Effortly plays low frequencies with a 'musical grace.'
It's theory and design affords you great control in blending with main speakers.
Craftsmenship equal or better than many in this price range.

For my needs it has none!

I've only had the Rel Storm III for a short while but already it has met the expectations I anticipated from the in store auditions. The flexible adjustments it affords
you in blending low bass to your mains is wonderful! It's the best sub I've had that plays gourgeous low frequency
without always drawing attention to itself! I've had and
still own some of the super (HTheater) subs but for my two
channel system (seperate rooms only please!) the REL gets it done! And in a very compact package! I've also enjoyed the ease of placing it without loss of sound quality.
What it does draw attention to though is the beautiful
"rosenut" craftsmenship!

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Audio Research sp9III pre-amp,Proceed PDT/PDP series 3, Two
Aragon 4004II (hooked in vertical bi-wire) to Apogee Duetta
Ribbons, Denon Digital Audio Tape Recorder, Symo & MIT cables. Own Velodyne ULD 15, NHT and Energy subs.

This sub blends perfectly with the quick and dynamic open sound of my Magnapan 3.6's when properly set up using subtle low frequency cutoff adjustments. This sub kicks in when the music calls for it and does not call unnecessary attention to the lower registers when properly set up.

None

When I purchased and broke in my Maggies I was very satisfied with the overall sound, except in the lower octaves, having just sold my NHT 3.3s, which rock in the nether regions. After listening to the Storm at my dealer, I promptly ordered one and got on the waiting list (damn!) but it was worth waiting for. When properly set up in the system, the Storm became invisible, but wove its magic on all sorts of music from Diane Krall to Mahler. What excitement and power in that little box. All I can say in conclusion is that the extra investment in those ten or fifteen hertz makes my system sound better than systems costing many times as much. They sounded much more musical than the Carvers and are very easy to set up...I love this addition to my system.

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Maggie 3.6s, Audio Research LS 22, VT 150SEs,PH 3, Oracle Mk IV, Graham 2.0, Crown Jewel, Theta Pro Gen V balanced, Theta Data II and various interconnects (Audioquest, Aural Symphonic, Hovland)

Makes beautiful music
Strong accurate bass
versatile connection and setup options

None so far

The Storm III replaces a five-year-old Genesis 12 sub. The Genesis is no slouch when it comes to musical subwoofers but somehow I could never make it completely “disappear” in my system. My main speakers, Totem Model Ones, produce usable bass down to about 40hz. I have always run them with a subwoofer. I ran my Totems full range with the Genesis, and I do the same with the REL. Whereas I connected the Genesis via low-level inputs, I am using the recommend high-level inputs for the REL connection. As I said, the Genesis is a very musical sub; its bass is taut and fast. However, the REL takes the music to another level. I followed much of the advice I have read on this forum and elsewhere regarding the setup of the Storm. Still, I found myself initially setting the cutoff frequency too high. I’ve had the sub for less than a week, so I am still dialing in the correct settings but it looks like a 30hz cutoff setting is what I will leave it at. The sub has a very flexible array of control options with respect to cutoff, volume, and phase. This flexibility makes it very versatile and easy to match with a variety of main speakers and listening rooms. After experimenting with various placement options I ended up placing it in the corner behind the right speaker (exactly the same location as my Genesis).

As much as I had heard about the Storm, I was still unprepared for the improvement it has made in my system. Not only is the low bass better realized through the REL, but also it imparts just the right amount of natural warmth to all kinds of music. It adds a “fullness” to the sound without the “thickness” that can often occur with a poorly integrated sub. This warmth seems to attach itself to individual instruments and voices, yet maintains their distinct sonic quality. The warmth of an acoustic guitar sounds like a real guitar and not an artificial generic warmth that is equally applied to all instruments and voices. Large orchestral pieces now sound both life-like and life-size. This was something my previous sub just could not do…and was the main reason that I was always aware of its presence.

In addition to the quality of bass, the REL has improved the dynamics of my system. This is especially surprising since my main speakers are still running full range. Individual instruments and voices are more distinct and localized. In general my system has a more coherent sound. I’m not sure how the physics of this can be explained, but it is amazing how much this subwoofer has improved so much of my system.

I’ve listened to various kinds of music, both during the audition and the setup process. Much of this music was chosen for it’s bass content. However, other than establishing a benchmark of bass performance for comparison sake, I think it is a mistake to rely too much on “big bass” recordings. It wasn’t until I got home and settled in to listening to my “regular” music did the beauty of the REL reveal itself. There is one recording, Emmy Lou Harris’s The Wrecking Ball that has a lot of low frequency information throughout. Additionally, it is a very complex and thick mix of low frequency guitars, bass, and bass drum that can collapse upon itself into a thick mess with lesser speaker systems. I never could get it right with my old sub. But the properly setup REL has unraveled those complex, thick passages, revealing all the weight but not at the sacrifice of detail. I would highly recommend this CD both for auditioning and setting up subwoofers.

I forgot to mention that the REL Storm III is used in a music only system. My only interest was in finding a good sub for good music reproduction. So, all of my auditioning and setup was done to maximize its use in my two channel system. However, I am sure that the REL would be very effective in a quality HT system, although much of the refinement and musical quality of this sub will be lost on most of the HT material out there.

My system consists of the following:
Totem Model One speakers on Sound Anchor Stands
Cardas Cross speaker cable
Meridian 508.20 CD
VPI hw19jr turntable
Shure V15mrx cartridge
Audio Research LS-15 preamp
Llano A-100 power amp
Various cables by purist audio design and Harmonic Technology.

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Genesis Model 12 - five years

Clear clear detailed musical bass.

None

Not too much I can add, but I can comment on Mark's follow up below. The Stratus, Storm, Stadium line are designed for audiophiles. Music is the primary consideration. The inputs for HT are a convenience (and quite good ones at that). The port design I would not consider a weekness, quite the contrary. It enables the Storm and Stadium to take advantage of reflex loading. The Storm and Stadium will go lower than the Stratus and with less distortion. Richard E. Lord (aka REL) found the smaller cabinet in the Status produced too much distortion to take advantage of a reflex loading port design. The closed box design is the cure for the smaller box. The "Halo" effect I would guess is probably not the subwoofer, but is the Storm setting off effects in Mark's room. Since the Stratus is not as powerful those room distortions are minimized.
Mark is right on though, the "Q" line are design primarily for HT and the Stratus is a good compromise. But if you are an audiophile first and formost, I would save up the extra $500 for the Storm if I were you.

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Stratus, Monitor Audio

ITS a Rel

Port Design

Steve,

I posted a follow up on my experience with the REL STORM AND STRATA3 IN MY HOME. To say that the Storm was setting off effects in my room is a silly statement since the Storm has volume control for both low and high input. My reciever also has full bass managment for a sub.
The only reason the storm has a port is to allow the storm to go below 20hz to 18 without having to step up to a bigger built in amp. The port is there also to "tune" the cabinet,allowing the sub to drop to 18hz. The tradeoff IS port noise which if you look in your manual this fact is stated(even though it is stated that its minimal). Under certian conditions this CAN be noticed. This was talked about with me and my salespeople at tweeter,ect,which was agreed apon. I never panned the Storm in my review,i consider the Storm a great sub. Defense is not necessary.

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Rel,Mirage