Problem with older REL subs & class D amps


I'm posting this as a "heads-up" - per tech support at REL - that certain REL sub-woofers of the past do not accommodate tapping into the high level output of class D amps using the cables originally provided.

Options are (a) to use the low level (preamp) output into REL sub low level input, or, (b)obtain a special cable that they call "high level digital out" from a REL dealership.

Subwoofers designed prior to the rise in popularity of class D amps are apparently the ones that fall victim to this. Best to obtain details from a REL dealer or tech support at Sumiko. (It sounds like the folks at Sumiko hope that your dealer can help you with this... understandable, as this is the purpose of a dealer...).

Sigh.
Art
artmaltman
The purpose of the dealer [I am one] is to be the go between between the importer and /or manufacture and the customer. I find that nowadays I know no more about a produce than anyone else as I have no more info than is posted on the web site. Almost without exception all I get from a company is the price sheet; sometimes some blurbs but no technical info. It use to be you would get repair manuals, I still have some from the old days. When I called REL for some technical data on their subs the told me to call a dealer, they didn't know the answer. How the dealer is suppose to know things the importer [ who owns REL] doesn't know is beyond me. So don't expect too much from your dealer, many of us are enthusiasts like yourselves who have no source of info except the ones you have yourself.
I wish I was able to get more detail on the fix. No one seems to know - except there is a fellow at REL who builds these cables by hand. I'll see if I can get him to let us know. Generally they want to keep things trade secret I'm sure BUT this involves support to existing customers in order to correct a problem. I'd like to think that the issue is simply a matter of filtering but why would they not simply say that if true? We shall see.

Stan, thank you for confirming the issue regarding dealers getting information. I also called a local - long established and very highly regarded - dealer of REL products, only to discover that they had never heard of this problem.

Meanwhile the folks at Sumiko are saying "just ask your dealer"!!!

Sigh.
Art
You can see a photo of the new cable in this thread at AVS forum. The ground lead now has a male RCA connector on it, supposedly to go into an unused RCA jack, and the standard Speakon connector at the sub end is changed. WTF?

There's something fishy about this. Why can't or won't Sumiko provide a decent technical explanation?