REL has refreshed the top of its range. The new No.35 and No.36 are the flagship models in the British brand’s Reference series, with 12-inch and 15-inch carbon fibre drivers, new hybrid amplifiers of up to 1,000 watts, and the option to stack up to three as a line array. They cost $10,000 and $12,000 each. Here’s what changes, and who should care.
- Announced on 23 September 2026 as the new flagships of REL’s Reference series.
- No.35: 12-inch carbon fibre driver, 900 W RMS, rated to 17 Hz (−6 dB).
- No.36: 15-inch carbon fibre driver, 1,000 W RMS, rated to 15 Hz (−6 dB).
- Sealed, front-firing, with REL’s high-level Neutrik SpeakOn input plus line and LFE on RCA and XLR.
- $10,000 / $12,000 in the US (£9,000 / £11,000 in the UK); optional wireless costs $399 more.
Specifications
| REL No.35 | REL No.36 | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver | 12″ carbon fibre, long-throw | 15″ carbon fibre, long-throw |
| Enclosure | Sealed, front-firing | Sealed, front-firing |
| Amplifier | 900 W RMS, Class AB/D | 1,000 W RMS, Class AB/D |
| Low end (−6 dB) | 17 Hz | 15 Hz |
| Dimensions | 638 × 435 × 724 mm (64 cm wide) | 743 × 541 × 816 mm (74 cm wide) |
| Weight | 59 kg (130 lb) | 91.8 kg (202.5 lb) |
| US / UK price | $10,000 / £9,000 | $12,000 / £11,000 |
Both use a carbon fibre cone with an inverted carbon centre cap in a die-cast chassis, and a hybrid Class AB/D amplifier with a large toroidal transformer, which coverage puts at around 17 lb. Controls include a dual parametric filter for taming a room peak, plus protection circuits. The finish is 12 coats of piano black lacquer. Launch coverage says they replace the No.31 and No.32; What Hi-Fi? notes they keep the same footprint as the outgoing models, so they can stack on existing Reference subs.
The REL way of connecting a sub
REL’s signature feature is its high-level input: instead of taking a line or LFE signal, the sub connects to your amplifier’s speaker terminals through a Neutrik SpeakOn cable. The idea is that the sub hears exactly the same signal, with the same character, as your main speakers, which helps it blend. These models also accept line and LFE inputs on both RCA and XLR, so you can use high-level for music and LFE for films at the same time. If your amp has no sub output, our guide to connecting a sub without a sub output explains high-level connections, and LFE vs line-in covers the rest.
Stacking and line arrays
Using REL’s couplers, up to three subs can be stacked into a line array. That’s REL’s answer to bigger rooms: more drivers moving together for more output and lower distortion. Note, though, that stacking subs in one spot doesn’t smooth room modes the way spreading subs around the room does; see our dual subwoofer guide for why placement matters as much as quantity.
Availability
The subs are sold through REL dealers. REL’s UK online store lists both models but showed them as unavailable when we checked on 25 October 2026, so expect to order through a dealer and wait for stock.
Our take
At $10,000 and up, these are for high-end music systems where a sub has to disappear into the sound of expensive speakers, which is what REL is known for. On paper, the new drivers and amplifiers are meaningful upgrades. For most people, a sub costing a tenth as much, placed well, will get them most of the way there. Our SVS vs REL comparison explains the differences in approach.