I just ordered one with the wireless adapter. Hope it works out as I’m upgrading my HT system & this was the 1st purchase in the process. Existing Harmon Karden avr245, Infinity IL50’s for now. Had the system over 14 yrs & it’s time to upgrade to separate components. Next upgrade will be the avr, probably Marantz SR6014, then SVS Pinnacle speakers, an entry-mid level amp at some point. I was going to get an SVS sub, but Rel had a sale & this review helped me decide, so I went for it.
Good advice. I have an old REL Q400e that still packs a punch. My neighbours love it too. They even bricked my window so they could hear it aswell as feel the vibrations.. Evidence they have a good taste in subwoofers.
Picked up one of these last week after originally aiming for an SVS SB-1000, and am incredibly impressed. At no point does it ever sound like it's "struggling" so to speak at higher volumes, and it's velvety smooth in its output. Wasn't very familiar with the brand, but was quite happy with how it sounded after hearing a demo, swaying me toward the slightly more powerful REL over the SB-1000 It's my first proper peice of higher end audio equipment if I don't count the Sonos stuff I use elsewhere, and as fantastic as their Sonos Sub is, this is a totlaly different class. Would reccomend, and it's about $1400 AUD at the moment.
@riikerman I don't really need a 15" lmao, that, and I don't believe they're available in Australia, meaning I wouldn't have been able to get a demo *or* get one for a reasonable price after shipping costs.
@riikerman it's over 1k AUD, and just saying "you should have got X subwoofer" without any reasoning doesn't leave me with much desire to get one 😂 I'm quite happy with my 1205 thanks :)
Bought a pair of these recently. Extremely satisfied with how they sound and how low they go. Probably could get by with the HT1003's for music only. May get a pair of those soon as well. Sealed subs sound more solid to me than lower priced ported ones.
@@JPWinters for anyone else wondering. Bigger subs are gonna be just as good. The reason to choose a smaller a sub(power lower as well) is to remove some low end extension. This makes room tuning better and easier. So thats it! If you room tune well get bigger. If you don’t, smaller.
@@johnclark3067 dang that’s a dream space and killer subs! My space is much smaller (14 x 16 x 9) and just was debating whether to get dual 10s or 12s.
Nice review. But something is missing. The music. I bought the 1205 just for that and it plays it role nicely. Velodyne and etc are for movies. Rel is thight and sharp not loose like others.
I was actually thinking of getting a pair of the rel ht1003s over a pair of t5i's. I just assume at the end of the day...its still a rel and will intergrate nicely. Im also assuming the 1003s will dig a little deeper. But...haven't heard either so who knows.
Hi Shane, greetings from across the world - Singapore. Thanks for your review on the dual HT 1205s. I've just purchased a single HT 1205 (last week), running a dual sub with a 7 year old Monitor Audio Silver RXW-12 sealed sub (the MA sub is no longer in production). My apartment's living hall where my HT setup is not that large, it's about 500 sq ft. And I absolutely love the RELs in conjunction with my MA RXW-12. Your review solidifies my purchase decision, and I'm very pleased with the sound of it. Of course, requires a bit of "running" in as advised by John Hunter, and the sub did open up after about 10 hours or so, and it got noticeably "louder". WIth just one sub, I could hear some low bass notes, but with a DUAL sub setup, I could actually FEEL the bass.... Would have loved to get the HT 1508, but my apt is small, and out of my budget. Thanks for an excellent & unbiased review.
So I've spent about 3 days thinking about various subs. Looked at Arendals, SVS, RELs T series, HT series, you name it. But this video just cemented my decision for an HT1205. It's plenty enough sub for now by the looks of it. I want a musical sub and at £599 it seems great value. The only thing making me hesitate was the SVS SB-3000 but that's twice the price. Perhaps that's a future upgrade path.
With regards to the REL HT/1205 vs SVS SB-2000, I’ve got a habit of research research when looking to buy a product for me it’s more than a spec chart in this case subwoofers and how the cabinet is constructed. So what I found is that the top plate on the REL is more than just a a few millimeters thick, it extends 12mm into the top of the cabinet aside from that it internal bracing structure also supports the magnet of the driver rather than relying just on the front of the cabinet to support the drivers weight. With regards to the SVS, there does not seem to be any internal structure bracing according to cut away photos I found and despite costing more money this was a deal breaker for me as I’d rather have better structural strength given what these Subs go through in there life time. Sure the SVS has an app, but this can lead to obsessive compulsive I feel as people can fiddle just cause they can.
So what did you buy? The Rythmik F12 is about the best. You can get the value version F12 for around $868. You can now get the REL 1205 V1 for ~$400 w/full warranty. It is more than half the price. The F12, while awesome is not twice as good as the 1205. $00 is a steel. Structurally you have to also consider the weight, not just the bracing. Thickness of materials matters. A 5 star crash test small car will lose every time to a old truck with no bracing or the latest support tech. Pure mass and momentum matter. Now all things being equal, you have a point.
Hi Shane hope your well l had a Ht1205 for 6 months prior to swapping it over to a Ht1508 having had the Ht1508 now for 4 months l have to say the Ht1205 is the sweet spot of the Ht series of subs....for performance and price, given the difference of £1000 almost....or a $1000 l have a small room and the 1508 is overkill.....wish l had kept the ht1205 and saved myself a lot of money.....Rel do the T and S range of subs ....l have the T9i and it's a sub that's the best of both music and home Cinema worlds, the HT series ain't as good with music as the T and S in my opinion...but as you say....room is size is definitely to be considered when choosing between the 1205 and 1508 ....really large rooms over 40 sq yards 1508 x2 anything smaller 1205 x2 also may l add having owned the 2 out of 3 subs in the Ht series .....l also have had issues with both power supply buzzing on my Ht1508 and the 1205's Auto switching mode had a mind of it's own....so some quality control issues .....
@@therealshanelee It was supposed to be replaced just before this dilemma we are just now....but will contact my retailer after this has eased...on Av forums here in the UK another owner had the same issue he got a replacement 1508 just for it to have the same buzzing issues....l even tried to sell my 1508 on last week to a keen buyer and didn't because of the buzzing issue.....
