Meridian Unplugged - Powered by MrTechGuy.co.uk Forums Discussion Meridian - Systems Subwoofer choice

Frank,
I did say by comparison. The difference is not subtle.

Well, I use a REL Storm III, which I got for �500, I'm very happy with it!

Also worth considering, from what I've heard said, are the SVS subs (http://www.svsubwoofers.com/subs_pcplus.htm)

[This message has been edited by chez (edited 09-20-2003).]

Also using REL and delighted with it.

"Overpriced rubbish" ? ...don't think so.

Rgds

Nick

Rel is especially good for integration into a high end two channel audio system. I use a Stadium for that purpose and have more of a home theater oriented sub performing home theater functions.

I can see someone with a mainly home theater kind of requirement not being all that impressed with Rel.

Rel is especially good for integration into a high end two channel audio system. I use a Stadium for that purpose and have more of a home theater oriented sub performing home theater functions.

I can see someone with a mainly home theater kind of requirement not being all that impressed with Rel.

i also use REL Stadium III.

it's great in stereo.

it's very good in HT. a lot of deep-deep bass - from a kind that you more feel than hear.

but if you want sub that push huge amounts of air in HT - REL isn't build for that.

you better look for some Sunfire, Paradigm Servo and Velodynes - they are so great in this.

after all each product is a compromise - REL isn't great in creating huge "air movements" but has other very unique advantages.

[This message has been edited by Croc (edited 09-20-2003).]

Agree. I dem'd the other makes and some where more impressive for movies/impact/whoosh factor but were less capable/credible with music. Despite the kit I have, I find myself still with a 90/10 music/HT split.

As ever - horses for courses

Rgds

Nick

PS still don't think it deserves the above label

Poor choice of words on my part.

Are the REL ST series good subwoofers? Yes, especially if you use them with analogue pre-amps in a 2 channel system.

However, if you want to a subwoofer for a Meridian setup, why would you want something that has less total output, curtailed low frequency extension, much higher harmonic distortion and much slower dynamic response?

REL play the numbers game as well as anyone but the numbers do not add up. For the size of cabinet, their amps and drivers are too small to reproduce the bottom octave within what most people would consider acceptable distortion limits and at high enough volumes.

Hi Mudge

Have you had the chance to hear any of the bigger REL subs? I can see your point if you were looking at adding a REL Strata to a pair of 6 or 7ks, but realistically, you'd be looking at the REL Stadium and upwards. I'm using a Stentor III, and it works very well indeed (in an otherwise all digital Meridian system).

To answer one of the earlier posts, the published spec of the D2500 seems to vary depending on what page of Meridian's site you find it, but the hard copy brochures currently state 20Hz-160Hz, and that has been the published figure in print for the past four or five years.

Regards

George

I personally have not spent any great time with the larger RELs, they're very musical, in the same way that a Bass Guitar amp is musical (overstating things alot), but not my cup of tea.
I also have not heard the new Velodynes (very few of them in the UK, and none in private hands so far AFAIK). However I have spent time with inferior servo subs, and these put the performance of the RELs in stark relief. Quite what a self Eq-ing sub will do in musical terms I do not know, but the one's I have heard add a majesty and scale to music without compromise that the RELs simply fail to match.
If you're looking for an ultra-musical, high fidelity subwoofer that can do explosions and gunfire with the best of them, then the Martin Logan Descent is probably your best choice. The Velodynes will beat it for output and sheer grin factor though, whilst sacrificing very little in terms of musicality.

To be honest I am not sure that a single analog sub can handle both high end two channel audio and home theater equally well. Heck it is hard enough to get mains that will do both jobs to satisfaction but I think the job is easier for mains than for a sub. Frankly I have never had a sub do a better job of filling in those musical passages under my mains than the larger Rels. Now a good deal has to do with the other components of the system. The room size is accomodating as well. I have full range bi-amped speakers for my left and right channels so I am not asking the Rel to do a hell of a lot. I am just asking the Rel to do what I want done extremely well. Also, one's musical taste comes into play.

I do enough home theater that I was not comfortable with the Rel as a home theater sub. There is no question in my mind that I would not like it in that role and have a different sub that I use for home theater. But there again, if you are really going to be picky about this sort of thing, I am not sure that a single sub design is capable of doing both jobs because the tasks required in each case are really not even similar let alone the same. If your room size, other components and viewing and listening habits will allow for it, you can probably find a way to live with what will surely be a compromise. It might really be interesting to see if what sounds like an ability to dynamically alter how the sub actually works (ala Veladyne's DD series) is the ultimate answer to the question. Then again, I may be mis-reading what Veladyne is actually claiming for the DD series but I think I have it right.

Rob.

With the quality of your kit, you deserve a quality subwoofer. If i had the ��'s it'd be
Velodyne HGS-18 or DD-18 with their High Gain Servo feedback systems, will totally (and i mean totally) outperform ANY of the REL subs.
Amazingly LOW distortion, with clean accurate bass is guranteed with the big Velodynes.
REL stadium, Stentor & Strata are nice subwoofers, but they are not in the class of the big Servo subs from Velodyne.
Go and listen to one for yourself.
There's other good stuff out there, but it's difficult to match Velodyne's ultra low distortion figures.