The KEF Ci130.2CS is a square, two-way in-ceiling and in-wall speaker from the Ci-C Series, the entry point to KEF's custom installation range. It is the smallest square model in the series and the square counterpart to the round Ci130.2CR, sharing the same 130mm Uni-Q driver, and it sits below the Q Series Ci130QS and the E Series Ci130ER in KEF's architectural line-up. Sold singly, it is designed for dry-lined stud partition walls and ceilings and for suspended ceilings, in living rooms, home cinemas and multi-room systems.
Uni-Q Driver Array
At the centre of the Ci130.2CS is KEF's patented Uni-Q driver array, which places a 16mm aluminium dome tweeter with tangerine waveguide at the acoustic centre of the 130mm (5.25in.) bass/midrange cone. Because both drive units act as a single point source, sound disperses evenly throughout the room, so listeners hear a consistent balance wherever they sit rather than only in a narrow sweet spot. KEF specifies a nominal coverage of 140 degrees, a frequency response of 52Hz to 20kHz (plus or minus 6dB, open-backed), a crossover at 2.8kHz and 87dB sensitivity, with a recommended amplifier power of 10 to 80W into a nominal 8 ohm load.
Discreet Installation
The Ci130.2CS uses KEF's UTB Ultra-Thin Bezel, which sits tight to the ceiling with the slimmest visible rim around the speaker and casts virtually no shadow. The magnetic grille and the bezel are both paintable, so the speaker can be matched to the surrounding surface. Mounting depth from the surface is just 77.1mm, allowing installation where other speakers in its class will not fit, and the cut-out is 158 x 158mm with an external size of 184 x 184 x 83mm. Net weight is 1.2kg.
Weather Resistance
A weather resistant treatment protects the speaker from moisture and UV light, and the Ci130.2CS is IP64 certified. KEF states that its round and square architectural models can also be used outside when installed under protected areas of the home, which extends its use beyond living areas to humid rooms and covered outdoor spaces.
Optional Accessories
For new construction, the optional RIF130S rough-in frame lets the installer fix the correct cut-out position before the wall or ceiling is boarded. The optional RNC130S rear enclosure is a sealed metal back box that provides a controlled volume behind the speaker; KEF recommends an ideal rear volume of 20 litres and a minimum of 12 litres, with a recommended high-pass filter of 55Hz. KEF advises that installation is carried out by an installer familiar with local building regulations and the environment behind the mounting surface.