The Under-$1k Standard for Audiophile Music and Home-Theater Subwoofers: REL HT/1205 MKII Outputs 500W RMS Continuous

REL likes to say that its HT/1205 MKII subwoofer “looks the business.” Yes, and it sounds the biz, too. Designed to be the loudest compact-sized subwoofer with a 12-inch driver available for home theater and music applications, the 43.2-pound unit is fueled by a lightweight CarbonGlas driver coupled to a 500-watt Class D amplifier that specializes in dynamic reproduction. The added presence of MOSFET power modules rated at 800 watts basically put the 500-watt rating to shame; HT/1205 MKII plays far bigger and bolder than the numbers suggest.

Measuring 15.25 x 16.25 x 17.25 inches (HWD), it is also loaded with upgrades that make it stand apart from its revered predecessor. Top wit: a higher secondary filter for energy to extend further up the sonic spectrum; an all-analog subsonic filter that begins as low as 8Hz to minimize infra-noise from soundtracks. In the driver stage, beefed-up magnets combine with an enhanced suspension with enlarged surround to permit greater travel means and better control. For the amplifier, thicker boards and an improved power supply pay dividends when it comes to efficiency, speed, output, and longevity. 

About those touted looks. The shape of HT/1205 MKII borrows sleek, low-slung proportions drawn from REL Reference models. Its top panel sports five coats of hand-polished piano black lacquer. The elegant cabinet body is clad in horizontally streaked, line-grained composite. On the back, dual-purpose low-level stereo inputs abet daisy-chain low-level stereo outputs. The closed-box HT/1205 MKII is also zero-compression wireless compatible via REL's HT-Air system, meaning you can put it where it works best without having to deal with cables.

REL Input Filters

REL input filters are renowned throughout the audio world. They bring together ultra-fast analog crossovers, customer-designed elevation filters that extend the flatness of deep bass, and integrated limiters that allow all the power to explode outward. This compact series of analog circuits is REL's secret recipe in both music and film sound. Refined in this second-generation, the secondary filters used allow extension to a much higher frequency, allowing the rarefaction of air in the sound of an explosion to feel that much more realistic. Additionally, the latest circuit includes an all-analog subsonic filter that begins as low as 12Hz to minimize the effects of infra-noise from soundtracks that extends well below the resonance point of the driver. 

Optional Wireless Ability

Being wired for sound used to require long runs of cable strewn across the floor. With REL's optional HT-Air, great sound can be "un-wired" — replaced by a tiny transmitter and matching receiver that sends an incredibly fast 5.8Ghz wireless signal up to 60 feet without digital compression. This circuit includes the same LSIC chip that powers REL's state-of-the-art AirShip II without the expensive discrete analog-to-digital and digital-to-analog (DAC) convertors. It is perfect for the .1/LFE signals using RCA connectors that are HT/1205 MKII's primary mission.