REL products are true sub-bass systems that, with proper tuning, can provide an incredible home theater experience with incredibly low bass. A REL is designed to augment the performance of full range speaker systems in order to provide, in certain cases, linear response below 15 Hz. A REL will take advantage of the physical room acoustics to provide deep pressurization as no traditional subwoofer can.
For the best results, the REL should be placed in one of the corners of the room behind the speakers. Remember, we are dealing with true low bass pressurization with RELs. Low bass pressurization below 40 Hz is best derived from corner placement, where the most linear and efficient low bass can be produced because the subwoofer is able to take advantage of the tangential axis (corner to corner)—typically the longest distance in a room. In most cases, when connecting two channel systems, you will be using the REL high-level connection with the supplied cable.
Please see our articles covering how to connect via High-level for details on how to connect.
To begin the setup process for a REL subwoofer, choose a piece of music that has a repetitive bass line with a very low frequency. We suggest track 4 from the soundtrack to Sneakers (Columbia CK 53146). Track 4 has a repetitive bass drum throughout that gives you plenty of time to move the woofer around. This track is perfect for the setup process and should be played at the highest reasonable level expected for system playback. Working with a partner, with one person in the listening position and the other manipulating the REL’s position and controls, is the most effective and efficient way to set up. If working alone, corner fine-tuning and orientation can be effectively carried out from the location of the REL. Try to ignore all other music in the track—listen to the bass drum and its effect on the listening room. To tune a REL subwoofer, follow four steps: set the phase (0 or 180, whichever sounds fullest), fine-tune the distance from the corner, adjust orientation for loudest output, then set the crossover and gain—both typically around 15 clicks from minimum.
Step 1: Set the Phase
After placing your REL in the corner, the first step of tuning a REL is to adjust for phase. Keep in mind that the right phase is whichever position (0 or 180) is the loudest for fullest. While playing music with true low bass, adjust the crossover to a point where the REL and the speaker are sure to share frequencies. This should be at 20 clicks from the minimum setting (12 o’clock) on the Crossover control. At this point, turn the High/Low Level control up so that both the REL and the speaker are roughly equal in volume. This should be 15–18 clicks from minimum (10–11 o’clock) on the High/Low Level knob. Now alternate the phase switch between the 0 to 180 settings and listen for whichever position is loudest or fullest. That is, when the position of the REL ensures it carries sound that works in harmony with your main speakers—reinforcing bass instead of cancelling it. Sometimes it helps to concentrate on the leading impulse of the bass note, noticing if it is timed with the speaker. If it sounds like the impulse lags behind the speaker’s response, then the REL is out of phase. It will be best to determine the correct phase when in the listening position, so this process will require walking back and forth to the REL if you are determining phase orientation alone.
Step 2: Fine-Tune Corner Placement
The next step is to determine precisely how far from the corner the sub should be placed to achieve the most efficient output, as well as the lowest frequency extension. After the REL has been placed in the corner, slowly pull the REL forward as it plays music; make sure you keep it facing diagonally towards the opposite corner, ensuring it remains equidistant from both the side and rear wall. At a certain point (sometimes a matter of only a few inches, in rare cases a foot or more) the REL will audibly play louder, become lower in frequency extension, and truly pressurize the room as the air around the REL will seem to be energized. Stop right there! This is the correct corner position for the REL.
Step 3: Adjust the Orientation
Once the position from the corner has been established, the orientation of the subwoofer must be determined by rotating the REL from an imagined center point at the rear of the REL. As the REL is rotated from one side to the other, listen for the greatest level of output. In effect, the REL should be left in the position where it is playing the loudest and lowest. If the REL is on carpet, at this point physically push the REL down into the carpet to lock it in place, providing the greatest coupling to the floor.
Step 4: Finalize Your Settings
Now move both the High/Low Level control and Crossover control to 10 o’clock settings (15 clicks from minimum). In most cases this is typically where the settings will end up. The High/Low level control should be at a setting where you can hear the REL even with the main speakers playing. This is generally 15 clicks +/- 3 clicks. The Crossover control should be set to where the sub bass is not overpowering or sloppy. It should be in time with the impulses of the main speakers so you can hear the depth and dynamics of the low frequencies—which is, again, generally between 12–18 clicks, with 15 clicks as the most commonly effective setting.
share article
