REL T/9x Audiophile Subwoofer Reviewed

We’ve got so many battles to fight to keep the audiophile hobby healthy and prosperous going forward. That is basically the reason d’etre for FutureAudiophile.com. The good news is that fighting with traditionalist audiophiles about why they need a powerful, capable subwoofer is thankfully not an issue anymore. The memo has been distributed and most in the audiophile community and we now accept that you get better, deeper, more well-blended (and more affordable) very low frequency performance when using a subwoofer or two as opposed to trying to trying to recreate that Roland 808 synth bass from a pair of room dominating audiophile floorstanding speakers. 

Younger audiophiles all say that value is the number one reason why they make a move to acquire a new audiophile component. Here’s how to get damn near all of the sound of my Bowers & Wilkins 802 D4 speakers (read the review here). First, buy a invest in a stand-mounted Bowers & Wilkins 805 D4 speakers (read Greg Handy’s review here) for $8,500 a pair (not $31,000 like the 802s) and match them with a killer subwoofer. You are going to get absurdly close to that $31,000 sound for about $10,000. 

That roughly $1,500 subwoofer could easily be a REL T/9x which is their top of the line T/x subs. The T/9x is a designed in Berkeley, front-firing 10 inch, class A/B amp powered subwoofer with a down firing port. This is not your typical mass-made sub either in that the build quality, parts quality and overall design are scream “very high-end-audio” to any audiophiles willing to listen. The grill is taught and lock into the cabinet with that Mercedes level door-slam solidity. The feet on the REL T/9x are square, metal and rock solid. The knobs on the back of the REL T/9x are milled nicely and even the heat syncs are nice. The fact that you can get the REL T/9x in lipstick red make it even more appealing.

What Makes the REL T/9x Subwoofer So Special?

• There are few 10-inch subwoofers that deliver this level of quality parts, finish and build quality. Even if the REL T/9x isn’t the subwoofer that you end up buying, it would be hard to say that you aren’t impressed with the physical unit. It is not just another bland-ass, crappy-made MDF black box subwoofer. This is a compelling, solid and well-made audiophile component and you can’t say that about every subwoofer out there in this price range.
• REL uses a Class-A/B 300 watt power amp to make the REL T/9x go low and loud. More than 20 years ago, Bob Carver changed the world with his Sunfire True Subwoofer, in part because of its small size but because of the gross output that was possible from said small box thanks to the use of the then-brand-new class-D “switching” amp technology. REL uses a more traditional class A/B MOSFET amp that puts out a whopping 300 watts which gives a subwoofer the gain, finesse and control to rock hard in a funky place, to quote some deep Prince. 
• REL follows the beat of a different drummer sometimes and that can be a very good thing especially when looking at their wireless connection. For an extra fee of $239 the Arrow Wireless system. They even advise, if needed, that you could connect some REL subs up using both wired and REL’s proprietary Arrow system. 
• The sound of the REL T/9x is smooth and tight. Even with the level of the sub too loud for a good blend with the speakers, the REL T/9x never really gets bloated sounding. It just gets loud. When the REL T/9x is volume matched to the audiophile speakers of your choice, you can get that visceral, fast sound from the lowest registers. 

Why Should You Care About the REL T/9x Subwoofer?

The REL T/9x is a subwoofer with soul that is designed for the audiophile who wants something just a little better than average in their system without going bonkers with his or her spending. There are more slick or tricky subwoofers in the market today and perhaps for a few hundred dollars less but the REL T/9x is designed for the audiophile that is looking for a fantastically engineered and build subwoofer that can match his or her audiophile speakers not us in sound but in appearance too. I am in love with the REL T/9x in lipstick red in an audiophile system as a statement piece but one that doesn’t cost you an arm and/or leg.

Some Things You Might Not Like About the REL T/9x Sub …

• There is no digital room correction in the REL T/9x. Other audiophile subwoofers allow the use of an app almost always paired with a microphone to get fantastic setup results that were close to impossible 10 to 15 years ago for any end user to achieve. The way REL does setup with the REL T/9x is a manual process that reminds me of how Wilson Audio voices their speakers physically in a room. Physical placement is key. Volume matching helps a lot. Any REL dealer can help you get optimal results and don’t feel shy for asking for help in your setup as the REL T/9x isn’t as DIY as other subs in the class but it sure does sound good when you get one dialed-in. REL’s website has a ton of resources too and they also have a useful YouTube.com channel. 
• Accessing the controls can be a little bit clunky during setup. When I was trying to get the volume matched between the Bowers & Wilkins 705 S3s (read my review) I found myself tilting the sub up on its front legs which was just a little less than elegant. For many, the REL T/9x is small enough that it will be hard to see the back of the subwoofer. For others, you will eventually memorize which knob does what and you can make faster changes to the setup – on the fly.

