CEDIA Expo, the custom home theater industry’s big annual show, ran from 1 to 4 September in Denver. Most of what appears there ends up in dedicated theater rooms rather than living rooms, but the trends filter down quickly. Here are the subwoofer and bass-related highlights worth knowing about, and what they say about where home theater bass is heading.
- Hidden bass is having a moment: in-wall subwoofer systems from Monitor Audio and Focal.
- Wireless keeps spreading: PSB showed a $1,099 Pulse wireless sub with opposed 6.5-inch drivers.
- Big drivers for big rooms: Procella’s UNO range runs from 12 to 24 inches.
- Smarter multi-sub control: Trinnov is adding two-sub WaveForming to its Altitude CI processor.
In-wall subwoofers go mainstream
Monitor Audio previewed its Creator in-wall subwoofer range: a three-tier “good, better, best” line with purpose-built back boxes and a dedicated in-wall sub amplifier, expected to launch this fall. Focal (shown with Naim and Barco) used ten of its 1000 IWSUB Utopia passive closed in-wall subs, listed at $3,299 each, in its demo room.
Why it matters: in-wall subs used to be a compromise, but proper back boxes and matched amplifiers make them behave much more like a sealed freestanding sub. For a living room, they’re a way to get bass without a box on the floor. They do need careful planning, though: walls can resonate and carry bass to other rooms. Our guide to reducing subwoofer vibration through walls explains the issues.
Wireless subs from more brands
PSB showed its Pulse wireless subwoofer at $1,099, rated 350 W with two horizontally opposed 6.5-inch drivers, partnering its new Pulse Cinema soundbars. Opposed drivers cancel cabinet vibration, the same idea Sonos uses in its subs. It’s another sign that wireless, ecosystem-matched subs are becoming the default for soundbar systems. See best wireless subwoofers for what’s available today.
Very big drivers for very big rooms
Procella, which makes cinema-grade speakers, introduced its UNO subwoofer series with single drivers from 12 to 24 inches: a new U12, a U15 replacing the P15Si, a forthcoming U18, and new 21-inch and 24-inch models, all in shallow cabinets. KRIX debuted UCX-118 “infrasonic” subs, and several demo rooms ran six to ten subwoofers. That’s overkill for most homes, but it underlines a point we make often: multiple subs are how professionals get even bass across every seat.
Smarter control of several subs
Trinnov is adding two-subwoofer WaveForming to its Altitude CI processor. In simple terms, processing like this uses more than one sub to actively cancel room reflections rather than just adding output. It’s high-end technology today, but multi-sub optimisation is steadily appearing in more affordable receivers. Meanwhile you can get much of the benefit with two subs and careful placement; see dual subwoofer setup.
Also at the show: Klipsch Reference Signature
Klipsch gave its new Reference Signature speakers their first public demos: six three-way models with a midrange driver placed inside the tweeter horn, targeted at roughly $1,600 to $3,000 per pair, with select models expected around the end of the year. Its new compact sealed subwoofers are covered in our Klipsch Reference Premiere III news.
What it means for you
For most readers, the takeaway isn’t to buy a 24-inch sub. It’s that the industry is converging on the ideas that matter at every budget: hide or integrate the sub sensibly, use two subs when several people listen, and let processing deal with the room. You can apply all three with an ordinary living-room setup. Start with placement and EQ.