Why do you recommend corner placement for REL subwoofers?

There are really two or three components to this. One of the things that's happened is over the years so called experts going back 20 to 30 years started recommending against this. I believe that the origin for this was that the not terribly competent crossovers used 30 years ago tended to cross over quite high.
0:30
When you start doing that putting it in a corner can really tend to exaggerate room boom. We of course do nothing of the kind. Our crossovers all start as low as 20 hertz, and I mean that it would be 20 hertz and below coming through that crossover, so we're operating in a very different sphere.
The other reason we do this is, well it gets you more gain, more output, but that's not really why we're doing it. All the modern RELs play extremely loud. When you use a corner, when you project from a corner across, first of all, you're toed in 45 degrees, we're not firing down the length of the room we're toed in.
1:00
Why do we do that? Because what we really want to do is get the longest throw distance. From one corner to another is typically about 30% longer, which means that we can extend that much deeper into the bass before it hits a room boundary and folds back into the room. Getting that extremely deep bass is really the primary focus of our engineers and designers.
1:30
So the corner placement works really well. That's typical for a single, occasionally for a pair.
When you start moving up into line arrays where we've got six, for example of either S or our reference class it's a very different game. There you've got so much driven base and amplifier power to throw at it that what you really want to do there is connect it up with the main speaker, get them so their time signature is exactly linked.
2:00
But for a single unit, when you're just starting off with a REL the corner placement gives you the deepest, really most comfortable low bass, and it also requires less amplifier power.

[teddyruxspin]

Still have my Rel B2 from 15 years ago works awesome

[boballard]

I've owned my Ti5 for about a year now with my 600Ms. It is the most seamless subwoofer I've ever owned. The build quality is superb and I smile when I'm shutting down the listening room and the cool blue light shines from the rear! Kudos to John for assisting me via email; he's a great ambassador for bass!

[AntonRacing]

i have to tell that the REL T-Zero Subwoofer really fits !perfect! with the Klipsch fives !

[sassyterminator]

rel 1508 is insane HT sub. Works wonders for Music.

[ryder]

I don't use a REL sub yet but have been using a decent sub for the past 20 years or so. For single sub, corner placement close to wall boundaries always produced the worst result. Uneven and boomy bass. Single sub produced best result when placed in between the speakers in all the rooms I have tried. It doesn't need to be exactly at the centre between the speakers. It can be closer to the left or right speaker but in between the two.

[tingamer]

My rel is the best subwoofer fast, powerful, impactful, excellent imaging, and has the speakon connector!

[hushpuppykl]

I don’t place it in corner because my room is small. Easier to manage if not in corner. 😬

REL subs are nice. Easy to integrate too.

[rg]

Thanks John, what if I have a pair of down firing subs (REL Strata III)? Does that change the position?

[CanadaSocial]

Which REL sub would you suggest for a pair of Klipsch La Scalas AL5’ and also a pair of Klipsch RF7 III. I use the la Scalas for music and RF7 IIIs for movies.

[berj]

what about a stereo setup? i got a pair of Rel S2, do i need them in the corner or next to the speaker will be fine? room is approx 15 x 16ft. Thanks.

[dmnewhouse]

What about a single Rel G2? I have a 2.1 setup, I have tried in a corner but I get a humming noise from the transformer inside the cabinet and that is amplified due to it being in a corner. Now it's next to a speaker facing forwards. I have the volume higher but I still get the lows, especially the important mids. Is the humming from the transformer normal?

[raymoore]

Should I remove all bass traps or just the one in the corner with the sub ?

[jerryjohnson]

Does corner placement apply for down firing t5i's ? Got two of'm 🙂
Thanks for info. I do hear the bass get stronger as it moves toward the corner, without getting complicated, my stereo area is just a little bigger than my TV cabinet. It sets in a little cove at one end of the living room. I have a t5i on each side of the cabinet, each sub has about 2 in of space on each side, so its tight. The Tannoy xt6f's are in front of the subs, out in the room a little bit. Sometimes I feel like these subs don't have room to breathe but they sound pretty nice there. I think these would rock a big room also. My living rm sq ft, about 200.

[ryder]

Is it OK to place a thick fabric over the sub for decorative and protection purposes against dust or scratches? The fabric will cover the sides but not the front woofer.

Also, it is OK to place a potted plant on top of the sub? The corner of the room is already occupied with a potted plant. Another corner is also occupied with a stand lamp.

[AngelInTheDesert]

Do I have to corner load it along the front sound stage? My room layout is best suited to a rear positioned subwoofer

[lokenx]

In a 5.2 set up would you place both your subs in opposite corners?

[davidmcginnis]

How do you deal with phase issues with the woofer behind the main speakers

[VandepoelM]

45 degrees toe in? would aiming it at the opposite corner be better or worse in a rectangular room?

[anthonyoliver]

Hello I have the ReL Ti9, I hear a little rattle/tingle I have the both high low cable and ReL cable attached. Any suggestions? Thanks in advance.

[ArrogantBaSStard]

How can I handle my open floor plan? My real listening area is a 21’ x 12’ living room that is not enclosed. One of the 21’ sides opens up to the kitchen and great room, so I only have one corner in front me, and the other corner about 30 feet away.