In this review, we will be comparing Classic 99 and Classic 98, two Powered Subwoofer speakers by REL. Being Powered subwoofers, they both have built-in amplifiers so you don't need an external power amp or an integrated amp to power them. Let's have a brief look at the main features of REL Classic 99 and REL Classic 98 first before getting into our more detailed comparison.
The sections below take each area in turn: driver and amplifier, frequency response, physical size and connectivity.
Drivers
The efficiency of a subwoofer is directly proportional to the total radiating are squared hence the woofer quantity and diameter.Both REL Classic 99and REL Classic 98 have a single woofer setup however the REL Classic 99's woofer is 12-inch whereas the REL Classic 98 features a 10-inch woofer.
Frequency Response
Classic 99 has a frequency range of 24-120 Hz whereas Classic 98 has a frequency range of 27-120 Hz. With a minimum frequency of 24Hz, the Classic 99 can go slightly deeper then the Classic 98's min frequency of 27Hz.
Below graphs depict how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average values of the Min and Max Frequencies of other speakers in the Subwoofer class in our database.
Low Frequency
Subwoofer Speakers
High Frequency
Subwoofer Speakers
Physical Specs
The size of a speaker can sometimes be an important decision factor due to space constraints or in some cases purely for esthetic reasons. In this section, we are going to compare REL Classic 99's and REL Classic 98's external dimensions. REL Classic 99 has external dimensions of 536.6 x 400.1 x 396.9mm () whereas REL Classic 98 has external dimensions of 476.3 x 350.8 x 352.4mm ().
REL Classic 99 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 49.3mm wider, 60.3mm taller and 44.5mm deeper than REL Classic 98.
Base Surface Area Comparison
Base surface area of a loudspeaker may become a determining factor when the space in your room or desk is limited.
The base surface area of the REL Classic 99 is approximately 1588.0cm2 / 246.1inch2 and base area of the REL Classic 98 is approximately 1236.2cm2 / 191.6inch2. The Classic 99 requires 28% more surface area than the Classic 98 which gives it a small disadvantage on placement in tight spaces.
Weight Comparison The weight of a subwoofer may become an important factor if you need to move and reposition the unit often to find the optimal positioning, also known as 'Subwoofer Crawling'. The REL Classic 99 weighs 22.36kg / 49.2lbs and the REL Classic 98 weighs 22.36kg / 49.2lbs.
Here is a comparison of how Classic 99 and Classic 98's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Powered Subwoofer class.
Weight
All Subwoofer Speakers
 Woofer Size |
12 inches
vs
10 inches
|
Larger woofer |
| Low Frequency Response |
24 Hz
vs
27 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Height |
476mm
vs
536mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
1236cm2
vs
1588cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
1499USD
vs
2099USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
Size, drawn to scale
Both subwoofers and both views share one scale, so everything here is directly comparable. Hover a box for its dimensions.
One scale for both, standing on the same floor and pushed back to the same wall, so the bigger one visibly takes more of the room.
REL Classic 99 needs about 28% more floor area. REL Classic 99 stands 45mm further into the room. REL Classic 99 is 60mm taller.
| General |
REL Classic 99 |
REL Classic 98 |
| Brand |
REL |
REL |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Subwoofer |
Powered Subwoofer |
| Frequency Response |
24-120 Hz |
27-120 Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
450-watt RMS |
300-watt RMS |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
12" |
10" |
| Woofer Composition |
|
|
| Tweeter Size |
- |
- |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
536.6mm (21.1") |
476.3mm (18.8") |
| Width |
400.1mm (15.8") |
350.8mm (13.8") |
| Depth |
396.9mm (15.6") |
352.4mm (13.9") |
| Weight |
22.36kg (49.2lbs) |
22.36kg (49.2lbs) |
| Enclosure |
|
|
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
3 Years |
3 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
3 Years |
3 Years |
Siblings in REL's Classic range - same design thinking, different size. It comes down to your room and your budget.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass depth | A | REL Classic 99 goes deeper - 24Hz against 27Hz. A real difference, though most music has little content below 27Hz. |
| Amplifier power | A | REL Classic 99 has the bigger amplifier - 450W against 300W RMS, about 1.8dB more on tap. In a large room that is headroom before the DSP starts limiting. |
| Driver area | A | REL Classic 99 moves more air: 12" against 10" is 1.44x the cone area, not the 1.2x the diameters suggest. More area means the same output with less excursion, and less distortion with it. |
| Enclosure | evenly matched | Both are sealed designs, so they roll off in much the same way. |
| Cabinet size | depends | REL Classic 98 is about 31% smaller by volume. In a subwoofer that is a real trade rather than a preference: box volume is how you get output low down without a bigger amplifier. |
| Price | B | REL Classic 98 costs less - $1,499 against $2,099, about 29% less. |
A REL Classic 99 B REL Classic 98
depends neither is better in the abstract - it turns on your room, your system or how you will use them. Only specs published for both subwoofers are judged; anything missing on either side is left out rather than guessed.
Which should you choose?
The usual trade-off: REL Classic 99 measures better, REL Classic 98 costs about 29% less. In a normal room, placement will make a bigger difference than the gap between these two. If placement is the constraint - a corner, behind a sofa, under a desk - REL Classic 98 is the one that will actually go there, and a well-placed small subwoofer beats a badly-placed big one every time.
One thing outweighs everything above: where the subwoofer stands. Room modes can add or remove 10dB or more at a given seat, which is far larger than any difference on this page. Before spending more, try the sub in two or three positions - the crawl test, where you put it in the listening seat and crawl the room to find where the bass sounds best, costs nothing and usually beats an upgrade.