Using sub w the RS520

User Tips
#1

First there are two ‘types’ of subwoofers. Those that are suitable for HomeTheater (HT) or those which are more ‘musical’. You can go to YouTube and find many audiophiles that talk about Subwoofers.
I’d recommend Nemo Propaganda (Now Nemo Audio Project) He has focused on subs and has pretty much covered a very wide range.

While the RS520 does have eARC, its not what I would consider my first choice for a HT. I’d look at an AV Receiver that handles multiple channels.

The RS520 doesn’t have a sub out. This is ok.

Those AIOs or integrated amps that do, will either have a permanent filter at 80Hz, while some have a switch that will allow you to choose a set value like 60,80,120 or something like that. What happens is that you have a low pass / high pass filter where your speakers play from 80Hz and up while the subwoofer will play everything below 80Hz. While this can be convenient there are some reasons not to do this…

On the RS520, you can output to both the speakers and to the line out. You can either hook up one or two subs to the line out. Some subs like the REL can take the output from your speakers and use that into their amp. Here you can ‘piggy back’ on your existing speaker output. REL does this and it is their recommended method of connecting the sub.

In terms of picking a sub… there are many options. Depending on your main speakers you will probably want what they consider a ‘fast’ sub.
@ovanoudenhove said it best :

> When I write fast, you should read it as : controlled, accurate, fast switching. Like f.e. transistor switching. Songs with different deep notes, layers of deep notes playing all at the same time … on a “slow” sub, they will sound muddy, on a fast sub, you will hear the different low sounds and they will be separated well.

Slower subs tend to be integrated into Home Theaters. ‘Fast’ subwoofers tend to be integrated into music systems.

While there’s a character here who doesn’t like the REL, it is actually one of the better subs when it comes to listening to music. It is fast and pairs well with speakers that have AMT tweeters. The REL is very easy to place within the room and depending on the model you can get down into the 20’s. Most music is 30Hz and above. EDM tends to be the exception. In room response will vary.

I run my RS520 w Mon Accoustics Mini s, and a single REL t/5x for my office which is roughly a 10’x12’ room.

1 Like
#2

As is his habit, Mr. Schwul is again talking abbout things he has no clue about.

First, the two types of subs are 1) good ones (M&K, JL, Rhythmic, etc.) and 2) bad ones (REL, or whatever comes with a “home theater in a box”).

Quite figures that Schwul would get what he “knows” from random prostitutes on youtube…

520 is a stereo amp. Of course it is not an HT device.

Even a Node (or Wiim) for a few hundred dollars lets you set the crossover wwherever you want it to a Hertz. But people do not throw Wiims in the trash, for you to pick up, so you will never know.

Which is better than nothing but inferior to a proper setup where speakers can be high-passed.

Using two subs that way won’t help you deal with room modes much.

If you are trying to get subs on some tube amp joke or something, it would have to do. For anything that one should use in 2025 it’s a joke.

Funny how audiophiles and other stupid people always want to use meaningless words. A “fast” subwoofer would be one that can play 200Hz. Which is what a REL does, but not what a real sub should do.

Crap subwoofers tend to be integrated into systems of clueless audiophiles, be it for"music" (if you call Diana Krall music) or for watching some Marvel drek. People who want good sound for either music or movies use good subwoofers.

As long as your music does not have much bass, it will work, if your speakers are some bookshelf joke.

What a load of nonsense…

It’s no easier to place than any other box of the same size, it’s no “faster” than any decent servo controlled or push-pull sub that costs 1/4th of REL, and wowm it can get to 20s if you shove it into the corner and then sit at right the room peak. Impressive. Almost as good as some bookshelves.

Nothing to boast about, although the speakers are cheesy enough that even a REL makes some improvement. And being deaf you do not hear all the distortion that would happen if you tried playing anything that has bass content (rather than Krall’s whining) in that setup.

1 Like
#3

Dang. Ease up on the coffee. It’s only opinion on subs.

Regarding “Fast”, I listened to four 15" subs in an Infinite Baffle configuration for about 20 years and recently switched to a pair of sealed 17" box subs. The sound difference is clearly obvious. While adequate for music, the 17s do not have the transient attack of the IB subs. When you have a combined cone area of ~5.5 square feet, the cones don’t have to move much to instantly pressurize the room, similar to the “speed” of mids and highs from large electrostatic/planar speakers. However the box subs, don’t shake the house making them more musical.

#4

Ignore Boris.
He’s mad because I called him out.

There are a couple of different options
Ripoles are making a comeback, sealed , ported and then the use of PRs.

You have to separate out the PRs from both sealed and ported.

For music, you don’t want to shake the house.
HT you do…

Nemo just dropped a new video on a Sub that he’s had for a while and just wanted to revisit it.
A Rythmic ported sub. Seems they do something that they’ve patented to help w control.

#5

That’s a nice way to say “pointed out that Smegmel Der Schwul is an ignorant clown.”

When one is an audiophile clown, maybe. People who actually know and care about high fidelity want to reproduce the recorded signal accurately. Something that REL would never be able to do unless you only ever play some elevator Muzak.

Servo-controlled subs are nothing new. And yes, sealed or ported has nothing to do with a sub being “fast” or not.

1 Like