The KEF Ci5120QLM-THX is the largest of the THX Certified in-wall speakers in KEF's Ci-Q Series, sitting above the two-woofer Ci3120QLM-THX and the Ci4100QL-THX. Ci-Q Series brings acoustic technology from KEF's Ci-Reference and Ci-R architectural ranges to a more accessible price point, and the Ci5120QLM-THX appears in KEF's Extreme Home Theatre line-up of THX Certified architectural speakers. KEF position it for home theatre in multipurpose rooms as well as dedicated cinemas, with output suited to large-sized rooms. It is sold singly.
12th Generation Uni-Q and MAT
At the heart of the speaker is KEF's 12th generation Uni-Q driver array: a 100mm (4 in.) midrange with a 19mm (0.75 in.) vented aluminium dome tweeter mounted at its acoustic centre. Uni-Q acts as a point source, dispersing sound evenly so everyone in the room hears the same detailed sound. The tweeter is backed by Metamaterial Absorption Technology (MAT), a maze-like structure developed jointly with Acoustic Metamaterials Group that absorbs 99% of the unwanted sound from the rear of the tweeter for a crisper, more natural treble. KEF's Flexible Decoupling Chassis reduces unwanted driver basket motion, and a re-engineered tweeter gap damper tames resonances to sharpen detail and clarity.
Four 120mm Bass Drivers and 3-Way Design
Low frequencies are handled by four specially designed 120mm (4.75 in.) bass drivers with long-throw capability and very low distortion, delivering deep, clean bass. The 3-way system design and fully optimised crossovers, at 440Hz and 2.75kHz, allow each driver to be configured for its specific role. Sensitivity is 89dB with a 4 ohm nominal impedance, and KEF recommend amplification of 25 to 250W with a high-pass filter set between 35Hz and 100Hz.
THX Certified Ultra
The Ci5120QLM-THX carries THX Certified Ultra status, having exceeded the rigorous requirements for output levels, frequency response, signal-to-noise ratio and distortion. KEF quote a maximum SPL of 105dB at 1m and 150 degree nominal coverage, recreating high-impact cinema sound for music, gaming, TV and film.
Installation and Finish
Designed for dry-lined stud partition walls, the speaker needs a cut-out of 795 x 163mm and a mounting depth of 90mm from the wall surface, with an ideal rear volume of 70 litres (35 litres minimum). The Ultra-Thin Bezel gives the slimmest visible rim around the speaker, and the supplied white metal mesh grille is magnetic and paintable so the speaker can disappear into the wall, and IP64 certification makes it splash and dust proof.