@@DameDolla01 Every sub needs it. The phase will change with the frequency the sub is crossed over with to blend with your mains as well as where they are located in the room. The speed of the sub has nothing to do with it. Gets subs with phase alignment knobs and learn to dial it in, then try different crossover points and locations and you will see what I'm talked about.
Richard McCoy I actually have a few different systems is my home. SVS being of them which has dsp that lets you adjust phase in very small increments. All phase has to do with is time. Subs that have dsp and/or slower filters will benefit greatly a phase dial as they can have close to 100ms of delay from the input signal to the driver. So for example, when you run auto cals like Dirac live and Audyssey they are measuring speakers distance by using phase. You’ll notice many times that it will measure most subwoofers to be a few feet closer or farther from the main speakers. This is due to that delay. Now take a subwoofer that has very quick filters and that distance becomes very small to none.
@@DameDolla01 Audyssey is one of the worst ones out there. It's like letting a drunk idiot try to tune your system. It can't even blend in a sub and it eq's the wrong way. If it can't even get that right, then you know the phase alignment is going to be out. I trust my ears over DSP's any day. And like I said, the crossover frequency will change the phase. You sub may be fast, but what can be said about your mains? It's about getting them in sync with each other. Phase does weird shit in a room and having filters to speed up a sub is not going to fix it. Phase alignment in subs should be mandatory regardless. Plus I don't run a AVR, because my system is for music and I want imaging and soundstage, something an AVR is lackluster at. I have 2 JL Dominion D110's and they're fast as hell but they still need to be in sync perfectly with my mains. They are located on each side of my entertainment stand then my mains are beside the subs. The left side is at 30 degrees for phase and the right is at 90 degrees for phase.
How is REL 1205 better than Sb2000 im curious, can you elaborate? i used to have svs PB100 then upgraded to REL1205 and never looked back, I like REL subs, but not sure about sb2000?
tee jhay On top of sounding “quicker” the Rel has the ability to pick out the smallest details and nuances. The SVS will dig lower, but sq wise against Rel is night and day.
Hi guys I actually own a single Rel HT 1205. Let me tell you that Rel is very detailed and refined compared to SVS pb 1000 i used to own. Ok pb 1000 did go lower (19hz) and made us feel the scenes below 21 hz, but thats the only praise i can honestly give it. Other than that, compared to the Rel SVS was boomy and one note, for example there was a night club scene with loud music and i could not work out the conversetion that was being had, but once i changed to the REL the same scene was so much cleaner (still loud) but i could hear and understand the speech going on in the club scene. Not just only that, but in so many aspects of all movies i watch i smile and realised i made the right choice. Guys trust me, just to feel some parts ( not many ) in certain movies you really dont wanna spoil the rest of the movie with boomy one not bass. You shoul enjoy all parts of a movie with a subwoofer not just some parts. Also Rel has been making only subwoofers for years, dont you think they now how to make ported subwoofers for movies, there is a reason why they dont go down that root, and that is because they put QUALİTY, DETAIL and SPEED of sound first.
For comparison how large is your room? I have a 11x11 room and contemplating these HT1205’s. I had the t5i’s mostly for music but in movies they rattle too much.
How do these compare to the SVS SB3000 and SB4000, in your opinion? Never saw your review of the latter, but I own a couple and recently picked up an HT1205 for my music system. Must say, the REL may be impressing me more so far, in terms of definition and impact…
@@ngv001 Jeff Permanian, owner of JTR, took a dump on Shane's channel a while back. Shane has a long memory. Shane has repaid that slight in spades if you listen to Shane's podcast. They are not kissing and making up anytime soon. Jeff started this bullshit so he should be the one to apologize.
Hi Shane would u not consider the S series subwoofers that have high level connections...and u need to set ur speakers to large+main on the reciever/processor REL says..
@@JaredSchumaier I’ve since upgraded! Stay away from the 1205’s and go for the 1508’s or 10’s! If you’re using them as dedicated LFE’s, they are vastly better.
@@70grade37 what didn’t you like about the 1205s? I have a smaller room (16 x 14 ~ 250 sq ft) and am trying to decide on a dual setup for my theater. I think dual 1205s would be overkill anyways, so I think I’ll go with dual 10’s then
Like the review. Question tho, Rel are now stacking their subs. With that said and in your room would 4 Rel 12's exceed 2 15's? Would be the same price too 🤔
not sure if I should just use this for pure music or goldenear forcefireld series?the similar priced goldenear sub with this would be just 8"but have deeper frequency response
Question, I have the HT1205 in a 350'sqft room. Can only fit one sub in right rear corner and listen 75% HT and 25% audio, quasi-audiophile, in a 7.1.1 setup. Musically the 1205 sounds great for music, and quite happy. Looking for the infrasonics, but don't want to lose musicality-wise. You see my listening ratios, T9i or HT1508? Thanks so much in advance!
Awesome review as always. Can you review the new Wharfedale Evo4 Series speakers? Like the 4.3 or 4.4 floor standing speakers, 4.c center and the 4.s surround speakers.
Hey mate, Love the channel, I'm subbed. Thoughts in HT range vs X range. I live in a townhouse so Would the more accurate TX range be better and less annoying to my neighbors? (T/7X) My local Focal store says its easier to integrate the X range.
Thank you Shane, I've been looking for a review of these for the past week, no one seems to have done one bar you. I've been considering these, as they are cheaper than the svs pb1000 (well i can get them cheaper than the svs) $1049aud. Thinking of getting 2 of these to replace my klipsch r10sw's. Considering the price bracket they fall in or based upon what I can get my hands on them for, would you say they clean up in that class?
hey Steven, im based in melbourne and am looking at getting a 1205 but cant find em for the price you mentioned. which retailer is selling them at this price?
Great review as usual! Are you aware of any subs that go as low as 17hz on a $6-700 budget? Pretty big ask on that budget i know, but there must be something out there. (He says with fingers crossed)
Hi, I see you have arendal speaker, so you know also the arendal subs. I had an arendal sub 1, I loved the sub only problem was that I couldn't get a 2nd one because it is sold out. So I sell it and looking for new subs, this time I will buy dual direktly. Now my question, what is the better choice 2 arendal 1.5 or 2 of this rels ht 1205? Both have 500 watt power, only driver from the arendal ist bigger and it is a ported sub wich can be use sealed. The arendal cost 1100 € per unit the rel 'only' 750 €. Or maybe you can tell me which is better the arendal sub 1 I had or the rel 1205. Sorry for my bad English I hope you can understand what I wanna know, greatings from Germany
Would you recommend two 1205 over one 1508? I currently have two REL S3's paired with my B&W's 702 which is excellent for music, but I would like more for home theatre use.
