REL HT/1510 Predator – 15" Powered Subwoofer

REL Serie HT: HT/1510 Predator – 15" Powered Subwoofer

HT/1510 Predator resets expectations for REL’s standard bearer, with a confident new look that meshes perfectly into the traditional REL family while delivering significantly increased power and improvement across just about everything. As the flagship of REL’s home theatre lineup, it is designed for listeners who want nothing held back, delivering immense scale and authority that fills the room with bass that feels powerful, controlled, and deeply immersive. It pairs a 1,000-watt amplifier with PerfectFilter inputs and a new 15” CarbonGlas driver that handles vastly more power, in confident, elegant styling that encourages use in multi-REL systems and blending with Serie T/x and Serie S.

• 15” (380mm) long-throw CarbonGlas driver
• 1,000-watt (RMS) Class D amplifier
• –6 dB at 20 Hz Low Frequency Extension
• Closed-box, front-firing cabinet
• Wireless via HT-Air MKII or Airship II (sold separately)
• Net weight: 99.7 lbs. (45.2 kg)
• Made in China
• 3 Year Warranty

Highlights & Key Technologies

The Best Gets Better
HT/1510 Predator, the full upgrade of the HT/1508, builds on REL’s original home theater subwoofer — winner of Home Theater of the Year awards on multiple continents — by upgrading every component and aspect. These upgrades were based on three key learnings: the sound was so good that people wanted more power; looks matter, and despite being enjoyed in the dark, a home theater subwoofer must look every bit as stunning as its audiophile-driven kin; and mating the HT/1510 with REL’s High Level models (Serie T/x, Serie S, and Reference models) produced dazzlingly rich, full, continuous theater-quality bass. So HT/1510 Predator received a full 1,000-watt linear power supply amplifier and a new 15” (380mm) driver with 40% greater power to deliver bigger, faster dynamics and flat-out power. This attack is combined with a gorgeous new cabinet with sleek proportions to perfectly mate with other REL designs for a surround sound system that looks as beautiful as it sounds. To deliver the benefits of these updates, REL developed specialized HT versions of its award-winning PerfectFilter that delivers flatter deep bass, now down to 20 Hz. As icing on the cake, HT/1510 Predator delivers the highest .1/LFE output of any REL ever.

Design Isn’t Everything, It’s the Only Thing
HT/1510 Predator confidently delivers massive upgrades in design elegance, performance, and execution of every detail in cabinet design. Beauty, in this case, isn’t skin deep. It starts with right-sized cabinetry, beautifully executed in horizontally line-grained black with a subtle sheen that evokes state-of-the-art amplifiers, bringing to the HT range the same sleek, elegant proportions used in REL’s Reference models at a fraction of the price. REL designs benefit from incorporating integral engineering solutions throughout. Employed inside each HT/1510 is REL’s BrilliantBrace, which cradles the rear of the driver to eliminate shipping damage, quiets and redirects energy normally trapped in the driver, and quiets the top, bottom, and both sidewalls of the cabinet. The full-depth rails used to support and reactively brace against the powerful movements such a subwoofer can produce also mean Predator can be stacked in Line Arrays of three per channel for the ultimate in home theatre, carrying performance up the entire height of massive projection screens.

Size Matters, Now More Than Ever
There is simply something special about a large driver effortlessly distributing bass that small subs working hard can never match. At the heart of every REL lies a truly great driver. HT/1510 Predator’s 15” (380mm) driver retains the combination of glass fiber and carbon fiber center cap that allows quick, reactive bass with the slam that is the hallmark of great theatre sound. The lightweight glass fiber allows the 3” (75mm) voice coil to accelerate the cone instantly, while the carbon fiber center cap stiffens the composite structure, ensuring that even in the biggest moments the cone structure remains intact and unphased by massive signals. Naturally, this delivers benefits for music reproduction as well. Power handling has been increased, permitting the much more powerful amplifier to give its best without fear that the driver might not keep up. Scale, speed, and signature performance are this flagship’s reason for being.

Now Hear This
The 1,000-watt linear power supply amplifier in the HT/1510 Predator features (4) x 400-watt mosfets and a monster power supply — critically important to have massive current reserves for when the explosions and special effects hit. HT/1510 Predator’s amplifier brings massive power with almost limitless reserves, creating huge output that is available instantly, almost dismissively, and delivered in the effortless manner worthy of the lead dog in the HT family. New versions of REL’s LimitLess max-volume limiters are now so transparent that it becomes difficult for even seasoned professionals to detect when they engage, making movies at home more relaxing.

