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
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?