Variable input combinations make it work for HT and stereo in one unit.

First I'd like to thank the contributors on this site, who helped me to reach my decision to buy a REL sub.

Second I can say, that the REL is an important upgrade with a remarkable influence on my hi-fi and HT set-up.
Even out of the box, the sound image for classical music and soundtracks is more natural, detailed, full and deep.
For HT the sound is earth shaking tight and much more like in a really good big theater. (But I have to say, that I did not make any auditions for other subs at this category at home).


This is my current setup:
TV: Panasonic TX32WG15X 32" 16:9 CRT
Power amp: Audiolab (England)8000P-connected to the main
speakers.
Receiver: Yamaha RXV-2095 (The main pre out is connected
to the power amp, and the CENTER - pre out is connected to the main pre in, in order to get a bi-amped center with 2X100W).
DVD: Pioneer 515 Multiregion
CD: Rotel RCD971 HDCD
VCR: Akai HiFi 6-head Stereo
LD: Yamaha W901

Speakers:

Main: 2 Sonus Faber Concerto (on heavy Apollo stands)
Center: 1 Sonus Faber Solo (on cones)
Surr: 2 Mirage OM-R2 omnipolars (hanging on side walls)
1 Sub Yamaha YST-SM500 (on cones)
Sub: REL Strata III (conntected to the LFE output of the
receiver+ to the power amp in parallel).

Cables:

RF/s-video/video/coax/cabels: Monster Silver
Interconnects: Cabeltalk Monitor 2
Digital: Monster Lightspeed 100
Speaker cable: Cabeltalk4 (all bi-wired)
Center speaker cable: Cabeltalk Concert 2.1 (bi-wire)
Sub-cable: Monster THX
Sur-cable: Monster

Misc:

Caption decoder: Ligitec
Acoustic devices: 4 of Michael Green's Corner Tunes

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Yamaha sub

Ideal for both music AND home theatre.
Theoretically configurable uniquely your room.
Nice wood (mine's cherry=close match for Kef Concerto)!

Too much tinkering required initally, but worth it when you've cracked it

A supplementary to my posting a few days ago. I mentioned that the REL manual is difficult to follow. Read it with one hand and a phone call to REL in the other and it becomes clearer.
I said that modes 1&3 are affected by the roll-off (filter) setting, whereas modes 2&4 by-pass it. This is only true of the low level or LFE (phono) inputs; the high level (Neutrik Speakon) input is ALWAYS affected by the roll-off setting. Thus if your setup is like mine it is desirable to leave it on Mode 2 all the time, so that 'music' is always affected by the filter, whereas 5.1 never is (nor should it be if you want to hear what the director intended). Conversely, by setting the low level gain control to 2 o'clock then HT always has this bass boost, whereas music never does. And this is where my setup becomes important.
Using a Sony STR-DB930 you need to set the amp to Automatic Format Decode (AFD) for Dolby 5.1 movies, while for music you need to switch it to 2-channel (2-CH) stereo. 2-CH knocks out the sub-woofer channel altogether, thus all deep bass is--by definition--input to the REL via the high level input, subject to your chosen roll-off setting, as noted above. Leaving the amp set to AFD for music tends to 'swamp' fine detail, although it is probably OK (or even superior?) for rock and pop.
Am still tinkering with the optimum roll-off setting; it's driving my wife mad!!

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KEF Q30B active sub(sounded vile); AR passive sub.

Seamless integration in high end audio equipment

setup can be time consuming

Subwoofers..who needs them..I thought that I didn't. The trouble that I had was my main speakers, Monitor Audio studio's 20se. I love them dearly but they are a touch bass shy. They are so open and transparent, but ho for a tad more bass.. Solution was the REL strata III. After spending what seemed a lifetime setting them up, adjusting the roll off to 30 Hz they now fit right under my system leaving the transparency that i adore alone but giving me that bass I so longed for.
system now consists of:
Musical Fidelity A3CD
Meridian balanced 502 preamp
2 meridian 505 monoblocks
Monitor Audio studio 20se
Rel strata III
MIT 3300 series 2 interconnect
solar wind speaker cable.

For all you Audiofiles out there ...short of low bass..go for this sub. It is stunning and the cheapest and probably one of the best upgrades you can do.

Have fun listening as I now do

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none

Completes my system. Was missing the low-end with my N804s. This makes up the difference without interfering with the great sound of the main speakers. Still breaking in, but already awesome.

Could use a remote control for Volume. But then a remote would add other problems due to the circuitry--so kill that idea. I'll get up from my chair instead.

I listen to small format classical and jazz. Mostly Jazz. Some blues. This is perfect for that music. Then I tried full orchestra--still excellent; filled it all out. Better stage. Sounds that weren't there before and should have been are now. Then I tried Bach Organ Works (Telarc). Then I new this thing could handle it all. Never heard a pipe organ sound like that from my stereo before. I don't know why you would need more power (unless your room is MUCH larger than my 16x25 with 9' high) or why you'd need a bigger sub. I'm getting a second Strata, though, to see if it helps the stage even more. One is great. Two must be even better. This thing is a bargain for what you get. Looks great too. REL folks helpful by email (though you have to register to get their email address--guess they don't want email questions from folks trying to decide....)

