Speaker Asylum: REVIEW: REL Acoustics STORM III Speakers by PaulDB

Model:	STORM III
Category:	Speakers
Suggested Retail Price:	$1,795
Description:	Sub-bass self powered (150 W) 10" down-firing system
Manufacturer URL:	REL Acoustics
Model Picture:	View

Review by PaulDB on January 18, 2002 at 14:02:19
IP Address: 204.160.183.18

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for the STORM III

I sent this letter to Bob Grant, Ambrosia Audio today:
Hi Bob,
I found placing the two Storms in the corners ACROSS the room sounding the best. Also, the reversed phase on both renders the deepest and smoothest bass. Two Storms placed in the corners BEHIND main speakers were OK but not giving as good sense of space, depth, and width. Bass was a little heavy at rather high volume level (-2, -3 db at 50 hz below the level at 160 hz).
With the diagonal placement, phase reversed, AND equal distances from left main to left sub and right main to right sub, the bass is much tight, articulate, unobtrusive, and pretty damn fast. I measured SPL 75 db at 160 hz, 72 db at 100 Hz, 66 db at 80 hz and 63 Hz (probably the main speaker rolling off considering they being located 50" from the front wall), 72 db at 50 Hz all the way nearly flat to 20 hz (69 db) !!! I bet there are more usable frequencies below 20 Hz, just that the Stereophile CD #1 provides this much.
The setting is at A1 (22 hz, yes the lowest point, as I wanted the REL completely goes UNDER the mains), gain at 12:30 or 1:00 PM. I noticed, with the second unit and the new placement, I am able to set the volume high enough to hear and feel the bass impact and timbre and soundstage enhancement without having to put up with the "in the chest" type of bass (perhaps caused by room standing wave) and the muddled mids/highs caused by overly prominent bass. Properly set up, the whole system just sounds right - no fatigue, just a satisfying sense of balanced enjoyment.
Thanks Bob for all of your intelligent and enthusiastic advice and suggestions. They worked for me !
Regards,
Paul
By the way, I enjoyed reading the two reviews of the REL Strata. I did hear the NHT, M&K, Velodyne, and own a 12" HSU HRSW12V, but I haven't listened to the ACI Titan II, so sorry no comparison is available. For now I just base my opinion on my sole satisfaction with the REL twin. Considering that I am not (wasn't) a bass freak and always place midrange the highest priority, this is a big [and pleasant] surprise to me.
The Radials went back to manufacturer last month for upgrade, but since I was able to "tweak" the twin to work for me, I feel not missing much. When they're back, I will surely need to re-adjust the setting again but hopefully not by much.

Product Weakness: Relatively heavy
Rather expensive
Product Strengths: Agile, articulate, integrates VERY well with main speakers
Practically makes everything sound good (classical, jazz, rap, rock, international)

Associated Equipment for this Review:
Amplifier:	Decware ZEN monoblocks
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated):	EVS Ultimate Attenuator
Sources (CDP/Turntable):	CAL Delta transport/EVS DAC II
Speakers:	The Horns (TheHornShoppe), Decware Radials
Cables/Interconnects:	Monocle XL, Homegrown SilverLace, Illuminati
Music Used (Genre/Selections):	Limited to classical and pop prior to this, now extended to all kinds (RAP and PUNK ROCKS sound good now: damn fast, deep and wide)
Room Size (LxWxH):	24 x 16 x 9
Room Comments/Treatments:	Casually
Time Period/Length of Audition:	8 months (one sub), 1 month (two subs)
Other (Power Conditioner etc.):	Hydra, P300, FIM AC Outlets
Type of Audition/Review:	Product Owner

Product Weakness:	Relatively heavy Rather expensive
Product Strengths:	Agile, articulate, integrates VERY well with main speakers Practically makes everything sound good (classical, jazz, rap, rock, international)