The Compact REL R-218 is Shockingly Good

This small cabinet with only a 10" woofer delivers the deepest, tightest bass we've ever heard from a sealed REL. Much of the credit for this is due to three revisions which make their debut for Serie-R. The first is the revised crossover, which is vastly more efficient than those used in previous R-series, revealing greater transparency, superior dynamic expression and a sense of ease and effortlessness. The second change is REL's transition to a new type of digital amplification, this one is built in-house and delivers higher power, better control and blows the lid off of previous designs. The third change, this one less obvious, is the cabinet size and shape which have been enlarged just slightly, but allow the R-218 to open up and extend deeper than any of the previous R-Series models. The R-218 offers better punch and depth than the previous R-305 with superior power and slam than the R-505. The R-218 is a shockingly good sub and a tremendous value, we highly recommend it!

"The R-218 maintains the chameleon-like ability to disappear into the character of the left/right main speakers. This is what a good sub does; time and again it returns not only the music but the venue to a recording. It allows notes to hang in the air a bit longer, and the deepest notes and pulses to sustain and decay. The R-218 is easily one of the best subs I've reviewed...one of a handful of small subwoofers that truly satisfies. In the world of the bottom octave, my friends, that is truly the bottom line."
– Neil Gader, The Absolute Sound

REL is Different
REL has a unique perspective on low frequency reproduction. Unlike the booming, flatulant thunderboxes which have come to be called subwoofers, only REL Sub-Bass systems accurately reproduce the lowest frequencies and integrate seamlessly into any system. Inserting a REL enriches the tonal balance and resolution of the entire system. The soundstage moves back and opens up, voices become more human and real, instruments achieve proper power, timbre and weight, even the highest frequencies become smoother, richer and more defined. Inserting a REL into any system is a revelation; once you've heard a REL in your system, you'll never be satisfied with anything else.

You Need a REL
We've heard every excuse for not integrating a REL Sub-bass System over the years: "I've got full range speakers", "I have a small room", "I don't like subwoofers", "I'm only doing stereo", the list goes on and on. The real question is "Do you want to hear your system at its very best or not?" Regardless of the size of your main speakers, your room or even your budget, a REL will improve your system. Adding a REL allows your system to dig deeper, play cleaner at any volume and create a deep, virtually holographic soundstage.

Richard E. Lord (REL)
REL was started in 1991 by a two-channel guy, Richard E. Lord, who couldn't find a sub to integrate into his two-channel system. He listened to every sub available to him, but every piece he put in destroyed or distorted the tonal balance of his system. What he found was that for proper integration, the subwoofer had to crossover very low in the frequency range, required a powerful amplifier, a low-distortion driver and the ability to accurately and consistently choose settings for the sub. Move forward to the present day and every REL still adheres to these core principles, no matter how advanced REL's manufacturing ability has become.

Why Most People Don't Like Subs
The biggest obstacle to getting a REL into someone's home is the erroneous perception of what a subwoofer is and what it's supposed to do. Thanks to clever marketing, anything with the name subwoofer must be a booming, thumping and thundering box. However, a sub-woofer, by definition and as the name implies, supplements the frequency range below the capability of the woofer in the main speakers. A quick look at the frequency response of most subwoofers shows them to actually be... simply a woofer. A REL on the other hand delivers true deep bass, far below the range of the woofer in the speaker cabinet.

RELs for Theater
We often emphasize how important a REL is for two-channel listening, but a REL will also transform a surround system into a theater. Connecting the LFE signal to a REL provides a thrilling experience unlike anything you've experienced at home. Bass is taut, deep, powerful and has surprising slam. Nothing else sounds as natural or as real. The best part is that the way a REL is designed, there is no compromise for stereo performance and setup is extremely easy. There are separate inputs for stereo and the LFE input, simply adjust the volume on the separate LFE input and no matter what you play, the REL will make your system even better.

