REL

Classic 98

Name: Classic 98
Brand: REL
SKU: REL-CLASSIC-98

Model Classic 98 Walnut-1 · Series Classic

Timeless Warmth. Natural Depth. Pure Musical Ease. Classic 98 brings expressive acoustic-suspension bass to a more compact footprint, balanced, inviting, and beautifully integrated into any room or system.

At a glance

All specifications

Power: 300 W per channel
Type: Closed Box, down-firing driver
Low Frequency Extension: -6dB at 27Hz Low Frequency
Output Connectors: N/A
Power Output: 300 watts (RMS)
Amplifier Type: Class D

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Features5
Downloads2
Films1
Awards and press8

Overview

Timeless Warmth. Natural Depth. Pure Musical Ease.

Classic 98 brings expressive acoustic-suspension bass to a more compact footprint, balanced, inviting, and beautifully integrated into any room or system.

In the box

Classic 98 Subwoofer
6' AC Power Cord
32' Neutrik Speakon cable
User Manual and Warranty Information

Features

Designed to Warm the Heart
Classic 98 channels the essence of our renowned 10” down-firing designs from the late 90s. The rich, natural walnut veneer exudes warmth and authenticity, reminiscent of the mid-century stereo gear. The radiused curve, accentuated by a subtle reveal line, showcases modern craftsmanship while honoring past design. The rear amp panel, with its white gold silk screening and contrasting knobs, evokes memories of the era, while the glossy black logo set against a matte background adds a contemporary touch.
Positioned for Distinctive Excellence
Within the REL product line, Classic 98 carves out its unique niche, priced just beneath the T9/x. While both models stand as paragons of top-tier performance, they cater to distinct experiences. The Classic 98 is designed for aficionados who yearn for the vintage REL sound and styling, offering a nostalgic journey back to the golden age of stereo, yet infused with the advancements and reliability of modern technology. The T9/x, on the other hand, is the embodiment of power and depth, wrapped in a sleek, modern design. Tailored for those seeking cutting-edge performance, it's a versatile powerhouse adept at delivering both in music and home theatre settings, ensuring a comprehensive sonic experience. For those with a penchant for pure home theatre applications, our Serie HT is the go-to choice. Crafted for peak .1/LFE performance, it's the epitome of cinematic immersion, ensuring every scene is felt as much as it's seen. Explore HT-Air MKII Wireless
Drive To Survive
Driver The Heart of Classic 98: The 10” down-firing driver, crafted using our traditional paper cone technique, revives the vintage REL sound. This driver, built to handle the abundance of power offered in Classic 98, ensures a sound that's not just powerful, but pure and deeply resonant. While Classic 98 maintains the aesthetics of our historical models, it plays louder and deeper, offering an audio experience that marries the reliability and technology of modern RELs with a retro look and sound. Paper Cone Mastery: Hot-pressed, lightweight paper forms the outer 2/3 of the cone. The inner cap is a premium air-dried paper that stiffens the driver, allowing Classic 98 to outperform many of our products from the past. A natural butyl surround produces a gentle, period-correct dynamic that endures.
Unlimited Power Used Wisely
Amplifier Amplifier Excellence: Back in the 90s, offering a 300W amp at an affordable price was a significant challenge. Today, we've harnessed one of our latest amp designs – a high-current, lightning-fast Class D amp. This modern powerhouse is not only dynamic but also stands as a testament to our commitment to delivering top-tier performance without compromising on affordability. High-Level Connectivity & Filters We've paired this powerhouse with the High-Level connectivity and modern input filter technology. These filters, with their swift 8ms response, are intuitive and efficient. And if you were wondering about the old, confusing ABC filters, well, some things are best left in the past! To further enhance the experience, we've incorporated unique versions of the LimitLess Limiters and Perfect Filters, ensuring that Classic 98's amplifier is a harmonious blend of the modern and the vintage.
The Freedom of Clean Connection
Wireless The future meets the past in REL Acoustics wireless offerings, now centered on HT-Air MKII Wireless. Designed for seamless integration, it supports Left or Right Low Level Connection or .1/LFE. High-Level Connectivity is not supported with the HT-Air MKII. Operating on a 5.8 GHz platform, HT-Air MKII delivers uncompressed, stable wireless performance with carefully engineered front-end components for maximum signal integrity. The result is clean, reliable transmission without cable clutter, preserving both sound quality and living space aesthetics. It’s a simple, affordable way to bring REL’s trusted wireless performance into more systems—delivering freedom, flexibility, and purity of connection. Explore HT-Air MKII Wireless

Specifications

Power: 300 W per channel; How much power it delivers to each speaker into its rated load.
Model code: REL-CLASSIC-98; Quote it when you ask a specialist.

Technical Specifications

Type: Closed Box, down-firing driver
Active Driver Size & Material: 10 in. (250mm) Amended Pulp-on-Paper, Downfiring Inverted Cone, Steel Chassis
Passive Radiator Size & Material: -
Low Frequency Extension: -6dB at 27Hz Low Frequency
Input Connectors: High Level Neutrik Speakon, Low Level RCA, LFE RCA
Output Connectors: N/A
Power Output: 300 watts (RMS)
Amplifier Type: Class D
Wireless Capability: HT-Air MKII Wireless or AirShip II, Sold separately
Dual Parametric Filter: N/A
Finish: Walnut veneer

Protection System

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: 2.5 Amp semi delay 220 volts operation 5 Amp semi delay 120 volts operation

Supplied Accessories

Mains Lead: Yes
Neutrik Speakon: 10 Meters (33’6”) Nominal
Interconnect: -
User Manual: Yes

Downloads

Classic 98 User ManualManual · English · PDF, 3.4 MB
Download
Classic 98 BrochureBrochure · English · PDF, 3.6 MB
Download

Films

REL Classic 98

Awards and press

"REL Acoustics Classic 98. A brilliant fusion of past and present. Aside from this being a product that completely hits the mark, I really enjoy that this was a labor of love project for John Hunter. It's perfectly executed, yet affordable and approachable. This is something the high end needs more of."
- TONEAudio
" the best upgrade you can buy for that kind of money, when I say best I mean the most noticeable upgrade that you could buy for that kind of money in terms of the dollars spent and what you're feeling from the sound of music in your room. Absolutely. "
- Steve Guttenberg Audiophiliac
"It's a mix of vintage and a mix of modern, and that creates a beautiful looking sub with a beautiful sound, and one that is really easy to set up."
- Steve Huff Photo & HiFi
"It’s so much more than just a rose-tinted view of the past; it honours what made REL the company it is today. And finally, for classic speaker lovers, you can do no wrong with the Classic 98."
- hi-fi+
"This is sound reinforcement, not simply confined to bass, and that's what makes this great for audio."
- hi-fi+
"The bass overall from the Classic 98 was fast, nimble, light on its feet. Very versatile because you could have big bold pressure in dance music, with just as much as quality as big guitar or double bass on other music."
- Pursuit Perfect System
"The REL Classic 98 Subwoofer... worthy of a stand out"
- Pursuit Perfect System
"REL has fulfilled the brief here to produce a subwoofer that pays homage to its legacy of products, not only esthetically but by offering a warmer tone to the bass. The Classic 98 does so, whist offering modern day performance."
- A British Audiophile