REL Acoustics Gibraltar Series User manual

Operang Instrucons for the
Gibraltar
Sub-Bass
Systems

2
1 Read all of these instrucons.
2 Save these instrucons for future use.
3 Unplug from the wall socket before 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. Posion the power cord such that it can not be walked on.
9 For added protecon during a lightning storm, or when not in use for long periods of me, unplug it
from the wall socket.
10 Never spill any kind of liquid on the unit.
11 Do not aempt 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 condions:
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 operang instrucons.
d If the unit has been dropped and damaged.
e When the unit exhibits a drasc change in performance.
Warning
This item is heavy. To avoid risk of injury, take care when handling.
Design Safety
This apparatus is supplied with a detachable mains cord. For 230V operaon a 5A fuse is fied in the socket,
for 115V operaon a 10A fuse is fied. 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 Safeguards

3
Thank you for buying a REL Gibraltar Sub-Bass System. Gibraltar is carefully hand-built using the finest
materials available and is designed for maximum performance. This manual contains important safety
informaon as well as helpful advice and should be carefully studied before connecng the unit.
Many or most loudspeakers emphasize the mid-bass. This is the range from 50Hz to 90Hz. We at REL believe
this is an incomplete approach and that loudspeakers need to be supplemented in the lower frequencies for
true full range reproducon. All of our designs are true Sub-Bass Systems, meaning they are designed to
reproduce very low frequencies (below 30Hz) that are felt rather than heard. This is because we believe that
music is full-range, as are sound effects on movies, and we intend for our products to reproduce all of these
sounds, not just a narrow band.
Gibraltar is equipped to allow you to take full advantage of AC3, Dolby Digital, DTS, MPEG 2 and any
other digital sound format that includes a dedicated Low Frequency Effects (LFE) channel. The dedicated
LFE input meets the specificaon for digital 3/2.1 channels, usually known as 5.1. The output is nominally
flat from 35Hz – 90Hz. It has a dedicated input level control, which enables users to set the LFE level
independently of the processor. This is important because not all processors offer control over this significant
parameter. The LFE channel frequently outputs at levels 10dB higher than the other channels.
Gibraltar also has high-level speaker level inputs with independent level control. In high-level mode, input
signal is derived at the end of the amplificaon chain, producing the most natural and full expression of the
voice of the main system and allowing the REL to blend seamlessly with the main speakers. The high-level
inputs feature REL-D™ circuitry which allows connecon to class-D amplifiers without worry of grounding
problems. Uniquely, both the high-level and the LFE input can be used simultaneously. This means you may set
it up for an audiophile sound with your CDs or other stereo signals and instantly revert to using the Sub-Bass
System as the dedicated LFE component when watching movies. This is a feature of real benefit if you wish
to play music in stereo mode, in the purist audiophile way, and in full 5.1 digital mode. True flexibility!
Welcome to t e REL Family

Any design process is a journey. Please follow along as we share lessons gleaned from our three-year
journey culminang in the birth of a new ultra high performance range for REL Acouscs, Gibraltar™. The
REL design team’s goals for Gibraltar were to replicate the extraordinary performance of the much costlier
REL Studio III while reducing size and upgrading appearance. Addionally, the aim was to balance the
virtues of Gibraltar toward speed and power so that mulple units can be coupled together to exceed the
Studio’s performance.
T e Heart of t e Maer
Before beginning to refine the cabinet design or assign engineering resources to amplifier layout, it was
necessary to design and build the ideal driver for this applicaon. In its final iteraon, we selected a parcularly
ghtly wound true carbon fiber material that is extremely strong and lightweight. Reducing moving mass
produces superlave impulse response—a key design goal for Gibraltar. This parcular driver also needed
a long stroke (about 1-3/4”) in order to generate the volume required to underpin today’s high performance
main speakers.
A Rare Occasion W erein Bigger is Not Beer
Reducing size while maintaining extremely high levels of output, low distoron and lightning fast transient
speed influenced the decision to ulize a sealed cabinet. Though Studio III successfully employs an exoc
variaon of a vented enclosure, performance in a limited enclosure size is superior with a sealed design.
Sealing naturally places increasing resistance that acts to progressively limit driver excursion. Somemes
referred to as an “airspring,” it is a gentle mechanical aid to the necessary liming acon required to avoid
damage to the driver.
Gibraltar’s cabinet form is inspired by the design studies of a longme mentor, Franco Serblin, founder of
Sonus faber. The amount of refinement necessary in order to deal with the extreme pressure levels generated
by the backwave of our Gibraltar driver was an unancipated challenge. Extremely small variaons in the
basic shape of the cabinet resulted in evident changes in bass performance.
4
Introducon to t e Design of t e REL Gibraltar Sub-Bass Systems