How do you have this subs setup? I have the same dual, I'm still setting then up to get the best out of them. Also, where do you have your mains crossover?
Hi, i spoke to Rel acoustics and when asked which is better for home theatre use out of rel ht1508 and rel s812 they have told me s812 is far more better than the 1508’s for movies. Are you going to be reviewing the s812 anytime. I am looking forward to you detailed review. Thank you.
I own a pair of S/812's and I can tell you they put out a lot more meaningful information than the HT1508 Predators, and their output is truly insane without giving up any refinement (they are a lot more refined than the 1508's, or any other subwoofer I have heard for that matter)
Thank you for your reply, are you able to tell us how low they go in frequencies in your room. And also do they sound like a 15” and above because of the passive drivers.
Would you still say 1 S812 is better than 2 predetor 1508 for movies. I can understnd that it all depends on the room and the rest of the set up but still i would like a more favoured answer.
@@therealshanelee OK I gotta get a mic for that I have the xmc2 mic but no cal. File for it plus am a novice when come to stuff like REW lol but I think I have to put my mind to it and test the waters
I just picked up my first ever woofer yesterday (REL HT 1205) I picked this up as an open box model for $560 which I’m pairing with my Sennheiser Ambeo... I don’t know anything about sound quality or tuning so I was hoping you could give me an idea of the optimal settings I should be tuning to (level and crossover) ... I don’t know what these are nor what to tune them to
Justine , I know old post (1yr ago) But how has your set up turn out ? I have the Ambeo soundbar too and looking for a sub to add to it. Trying to justify the HT1508 vs the HT1205 ?
@@tracydaviscarr2146 It's great, it provides enough bass for me, I'm no audio expert but even just adding my HT1205 to the ambeo made a huge difference, really enhances the soundbar... currently I have the "Crossover set to MAX" and the "Level set to about the 2nd lowest notch" and it sounds great, just comes down to how much bass you want.... I got lucky when I bought my sub, I was going in to pay for another brand sub that was on order but the Best Buy folks told me to spend a little more and buy the REL since a customer just returned it because they wanted more bass so I got it for $140 less than MSRP... Pretty sure the customer ended up buying the other REL that you're also looking into or another higher up version
Hi, could someone tell me how ht 1508 compares to svs sb 3000 in terms of sound quality and tightness for home theatre, and also how 1508 compares to svs sb 16ultra. Thanks
@@kevinfazlic7198 The same story here. Use to had PB1000 PRO... not happy at all. Retunr it, and now have REL HT1205. More than happy now. After 2 mounts of breaking.
Can you please tell me what gain you had the subs set to.. 12pm..1pm etc?, lve bought 2 x 1205 for HT in my small media, room and although not broken in lm underwhelmed
@@therealshanelee okay, thanks for the reply!! Update, l broke them in over 2 days playing UA-cam bass music, upping the gain slightly every 3 hours... Oh boy, what a difference. I now have it at 2pm and plus 1.5db in the yamaha rxv2085 and l can not stop grinning.. Fantastic, and now exceeds my expectations. I was very nervous going to a sealed sub for HT use as only ever having ported velodyne in the past. I returned my 2 x pb1000 for these based on your review and lm so glad l did, the slight loss in extension is more than compensated for by the speed and tightness of these!!! Thanks again Shane.. Love them ❤️
I need your help I just brought a Parasound amp 21+ and I have a Emotiva EpA 5 which now i dont use for my 2 fronts for front stage. i have a new pair of Klipsh 8065 I like them but I am a 3 way taste on my fronts stage. now I am willing to pay 3 to 4k on new front speakers can you help me out picking them. oh yeah I have 2 pb3000 subs. So I like my front stage with a snap sound and highz very crisp and I will like a low in with a punch snap when I am getting into it with the parasound. can you share some speakers. i was told svs towers are good but the highs roll off with bass will not hang. so please help me before i do something stupid. Can you help ASAP while i have my Stimulus Check. LOL
I'm a fan of the REL subs, however, why the 22Hz at -6dB specification? Why not stick to the industry standard -3dB so we can more easily compare to other brands and models? I find this a bit misleading and don't appreciate this pull the wool over the eyes tactic from REL.
Also I've changed my sub a few days ago. I was using a Behringer B2092A for fourteen years. It barely hits 30Hz and just sounds like $h!t. Then I started using the subwoofer from my Logitech Z906 on its own which sounded much better but didn't go below 35Hz. Then three weeks ago I started looking around for an old sub that I thought was the one I had seventeen years ago. I got it delivered four days ago. It's a Yamaha YST SW150. Even though it's 18+ years old it still hits the 20Hz mark with it's 2 x 8" subwoofers inside the box. It's not loud but it gives good bass. I only paid €119 for it on eBay. It's old and used but in good shape. Anyway until you get a sub that can go at least 20Hz you haven't heard what good bass sounds like. I put on Venom on 4K Blu Ray and the amount of low bass at the start with the space ship crashing and ambulance crashing it's insane. Anyway I bought the YST sw150 for nostalgia but it's not the sub I used to have 17 years ago. The one I had was the YST SW305. But I have a Yamaha NSSW300 on its way. If I saw this review two weeks ago I would have bought one of these instead. I would like to see a review like this of the Yamaha NS SW300 though
Yes I've been looking for a sub that digs pretty deep on a reasonable budget and so far all I can come up with is the sw300. Would be interested with your experience once you've got it set up 👍
@@thehal991 I wouldn't suggest the YST SW150 though. It's got fantastic bass but the powersupply on the backplate hums. There's no point in blocking the back of the sub to dampen it because the him comes out the huge bass port in the front of the box too. They didn't put anything inside to dampen the him either. Other than the him for a 120watt sub it's insanely good going down to 20Hz easily.