Amplifier
REL takes great pride in building powerful, reliable and musical Sub-Bass systems and a critical element of every REL Sub-Bass unit is the amplifier. Serie-R employs a REL designed and built Class D amplifier with exceptional power delivery characteristics, large high-quality power supplies and excellent overload protection. These amplifiers are purpose built for driving Serie-R Bass Engines which give this series virtually unlimited power to play louder, deeper and cleaner with extremely low distortion.

On a "green" note, Serie-R amplifiers have a unique power saving feature called “power starvation”. Whenever there’s no signal present, the amplifier goes instantly to maximum power saving efficiency, consuming a mere 5W of power (less than an LCD TV in standby), yet the amplifier remains at maximum readiness to immediately respond to a sudden transient signal, even after a long quiet period and regardless of level. This innovative feature eliminates the need to switch off an Serie-R woofer when not in use.

Crossover
The crossover in the REL Serie-R is a 12dB/Octave hand-built crossover manufactured by highly skilled Welsh technicians. The precision and testing that goes into these crossovers are consistent with the highest manufacturing practices to ensure long life, reliability and rock-solid performance. This does not mean added complexity! To adjust the crossover point upwards, simply rotate the crossover knob clockwise, to lower the crossover point downwards, rotate counter-clockwise. In adjusting the crossover, please notice that REL has chosen to use a “stepped” switch instead of the more conventional smooth rotating crossover adjustment. This allows the user to precisely define the exact crossover point with confidence and the ability to achieve 100% repeatable results. This also makes integrating a REL extremely easy, simply move the crossover point one click at a time until a proper blend has been achieved. Want to double check the results? Simply adjust the crossover by one click up or down; does the entire system sound better? If not, simply reverse the change and the REL is exactly where it needs to be. This precision and attention to detail are hallmarks of REL products and engineering. There’s are great tips for setting the crossover point in the owners manual.

Design & Cabinetry
Serie-R has a gorgeous finish with polished aluminum side inserts & top-plate and a thick aluminum amplifier panel in the rear. The solid construction and contrasting finish gives Serie-R a slim elegant and unobtrusive look. 1" thick MDF cabinets reduce resonance and the crossover/amp section are built into a separate internal box, away from the stresses of high internal pressure.

Connections
REL has a different approach to low frequency reproduction and also a different perspective on how to achieve this goal. All REL Sub-Bass systems offer two types of connection, a unique High-Level (Speaker Level) connection and a .1/LFE connection (RCA), each with their own volume controls. Serie-R has an additional input, a Low level input (RCA).

The High-Level connection is highly preferred as it connects the REL directly to the system’s amplifier, allowing the REL, chameleon-like, to take on the sonic character of the entire system. The very high input impedance (100kΩ) of the High-Level connection ensures that the system’s amplifier doesn’t even see (electrically speaking) the REL, yet this connection enables the REL to very accurately reproduce both the timbre and timing of the system.

The .1/LFE RCA connection is a separate connection designed to be used in tandem with the High-Level connection to provide unparalleled flexibility in a home theater environment. The High-Level connection provides low-frequency reinforcement to the main speakers while the .1/LFE connection provides reproduction of the exclamation point bass the LFE channel is intended for. Simply connect an RCA cable from the LFE output on the surround processor to the .1/LFE input on the REL. This input has its own volume control, but all crossover adjustments for this input are done at the surround processor.

If for some reason the High-Level connection cannot be used, (e.g. a system with powered speakers) then the Low-Level input should be used, allowing Serie-R to be connected via an RCA cable. This is a mono input, so if stereo output is available from the preamp or processor, a y-adaptor should be used to combine the signals. The Low-Level input shares the crossover and volume control of the High-Level input. The Low-Level input is not the preferred connection, only use if High-Level connection is simply not possible.

Enclosure Type: Sealed
Driver: 10” Long Throw, steel chassis
Crossover: Variable, 30-120 Hz Stepped
Input Connectors:
  Neutrik Speakon High-Level input
  RCA low level input
  .1/LFE RCA input with separate volume control
Amplifier: 250W High Current REL-designed Class D
Protection: Over Current, Over Voltage
Dimensions (HWD): 12x13.6x12.5"
Weight: 29 lbs

REL R-218 User Manual (69 KB)

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