5
Numerous versions of the cabinet were constructed and evaluated using test instruments and, in parcular,
the human ear. Extensive bracing runs the full internal height of each side panel, across the enrety of the
crucial top panel, and includes a single fore-and-a integrang brace much like the spars on a ship that
results in an exceponally quiet cabinet. Spacing of these spars is based on Fibonacci mulples, ensuring
that resonance cancellaon is spread across a multude of frequencies. The resulng performance delivers
exceponally low bass, replete with weight and authority, along with tremendous transient speed. The ulmate
performance of Gibraltar is only realized through precise cabinet form and precise assembly techniques.
Divide (Very Rapidly) and Conquer!
The input filter topology (crossover) used in Gibraltar is new and, to the best of our knowledge, the fastest
analog filter ever devised for a sub-bass system at about 4 milliseconds rise me. We ulize a second-order
Bessel funcon for preservaon of impulse response that crosses over as low as 20 Hz. Addionally, we
have a second filter placed at approximately 250 Hz that gently removes midrange and high frequencies
from the mix, but allows for maximum speed of the main filter within its operang range. Crossover is
tunable in 1 Hz increments.
Gain is adjustable for REL Reference High-Level connecon (preferred) or standard low level input from the
main preamplifier. In high-level mode, input signal is derived at the end of the amplificaon chain, producing
the most natural and full expression of the voice of the main system. This allows the REL to blend effortlessly
with the main speakers. Convenonal low-level connecon is also supported through rear panel RCA jacks.
Power Corrupts
Or so the saying goes. Actually, a lack of power is frequently what corrupts or limits the pure pistonic
performance of a sub. REL employs an expensive, but in our experience, ulmate circuit topology for
Gibraltar. A linear, Class AB power amplifier using 6 MOSFETs for the G-1 and four for the G-2 backed by
state of the art power supply and a power transformer with vast over-specificaon. Expensive? Yes,
unabashedly so. However, it is both the finest and most reliable design approach we know of for these
virtually military specificaon amplifiers. Execuon is absolutely first cabin including subtle touches such
as use of telecommunicaons grade printed circuit boards, high current output devices and ght
voltage regulaon.

56
REL Reference T eater Connecon
Gibraltar’s filter, operang completely independently of the primary crossover, provides for dedicated .1
inputs and crossover funcon. The pure Dolby® Labs .1 protocol is observed featuring a dedicated fourth-order
filter fixed at 120Hz. Connecon is via either XLR or RCA sockets for the .1 input. Gain is adjustable completely
independently of the high-level connecon.
When both the high and .1 input are employed it is possible to obtain the ulmate performance available
from soundtracks, as the main speakers are permied to run full range producing the most natural sound
from high quality speakers. The REL high-level connecon extends and supports the main speakers, turning
them into truly full-range devices while the dedicated .1 channel informaon encoded in the soundtrack is
fed to its own REL channel and gain can be perfectly set to extract maximum dynamics from a film. Truly the
best of all worlds.
A Tower of Gibraltar
Gibraltar is designed to allow mulple units to be used in conjuncon either as vercally stacked towers,
stereo pairs, or the ulmate set: vercal tower stacks of stereo subs. Stacked towers extend and strengthen
the performance. To render connecvity simple, Gibraltar provides both inputs and outputs for all connecons.
Thus, a stack of Gibraltar can be connected using only one cable from the main amplifier. In a .1 film sound
configuraon each channel will require a .1 cable as well, but addional units in a tower may be daisy-
chained to minimize cluer. Stacked Gibraltar subs have the ability to effortlessly energize even the largest
of salons with huge wavefronts of air, from the most delicate cello pizzicato to the most crushing of pipe
organs played at triple forte, Gibraltar possesses the ability to convey the musical event or film sound
spectacularly and with ease.
In summaon, Gibraltar delivers performance close to our internal reference unit—Studio III—at less than
half the cost when used singly. When used in mulples, especially when deployed in vercal towers of
stereo sub bass systems, Gibraltar’s performance is capable of outperforming this standard and, in musically
relevant terms, any other commercially available sub system we know of at the me of this wring.

