The Ci3-80QT sits within KEF's Ci Motorised Series — a specialist range of in-ceiling speakers designed to disappear completely when not in use. The motorised mechanism allows the speaker to lie flush with the ceiling surface, then deploy at the touch of a 12V trigger to direct sound downward into the listening space. This makes it particularly well suited to dedicated home theatre rooms where motorised projection screens are used, and to boardrooms or commercial spaces where visual discretion is paramount.
Three-Way Uni-Q Array
At the heart of the Ci3-80QT is a three-way Uni-Q array. Two 75mm polypropylene bass drivers flank a central 75mm polypropylene midrange unit, with a coincident-mounted 15mm aluminium dome tweeter driven by twin neodymium magnets positioned at the acoustic centre of the array. This arrangement places all frequencies on a common acoustic axis, delivering consistent tonal balance across a wide listening area — a particular advantage in ceiling-mounted applications where listeners may be seated at varying distances and angles beneath the speaker.
Motorised Deployment
The Ci3-80QT requires a separate 12V DC supply to operate its motor. When triggered, the speaker panel tilts smoothly downward from its flush-mounted position to direct sound toward the listening area. When retracted, only the paintable bezel and grille are visible — both can be finished to match the surrounding ceiling for a near-invisible installation. The cut-out measures just 112 x 354mm, requiring a mounting depth of 120mm behind the ceiling surface.
Installation
Purpose-built for ceiling installation, the Ci3-80QT is supplied as a single speaker to allow flexible system configurations. Multiple units can be combined for surround sound setups — for example, paired with KEF Ci200.2QT in-ceiling speakers for front channels and CiFDT units for rears. The external dimensions of 128 x 377 x 125mm and compact mounting depth keep the speaker compatible with standard ceiling voids.