If you’ve purchased a REL subwoofer, before you connect it (specifically using the REL high level cable), you need to know what type of amplifier you will be connecting to. Most amplifiers fall into one of a few types: Class A/B, Class D, Balanced, or Monoblock. Each connects to a REL subwoofer’s High Level input a specific way, so the first step is identifying which type you have.
This blog is the final installment in a three part series, each titled “Before Connecting a REL.” The video above is a guide that picks up where the last left off, providing some additional support to help you determine the type of amplifier you have. While the first blog was about subwoofer placement, the second about types of connection, in this blog we are talking about the output design of your amp and how it delivers current to your speakers.
For example, a Class A/B amp is what we think of as a very traditional design, where current is provided by a pair of output devices (tubes or transistors) above and below zero volts. A Class D amp is very different, as it modulates or switches the output voltage at a very high frequency so that it can save power while providing the same current to your speakers. Class A/B, Class D, Balanced, Mono Blocks; these types of amplifiers each have a specific method to make the REL High Level connection. To find which type of amplifier you have, you can consult the manual, your dealer, the amplifier manufacturer’s web page, or contact the amplifier manufacturer directly. Once you have determined the type of amp you are connecting to, then find the correct connection scheme in the REL manual, REL website, or—if all else fails—contact us at contactus@rel.net.
Check out the beginning of the “Before Connecting a REL” series here: Corner Placement.
share article
