Vintage Never Goes Out of Style: Mid-Century-Themed REL Classic 99 Subwoofer Is Designed for Large Rooms, Features 12-Inch Driver and 450W Amp, Plays with Warmth, Soulfulness, Depth, and Grace

Based on the acclaimed REL Classic 98 subwoofer and bolstered by a bigger driver, heftier output, and various other enhancements, Classic 99 is designed for large rooms and listeners with higher-end systems. Equally 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 99 plays with a slightly softer touch than the British company’s traditional subs, filling your room with bass that brings to mind, perhaps, the inviting warmth and soulfulness of tube amplifiers and other retro-minded gear.

Engineered and hand-crafted in England, the 49.3-pound Classic 99 delivers copious amounts of air, nuance, resolution, and texture that surpass those of its sibling model and nearly every imaginable other offering in its price class. Big, bold, and personable, Classic 99 is prepped to handle any room or setup you might have. A 450-watt amplifier fed by an all-analog PerfectFilter and 12-inch down-firing paper-on-paper driver with steel chassis conspire to deliver absorbing power and precision, dynamics and depth — all with quiet operation, black backgrounds, and at volumes that will give you concert-like experiences.

Plus, Classic 99 gives you control and will match the characteristics of your room. 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. For added convenience, Classic 99 can be paired with REL’s AirShip II or HT-Air MKII systems for compression-free wireless performance.

Moving onto the obvious, Classic 99 is a total looker. Its thick, solid cabinet walls are clad in hand-fitted dark walnut veneer. Its radiused feet, milled from solid billet, are blacked out to  allow everything to appear to float. Together, the elegant aesthetics showcase a contemporary sensibility while honoring the past. This extends to the rear amp panel, with its white gold silk screening and contrasting knobs, evokes memories of a bygone era. Ditto the touch and feel of the period-correct controls, which echo quality switch-type gear. 

If you need more information about this 21 x 15.75 x 13.8-inch (HWD) dynamo, or about REL's esteemed quality, just give a Music Direct audio consultant a call at 312-433-0200.

It Starts with the Driver
As anyone familiar with REL will tell you, it always begins with the driver. In this case, a bespoke 12-inch long stroke driver that uses lightweight, stiff, hot-pressed paper to form the main body of the cone. Laid atop that is a stiff center cap made of hand-thrown paper to randomize the fibers, ensuring that the driver has excellent self-damping. This is one of REL’s secrets. Understanding that it is the quietness, that attention to bring the driver to complete silence, that produces the most startling dynamics. While Classic 99 will play shatteringly loud, it’s from the very black background that the loudest dynamics emerge to produce the sense of shock sought by great composers and directors.