Stand and Deliver
HT/1510 Predator offers one more uniquely REL innovation. For truly over-the-top performance, Predators are designed to be stacked up to three units high using included REL Couplers that connect lower units to upper units. These solid, milled aluminum couplers bolt securely to each sub and, along with the substantial rails on the underside of each cabinet, create an extremely heavy, sturdy tower of bass. When used in stereo stacks (six total, three per side), it represents over 8,000 watts of peak power, forcing (6) x 15” drivers to give their utmost in the service of breathtaking bass delivered in oceanic torrents.

Zero Compression Wireless
For the first time, wireless High Level Input is made available to owners of HT/1510 Predator. When combined with REL’s newest Airship II, the latest state-of-the-art Texas Instruments ADC-DAC chips and REL’s world-famous High Level Input circuitry permit HT/1510 Predator owners to add High Level Inputs driven off one’s main amplifier outputs. When one’s receiver or AV processor is set properly, this delivers professional transfer-studio sound, rich and full-range at all times. There is wireless, and there is REL wireless: REL is well known for having the finest purpose-built wireless systems in the entire component audio world. Though HT-Air is affordable, it retains REL’s corporate fixation on zero compression and maximum dynamics delivered via a 5.8 GHz network, with latency in the 16–20 millisecond range, permitting owners to place their HT/1510 Predator where it works best without resorting to unsightly cables.

Connectivity & Daisy-Chaining
To simplify and increase the versatility of connecting, the Predator has two low-level RCA inputs as well as a balanced XLR input, facilitating use with AV surround sound systems, two-channel stereo systems, and powered speakers. A single RCA jack labeled .1/LFE connects to the sub output of a processor, while a single XLR .1/LFE input serves processors that provide a balanced output. The dual RCA jacks can be used for stereo low-level connection from a stereo source or powered speakers. Both the RCA and XLR inputs have corresponding output connections so that multiple RELs can be run in parallel by connecting the OUT of one to the IN of the next — what REL refers to as “daisy chaining.” The type of input must be maintained for daisy chaining: if the input is RCA, the XLR OUT cannot be used to connect to the next amplifier, and vice versa.

Set-Safe Overload Protection
All REL Sub-Bass Systems are designed as true sub bass speakers, reproducing exceptionally deep notes that are felt as well as heard at whatever volume level is set. If set too high, no damage should result because the built-in electronics limit cone movement. This electronic control, called Set-Safe, constantly and instantaneously monitors the output from the power amplifier and is totally transparent in operation until required, detecting the point of incipient clipping and gently soft-clipping the waveform to ensure actual clipping does not occur. A thermal overload device is also fitted; if the unit is deliberately over-driven, it senses the temperature rise and cuts the output, with a recovery time of approximately five minutes.

Details & Specifications

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
Type: Closed box, front-firing driver
Active Driver Size & Material: 15 in. (380mm) long-throw, CarbonGlas cone structure, inverted carbon fibre centre cap, steel chassis
Voice Coil: 3 in. (75mm)
Passive Radiator Size & Material: N/A
Low Frequency Extension: –6 dB at 20 Hz, in room
Input Connectors: (2) Low Level RCA or (1) LFE RCA, (1) LFE XLR
Output Connectors: Daisy Chain (2) Low Level RCA or (1) LFE RCA or (1) LFE XLR
Gain Control Range: 95 dB
Power Output: 1000 watts (RMS)
Amplifier Type: Linear power supply with Class D output
Phase Switch: Yes, 0 or 180 degrees
Crossover: Variable between 30–200 Hz
Wireless Capability: HT-Air MKII or Airship II (sold separately)
Dual Parametric Filter: Yes

PROTECTION SYSTEM
Fully Electronic with Set-Safe: Yes
D.C. Fault: Yes
Output Short: Yes
Mains Input Voltage: 220–240 volts; 110–120 volts for certain markets
Fuses: 8 Amp semi delay, 230V operation; 15 Amp semi delay, 115V operation
Power Draw at Standby: > 0.5 watts
Power Draw at Idle: 20 watts

DIMENSIONS & WEIGHT
Dimensions (W x H x D), including feet, grille, and rear panel controls: 21.3 x 18 x 19.4 in. (540 x 457 x 494 mm)
Net Weight: 99.7 lbs. (45.2 kg)

FINISH
Black or White Horizontally Oriented Line Grained Composite, 15 mm Top Plate, finished in 5 coats of hand-rubbed high gloss lacquer

COUNTRY OF MANUFACTURE
Made in China

WARRANTY
3 Year Warranty (parts and labor)

SUPPLIED ACCESSORIES
HT/1510 Predator Subwoofer
Grille
6’ AC Power Cord
2 Brackets (Stacking Straps)
4 Screws
User Manual & Warranty Information
Quick Start Guide
Safety Information