Upgrade from Q200E?

[AudiophileUk]

Hi Guys, im thinking of passing on my trusty old REL Q200E for my dads first HT setup... been happy with it for a few years, using for both music and film along with some MS914 fronts.

Question is can i buy a better sub in the same kind of price bracket nowadays? I'd probably try to pick something used up for between £250 - £400. Size is an issue as i doubt id want a behemouth of a sub, im quite happy with the 1foot square the REL covers - dont mind something a little bigger but not much!

What's REL's new range like - is it a big improvement? Is it actually worth an upgrade, have they made decent improvements over the 7 years since the Q200 was first intorduced?

[russ.will]

Things have definitely moved on in seven years. The market has opened up to include some interesting alternatives albeit not necassarily available through the normal chain and independent dealers. Plus the advent of affordable and bloody powerful digital amplification has raised the bar as to the sheer volume and depth of bass that can now be expected from a cubic foot.

I can't comment on the new RELs, but if I recall correctly, some time back, I bought an MJ Ref 200 in preference to the Q200 (might have been a Q150, but there definitely was a Stampede and a Strata that I couldn't afford back then) and the £650 Ref 200 is broadly equivalent to the BK XLS-200 at £300, so yes things have moved on.

The dealers on here, don't seem to much rate the new R series subs for music compared to the outgoing ST series, but then I seem to remember that the same was true of the old Q series, which is now broadly being replaced by the T series. I'm therefore not quite sure where that leaves things. At the recent Bristol Show, REL were demoing neither, which didn't help much.

Second hand is very much dependent on what's for sale at the time. As such, it's a case of seeing what's about and then asking opinion on here.

FWIW, I'd stretch to the SVS SB-12 (via the forum powerbuy) if you want to see how much things have moved on. <Runs and ducks for cover>

Russell

[recruit]

The ST Rels are more highly regarded nowadays, i did own a few of the Q series and they never really bowled me over, not enough bass for my likeing.

The newer T series do seem to get good reviews from the AV mags and have won a few awards lately, i would try and get a demo or better still a home demo of the newer range if you want to stick to Rel.

There is also some other great options from the likes of BK, SVS Velodyne to name a few, all of which has many followers and offer alot bang for you're bucks !!

[AudiophileUk]

thanks for the lengethened reply there russ!

Annoying as i wasnt intending to spend that much but does look like a good deal... im pretty temepted now

I'll do a bit more research and see if anything is avaialbel in the classiefieds cheaper before i go with the PB.

Do you own the SB russ - what do you think of it?

[russ.will]

That was a short reply by my standards.

No I don't own one. I own one of those subs of monolithic proportions that you don't want.

I've heard the SB-12 on a day long demo when it first arrived in this country and have since set one up for a fellow forumite. It looses out by a few dB and about 5Hz to the big boxes which means it only slightly lacks their sense of effortless scale and impact, but for a box of it's size it's very, very good.

Russell

[AudiophileUk]

thanks it sounds like a good choice. Are their any othe similar subs youy think i should consider?

Sorry wasnt meaning your reply was too long at all!! Just the first time i checked i saw a single sentence, and when i refreshed a minute later it had turned into a fuller reply!

[russ.will]

Sorry, I think slow.

With respect to other subs, I'm doing my best to find out what other manufacturers offer. Have a look at the 'Free Beer' thread to see what I mean.

Unfortunately, you could be without a sub for a while if you hang on for the results of it.

Russell

[AudiophileUk]

i appreciate your efforts russ! Fairly big purchase for me at the moment so i like to hear oppinions on whats good at the moment...

[russ.will]

Bear in mind that my opinions are just that - my opinions. Of course I'm right often as not.

Russell

[Howard0000]

For £400 I know which sub I'd suggest... But... Oh I can't quite think of it's name. There's one sitting in my room, but the name escapes me...

[AudiophileUk]

Originally Posted by russ.will

Bear in mind that my opinions are just that - my opinions. Of course I'm right often as not.
Russell

Of course i dont take anyone oppinions as gospel, but its a good starting place on what people genreally like at certain price points, espeically here where i respect many peoples views. Also i notice you've been advising people on sub choices for quite some time Russ!

I read through the FreeBeer thread, sounds like a great idea and i look forwards to reading the results... I've kind of reached the oppinion that often forums just recycle prominet members views, leading to a rather slanted outlook. I think good forums need this kind of objective testing to be kept 'alive'. It provides a wider community with some really useful info so good work!

Out of interest what kind of improvement could i expect over my REL by the SB12 - is it leaps and bounds or mild improvements?

Originally Posted by Howard0000

For £400 I know which sub I'd suggest... But... Oh I can't quite think of it's name. There's one sitting in my room, but the name escapes me...

Well done you have won todays most useless post! Your prize will be in the mail! (only joking)

...could it be...the BK monolith by any chance?

May have to give some consideration to them both, wonder if i can demo them anywhere. Has anyone heard them both?

[GrannySmith]

Originally Posted by AudiophileUk

Out of interest what kind of improvement could i expect over my REL by the SB12 - is it leaps and bounds or mild improvements?

Having replaced my Q200E with an SB12+ a couple of months back, I can confirm the baby SVS is a massive improvement, both in the quantity & quality of bass on tap. Hooked up to an Arcam AVR350, movie soundtracks suddenly have real energy, and music has decent dynamics at last...without doubt it's the best £500 I've ever spent on a/v gear. Previously tried a BK Monolith, a great sub for sure, but it did'nt blend in as transparently with the rest of the system as the SB12+has, despite all manner of repositioning and frequency response adjustment. It costs more than you were looking to spend, but if you prefer a smaller sub, you won't regret shelling out the extra moolah, trust me!

[AudiophileUk]

thanks for that, very helpful to hear from someone in my situation.

Now the only decision is the finish, wallet says vinyl, heart says gloss, Mrs says neither