7
REL G-1 Rear Panel Connecon Legend
124
7
6
3
58
10
9
1
23
5
4

8
1 .1/LFE Phono Input: Used to connect to the .1/LFE output of a surround-sound processor.
2 .1/LFE Phono Output: Used to connect or “daisy chain” another REL G-Series in tandem.
3 Le & Right Channel Low-Level Phono Input: Used to connect low-level signals to the sub-bass system from
the output of a preamplifier, integrated amplifier or receiver. (For home cinema use, use .1/LFE input).
4 Power Pilot Light: Power On/Off indicator.
5 .1/LFE Balanced Input: Balanced (XLR connector) version of .1/LFE Input. For use only with fully
balanced cables.
6 .1/LFE Balanced Output: Balanced (XLR connector) version of .1/LFE Output. For use only with fully
balanced cables.
7 High Level Input (Neutrik Speakon): Used to connect to the main front amplifier speaker terminals.
8 High Level Output (Neutrik Speakon): Used to connect or “daisy chain” another REL G-Series in tandem.
9 Power On/Off Switch: Use to turn unit on or off.
10 IEC Mains Socket: Fused mains (AC) input socket that accepts detachable power cord.
Remote Control
1 Crossover: Used to adjust crossover frequency. Variable between 20-90Hz.
2 .1/LFE Level: Used to adjust output level when using .1/LFE input from a surround-sound processor.
3 Hi/Lo Level: Volume control for HI/LO input. Use to adjust output when using either HI Level or LO Level
input. Do not use both simultaneously.
4 Phase: Used to set phase 0-180 degrees.
5 Security: Used to lock remote sengs. To extend baery life of the remote, always leave the toggle
switch in the locked posion when not in use.

Hig -Level Input: Connecons should be made to the same binding post on main amplifier as the main
speakers. Red to amplifier main right speaker red terminal, yellow to amplifier main le speaker red terminal
and black to amplifier main speaker black terminal, right or le but not both. Plug the Neutrik Speakon plug
into the HIGH-LEVEL Speakon socket.
.1 Input: This requires a phono-to-phono cable and is a dedicated true .1 channel. This circuit therefore
eliminates the normal Natural RollOff™ Crossover and passes the .1 low-level signal through with only the
required 120Hz fourth-order crossover. Single-ended or balanced inputs are available.
Low-Level Input: This stereo phono input allows for convenonal connecon to a preamplifier and should
be used in the rare event that a high-level connecon proves incompable. Plug one end into the low-level
output of the amplifier/processor and the other end into the stereo low-level inputs on the G-1.
P ase Switc
Used to set phase. Phase Switch on remote control is momentary. Refer to display for 0 or 180 degree status.
Phase selecon affects both highand lowlevel inputs.
LED Display
An LED display is located on the lower front of Gibraltar. All funcons that are user-adjustable via the remote
control can be seen here. The display reverts to off a few seconds aer adjustment.
9
Connecvity and Funconality

