Sit Back and Enjoy the Music: Gorgeous, Retro-Styled REL Classic 98 Subwoofer Plays with Warmth, Soulfulness, and a Touch of Inviting Softness

The REL Classic 98 subwoofer is unlike any other product offered by REL. It’s intentionally designed that way. Made for aficionados who yearn for the vintage REL sound and styling — and to provide a nostalgic journey back to the golden age of stereo, all the while retaining the advancements and reliability of modern technology — Classic 98 plays with a slightly softer touch than the British company’s other subs, filling your room with bass that brings to mind, perhaps, the inviting warmth and soulfulness of tube amplifiers and other retro-minded gear. It does so with success and panache.

Crafted in England, the 40-pound Classic 98 invites you to relax, sit back, and enjoy the surroundings. Echoing the essence of REL’s renowned 10” down-firing models from the late 90s, it sports a natural walnut veneer and radiused curve that, accentuated by a subtle reveal line, showcases a contemporary sensibility while honoring the past. The rear amp panel, with its white gold silk screening and contrasting knobs, evokes memories of a bygone era, while the glossy black logo set against a matte background adds class.

Sonically, Classic 98 is pure REL through and through. A 300-watt amplifier, 10-inch down-firing paper-cone driver, and natural butyl surround conspire to deliver power and precision, dynamics and depth. High-level connectivity and modern input filter technology — the latter with swift 8ms response, and taking the form of unique versions of trademarked LimitLess and Perfect filters — speak to the sub’s intuitiveness and efficiency. Speaking of those traits, Classic 98 can be paired with REL’s AirShip II or HT-Air MKII systems for compression-free wireless performance.

It’s clear Classic 98 is already a classic — or well on its way to becoming one. If you need more information about this 18.5 x 13.75 x 11.75-inch (HWD) looker, give a Music Direct audio consultant a ring at 312-433-0200.

“A brilliant fusion of past and present. It’s perfectly executed, yet approachable and affordable.”
—Jeff Dorgay, TONEAudio

“[The] best upgrade you can buy for that kind of money…”
—Steve Gutenberg, The Audiophiliac