Classe Sigma 2200i and REL subwoofer - potential connection issue

[bostonz6]

Hi guys-I am new to setting up stereo equipment, so I am hoping for some advice. I just purchased a pair of Focal 1028be, a Classe Sigma 2200i integrated amp, and a REL T7i subwoofer. The gentleman who sold me the Classe and the REL told me not to hook the REL subwoofer to the sub out, but instead, use one of the speaker outputs. I watched REL's video regarding this. I have attached a schematic of the back of my Classe. Sorry to be dense, but if I attach the REL to one of the speaker outlets, how the heck am I supposed to connect the pair of Focals I have?

 

[ski2xblack]

If you're going to use speaker level inputs on the sub, you will have to use the same binding posts on the amp to feed both the sub and the speakers. The input impedance of the sub is so high that it's essentially invisible to the amp, so there should be zero problems hooking the speakers and sub in parallel.

Or simply use the sub out and hook it up line level.

 

[everettT]

REL and their marketing.... I'd hook it via the sub out as the classe has bass management that the REL dosen't have, including PEQ.

 

[TankTop5]

And then get a 2nd REL!


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[lovinthehd]

Rel and their goofy setup, meh. Rel 8" sub is goofy enough for $1k. Why that sub?

 

[bostonz6]

Thanks everyone for your input. I know, it is quite a bit of money for an 8" sub, but in my opinion, it sounds larger than that. I did get a small discount ($900), which helped. I listened to a handful of SVS and REL subs, and this one sounded the best to me. The place I purchased it from offers a 30 day return policy with no restocking fees. We'll see how it sounds once it's set up in the room. What subs do you guys have/like?

 

[lovinthehd]

Your demo of the sub vs how it will work in your room can be very different things. Rel would be among the last brands I'd look to personally, but I diy these days. That amp/speaker price ratio is a bit puzzling, but if you want a cadillac sub keep it Canadian and go with Funk.

 

[bostonz6]

Yeah, it’s an expensive amp for sure. But, I actually got it on sale for $1500, so I thought I’d go for it.

 

[TankTop5]

Yeah, it’s an expensive amp for sure. But, I actually got it on sale for $1500, so I thought I’d go for it.

There’s some cool stuff about you’re amp, the only real downside is the company kinda doesn’t exist at the moment and support will be tough. I did hear your sub paired with Kanta N2’s and about $30k in Simaudio equipment and it rearranged my intestines. You may need to spend time with placement and some acoustic treatment to your room but you have the makings for an amazing sound system!


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[lovinthehd]

Yeah, it’s an expensive amp for sure. But, I actually got it on sale for $1500, so I thought I’d go for it.

Used would be a lot better cost wise.

 

[TankTop5]

Used would be a lot better cost wise.

They were $5,500 new and now selling for $1,500 new, that’s a pretty solid deal. Do you have anything positive to say? His Focal BE’s are a fantastic speaker and listening to 100% music his REL is fantastic and nobody with any scruples would disagree! Now if he said he’s watching movies with artificial mixed ultra low bass he might look at different subs. Now why don’t you add something of value for once to the conversation and suggest when funds allow to get a 2nd T7i?


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[lovinthehd]

They were $5,500 new and now selling for $1,500 new, that’s a pretty solid deal. Do you have anything positive to say? His Focal BE’s are a fantastic speaker and listening to 100% music his REL is fantastic and nobody with any scruples would disagree! Now if he said he’s watching movies with artificial mixed ultra low bass he might look at different subs. Now why don’t you add something of value for once to the conversation and suggest when funds allow to get a 2nd T7i?


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What are you on about? The Rel thing is just weird and overpriced to me (and the suggested setup of the sub sounded strange to the OP too obviously) and the amp seemed out of place in the purchases (but he didn't mention used amp either at first). Thought we had a high-end audio salesman's work here. It seems from various reports the Focals are nice speakers, it was the cost of the amp and the choice of sub that seemed a bit out of place in comparison, but he didn't distinguish the used thing for the amp. I was just somewhat surprised to see a sub purchased that doesn't appear to be much more capable than the speakers, especially at that price (which he did essentially pay). He could be listening to perfectly fine music with deep bass, I don't know....or even a movie, he doesn't say. We'll be sure to get your approval before commenting in the future....LOL. Two of the Rels could perhaps smooth a room mode, sure.

