REL S5 SHO under way, exciting...

Kuoppis

Kuoppis

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Spent x-mas in the summerhouse, listened to music and watched a couple of films with the surround system. Concluded the guys are right and you do not necessarily need the subs only for the bass, but also for the midrange.

All in all pretty much Mike's fault, partly the professor also to blame and Jim's recommendation of the RELs did not help either (even though we're not talking about Q-Subs here) :).


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It's uncanny how much subs affect and enhance the mid-range. :audiophile:
 
Frankly speaking I had not understood it properly earlier [emoji1].

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The S5 SHO arrived yesterday and so I added it to the setup - the difference is quite dramatic. However, I am not talking about the bass. The S3s already have all the bass I need.

What I am referring to is the depth of imaging, soundstage and three dimensionality of the sound, particularly impressive e.g. when listening to piano play. It further appears that the sub provides quite a bit of relieve to the mids, allowing them to become more open, detailed and palpable. Of course, the lowest keys on the piano are also more effortless.

I am very happy I went with REL and not some car trunk boom box making windows shake and fillings to loosen. Very nice indeed.


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Kuoppis said:
The S5 SHO arrived yesterday and so I added it to the setup - the difference is quite dramatic. However, I am not talking about the bass. The S3s already have all the bass I need.

What I am referring to is the depth of imaging, soundstage and three dimensionality of the sound, particularly impressive e.g. when listening to piano play. It further appears that the sub provides quite a bit of relieve to the mids, allowing them to become more open, detailed and palpable. Of course, the lowest keys on the piano are also more effortless.

I am very happy I went with REL and not some car trunk boom box making windows shake and fillings to loosen. Very nice indeed.


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Glad you like the sub "effect". I use my S3s with JL 113v2 to very satisfactory results.
 
kzhtoo said:
Glad you like the sub "effect". I use my S3s with JL 113v2 to very satisfactory results.
Click to expand...

What I like in particular, is that adding the sub bass also improves analogue playback in the low end without destroying anything on the top.

A couple of nice tracks to check the sub impact with: Christine and the Queens/ Paradis Perdus for low end ambience, Caught by A Ghost/ Can't let go for low low freq reach, Adele/ When We Were Young for clarity of bass, Alison Krauss Live/ Let Me Touch for a While or Ray Brown/ Exactly Like You for Midrange clarity, Africa/ Toto for soundstage.
 
Elberoth said:
Do RELs have any DSP you can experiment with ?
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Just volume, crossover, phase shift, as such very simple.

Benefit comes from the high freq connection, which connects directly to the same speaker connectors as your main speakers and hence gives the sub exactly the same signal path as the transducers.


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This is where the fun of having a superb sub really starts...

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Mike, may I ask for a little help: where does your sub cross over with the RELs and M3s?


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Kuoppis said:
Mike, may I ask for a little help: where does your sub cross over with the RELs and M3s?


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I've been experimenting and right now, I'm at 24hz, +7. I'm listening for excessive "chestiness" in vocals and some acoustic guitar which can almost sound like someone is talking into a wall or playing too close to a wall. But I don't want a suck out or a dryness in the vocals either. It's a delicate balance. I will also add, that sub placement has a lot to do with it. I've been experimenting and I do not like the subs near the front wall at all. I want them closer to the main speakers. Right now, for timing and sonics, they are just outside the mains and set back a little (a few inches).

https://vimeo.com/200159360
 
Mike said:
I've been experimenting and right now, I'm at 24hz, +7. I'm listening for excessive "chestiness" in vocals and some acoustic guitar which can almost sound like someone is talking into a wall or playing too close to a wall. But I don't want a suck out or a dryness in the vocals either. It's a delicate balance. I will also add, that sub placement has a lot to do with it. I've been experimenting and I do not like the subs near the front wall at all. I want them closer to the main speakers. Right now, for timing and sonics, they are just outside the mains and set back a little (a few inches).

https://vimeo.com/200159360
Click to expand...

Thanks Mike for sharing your insights, greatly appreciated.

Outstanding demo setup, phantastic!


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Mike, over the years I have found with the Torus from one side of the speaker to the other makes a huge difference. Everything is very room dependent. Your mention about the subs being closer to the front wall is a very good one as I too have found that if I put the subs anywhere within 3 ft of a front wall that hasn't been treated, I have to adjust them right down to the low 20's which does affect the mid range. This too detracts that last 5%. You'd be hard pressed to find better music than Tracey Chapman to set the room up, she is one of my go to's.
 
Sub bass experience anyone?

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My S5 SHO arrives on Wednesday and I'm pumped. Have any of you swapped out the included REL Neutrik Speakon cable for another brand? If so, what?
 
Congrats Moby, I love my S5 SHO. Really great sub IMHO.

I replaced the original Neutrik cable with the REL Blue. As far as I can tell worth the expense.


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Moby said:
My S5 SHO arrives on Wednesday and I'm pumped. Have any of you swapped out the included REL Neutrik Speakon cable for another brand? If so, what?
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The REL Bassline Blue is superior to the stock cable. However, we have one custom made by GutWire and I find it superior to the REL Bassline Blue. I have a 8ft demo one I could give you for a very good price if that's long enough for you.
 
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