@@Steve30x well I'm currently running a REL that goes down to 24hz so I defo won't be considering the sw150. On research, I have stumbled accross a B&W asw610 £500 that's a sealed unit that goes as low as 20hz and it's bigger brother the asw610P that goes as low as 18hz for £800. I think for value those are as good as I'm going to get on my budget. I've seen the yamaha sw300 go for as low as £299, brand new, which is amazing value for money.
@@thehal991 I've got the NS SW300 for €390. The seller had it on sale on eBay for €440 but I managed to talk him down in price. Be converted that to £ it's £346.
I got this rel 1205 and for me in my leaving room sound sooo poor compare to svs sb 2,000, at the same value i love svs subs better, the only thing i like About REL, the driver looks good not simple
*REL SUBS ON SALE THIS MONTH*
REL HT1205: amzn.to/2YrV4Kb
REL HT1508: amzn.to/3dlZOp5
You should review the hsu sealed 15s
Where do you have the volume set on the back of the sub?
If you had to pick between HSU VTF 15H MK2 and the REL HT1205, what would be your PICK?
I just ordered one with the wireless adapter. Hope it works out as I’m upgrading my HT system & this was the 1st purchase in the process. Existing Harmon Karden avr245, Infinity IL50’s for now. Had the system over 14 yrs & it’s time to upgrade to separate components. Next upgrade will be the avr, probably Marantz SR6014, then SVS Pinnacle speakers, an entry-mid level amp at some point. I was going to get an SVS sub, but Rel had a sale & this review helped me decide, so I went for it.
Nice!
6:50 HOLD ON! You have downstairs neighbour's?? You hooligan! Lol! 🤣
Good advice. I have an old REL Q400e that still packs a punch. My neighbours love it too. They even bricked my window so they could hear it aswell as feel the vibrations.. Evidence they have a good taste in subwoofers.
Your reviews top the top 10 of best reviews A lot of youtubers can learn from you how to do a review? I enjoy the review keep up the excellent work
👍👍
Picked up one of these last week after originally aiming for an SVS SB-1000, and am incredibly impressed. At no point does it ever sound like it's "struggling" so to speak at higher volumes, and it's velvety smooth in its output. Wasn't very familiar with the brand, but was quite happy with how it sounded after hearing a demo, swaying me toward the slightly more powerful REL over the SB-1000
It's my first proper peice of higher end audio equipment if I don't count the Sonos stuff I use elsewhere, and as fantastic as their Sonos Sub is, this is a totlaly different class. Would reccomend, and it's about $1400 AUD at the moment.
@riikerman I don't really need a 15" lmao, that, and I don't believe they're available in Australia, meaning I wouldn't have been able to get a demo *or* get one for a reasonable price after shipping costs.
@riikerman it's over 1k AUD, and just saying "you should have got X subwoofer" without any reasoning doesn't leave me with much desire to get one 😂
I'm quite happy with my 1205 thanks :)
Is it still working well? I can get it new for about $400 w/3 year warranty.
@@MOAB-UT yeah dude, still enjoy it every time I get the chance to listen to music on it!
11/10 would still recommend haha.
@@blankpaper66 Thanks. I can get it for $400 at a local dealer. 2 week in home trial and full 3 year factory warranty. I think that is a good deal.
You had at the opening. I love puns... Those carbon cones look nice. Very nice. 👌
😆 Someone caught it.
Another masterpiece review Shane. RELy good one here.
Bought a pair of these recently. Extremely satisfied with how they sound and how low they go. Probably could get by with the HT1003's for music only. May get a pair of those soon as well. Sealed subs sound more solid to me than lower priced ported ones.
Did you ever get a pair of the 1003 to compare to the 1205? What were your thoughts for music?
@@JPWinters for anyone else wondering. Bigger subs are gonna be just as good. The reason to choose a smaller a sub(power lower as well) is to remove some low end extension. This makes room tuning better and easier. So thats it! If you room tune well get bigger. If you don’t, smaller.
Why size is your room?
@@JaredSchumaier 28.5' x 15.5' x 8'. I have a pair of diy 18" sealed subs now.
@@johnclark3067 dang that’s a dream space and killer subs! My space is much smaller (14 x 16 x 9) and just was debating whether to get dual 10s or 12s.
Thanks for the review, Shane. I have the 1205 coupled with the surrounds. Love it. I’ve wondered how they compared to the 1508.
Nice review. But something is missing. The music. I bought the 1205 just for that and it plays it role nicely. Velodyne and etc are for movies. Rel is thight and sharp not loose like others.
Yes, but it's a movie sub hence the, HT.. It should be as, good as the velodyne
I was actually thinking of getting a pair of the rel ht1003s over a pair of t5i's. I just assume at the end of the day...its still a rel and will intergrate nicely. Im also assuming the 1003s will dig a little deeper. But...haven't heard either so who knows.
Hi Shane, greetings from across the world - Singapore. Thanks for your review on the dual HT 1205s. I've just purchased a single HT 1205 (last week), running a dual sub with a 7 year old Monitor Audio Silver RXW-12 sealed sub (the MA sub is no longer in production). My apartment's living hall where my HT setup is not that large, it's about 500 sq ft. And I absolutely love the RELs in conjunction with my MA RXW-12. Your review solidifies my purchase decision, and I'm very pleased with the sound of it. Of course, requires a bit of "running" in as advised by John Hunter, and the sub did open up after about 10 hours or so, and it got noticeably "louder". WIth just one sub, I could hear some low bass notes, but with a DUAL sub setup, I could actually FEEL the bass.... Would have loved to get the HT 1508, but my apt is small, and out of my budget. Thanks for an excellent & unbiased review.
I agree fully, l ran 2 of these and noticed a big difference after running them in and upping the gain. Great subs for HT, enjoy.
Could you do a review on the XTZ 12.17 Edge and XTZ Cinema sub? Always great content. Greetings from norwegian loving the Arendal Sound speakers! :))
Great idea! Xtz makes some great subs. Add the 10.17 Edge to the list, I have two of these little beasts in my home theatre room and they are awesome!
Good specs and I like the look ,size and price. (4) of these would make a solid setup. Great review.
