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A White Out in Summer?

White Serie HT and T/x Models Form a Blizzard of Bass

Incorporating white as a color alternative to piano black lacquer can be a  design necessity for many rooms. Why choose white? Because in modern homes, spaces often serve multiple purposes. On Monday night, your living room might host a team meeting. Come Friday, it’s movie night, with home theater features taking center stage. By Saturday, it transforms into a lively entertainment room for friends and family. White subwoofers make a high-end design statement that complements both modern and classical aesthetics.

If you want your theater to deliver sustained thrills throughout a movie, rather than in just a few standout moments, consider upgrading your system to REL 3-D or HT/3D. This ensures your system delivers the full aural 3D experience envisioned by Dolby Digital.

1. Support Your Center Channel: At a minimum, add a REL High-Level connected subwoofer to support your center channel. Serie T/x, Serie S, and Reference lines all deliver High-Level Connectivity. Typically, the smallest of RELs applicable to your system should be forward-firing. From the T/7x and up, all larger T/x and S models are suitable. Choose the model based on your room’s size, your main speakers’ quality, and your preferred listening volume.

2. Enhance Front Channel Immersion: For an enhanced wrap-around immersion, ensure the Left and Right main front channels also have a High Level. This subwoofer will usually be the largest in your system. The right REL model depends on your speakers’ quality, your room size (open floor plans require larger subs), and your appreciation of intricate spatial effects in movies.

3. Optimize the Rear Channel: The rear channel is crucial for a 3-dimensional effect. This will typically be your largest or second-largest subwoofer model. Many opt for a powerful Serie HT subwoofer here. In our own home, this addition has significantly enhanced the impact of epic movie scenes.

In serious home theaters, front speakers and subs are often black to minimize reflections from the TV or projector that’s supplying the picture. However, even the most dedicated home theater enthusiasts should consider the aesthetics of their living spaces. White RELs integrate seamlessly, avoiding the loud proclamation of “HOME THEATER!!” in one’s loudest Gilbert Godfrey voice.

For example, we use a new White HT/1205 MKII for the rear channel sub, paired with an HT/Air MKII wireless. This setup not only sounds fantastic but also adds a touch of lightness to what would otherwise be a dark and gloomy corner, making it an acceptable addition even for the most design-conscious households.

Introducing high gloss finishes in high-end RELs is nothing new. Adding high glass white finishes to our home theater Serie HT lineup will be seen as brave in some quarters. However, we view it as a natural extension of our philosophy: ensuring REL subwoofers are welcomed into the finest homes. With white becoming a dominant theme in high-end design, it makes perfect sense to offer this finish. White allows subwoofers—often the least favored AV component by interior designers—to blend seamlessly into the room, making them a desirable addition to any stylish home. So go ahead, have your design cake, and eat it too. Pass the popcorn!


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August 7, 2024 - Posted in: Deep Dive Setup