When we began developing Planar, we weren't trying to create another subwoofer. We already knew how to build exceptional subwoofers. We'd spent more than three decades doing exactly that. The question that interested us was different.
How do you create a serious, no-compromise REL that works more naturally within the realities of modern living? Because while audiophiles often talk about bass in terms of extension, output, speed, and dynamics, most people live with bass in a much more practical way.
They live with where it sits.
They live with how it looks.
They live with the conversations about why a large black box suddenly appeared in the corner of the room. And for years, that's simply been part of the compromise. If you wanted truly exceptional bass performance, you accepted that the room would need to make accommodations. Planar began with the belief that perhaps it didn't have to be that way. The wall became part of the solution. Built-in wireless became part of the solution. The ultra-thin cabinet became part of the solution. And ultimately, the Cart, finishes, and grille options became part of that same conversation. Not because we wanted to create accessories. But because we wanted to give owners something they've rarely had before: Freedom.
The Great Pleasure of Experimentation
One of the things people often misunderstand about high-end audio is that the hobby isn't simply about ownership. It's about discovery. We move loudspeakers. We experiment with placement. We adjust toe-in. We listen. We learn something. Then we do it again. The process is part of the reward. It's one of the reasons people remain passionate about audio for decades. The relationship between a system and a room is never entirely fixed. There is always something new to learn. Yet strangely, subwoofers have often been excluded from that process. They're heavy. They're awkward. Once they're placed, they tend to stay exactly where they are. You find a location that works reasonably well and then you commit to it.
Planar invited us to think differently. What if discovering the best bass in a room could be as enjoyable as discovering the best speaker placement? What if owners could continue experimenting long after installation day? That thinking became the foundation for the Planar Cart.
The Cart Is a Tuning Tool
At first glance, the Cart appears to be a mobility solution. And certainly, it makes moving Planar remarkably easy. But that's not why it exists. The Cart exists because finding the perfect location for bass is often a journey rather than a destination. Every room behaves differently. Construction materials differ.
Furniture layouts differ. Listening habits differ. Even two rooms with identical dimensions can respond completely differently. The Cart allows owners to explore those possibilities.
Move Planar closer to the front wall. Try it farther apart. Experiment with distance from the corners.
Listen.
Adjust.
Listen again.
As John Hunter often reminds people, some of the greatest moments in audio happen when you're willing to experiment. The Cart encourages exactly that mindset. It transforms placement from a one-time decision into an ongoing opportunity for discovery. For some owners, the Cart may simply be a temporary tool used to find the ideal location before wall mounting. For others, it may become the permanent solution. Living rooms evolve. Furniture changes. Homes change. The ability to adapt is often far more valuable than we initially realize. And unlike traditional subwoofers, Planar was designed from the beginning to embrace that flexibility.
Giving You Back Your Space
Perhaps the most important idea behind Planar has very little to do with bass.
It has to do with space. For decades, serious audio systems have demanded physical concessions from the room. A speaker goes here. A subwoofer goes there. Furniture gets rearranged. Compromises get made. The room begins adapting itself to the system. Planar reverses that relationship. One of John's favorite observations about Planar is that it gives people back their space. That's not marketing language.
It's the result of the design itself. Mounted on a wall, Planar occupies virtually none of the floor space traditionally associated with powerful bass. On the Cart, it remains flexible and adaptable.
Wireless connectivity removes yet another limitation. Everything about the system is designed to work with the room rather than compete against it. The result is a product that feels fundamentally different to live with. Not because it asks less of performance. But because it asks less of the home.
Different Homes Ask Different Things
Performance is universal. Homes are not. Some spaces are warm and layered. Others are minimal and contemporary. Some owners want technology to disappear entirely. Others appreciate when great design becomes part of the room's identity. Neither approach is right. Neither approach is wrong. They're simply different. That's why we approached Planar's visual options with the same philosophy that guided every other aspect of the project. Choice. Not endless customization. Just thoughtful options that allow owners to decide how Planar should participate in the space.
Cloth Grille: The Art of Disappearing
For many owners, the ideal subwoofer is one they rarely notice. Not because it lacks presence sonically.
Quite the opposite. The best bass often draws the least attention to itself. It simply becomes part of the experience.
The cloth grille reflects that philosophy.
Clean.
Understated.
Architecturally quiet.
Whether mounted on a wall or positioned on the Cart, the cloth grille allows Planar to blend naturally into its surroundings. Your attention remains on the music, the film, and the experience itself. The product steps back. The performance steps forward. For many homes, that's exactly the right answer.
Wood Grille: A More Intentional Statement
The optional wood grille takes a different approach.
Rather than disappearing, it celebrates the idea that Planar can become part of the room's visual character. The addition of natural wood immediately changes the personality of the product. It introduces warmth. Texture. Materiality. The grille transforms Planar from a purely technical object into something more architectural. Something that belongs in the room rather than simply occupying it. And because every grille has been designed with the same care as the subwoofer itself, the result feels intentional rather than decorative. For some owners, the cloth grille will always feel right. For others, the wood grille will complete the room. The important thing is having the freedom to choose.
A New Relationship Between Performance and Design
One of the easiest mistakes to make when discussing Planar is to assume that the Cart and grille options are lifestyle features. They're not. In fact, one of the defining principles behind Planar was avoiding exactly that trap. These are not accessories designed to disguise a compromise. Nor are they decorative additions intended to distract from performance. They exist because we believed that exceptional bass should integrate more naturally into modern living. That serious performance and thoughtful design should not be opposing forces. That flexibility can be every bit as valuable as output. And that owners deserve products that adapt to the way they live.
The Cart.
The wall mounting system.
The wireless technology.
The grille options.
The finishes.
They're all expressions of the same idea.
Planar works with the home rather than simply existing within it. The performance remains unmistakably REL. How it lives in your space is entirely up to you. And that's exactly the point.
share article