Do u think they are better than the xtz cinema 1×12 edge sub then?.
So I've spent about 3 days thinking about various subs. Looked at Arendals, SVS, RELs T series, HT series, you name it. But this video just cemented my decision for an HT1205. It's plenty enough sub for now by the looks of it. I want a musical sub and at £599 it seems great value. The only thing making me hesitate was the SVS SB-3000 but that's twice the price. Perhaps that's a future upgrade path.
What did you get?
With regards to the REL HT/1205 vs SVS SB-2000, I’ve got a habit of research research when looking to buy a product for me it’s more than a spec chart in this case subwoofers and how the cabinet is constructed. So what I found is that the top plate on the REL is more than just a a few millimeters thick, it extends 12mm into the top of the cabinet aside from that it internal bracing structure also supports the magnet of the driver rather than relying just on the front of the cabinet to support the drivers weight.
With regards to the SVS, there does not seem to be any internal structure bracing according to cut away photos I found and despite costing more money this was a deal breaker for me as I’d rather have better structural strength given what these Subs go through in there life time. Sure the SVS has an app, but this can lead to obsessive compulsive I feel as people can fiddle just cause they can.
So what did you buy? The Rythmik F12 is about the best. You can get the value version F12 for around $868. You can now get the REL 1205 V1 for ~$400 w/full warranty. It is more than half the price. The F12, while awesome is not twice as good as the 1205. $00 is a steel.
Structurally you have to also consider the weight, not just the bracing. Thickness of materials matters. A 5 star crash test small car will lose every time to a old truck with no bracing or the latest support tech. Pure mass and momentum matter. Now all things being equal, you have a point.
@SpareChange how do you compare these SVS PB-2000?
Hi Shane hope your well l had a Ht1205 for 6 months prior to swapping it over to a Ht1508 having had the Ht1508 now for 4 months l have to say the Ht1205 is the sweet spot of the Ht series of subs....for performance and price, given the difference of £1000 almost....or a $1000 l have a small room and the 1508 is overkill.....wish l had kept the ht1205 and saved myself a lot of money.....Rel do the T and S range of subs ....l have the T9i and it's a sub that's the best of both music and home Cinema worlds, the HT series ain't as good with music as the T and S in my opinion...but as you say....room is size is definitely to be considered when choosing between the 1205 and 1508 ....really large rooms over 40 sq yards 1508 x2 anything smaller 1205 x2 also may l add having owned the 2 out of 3 subs in the Ht series .....l also have had issues with both power supply buzzing on my Ht1508 and the 1205's Auto switching mode had a mind of it's own....so some quality control issues .....
I've heard that about the power supply. Did you get it fixed?
@@therealshanelee
It was supposed to be replaced just before this dilemma we are just now....but will contact my retailer after this has eased...on Av forums here in the UK another owner had the same issue he got a replacement 1508 just for it to have the same buzzing issues....l even tried to sell my 1508 on last week to a keen buyer and didn't because of the buzzing issue.....
That's unfortunate. Maybe REL can send you a replacement amp.
Hoping rel comes with a 18 inch ht sub also.
@SpareChange great job bro & what would work better with a 2ch set up the Rel HT1205 or the SVS SB 30000?
I personally think every subwoofer should have a variable phase alignment knob. I was surprised the REL didn't have one at it's price point.
Richard McCoy Rels don’t need it because of their quick 4ms or 8ms filters depending on the model. There is simply no need for it.
@@DameDolla01 Every sub needs it. The phase will change with the frequency the sub is crossed over with to blend with your mains as well as where they are located in the room. The speed of the sub has nothing to do with it. Gets subs with phase alignment knobs and learn to dial it in, then try different crossover points and locations and you will see what I'm talked about.
Richard McCoy I actually have a few different systems is my home. SVS being of them which has dsp that lets you adjust phase in very small increments. All phase has to do with is time. Subs that have dsp and/or slower filters will benefit greatly a phase dial as they can have close to 100ms of delay from the input signal to the driver. So for example, when you run auto cals like Dirac live and Audyssey they are measuring speakers distance by using phase. You’ll notice many times that it will measure most subwoofers to be a few feet closer or farther from the main speakers. This is due to that delay. Now take a subwoofer that has very quick filters and that distance becomes very small to none.
@@DameDolla01 Audyssey is one of the worst ones out there. It's like letting a drunk idiot try to tune your system. It can't even blend in a sub and it eq's the wrong way. If it can't even get that right, then you know the phase alignment is going to be out. I trust my ears over DSP's any day. And like I said, the crossover frequency will change the phase. You sub may be fast, but what can be said about your mains? It's about getting them in sync with each other. Phase does weird shit in a room and having filters to speed up a sub is not going to fix it. Phase alignment in subs should be mandatory regardless. Plus I don't run a AVR, because my system is for music and I want imaging and soundstage, something an AVR is lackluster at. I have 2 JL Dominion D110's and they're fast as hell but they still need to be in sync perfectly with my mains. They are located on each side of my entertainment stand then my mains are beside the subs. The left side is at 30 degrees for phase and the right is at 90 degrees for phase.
Now that's more like it. I would call that affordable
I have both the 1205 and SVS SB2000. The 1205 is better with no question.
Do the sb2000 sound deeper i also have the ht1205 i thought about svs
How is REL 1205 better than Sb2000 im curious, can you elaborate? i used to have svs PB100 then upgraded to REL1205 and never looked back, I like REL subs, but not sure about sb2000?
Zandy Wong can you please explain your experience between the 1205 and the sb2000?
I believe it really depend on user taste SVS might go deeper but REL deliver clear bass.
tee jhay On top of sounding “quicker” the Rel has the ability to pick out the smallest details and nuances. The SVS will dig lower, but sq wise against Rel is night and day.
Thanks Shane, great review!! Just out of interest what size is your room?
Great review Shane, I wonder how they compare to the SVS SB3000 you reviewed?
David D
Isn't it more fair to compare these with a 2000 series from SVS? Considering the specs and price?
I'd say the main competitor is pb1000
@@kevinfazlic7198 And you'd be wrong lol.