10
Remote Control Battery Installation
Gibraltar’s remote control unit requires two AAA baeries. These are not installed but are supplied. To
install or replace baeries in the remote control unit, first remove the boom aluminum cover by using the
supplied 2.5mm allen key to loosen the two visible screws. With the boom cover removed, you will see a
baery holder which will accept two AAA baeries. Follow the images on the holder for proper orientaon
of the baeries. Aer installing the baeries, test the unit by seng the SECURITY switch to UNLOCK and
turning one of the knobs. If the baeries are installed properly, you will see one of the red LEDs on the
remote control’s front panel illuminate. Replace the boom cover and ghten the two screws using the
supplied allen key. Baery life can be extended if the SECURITY toggle switch is le in the LOCK posion
when the remote control is not in use.
Remote Control Address Selecon
The remote control unit provides an address selecon funcon to allow mulple sub-bass systems to be
used in an audio system with a separate remote control for each. Addionally, if the remote control of the
Gibraltar interacts with any other piece of equipment in your system or if other remotes interact with your
Gibraltar, the address can be changed to avoid unwanted interacon.
Always switch off your system before disconnecng any wires. To increase the versality of connecng up,
Gibraltar has two separate stereo inputs: A Neutrik Speakon socket and two phono sockets. This is to facilitate
use with various system configuraons.
The highlevel, unbalanced, dualchannel stereo input uses a Neutrik Speakon connector which is connected
to the power amplifier’s le and right channel speaker terminals. This has the advantage of ensuring that the
REL receives exactly the same signal as the main speakers. This means that the character of the bass from
the main system is carried forward into the subbass. This is a very important point and together with REL’s
Acve Bass Controller ABC, ensures far superior system integraon of the subbass with the main system.
There are two RCA sockets for lowlevel connecon to the output of a stereo preamplifier or receiver. Another
single RCA socket connects to the .1/LFE output of a home cinema amplifier or processor.
Connecng Up

11
HIGHLEVEL and .1/LFE inputs can be used simultaneously. The benefits are twofold when used with a
home cinema system. The lowlevel input reproduces the .1 Sub/LFE channel and the highlevel connecon
underpins the main front speakers. The main front speakers should be set to the ‘large’ opon on the
processor. See the secon “REL Theater Refference™ Home Cinima Applicaons” P. 19 for more informaon.
Connecng to t e Power Amplifier Using t e Speakon Hig -Level Input
To engage the Neutrik Speakon plug, insert fully into socket and rotate clockwise unl locked. To remove the
Neutrik Speakon plug, grip body of plug, place thumb on chrome lever, move lever backwards, rotate plug
an-clockwise quarter turn and withdraw.
Standard Connecon
• The standard high-level hookup procedure is: aach the red wire to the amplifier’s right posive speaker
output terminal; aach the yellow wire to the amplifier’s le posive speaker output terminal; aach the
black wire to whichever of the amplifier’s ground output terminals is convenient; plug the Speakon connector
into the Sub-Bass System’s high-level input.
+ L – + R –
Amplifier Main Speaker O tp ts
Yellow
Black Red
S pplied Ne trik Speakon HIGH-LEVEL Interconnect
HIGH-LEVEL Inp t Release Lever

12
Differenal or Class-D Amplifier Connecon
• For differenal (i.e. fully balanced) amplifiers using one REL, simply use the standard connecng scheme
with the excepon of connecng the black wire to chassis ground (i.e. a metal bolt or screw, preferably
not painted or anodized, on the chassis of the power amp or receiver), not to a negave speaker terminal,
and then connecng into the HIGH-LEVEL INPUT on the REL. Please contact your dealer should there be
any quesons concerning this or any other hookup procedure.
Stereo Sub Connecon
• If connecng two RELs in a stereo configuraon, connect the black wire of each REL to the negave
speaker terminal of the corresponding amplifier channel; twist together the red and yellow wires of each REL
separately and connect each pair to the posive speaker terminal of the corresponding amplifier channel.
+ L – + R –
Yellow
Red
Black
Chassis Screw
S pplied Ne trik Speakon HIGH-LEVEL Interconnect
+
Amplifier Main Speaker O tp ts
+ L – + R –
Yellow
Red Black
Yellow
Red
Black
LeftS b RightS b
Spplied Ne trik Speakon HIGH-LEVEL Interconnect S pplied Ne trik Speakon HIGH-LEVEL Interconnect
Amplifier Main Speaker O tp ts

