REL R-505 Owners manual

Owner’s Manual

R-Series

SUB-BASS SYSTEMS

R-205, R-305, R-505

REL Acoustics Limited

North Road, Bridgend Industrial Estate

Bridgend, CF31 3TP

United Kingdom

Telephone: [phone]

Fax: [phone]

Web: www.rel.net

REL R-Series Owner’s Manual 3

Contents

Important Safeguards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4

Warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4

Welcome . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5

World Wide Warranty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5

Service After Warranty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5

Design Safety . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6

Important . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6

Introduction to the R-Series Sub-Bass System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7

Control Features of REL R-Series . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8

Disconnecting Wires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9

Connecting Up . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10

Neutrik Speakon High Level Input . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10

High Level Interconnect . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10

Low Level Input Connection Using Phono to Phono Interconnect . . . . . . . . . . . .11

.1/LFE Input Connection Using Phono to Phono Interconnect . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11

Phase Switch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11

REL Set-Up Made Simple . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12

Two Things Before You Begin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12

Connecting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13

Positioning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13

The Process . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14

Running In . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15

Care and Polishing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16

Technical . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16

Overload Protection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16

PowerSaving Efficiency . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17

REL R-Series Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18

4 REL R-Series Owner’s Manual

Important Safeguards

1 Read all of these instructions.

2Save these instructions for future use.

3 Unplug from the wall socket before cleaning. Do not use liquid cleaners or aerosol

cleaners. Use a damp cloth for cleaning.

4 Do not use near water.

5 Do not place on a stand or table; it may fall causing injury to a child or adult, and

damage to the unit.

6 The unit should only be operated from the power source indicated on the panel

of the amplifier.

7 Only use the power cord supplied.

8 Do not allow anything to rest on the power cord. Position the power cord such

that it can not be walked on.

9For added protection during a lightening storm, or when not in use for long

periods of time, unplug it from the wall socket.

10 Never spill any kind of liquid on the unit.

11 Do not attempt to service the unit yourself, as removing the amplifier may expose

you to dangerous voltages. Refer all servicing to your dealer.

12 Unplug the unit from the wall socket and refer servicing to your dealer under

the following conditions:

a When the power cord or plug is damaged.

b If liquid has been spilled onto the unit.

c If the unit does not operate properly by following the operating instructions.

d If the unit has been dropped and damaged.

e When the unit exhibits a drastic change in performance.

Warning

This item is heavy. To avoid risk of injury, take care when handling.

REL R-Series Owner’s Manual 5

Welcome

Thank you for buying a REL R-Series Sub-Bass System. Our R-Series is carefully
hand built using the finest materials available and is designed for maximum
performance. This manual contains important safety information as well as helpful
advice and should be carefully studied before connecting up.

World Wide Warranty

In addition to any local warranty, REL offer a 3-year conditional worldwide warranty to
the end user. It is done in collaboration with our distributors.

The conditions of this warranty are:

1 That REL receive the necessary registration details from the end user.

2 That these details are received within six weeks of purchase.

3 That the product is not exported from the country of purchase for at least eight

weeks after purchase.

4 That any claim is accompanied by the necessary proof of purchase.

5 That it shall be for a term of 3 years from the date of purchase.

6 That the product has not been abused or modified in any way.

7 That it was purchased originally from a REL authorized dealer.

This warranty is offered in good faith and is in addition to any statuary rights or existing
warranty that may be available to the end user.

Should your REL Sub-Bass System give you a problem, please contact your dealer
who will be able to make whatever arrangements are necessary to correct it.

Service After Warranty

All service must arranged through a authorized REL dealer. Should the unit need to be
returned for any reason, all carriage costs will be payable by the customer. Losses or
damage caused during transit are the customer's risk.

6 REL R-Series Owner’s Manual

Design Safety

This apparatus is designed to Class II specification and is double insulated,
therefore it does not require to be earthed.

This apparatus is supplied with a fitted mains plug. For North American operation a

3.15 Amp fuse is fitted in the plug. Should the fuse need to be replaced use a similar
rated fuse approved to ASTA or BSI 362. Do not use without the fuse cover in place.
Replacement fuse covers are available from your distributor.

Important

The wires in the mains lead are coloured in accordance with the following code:

Green and Yellow – Earth

Blue – Neutral

Brown – Live

As the colours of the wires in the mains lead may not correspond with the markings
identifying the terminals in the replacement mains plug, proceed as follows:

– The wire coloured Green and Yellow must be connected to the terminal

marked with the letter "E" or with the earth symbol.

– The wire coloured Blue must be connected to the terminal marked with

the letter "N".

– The wire coloured Brown must be connected to the terminal marked with

the letter “L".

This product is CE marked and has been tested to ensure it satisfies all
relevant standards.

It satisfies all relevant standards for Conducted Emissions, Radiated Emissions,
Susceptibility and Immunity.

It also complies with the requirements relating to class II construction detailed in
clauses 9 & 10 of BS EN 60065 1994.

It also satisfies all relevant safety tests for consumer use provided it is used within
the guidelines of this manual.

REL R-Series Owner’s Manual 7

Introduction to the R-Series Sub-Bass System

Congratulations, and thank you for purchasing a REL Sub-Bass System, the finest and
most innovative audio component in its class. This new R-Series is distinctive not only
for its shockingly deep, musical bass, but also for its unique ability to perform as a
complement to your main speakers in both music and film applications, as well as a
dedicated speaker for the critical low frequency effects (LFE) channel or the .1 in 5.1
track contained in most multi-channel soundtracks. It is for these reasons that we
cannot simply call it a subwoofer, but instead a Sub-Bass System, providing home-cinema
bass which will surpass most cineplexes, and moreover allowing your speakers to
sound more realistic, musical, and alive.

We have achieved this objective by allowing for two simultaneous connections: one
at high (speaker) level, and one at low level. The high level connection attaches to the
same speaker terminals on your amplifier (or receiver) to which your main left and right
speakers are connected – the speakers and the REL simply share the same binding
posts. This allows the REL to receive the exact same signal as your main speakers,
allowing for a seamless integration of the REL into your system. This connection is
active every time a signal is going to these speakers, whether you are enjoying
2-channel music or experiencing a multi-channel source such as a DVD or music in
a surround-sound format. The result is a surprisingly noticeable improvement to the
performance of your speakers – not only will they be supported by a Sub-Bass System
capable of reproducing extremely low frequencies, but they will be able to reproduce
the nuances of space and weight in the recording, allowing for an enhancement to the
imaging, soundstage, midrange, and even high frequency reproduction of your system.

Furthermore, a separate but concurrent .1/LFE connection is offered, allowing the REL
to receive the LFE track, which is a channel intended by the recording engineer to be
exclusively reproduced by a subwoofer. The REL is designed to allow this track to be
conveyed in its entirety; the crossover settings designated for the high-level connection
are bypassed for the .1/LFE input. Moreover, there is a separate volume control
permitting the level to be adjusted independently of the high-level connection.

By effectively acting in a dual-role, the REL will significantly add to your music and
film experience. To further enhance this effect, additional REL Sub-Bass Systems can
be used to support the centre and surround speakers. Imagine the same enhancements
to range, detail, and scale achieved by using a REL to support the main left and right
speakers expanded to your entire system; by adding REL Sub-Bass Systems to the other
speakers you will achieve an enormous and immersive surround sound experience.

Due to the novel and powerful capabilities of this product, it is especially important that
you read through this manual in its entirety, in order to realize the full potential of the
REL and connect it accordingly.