REL Carbon Special
I took the plunge and ordered 2 RELs Carbon Special :banana:
I plan to follow REL's instructions of hooking these up via High Level Input to each of the MC611s, and XLR LFE input to the 2 Marantz 8805 sub outs. Does any of you have similar hook up in their system with the Carbon Special who can share their insights (Dos / Donts)? I reached out to McIntosh (Chuck Hinton) and he initially recommended to hook up the REL via Low Level RCA inputs to the preamp variable outs and did not recommend using the speaker level connection on MC611. I then sent him the note published by REL on the preferred method of connecting to monoblocs using high level input, and he replied in his email that either approach is ok, and it's up to me to decide. I wonder if anyone of you have first hand experience on either approach, and what is the best way to connect the RELs to the MC611s and 8805A surround processor. Any guidance is much appreciated :thumbsup: Many thanks. |
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Hi, you'll be very pleased with your new pair! The most important upgrade of our system we made the last years. For stereo, the high level input is preferred. That is what our dealer suggested (and he's REL's favourite dealer of my country). I was surprised that we only had to dial the volume at +/- 25%. I think we ended at about 35-37 Hz. For surround, we went with RCA-cables from our Marantz 8802A sub outs. It's all working very well, you don't hear the subs (until you turn them off!), you just feel them (at high volumes). Good luck! PS. There was only one negative: we had to wait 4 months... |
Excellent choice. I have a single Carbon Special, also connected via high level from my D’Agostino Momentum S250. This is my 6th REL over the years, with a variety of amps, and I’ve always used the high level inputs except for surround use, then low level from the theatre processor.
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Thank you Tony and Bart.
and thanks for confirming that you are hooking these up via High level cables. I can't wait and hope it will arrive next week. It will be a fantastic Christmas :thumbsup: |
Ditto. 2 different sets of RELs with high level inputs. Not with McIntosh amplifiers, but great results (and super easy to dial in).
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Awesome. Please give us a full report after they break-in.
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Thank you all. Will report back once received and dialed in.
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I’m just trying to learn more about REL. the idea of the 6 pack intrigues me.
So - from what I gather on this thread, you connect REL sub with a small wire that comes off your amp (while your speaker cables also go from the amp to the mains- And then you connect either RCA or XLR from your video processor at the same time? In other words, when listening in two channel, the subs are activated from the high level, but then when watching a movie, they play from the LFE out on your processor? |
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With amps whose (-) terminal is not at ground, you either leave the ground wire floating or connect it to a chassis ground screw. |
I was looking at REL's. This is the response I go from customer service regarding mono blocks:
"Thank you for your interest in REL. If planning to use a single REL with monoblocks, you must use a low level RCA connection via the preamp instead of high level. If connecting a pair of REL's via high level to the MC2301's, the BLACK wire should be left disconnected from a negative speaker terminal. You would connect the RED and YELLOW wires of each sub to the 8 ohm positive tap on each amp for best output. Please let us know if there is anything else at all that we can assist with, and thank you again for considering our products." |
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Thanks. Per REL, if there is hum, you can connect the black wire to the bolt/screw in the chassis of each of the monoblocks. |
The REL comes with standard High Level Cable. Did anyone upgrade this standard High Level cable, and if so, is it worth it? The high level cable I am considering is the Analysis Plus cable ($149 for each 3 meter-cable). Any thought on this cable, or more expensive high level cable such as Bassline Blue?
Thanks! |
I upgraded with a used pair of bassline blue to good effect. Not sure if it was worth retail, but fine for used pricing.
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I'm running the line array of 812s (6), using the bassline Blue upgraded cords...I connect them off the speaker terminal itself and it works great...then daisy chain the array. I am still fiddling with tuning, but the effect is incredible so far. Can not leave them turned off any more!!
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I want to see a picture of that setup!!! |
Just got the email that the 2 Carbon special subs I ordered last week are shipped :banana: On REL website the Carbon Special is "Out of Stock", so very happy to have these ordered while in stock! It will be a busy Xmas setting these up :banana::music:
btw, I got the email from REL today that price increase on existing products will be effective on Jan 15th 2022. |
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https://www.audioaficionado.org/atta...1&d=1639856805 |
REL Carbon Special
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What an awesome setup. The neighbors must love you[emoji41] |
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Thanks for sharing this picture. Are those Stenheim Alumine Three’s? How would you describe their performance…thx |
They are the Alumine 3s, I came from Wilson Sabrinas and still have them, so I plan to do a side by side to do a true comparison. What I would say about these is that they are realistic without being sharp, very smooth from top to bottom and cast a big sound stage. They have a beautiful build quality as well.
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Thank You Please do share your findings when you get around to it. Enjoy your awesome system in good health |
Wow beautiful setup Kahuna! I have a dual S812 setup, was wondering about this. How much AC power to your room to accomplish this setup?
Thanks |
I note the Dartzeel preamp. What amps are running that (sorry if I missed it in the photos). Great looking and sounding set up - congratulations.
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I LOVE it!!! |
The Dart is an integrated...200 watts @ 8 ohms, lots of power for these speakers as they are 93 db efficient.
Thanks for the comments guys, I will do a new system post shortly...need to clean up the cables etc. |
Beautiful room and system!
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REL Carbon Special
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Another happy REL 6-pack owner here, s/812. Center and rear subs are s/510 Attachment 66257Attachment 66258Attachment 66259
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This is not good for me to see. Not good at all.
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Haha, I showed Meta the system above. "Not in this life" she said. I must say I'm already happy with my current pair. |
Nice work - love the room!
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Ok, I’m talking to my wife about upgrading our integrated amplifier upstairs, (going from D’agostino progression to momentum) and she says to me, I think I’d rather have a 6 pack downstairs!!!
Heck yes! So now I’m in the shopping mode. Questions to all you array owners: Is the s/812 good enough x6? (I love the price point—-I’m just used to the deep bass from my f113v2 fathoms. Are they hard to dial in? (Seeing that they only have a phase switch {vs a knob like JL offers} I’m intimidated at blending with mains {unless I position them in the same plane as my mains}). Assuming I use the high level output from my amp—and daisy chain the stacked subs, how do you make the most of 2 channel…and LFE in mixed systems? (Im still not clear on if you hook up high level AND balanced or RCA at the same time. In other words,in 2 channel mode- signal feeding is the high level, and when watching a movie- processor is on and feeds the balanced or rca to the array (with both connections always connected). Any help would be appreciated. |
I've heard a sixpack of JL Audio F113s. It was also excellent.
That's another possible route. |
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That was my original plan. Glad to hear it sounded great! I’d love to see pictures of that setup for sure. |
A six pack of F113’s is trumped by a pair of Gotham’s. I have tried them both and, chose the Gotham’s. I find it looks better too.
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My appeal to stacking them 3 high (times 2) was to have different crossover settings as they got higher to try and capture air and other subtle sounds. In the six pack of f113s you tried were they stacked and configured that way? |
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Actually for their 6-packs (they call it a line array) REL recommends crossing over at progressively higher frequencies so each sub augments different frequencies. REL has really been the pioneer in this field. They have a very cool setup with the subs connected in series with a special cable. There’s a wealth of information on their site here: https://rel.net/rel-acoustics-subwoofer-line-arrays/
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This is what I want to “try” (be it fathoms or RELs) to see if I like it. |
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