No.36’s curvilinear cabinet is unique within the REL range, a design lineage that began with the original Gibraltar and reflects lessons John Hunter absorbed from his mentor, legendary Italian designer Franco Serblin. Its continuous curves are extraordinarily difficult to execute, particularly where the top surface tumbles gracefully into the rear corners. Inspired by the sweeping forms of classic wooden runabouts, the shape is more than beautiful; it reflects a longstanding REL belief that cabinet form, rigidity, and sound are inseparable.
Every visible detail reinforces that form. The sculpted grille follows the cabinet’s curves rather than interrupting them, its taut strings revealing rather than concealing the architecture beneath. Carbon fibre, used throughout No.36 for its performance properties, becomes a visual signature as well, framing the triple-plated badge and connecting the exterior design to the engineering within. Triple-plated stainless-steel handles inset into the cabinet provide another jewel-like detail while anchoring securely into thick plates of milled aluminum. Twelve coats of hand-rubbed lacquer complete a surface of exceptional depth and permanence.
The same thinking continues inside. An elaborate system of internal bracing, reminiscent of the structural ribs of a ship, ties the cabinet together while preserving the flowing exterior form. A rear backing plate follows the cabinet’s exterior curve, contributing to an exceptionally rigid structure. Precision-knurled cylinders beneath the front rails allow exact leveling, particularly important when assembling Reference Line Arrays. No.36 is cabinetry, engineering, and acoustic performance conceived as a single whole.
