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REL has unveiled a radical new take on the subwoofer, with its upcoming Planar Series aiming to solve one of home theatre’s biggest headaches of where to place the bass box.
The British audio specialist has announced two ultra-slim subwoofers, the PL-1 and PL-2, which can be wall-mounted, rolled around on wheels, or positioned flat against a wall.
REL is pushing the Planar range as both an audio product and a design object.
Buyers can choose between black or white finishes, with interchangeable cloth or premium wood grilles depending on whether they want the subwoofer to disappear into the room or stand out as part of the décor.
Perhaps the most unusual option of the subwoofer is the ‘Planar Cart’, an optional wheeled stand allowing users to move the subwoofer around the room to experiment with placement.
The company claims wall placement actually improves bass performance by using boundary reinforcement from room surfaces to create a larger sound field.
At just 5.7 inches (144mm) deep, the Planar models are designed to blend into modern homes rather than dictate furniture placement. REL says the concept was created for people who “don’t want to design a room around subwoofer placement”.
The bigger PL-2 packs an 8-inch FlatPiston active driver paired with a 10-inch passive radiator and delivers bass down to 24Hz, while the smaller PL-1 uses twin 6.5-inch FibreAlloy drivers with the same passive radiator arrangement, extending to 31Hz.
Both models use Class D amplification, support REL’s traditional high-level Speakon connections, and include built-in wireless capability via the company’s AirShip Direct technology – a first for REL. The wireless transmitter, normally sold separately, is included in the box.
The Planar PL-1 and PL-2 launch on May 20, although Australian pricing has yet to be announced.