13
Dedicated Center C annel Sub Connecon
• If connecng a single REL as a dedicated center channel sub, connect the black wire of the REL to the
negave center channel speaker terminal; twist together the red and yellow wires and connect this pair
to the posive center channel speaker terminal.
Dedicated Rear Sub Connecon
• If connecng a REL as a dedicated rear channel sub, connect the black wire of the REL to either the le
rear or right rear negave speaker terminal; connect the yellow wire to the le rear posive speaker
terminal; connect the red wire to the right rear posive speaker terminal.
Low-level connecon (via phono connectors) is always an opon if high-level connecon is not possible.
When connecng to the low-level inputs in a system in which high-level connecon is not possible, such as
if using internally-amplified speakers, connect one end of a stereo phono cable to the LOW-LEVEL INPUT
jacks on the REL and connect the other end to the outputs of your preamplifier.
When connecng to a home cinema system where there is a .1/LFE channel output, connect a single phono
cable between the sub output of the processor/receiver and the .1/LFE input jack on the REL.
+ C –
Yellow
Red Black
S pplied Ne trik Speakon HIGH-LEVEL Interconnect
Amplifier Main Speaker O tp ts
+ RL – + RR –
Yellow
Black Red
S pplied Ne trik Speakon HIGH-LEVEL Interconnect
Amplifier Main Speaker O tp ts

14
Connecng Gibraltar Towers
For higher levels of low-frequency output, you may want to use mulple sub-bass systems. To facilitate this,
the Gibraltar uses a rear panel high-level connector to “daisy chain” units when stacked vercally or placed
next to each other.
This connecvity allows for the same amplifier output signal to easily feed mulple sub-bass systems. Simply
use the oponal cable (Speakon-to-Speakon) to connect from the “HIGH-LEVEL OUTPUT” of the first sub-bass
system to the “HIGH-LEVEL INPUT” of the second unit.
When “daisy chained” each sub-bass system retains its autonomy and each will need to have its output
level, crossover point, phase, etc adjusted individually. This arrangement provides unrestricted flexibility for
in-room integraon and fine-tuning of all audio parameters.
For mul-channel home cinema systems, the same procedure is followed except a phono-to-phono cable is
also used to connect the first sub-bass system “.1/LFE OUTPUT” to the “.1/LFE INPUT” of the second unit. As
is typical for REL, both high-level and .1/LFE inputs can be used together and adjusted independently offering
the ability to blend both signals to your taste.
To protect Gibraltar’s fine furniture grade cabinetry when stacking, oponal rails with felt coverings that
replace the metal feet are available. The kit contains all hardware necessary to aach the rails, as well as
a Speakon-to-Speakon cable for daisy-chaining.

15
Using t e Remote Control to Address Mulple Sub-Bass Systems
The address selecon is accessed on the remote control unit by removing the boom aluminum cover in
the same way as outlined in the secon “Baery Installaon”. Removing the cover will reveal a small rotary
switch labeled “ADDRESS” next to the baery holder. Factory seng is posion “0”. With the remote control
unit powered off (locked mode), this switch can be rotated using a small sloed screwdriver to select one of
sixteen possible address posions, “0” through “F”. Once a selecon has been made, replace the back cover
and turn the remote control unit on (unlocked mode). At this point the remote control will not operate the
subwoofer. In order to pair the remote control unit with the sub-bass system, point the remote control
unit’s emier at the LED display and hold the PHASE switch for 5 seconds. The LED under the CROSSOVER
control will flash once and the display on the sub-bass system will read “- - -” followed by a confirmaon
nong the selected address. The sub-bass system is now paired with the specific remote control unit and
will not funcon with a different remote. In a system with mulple sub-bass systems, change each address
one unit at a me with the sub-bass systems not being changed switched-off to avoid inadvertently changing
the addresses of mulple units.
REL products are not tradional subwoofers, but true Sub-Bass Systems. A REL is designed to augment the
performance of “full range” speaker systems in order to provide, in certain cases, linear response down to
below 12 Hz. Therefore, for the moment, set aside everything you’ve been taught about subwoofers and
how they are integrated into a stereo or home cinema system. Set-up and posioning of REL Sub-Bass Systems
differs from convenonal subwoofers. A REL will take advantage of physics and room acouscs to provide
deep pressurizaon as no tradional subwoofer can. It is important that you bring to the set-up process a
willingness to do things a lile differently in order to obtain these superior results. The end result of your
labors will be an uerly seamless integraon of true deep bass to a sound system, regardless of the main
speakers’ low bass capability.
Basic set-up should take no more than ten to fieen minutes to accomplish once connected.
REL Set-Up Made Simple

