REL Classic 98

Thanks!

I have a single Classic 98 I would be happy to part with, as I’d really rather have a 99…which was announced the day after my 98 arrived!  I have no complaints with it but bigger is better and I have room. My sub is in pristine condition with original box & packing. I will list it on USAM. 

Despite the opinions here, there are no rules when it comes to speakers, and subs are speakers. Speakers are always room dependent. One sub or two, stacked or separate: it’s all room dependent. Years ago a friend bought two REL Gibraltar G1 subs and REL sent a technician to install them in a large irregular space. I was there as he moved a single sub around the room using a test disc. He found two spots that worked well, one better than the other. He stacked them in the first spot, then put them in two different spots and the latter worked better. Then he adjusted the crossovers and level controls to make each integrate best with its main speakers. The controls were set differently from on another. He ended up with a near perfect balance despite the asymmetry of the placement. Why, because the ROOM!!! Room shape and size matter!

Sounds like OP is leaning a certain direction and has been in contact with REL.

Here’s my $0.02 with dual 98s:

Preaching to the choir here, but as a reminder for future readers interested in the down-firing Classic series: don’t ignore your flooring material. I’m talking tile vs deep pile carpet vs suspended wood flooring. For example, deep pile could make the Classic sound muffled compared to tile. 

With that said, and compared to previous subs I’ve had and listed below, I’ve found the Classics to be the best sounding in my current space. They truly extend my main speakers while contributing to a deeper soundstage and ambiance - perhaps from the radiation pattern and nature of a down-firing sub? 

Another strong point is their integration which is so incredibly natural and easy to find, whereas previous subs took months. Beyond the impact of placement, my uneducated suspicion is that the Neutrik Speakon connection aids with this subs ability to integrate so flawlessly. 

Additional considerations/critique: they seem a little “rounder,” less tactile pressure, and don’t include a variable phase which should be standard on all subwoofers. Yet they still sound better than the my previous subwoofers that are technically better:

HSU ULS-15, Rythmik F12G, and customized Rythmik subwoofer via Omega Speaker Systems.