REL Acoustics Carbon Special
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We offer free 2-day shipping on most products within the continental US.
Weekdays - Orders placed by 2pm EST ship same day. Orders placed after 2pm EST will ship the following business day.
Weekends - Orders placed on Saturday and Sunday will ship Monday.
Orders requiring motor freight delivery may take more than two business days. Once your order has shipped, you'll receive a shipping confirmation email with a tracking number for easy tracking.
Orders that contain items that are currently backordered, special order, or out of stock will ship complete once all items are in-stock unless otherwise requested.
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At this time, we do not ship internationally and orders to Hawaii and Alaska may incur an additional shipping charge. Please contact us at 888.899.8776 or email support@audioadvice.com to confirm.
Rerouting and Address Changes
We cannot make ANY address changes once an order is placed. If you are unable to accept delivery of your package as ordered, we will need to cancel your order, return the package to sender and have you replace your order through our website.
Keep the Box
We suggest you keep the shipping box or boxes for at least 30 days. It is actually a great idea to keep boxes for audio products for the life of the product. Having the box and all packing will increase the trade-in value should you decide to move up and they are handy to have should you ever need to send the unit in for repair.
How To Receive a Motor Freight Order
The trucking company will contact you to schedule a convenient time to deliver the order. Please note that you must be present for delivery.
Visually inspect the box to make sure you see no signs of damage. If you notice any damage at all, take some pictures with your phone and make a note of them on the delivery receipt the driver will ask you to sign. If it is obvious that the product is damaged, please refuse the order and contact us immediately at 888.899.8776 or email support@audioadvice.com.
Open your box as soon as possible and inspect the product for damage and contact us if you find anything wrong.
uShip In-Home Delivery
Due to current concerns surrounding COVID-19, uShip is able to offer THRESHOLD SERVICE ONLY at this time. To ensure everyone’s safety, uShip is advising carriers to refrain from making room-of-choice deliveries. Threshold service consists of the shipment being brought into the first door of the address or the lobby of an apartment/condo, and does not include set-up, installation, assembly or debris removal.
What to Expect: Most oversized items will be delivered within 2-3 weeks. Your carrier will place your item inside the first door of the address or the lobby of an apartment/condo.
Appointment Scheduling: Your delivery partner will call 24-48 hours prior to delivery to arrange an appointment window.
How to prepare for in-home delivery:
- Determine the clearest path from the street to your home
- Measure entrances and hallways to ensure your item will fit
- Remove any wall hangings or clutter to ensure a clear path and to prevent damages
- Remove old furnishings to allow placement for your new piece
Check your furniture for damages: We rarely expect damaged furniture, but in the instance it does happen, we have you covered. Once your item’s packaging is removed, check for any damages that may have occurred in transit. Take pictures of any damages and notate appropriately on the delivery receipt. Keep possession of the damaged piece and contact us via phone or email and we’ll start the process to repair/replace your new piece of furniture. For uShip customer support, please call 800-698-7447.
At Audio Advice, we pride ourselves on customer satisfaction. We'll bend over backward to make sure you're 100% satisfied and we won't accept anything less. We offer 30-day hassle-free returns and personalized service from real, live people.
If an item doesn't meet your expectations, you may return or exchange it in its original condition and packaging within 30 days for a full refund, minus shipping fees. Items shipped back in like new condition through standard shipping carriers will only incur a flat fee of $15 to return. If the items were initially shipped through free scheduled delivery via motor freight (commonly referred to as LTL), returning them will result in return shipping fees starting at $150. These items include but are not limited to, oversized items such as TVs, certain subwoofers, floorstanding speakers, furniture, and most items weighing over 75 pounds. Return fees will also apply for exchanges. We want to treat your system as if it is our own and want you to be completely satisfied with your purchase.
Please see the instructions below. We only accept returns for any product purchased directly from our website. If merchandise is not returned in its original condition or is missing packaging, manuals, accessories or other parts, or the resale value of the product has been impaired, a partial refund will be given and calculated on a case-by-case basis.
Non-Returnable Items
The following items cannot be returned or cancelled:
- Special/Custom Order Items
- Open Box Products
- Gift Cards
- In-ear headphones cannot be returned once the packaging has been opened due to personal hygiene reasons. Please contact our customer care team if you'd like help choosing.
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Turntables With a Broken Stylus: All turntables ship out with the stylus intact. If you return a turntable or phono cartridge with a broken or missing stylus you will be subject to a return fee. Please be careful when setting up your turntable and contact us with any questions.
Is It Easy To Return An Item?
Yes, simply give us a call at 888.899.8776 or you can email our support team at support@audioadvice.com. Many times our team of experts can help figure out why the product might not be working like you expected and get things fixed over the phone, so don’t be surprised if we ask a few questions, we love troubleshooting!
If our tech help can not make you happy, we will email over a return shipping label with a Return Number.
