've even gone as far to say (in other videos) that wattage is not the end all of subwoofer output and other factors like Fs, cabinet, and overall system efficiency is often times more important. I can't say everything you want me to say in every single video as they would easily exceed 1 hour each. It is the end users responsibility to have some knowledge and general understanding of the fundamentals. If you want to judge me please do so on the body of my work and not a single page from the book and if you don't like my content that's cool too, notice in the video I never said "like & subscribe" because I don't give a shit.
@@NemoPropaganda but your wrong. The KEF will not extend as low ….and for all your whining about taking cabinet size into account you should know that. So should subscriber’s trying to make an expensive decision. U did say theKEF is“better in every way”
Now the mention of the 3000 micro. Proven to not come close in output OR extension to the 10S ( i can link u up for a lesson in physics). And it costs 100 percent more as opposed to just 49 percent so ur corolla theory is shot to shit
Sorry to be so rude but u really asked for it