The KEF Ci3160RLM-THX ranks #1 out of 28 total In-Wall & In-Ceiling Speakers for sound quality. See all Passive Home rankings for every top pick.
Brand: KEF
Prices on this page were last checked October 21, 2026 at 9:52 PM UTC. Product prices and availability are accurate as of that date/time and are subject to change; the price and availability shown on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
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#1 KEF Ci3160RLM-THX: $3,797.90 per pair Amazon $1,898.95 eBay
Older model: the KEF Ci3160RL-THX (ranked lower, rated 4.3/5). See every KEF Ci THX In-Wall generation.
Same family: the KEF CI250RRM-THX (smaller in-wall, ranked lower, rated 4.1/5).
Pros: An excellent in-wall speaker, with highly accurate, flat sound, very consistent dispersion and an aimable driver module for off-center installs. Independently measured by Audio Science Review on a Klippel rig to a genuine 58.6Hz at -3dB and roughly 36Hz at -10dB, with an on-axis slope of just -0.02dB per octave, essentially flat. Directivity is the most consistent of any in-wall or in-ceiling speaker in this category, with the tightest spread in its sound-power directivity index across the measured band. The rotatable, tiltable driver module (the RLM in its name) lets the tweeter and midrange aim toward the listening area even when the cabinet itself has to be installed off to one side. THX Ultra2 certified, with a 4-driver, 3-way layout: dual 6.5” woofers flanking a 6.5” Uni-Q coaxial midrange/tweeter. Measured bass extension of 58.6Hz (-3dB).
Cons: At $1899 each, a stereo pair costs twice that, among the most expensive options in this category. Listening-window and sound-power smoothness are moderate rather than class-leading, meaning some unevenness remains once you move off the main listening axis despite the flat on-axis trace. The 660 x 209mm cutout and 106mm mounting depth are large enough that they won’t fit inside a standard 2x4 wall stud bay without modification.
| Released | Nov 2023 (2 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 36Hz (measured, spinorama.org ASR data) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 58.6Hz (measured, spinorama.org ASR data) |
| Certification | THX Ultra2 |
| DIY Kit | No |
| Dimensions | 26.8” x 9.1” x 4.2” (680 x 230 x 105.7 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 6.5” LF woofers, 6.5” Uni-Q coaxial midrange, 1” vented aluminum dome tweeter with MAT (rotatable/tiltable module) |
| Enclosure | Open-backed, in-wall |
| Frequency Response | 43Hz-28kHz +/-6dB (manufacturer, open-backed) |
| Impedance | 4 ohms |
| Mounting Cutout | 660mm (H) x 209mm (W) |
| Power Handling | 50-350W recommended amplifier power |
| Sensitivity | 89dB |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 5.32 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 7.83 |
| Weight | 26.5 lbs (12 kg) |
Price history (per pair)
$3,797.90 is the lowest price we have tracked since Sep 2026.
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Frequency Response
How the KEF Ci3160RLM-THX measures across the audible range. A flatter listening window (the sound arriving straight at you) is more neutral: peaks sound forward or harsh, dips sound recessed. The estimated in-room response adds what a typical room does, and there a gentle, even tilt down toward the treble is ideal. Both curves are shifted so their 300 Hz to 3 kHz average sits at 0 dB.
Measurement data: spinorama.org, measured by Audio Science Review.
EQ for a Neutral Response
No EQ preset: the best simple EQ we can fit to these measurements improves the predicted preference score by less than 0.2. The listening window is already close to flat, and what holds the score back, such as narrow ripple in the response or uneven output off-axis, is not something EQ can fix without making it worse elsewhere.