REL S/550 Subwoofer

REL S/550 Subwoofer with 10” Active Driver and 12” Passive Radiator

S/550 is the gateway to the Serie S line, delivering the speed, depth, and nuance that define REL’s performance ethos. While its larger sibling, the S/850, sets the ultimate benchmark, the S/550 carries forward many of the same design innovations—ensuring the essence of Serie S is fully realized in a more compact form.

The results are remarkable: S/550 offers lightning-fast transients, deep articulate bass, and tonal balance that breathes life into both music and film. Its ability to combine authority with refinement makes it an ideal choice for those seeking a true high-end experience in medium-sized systems, with performance that consistently exceeds expectations. For those seeking a more bespoke finish, an optional Premium Wood Grille upgrade is available for added warmth and individuality.

Designed for Excellence

Take in the design as a whole: horizontal strakes carved into the side walls, elegant elliptical returns that cradle handles finished in a warm golden-silver, echoing raw titanium. Everywhere you look, thoughtful details emerge - but the purpose is clear. This generation delivers the seemingly impossible: a larger cabinet that is lower, wider, and deeper, yet visually lighter.

The added internal volume gives drivers greater freedom and amplifiers improved efficiency, while updated internal bracing keeps cabinet resonances firmly under control. Subtler touches also make a difference, badges that disappear into the grille cloth, silver accents that rest quietly within the cabinet plane, and model numbers etched discreetly into the front rails, visible only when stacked in a Line Array.

An optional Premium Wood Grille adds warmth and individuality, while front-rail leveling adjusters ensure effortless setup, even on uneven floors. Together, these refinements reflect REL’s philosophy that great design is as much about thoughtful usability as it is about beauty and performance.

Drive Faster Drive Better

The new S/550 10” (254 mm) high-amplitude driver has been completely rebuilt - only the cast frame remains. Its CarbonAlloy™ cone, capped with pure carbon fibre, sharpens attack and smooths decay, letting notes fade naturally into silence. A redesigned suspension allows greater travel, easily handling the amplifier’s added power. In listening, the driver feels supple and effortless, free from strain. Because it’s lighter, the amplifier works less, yet delivers more power, allowing the driver to move further and play louder than ever before. The result is nothing short of a revelation.

Amplified Excellence

Rated at 550 Watts, the Pure Class D amplifier outpaces its predecessor – but numbers tell only part of the story. In the lab, this unit delivers 600 Watts continuous with no strain for extended periods of time, not simply for an instant. Its crest power is fully 50% more than its predecessor. It delivers the fast, truly deep bass Serie S is known for, performance that defies spec sheets.  Premium polypropylene capacitors, like those used in REL’s Reference models, were installed in the input filters resulting in a more open soundstage with greater transparency. REL know from extensive experience that this unit is a rugged and reliable amplifier. As always, fed by the second generation PerfectFilter™, the deep bass is utterly remarkable for a subwoofer whose footprint is so tidy.

Analogue Filtered to Perfection

REL choose analogue because it is the only way to achieve truly natural sound. All REL input filters are 100% analogue - among the fastest ever offered in a subwoofer. At the core is REL’s renowned High Level Input, which connects directly to the speaker outputs of your main amplifier. This doesn’t draw power; instead, it carries the full sonic signature of your system, allowing REL to blend seamlessly with your speakers - a quality reviewers have praised for decades.

For systems where High Level isn’t possible, the low-level input uses the same analogue filter circuit, available via both RCA and XLR connections, to deliver the speed, naturalness, and integration REL is known for. And in theatre or dual-use systems, REL uniquely allows High Level and .1/LFE to run together - so music benefits from natural integration, while movies deliver the full impact intended by the mix.

Serie S Line Array

REL Line Arrays are celebrated for their sound staging and dynamics, performance admired across the high-end audio community. Like all REL Line Arrays, they’re designed to grow with the listener: start with a stereo pair, expand to four, and ultimately build a full six-unit stack for floor-to-ceiling authority. Precision mechanical couplers lock each upper unit securely to the anchor REL below, ensuring stability and seamless integration.

The S/550 is the ideal entry into this world, delivering the speed, nuance, and scale that define Line Array performance. It offers a scalable foundation for music and home theatre enthusiasts looking to experience the benefits of REL’s vertical bass architecture in medium-sized rooms. As systems expand, the S/550 reveals even greater depth and dimensionality - vocals gain presence, instruments bloom with lifelike realism, and cinematic effects strike with powerful impact. A state-of-the-art experience made accessible, with the ability to grow over time.

Wired For Sound… Wirelessly

Sometimes the best wire is no wire. Quality cables are a given in high-end audio systems, but there are occasions where it is impractical, unsafe, or unsightly to drape a cable across the room. REL delivers the ultimate solution with Airship Direct™, their optional wireless system that transmits wide-bandwidth, compound signals, carrying both High Level and .1/LFE simultaneously. Even with the scale and output of S/550, Airship Direct™ preserves the speed, transparency, and authority that define REL. It allows seamless transitions between music and movies without ever touching the controls, all from a single module that plugs neatly into the rear panel and stays invisible in your room. Simple, direct, uncompromised: Airship Direct™.

Our Review

The REL S/550 is one of those rare subwoofers that manages to combine raw power with real finesse, making it a joy whether you’re deep into music or fully immersed in a film. Carrying much of the design DNA from the flagship S/850, the S/550 delivers lightning-fast transients, deep articulate bass, and an overall balance that feels both authoritative and refined. Its CarbonAlloy™ driver and 550 Watt Class D amplifier work together to produce bass that’s tight, natural, and surprisingly effortless, while the beautifully considered cabinet design shows that REL cares as much about aesthetics as it does about performance. Add in thoughtful touches like analogue filtering for seamless integration, optional wireless connectivity, and the ability to expand into a Line Array, and you’ve got a subwoofer that doesn’t just sound spectacular - it grows with you, bringing a true high-end experience into medium-sized systems without compromise.