
KEF has announced two new THX Certified architectural loudspeakers, the Ci5160REFM-THX and the Ci3160REFM-THX, which are designed for larger home theater systems that include immersive audio applications. These speakers are engineered to deliver high levels of realism when watching movies, playing games, listening to music or simply watching TV, and the speakers push the company’s technology levels to augment its Extreme Home Theatre architectural line of products. Both in-wall loudspeakers feature KEF’s 12th-generation Uni-Q driver array, as well as the Metamaterial Absorption Technology (MAT). Additionally, they employ optimized bass drivers that are specifically designed for in-wall environments, and aluminum baffles that are designed to minimize vibrations. The Ci5160REFM-THX is KEF’s first Dominus level certified product, and the company says that it is capable of delivering high-performance audio in rooms up to 6,500-cubic feet with screen viewing distances as great as 20 feet. On the other hand, the Ci3160REFM-THX is designed for installation in rooms up to 3,000-cubic feet and screen viewing distances up to 12 feet, and to signify its performance capabilities, the speaker carries the Ultra certification. KEF offers the speakers in aluminum black/gray finishes, along with paintable magnetic grilles to help integrators blend the speakers into a range of home spaces. The Ci5160REFM-THX carries an MSRP of $10,999.99 each and the Ci3160REFM-THX carries an MSRP of $7,999.99.