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When I got my N804s I quickly discovered that my Janis Sub, which was ok with my small KEF Ref. monitors was adding mush between 35Hz and 100Hz. The Strata III doesn't do that.

this unit gives the sence of being at an actual concert and it strengthens up poor recordings.

none as yet.

Well! What can i say about a Rel Strata 111 ?
JUST GO OUT AND BUY ONE AND GET YOUR EARS BLOWN CLEAN.

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Easily blend with any speaker, even with electorstatic speaker

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I am one of the very satisfied costomer of REL product. This Strata 3 subwoofer perform as I am expected. My system consists of Martin Logan Request, Mc cormack Power amp and Preamp and Meridian CD player.
I tried quiet a few subwoofer and this one is one to keep. At first I was hesitated to buy this subwoofer but after reading most of the comment on the Audioreview. I decided to try. This sub is different from all the sub I have ever tried. It blend with the speaker that you might thought that your have a perfect speaker. The set up only takes me a few day until I got it where I wanted the sound to be. Original but with added weight on the bottom octave.

For All Martil Logan Owner, I really recommend this product to be used with. You will not be dissappointed.

The cherry finish also match well with the speaker.

GOOD JOB REL.

Clarity

None I have found

I bought this subwoofer to compliment my Jamo Concert 11s. It seemed to me that the Jamos were a little weak at the low end. The Strata III is a solid, well made speaker that in my system, virtually disappears. That is, it provides low end depth which seemlessly blends with my main speakers. I especially like it for music where its tight bass is greatly appreciated. For movies, it does a pretty good job, but this is not a boomy shake the house kind of sub. So when Godzilla is walking through NYC I do not feel it quite as much as I did with my old Acoustic Research HO12.(Though the Rel has an array of crossover and volume adjustments that probably can be configured to create the big boom if desired).

All and all, I would say that this is a refined piece of equipment that works best with music and that I would recommend highly.

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Velodyne, Klipsch, AR

Extremely Musical

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I was looking around for a "musical" subwoofer that would complement my Magneplanar MG-IIIa. More and more subwoofers are being marketed for home theatre use but not so much for music. I wanted a subwoofer to be used with by high-end HI-FI system. This is truly a great product!!!!! Have a listen, you won't be disappointed!!!!

does more to sound than supplying just the low frequencies,flexibility,quality veneer finish,compact compared to performance

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This is my first experience with a sub.
After reading the reviews on this sub i decided this was the first in line to audition.
Did so and liked it.
I use it in a hifi system connected to the power amp with the neutrik interconnect(comes with the sub).
With a little patience it's not hard to set up.
Mine has high level gain set at about 2 o'clock and rolloff
frequency at 38 Hz(setting B-4).
Set up this way it works miracles in my system.
Here is a short list:
Adds depth to soundstage.
Makes bassdrum sound like a real instrument as opposed to a thud in the background.
Improves instrument focus and stereo imaging.
Excellent product.
System:
Rotel RC 995 pre amp
Rotel RB 991 power amp
Rotel RCD 971 cd player(by LC audio)
Canton Karat M70 DC (biwired)
Siltech SQ 28 G3 interconnects
Siltech LS 25 MXT speaker cables

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none

Seamless integration with main speakers

Manual only for the technically literate with some training in guesswork

The physical product deserves 5 stars. Seamless integration with my Sonus Faber Concertinos provides deep, full and wide sound. In this price league haven't found anything that comes close. As other reviewers have pointed out for the Strata 2, even in higher leagues you can do a lot worse. Currently my Concertinos are driven by a mere Marantz PM-68 (interim solution), so my guess is that the already sweet sound will further improve with a better amp (I don't know if this would affect the sound produced by the Strata, though). I have the new DSP-AX1 from Yamaha in mind (the big brother of the DSP-A1 - yes! -, out in Japan now), since I want to build up an audiophile home theater. I can't decide the final setting of the Strata yet. It must be somewhere between 49Hz and 39Hz. At 49Hz things become a little boomy sometimes which might be a result of the size and shape of my living room / speaker placement. At 39Hz there is positively no booming whatsoever but the impact of the Strata isn't that impressive anymore. Another thing I should mention is that this sub will discreetly fit into any environment, unlike the bulky or flashy competition from Infinity, Velodyne or even the Japanese wanna-be's (Yamaha etc.).

Now for the non-physical part of the product. I had to have the thing shipped to me by air freight since REL does not have a distributor in Japan. In the course of placing and concluding the order, there were various infuriating communication break-downs with REL (speak: the manager in charge was very unresponsive) that were only overcome when I sent a strong e-mail of complaint to the Managing Director, Richard Lord. I can only hope that this is not foreshadowing problems to come when I need service in the future. Also, the manual was apparently written by a technician with no interest in making it easier for the layman. It is a truely confusing piece of work.

Nevertheless, I am very satisfied with the speaker.