So I'd suggest the OP read this article on subwoofer setup https://www.audioholics.com/subwoofer-setup/basic-subwoofer-setup and use the bass management available to him....or the goofy Rel method.

ps Just what isn't being supported by Classe/Sound United....that might be good info for the OP.

 

[Pogre]

Yup. Always ask before you make these purchases! I'm sure that little 8 sounds decent, but there are so many good (better) options for a subwoofer (or 2) in the $1000 range! Would it be too late to return it?

 

[TankTop5]

What are you on about? The Rel thing is just weird and overpriced to me (and the suggested setup of the sub sounded strange to the OP too obviously) and the amp seemed out of place in the purchases (but he didn't mention used amp either at first). Thought we had a high-end audio salesman's work here. It seems from various reports the Focals are nice speakers, it was the cost of the amp and the choice of sub that seemed a bit out of place in comparison, but he didn't distinguish the used thing for the amp. I was just somewhat surprised to see a sub purchased that doesn't appear to be much more capable than the speakers, especially at that price (which he did essentially pay). He could be listening to perfectly fine music with deep bass, I don't know....or even a movie, he doesn't say. We'll be sure to get your approval before commenting in the future....LOL. Two of the Rels could perhaps smooth a room mode, sure.

So I'd suggest the OP read this article on subwoofer setup https://www.audioholics.com/subwoofer-setup/basic-subwoofer-setup and use the bass management available to him....or the goofy Rel method.

ps Just what isn't being supported by Classe/Sound United....that might be good info for the OP.

To my reading you came across a bit elitist, your first recommendation was a sub in the $10k range. The REL T7i is designed to be hooked up with speaker cable and play out of phase reinforcing the bass of the main speakers, not picking up where they left off and going deeper like an A/V sub. If you’ve heard a system properly setup the way REL intended their subs are amazing at what they do. The OP mentioned 100% music being primarily rock and jazz, even a double kick bass or stand up bass isn’t going that low, I don’t know of a single natural instrument outside a pipe organ that goes that low. Anyway, this forum needs to stop with the REL bashing. They are world class subs, they just don’t do what you want a sub to do but they do what they were designed to do extremely well.

On to Classe who was sold by Bowers and Wilkins to Sound United, Sound United hasn’t does anything official with Classe yet and the OP can still download software updates directly from Bowers and Wilkins but the Classe website update links are now dead. I thought about buying one before getting my Marantz, decided against it because of the lack of support and goofy interface but in retrospect my Special 40’s could have used the the extra power, damn their hungry!

Lastly the Focal 1028be’s are fantastic, I don’t think anyone has anything negative to say other than they aren’t your personal taste...

The OP has all the components for an amazing system but could probably use some setup tips, because most here have a different philosophy on their system the OP may be best served going someplace else for advice. Don’t get me wrong, you guys really know home theater.



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[lovinthehd]

To my reading you came across a bit elitist, your first recommendation was a sub in the $10k range. The REL T7i is designed to be hooked up with speaker cable and play out of phase reinforcing the bass of the main speakers, not picking up where they left off and going deeper like an A/V sub. If you’ve heard a system properly setup the way REL intended their subs are amazing at what they do. The OP mentioned 100% music being primarily rock and jazz, even a double kick bass or stand up bass isn’t going that low, I don’t know of a single natural instrument outside a pipe organ that goes that low. Anyway, this forum needs to stop with the REL bashing. They are world class subs, they just don’t do what you want a sub to do but they do what they were designed to do extremely well.

On to Classe who was sold by Bowers and Wilkins to Sound United, Sound United hasn’t does anything official with Classe yet and the OP can still download software updates directly from Bowers and Wilkins but the Classe website update links are now dead. I thought about buying one before getting my Marantz, decided against it because of the lack of support and goofy interface but in retrospect my Special 40’s could have used the the extra power, damn their hungry!

Lastly the Focal 1028be’s are fantastic, I don’t think anyone has anything negative to say other than they aren’t your personal taste...

The OP has all the components for an amazing system but could probably use some setup tips, because most here have a different philosophy on their system the OP may be best served going someplace else for advice. Don’t get me wrong, you guys really know home theater.



