Predator 2: The Sequel, anyone?

REL's home cinema-centric subwoofer range returns, once again with a 'no-frills, all the spills' ethos. Richard Stevenson plays fast and deep with the 15in HT/1510

- Richard Stevenson

REL'S DEDICATED HOME Theatre (HT) Series subs have been winning over home cinema enthusiasts for a few years now, with a three-strong lineup in 10in, 12in, and 15in guises packing 300W, 500W, and 800W amps, respectively. The naming protocol is genius too; HT/1003, HT/1205, and the original flagship HT/1508 (HCC #296) came to our auditoriums with the suffix 'Predator'. So in just one word the company gives you a big clue about what to expect, the HT Series models being more affordable than REL's dual-purpose music/cinema subs, and focused on maximum LFE bangs for your buck.

Enter the new HT/1510 Predator, which takes over the top-dog spot as a tricky sequel to a stunning original that delivered on its promise in spades.

From the outside, things are a little better dressed, with a neat gloss panel now across the top surface, extending the theme from the original's glossy in-lay. The paint finish is very good, with very little 'peel' in the mirror surface, and the central REL logo is a little more restrained this time around. That surface still attracts dust like a super-magnet, but at least on the new version the dust doesn't get stuck between the top and inlay panel when you wipe it.

A brushed vinyl wrap around the main body keeps costs down, while the heavily braced cabinet's rounded edges now run on the verticals rather than the horizontals. Size-wise, the HT/1510 is about as compact as 15in subs get, making it suited for big bass in even relatively small rooms. Like its predecessor, we are talking homely rather than pretty, but hey, the cinema room is dark.