REL HT/1205 review

REL HT/1205 review

REL has been a brand synonymous with bass and subwoofers ever since their first product. But all their previous ones have been equipped with a LFE and high level inputs as well as their special Speakon connector.

So this HT series is their first venture into a purely home theatre subwoofer. Does it work? Let’s find out..

The technical specs off their website:

https://rel.net/shop/powered-subwoofers/ht-1205/

Review equipment:

Sony ZD9 75"
(Sony TV review)
Denon AVC X8500H

(Denon AVC X8500H review)

Dynaudio Confidence 1 Platinum
( Dynaudio C1 Platinum Review )

Sony UDP X800

(Sony UBP X800 Review )
Sony UDP X700

Dynaudio Confidence C1 and Centre Platinum front and centre

Usher 520 side surround back

Monitor Audio RXFX in dipole mode for rear surrounds

JL Audio E112 

Anthony Gallo A'Diva for ceiling Atmos placement

QED XT Revelations for front and centre speakers

QED Micro speaker cable for the surrounds

Monoprice Premium Cables from 4k players to amp and onwards to the TV

Audioquest Snake subwoofer cable 

Blue Jean subwoofer cable

Wireworld Oasis 6 & 7 Interconnects

Wireworld Oasis 6 power cables

Assorted Xindak, PS Audio and other power cables

MK wall power sockets

PS Audio Juice Bar

Rhodium Right Angle Plug adapters for USA power cables

Auralex subdude platform and Mopads under centre speaker

So what are the special bits?

500W amp – that’s RMS

Carbon fibre long throw 12” woofer

Nice labels dual upright and upside down labels

Glass top and a decent vinyl wrap

No High Level Inputs

A low level input which doubles up as a LFE input.

The sub itself doesn’t weight that much – around 19kg and it will ‘walk’ in more energetic moments.

So how do they sound?

The sub has some decent specs, with a -6db at 22 hz rating, and the sealed cabin does give it some tight bass.

So after doing some running in, I let it loose on my system. Now I deliberately let it do the heavy lifting in my system, then I also swopped out the JL Audio E112, which is also a 12” sub, but has more than twice the power, and weighs a lot more too.

So my main movies were 13 Hours and Lone Survivor. The first has some suspense moments as well as the obligatory explosion to test the limits of the sub and it does really put some stress on it. The second title also has some bass, and the thud from the rifle fire is very meaty and substantial with my E 112. So when the REL was asked to perform under the same circumstances, it was rather impressive, and valiantly rose to the occasion.

So let me tell you, it’s not an 18” monster, not a SVS tube ported sub which can give you crazy SPL at 15 Hz. But it’s very tight, and goes rather deep. It’s also impressive in going loud and the cones will move back and forth with great vigor as it strives to do what the E112 does. It does come up a bit short. That mighty woofer on the E112 is in a different class, but for around one third to a quarter the price, it does very well indeed and isn’t really embarrassed by the E112. If you were to buy two REL HT 1205s, I think it will give you a lot of what the E112 gives and yet spread the bass out nicely

I also listened to some music and it’s very musical too. Perhaps a tad more ‘thuddy’ than the best, again the E112 does better in music, but it keeps up in timing and depth pretty well.

My final thoughts?

If you can only afford the REL, you will be pretty pleased with them. I think that a brace of these can give far more expensive subs a good run for their money. It’s also a very good balance between home theatre and music. For the money, you can find some HT subs which plunge the depths more and dig out more SPL, and get you more of that trouser flapping bass. But they may cost more, are much larger in size or don’t do that well in music. However it will move around and you should consider spikes, better footers or even some weights on the top of the cabinet.

So for around 700 USD, or thereabout in GBP, it does a very good job.

Pros:

Small footprint and easy to move about.

Solid value for money

Cons:

It will ‘walk’ under moments of serious SPLs

Will not play to it’s best in a large room

Can’t plunge the depths or give the kind of SPLs that Hsu / SVS or other HT internet companies can do.

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 I have no financial interest or other interests in any of the items / events I write about.