@@JPWinters nope, you're wrong 119%, you can bank that
great reviews! I would like to see a review of the Arendal 1723 Subwoofer 3 from you :)
Would be interesting to see a pair of REL S/812 would sound like? I know they are pricey.
There may be something in the works.
Hi guys I actually own a single Rel HT 1205. Let me tell you that Rel is very detailed and refined compared to SVS pb 1000 i used to own. Ok pb 1000 did go lower (19hz) and made us feel the scenes below 21 hz, but thats the only praise i can honestly give it. Other than that, compared to the Rel SVS was boomy and one note, for example there was a night club scene with loud music and i could not work out the conversetion that was being had, but once i changed to the REL the same scene was so much cleaner (still loud) but i could hear and understand the speech going on in the club scene. Not just only that, but in so many aspects of all movies i watch i smile and realised i made the right choice. Guys trust me, just to feel some parts ( not many ) in certain movies you really dont wanna spoil the rest of the movie with boomy one not bass. You shoul enjoy all parts of a movie with a subwoofer not just some parts. Also Rel has been making only subwoofers for years, dont you think they now how to make ported subwoofers for movies, there is a reason why they dont go down that root, and that is because they put QUALİTY, DETAIL and SPEED of sound first.
The PB1000 is ported so I would hope so. I have heard the PB1000 and it sounds like a fart box (for music). It does hit deep though.
@SpareChange.
Great review of this & the SVS SB 3000.
I’m pressed for room.
Which do you suggest, REL 1208 or SVS SB300?
Thx in advance....
What did you get?
For comparison how large is your room? I have a 11x11 room and contemplating these HT1205’s. I had the t5i’s mostly for music but in movies they rattle too much.
How do these compare to the SVS SB3000 and SB4000, in your opinion? Never saw your review of the latter, but I own a couple and recently picked up an HT1205 for my music system. Must say, the REL may be impressing me more so far, in terms of definition and impact…
I really enjoy your videos. Can't wait until you review the JTR Captivators
The JT what?
Going to be waiting a long time. When hell freezes over. Maybe not even then . 😅🤣😂
@@keepingupwiththejones2933 Why? What's the scoop?
@@ngv001 Jeff Permanian, owner of JTR, took a dump on Shane's channel a while back. Shane has a long memory. Shane has repaid that slight in spades if you listen to Shane's podcast. They are not kissing and making up anytime soon. Jeff started this bullshit so he should be the one to apologize.
@@therealshanelee oh my bad.... didn't know there was history there
Great vid, just wondering as I also stay in a building, do you ever get complaints? I have a single 10 and Im scard to let it rip lol
@SpareChange How does this compare to SVS SB 3000 and PB 3000?
Tom cruise: people must really like my movie, it’s still selling well!
HT enthusiasts: only watch the first 15 seconds
To be fair, Edge of Tomorrow is a fantastic movie.
@@thadeusbaggins9967 Emma Blunt is steamy as hell in the movie and she alone is a big reason to watch it!
Hi Shane would u not consider the S series subwoofers that have high level connections...and u need to set ur speakers to large+main on the reciever/processor REL says..
I have a pair off the 1205's along with a full 7.2.2 REL 3D Sub paired with all my channels making a full 3D Audio setup!
How many subs you got? 2 subs with high level to all the 7 channels?
What size is your room?
@@Skynet_11 I have a dedicated REL hooked up to each of my 7 channels and a single REL splitting my 2 Atmos speakers.
@@JaredSchumaier I’ve since upgraded!
Stay away from the 1205’s and go for the 1508’s or 10’s!
If you’re using them as dedicated LFE’s, they are vastly better.
@@70grade37 what didn’t you like about the 1205s? I have a smaller room (16 x 14 ~ 250 sq ft) and am trying to decide on a dual setup for my theater. I think dual 1205s would be overkill anyways, so I think I’ll go with dual 10’s then
Hey Shane @spareChange, where do you put your PB-16's? are they in the back of the theater?
Yep
How are either of these against the SVS SB3000?
Please let me know, what setting on crossover and gain/level you use? Thank you in advance.
Like the review. Question tho, Rel are now stacking their subs. With that said and in your room would 4 Rel 12's exceed 2 15's? Would be the same price too 🤔
These subs aren't stackable.
@@therealshanelee dammit! Thx
What the volume level on sunboower for movies, and what signal level in Receicer?
I have a Svs PB2000 wonder how this would compare to that
Maybe link to the people downstairs' channel, surely they parse nuance your different subs
Hi Shane how do you compare the Rel 1208 to the Sb 3000 witches I own 3 of them?!
not sure if I should just use this for pure music or goldenear forcefireld series?the similar priced goldenear sub with this would be just 8"but have deeper frequency response
Please review the emotiva s15 subwoofer. Great review 👍
Time to review the XTZ Sub 3x12.....Like to get your thought on those :).
Now that you have reviewed both the sb3000 and rel 1205 how do you feel the rel stands up? As for bass quality do you feel the Rel or SVS is cleaner.
REL cleaner than SVS for sure. Rythmik better than REL. Within each brand, you have to also consider the line. SVS for pure boom- not finesse.
Question, I have the HT1205 in a 350'sqft room. Can only fit one sub in right rear corner and listen 75% HT and 25% audio, quasi-audiophile, in a 7.1.1 setup. Musically the 1205 sounds great for music, and quite happy. Looking for the infrasonics, but don't want to lose musicality-wise. You see my listening ratios, T9i or HT1508? Thanks so much in advance!
Sorry to break it to you. None of those subs are getting you infrasonic.
Awesome review as always. Can you review the new Wharfedale Evo4 Series speakers? Like the 4.3 or 4.4 floor standing speakers, 4.c center and the 4.s surround speakers.
How would you compare two fo the HT1205's to one HT 1508?
Congos for 50k subs
wow that was quick
Greetings,
I would like to know if I can combine a pair of those REL HT1508 with my pair of SVS SB-16 Ultra?
I have one of those their awesome 👌
Me too. Very pleased with its quality and sound.
What’s your guys settings on the sub?
Hey mate, Love the channel, I'm subbed. Thoughts in HT range vs X range. I live in a townhouse so Would the more accurate TX range be better and less annoying to my neighbors? (T/7X)
My local Focal store says its easier to integrate the X range.
