REL Acoustics T/5x
The REL Acoustics T/5x brings tight, articulate bass and remarkable stereo integration to compact systems, adding weight, scale and rhythmic life without clouding the midrange. Audiograde praised its musical energy, while Future Audiophile found its controlled low end disappears seamlessly into the music. Its premium compact cabinet and high-level Speakon input make it a refined music-first partner.
WATT RECOMMENDS
Save your favorites. Compare them anytime.
Create a free HiFi Hub account to save products to your Wishlist and compare your favorites side by side.
Nicely Roasted
Bass
90/100
Integration
91/100
Dynamics
88/100
Build Quality
92/100
Features Usability
83/100
Value for Money
93/100
Pros
Tight, controlled and clearly articulated bass adds depth and punch without bloat.
Blends exceptionally naturally with stereo speakers, often seeming to disappear into the main system.
Premium, compact, well-braced cabinet and gloss finish are widely praised.
High-level Speakon, RCA and LFE connections provide flexible system matching.
Cons
Its 30Hz-class extension and compact output cannot match the deepest subsonics or high-volume headroom of larger subwoofers.
There is no app control, room correction or auto-calibration; achieving ideal placement and settings may take time.
WATT RECOMMENDS
Save your favorites. Compare them anytime.
Create a free HiFi Hub account to save products to your Wishlist and compare your favorites side by side.
What Reviewers Are Saying
Assessments of Build Quality, Usability, and Overall Propositions.
Bass
90/100
Reviewers consistently praise the T/5x for tight, controlled and articulate bass rather than exaggerated boom. Future Audiophile found deep bass delivered with authority and distinct, fully articulated notes, while Audiograde heard enough depth and punch to energise music and shake a room. Its limits are candidly acknowledged: it cannot match the deepest, room-shaking output or displacement of substantially larger subwoofers.
Integration
91/100
The strongest recurring impression is how naturally the T/5x disappears into a stereo system. Future Audiophile says it integrates seamlessly and vanishes into the music, while Audiophiliac found the blend with several speakers "super easy" and heard bass appear to come from the main speakers rather than the subwoofer. Iiwi Reviews achieved the same convincing blend, though reports that finding the ideal placement and settings took several weeks.
Dynamics
88/100
For a compact 125-watt model, reviewers find the T/5x lively, quick and satisfying in its impact. Audiophiliac highlights fast transient response, greater definition and pop, while Audiograde praises its rhythmic energy and lack of sluggishness. It is best suited to small and medium rooms, with larger REL models offering more high-level headroom and room-filling output.
Build Quality
92/100
Construction and finish receive unusually strong praise for the price. Future Audiophile describes a dense, inert, heavily braced cabinet, and TONEAudio highlights the quality of the connectors, final assembly and glossy finish, reporting no visible surface imperfections. The compact cabinet is also repeatedly described as easy to accommodate in a room.
Features Usability
83/100
The T/5x provides the essentials for conventional stereo and home-cinema connections: high-level Speakon, RCA low-level and LFE inputs, separate level controls and a variable crossover. The high-level connection is particularly well regarded for music systems, and optional Arrow wireless operation broadens placement options. However, operation is entirely manual and analogue, without app control, room correction or onboard DSP.
Value for Money
93/100
At roughly $679 in the US and £649 as reviewed by Audiograde, reviewers consider the T/5x a compelling upgrade within its compact-subwoofer class. Audiograde calls it one of the most effective performance-enhancing upgrades it has heard at the price, Future Audiophile says it earns every penny, and TONEAudio gave the T/x range an Exceptional Value Award. Iiwi Reviews likewise reports no regret over the approximately €750 purchase.
Reviews & Sources
Professional reviews and sources for this product's Watt'n Potatoes analysis.
Online Reviews & Mentions
YouTube Reviews
Forum Mentions
No forum mentions found yet
Specifications
- Type
- Closed Box, down-firing driver
- Active Driver Size & Material
- 8 in. (200mm) long-throw, FibreAlloy cone, inverted alloy centre cap, steel chassis
- Passive Radiator Size & Material
- N/A
- Low Frequency Extension
- -6dB at 32 Hz Low Frequency
- Input Connectors
- High Level Neutrik Speakon, Low Level (1) RCA, (1) LFE RCA
- Output Connectors
- N/A
- Power Output
- 125 watts (RMS)
- Amplifier Type
- Class A/B
- Wireless Capability
- REL Arrow (sold separately)
- Dual Parametric Filter
- N/A
- Finish
- Piano Black Lacquer, Gloss White Lacquer 5 coats
- Fully Electronic Set Safe
- Yes
- D.C. Fault
- Yes
- Output Short
- Yes
- Mains Input Voltage
- 220-240 volts, 110-120 volts for certain markets
- Fuses
- 1.6 Amp semi delay 230 volts operation, 3.15 Amp semi delay 115 volts operation
- Mains Lead
- Yes
- Neutrik Speakon
- Yes (10 Meters Nominal)
- Interconnect
- -
- User Manual
- Yes
- DIMS
- W x H x D \n 11.8 x 12 x 12.3 in., \n (300 x 307 x 313 mm) \n \n Shipping DIMS \n W x H x D \n 16 x 16 x 17 in., \n (406 x 406 x 432 mm)
- Net Weight
- 31.5 lbs. (14.3 kg). Shipping weight: 36 lbs (16.3 kg)
Manufacturer's Description — REL Acoustics
Surprisingly Deep. Beautifully Discreet. Pure REL Performance.T/5x delivers expressive, room-filling bass from a compact cabinet that blends effortlessly into any space visually discreet, sonically transformative.
