Would this be a thrift store score of the year? (Subwoofer)
ROHfan
Posts: 1,014
The wife and I went to this warehouse garage sale place today that I found on CL under the title, "Speakers Galore." I figured a road trip was in order because who knows? I thought I might find a diamond in the rough.
So I'm looking around and they had exactly what I was expecting: used HTIB's, a couple of old boombox speakers, some old cubes, some mismatched in-walls, some very old stereo receivers, all crap. I was starting to feel like this was a waste of time, like it almost always had been in the past, but I can never resist the allure of that elusive major audio find.
Behind all the crap speakers, the old network routers, the hair dryers and tie-racks and underneath a table I noticed what looked like a heat sink nestled in there amongst the garbage. I moved all the old dusty subs and boomboxes away to get to it and finally was able to pull it out. It was a heat sink--attached to a down-firing sub with an impressive back panel with gold RCA inputs and a high-level speakon input. It was an 8" down-firing driver with a front passive radiator. The words, "Theater Reference" was imprinted amongst the input jacks. This thing looked and felt expensive at about 30 lbs. The "knock test" revealed that this thing was solid and very well-braced. The only thing was I had never heard of the company before.
I asked the guy how much and he says, "gimme 15." I says, "I'll give you five, the legs are missing." He says," Ahhhh, okay." I thought if it even powered up it would probably be worth the five since the driver was really hefty and the surrounds looked brand new. I could always figure out a use for the components, too, since they seemed of high quality.
I gave the guy his money, took the foreign sub home and googled it. "REL T3." Here's the one I scored, on top, for five dollars:
http://www.sumikoaudio.net/rel/prod_t3.htm
No power cord and no fuse, no prob. The strange looking legs were nowhere to be found, i guess they were taken off at one point, so I'll have to fabricate something.
Has anyone here heard this thing? I was going to give it to my son for his 2ch computer system but he may now have to arm-wrestle me for it if it sounds as good as the reviews. I'll post back once I give this baby a test drive.
So I'm looking around and they had exactly what I was expecting: used HTIB's, a couple of old boombox speakers, some old cubes, some mismatched in-walls, some very old stereo receivers, all crap. I was starting to feel like this was a waste of time, like it almost always had been in the past, but I can never resist the allure of that elusive major audio find.
Behind all the crap speakers, the old network routers, the hair dryers and tie-racks and underneath a table I noticed what looked like a heat sink nestled in there amongst the garbage. I moved all the old dusty subs and boomboxes away to get to it and finally was able to pull it out. It was a heat sink--attached to a down-firing sub with an impressive back panel with gold RCA inputs and a high-level speakon input. It was an 8" down-firing driver with a front passive radiator. The words, "Theater Reference" was imprinted amongst the input jacks. This thing looked and felt expensive at about 30 lbs. The "knock test" revealed that this thing was solid and very well-braced. The only thing was I had never heard of the company before.
I asked the guy how much and he says, "gimme 15." I says, "I'll give you five, the legs are missing." He says," Ahhhh, okay." I thought if it even powered up it would probably be worth the five since the driver was really hefty and the surrounds looked brand new. I could always figure out a use for the components, too, since they seemed of high quality.
I gave the guy his money, took the foreign sub home and googled it. "REL T3." Here's the one I scored, on top, for five dollars:
http://www.sumikoaudio.net/rel/prod_t3.htm
No power cord and no fuse, no prob. The strange looking legs were nowhere to be found, i guess they were taken off at one point, so I'll have to fabricate something.
Has anyone here heard this thing? I was going to give it to my son for his 2ch computer system but he may now have to arm-wrestle me for it if it sounds as good as the reviews. I'll post back once I give this baby a test drive.
TV: 65" Samsung QLED 4K
Fronts: Energy RC70 --- Center: Energy RC-LCR
Front Heights: Polk RC65i --- Rears: Polk RC85i --- Sub: Power Sound Audio XS15
Pioneer VSX-1120K --- Parasound HCA-1000A --- Oppo BDP-103
Vincent Audio SA31 preamp --- Teac UD301 DAC
AIYIMA Tube T7 preamp --- Nobsound 12AX7 tube preamplifier
Fronts: Energy RC70 --- Center: Energy RC-LCR
Front Heights: Polk RC65i --- Rears: Polk RC85i --- Sub: Power Sound Audio XS15
Pioneer VSX-1120K --- Parasound HCA-1000A --- Oppo BDP-103
Vincent Audio SA31 preamp --- Teac UD301 DAC
AIYIMA Tube T7 preamp --- Nobsound 12AX7 tube preamplifier
Post edited by ROHfan on
Comments
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REL makes really nice subs that tend to blend better than others. Nice score.
