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Why We Create Beautiful Finishes
It’s Who we Are

It’s not what we do—it’s who we are.
We build things that are beautiful because we can’t imagine doing it any other way. So, what’s our process?
Take, for example, our vibrant, high-impact lacquered colors, inspired by the world of Formula 1 and endurance racing. This project began because we love cars and audio gear, and we thought: “We’re not the only ones who love these two passions. Let’s find a way to bring them together.”
Our first finish was a color reminiscent of Rosso Forza—a shade famously used on Italian race cars for decades. We simply call it Italian Racing Red. While Ferrari may now be the most recognized racing team in the world, the history of red as Italy’s racing color goes back nearly a century. In fact, Enzo Ferrari himself—yes, the man, not just the team—was Alfa Romeo’s team manager in the 1930s before founding his iconic brand.
The Art of Getting It Right
The secret behind these special finishes—and why they take so long to develop—lies in building multiple samples. Painting MDF (medium-density fiberboard) doesn’t produce the same result as painting metal or composite-bodied race cars. To make the color appear true on our subwoofer cabinets, we must first identify the right primers.
Once the primers are sorted, we experiment with lacquers from various suppliers. Interestingly, the exact same paint code can look subtly different depending on the supplier—Sikkens of Germany, for example, versus PPG, an American company.
After we’ve completed all the basic sample boards—flat panels about 6” x 10” (160mm x 250mm)—we select the closest match to the desired color. Then, we scale up and paint a full-size cabinet sample. Here’s where things can get tricky. A color that looks perfect on the several square meters of a curvy race car can look entirely different on a subwoofer cabinet, which has less than one square meter of surface area.
Scale matters, and how light interacts with a flat subwoofer panel differs greatly from how it plays off the aerodynamically shaped surfaces of a race car—or even a flat sample board.

The Final Call
Ultimately, the responsibility of deciding what looks right often falls on me. If I’m unsure, I’ll consult my partner Alex, an exceptional photographer with a keen eye for design. Together, we fine-tune the paint formula, often revisiting earlier samples or switching to a different base formula entirely.
The first Italian Racing Red finish took us over a year to perfect. Over time, we’ve refined our process, and we can now go from concept to final product in about six months.
When Black and White Aren’t So Simple
In the world of paint, nothing is more challenging than black—except ultra-high-gloss black. While we won’t disclose trade secrets, we use a pure polypropylene paint that is ultra-glossy, highly scratch-resistant, and offers excellent coverage. These qualities are crucial for products like ours, which are often placed on the floor where they’re prone to scuffs from shoes.
The Natural Beauty of Wood

Recently, we had the chance to work with wood again—and we couldn’t be more thrilled. So, why don’t we offer more wood finishes? It’s simple: subwoofers are meant to complement main speakers, and every brand has its unique finishes. For example, Bowers & Wilkins uses a black-and-orange hue for their rosewood, whereas Monitor Audio’s rosewood leans more toward a dark purple tone. It would be impossible to create a wood finish that satisfies customers of both brands equally.
For our Classic models, walnut was the obvious choice. Nothing reads “authentically vintage” quite like walnut, and our cabinet supplier sourced a stunning walnut veneer with only minimal input from us. Yes, it’s significantly more expensive than off-the-shelf veneers, but the results speak for themselves. Almost every review of our Classic 99 and Classic 98 models highlights how this walnut veneer elevates the design beyond anything available “back in the day.
Why We Do What We Do
As I said at the beginning: it’s not just about what we do—it’s who we are. We love creating beautiful objects of enduring quality because we believe you love them too.
We craft things that last—designs that feel as good as they look, enhance your living space, and, of course, sound incredible. We pour care and attention into every detail because we can’t imagine doing it any other way. It’s this passion and dedication that make a REL, well…a REL.
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