The Ci3160RLb-THX is a THX Certified in-wall subwoofer for dedicated home cinema rooms where the bass needs to disappear into the wall without giving up output. It is the Ci-R Series in-wall subwoofer of KEF's Extreme Home Theatre range, and it is designed solely for use with the KEF KASA500 system amplifier, which handles the crossover and powers up to two Ci3160RLb-THX units at once.
Design and Construction
Three high-output 160mm (6.5-inch) extended response aluminium bass drivers are arranged vertically on a solid aluminium front baffle. The baffle is specified for low resonance, giving the drivers a rigid mounting surface at the output levels the THX programme demands. The unit installs in a stud wall cavity with the face plate sitting flush to the wall surface, and it is supplied with a paintable magnetic grille; an optional black cloth grille is also available.
Because the Ci3160RLb-THX operates exclusively with the KASA500 amplifier, which incorporates its own active crossover, no passive crossover is specified for the subwoofer itself. KEF's recommended low-pass filter range is 50Hz to 120Hz, and the recommended high-pass filter for the main speakers is 25Hz to 80Hz, with 80Hz specified to meet THX requirements.
Performance and THX Certification
The Ci3160RLb-THX is THX Certified to both Ultra and Select level. Select covers medium rooms of up to 2,000 cubic feet and is met with two Ci3160RLb-THX subwoofers on one KASA500; Ultra covers large rooms of up to 3,000 cubic feet and calls for four subwoofers on two KASA500 amplifiers. Each unit delivers a sensitivity of 92dB (2.83V/1m), a frequency response of 20Hz to 140Hz (±6dB, open-backed) and a maximum SPL of 112dB. The frequency range extends down to 25Hz at -10dB, with the upper limit set by the KASA500 crossover setting.
An 80-litre rear volume behind each unit gives the ideal low-frequency response; 40 litres is KEF's minimum for a reasonable response. The installer must allow for this cavity space during construction, and an optional rough-in frame (RIF3160L) is available to reserve the space and simplify cutting the aperture before plastering.
The Extreme Home Theatre Range
Every speaker in KEF's Extreme Home Theatre range is THX Certified, and the range covers the LCR, surround and subwoofer requirements of a large home cinema across three tiers. The Ci-Reference tier comprises the Ci5160REFM-THX and Ci3160REFM-THX; the Ci-R Series adds the Ci5160RLM-THX, Ci3160RLM-THX, Ci250RRM-THX, Ci200RR-THX, Ci200RS-THX and Ci160RR-THX speakers together with the Ci3160RLb-THX in-wall subwoofer and the Ci250RRb-THX in-ceiling subwoofer; the Ci-Q Series offers the Ci4100QL-THX speaker and the Ci200QSb-THX in-wall subwoofer.
Installation
The Ci3160RLb-THX requires a cut-out of 660 × 209mm (H × W) and a mounting depth of 88.5mm from the wall surface. The unit measures 680 × 230 × 96mm (H × W × D) without the grille and 683 × 246 × 104.7mm with it, and weighs 10.9kg.