- Natural, controlled bass from a 125-watt Class A/B amplifier
- Fast, agile performance from an 8" FibreAlloy driver
- Reduced resonance through a rigid laminated-plywood cabinet
- Low-distortion output supported by internal bracing
Stunningly Simple
Designed for Elegance
Perfect for small and medium rooms, T/5x seats perfectly into any décor. Floor-firing is part of its secret; bass energy strikes the floor and spreads uniformly throughout the space making it perform like a larger model. For those picky about style, the hidden bonus is this design eliminates even the grill, rendering it the purest of forms.
Slightly larger in volume than its predecessor, it actually appears to be smaller due subtle design changes to minimize it’s visual presence. Finally, 5 hand polished coats of lacquer in your choice of High Gloss White or Piano Black add luster to the softly rounded cabinetry.
Perfect for small and medium rooms, T/5x seats perfectly into any décor. Floor-firing is part of its secret; bass energy strikes the floor and spreads uniformly throughout the space making it perform like a larger model. For those picky about style, the hidden bonus is this design eliminates even the grill, rendering it the purest of forms.
Slightly larger in volume than its predecessor, it actually appears to be smaller due subtle design changes to minimize it’s visual presence. Finally, 5 hand polished coats of lacquer in your choice of High Gloss White or Piano Black add luster to the softly rounded cabinetry.
Designed for Elegance
Many don’t realize the intense linkage between performance and design here at REL. Performance is everything to us and so it drives physical design revisions. Our engineers, recognizing the need for greater acoustic volume to achieve the goals of greater fluidity and power, turn to the designer who works dimensions to fool the eye into seeing a smaller, more compact footprint even though cabinet volume increases. Using gently rounded corner radii that allows the eye to flow over and see less visual mass. The result is both modern and familiar with no unnecessary adornment.
Faster & Deeper
T/5x borrows a single longthrow 8” (200mm) bass engine from its elder sibling, T/7x. Developed using a composite of aluminum and light paper, this cone captures details that will amaze, while supplying sufficient energy to plumb deeper than one would expect for its size. In T/5x, its throw–the ability to play louder–has been increased. Internally, the suspension received numerous upgrades akin to transforming the handling of a car from a family sedan to a true sports car. More power, greater finesse.
Amplified Power
T/5x builds on its predecessor’s reliable, expensive 125 W Class A/B amplifiers. Internally, key items significant to upgrading transparency and speed have been upgraded at no cost to REL’s legendary reliability. Separate inputs for High Level Inputs, Low Level Input (necessary for the increasing number of powered active speakers emerging on the market) allow for a natural, perfect transition from speaker to subwoofer. And in theater a separate, dedicated .1/LFE Input for Theatre performance permits automatic transition between music in high end 2-channel applications and home theater without needing to change a single setting. Magic? No, superior engineering.
Standby Mode switch is only included on 220V units.
Zero Compression Wireless
At REL, we’ve developed a sterling reputation for building the finest sounding, fastest wireless systems available in the industry. REL never rely upon digital compression as it results in thin, lifeless sound. Instead, we have perfected an (optional) Arrow Wireless system; so fast and dynamic we’re comfortable encouraging the use of wireless on one channel of a pair of RELs while the other channel may be connected hardwired with cable.
Verified Dealers
Online Dealers
All Dealers
Zoom out the map to see more dealers
Authorized dealers for REL Acoustics T/5x
- The ASOC Gallery of Fine Audio — in-store — Stratford, Ontario, Canada (website)
- The Music Room — online and in-store — Erie, Colorado, United States (website)
- 110Hz — online and in-store — Kielce, Województwo świętokrzyskie, Poland (website)
- 3mA Audio — online and in-store — Houston, Texas, United States (website)
- Abt Electronics — online and in-store — Glenview, Illinois, United States (website)
- Acoustic Streams — in-store — Lower Drift, England, United Kingdom (website)
- Acoustica — online and in-store — Chester, England, United Kingdom (website)
- All Elite Audio — online and in-store — Perry Hall, Maryland, United States (website)
- Alta Fedelta — online and in-store — Lombardia, Italy (website)
- American Sound — in-store — Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada (website)
and 239 more verified dealers