Bring "The Hammer": Compact and Accessible REL HT/1003 MKII Subwoofer Fits Almost Anywhere, Outputs 300W RMS Continuous

Compact dimensions that allow for placement in even tight spaces, upscaled performance that belies its cost: The 34.2-pound REL HT/1003 MKII subwoofer is ready to enliven home theaters, gaming systems, wireless music setups, and small-to-medium stereo applications. REL has long set the industry standard for high-end, exceptionally dynamic, aesthetically pleasing subwoofers — particularly those that offer a seamless complement to high-end audio systems. With the 13.25 x 14.25 x 15.25-inch (HWD) HT/1003 MKII — also known as “the Hammer” — the company addresses the need for an outstanding albeit cost-accessible subwoofer tailored for a multitude of applications. 

Equipped with a newly devised 300W NextGen5 Class D amplifier coupled to a 10-inch long-travel CarbonGlas driver, the British-built HT/1003 MKII runs cool while delivering excellent frequency response, flat, deep, and taut bass, and the chest-stirring rumble everyone desires when watching action films. The MKII edition features upgrades throughout: a higher secondary filter for energy to extend further up the sonic spectrum; an all-analog trademarked PerfectFilter to lift and extend the deepest bass; an analog subsonic filter to weed out the signals that can lead to damage below 20Hz. In the driver stage, beefed-up magnets combine with an enhanced suspension with enlarged surround to permit greater travel means and better control. 

On the outside, a minimal low, sleek cabinet borrows proportions drawn from REL Reference models. The top panel sports five coats of hand-polished piano black lacquer. The cabinet body is clad in horizontally streaked, line-grained composite. On the back, dual-purpose low-level stereo inputs abet daisy-chain low-level stereo outputs. The closed-box HT/1003 MKII is also zero-compression wireless compatible via REL's HT-Air system, meaning you can put it where it works best without having to deal with cables.

REL Input Filters

REL input filters are renowned throughout the audio world. They bring together ultra-fast analog crossovers, customer-designed elevation filters that extend the flatness of deep bass, and integrated limiters that allow all the power to explode outward. This compact series of analog circuits is REL's secret recipe in both music and film sound. Refined in this second-generation, the secondary filters used allow extension to a much higher frequency, allowing the rarefaction of air in the sound of an explosion to feel that much more realistic. Additionally, the latest circuit includes an all-analog subsonic filter that begins as low as 12Hz to minimize the effects of infra-noise from soundtracks that extends well below the resonance point of the driver. 

Optional Wireless Ability

Being wired for sound used to require long runs of cable strewn across the floor. With REL's optional HT-Air, great sound can be "un-wired" — replaced by a tiny transmitter and matching receiver that sends an incredibly fast 5.8Ghz wireless signal up to 60 feet without digital compression. This circuit includes the same LSIC chip that powers REL's state-of-the-art AirShip II without the expensive discrete analog-to-digital and digital-to-analog (DAC) convertors. It is perfect for the .1/LFE signals using RCA connectors that are HT/1205 MKII's primary mission.