REL Acoustics Classic 99 Subwoofer

The larger sibling of the hit Classic 98, this symphony of mid-century charm uses a 12″ down-firing pulp driver and 450 W class-D amp. 

In keeping with the ever-growing retro-modern or “newstalgia” movement, REL brings back its mid-century subwoofer design but totally reimagined inside, blending the past’s aesthetics with today’s technological prowess and performance.

The Classic 98 was a huge hit, and the Classic 99 adds to that solid foundation with more power and deeper bass. With 450 watts driving a robust 12” paper-on-paper driver, Classic 99 not only plays louder and reaches deeper, but also adds layers of subtle textural enhancements that continuously impress. 

The Classic series stands outside of REL’s lines, offering a solution for anyone who owns and loves vintage audio gear, or its modern equivalents such as certain models from Klipsch, JBL, KLH, and more. REL Classic offers a slightly softer touch, delivering a broad carpet of room-filling bass. While it might trade off just a bit of the speed, clarity, and deepest bass that REL’s standard models are known for, it compensates with its inviting warmth.

Classic 99 beckons you to put on a record, pour a cherished drink, recline in a comfortable chair, and relax into the music. Its classic natural walnut veneer and mid-century modern styling complement a wide range of decors. It’s also easy to place and use.

Designed to Warm the Heart

Classic 99 adopts the language introduced in its model 98 stablemate. As comfortable as a pair of well-worn loafers, it features solid cabinet walls as thick as 32 mm, clad in rich, warm walnut veneer, hand-fitted with care. The simplest of natural aluminum badges and softly radiused feet milled from solid billet, blacked out to allow it to seemingly float, ensure that nothing, not even a grille disturbs the vibe.

The down-firing 12” driver, while unseen, will surely be felt. Continuing to the rear panel, one finds the period-correct detailing extends to the amplifier panel, where all controls are finished in lovely white gold. Everything that one encounters has the heft of quality switch gear, even the click made by the phase switch is near perfection. Quality abounds everywhere one looks or touches.

A Bespoke Driver

REL always begins with the driver. In this case, a bespoke 12” long-stroke driver uses lightweight, stiff, hot-pressed paper to form the main body of the cone. Laid atop that is a stiff center cap made of hand-thrown paper; to randomize the fibers, ensuring that the driver has excellent self-damping.

Whilst Classic 99 will play shatteringly loud, it’s from the very black background that the loudest dynamics emerge to produce the sense of shock sought by great composers and directors.

More Than Ample Amplification

Classic 99 is big, bold, and full of character, similar to the Stentor II of our youth, but at one-third the price. In order to generate deeper bass and significantly higher output, REL turned to a tried-and-true class-D amplifier used in thousands of previous units.  This 450 W amplifier is fed by an all-analog PerfectFilter™ front end that extends useful output well into the low 20 Hz range–superb for a design of this size and price. It produces a sound that’s both rich and richly detailed at the same time. Classic 99 borrows the best from current technology to deliver a sound slightly warmer and more like what we all imagine vintage sound to be, with superior reliability and performance than was ever available back in the day.

Loss-less, compression-less wireless performance can be added with the optional Airship II or HT-Air MKII.

Specifications

Type: Closed box, down-firing active driver

Active driver: 12″ (305 mm) amended pulp-on-paper inverted cone, steel chassis

Passive driver: None

Low-frequency extension (-6 dB): 27 Hz

Inputs: High-level Neutrik Speakon, Low-level single RCA, LFE RCA

Power output: 450 W RMS

Wireless: HT-Air MKII Wireless or AirShip II, sold separately

Dimensions (WHD): 15.75″ x 21″ x 13.8″

Weight: 49.3 lb.