An Ideal Match for High-End Loudspeakers: Gorgeous REL S/510 Subwoofer Features 10-Inch Driver and 12-Inch Passive Radiator, Plays with Ravishing Speed, Attack, and Accuracy

There's no experience like pairing a set of high-end loudspeakers with an REL subwoofer such as the S/510. Ideal for small- to medium-sized spaces, the relatively compact S/510 belies its flexible footprint by delivering hair-stand-on-end performance certain to change the thinking of even purist audiophiles who have long sworn off the presence of a sub in their system. Able to handle music and movies with ravishing results, the 70-pound unit boasts a 10-inch long-throw Continuous CastAlloy cone driver with carbon-fiber backing, 12-inch SuperProgressive passive radiator, 500-watt NextGen3 amplifier, and newly developed specialty filters. Optional Longbow wireless capability along with the ability to stack with other REL subs elevate S/510 to rarified levels.

Providing satisfyingly deep extension and sumptuous delicacy, S/510 plays with refined speed, remarkable attack, generous scale, and pinpoint accuracy. The British-made component works miracles on difficult-to-render musical instruments and low-end passages, giving everything from hard rock to classical symphonies a harmonic complement even many reference-grade standalone speakers cannot provide. You'll also hear wider and deeper soundstages, broader spaciousness, sharper imaging, and grander dynamics.

Befitting its desirable aural character, S/510 looks the part with no less than eight coats of piano lacquer for aesthetics that have no rival in the industry. A host of well-arranged connections and easy-to-dial-in settings on the rear panel make setup and tuning a breeze. REL's lifetime customer support pledge and three-year parts-and-labor warranty — along with our 100% Satisfaction Guarantee — do the rest.

"The detail and texture in the lower frequencies, along with the sheer weight that the six pack of S/510s provide is always what keeps me coming back for more music, for a longer listening session."
—Jeff Dorgay, TONEAudio

"[REL's S/510] delivers powerful and precise bass to underpin even the best systems, yet it does so from a small, unobtrusive cabinet.... What makes the sound so well-focused and precise with voice and bass extends to a complete band or a whole orchestra."
—Hi-Fi+, 2020 Subwoofer of the Year Award

"The late Richard Lord, who first came up with the original concepts for REL loudspeakers, would likely have approved of the S/510, because he loved his bass, but he also loved his bass controlling the sound of the rest of the system with a benign, yet iron, authority. That's precisely what you get here, and those who think they don't need a subwoofer because they have big speakers or a small room are wrong, and the REL S/510 is waiting to show you how wrong."
—Alan Sircom, Hi-Fi+

"Almost as much depth as its bigger brother and a touch more speed makes this sophisticated woofer easy to recommend."
—Home Cinema Choice, Best Buy review

Pure Carbon-Fiber Backing

S/510 required upgrades to its Continuous CastAlloy Cone to allow it to survive the massive power upgrades. To permit its thin aluminum cone to survive 800 watts and incredibly long stroke, REL added an ultra-lightweight backing of pure carbon fiber — strategically placed over portions of the rear surface of the cone. The approach nets two benefits: It strengthens and stiffens the cone and also eliminates reversion, wherein the back wave inside the cabinet is prevented from interfering with the main launch of bass into the room. You'll hear more accurate and far louder deep bass.

SuperProgressive Passive Radiator

REL's uniquely tuned passive radiators use special suspensions, now with an additional 8mm of linear travel, to produce performance unlike conventional subwoofers. A new SuperProgressive passive radiator produces extremely long travel, allowing for very loud output while retaining the variable stiffness of its suspension. The architecture allows it to act like a sealed-box, 12-inch design at low volumes and a high-output, 14-inch design at its limit.

NextGen5 Amplifier

At 500 watts, the NextGen3 amplifier is borrowed from REL's former flagship and delivers huge reservoirs of power and current. The 20% increase in power is needed to deliver both the profound output levels needed for modern theater as well as to produce very deep bass in a high-end two-channel system. This increase in power was necessitated by REL's development of an all-new circuit, termed PerfectFilter, that balances both frequency extremes. PerfectFilter performs two seemingly disparate qualities: Extending the strong, even response of the extreme low end of bass frequencies while simultaneously opening up air and delicacy in the middle and high frequencies of one's system. Additionally, REL applied customized PureTheatre filters to allow S/510 to keep up with modern theater effects without breaking a sweat.

Stack for Ultimate Performance

In the real world, bass occurs with width, depth, and height. By stacking up to three units per side (stereo or theater main speakers) in a REL Line Array, the proper perspective and height of sonic events become illuminated. This elevates reproduction from conventional stereo or theater to a floor-to-ceiling, panoramic, full-scale perspective.

Wireless Freedom: LongBow Connectivity

LongBow (transmitter available separately) permits very fast, uncompressed bass to be sent wirelessly within the same room approximately 45 feet (somewhat dependent upon room clutter). REL selected an uncompressed format as it results in natural, quick delivery compared with conventional wi-fi or Bluetooth systems. REL developed LongBow with both high level (or low level with crossover intact) AND .1 channel delivery so that REL Theatre Reference performance can be maintained even when using the wireless delivery system.