No.32

The REL No.32 is a high-end active subwoofer with a 1,000-watt amplifier, a 15-inch (380 mm) pure carbon fibre driver and a cabinet that requires 3 weeks of labour to complete. It brings together 3 decades of REL research and experience in audio and subwoofer design, with a focus on speed, agility, low texture and dynamic contrast. No.32 also serves as REL’s reference for future development and follows the company’s previous flagship, which was named Product of the Decade a few years ago.

The cabinet follows the curving form first established on the original Gibraltar. Its upper surface falls towards the rear corners, a complex treatment that gives the enclosure its distinctive shape. Inset triple-plated steel handles sit within elliptical recesses and provide a secure grip when lifting the subwoofer, which weighs over 200 pounds. At the rear, a backing plate well over half an inch thick follows the internal surface of the cabinet and adds structural rigidity.

The badge uses materials found throughout the design. Carbon fibre from the driver is set into a polished cast-alloy basket, which receives 3 layers of plating. The same attention to construction is applied to the cabinet and the driver, combining the visual design with the mechanical requirements of a high-output subwoofer.

REL No.32 can be used in the same vertically stacked line array configuration as the No.31. Systems can be arranged as 3 units high, or 5 units in exceptionally tall rooms. Each subwoofer retains its own crossover and gain controls within the array. This arrangement increases the height of the reproduced image and is intended to provide a greater sense of 3-dimensional sound for both music and theatre systems.

The 1,000-watt amplifier was also used in REL’s predecessor for over 7 years, with thousands of these amplifiers in use around the world. In No.32, it is combined with a new limiter and a wider operating envelope to accommodate large dynamic changes. Dual parametric EQ controls provide a flat response in the lowest frequencies, extending below 20 Hz. Setting the second EQ above the crossover point allows the subwoofer to integrate with the main speakers while reducing room-related resonances.

The 15-inch (380 mm) driver is the central component of REL No.32. Its cone is made entirely from carbon fibre, with a carbon fibre centre cap overlaid on the main cone surface. This construction increases stiffness and self-damping, helping to suppress minor resonances that can affect detail while keeping moving mass low. The suspension allows 4 inches (100 mm) of forward and rearward travel, providing substantial excursion for a driver of this size. The result is a combination of transparency and high dynamic capability.

The REL Reference Remote Control provides access to the subwoofer’s setup and operating controls. Its shape was developed through multiple generations of prototype fittings, while its mass gives it a solid feel in the hand. The familiar controls are arranged for direct access, with high-level gain, or low-level gain when used with active speakers, on the right, crossover in the centre and .1/LFE gain on the left.

Three metal toggle switches below the main controls manage the essential setup functions. The on/off switch is positioned at the bottom, away from the other controls, and remains on during setup and use once engaged. The central switch controls phase, with 0 or 180 degrees available for initial adjustment. The upper controls provide access to the Dual Parametric EQ, marked A and B. These allow adjustment for deeper, flatter bass, crossover behaviour and the integration of the subwoofer with the main speakers, while room-generated boom and resonance can be reduced.

For REL Reference owners, who account for 90% of the brand’s Reference owners, the control layout follows the arrangement used on previous models. The remote can be used during installation and then set aside until further system changes require adjustment.