Wiim Ultra with REL T/x series subwoofers

[Promso]

Hi Guys!
I bought Wiim Ultra and pair of active speakers with integrated amps.
Think to order now REL T7X subwoofer, but I found in manual that they highly recommend to connect the sub as an inactive speaker for best quality. Screenshot from manual attached.

Anyone tried to connect such sub to Wiim Ultra? Which connection method you use? How is the quality?

I’m thinking that maybe it will not perform as well as it should if just connecting through sub out on Wiim and then maybe not even worth to overpay for this nicely sounding sub and just order something a bit cheaper.

 

[slartibartfast]

Hi Guys!
I bought Wiim Ultra and pair of active speakers with integrated amps.
Think to order now REL T7X subwoofer, but I found in manual that they highly recommend to connect the sub as an inactive speaker for best quality. Screenshot from manual attached.

Anyone tried to connect such sub to Wiim Ultra? Which connection method you use? How is the quality?

I’m thinking that maybe it will not perform as well as it should if just connecting through sub out on Wiim and then maybe not even worth to overpay for this nicely sounding sub and just order something a bit cheaper.

The sub is still an active sub whether you connect using the high level terminals or the RCA phono connector. I think it is better to connect to the active speakers using coax or optical cables and to the subwoofer using the RCA sub out to the LFE input of the sub. This way you get the benefit of bass management with a well defined crossover between the sub and the main speakers.

 

[Promso]

The sub is still an active sub whether you connect using the high level terminals or the RCA phono connector. I think it is better to connect to the active speakers using coax or optical cables and to the subwoofer using the RCA sub out to the LFE input of the sub. This way you get the benefit of bass management with a well defined crossover between the sub and the main speakers.

But it is clearly written that you should use high level terminals to get that best speakers matching performace which is their secret technology. I think they are adding some subwoofer notes also on higher frequencies or something similar. But if they will sound as simple subwoofer, then I would better buy simple subwoofer, why to spend so much more?

Also only ports on my Acoustic Energy AE1 Active speakers are attached, not much options

So anyone tried?

 

[Smartplug]

But it is clearly written that you should use high level terminals to get that best speakers matching performace which is their secret technology. I think they are adding some subwoofer notes also on higher frequencies or something similar. But if they will sound as simple subwoofer, then I would better buy simple subwoofer, why to spend so much more?

Also only ports on my Acoustic Energy AE1 Active speakers are attached, not much options

So anyone tried?

Rel known by many that want them to be connected by high level.

 

[slartibartfast]

But it is clearly written that you should use high level terminals to get that best speakers matching performace which is their secret technology. I think they are adding some subwoofer notes also on higher frequencies or something similar. But if they will sound as simple subwoofer, then I would better buy simple subwoofer, why to spend so much more?

Also only ports on my Acoustic Energy AE1 Active speakers are attached, not much options

So anyone tried?

It isn't secret technology, lots of subs have high level terminals including mine. The issue is trying to integrate the sub rolloff with the speaker roll off.
How are you going to connect the AE1s to the Ultra?
In your case the main speakers will not be connected to exactly the same signal as the subwoofer anyway. REL expect you to be using a system with the main speakers and the sub connected to the same terminals if you are using the high level connection to the sub. You can't do that with active speakers.

 

[Promso]

It isn't secret technology, lots of subs have high level terminals including mine. The issue is trying to integrate the sub rolloff with the speaker roll off.
How are you going to connect the AE1s to the Ultra?
In your case the main speakers will not be connected to exactly the same signal as the subwoofer anyway. REL expect you to be using a system with the main speakers and the sub connected to the same terminals if you are using the high level connection to the sub. You can't do that with active speakers.

I just plan to use sub cables and connect with them each speaker on L and R output on Wiim. But I was hoping that if I will use sub out on Wiim to connect Rel sub it will still have that speakers matching technology, but after reading manual started doubting.

While speakers and Wiim already ordered - will need to skip that Rel sub and search for something else, because in my case probably it will be overpay if it will not blend into stereo system as it suppose to.

Can anyone recommend any more “musical” type sub, which might work in my case? I mean that it would be similar like with Rel, when you hardly notice that there is subwoofer playing in the room? I know these Rythmik subs are similar, but hard to get them in Europe.

 

[slartibartfast]

I just plan to use sub cables and connect with them each speaker on L and R output on Wiim. But I was hoping that if I will use sub out on Wiim to connect Rel sub it will still have that speakers matching technology, but after reading manual started doubting.

While speakers and Wiim already ordered - will need to skip that Rel sub and search for something else, because in my case probably it will be overpay if it will not blend into stereo system as it suppose to.

Can anyone recommend any more “musical” type sub, which might work in my case? I mean that it would be similar like with Rel, when you hardly notice that there is subwoofer playing in the room? I know these Rythmik subs are similar, but hard to get them in Europe.

Doesn't the REL sub have a low level input as well. You would connect that to the Ultra sub out and you will need RCA cables to connect the Ultra to the AE1 speakers. I thought that maybe the AE1 only had XLR inputs but they have RCA as well.
You could try without a subwoofer to begin with then decide later if you need one. You can use room correction with the AE1s.

