KEF Ci5160RL-THX In-Wall Speaker (Single)

The KEF Ci5160RL-THX sits at the top of the Ci R Series — KEF's range of custom-installed loudspeakers engineered to deliver the acoustic performance of full-size floorstanding speakers from within a wall. Certified to THX Ultra2 standards, the Ci5160RL-THX is the flagship in-wall LCR (left, centre, right) model in the range and is designed to anchor the front stage of a serious home cinema installation.

Ci R Series

The Ci R Series is KEF's benchmark custom-installation range, conceived to bring the capabilities of the classic KEF R Series floorstander to an in-wall format. The range consists of two in-wall models and an in-ceiling speaker, all of which can be combined with a dedicated powered subwoofer for a complete custom-installed surround system. The Ci5160RL-THX is the larger of the two in-wall models and is intended for rooms where THX Ultra2-level output and bass extension are required.

Driver Configuration

The Ci5160RL-THX uses a five-driver array: a single 25mm (1") aluminium dome tweeter and 160mm (6.5") midrange driver are combined in KEF's Uni-Q coincident arrangement, mounted within a tangerine waveguide. Four additional 160mm (6.5") aluminium cone bass drivers augment the low-frequency output, providing the bass extension and dynamic capability required to meet THX Ultra2 output levels. The crossover is set at 300Hz and 2.4kHz, with the bass array crossing over to the Uni-Q midrange at 300Hz.

Aluminium Baffle Construction

The massive aluminium baffle eliminates vibration and provides a rigid, inert platform for the driver array — a common limitation of in-wall speakers that use moulded plastic baffles. The aluminium construction ensures that the drivers operate with the same mechanical precision as KEF's freestanding R Series models.

THX Ultra2 Certification

The Ci5160RL-THX is certified to THX Ultra2 standards. THX Ultra2 is designed for larger listening rooms and requires speakers to meet strict output capability and imaging criteria derived from the standards used in professional mixing studios and THX-certified commercial cinemas. THX certification ensures that the speaker recreates the tonal balance of the filmmaker's final mix at the appropriate playback levels for the room.

Connectivity

The Ci5160RL-THX supports bi-wiring and bi-amplification, allowing the bass array and the Uni-Q midrange/tweeter section to be driven from separate amplifier channels or connected with separate cable runs from a single amplifier. Bi-amplification can provide additional control over each driver section, particularly useful in high-output installations where the bass drivers place significant current demands on the amplifier.