Thank you Shane,
I've been looking for a review of these for the past week, no one seems to have done one bar you. I've been considering these, as they are cheaper than the svs pb1000 (well i can get them cheaper than the svs) $1049aud. Thinking of getting 2 of these to replace my klipsch r10sw's.
Considering the price bracket they fall in or based upon what I can get my hands on them for, would you say they clean up in that class?
I'd definitely get the RELs over the choices you mentioned. You'll be satisfied.
hey Steven, im based in melbourne and am looking at getting a 1205 but cant find em for the price you mentioned. which retailer is selling them at this price?
place them above your screen, they give max bass if they mounted high in the room
Great review as usual! Are you aware of any subs that go as low as 17hz on a $6-700 budget? Pretty big ask on that budget i know, but there must be something out there. (He says with fingers crossed)
Bk subwoofers
@@christiancarranza166 Yes. I've just found a BK XLS200 that goes as low as 17hz at -3db. Perfect!
Hi, I see you have arendal speaker, so you know also the arendal subs. I had an arendal sub 1, I loved the sub only problem was that I couldn't get a 2nd one because it is sold out. So I sell it and looking for new subs, this time I will buy dual direktly. Now my question, what is the better choice 2 arendal 1.5 or 2 of this rels ht 1205? Both have 500 watt power, only driver from the arendal ist bigger and it is a ported sub wich can be use sealed. The arendal cost 1100 € per unit the rel 'only' 750 €. Or maybe you can tell me which is better the arendal sub 1 I had or the rel 1205. Sorry for my bad English I hope you can understand what I wanna know, greatings from Germany
You Should get Watchmen 4k, Some really great bass worthy demos. Another great review thx!!!!
It's been for quite sometime. Only 5.1 though.
Between the REL HT-1205 and a HSU VTF15h mk2, which one would you go for? Listening mainly to music and some movies.
HT-1205 no question for music.
Would you recommend two 1205 over one 1508? I currently have two REL S3's paired with my B&W's 702 which is excellent for music, but I would like more for home theatre use.
Keep the s3's up front and throw the 1508 in the back.
@SpareChange
Please review Rythmik subwoofers. 12 and 15 inch versions please
How do you have this subs setup? I have the same dual, I'm still setting then up to get the best out of them. Also, where do you have your mains crossover?
Setup is different for every room. 80hz is always a good start.
@@therealshanelee Do you know how far should the subs be away from the main seating position?
Would you get dual rel 1205 or dual pb 2000 pros. Which ones would sound better in your opinion.
i would also like to know as im in the same situation
@@kristenkearney7336 The Rel 1205 is closer to the SVS SB 2000 pro (both are sealed).
Please review the rel t series t7i and t9i I want to know how they compare to ht series
What do you think about having 2 of these in an 11'10x17.5 room. Dedicated HT.
That’ll work perfectly fine.
your voice and reviews to good bro
Hi, i spoke to Rel acoustics and when asked which is better for home theatre use out of rel ht1508 and rel s812 they have told me s812 is far more better than the 1508’s for movies. Are you going to be reviewing the s812 anytime. I am looking forward to you detailed review. Thank you.
I own a pair of S/812's and I can tell you they put out a lot more meaningful information than the HT1508 Predators, and their output is truly insane without giving up any refinement (they are a lot more refined than the 1508's, or any other subwoofer I have heard for that matter)
Thank you for your reply, are you able to tell us how low they go in frequencies in your room. And also do they sound like a 15” and above because of the passive drivers.
@@rayking507 I had two diy passive 15" woofers in the space before, these S/812's are better in every way
@@rayking507 I haven't got to measuring them but I would be surprised if they didn't hit 20Hz
Would you still say 1 S812 is better than 2 predetor 1508 for movies. I can understnd that it all depends on the room and the rest of the set up but still i would like a more favoured answer.
Hi, I'm interested in buying two relay subwoofers HT 1205 vs rel predator. My room has 20 sqm. What do you recommend?
My home cinema system. Dali Rubicon 5, Rubicon Vokal center, Opticon lcr surround, yamaha 3050 receiver, r328 subwoofer rel
Hey Shane you do know you can use the parametric eq on the pb16 ultra to get more mid bass punch right?
Use REW too take measurements and use the eq from there.
@@therealshanelee OK I gotta get a mic for that I have the xmc2 mic but no cal. File for it plus am a novice when come to stuff like REW lol but I think I have to put my mind to it and test the waters
@@therealshanelee watching the new star wars on Disney + its looking good so far
2 ht 1205 or 1 ht 1508. ??
Duals.
Out the subject what happened to the Trinnov 16 I’m waiting for full review
Coming soon. Well have Trinnov on tomorrow for the podcast.
so dual SB-3000 or dual Rels??
I just picked up my first ever woofer yesterday (REL HT 1205) I picked this up as an open box model for $560 which I’m pairing with my Sennheiser Ambeo... I don’t know anything about sound quality or tuning so I was hoping you could give me an idea of the optimal settings I should be tuning to (level and crossover) ... I don’t know what these are nor what to tune them to
Justine , I know old post (1yr ago) But how has your set up turn out ? I have the Ambeo soundbar too and looking for a sub to add to it. Trying to justify the HT1508 vs the HT1205 ?
@@tracydaviscarr2146 It's great, it provides enough bass for me, I'm no audio expert but even just adding my HT1205 to the ambeo made a huge difference, really enhances the soundbar... currently I have the "Crossover set to MAX" and the "Level set to about the 2nd lowest notch" and it sounds great, just comes down to how much bass you want.... I got lucky when I bought my sub, I was going in to pay for another brand sub that was on order but the Best Buy folks told me to spend a little more and buy the REL since a customer just returned it because they wanted more bass so I got it for $140 less than MSRP... Pretty sure the customer ended up buying the other REL that you're also looking into or another higher up version
These are $449.00 now Great Deal!
The 12" is a decent sub for the price. I wouldn't pay full price for it tbh.