Hopefully, you saved all of the original item’s box and packaging inserts. You will want to pack back up your return or exchange in the same way it came out of the original box. Once you have everything packaged correctly, tape the box on the top and bottom to assure it stays together. If Audio Advice shipped the item to you inside a second box, it's a good idea to use that same extra box to help prevent damage on its way back to us. To avoid it accidentally coming back to you, use a magic marker to cross out the old shipping label or just tear it off.
The return shipping label we send you will have our address on it, just make sure you take the box to the right shipper (UPS, FEDEX, or USPS) as per the label.
If you are close to one of our stores, please let us know if it is more convenient for you to return it to us directly. You will still need to get a return number by contacting us and shipping and/or restocking charges may apply.
When Will I See My Refund?
It usually takes around 7-14 days for the refund to show up on the payment method you used. We do inspect all returns for damage and accuracy of the item inside the box before issuing a refund. Some items may be subject to shipping and restocking fees.
Can I Exchange My Purchase For Something Different?
Sometimes those big speakers just don’t fit in the room or you might have bought a small subwoofer and later found out you’d love a bigger one. If you would like to make an exchange within 30 days of receiving your item, just give us a call at 888.899.8776 or email support@audioadvice.com and we will help work out the details. Additional shipping charges and return costs may apply.
How Do I Cancel An Order?
If the item has already shipped out or is a special order item, it is not possible to cancel the order. Please contact us at 888.899.8776 or email support@audioadvice.com to start the return process.
What If I Find Shipping Damage?
We need to know right away about any shipping damage. Please contact us at 888.899.8776 or email support@audioadvice.com within 48 hours of your delivery so we can get the ball rolling on making things right. It’s very helpful to take some pictures and email them to us if possible.
Can I Refuse A Shipment?
You can, but unless the item is damaged, shipping and restocking fees will be deducted from your refund. If your item arrives damaged and you are lucky enough to be there, snap some quick pics and refuse the order. Then contact us so we can get a replacement on the way.
What Happens If My Order Is Defective?
This is actually pretty rare, most consumer electronics work fine out of the box 99.9% of the time. We’d like for you to contact us first by calling 888.899.8776 or email support@audioadvice.com so we can help get to the bottom of things. If your item is indeed defective during the first 30 days, we can usually exchange it for a new, replacement unit.
What About Service After 30 Days?
Audio Advice has a great relationship with all of our brands and can help you with warranty service by the brand after our 30-day guarantee period. Even after the warranty expires, we can arrange for service by the brand on products purchased from Audio Advice. Just call 888.899.8776 or email support@audioadvice.com.
How Do You Determine A Restocking Fee?
You may not believe it, but sometimes we receive items back that were put in the box with zero packaging and are completely destroyed or are missing many of the pieces that came with the item. We also track serial numbers and will get back different serial numbers. We’ve even seen different items than what we shipped out be returned. However, it’s very important to package your return properly so that nothing goes missing or gets damaged in shipping, which will result in a restocking fee or even no refund at all. If a product is opened and the market value of the product is reduced, then a restocking fee may be applied to the cost of restocking and the reduced market value of the product. The bottom line is if you treat us fairly, we will do the same.
Audio Advice strives to provide industry-leading support and service while also maintaining the lowest prices available on products for our customers. We work hard with our vendors to bring our customers the best products at each price point. As a part of that process, we work with our vendors to provide the lowest pricing in our stores and on our website.
Our prices should always be the same as any other authorized dealer, including big-box retailers and major online retailers.
If you believe that you have found a lower advertised price from a legitimate authorized seller, call us and let us know so we can make sure we can correct any inadvertent error on our side. As a matter of policy, we update our prices automatically if a vendor changes its authorized pricing policies, so we generally have the best prices all the time. Increasingly, there are knock-off copies of products online, usually sold by non-authorized dealers.
Please be sure that the item meets the following conditions:
- The item is brand new, in stock, and available for purchase
- The item has the identical model number, color, etc as the item on our site.
- The seller is an authorized dealer
As always, our goal is to provide a terrific customer experience, including industry low prices. We appreciate your support.
Overview
Carbon Special is a new limited availability model that combines REL's latest engineering with cutting edge components from their reference line, all housed in a moderately sized chassis. It features REL's third-generation carbon fibre 12” driver with a new, bespoke CSP passive driver that delivers 50% longer stroke, powered by their up to 1,000 watt amplifier, itself guided by their CS PerfectFilter. An all-new cabinet with highly polished metal and carbon fibre touches appears only in this model.
Carbon Special: Reference Performance, Modest Size
Where previous special editions have used existing cabinets, drivers and filters, Carbon Special uses many elements developed solely for Carbon Special. REL employed their newest BlackWidow 12”(350mm) carbon fibre driver, developed to deliver superior dynamic balance throughout the full range of its considerable 4”(100mm) of fore-and-aft stroke. It is better able to handle, smoothly and effortlessly, the massive power needed to deliver explosive dynamics. REL mated it with their NextGen 5 up to 1,000 watt amplifier which has proven to be both a sonic wonder and utterly reliable. Directing all this is a CS PerfectFilter, a custom-designed variant of REL's latest evolution of filters that improves both ends of the spectrum. It delivers airy, delicate highs with greater reach into the nether regions within a soundstage, as well as truer, more powerful ultra-low bass delivery. If it sounds too good to be true, it almost is.
