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REL Carbon Special Subwoofers or the REL G1 Gibraltar Reference Subwoo

Hi Everyone-Im looking to buy 2 subwoofers for my 2 channel stereo. Ive got the Aurender A30, Mark Levinson N53 amps N526 preamp and the Wilson Benesch Resolution 3Zero Speakers. I have all Clarus cables, power cords and power conditioners. They were all purchased used on Audiogon except for the Clarus. I’ve never had subwoofers in a 2 channel rig before just in my HT. Reading the forums here I have been seeing subwoofers being dicussed a bunch of times and has peeked my interest. My main speakers aren’t giving me enough base so I have decided to purchase either the Rel G1Gibraltar or Rel Carbon Special Subwoofers. I’d like to hear some comments on these two subwoofers or if you have any other subs you think I should be looking at.

Thanks,

David

 

 

 

David

fleetowner123
m-db's avatar
m-db
1,089 posts
 

s_r_a,    I've never heard subwoofer designers or manufactures mention the speed of their products. Is there a measurement that's not widely known, the sound of out of phase or a subjective observation?

What is, "the doubling associated with subs"?

sounds_real_audio
1,099 posts
 

 

b-db

Very similar to what happens when you toss a large rock into calm water. The first wave is sent out, and smaller and smaller waves follow. An no, manufactures will not tell you their speakers often double. You might want to do a little research on this. 

m-db's avatar
m-db
1,089 posts
 

s_r-a,   I'm a hack, so I just googled, 'how is subwoofer speed measured?' What turned up was subwoofer distortion, performance, phase, and port length, nothing on measuring a subwoofers speed. Can you suggest another search?

If I were a subwoofer manufacturer whose sub measured faster than brand W, publishing the measurements or their attributes would seem to be valuable marketing.

 

Could what you call doubling be a result of a drivers back wave? Your rock in the water analogy seems appropriate for reflex and open baffle subwoofers. Most people can easily hear the difference between a ported and a sealed sub.

Pressure created by the back wave within a sealed cabinet subwoofer appears to have a noticeably different reaction. Sealed subwoofers with increasingly more robust driver motors, servo limiting and those using proprietary equalization have lowered measured distortion dramatically.

 

This link seemed an interesting primer albeit from a manufacturer:

https://jlaudio.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/204374170-Isobaric-Enclosure-Types

sounds_real_audio
1,099 posts
 

m-db

No manufacture will admit that their sub woofers double....I am retired from business as a small focused dealer. Have nothing to sell. If you want to know what bass should sound like google Wilson Benesch torus...there is so much technology there. 

 

 

jymc
110 posts
 

ricred1
How does a passive radiator "drive you crazy?  Was the Carbon Special dialed in correctly?  I've never heard a G31 or G32 in my system.  I've only used 2 REL Carbon Limiteds with TAD CR1 tx speakers powered by Ayre MXR Twenty monos.   My problem is I would only have the physical space for 1, of either the G31 or G32.  According to your assessment, the 2 Carbon Specials fell far short..  What first hand detail can you share with me comparing  the G31 or G32 against a dual Carbon Special set-up.?  (Lastly, I've talked with sales guys but always felt they were just trying to make an easy sale because they know my pockets go deep..)

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