In this review, we will be comparing T 9x SE and T 7x, 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 T 9x SE and REL T 7x 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 T 9x SEand REL T 7x have a single woofer setup however the REL T 9x SE's woofer is 10-inch whereas the REL T 7x features a 8-inch woofer.
Frequency Response
T 9x SE has a frequency range of 27-120 Hz whereas T 7x has a frequency range of 30-120 Hz. With a minimum frequency of 27Hz, the T 9x SE can go slightly deeper then the T 7x's min frequency of 30Hz.
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 T 9x SE's and REL T 7x's external dimensions. REL T 9x SE has external dimensions of 344.5 x 371.5 x 465.1mm () whereas REL T 7x has external dimensions of 325.4 x 358.8 x 436.6mm ().
REL T 9x SE is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 12.7mm wider, 19.1mm taller and 28.5mm deeper than REL T 7x.
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 T 9x SE is approximately 1727.8cm2 / 267.8inch2 and base area of the REL T 7x is approximately 1566.5cm2 / 242.8inch2. The T 9x SE requires 10% more surface area than the T 7x 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 T 9x SE weighs 20.64kg / 45.4lbs and the REL T 7x weighs 17.46kg / 38.4lbs. This makes the T 9x SE 18% heavier than the T 7x.
Here is a comparison of how T 9x SE and T 7x's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Powered Subwoofer class.
Weight
All Subwoofer Speakers
 Woofer Size |
10 inches
vs
8 inches
|
Larger woofer |
| Low Frequency Response |
27 Hz
vs
30 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Height |
325mm
vs
344mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
1566cm2
vs
1727cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
1299USD
vs
1799USD
|
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 T 9x SE needs about 10% more floor area. REL T 9x SE stands 29mm further into the room. REL T 9x SE is 19mm taller.
| General |
REL T 9x SE |
REL T 7x |
| Brand |
REL |
REL |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Subwoofer |
Powered Subwoofer |
| Frequency Response |
27-120 Hz |
30-120 Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
300-watt RMS |
200-watt RMS |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
10" |
8" |
| Woofer Composition |
|
|
| Tweeter Size |
- |
- |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
344.5mm (13.6") |
325.4mm (12.8") |
| Width |
371.5mm (14.6") |
358.8mm (14.1") |
| Depth |
465.1mm (18.3") |
436.6mm (17.2") |
| Weight |
20.64kg (45.4lbs) |
17.46kg (38.4lbs) |
| Enclosure |
|
|
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
3 Years |
3 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
3 Years |
3 Years |
Siblings in REL's T/x range - same design thinking, different size. It comes down to your room and your budget.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass depth | A | REL T 9x SE goes deeper - 27Hz against 30Hz. A real difference, though most music has little content below 30Hz. |
| Amplifier power | A | REL T 9x SE has the bigger amplifier - 300W against 200W RMS, about 1.8dB more on tap. In a large room that is headroom before the DSP starts limiting. |
| Driver area | A | REL T 9x SE moves more air: 10" against 8" is 1.56x the cone area, not the 1.25x the diameters suggest. More area means the same output with less excursion, and less distortion with it. |
| Enclosure | evenly matched | Both are passive radiator designs, so they roll off in much the same way. |
| Price | B | REL T 7x costs less - $1,299 against $1,799, about 28% less. |
A REL T 9x SE B REL T 7x
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 T 9x SE measures better, REL T 7x costs about 28% less. In a normal room, placement will make a bigger difference than the gap between these two.
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.