subwoofer comparision

AFAIK, REL subs are the only one's that let you use the low level and high level inputs at once. Meaning, when you're listening to two channel music you are using the speaker level hookups to get seamless integration and when you're watching a movie with a .1 channel you are still getting the seamless integration for extending your stereo speakers but when .1 data is available on the RCA/XLR input it is blended with the speaker level signal and everything is played through the REL at once.
I know the manual doesn't quite read that way (didn't for me anyway) but I called a tech at Sumiko, they explained what setting needed to be where, I tried it in all sorts of music / movies, and it works as described above.
AND, the RELs are musical and powerful.
I wouldn't think of using something else unless it did all of the above better.

i tried a rel stratus in a big room - one-note-thump. my brother-in-law tried it in a small room (he'd actually purchased it) w/a pair of proac response 1.5's. the soundstage collapsed, & the details were hidden. he sold it after a week after purchase...

for *real* bass that won't break the bank, get a vmps sub, w/outboard electronics - far better quality electronics for the money, than what's included in powered products. i like my marchand xm-9 x-over w/upgraded op amps, & my pair of vmps larger subs w/options. i have been able to successfully audition many different speakers in my rig w/the amazingly flexible, transparent marchand unit. amps? choose any decent used s/s amp. *real* bass, clean, undistorted, high spl's. check out vmps' & marchand's www's. oh yeah, if you only want *one* sub, the original & larger vmps models allow for use of a stereo amp, w/one channel driving each separate driver...

doug s., yust a satisfied customer...

ps - i don't *own* a ht set-up, btw - my system is audio-only...

I don't dispute your choice of VMPS subs and the Marchand or even doubt your experience with the REL. What I do find rather perplexing is that both of the anomalies you describe (one note thump and collapsed soundstage), are the hallmarks of what a REL does NOT do in my experience. I have tried a number of subs in my years in this hobby and, IMHO, the RELs' incredible flexibilty of inputs/coarse/fine adjustments, high/low settings etc. make them emminently adjustable to fit your needs.

How high did you (or your brother in law) have it crossed over? Placement is crucial too as is patience in adjusting the controls. I have a pair of Velodyne ULD 15 MK-IIs that I formerly had in an HT set-up (and then tried with a set of Silverline SR-15s for audio only) -- not horrible -- but nowhere NEAR as musical and seamlessly integrated as my REL Stentor III with my main system. I have it crossed over at 23 hz though. BUT if I cross it over at even 40hz, I start approaching the normal "one note thump" you get with some subs.

Again, I do not question your knowledge as much as I wonder if something wasn't either wrong with the sub (e.g., defective) or if the room set-up was not optimized.

Sedond, too bad neither of you had the patience to allow the REL to break in before you sold it. It is the last sub in the entire world that would ever be accused of "one-note thump" if broken in and set up properly (and both of these things generally take several months, if you want to reach the full potential of these subs). In fact, that is why all us happy REL owners got ours in the first place, because we like MUSIC and can't stand the thump-thump that just about everything else gives you. Find one that has been set up right and broken in, and then take a listen.

I own a REL strata and I'm very pleased with it. It is crossed at 30Hz with Spica Angelus in a 10x12 room. The soundstage has not collapsed and it is not a one-note thump. In fact it complements the spicas wonderfully. I only use it for 2ch music. I would not discount Doug's post, since REL didn't work for him, but I would balance it against the many happy REL customers.

I think a strata might not be powerful enough for HT, though, especially if you like to crack the plaster.

So RELs are very good and easy to resell (though somewhat overpriced in the US relative to the UK). The only other sub in the same price range which people seem to like is the ACI titan. You might want to home demo one of each, though personally I'd go for a used REL : it's a no risk policy. If you don't like it you sell it for the same as you paid yourself.