My 160 watts subwoofer at 30 percent volume can feel like an earthquake so these 500 watts REL subwoofer should be a lot more impressive
Hi, could someone tell me how ht 1508 compares to svs sb 3000 in terms of sound quality and tightness for home theatre, and also how 1508 compares to svs sb 16ultra. Thanks
Hey Shane,Please try pb1000 dual once it is 300watts and it goes till 19/20hz
I had 2 and returned them, exchanging for the 1205
Me too... Had pb1000 pro... and return it, now get ht 1205, and i'm happy.
@@kevinfazlic7198 The same story here. Use to had PB1000 PRO... not happy at all. Retunr it, and now have REL HT1205. More than happy now. After 2 mounts of breaking.
@@kevinfazlic7198 did you get a single or dual 1205s in place of the pb1000s?
@@JaredSchumaier l got dual
Is there a better sub at that price point?
No
Can you please tell me what gain you had the subs set to.. 12pm..1pm etc?, lve bought 2 x 1205 for HT in my small media, room and although not broken in lm underwhelmed
Odd. Mine are quarter of the way up.
@@therealshanelee okay, thanks for the reply!! Update, l broke them in over 2 days playing UA-cam bass music, upping the gain slightly every 3 hours... Oh boy, what a difference. I now have it at 2pm and plus 1.5db in the yamaha rxv2085 and l can not stop grinning.. Fantastic, and now exceeds my expectations. I was very nervous going to a sealed sub for HT use as only ever having ported velodyne in the past.
I returned my 2 x pb1000 for these based on your review and lm so glad l did, the slight loss in extension is more than compensated for by the speed and tightness of these!!! Thanks again Shane.. Love them ❤️
Love my 2
I need your help I just brought a Parasound amp 21+ and I have a Emotiva EpA 5 which now i dont use for my 2 fronts for front stage. i have a new pair of Klipsh 8065 I like them but I am a 3 way taste on my fronts stage. now I am willing to pay 3 to 4k on new front speakers can you help me out picking them. oh yeah I have 2 pb3000 subs. So I like my front stage with a snap sound and highz very crisp and I will like a low in with a punch snap when I am getting into it with the parasound. can you share some speakers. i was told svs towers are good but the highs roll off with bass will not hang. so please help me before i do something stupid. Can you help ASAP while i have my Stimulus Check. LOL
Have you heard the B&W 702 s2's?
@@therealshanelee What about Canton 7k should i get these
yes, they dont impress me, I had a audition with them
it would be interesting if there were Italian subtitles
I'm a fan of the REL subs, however, why the 22Hz at -6dB specification? Why not stick to the industry standard -3dB so we can more easily compare to other brands and models? I find this a bit misleading and don't appreciate this pull the wool over the eyes tactic from REL.
People have reported a flat response @ under 20HZ is some rooms.
Isn't -6db the same as +/- 3db, which is the industry standard?
@@JPWinters -3dB is typically used but I’ve seen REL use -6dB on some products.
Do you watch at Ref level?
I'd like too keep my hearing.
@@therealshanelee What level do you watch at?
Whatever is comfortable.
@@therealshanelee -15? -10? Below REF? its good for people to know...some cant take those scenes..expesially WOTW...
It's good to pick a level that's comfortable for you. Your hearing is a delicate thing. We don't live in commercial theaters.
Also I've changed my sub a few days ago. I was using a Behringer B2092A for fourteen years. It barely hits 30Hz and just sounds like $h!t. Then I started using the subwoofer from my Logitech Z906 on its own which sounded much better but didn't go below 35Hz. Then three weeks ago I started looking around for an old sub that I thought was the one I had seventeen years ago. I got it delivered four days ago.
It's a Yamaha YST SW150. Even though it's 18+ years old it still hits the 20Hz mark with it's 2 x 8" subwoofers inside the box. It's not loud but it gives good bass. I only paid €119 for it on eBay. It's old and used but in good shape.
Anyway until you get a sub that can go at least 20Hz you haven't heard what good bass sounds like.
I put on Venom on 4K Blu Ray and the amount of low bass at the start with the space ship crashing and ambulance crashing it's insane.
Anyway I bought the YST sw150 for nostalgia but it's not the sub I used to have 17 years ago. The one I had was the YST SW305. But I have a Yamaha NSSW300 on its way.
If I saw this review two weeks ago I would have bought one of these instead.
I would like to see a review like this of the Yamaha NS SW300 though
Yes I've been looking for a sub that digs pretty deep on a reasonable budget and so far all I can come up with is the sw300. Would be interested with your experience once you've got it set up 👍
@@thehal991 If all things go to plan I'll have it Wednesday week.
@@thehal991 I wouldn't suggest the YST SW150 though. It's got fantastic bass but the powersupply on the backplate hums. There's no point in blocking the back of the sub to dampen it because the him comes out the huge bass port in the front of the box too. They didn't put anything inside to dampen the him either. Other than the him for a 120watt sub it's insanely good going down to 20Hz easily.
@@Steve30x well I'm currently running a REL that goes down to 24hz so I defo won't be considering the sw150. On research, I have stumbled accross a B&W asw610 £500 that's a sealed unit that goes as low as 20hz and it's bigger brother the asw610P that goes as low as 18hz for £800. I think for value those are as good as I'm going to get on my budget. I've seen the yamaha sw300 go for as low as £299, brand new, which is amazing value for money.
@@thehal991 I've got the NS SW300 for €390. The seller had it on sale on eBay for €440 but I managed to talk him down in price. Be converted that to £ it's £346.
Many questions without answer...
Hmmmm? I can get a Pair of JBL 18" Powered Subs used for $700, dats 2 for $700.. I offered $300 because the Plate Amps are doodoo..
I got this rel 1205 and for me in my leaving room sound sooo poor compare to svs sb 2,000, at the same value i love svs subs better, the only thing i like About REL, the driver looks good not simple
Gotta be your set up or positioning
Check out Rythmik F18se might be worth a look
They're not interested. Said data bass.com was their review resource. I tried.
I'm confused
REL 12" sub $600
REL 15" sub $1600
That's sale pricing, but correct. The HT1508 Predator offers better filtering and stackability in addition to increased dimensions and power.
As if Tom Cruise movies are the perfect subwoofer test
Did someone say they were?
@@therealshanelee many will agree. I do :)
For music it really sucks, I can't understand how so many people love so much REL subs.. ?!??!?
Do you own one - ht/1205 ?