Listening to the driving bass lines in Robin Trower’s Bridge of Sighs via a pair of REL Classic 99 subwoofers mated to my vintage Acoustat 2+2 ESL speakers feels a lot like 1979 again with a bit of a twist – the few subwoofers that were available back then suuuucked. They were one-note boom boxes that could not keep up with a pair of ESLs. With the crossovers set low, in the 35-ish Hz range, they mate perfectly with the 2+2s. Honestly, even one is enough, but REL’s John Hunter was kind enough to send a pair for the review. At $1,899 each, they represent excellent value for a product with such a high level of performance and execution.
These mighty subwoofers were put to good use between the Acoustats, the current vintage Magnepan 2.7X speakers, a pair of YG Acoustics Cairn’s, and the new Wharfedale Dovedale speakers. Towards the end of the review, we received Dynaudio’s powered Focus 10 speakers (featuring a subwoofer out) and a single Classic 99 is also a perfect match.
When talking about REL’s Classic 99 subwoofer, it would be easy enough to say, “It’s one louder than the Classic 98,” but that’s not fair to anyone. The two subwoofers share a common visual design language; walnut-veneered cabinets, downward-firing drivers, white gold controls, and a common sonic palette. The subtlety of the matte black feet rounds out the package.
The Classic 99 is equally harmonious in my mid-century home’s décor. It perfectly complements the Noguchi table. I think Charles and Ray Eames would be smitten with the fit and finish that REL brings to the fine details of their subwoofers.
Firing out vs. firing down
The original REL subwoofers are downward-firing, and while the Classic subs follow this legacy, everything is improved tremendously. The 12-inch driver features a premium paper cone, which has a slightly softer bass response and feel than the standard cones in REL’s other subwoofers.
The woofer firing down uses the floor to take some of the “sock” out of the lowest bass notes, but it also diffuses the bass in a way that is more in keeping with older/vintage speakers and a number of British monitors. In the end, this makes for a more seamless match between the main speakers and the subwoofer, something that REL prides itself upon.
REL claims a -6db point of 24Hz. While we don’t perform measurements, listening to test tones in the living room reveals solid output to 30hz in the middle of the room, with the 20hz test tone much quieter. Moving the Classic to the corner for maximum room gain delivers more output from the 20Hz tone. Still, in all seriousness, it doesn’t affect the overall presentation of the music I’m listening to. Fortunately, the Classic 99 only weighs a few ounces less than 50 pounds, making it easy to move around your listening space without help.
Some excellent tutorials on the REL site can help you fine-tune your Classic 99. However, deciding on corner, center, or slightly off-center is the primary choice, and you will have to work around this. Corner placement will give the most extended bass response, however, this is not always where the sub can be placed. Many will have to work with center or slightly off-center. Because the Classic 99 has so much capability, it will just mean dialing the gain up a bit more and perhaps crossing over at a marginally higher frequency than you would with your Classic 99 in the corner.
Once your REL is playing, it will take about 50-100 hours of play for the suspension to settle in all the way. This can be accelerated slightly by playing a lot of bass-heavy music at a fairly high level, though this may annoy your roommates or immediate neighbors. Should this not be an issue, crank it up and party on. It’s a great idea to do some more careful, critical listening after 100 hours, giving the crossover and level controls a final tweak. If you make it a point to play the same track at the beginning of your evaluation sessions, you’ll notice your Classic 99 goes a little deeper and hits a little harder at this point.
Your preference
This is precisely what I hear in my living room, using the Dynaudio Focus 10 active speakers with the sub placed in the center of the wall. As this room is somewhat on the lively side, the slightly mellower presentation of the Classic 99 suits my non-reviewing musical tastes (heavily leaning towards classic 60s/70s rock and bop-ish jazz) more than the REL S/510 also on hand.
To be clear, neither is better or worse; it’s about personal preference and tuning the system to your liking. I can live with either of these fantastic subwoofers, and if I had larger, punchier main speakers, carpeting instead of hardwood floors, and listened to more current pop, techno, and hip-hop, I’d choose the S/510. If you must drive to work on relatively noisy and bumpy roads, perhaps sport suspension isn’t the optimum choice.
Five ways to plug in
REL offers three ways to connect your Classic 99 via cables. The most common is via their Speakon/high-level input that connects to your amplifier’s speaker output posts. This is a high-impedance connection that does not drain your amplifier’s power output or ability to drive the main speakers. However, I submit it is the best way to connect a REL because it captures the sonic fingerprint of your entire system, not just what comes out of an additional pair of preamplifier outputs.
Don’t believe me? If you can do it both ways, try it. In 60 seconds, you’ll see (well, hear, actually) the subtle difference that the high-level connection makes. And it takes way less time fine-tuning the sub to integrate with your main speakers. Standard right and left RCAs for line-level input are present, as well as a single .1 LFE input should you be making your Classic part of a theater system. I have zero experience here, so I cannot guide you.
No room for cables? REL’s top Airship II wireless transmitter ($398) or the HT-Air MKII ($139) set you free from that. They both transmit and receive signal at 5.8 GHz. However, the lower-priced HT-Air MKII only gives you line level and RCA connectivity.
More listening
Once the Classic 99s were settled in and set up to the best of my abilities, it became even more enjoyable, and a few other speakers were auditioned as possible mates. The JBL Classic 100, with the Prima Luna EVO400 power amplifier driving them, was a classic rock powerhouse, adding the RELs to the mix. Skynyrd never sounded better.
Ditto for the Harbeth Compact 7. One of my favorite British monitors, the Compact 7 sheds its British “politeness” with some serious low-end grunt. Much more balanced for every kind of music imaginable, the medium-sized Harbeths rock with authority and can keep up with the most driving beats of your favorite electronica tracks.
The Classic 99 is not “slow” by any stretch of the imagination, but the combination of the tech involved and the downward-facing driver delivers a more expansive, broader presentation than the current REL subs—a different flavor.
The final choice
If you’ve read my Classic 98 review or have experienced these two subs at a REL dealer, you already know what I’m saying. However, you might be thinking about which is right for you and how to decide.
The size of your room and your budget are always significant factors, but the larger the room and the larger your main speakers are (especially the woofer cones), consider the 99. After trying these subs in three different rooms, 11 x 13 feet, 13 x 18 feet, and 24 x 36 feet, I found that bigger rooms mean bigger subs. It’s all about moving air within a confined space. I’d politely suggest that 200 square feet is the line of demarcation, deciding which will make you happiest.
The REL Classic 99 is the perfect solution for this type of room and system. Highly recommended.
Please click HERE, to get the full specifications on the REL website.
