Consumer Electronics Association Deems KEF Ci 3-80QT Motorized In-Ceiling Product: Best Speaker
MARLBORO, NJ –March 26, 2007 — KEF, renowned British manufacturer of audiophile quality speakers, was recognized by the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) as a recipient 2007 TechHome Mark of Excellence Awards. KEF won “Best Speaker” in the Supplier category for the Ci 3-80QT Motorized In-Ceiling Loudspeaker. They were acknowledged by the industry at an awards dinner held on Friday, March 9 in Orlando, Florida, during the 8th annual Electronic House Expo Spring 2007 (EHX).
“KEF is honored to receive this award from the Consumer Electronics Association,” said Alec Chanin, president of KEF America. “The Ci 3-80QT is a product we feel very proud to have as part of our lineup. KEF has recently garnered very positive attention for all of our custom install offerings.”
Sponsored by the Consumer Electronics Association, the TechHome Mark of Excellence Award is one of the consumer electronics industry’s most prestigious accolades. The Mark of Excellence Awards celebrates the finest achievements in custom electronics products, services and installations. Industry trend setters were honored in three categories – Supplier, System Integrators and Training and Support Programs. KEF’s win in the Supplier category reinforces their position as a world leader in the high-end audio industry.
The Ci series was also featured in industry giant Sam Runco’s home for which dealer All Around Sound was awarded with a EH Home of the Year Award for “Best Wow Factor”(Bronze) at EHX Spring 2007.
About the Ci 3-80QT
The KEF Custom Installation Series Ci 3-80QT is an in-ceiling loudspeaker with a motorized mount, a 3″ Uni-Q driver array, and two 3″ long-throw bass cones. KEF pioneered the motorized speaker concept, and the Ci 3-80QT has established this new category with a focus on both form and function. Unlike conventional in-wall speakers, whose static position limits their imaging capability, the motorized Ci 3-80QT automatically tilts down from the ceiling, positioning the drivers to directly face the audience.
The Ci 3-80QT’s Uni-Q driver array envelopes all listeners, even those sitting outside of the typical “sweet spot,” with an expansive and lifelike soundstage. In addition to broad dispersion, Uni-Q technology creates true “vocal intelligibility,” which allows the Ci 3-80QT to deliver perfectly comprehensible on-screen dialogue. Voices emerge as transparently clear, whether whispered or shouted, even when mixed with ambient sound and music.
When the system is turned off, the Ci 3-80QT automatically returns to its unobtrusive ceiling-flush position. No other speaker can achieve the Ci 3-80QT’s sonic imaging precision while so seamlessly integrating with any high-end audio or video component.
Talking Points:
• The KEF Ci 3-80QT received Mark of Excellence Award from Consumer Electronics Association.
• The Ci 3-80QT was chosen as “Best Speaker” in the Supplier category.
• The awards were announced at an awards dinner held during the Electronic House Expo (EHX) in Orlando on March 9, 2007.
About KEF Audio
KEF Audio, a division of GP Acoustics, is a UK based company that has earned a reputation as the premier manufacturer of stunning, audiophile-quality speakers for modern home cinema, hi-fi and custom installation applications. KEF products which are distributed around the globe, have won awards from both sides of the Atlantic, as KEF is a brand name long associated with style, quality and technical innovation.
Founded in 1961 by a British electrical engineer named Raymond Cooke on the banks of the River Medway, KEF is driven by a passionate belief in the power of new materials, new technologies and design ingenuity. Still occupying the same riverbank site, KEF passionately remains true to its patented, proven technologies such as Uni-Q and ACE. These characteristics, traditions and above all sound quality, secure KEF’s world-class reputation.
About KEF America, Inc.
KEF America, a division of KEF Audio, offers loyal North American audiophiles a stream of innovative speakers and components unmatched in the industry. Headquartered in Marlboro, New Jersey, KEF America shares the same guiding principles as its British counterpart: ground-breaking design, exceptional sound and an unshakeable commitment to excellence.
For additional information about KEF and its award-winning products, please visit www.kef.com.
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