Listening to the REL T/9x Subwoofer …

My system for my testing of the REL T/9x included a McIntosh MA5300 integrated amp, various Rotel power amps, a Bluesound Node 2024 music streamer and Bowers & Wilkins 705 S3 speakers. Placement was best on the right side of the room and well in front of the stand-mounted speakers.

The four-string bass guitar goes down to about 42 Hz in terms for its lowest note. Most subwoofers including the REL T/9x reproduce low frequency sound at much lower depths than that. The sonic effect of having a sub that can go pretty low in a tight, responsive manner can be audio improvements far higher up the frequency range. “One World (Not Three)” from The Police’s Ghost in the Machine album streaming from Qobuz was a really good example of this concept. Sting’s bass had a tight yet round, fun sound to it. Head bobbing was an involuntary reaction to this song with the REL T/9x engaged. The Bowers & Wilkins 705 S3s really lost a lot of overall coherency with the REL disconnected. You could live without a sub but you would fight to keep one in your system if there was any way to justify it – especially if that sub was a $1,299 REL T/9x. 

“Oct 33” from Black Pumas (Qobuz) is the type of music that I would be playing at any number of these regional audiophile shows as it is a bluesy, slow-jam that has a healthy dose of soul but lots of good audiophile details to listen for. Strings are layered on acoustical guitars, bongos and more. The bass guitar takes a while to engage the REL T/9x but I couldn’t help but to notice how the music sounded so open even if it wasn’t rocking some deep bass. When the bass came in, that taught but deep sound delivered a musical presentation that had me playing this track over and over again. 

“Shame Shame” from Foo Fighters Medicine at Midnight (Qobuz) is a cool subwoofer demo. We all know that the drummer is the star of Foo Fighters even if his wife is still really mad at him for knocking up some porn star in The Valley. The syncopated elements of the chorus are a really good example of how well a sub can be blended into a pair of good speakers. The bass on the track goes low but listen more carefully for Grohl’s kick drum. It sounds so accurate yet energized when the REL T/9x in the loop. Yes, you can get low on your low frequency music but it is how the other associated lower frequency elements perform in your system which is the draw of a nicely setup REL T/9x. The REL T/9x blends in really nicely to an audiophile system in every sense of the term. 

Will the REL T/9x Subwoofer Hold Its Value?

REL subs do well on the resale market as there is a good demand for more than one subwoofer in REL’s configurations thus somebody is looking to add one for some good reason or another. We love the evenness that you get with the use of multiple subwoofers in most audiophile listening rooms. REL is also sold in Magnolia, Crutchfield and other mainstream retailers as well as top audiophile stores. They get the word out well about their brand and that keeps the resale market strong for a component like the REL T/9 subwoofer. 

The one issue that is important to remember which is shipping costs on any used sub, even one that isn’t gigantic, can be high. Selling a sub locally can be better (and less back breaking) but then you often have to have strangers come to your home which has its own downsides for some audiophiles. If you can save your box, do so as that can help resale for those who have the space to somehow save a subwoofer box.

In the end, the REL T/9x will retain as much value as any other sub in (or anywhere near) its price range.

What is the Competition for the REL T/9x Subwoofer?

I was going to go with my reference subwoofer, the SVS SB-4000 (read my review) but that’s a bigger driver, bigger box and more money. It is also being replaced with a new model. The SVS SB-3000 at $1,099 (buy at Crutchfield) is a better comp for the REL T/9x in terms of size, performance. SVS SB-3000 (read Mike Prager’s review) has more automated setup and configuration and a very slick integration with their app. The fit and finish of the REL T/9x is more luxurious than the SVS. The SVS rocks a little harder which is always appealing to me. 

The MartinLogan Dynamo 12 at $1,499 (buy at Crutchfield) is a comparably priced subwoofer to the REL T/9x . For a little bit more money you get a bigger driver and likely more output. The REL T/9x is more polished in terms of its fit and finish, especially in its inputs, outputs and knobs. That’s not to say that the MartinLogan isn’t well-dressed but it just isn’t the supermodel that the REL T/9x is visually. The REL T/9x’s musicality, when well setup, is what sets it apart from other subs in its price range

Final Thoughts on the REL T/9x Subwoofer …

Fun isn’t how most people describe subwoofers but that is a word that I’ve scratched into my notes while reviewing the REL T/9x over and over again. The REL T/9x is fun to listen to. The REL T/9x is fun to own. It is fun to setup if you are into learning how to get the most from a sub (or two or four) in your listening room. Making a statement with lipstick red REL T/9x is fun too. 

The REL T/9x might not go as low as other subs but it is a compact, audiophile subwoofer that can hang in a home theater but more impressively can pair up nicely with demanding and much more expensive loudspeakers. While the setup process is old school, the results can be truly impressive. The REL T/9x is the most happening small subwoofer that I’ve experienced in a long time – a subwoofer designed to make your speakers perform better you enjoy every octave of your music.