Rel Acoustics No.32 Subwoofer 1000 W lacquered black - Reference

No.32 enjoys the rarefied position of elevating our Reference range to an even higher orbit. No.32 retains the exquisite beauty of our curved Reference cabinets, an updated 15" (380 mm) real carbon fiber driver, and our ultra-reliable 1,000-watt NextGen 7 Class D amplifier featuring thin-film capacitors, higher gain, and superior limiting.

The net result is a flagship model that has pushed the boundaries of the art even further with superior dynamics, richer tonal colors, and a freer, more expressive character that opens up the midrange and high frequencies in an unprecedented way.

SPECIFICATIONS

Type Front-firing closed-box driver

Active driver dimensions and materials 15-inch (380 mm) long-throw carbon fiber cone with inverted carbon fiber center cap, die-cast alloy chassis

Passive radiator dimensions and materials N/A

Extension a low frequency 15 Hz @ -6 dB

Input Connectors Neutrik Speakon High Level, (2) RCA Low Level, (1) RCA LFE, (1) XLR LFE LFE

Output Connectors Neutrik Speakon High Level, (1) RCA Low Level, (1) XLR LFE LFE, (1) XLR Line Level

Output Power 1,000 watts (RMS)

Amplifier Type NextGen 7 Class D

Wireless Capability REL AirShip II (sold separately)

Dual Parametric Filter YES

Protection System

Fully Electronic Safe YES

DC Fail YES

Short Output YES

Mains Input Voltage 220-240 volts, 110-120 volts for some markets

Fuses 7 Amp semi-delay 230 volt operation, 15 Amp semi-delay 115 volt operation

Dimensions W x H x D 29 1/4 x 21 x 32 1/8 inches (743 x 540 x 816 mm)

Net Weight 187 lbs (85 kg), Shipping Weight - 225 lbs (102 kg)

Finish Piano Black Lacquer, 12 ply

Accessories Supplied

Power Cord YES

Neutrik Speakon Cable Yes (10 meters nominal)

Owner's Manual YES

When the power cord only better can do - The Limit of Artistic Design

No.32 represents the sum of our efforts, research and knowledge gained over the past three decades as a leader in audio and subwoofers. Nothing we've built can match the speed, agility, lack of texture and vivid dynamic contrasts delivered by No.32. It represents the pinnacle of REL's considerable expertise and is our standard for future innovation. A remarkable sonic achievement, it transcends its illustrious forebear, which was named Product of the Decade just a few years ago. It’s 1,000 watts, has a 15” (380mm) pure carbon fiber driver, and has an exquisite construction that took three weeks to complete. However, each of these features only hints at what it takes to sit at the top of REL’s offerings, and No.32 is poised to be a design for the ages.

Beautiful form follows functional perfection

It’s often said that form follows function. If that’s true, what a beautiful function we’re following. The cabinet traces a curved path established more than a decade ago on the original Gibraltar. Here, the top surface drops down into the rear corners, a difficult treatment to execute, but one that produces a beautifully crafted effect.

The triple-plated steel handles are set in ellipses that allow for a sure grip, necessary when lifting an object over 200 pounds. Inside, the rear support plate is well over a half-inch thick and contoured to follow the contours of the body. the internal surface, producing an extremely strong structure.

The new No.32 badge treatment combines the materials that appear most frequently in its design; carbon fibre used throughout the driver is set in a cast and polished alloy basket that is finished in 3 layers of plating to a jewel-like shine. The overall design speaks to the considerable effort that has gone into ensuring the No.32 is as visually stunning as it is technically.

Lined up for battle

The No.32 enables the same vertically stacked line array as the definitive No.31. It delivers a transformative performance that no competitor has been able to match. For those who have sought the ultimate musical and theatrical experience, Line Arrays unlock the final dimension of system reproduction. Audiophiles have chased three-dimensional sound for years, but have missed the simple fact that height, not depth, of imaging is the missing link. By creating products designed to be stacked 3 (or in exceptionally tall rooms, 5) units high while retaining individual crossover and gain control for each subwoofer in the array, REL has created a masterpiece that finally delivers what serious audiophiles have been chasing for the past 40 years.

The Absolutely Reliable Beast

The No.32’s NextGen 7 Class D 1,000-watt amplifier was also used in its predecessor for over seven years. Thousands of these amplifiers are in use around the world; they are a paragon of reliability. Its implementation in the No.32 combines a new limiter with a much wider envelope to allow the widest possible dynamic swings. Additionally, the No.32’s dual parametric EQs enable a robust, flat response in the lower ranges, extending below 20Hz. When its second EQ is set to frequencies above the crossover point, the No.32 matches the main speakers seamlessly while simultaneously reducing room-based resonances.

Driving Forward

As with all RELs, the heart and soul of the No. 32 is its 15” (380mm) driver. The driver cone is constructed entirely from carbon fiber. Additionally, a carbon fiber center cap is overlaid on the primary surface of the cone. This cone design results in a much stiffer driver that possesses superior self-damping qualities, removing even minor resonances that can obscure detail retrieval, while keeping moving mass to an absolute minimum. The No. 32’s driver suspension allows a full 4” (100mm) of travel fore and aft, a huge amount of travel for such a large driver. These are some of the secrets of its performance. Transparency, combined with extraordinary dynamics, is the result.

A remote control like no other

Take control of your No.32 by picking up the REL Reference remote control. Immediately, you will be struck by the perfect fit in the palm of your hand, the result of careful thought and many generations of trial and error during prototype development. The second reaction is the awareness of its mass, which conveys its quality, permanence and immutability. It tells you: "I am a thing of substance, of quality. Pay attention, what you do next matters." If you have owned a REL in the past (and 90% of Rel Reference owners have), all the familiar controls are within easy reach, exactly where you want them. The high level gain (or low if using active speakers) is conveniently located on the right side, the crossover is in the center, and the .1/LFE gain is offset to the left.

Below are three lovely metal toggle switches that handle the critical setup functions. The remote control on/off switch is on the bottom. It is as hidden as possible and will stay on once powered up and in use during setup without accidentally being turned off. In the center is the phase control. This is only used initially to determine the correct phase of 0 or 180 degrees. Additionally, top access to the Dual Parametric EQ, marked A and B, allows for the flattest, deepest bass, and at the other end of the bass frequencies, fine-tuning of the crossover behavior. This provides the perfect blend of the subwoofer with the main speakers and any trace of rumble and resonance generated by the room can be delicately eliminated.

REL's Reference remote is like the perfect butler: always impeccable, indispensable when needed, but then put aside at a later stage, when additions or further improvements to the system further require its services.