16
Before You Begin
• It is helpful to know that you will almost always connect the REL to the input on the rear panel labeled
“HIGH-LEVEL INPUT.” This connecon is made using the supplied 34’ 10” (10 meters) cable, the bare leads
of which connect to the speaker output terminals of the power amplifier. The easy and foolproof connecon
at the REL is done with a Neutrik Speakon connector. The purpose of connecng to the speaker output
terminals is one of the unique secrets of REL’s success. By connecng to the high-level input on the REL
from the amplifier, you build forward the sonic signature of your main system, including the tonal balance
and ming cues of the enre electronics chain. In this way, the REL is fed the exact signal that is fed to the
main speakers.
• When possible, the REL should be placed in one of the corners behind the speakers. Remember, we are
dealing with true LOW bass pressurizaon with RELs. Low bass pressurizaon below 40Hz is best derived
from corner placement, where the most linear and e cient low bass can be produced.
High-level connecon, using the enclosed cable with the Neutrik Speakon connector, is always the first
choice compared with low-level connecon. This connecon can be made without affecng the performance
of the amplifier because the REL’s amplifier input impedance is 150,000 ohms, in effect not producing any
addional demand whatsoever on the rest of your system. When connecng to a home cinema system
where a .1/LFE channel output is present, connect a single phono cable between the sub output of the
processor/receiver and the .1/LFE input jack on the REL.
Seng Up
1 Posioning: The opmal posion for a REL is in one of the corners behind the main speakers. This posion
provides 9 dB of mechanical amplificaon and allows for the most linear true low bass wave launch,
owing to the ability to tune the REL to the longest distance in the room in order to produce the longest,
therefore lowest, bass waves.
2 T e Process: To begin the set-up process, choose a piece of music that has a repeve bass line that is
very low in frequency. We recommend track 4 from the soundtrack to Sneakers (Columbia CK 53146).
This has a repeve bass drum throughout that gives you plenty of me to move the woofer around,
but more importantly, the venue was quite large for this recording and therefore it has a very deep and
large-scale bass signature. This type of track is perfect for the set-up process and should be played at the
highest reasonable level expected for system playback.

17
Working with a partner, one in the listening posion and one at the REL manipulang the controls, is
the most effecve and e cient way to set up the REL. If working alone, the inial steps in the set-up can
be very effecvely carried out from the locaon of the REL. Trying to ignore all other music in the track,
listen for the bass drum and its effect on the listening room.
3 P ase Orientaon: Once in the corner we need to adjust for phase. This may be the single most crical
step and, because it really is quite simple, it is oen over-thought. Keep in mind; the right phase is
whichever posion is the loudest or fullest. While playing music with true low bass, adjust the crossover
to a point where the REL and the speaker are sure to share frequencies (about halfway up or slightly
higher for smaller speakers). At this point turn the HI/LOW level control up so that both the REL and
speaker are roughly equal in volume and then switch, using the phase switch, from “0” to “180” phase
posions. Again, whichever posion is loudest or fullest is the correct posion. That is, when the posion
is working in harmony with your main speakers, reinforcing bass, and not cancelling it.
4 Placement: The next step is to determine precisely how far out from the corner the sub should be placed
to achieve the most e cient output, as well as the lowest frequency extension. With the REL fully into
the corner, and poinng straight out along the diagonal coming out of the corner, connuing to play the
music, slowly pull the REL from the corner on the diagonal, equidistant from both side and rear wall. At a
certain point (somemes a maer of only a few inches, in rare cases a foot or more) the REL will audibly
go lower, play louder and, if it truly locks-on to the room and is fully pressurizing it, the air around the
REL will seem to be energized. Stop right there! This is the correct posion from the corner for the REL.
5 Orientaon: Once the posion from the corner has been established, the orientaon of the woofer must
be determined by rotang the REL from an imagined center point at the rear of the REL. As the REL is
moved from one side to the other, listen for the greatest level of output and bass linearity. The REL
should be le in the posion where it is playing the loudest and lowest.
6 Crossover and Level Sengs: To determine the crossover point, take the volume of the REL (using the
HI/LOW Level control) all the way down, and put the crossover to 25 Hz. At this point, bring the REL’s
volume back up slowly to the point where you have achieved a subtle balance, i.e. the point at which
you can hear the REL even with the main speakers playing. Now, bring the crossover point up unl it
is obviously too high; at this point bring it down to the appropriate lower seng. For all intents and
purposes, this is the correct crossover point. Once this stage has been reached, subtle changes to volume

