SETTING UP AND RUNNING-IN
SETTING UP
Initially, test the action of the controls with the Strata sited in any convenient position in your listening room.
Turn the two filter controls fully clockwise (maximum bandwidth). Play some music with a known bass content, and
then adjsut the gain control for similar sound levels from your main system and your sub-woofer. Now reduce both
of the filters to the minimum position. Notice that the level of the bass has almost disappeared. This is because
these very low frequencies are not being boosted by your room. Without the Active Bass Controller (ABC) you
would never be able to hear them properly in your room. Increase the gain control until this deep bass is heard.
Slowly increase the coarse control, one step at a time. If one position appears to be too much, reduce the control
to the lower selling, then increase the fine control, one notch at a time, until there is a good match between the two
systems. It may be necessary, also, to re-adjust the gain control. With listening experience, it will soon be obvious
which selling sounds best in your room and for your system. One other major benefit of a REL sub-woofer is that,
if you move house or change your system, you can immediately re-adjust the controls for the best sound again.
It may take several days before you are completely satisfied that you have found the final best selling. Your
acuteness and ability to perceive very subtle differences will improve over these days, possibly because you may
not have previously had the opportunity to hear very deep bass in your room. If the bass sounds too prominent,
simply reduce one of the filter controls a notch. If there is a "hole", increase one of the filter controls until it is filled
in.
It is often surprising just how much effect the room is having on the bass response. Sometimes, even quite small
loudspeakers appear to need very low settings of ABC. If this is the case, accept it and feel pleased that your
stereo imaging extends down so far. It is always beller to try and set up for a subtle, rather than an overblown
effect if possible. However, personal taste is the over-riding factor here. If it suits your ears, it is correct.
REL sub-woofers are, so far as we know, the only available sub-woofers that attempt to address the problems of
very deep bass reproduction and matching in any sized room. Until now there has been very little if any attempt by
any loudspeaker manufacturer to help people, particularly those with smaller or "difficult" rooms, to obtain truly
satisfactory loudspeaker/room matching in the bass.
Strata is designed as a true sub-bass loudspeaker. It is designed to reproduce those exceptionally deep notes that
are felt, rather than heard. This it will attempt to do at whatever volume you set on the gain control on its panel. If
set too high, the cone will simply run out of movement with the lowest notes, causing a "crack" to be heard. If this
warning is not heeded and the unit is continuously played in this manner, permanent damage will be done to the
driver. This damage is NOT covered by Warranty. Always try and adjust for a seamless integration with your main
loudspeakers. This will ensure correct settings and minimise the risk of driver damage.
Strata is non-critical of positioning. For the loudest and deepest bass, however, it is best positioned with its back to
the wall, or even in a corner.
RUNNING-IN
Care taken over the running in will be rewarded with many years of pleasurable use. Both the electronics and the
drive units will benefit from an initial period of carefully controlled use. During this period, permanent damage can
be sustained by running the unit at too high a volume selling. Conversely, by taking a lillle care over thus initial
period (about 12 hours of use), a longer life with a higher potential eventual performance is assured.
