Author’s Note: The RCF HDL 30 isn’t a new product, but a continuation of RCF’s impressive HDL lineup. The RCF SUB 9029-AS is an all new product released at NAMM 2025. This author experienced a stereo array of 4 RCF HDL 30 and 2 SUB 9029-AS in an audio demo room.

RCF HDL 30 and RCF SUB 9029 First Impressions

Introduction

Few things stuck out to me at NAMM 2025 as much as RCF’s new 9029-AS subwoofers. I probably could have used a trip to the primary care doctor to inspect my internal organs, given I was exposed to enormous SPL and sub-low power. Paired with a stereo array of the potent HDL30, I initially had no expectation of the rig. I had heard and mixed HDL 20, and similar flavors of HDL. I found the existing boxes to be bright, with no lack of power and unrelenting headroom. A ‘right in your face’ type box, the HDL lineup has always been a go to for many integrators. I would like to share my first impressions of the system, through the eyes of a demo experience at NAMM 2025.

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RCF SUB 9029-AS Specifications:

HIGH POWER DUAL 19″ ACTIVE SUBWOOFER

142 dB Max SPL
8000W Class-D Amplification
RDTap Contactless Configuration
I/O Panel Rain Cover Included

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Demo Room Experience

With large competitors such as L’Accoustic, DAS Audio, QSC, EAW, EV, and Meyer all offering demo rooms of their equipment, RCF was by far the most impressive experience. Despite droning on about small point source boxes, the RCF rep finally gave us a chance to hear the big stuff almost 30 minutes into an hour long presentation. The overview of the equipment including a rundown of RDTap, which is a very cool NFC tech that allows system techs to pre-configure the speakers with settings like crossover, high and low pass, and EQ all from an app, which in itself is somewhat cool, but then you tack on the fact that you can do that without the boxes being plugged into power. This is an especially useful feature set for production houses and rental companies looking to get their gear in and out fast. While the tech wasn’t demoed explicitly, i’m fairly confident in the setup as it uses very standard technology to work.

Starting with very loud iterations of famous songs by Dua Lipa and the like, the HDL and SUB-9029 provided unrelenting power, clarity, and transient detail. While not exceptionally flat like a Meyer rig, or claims of ultra low distortion by a company like Danley, the RCF rig did it’s job. The job was simple: make live music come alive. No reference, no marketing mumbo, just bang, boom and bang. What else could you want? As if loud pop music wasn’t enough for you, the RCF techs then turned on the world’s loudest drumset demo, which featured a truly impressive drummer With the snare popping right between the eyes and the kick stomping, you’d expect the whole show going on outside the demo room heard it. The funny part is: they could. In fact, several times when walking the show floor, I thought “what on earth is that banging”. Turns out it was RCF. I’d take that as a win.