18
and crossover can be made to provide the last bit of complete and seamless integraon. With that,
set-up is complete.
Hint: There may be a tendency to set the crossover point too high and the volume of the Sub-Bass System
too low when first learning how to integrate a REL with the system, the fear being one of overwhelming the
main speakers with bass. But in doing so, the resulng set-up will be lacking in bass depth and dynamics. The
proper crossover point and volume se ng will increase overall dynamics, allow for extended bass frequencies,
and improve soundstage properes. Note, volume must be adjusted in conjuncon with crossover changes.
In general, when selecng a lower crossover point, more volume may need to be applied.
An Alternave Met od to Seng up Gibraltar
Whereas lesser REL designs make virtually exclusive use of corner posioning, Gibraltar may be set-up in
two different ways:
1 Tradional corner loading—this method connues to work well, especially in smaller and medium-sized rooms.
2 For large rooms and especially when used in large rooms with state of the art main speakers, experimenng
with coupling the Gibraltar(s) in close proximity to the mains, yet slightly behind and to the outside of
the mains can result in perfect integraon with ones’ main speakers.
If method 2 is selected, the listening cues involve using the same type of repeve, bass transients as are
customarily used for all REL set-up work (Sneakers). First, experiment with corner placement, if for any reason
this posion seems problemac proceed as follows. Carefully draw Gibraltar out from the corner bringing it
closer and closer to the main speaker, listen carefully for anchor points—those points of room boundary
reinforcement that inform you that the REL is working e ciently with the room. An opmal locaon within
approximately 18”-36” of the locaon of the main speaker should result in perfect, seamless coupling.
Essenally, Gibraltar is so powerful that room boundary reinforcement becomes less of a concern and the
listener/opmizer is free to focus virtually exclusively on speed, integraon and air with Gibraltar taking
care of all the slam and output necessary to obtain the desired REL effect.

19
REL T eater Reference™ Home Cinema Applicaons
For Dolby® Digital AC-3 or other 5.1 theater systems, once the standard set-up for two-channel outlined
above is complete, the LFE output from the processor or receiver should be connected to the .1/LFE INPUT
and appropriate volume adjustments made using the .1/LFE level control. For this configuraon, you must
set the processor to the “large” or “full range” seng for the le and right speakers in order for the REL to
receive the bass signal via the high-level cable. In this configuraon, the REL provides support for both the
le and right speakers for two-channel listening and support for the LFE when movies are playing. Most
processors will allow you to defeat the subwoofer output when listening in the two-channel mode. The
effect of this set-up is one of greatly increased dynamics in the mid-bass range, no bass bloat and a greater
degree of space and ming from the special audio effects.
REL T eater Reference 3D Bass™
While slightly more complicated than the basic REL Theater Reference scheme, use of three RELs produces a
number of noteworthy benefits and proves the most cost-effecve method of achieving professional Dolby®
5.1 standard bass performance. REL Theater Reference 3D Bass™ produces true full range performance
from the three primary zones of reproducon in theater sound resulng in a far more natural and immer-
sive experience than any single sub can produce.
1 The main le and right speakers should be connected to the primary REL using REL Theater Reference
connecon. This unit forms the foundaon of your theater system’s performance and so should be
perfectly matched to one’s main speakers.
2 In the rear corner (ideally that which is opposite the primary sub), connect a second REL to the rear
speakers using REL Theater Reference connecvity. The purpose of the rear channel REL is to ensure
proper front-to-rear balance and weight; too oen virtually all the power and weight in a theater comes
from the front and it produces unnatural weighng as well as hot spots. By placing a rear REL diagonally
opposite, bass transects the room on a tangent and has the effect of greatly smoothing overall in-room
response of your RELs. This unit need not be a duplicate of your primary REL; instead it should match
well with your surround speakers.
3 Connect a third REL to the center channel using only the HIGH-LEVEL connecon. This may be easily
accomplished by connecng directly to the connecon terminals on the rear of the center channel
speaker. To do so, first twist the red and yellow leads together and connect to the posive terminal, then