About The REL HT/1003 MKII Subwoofer
The HT/1003 MKII (aka The Hammer) offers insane performance at its size and price. Buy an HT/1003 MKII if you either don't have the space or don't require the extra output of REL's larger models. It's that simple. More compact, just as beautiful, it delivers identical build quality to its siblings. Its style makes it an ideal partner in HT/3D REL theatre setups with Serie T/x.
The all-new 300W Class D amplifier offers greater headroom and powers a new CarbonGlas™ 10" (254mm) driver. This combination delivers devastating output, playing TWICE as loud as the original. At this price, this performance is unheard of. The icing on the cake is that, like all the new HT's, it responds beautifully when playing music, and HT-Air delivers state of the art (optional) wireless.
When Your Heart Says HT/1205, But Your Wallet Or Your Room Says No: Perhaps the most dramatic update in the entire HT range is delivered by the remarkable HT/1003 MKII. In theatre, nothing impresses like raw output, even if you don't use all of it. HT/1003 MKII's increase in usable headroom confers an ease to the sound that lesser designs can't compete with. Here, is realized a full 10 dB higher output (that's twice as loud) over its forbear. As with its larger brothers, HT/1003 MKII receives the full suite of MKII upgrades. First, a higher secondary filter allows energy to extend further up the sonic spectrum which means explosions are more savage than ever. Next, an all-analogue PerfectFilter™ lifts and extends the deepest bass. Additionally, an analogue subsonic filter filters out the signals that can lead to damage below 20Hz. All this is packaged in the same sexy, serious look that blends perfectly with REL's Serie T/x and S for use in HT-3D systems. Also, improvements to driver, amplifier, and filters means this latest version is now a seriously musical sub.
Designer Clothing: The sexy new cabinetry is bespoke, with new textures, proportions, and finishing touches previously unseen in the category. Lower, sleeker cabinetry borrows proportions drawn from REL's new Reference models. Through experimentation over the years, REL have found that this results in a faster, deeper presentation of bass - all while looking smashing. The eye is immediately drawn to the top panel, which is finished in 5 coats of hand-polished piano black lacquer. A discreet REL logo floats within the top layer of lacquer, whilst the body of the cabinet is clad in horizontally streaked, line-grained composite. The entire affair looks expensive, bespoke, and tastefully restrained. Also, it can be combined with either Serie T/x or Serie S in large, fully-immersive REL HT/3D™ setups.
Drive It Like You Mean It: HT/1003 MKII's driver remains a 10" (254mm) CarbonGlas™ construct to keep its overall size reasonable in its role as the powerhouse for slightly more modest spaces. Every component was beefed up - improved in ways both large and small to deliver the greatest performance possible. Lightweight, stiff, and quiet, the combination of glass fibre primary cones with true carbon fibre centre caps results in a cost-effective yet pistonic cone. Larger, more powerful magnets produce greater energy. Upgraded suspension designs with enlarged surrounds to permit greater travel means output remains under control all the way to the limits of amplifier and driver. The result is prodigious output for this price point while remaining fast and liquid, as do all RELs.
Amplified Excellence: Amplifiers do the dirty work and the heavy lifting in a theatre subwoofer. REL turned to a true tier one amp supplier to build their latest design and they did not disappoint. They created thicker boards, and upgraded power supplies - all the stuff that, while not sexy, results in a brutally powerful 300W amp (did you know all RELs are specified as RMS Continuous, just like a big, expensive 300W monoblock amp?) with remarkable longevity. It generates truly awe-inspiring sound. While its theatre applications get all the headlines, its big secret is that it sounds sublime in musical applications. Big and robust-sounding, the HT/1003 MKII is sure to become an instant classic.
PerfectFilters™: REL input filters are renowned throughout the audio world. They bring together ultra-fast analogue crossovers, customer-designed elevation filters that extend the flatness of deep bass, and integrated limiters that allow all the power to explode outward. This compact series of analogue circuits is REL's secret recipe in both music and film sound. Refined in this second generation, the secondary filters used now allow extension to a much higher frequency, allowing the rarefaction of air in the sound of an explosion to feel that much more realistic. Additionally, the latest circuit includes an all-analogue subsonic filter that begins as low as 12 Hz to minimize the effects of infra-noise from soundtracks that extends well below the resonance point of the driver. The result is incredible delivered power with the ability to play to the driver's limit without distortion.
HT-Air MKII - Wired For Sound: Being wired for sound used to entail long runs of cable strewn across the floor. With REL's optional HT-Air™, great sound has become "un-wired." Wire has been replaced by a tiny transmitter and matching receiver that sends an incredibly fast 5.8Ghz wireless signal up to 18 metres with no digital compression. This affordable circuit includes the same LSIC chip that powers REL's state-of-the-art AirShip II, minus the expensive analogue-to-digital and digital-to-analogue (DAC) convertors. The HT-Air is perfect for the .1/LFE signals using RCA connectors that are HT/1003 MKII's primary mission.
Our Take
When REL released its HT series of home theatre subwoofers, many long time fans wondered what was going on? Where were the high level inputs, how could REL go to the dark side and abandon their musical roots? Turns out, none of us should have been in the least concerned. REL saw a niche which they had the perfect product to fill and they have proven to be extremely popular without taking anything away from REL's more music orientated offerings. In fact, REL have cleverly designed all their subwoofers to work together in a home theatre system with what they call the REL HT/3D™ setup where HT series is used for all the bomb blasts etc and T/x or S series are used to extend the natural range of your front, centre and rear speakers. A nice marriage of abilities that is truly effective and can be built up over time, starting with an HT or two and adding multiple T/x or S series as you go. The sky is literally the limit with this type of subwoofer system building and we are more than happy to run you through the possibilities. Just contact one of our qualified team for details. In the meantime, if you just want to snag yourself a kickass home theatre subwoofer at a great price that won't overwhelm your smaller room then the REL HT/1003 MKII awaits.
Main Features & Specifications
- Product Description: REL HT/1003 MKII Powered Subwoofer
- Design: Closed box, front-firing driver
- Active Driver Size & Material: 10", 254mm long-throw, CarbonGlas™ cone structure, inverted carbon fibre dust cap, steel chassis
- Low Frequency Extension: -6dB at 24 Hz
- Input Connectors: Dual Purpose Low Level Stereo RCA or LFE RCA
- Output Connectors: Daisy Chain Low Level Stereo RCA or LFE RCA
- Power Output: 300 Watts (RMS)
- Amplifier Type: NextGen5 Class D
- Wireless Capability: Optional REL HT-Air MKII Wireless System available, Zero Compression Single Large Scale Integrated Chip
- Protection System
- Fully Electronic Set Safe: Yes
- D.C. Fault: Yes
- Output Short: Yes
- Mains Input Voltage: 220-240 Volts 50Hz
- Fuses: 6.3 Amp semi delay
- Removable Power Cable: Upgrade to a Premium Power Cable for better performance
- Included Accessories: Mains Power Cable, User Manual
- Available Finishes: Black or White, Horizontally Oriented Line Grained Composite, 15 mm Top Plate, Finished in 5 Coats of Hand-Rubbed High Gloss Lacquer
- Dimensions (WxHxD): 362 x 343 x 387mm
- Net Weight: 15.5kg
- Manufacturer's Warranty: 2 Years
Note: Features & Specifications Subject To Change Without Notice. E&OE