REL’s Driver Focused Design

Once we define our goals for a new range, or in this case a complete upgrade of a previously successful range like Serie S, our attention turns to the drivers. The original Serie S was our first time developing the extreme throw distances necessary to create modern high output subs. At 2” fore-and-aft both our 10” and 12” drivers had plenty of throw available. But now, with the S/812 and S/510, we are throwing anywhere from 20 to 100 percent more power at the drivers, and knew that the original designs were not up to the task.


After studying every part of the driver, visualizing what various elements must do under stress and using finite element analysis to confirm these findings, we found that we needed to subtly alter the dynamic balance of the moving structure of the driver to allow it to fully partake of the continuous levels of large motions and instantaneous dynamics we were about to require of them.

A brief examination of our toolbox was necessary, and I went through what we were working with: ultra-lightweight .5mm thick aluminium cones. Check. Oversized surround, hmm kinda check, but might need more. Then we turn to the less understood internal suspension, items like the spider, a pleated material used to locate and support the voice coil allowing it to remain centered throughout its stroke.