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Elitist? Do you even know what that means? I linked to a website for Funk, no particular sub, sure they have expensive subs (but a level above Rel) but the guy was using a Classe amp, so just threw out a nice Canadian manufacturer of excellent subs to consider.

The Rel can do either the high level connection or not. It's a sub, just a small one with shallow extension at a high price. It doesnt appear much more capable than his speakers (f3 of the speakers is 34hz, the f6 of the "sub" is 30hz). Many 2ch systems can only do a high level and approximating with a low pass filter where you want it to overlap with your speakers....not particularly ideal but what many old 2ch analog systems can accommodate.. There are more instruments out there than "natural" or "acoustical". The original post had no indication of use as I mentioned before in any case. If you think Rel is worthy, great, I and many others don't.

Maybe contacting Sound United would be in order.

Again, I said nothing about the speakers other than they seem quite well liked and capable of almost the same range of bass as the little sub.

That's why I linked a sub set up article for his review.

 

[TankTop5]

Elitist? Do you even know what that means?

Again, I said nothing about the speakers other than they seem quite well liked and capable of almost the same range of bass as the little sub.

That's why I linked a sub set up article for his review.

I didn’t see a single sub on Funk’s website under $8k. The OP mentioned some very nice equipment that be bought on sale. At least to me it came across like you were saying, congratulations on the great deal for your $400,000 house but you should be looking at $1 million homes.

From my understanding these REL subs compliment main speakers similarly to how most here recommend multi sub setups. They give a fuller and richer sound complementing what your main speakers are already doing, they are not going much beyond what your current speakers already do. I’ve been looking at them to supplement my Special 40’s and help pressurize my room better in the mid bass frequency range. Subterranean deep bass is great but reinforcing the mid bass frequencies are lacking in many systems and as I said before I’ve heard this very sub used with much more expensive Focals to do just that with incredible results! Maybe they should be considered mid bass drivers and not subs.




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[lovinthehd]

I didn’t see a single sub on Funk’s website under $8k. The OP mentioned some very nice equipment that be bought on sale. At least to me it came across like you were saying, congratulations on the great deal for your $400,000 house but you should be looking at $1 million homes.

From my understanding these REL subs compliment main speakers similarly to how most here recommend multi sub setups. They give a fuller and richer sound complementing what your main speakers are already doing, they are not going much beyond what your current speakers already do. I’ve been looking at them to supplement my Special 40’s and help pressurize my room better in the mid bass frequency range. Subterranean deep bass is great but reinforcing the mid bass frequencies are lacking in many systems and as I said before I’ve heard this very sub used with much more expensive Focals to do just that with incredible results! Maybe they should be considered mid bass drivers and not subs.




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Here you go, a whole page under $8k. https://www.funkaudio.ca/store/c14/Classic_Series.html

Hey if you buy a $5k amp may as well shop for an expensive and better performing sub than a lowly Rel!

So you prefer doubling up mid bass with these great speakers?

 

[TankTop5]

Here you go, a whole page under $8k. https://www.funkaudio.ca/store/c14/Classic_Series.html

Hey if you buy a $5k amp may as well shop for an expensive and better performing sub than a lowly Rel!

So you prefer doubling up mid bass with these great speakers?

It was over priced at $5,500 to begin with but $1,500 is a deal!

Not sure about doubling up mid bass yet but the theory should be the same as running 1 vs 2 vs 4 subs if you can tune them and get the phase correct. On the other hand I may need to move them from 18” to closer to 30” and feed them more power, 100 watts just may not be doing it.


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[lovinthehd]

It was over priced at $5,500 to begin with but $1,500 is a deal!

Not sure about doubling up mid bass yet but the theory should be the same as running 1 vs 2 vs 4 subs if you can tune them and get the phase correct. On the other hand I may need to move them from 18” to closer to 30” and feed them more power, 100 watts just may not be doing it.


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But he didn't mention it was used at first either keep in mind. I have no idea what you mean by "same as running 1 vs 2 vs 4 subs if you can tune them". If you're using bass management, perhaps, using the Rel method, no.

 

[slipperybidness]

Yeah, I don't understand why you would even want to use speaker level inputs when the amp has the line level/LFE inputs???

I also agree, that looks like a mid bass module, not a sub-woofer. That brings me to the question--Why the heck would you add that to the fantastic Focals!

I guess it's a different philosophy, but not the one for me.