What Hi-Fi? Verdict
If it’s a small, discreet subwooofer you’re looking for, then the REL will suit all your needs – but remember that rivals can go much deeper
Pros
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Nicely finished
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dynamic
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plenty of input options
Cons
- -
Size limits how deep it can go
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The REL T-Zero, the baby of the company's subwoofer range, measures way less than a cubic foot and weighs just 6.8kg, but packs a 16.5cm down-firing long-throw driver powered by a 100W class D amp – the first time such and amp has been used in a REL sub.
The company says it's designed for small rooms, near-field listening or for reinforcing micro-speakers, used under a desk or reinforcing a small system. To that end it uses a sealed cabinet for tight bass and the same stepped volume control and high-quality crossover electronics found in bigger REL models.
And it's flexible, too: it has line-level inputs, high-level speaker connections on a Neutrik SpeakOn socket, and a dedicated LFE/0.1 input, plus separate level controls for the line and LFE inputs, so you could set one for music listening and the other for movie action.
For its size, there’s quite a hefty sound coming through – and it goes very loud very easily.
At lower volumes, the bass is controlled, has good rhythm, and is decently defined, but when you turn it up to neighbour-baiting volumes, it starts to go a bit woolly, losing definition and edge.
For those who want a tiny sub, the T-Zero will be an attractive option. – but bear in mind that it doesn’t go as deep as you might want.
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