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Nice score. REL sub for $5.
BTW, Your signature needs a revision. Sharp never made a 53" Quattron
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Nice score. REL sub for $5.
BTW, Your signature needs a revision. Sharp never made a 53" Quattron
Fixed.TV: 65" Samsung QLED 4K
Fronts: Energy RC70 --- Center: Energy RC-LCR
Front Heights: Polk RC65i --- Rears: Polk RC85i --- Sub: Power Sound Audio XS15
Pioneer VSX-1120K --- Parasound HCA-1000A --- Oppo BDP-103
Vincent Audio SA31 preamp --- Teac UD301 DAC
AIYIMA Tube T7 preamp --- Nobsound 12AX7 tube preamplifier -
REL Acoustics...out of the U.K.
I've seen them online before.
I don't think they have U.S. distributors.
http://www.rel.net/index.htm
Lotsa people confuse them with RE Audio: http://www.reaudio.com/index.php
Not the same though.
It appears the only place to get them is Sumiko.
They aren't cheap and they get rave reviews in Europe. They sure are purty too!
But even their entry level T-5 sub is $600. Looks like you snagged yourself a pretty good deal if all you have to do is get a new power cord and fuse. I'd have it checked out though and make sure that amp isn't borked more than it seems. It's an amp. Any competent electronics repair place should be able to give it a once over. If it is broke, You'll have to blow more that $594 in repairs to make it not worth while.Expert Moron Extraordinaire
You're just jealous 'cause the voices don't talk to you! -
Great find!Linn AV5140 fronts
Linn AV5120 Center
Linn AV5140 Rears
M&K MX-70 Sub for Music
Odyssey Mono-Blocs
SVS Ultra-13 Gloss Black:D -
Looks like you snagged yourself a pretty good deal if all you have to do is get a new power cord and fuse.
Installed a power cord and fuse and it checks out OK. Powers up, all knobs/switches work as they should. Need to do some fabricating first before really testing. As I stated earlier I have to come up with something for the legs because they were missing when I bought it.TV: 65" Samsung QLED 4K
Fronts: Energy RC70 --- Center: Energy RC-LCR
Front Heights: Polk RC65i --- Rears: Polk RC85i --- Sub: Power Sound Audio XS15
Pioneer VSX-1120K --- Parasound HCA-1000A --- Oppo BDP-103
Vincent Audio SA31 preamp --- Teac UD301 DAC
AIYIMA Tube T7 preamp --- Nobsound 12AX7 tube preamplifier -
I think you did very well! Fyi, Best Buy was carrying them for a while.
http://reviews.bestbuy.com/3545/9337666/rel-t-3-150-watt-powered-subwoofer-cherry-reviews/reviews.htm -
I just picked up a pair of sda 2b in perfect shape with cable for 20 bucks, lol.. it was a donation, i saw them unloading from car at the thrift store and they didnt even make it to the store
Hello Kitty am/fm CD player -
Sumiko is a US Dist.REL Acoustics...out of the U.K.
I've seen them online before.
I don't think they have U.S. distributors."He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you." Friedrich Nietzsche -
Sumiko is a US Dist.
Yeah, I know, sport. If you read my ENTIRE post instead of just the snippet you took, you'd see that.Expert Moron Extraordinaire
You're just jealous 'cause the voices don't talk to you! -
Tl;dr."He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you." Friedrich Nietzsche
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Sal Palooza
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Nice subwoofer but I wouldn't call it the score of the year. Enjoy.CTC BBQ Amplifier, Sonic Frontiers Line3 Pre-Amplifier and Wadia 581 SACD player. Speakers? Always changing but for now, Mission Argonauts I picked up for $50 bucks, mint.
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RELs are great subs. really "sub-bass" systems. I own a REL Stadium III and it's the best sub I've ever owned. I'd love to get another. They are meant to be crossed over somewhere <40 cycles. They are lauded as being some of the most musical subs available, and from my experience, I agree. Mine has an F3 of 16Hz and has a single 10" driver. The bass is so clean, and has as much impact as my Titanics.design is where science and art break even.