 

[Promso]

Doesn't the REL sub have a low level input as well. You would connect that to the Ultra sub out and you will need RCA to XLR cables to connect the Ultra to the AE1 speakers.

Rel has even 2 low inputs, but as I understand it will not sound as good in the system as it should if i do so..? To achieve that, they ask to use highs..

 

[slartibartfast]

Rel has even 2 low inputs, but as I understand it will not sound as good in the system as it should if i do so..? To achieve that, they ask to use highs..

I wouldn't believe what REL say. You can't connect your main speakers and the sub to the same terminals anyway which is their reason for using the high level terminals. That advice goes back to the times when stereo amps didn't have bass management or even a pre-amp output so the only way to connect a sub was using the high level inputs.

 

[Promso]

I wouldn't believe what REL say. You can't connect your main speakers and the sub to the same terminals anyway which is their reason for using the high level terminals. That advice goes back to the times when stereo amps didn't have bass management or even a pre-amp output so the only way to connect a sub was using the high level inputs.

Found even video:

I think they want this because they are also using something from high frequencios to adjust their subwoofer and other subs just ask to cut and leave only low frequencies or cut by them self.

 

[slartibartfast]

Found even video:

I think they want this because they are also using something from high frequencios to adjust their subwoofer and other subs just ask to cut and leave only low frequencies or cut by them self.

Last try. If you did want to use the high level terminals the Ultra has nothing to connect them to. It isn't an amplifier and has no speaker terminals.

 

[Promso]

Found even video:

Last try. If you did want to use the high level terminals the Ultra has nothing to connect them to. It isn't an amplifier and has no speaker terminals.

So I understand that and already asked if anyone can recommend any other similar sounding sub.

Anyway thanks for your time!

 

[Smartplug]

Using high level the sub will be using its own crossover unlike low level wiim its in control. Try both and see which one you like better. Everyone is different so try and see which one sound better to you. Many higher cost subwoofer doesn’t include high level only low level. Enjoy listening!

 

[slartibartfast]

So I understand that and already asked if anyone can recommend any other similar sounding sub.

Anyway thanks for your time!

You can still use the REL with the Ultra sub out to the low level input. As for alternatives it depends how much you want to spend and how much space you have to put it in . As far as I know sealed subs are better for music.

 

[Promso]

Using high level the sub will be using its own crossover unlike low level wiim its in control. Try both and see which one you like better. Everyone is different so try and see which one sound better to you. Many higher cost subwoofer doesn’t include high level only low level. Enjoy listening!

I still havent ordered that sub and it is more expensive than others. So if I loose that quality while not able to use their crossover, why I should pay more..?

They are famous for that how they blend perfectly into your stereo and it looks like that just speakers play better. So looks like not worth it.

 

[Promso]

You can still use the REL with the Ultra sub out to the low level input. As for alternatives it depends how much you want to spend and how much space you have to put it in . As far as I know sealed subs are better for music.

So something bellow 1000eur, if similar quality sound like Rel could be bit more. Room is 40m2.

 

[Smartplug]

I still havent ordered that sub and it is more expensive than others. So if I loose that quality while not able to use their crossover, why I should pay more..?

They are famous for that how they blend perfectly into your stereo and it looks like that just speakers play better. So looks like not worth it.

As you go higher price, sub can go deep. It also become larger in size as well as has more power. Many speakers even bookshelf speakers can go down to 50hz. The sub setting on wiim is defaulted at 80hz. I crossover where the main roll off and sub takes over. In my case it was set at 50hz. I tried various setting but did not like how it sound. I let the main cover where it was designed to produce and sub takes over at the range the main can’t produce. Of course many would go 80 or higher.

 

[Promso]

As you go higher price, sub can go deep. It also become larger in size as well as has more power. Many speakers even bookshelf speakers can go down to 50hz. The sub setting on wiim is defaulted at 80hz. I crossover where the main roll off and sub takes over. In my case it was set at 50hz. I tried various setting but did not like how it sound. I let the main cover where it was designed to produce and sub takes over at the range the main can’t produce. Of course many would go 80 or higher.

At least what I read today in some audiophile discussions - If you don't want high volume and room shacking bass, just much higher quality with your sub, people do not cut any frequencies on main speakers, only cut on sub high frequencies, but I believe Rel is doing even something more that they sound so well integrated. Probably leaving something in high frequencies as well, that would explain why they want to connect to these ports.

 

[slartibartfast]

I still havent ordered that sub and it is more expensive than others. So if I loose that quality while not able to use their crossover, why I should pay more..?

They are famous for that how they blend perfectly into your stereo and it looks like that just speakers play better. So looks like not worth it.

It still isn't easy to blend a sub with main speakers using REL's method. It is easy with the Ultra sub output since the Ultra controls the crossover. How much is the REL sub?

 

[Promso]

It still isn't easy to blend a sub with main speakers using REL's method. It is easy with the Ultra sub output since the Ultra controls the crossover. How much is the REL sub?

People are saying it is much easier than other subs to blend them. And they asking to place it in the corner differently than other which is very convinient. Price is ~1100-1200 eur and its only 200w amp which makes them quite expensive in my opinion, of cours not only amp cost money in their design.