REL S3 Subwoofer – Piano White

Here we have an example of the highly regarded S/3 subwoofer from bass specialists REL. It is in good condition, with some light marking to the gloss finish – please see photographs. It is supplied suitably packaged along with mains cable, subwoofer cable, and our usual three month warranty.
REL Say….
Serie S™ combines a higher performance level than REL have ever set out to deliver within our mid-level range, with ease of use and freedom from conventional restraint.
Our designers began with only one requirement; that is, the physical package ought not to greatly exceed the comfortable dimensions customers have loved in our previous generations.
Every REL must deliver sonic performance that exceeds expectations. Thus we laboured for close to two years developing a new generation of Continuous Cast Alloy™ Bass Engines for the flagship S/5 and its stablemate S/3. These ultra-lightweight drivers produce speed and slam that can prove startling. They also play louder. Much louder.
Beyond quantitative performance upgrades, note the increase in subtlety and air produced within the sound stage by these faster, better integrated designs. Be prepared to be amazed by the degree to which S improves everything above the bass regions making the listening experience much more enjoyable.
Freed from the need to snake ungainly audio cables across one’s salon, use of the optional LongBow™ Zero Compression Wireless Delivery Method produces two responses: utter amazement at the quality of sound (most wireless delivery systems destroy music’s warmth by compressing and expanding the sound digitally) and visual relaxation because, for once, there are no visible cables to detract from this experience.
Serie S takes the concept of audiophile quality components as furniture-grade companion to the sophisticated home to a new level. Because not everyone lives in the same sized house with identical speakers, we offer three different levels of accomplishment (S/2, S/3 and S/5) that increase in quality, scale and refinement.
S/5 and S/3 benefit from use of Continuous thin wall castings for the cone structure allowing the forming of remarkably stiff, yet non-resonant cones. The continuous casting process allows the tightly knit grain if the T-6063 alloy to remain intact, whereas a conventional stamped cone rings inherently, in part because the molecular bonds are weakened by the stamping process.
REL’s secret to improving much more than the bass range is our legendary filter blocks. They are incredibly fast crossovers sets and, when properly used, result in truly seamless integration with your main speakers resulting in the fast, powerful sound of a REL.
If that were all they did, most listeners would be thrilled. Serie S’s filter blocks perform so many more functions than just crossing over frequencies as they did a few years ago. Over the years we’ve managed to weave additional performance benefits into our filter boards. Serie S filters supply clean, regulated power to the critical RF circuits in our LongBow wireless system, they house our new Limitless™ Current Limiters that enable power amplifiers to produce all the current they can for clean, high output. They then gently limit unobtrusively, a style that eliminates the heavy-handed interruptions of yore. Think of the REL Filter Block as the brains of a highly intelligent system.
To REL, industry leading reliability is a core value. In a category (subwoofers) where poor reliability is common, RELs stand out for their robust build quality and long life. Introduced in the previous generation, our NextGen II digital amplifiers continue to deliver both awe inspiring performance as well as remarkable reliability. These amps were designed to deliver huge amounts of current and deep, powerful exceptionally low bass. That they sound great is wonderful, that they boast a virtually perfect reliability record makes each one a REL.
Specifications:
Type: Front-firing active woofer, down-firing passive radiator
Active Drive Unit: 10 in., 250 mm long-throw, Continuous Cast Alloy™ cone structure
Passive Radiator: 12 in., 300 mm
Lower Frequency Response in Room: 22 Hz at – 6 dB
Input Connectors: Hi Level Neutrik Speakon, Left and Right Lo Level phono, LFE phono, SMA for wireless antenna
Gain Control Range: 80 dB
Power Output: 400 watts (RMS)
Phase Switch: Yes, 0 or 180 degrees
Amplifier Type: Next Gen II Class D
REL Longbow Wireless capability: Yes – REL Longbow™ transmitter [required], Sold separately
Mains Input Voltage: 220-240 volts,
Fuses (semi delay): 5 Amp 220 volts operation; 9 Amp 120 volts operation
Dimensions: 406 (W) x 424 (H) x 463.5 (D) mm
Net Weight: 27.85 kg

For a review from Hi-Fi+ magazine please CLICK HERE