The REL Carbon Special at a Glance
The REL Carbon Special sits in REL's Reference tier, the point in the range where the company brings its most advanced driver technology and finish quality to a size that still fits gracefully into a real listening room. This is a closed box design pairing a forward firing 12 inch CarbonGlas long throw active driver with a down firing 12 inch CarbonGlas passive radiator, driven by a 1000 watt RMS NextGen Class D amplifier. Low frequency extension reaches 20Hz at -6dB, and the whole thing is wrapped in a high gloss black lacquer cabinet measuring approximately 17.7 by 15.7 by 18.3 inches and weighing around 80 pounds.
What that combination gives you is speed and authority at once. The CarbonGlas cones are stiff and light, which lets them start and stop with the kind of precision that keeps pace with fast transients while still moving enough air to underpin a full orchestra or a demanding film soundtrack.
How the Carbon Special Integrates
High Level for Music
The heart of REL's philosophy is the High Level connection, and the Carbon Special carries it through a Neutrik Speakon input. You run the supplied high level cable from your power amplifier's speaker terminals to the sub, so the Carbon Special receives the exact same amplified signal your main speakers do. It hears the same tonal character, the same voicing, the same signature of your amplifier. That is why a well set up REL does not sound like a separate box in the corner; it sounds like your speakers simply grew deeper and larger. For two channel listeners this is the connection that matters most.
LFE and Low Level for Home Theater
The Carbon Special also offers a dedicated .1/LFE RCA input along with low level RCA (L/R) inputs. Feed the LFE output of your processor or receiver into the .1 input and the sub takes bass management from your surround system, delivering the slam and depth that action films demand. Many owners connect both High Level and LFE at once, using High Level for music and the .1 input for movies, which lets the Carbon Special serve a single system beautifully in both roles.
Setting It Up
Continuously variable crossover, gain and phase controls let you dial the Carbon Special into your room and speakers rather than forcing you into fixed steps. Start with the sub near your main speakers, set the crossover to blend just below where your speakers begin to roll off, and adjust phase for the most seamless handoff. The down firing passive radiator couples pleasantly with the floor and helps the sub load a room evenly.
Where It Sits in the REL Range
The Carbon Special is a Reference tier statement of what a single chassis 12 inch REL can do with the company's best driver material and amplification. If your room is large or you crave still greater output, lower reach and a wider soundstage, the natural step up is the flagship REL 212, a multi driver design built for the largest spaces and the most demanding installations. Many listeners also run two Carbon Special units as a stereo pair or line array, which increases output and enlarges the perceived stage while preserving the model's speed and finish.
Ideal System and Use Case
The Carbon Special is a wonderful partner for refined, musically honest loudspeakers. Pair it with the Spendor A4.2 floorstander and you extend an already articulate speaker into true low bass without disturbing its midrange purity. For a stand mount system, the Spendor Classic 3/1 gains a foundation that makes it sound far larger than its cabinet suggests.
On the amplification side, an integrated such as the Advance Paris A12 APEX or the Advance Paris A12 Classic gives you clean speaker terminals to take the High Level connection from. Since the Carbon Special listens to your amplifier through that connection, quality speaker cable such as the Audioquest Brave Heart on your mains helps preserve the character the sub then follows.
Completing the Hookup Wirelessly
If a wired run across the room is impractical, the Carbon Special is compatible with REL's wireless systems, sold separately. The REL HT-Air MKII and the REL Arrow transmit the signal to the sub without a physical cable. Remember that a wireless module makes no sound on its own; it serves a specific compatible subwoofer, so confirm the match before ordering.
Cabling Notes
For home theater LFE duty, a dedicated subwoofer cable such as the REL Commander keeps the .1 feed clean and simple. If you prefer to build your LFE run from a wider selection, AEA also carries options like the Audioquest Husky (RCA), the Audioquest Husky (XLR) for balanced connections, and the Audioquest Boxer, Audioquest Irish Red and Audioquest Greyhound. Choose based on your inputs and how you plan to route the sub, since the High Level Speakon path handles music while these serve the line and LFE side.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the REL Carbon Special in brief?
The REL Carbon Special sits in REL's Reference tier, the point in the range where the company brings its most advanced driver technology and finish quality to a size that still fits gracefully into a real listening room. This is a closed box design pairing a forward firing 12 inch CarbonGlas long throw active driver with a down firing 12 inch CarbonGlas passive radiator, driven by a 1000 watt RMS NextGen Class D amplifier.
Who is the REL Carbon Special best suited to?
The Carbon Special is a wonderful partner for refined, musically honest loudspeakers. Pair it with the Spendor A4.2 floorstander and you extend an already articulate speaker into true low bass without disturbing its midrange purity. For a stand mount system, the Spendor Classic 3/1 gains a foundation that makes it sound far larger than its cabinet suggests.
What cables and connections does the REL Carbon Special need?
If a wired run across the room is impractical, the Carbon Special is compatible with REL's wireless systems, sold separately. The REL HT-Air MKII and the REL Arrow transmit the signal to the sub without a physical cable. Remember that a wireless module makes no sound on its own; it serves a specific compatible subwoofer, so confirm the match before ordering.
Come Listen
All Elite Audio is an authorized REL Acoustics dealer with a showroom in Timonium, Maryland. Demo units rotate and not every model is always set up, so please contact us to arrange a listen or to help match the Carbon Special to your speakers and room.