“Sudden Blue-Green Theory™” may soon displace Unexpected Red Theory—if recent reactions to our lovely new French Racing Blue™ and bold Green with Envy™ are any indication. Sudden Blue-Green Theory holds that when you get the hues of blue and green exactly, precisely right, it’s possible to stop traffic. Or at the very least, force your retinas to screech to a full and complete stop—to take in the beauty that a perfect blue and a not-so-subtle, intensely green tone can deliver.
These wildly vibrant colors—red, orange, yellow, and now blue and green—are a thrill for those of us who work hand in glove with the talented painters we trust to bring our visions to life. At every show we attend, people come right up to us to share their personal favorite and how happy it makes them to see these colors, which makes us happy. So, there you go—the circle of life, expressed through color.
While sonic performance will always be REL’s first and highest priority, we’re also committed to leading the industry toward the idea that designing audio equipment of surpassing beauty enriches the experience that much more. REL has long been known for building great-sounding, exquisitely wrought powered subwoofers. In many cases, we offer them in both Piano Black lacquer and High Gloss White. Lately, we’ve added a lovely soft Dove Grey to the T/9 range—it looks perfectly at home in interiors that favor calm, muted tone
And now, back to our racing car–inspired T/9x SEs. Consumers from every walk of life—and nearly every income strata—have evolved their preferences. People want their homes to reflect their individuality. In a complex, sometimes confusing world, we crave spaces that are truly ours. Deeply personal spaces where the only thing that matters is that you love everything within it. Every object you place in your home should look beautiful (to you), feel good to the touch, serve a purpose, and, where possible, bring multiple levels of joy.
You need look no further than Dyson. A lowly vacuum becomes… art. Why? Does it suck up dust better than any other? Almost certainly not. But it works well and looks entirely unique doing it. Its owners feel a little spark of joy every time they take it out of the closet. Same with their $400 hair dryer. Great tools are their own reward. Using them creates appreciation.
So, why not your subwoofer?
For some, black is all they’ve ever known, and that’s fine. But not everyone wants to fade into the background. For those who do value gorgeously crafted, immaculately finished lacquer paint—accents of genuine carbon fiber, details you can see and feel—we want to offer you that choice. It’s why we place the bezel surrounding the triple-chrome-plated badge on top of the painted surface. We want those who appreciate materials to know that, yes, it’s real carbon fiber. You can see the warp and weft in the edges.
So next time you’re considering something to bring into your home, think about how many senses it should satisfy. Of course, the ears are critical when it comes to a component like a REL. But the eyes and the touch matter, too. Try this: gently run the back of your forefinger (never your fingertip—oils!) along the paint. It feels soft, supple—almost as though it’s still wet. That’s a museum-quality finish.
Personally? I’m all in. I’m on the hunt for a room to build a super-cool, retro, Kubrick-meets-the-late-‘60s system—using an old British Nytek pre-tuner and a Lecson power amp that looks like a miniature exhaust stack from a nuclear reactor. It’ll sound cool. But more importantly? It’ll look amazing.
And that’s the point. Enjoy life to the fullest. Use all your senses. Breathe it in deep—and don’t release that air too quickly. We’re here to enjoy everything life has to offer.
Sound. Color. Light. Texture.
We’re working hard to bring it all to you.
by John Hunter, Head Designer at REL Acoustics
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