KEF CI9000 Reference 3-Way In-Wall Speaker with Four 6.5" Uni-Q Drivers and ACE Technology

by KEF

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 31 x 13 x 8 inches ; 32 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 36 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• Shipping Advisory: This item must be shipped separately from other items in your order. Additional shipping charges will not apply.
• ASIN: B000EYEHW4
• Item model number: CI9000
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #201,484 in Electronics (See Top 100 in Electronics)

Product Description

The in-wall CI9000 Reference 4 driver three-way 6.5-inch Uni-Q with ACE speaker system is an innovative new advance into custom installed loudspeakers. The 165-millimeter (6.5-inch) Uni-Q driver array brings out the full emotional depth and texture of vocals, whether sung, shouted, spoken or whispered - hardly surprising, since it's exactly the same unit as you'll find on KEF's XQ series. On either side, a matching pair of long throw bass drivers with ultra-low distortion motors for low frequency response that's as lucid as it is gutsy - and thanks to KEF's acoustic compliance enhancement (ACE) technology, what you actually hear is a level of bass extension that's normally only obtainable with much larger speakers. The CI9000 comes with two grille options: The pictured black cloth covered grille and a white overhanging grille. A grille for painting or covering is also available.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing Speaker, June 9, 2010

By 

Adam "Adam" (Oklahoma) - See all my reviews

This review is from: KEF CI9000 Reference 3-Way In-Wall Speaker with Four 6.5" Uni-Q Drivers and ACE Technology (Electronics)

Ok
I am a bit of a Theater buff" so I am always on the look out for newer and better stuff. Well I have found one.
The Kef CI9000 was something that I accidently came across in one of my late night searches.
To begin with my system goes like this:
65" Tv
Kef reference 107's
Kef center channel
Side speakers.....Its a long story, they are some off brand.
Rears, Klipsch Xb30
Rotel 3 channel amp
Pioneer Elite 7.1 receiver
Sony subs Times 2

I was really looking for some better side speakers. My current sides were some off brand that a guy in a white van sold me out of a parking lot for $300, its a long story. Nedless to say I saw a pair of these listed that were brand new for $800 for the pair and knew I had to have them.
I am very familiar with the Kef brand and I think they make one of the best High End speakers out there. Long story short I received them in a few days.

Unpackaging: The box contained 2 speaker grills, one White and One Black, there is also an optional one that is paintable, not included. There was also the manual and a large template for cutting out your hole in the wall.
I was surprised how heavy the speakers were, almost 27lbs.
Installing was super simple. Just mark your lines, cut your hole and pop them in, tighten down the retension screws and you're done
I chose to go with the black grill because the black grill is smaller than the actual speaker so you have an aluminum boarder around the black that looks really nice and sleak.

OK, now for the fun part, Listening!
I first balanced the levels with my meter and grabbed a Classical guitar CD.
I was amazed at how crsp the sound was, if you were to closed your eyes you would sware they were in your room. The sound was also very non directional, meaning that moving to different seating positions didn't affect the listening experience. Not something I ever had with my previous speakers.
I also tested it on some organ music.
One of the hardest things for speakers to do is reproduce the bass notes as well as the extremily high notes without getting distorted or loosing the sound altogether. The Kef CI9000 did an amazing job of reproducing those notes that any other speaker of equal or lesser quality in my opinion would have a problem.

Another excellent feature of the Kef CI9000 is the enclosed cabinet. What this does is it directs the sound outward instead of loosing it in the walls. Kef has also added specially made fabric tubes filled with carbon to aid in internal deadening. This does such an amazing job that I can put my ear to the opposite side of my wall where it was installed and hear very littlle sound at all, as well as almost no internal wall vibration, even at a high volumes.

So are they worth it, a resounding YES! If you can swallow the price at $1500 each.
There are bargans to be found and occasionally a deal of a lifetime. In the end If you have the chanse to own a pair of these or hear them in person, do not hesitate.