REL didn’t stop there. The cabinet extends deeper than previous mid-chassis designs to optimize performance for this new driver complement. And its looks are delivered in a refined, mature manner with subtle use of carbon fibre details sprinkled among chrome and polished stainless accents. They predict Carbon Special will become one of the highest demand ultra-high performance subwoofers of all time.
CS PerfectFilters: Elevating Low Bass Performance and Overall Clarity
Perfect is not a word REL throws around lightly but these latest filters are so good they require its use. REL's PerfectFilters elevate the low bass performance to a new standard for a mid-chassis design, while subtle tweaks to its upper range performance allow for an airier, more transparent soundstage and improved clarity throughout the entire system’s performance. It is impossible to overstate its benefit to a fine audio system and all benefits that accrue to its musical performance go on to expand its merits in power theatre. A true two-for-one upgrade.
Sound Beyond Its Size: Inspired by the G/1 MK II
The key to Carbon Special’s amazing performance is its new BlackWidow 12”(350mm) forward firing active driver. Carbon fibre grabs the headlines with its ultra-lightweight and tough, resilient nature. Carbon fibre, while light, has excellent self-quieting properties that allow for far greater dynamics because the driver itself is so quiet. This generation 3 version features a much larger surround to better allow the explosiveness needed to set itself apart from the pack. The inner suspension was re-tuned to take advantage of this and the result, found only here and upcoming versions of the G-1 MK II is a 12” that hits like a heavyweight but reacts like a much smaller driver.
Now Hear This: NextGen5 1000W Digital Amplifier
Power matters, and especially when REL's CS PerfectFilter demands more from the driver, additional power is crucial. This is why they placed the heart of their flagship No.25 amplifier into Carbon Special. At up to 1,000 watts, it has the current reserves to easily keep up with the demands placed upon it by even the most rigorous user. Carbon Special is capable of startling the listener, used in dual duty for both theatre and music its merits are immediately obvious in music which can lull the theatre aficionado into complacency, only to be yanked out of any sense of normalcy when a huge, unexpected transient explodes without warning. Think Pierce Brosnan’s 007 using plastique at work here.
Totally Stacked Performance: The REL Line Array
REL’s signature gift to the art of sub bass performance is undoubtedly their Reference Line Arrays, wherein three units per side are stacked vertically. This arrangement was practically invented for subs with the deportment of Carbon Special. For those who always dreamed of owning a REL Reference Line Array but were denied it because of their size, your ship has arrived.
Without Wire’s Snarl: AirShip Wireless Connectivity
Carbon Special works brilliantly with AirShip, REL's state of the art wireless that transports sound invisibly with none of the compromises of conventional wireless. Available optionally, and at reasonable expense with Carbon Special. While most wireless compresses horribly, Airship uses military grade 5.8Ghz wireless with zero compression to send signals so pure and fast they sonically outperform hardwired using anything but the best cables. Not having to see a snarl of cables tangling up in one’s grand salon is itself a reward for you having worked so hard.
Details & Specs
Model | REL Carbon Special |
---|---|
SPECIFICATIONS | |
Type | Front-firing active driver, down-firing passive |
Active Driver Size & Material | 12 in. (300mm) long-throw, carbon fibre cone with inverted carbon fibre centre cap, die cast alloy chassis |
Passive Radiator Size & Material | 12 in. (300mm), Carbon/Carbon flat cone structure, steel chassis |
Low Frequency Extension | -6 dB at 19Hz (in Room) |
Input Connectors | High Level Neutrik Speakon, Low Level (2) RCA, (1) LFE RCA, (1) LFE XLR |
Output Connectors | High Level Neutrik Speakon, (1) LFE RCA or (1) LFE XLR |
Power Output | 800 watts (RMS). Up to 1,000 watts (RMS) |
Amplifier Type | NextGen 5 Class D |
Wireless Capability | REL AirShip II (sold separately) |
Dual Parametric Filter | N/A |
PROTECTION SYTEM | |
Fully Electronic Set Safe | Yes |
D.C. Fault | Yes |
Output Short | Yes |
Mains Input Voltage | 220-240 volts, 110-120 volts for certain markets |
Fuses | 5 Amp 220 volts operation, 9 Amp 120 volts operation |
DIMENSIONS | |
W x H x D | 17 x 18 x 21.25 in. (430 x 455 x 539 mm) |
Net Weight | 85.3 lbs. (38.7 kg) |
Finish | Piano Black Lacquer, 8 coats |
SUPPLIED ACCESSORIES | |
Mains Lead | Yes |
Neutrik Speakon | Yes - 10 Meters (33’6”) Nominal |
Interconnect | |
Users Manual | Yes |