Carbon Special Black Label

The REL Carbon Special Black Label is a 12-inch active subwoofer that brings the medium chassis to its highest specification within the Serie S range. Its all-carbon fibre driver is closely derived from the design used in the No.31 Reference and is powered by a 900-watt hybrid amplifier. The larger cabinet allows the driver to produce greater scale and control, with fast, powerful bass and detailed tonal definition.

Each Carbon Special Black Label includes a premium wood grille, which supports airflow while adding warmth to the finish. The model can be used individually, as a stereo pair or in a Line Array of up to 3 units per channel. Black Label models form the most advanced version of the Serie S range, with tighter tolerances, upgraded components and distinctive finishes.

Design

The cabinet proportions draw on REL’s Reference range and provide a balanced sense of scale. Black crown inlays run along the sidewalls, while curved stainless-steel handles are recessed into elliptical returns. Knurled billet cylinders beneath each rail provide precise levelling, and thick internal aluminium slabs secure the handles for safe stacking in Line Arrays.

The premium wood grille is supplied with every unit and is designed to support airflow and dynamic performance. The model combines these structural details with the requirements of a high-output subwoofer intended for use on its own, in stereo or as part of a Line Array.

Driver

The down-firing passive radiator is hand-selected to meet the specified tolerances for the Carbon Special Black Label. Each unit is chosen for precise pistonic behaviour, providing control and transparency over the previous generation.

REL developed the 12-inch all-carbon fibre driver to handle 3 times the peak power of its predecessor. A newly engineered suspension allows the cone to travel over 60 millimetres from front to back, supporting high dynamics while maintaining control. The driver system is designed to reproduce both the fine textures of live music and the impact of modern film soundtracks, with deeper bass and greater authority than earlier medium-chassis REL models.

Amplifier

A 900-watt hybrid amplifier combines the current delivery of Class A/B monoblocks with the efficiency and control of a Class D output stage. Its 15-pound power transformer and extensive heatsinking support high-current operation and contribute to the unit’s weight. The amplifier can sustain peaks of up to 1,250 watts, producing controlled bass at high levels.

Analogue Filtered

All REL input filters use analogue circuitry. The High Level Input connects directly to the main amplifier’s speaker outputs and transmits the system’s full sonic signature without drawing power, allowing the subwoofer to integrate with the main speakers.

Where a High Level connection is not suitable, the low-level input uses the same analogue filter circuitry through RCA and XLR connections. In home theatre and dual-purpose systems, the High Level and .1/LFE inputs can operate simultaneously. Music can therefore use the High Level connection for integration with the main speakers, while films receive the dynamic content from the .1/LFE channel.

Line Array

REL Line Arrays are designed to build in pairs. A system can start with a stereo pair, expand with a second pair and rise to 3 subwoofers per channel, providing greater height, scale and output from floor to ceiling.

Carbon Special Black Label models include a precision-milled, knurled aluminium adjustment knob integrated into the body rails. This allows the bottom subwoofer in a Line Array to be levelled on uneven or soft surfaces, including thick-pile carpets and dual-pad installations. The adjustment system is intended exclusively for Line Array use and provides a more stable base. The 212 Black Label does not include these adjustment knobs.

The REL Carbon Special Black Label was designed to support the progressive construction of a Line Array. Precision mechanical couplers lock the upper and middle subwoofers to the REL unit below, providing rigidity and acoustic coupling. The system can be used with stand-mounted monitors or compact floor standers in medium-sized rooms, and has been demonstrated at international shows and in private listening rooms.