REL Acoustics  : HT/1508

Serie HT/1508 Predator™ is the standard bearer for REL’s rapidly growing home theatre-centric range of HT subs designed to emphasize exceptionally high output. Featuring a CarbonGlas™ 15” (380 mm) driver with fully 3” (150 mm) of fore-and-aft stroke, driven by a powerful 800w amplifier. Powerful, whilst remaining relatively compact, Predator is a game changer in the realm of large-scale theatre.

Redefining Power and Value

Predator is devastating when used in dedicated high powered home theater applications, but also transforms the serious gamer’s experience and partners beautifully with active wireless speakers for music reproduction. HT/1508 is a unique combination of lightweight, modern 15” CarbonGlas™ (380mm) driver, coupled to a powerful 800W linear power supply amp that runs cool, producing extraordinary dynamics and consumes merely 20 watts at idle. Internally, we developed specially adapted home theater input filters that produce extremely flat bass down into the low 20’s.

We designed the driver of the 1508 to be light and accurately reactive; theatre sound can and should be at times light, playful, funny and at times terrifying or awe-inspiring. Deep bass that reacts quickly and effortlessly to these changes during a film creates a much more satisfying experience of the medium than typical theatre subs can supply.

As with the entire HT range, Predator’s industrial design wastes nothing on ornamentation for its own sake and delivers a simple, yet satisfying, design that borrows themes of line-grained aluminium contrasting with a sophisticated, polished top surface. Instead of mere feet, Predator uses full depth rails necessary to better cope with the force it produces.

Design Is Everything

We’re known for building beauty in a category not known for it. But our designs do more than look good, substance integrates throughout Predator. If you see a design element, it accomplishes a function as well as delivers style. The 25mm top plate, beautifully finished in 5 coats of hand-rubbed lacquer, serves to damp vibration in the cabinet below. Within, a massive windowpane brace damps both side and inner cabinet walls, yet also does double duty supporting the heavy magnet of the driver. And the attractive (but easily wiped clean) cabinet surface looks like expensive line-grained aluminium, but instead is a tough, sexy composite that serves to keep costs reasonable.

Size Still Matters

At 15” and sporting 3” of fore and aft stroke, the core of Predator’s amazing performance centers around its driver. Film sound and music both benefit from quickness; fast drivers result in accurately tracing music’s peaks or a movie’s explosive special effects with equal facility.

Using a bonded composite of lightweight glass fibre for the cone’s body with an ultra-light carbon fibre center mass, REL’s designers have been able to pare excess weight away. The 1508’s cone weighs far less than our 10” driver of just a few short years ago. And this driver is built to last, with high quality materials throughout such as natural butyl surrounds that won’t dry out and fail like foam surrounds can.

Power Corrupts
800 Watts Corrupts Beautifully

Some may wonder why so much power is needed, but 800 watts RMS loafing along means Predator is rarely stressed. When the scene demands, having more than enough power means that the incredible output levels are delivered safely without risk of damage. The amplifier actually outputs peaks of around 1200 watts which makes for massive output. A traditional power supply is used with a huge 1.2KW transformer coupled to a Class D output stage meaning it runs efficiently. Predator demands only 20 watts of power consumption at idle; so little that most will simply leave it on all the time but when on holiday.

Stand and Deliver

HT/1508 Predator offers one more uniquely REL innovation. For truly over the top performance, Predators are designed to be stacked up to three (3) units high using included REL Couplers™ that connect lower units to upper units. These solid, milled aluminium couplers bolt securely to each sub and along with the substantial rails on the underside of each cabinet create an extremely heavy, sturdy tower of bass. When used in stereo stacks (6 total, 3 per side) it represents over 7000 watts of peak power forcing (6) x 15” drivers to give their utmost in the service of breathtaking bass delivered in oceanic torrents of bass.

HT-Air™
ZERO COMPRESSION WIRELESS COMPATIBLE

There is wireless and there is REL wireless. We are well-known for having the finest wireless purpose-built systems in the entire component audio world. Though HT-Air™ is affordable, it retains our corporate fixation on zero compression and maximum dynamics delivered via a 5.8 gigahertz network. HT-Air is designed to leave old fashioned Bluetooth-based systems in the dust, delivering latency in the 16-20 millisecond range. This permits owners to place their HT/1508 Predator where it works best for them without resorting to unsightly cables being strewn across the landscape of your living room, all while retaining our category-leading super-fast wireless.

สัมภาษณ์ John Hunter
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