Which Sub. Rel B-1 or Fathom F-113

I run an F113 with B&W S800's, it adds quite a bit but I have a large room.

Just my own opinion, but I have had stereo REL Stentor IIIs (a few years ago) and now have stereo Fathom F112s and I prefer the Fathoms by a fairly significant margin. The RELs are nice and I enjoyed them but the Fathoms exposed the RELs limitations. The JL subs are the best built I have ever seen (the driver is exceptionally well built) and are tighter, faster, more articulate with more musical nuance while extending so deep it's quite astounding. They are easily integrated and the ARO system really dialed them in for me after I adjusted them manually. In my room and my system at least, they have no equal that I have experienced.

FYI, I have Verity Audio Sarastro IIs (with 11" woofers) and, like you, didn't feel the "need" for any more (or to improve the) bass. I bought the JLs on a lark figuring I could sell them if they didn't help. I can now say they are very much here to stay and didn't just improve my bass response in ALL areas but the entire musical presentation as well. I hope this helps.

Frank

Frank, are you using rolling off the signal to your main speakers with a high pass, or are you just running the mains full spectrum? Thanks, Peter

Peter, I considered an upscale external crossover to roll off the signal into the Sarastros (and I know many would think that would be prefereable). However, when I got the Fathoms in and set them up (with the ARO done separately on each speaker), the integration was so seamless and the sound has been so good I never felt the need to add all of the extra connections, components and cost. So yes, I am running the Sarastros full range.

If you check HT Shack Subwoofer test you will see data on the JL F113 - it is pretty impressive (although distortion is a wee bit high - and compression does become an issue - however it is amazingly good for such a small sub - appears to beat everything else that size)

I am in favor of a sealed box for a sub like the JL (and the Rel B-1 is ported - so I am not sure what that does to the impressive low group delay of older generation Rel's - as I have not seen any data on the B-1 so far)