Meet the REL T/9x
The REL T/9x is the flagship of REL's T/x series, the range REL positions as the entry point into true audiophile sub-bass. It is a filter-less, fast, and musical design built to disappear into your system while adding the foundation your main speakers cannot reach on their own. If you want a single sub that serves stereo music with grace and can also underpin a movie soundtrack with authority, the T/9x is a natural choice.
Design and Technology
The T/9x is an active, closed-box subwoofer paired with a passive radiator. A 10 inch (250mm) long-throw active driver fires forward while a 12 inch (300mm) passive radiator loads downward toward the floor. This arrangement lets a relatively compact cabinet, roughly 14.9 by 14.2 by 15.3 inches and about 37.5 pounds, deliver low frequency extension down to 27Hz at -6dB. A 300 watt RMS Class A/B amplifier drives it, a topology REL favors for its smooth, natural presentation.
On the back you will find continuously variable crossover, separate gain controls for the High Level and .1/LFE paths, and a phase switch, giving you the tools to blend the T/9x precisely with your speakers and your room. It is offered in high-gloss black and high-gloss white so it can either recede into a corner or sit proudly beside your rack.
How the T/9x Integrates
High Level for Music
REL's signature is the High Level connection, and the T/9x carries it via a Neutrik Speakon input. You run the cable from your power amplifier's speaker terminals to the sub, so the T/9x receives the very same amplified signal your main speakers do. The result is that the subwoofer inherits the tonal character and timing of your amplifier and loudspeakers, which is why REL subs integrate so seamlessly for two-channel listening. Rather than sounding like a separate box making bass, a well set up T/9x sounds like your existing speakers simply grew larger and deeper.
This is the connection to prioritize if music is your main focus. Pair it, for example, with a warm integrated amplifier like the Onkyo Icon A-50 feeding a pair of LEAK Sandwich 150 bookshelf loudspeakers, and let the T/9x fill in the octaves those compact cabinets cannot fully produce. Larger floorstanders wired with something like Audioquest Rocket 88 full range cable take the same High Level feed and gain a deeper, more effortless bottom end.
Low Level and LFE for Home Theater
The T/9x also offers a low-level RCA input and a dedicated .1/LFE RCA input with its own gain control. For a home theater system, you connect the subwoofer output of an AV receiver such as the Yamaha RX-A4A to the .1/LFE input and let the receiver's bass management do the crossover work. This lets the same sub that sings on stereo music switch roles and deliver the low frequency effects that give films their weight and impact.
Because the T/9x keeps both paths available, you can even run High Level for your stereo speakers and the .1/LFE input for your receiver simultaneously, a flexible arrangement for a combined music and movie room.
Performance Character
The T/9x is quick and tuneful rather than merely loud. The 10 inch active driver and 12 inch passive radiator together move plenty of air for a cabinet this size, and the closed-box plus passive radiator design keeps transients tight so bass lines stay articulate. Expect a sub that follows the rhythm of the music, adds air and scale to a soundstage, and then delivers convincing slam when a movie asks for it. With extension to 27Hz, it reaches into the genuinely low registers that give both music and film their sense of physical presence.
Room and Speaker Matching
The T/9x suits small to medium rooms particularly well and pairs naturally with stand-mount and mid-size floorstanding speakers. Compact active systems benefit too; a pair of Cambridge Audio L/R M streaming speakers gain real low end reinforcement from a single T/9x. Placement in a corner typically yields the most output, while pulling it out slightly can tighten the bass. Use the variable crossover and phase switch to dial in the blend with your specific speakers and room boundaries.
Where It Sits in the REL Range
Within the T/x series, the T/9x is the top rung. If your room is smaller or your speakers are more modest, the REL T/5x and REL T/7x offer the same filter-less musical philosophy in more compact packages with less output and higher extension figures. Stepping up, the REL T/9x SE builds on the T/9x with further refinement for listeners who want to extract even more from the same design goal. If you like the T/9x but suspect a larger room or higher output ambitions, that step up is worth an audition. And remember that two RELs can be stacked in a line array for greater output and a larger soundstage as your system grows.
Completing the Hookup
The T/9x ships ready for wired High Level, low level, and LFE connection. To eliminate a long cable run, the T/9x is compatible with the optional REL Arrow wireless system, which transmits the signal to the subwoofer without a wired path. REL also offers the REL HT-Air MKII wireless system; as with any transmitter, a wireless module makes no sound on its own and serves a specific compatible subwoofer, so confirm the match before you buy. Keep in mind the Arrow is the wireless option designed to pair with the T/9x.
For a wired LFE run to a receiver, the REL Commander is a purpose-made LFE cable. If you prefer to choose your own subwoofer interconnect, AEA also carries a range of options to suit different preferences and lengths, including the Audioquest Husky (RCA) and its balanced Husky (XLR) version, the Audioquest Boxer, the Audioquest Greyhound, and the Audioquest Irish Red. Choose based on your connection type and run length rather than any claim of one brand outperforming another.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the REL T/9x?
The REL T/9x is the flagship of REL's T/x series, the range REL positions as the entry point into true audiophile sub-bass. It is a filter-less, fast, and musical design built to disappear into your system while adding the foundation your main speakers cannot reach on their own. If you want a single sub that serves stereo music with grace and can also underpin a movie soundtrack with authority, the T/9x is a natural choice.
How is the REL T/9x designed and built?
The T/9x is an active, closed-box subwoofer paired with a passive radiator. A 10 inch (250mm) long-throw active driver fires forward while a 12 inch (300mm) passive radiator loads downward toward the floor. This arrangement lets a relatively compact cabinet, roughly 14.9 by 14.2 by 15.3 inches and about 37.5 pounds, deliver low frequency extension down to 27Hz at -6dB.
What should I match with the REL T/9x?
The T/9x suits small to medium rooms particularly well and pairs naturally with stand-mount and mid-size floorstanding speakers. Compact active systems benefit too; a pair of Cambridge Audio L/R M streaming speakers gain real low end reinforcement from a single T/9x. Placement in a corner typically yields the most output, while pulling it out slightly can tighten the bass.
Where does the REL T/9x sit in the range?
Within the T/x series, the T/9x is the top rung. If your room is smaller or your speakers are more modest, the REL T/5x and REL T/7x offer the same filter-less musical philosophy in more compact packages with less output and higher extension figures. Stepping up, the REL T/9x SE builds on the T/9x with further refinement for listeners who want to extract even more from the same design goal.
What connections does the REL T/9x have?
The T/9x ships ready for wired High Level, low level, and LFE connection. To eliminate a long cable run, the T/9x is compatible with the optional REL Arrow wireless system, which transmits the signal to the subwoofer without a wired path. REL also offers the REL HT-Air MKII wireless system; as with any transmitter, a wireless module makes no sound on its own and serves a specific compatible subwoofer, so confirm the match before you buy.
Let AEA Help You Match It
AEA 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 T/9x to your speakers, amplifier, and room. We are happy to walk you through High Level integration, wireless options, and cabling so your new REL disappears into your system exactly as it should.