Most AV processors assume the room is fine. The Trinnov Altitude CI-8 does not. It was built on the understanding that the room is always part of the signal chain — and that until you correct for it properly, you are not hearing what the recording contains.
That philosophy, developed over a decade in professional cinema and studio environments, is what makes the CI-8 the processor of choice for serious home cinema installations.
A Platform Built for Networks
The CI-8 is a 2RU AV processor designed for custom installation. It handles 7.1 channels natively, with a software upgrade path to 32 channels in 2-channel increments — no new hardware required as your system grows.
What distinguishes it from conventional AV processors is that Audio over IP is not an afterthought. Hardware Dante and software Ravenna/AES67 run simultaneously, giving installers the flexibility to integrate the CI-8 into complex distributed audio systems, DCI server environments, or networked home automation platforms without compromise.
Three independently configurable Gigabit Ethernet ports — two with SFP cages supporting fibre or copper — allow control, audio, and service networks to run separately, or provide redundant AoIP signal paths where reliability is non-negotiable.
The Optimizer: Room Correction Done Properly
Trinnov's Optimizer is the reason people specify this processor over everything else. Using a dedicated 3D measurement microphone, it analyses your room and corrects each speaker's phase, level, delay, and equalisation individually. Not as a group — individually. The compensation file now uploads automatically through the calibration wizard, which streamlines commissioning considerably.
WaveForming tackles bass, synchronising multiple subwoofers to eliminate the standing waves and room modes that undermine low-frequency performance in almost every domestic space. The result is bass that is consistent across the room, not just at the prime seat.
Remapping addresses speaker placement. When the architecture of a room prevents ideal positioning — which it almost always does — Remapping corrects the spatial discrepancies mathematically, preserving accurate imaging regardless of where the speakers ended up.
For larger installations, the same Optimizer platform scales through the Trinnov Altitude16 and Trinnov Altitude32.
Format Support and Connectivity
The CI-8 decodes Dolby Atmos, DTS:X Pro, Auro-3D, and IMAX Enhanced natively. Upmixers for Dolby Surround, DTS Neural:X, and Auro-Matic are included for non-native content. HDMI 2.1 handles 8K30 and 4K120 pass-through, with full HDR support including Dolby Vision, HDR10+, HLG, VRR, and ALLM.
Native control drivers for Crestron, Control4, Savant, RTI, AMX, and AVA are built in. Remote access via my.trinnov.audio allows installers to manage and update systems without a site visit — which matters both at commissioning and over the life of the installation.
For amplification, the CI-8 pairs directly with the Trinnov Amplitude8 and Trinnov Amplitude8m, keeping the signal path entirely within the Trinnov ecosystem.
Who Should Specify It?
The CI-8 is the entry point into the Altitude CI platform, which means it carries the full weight of Trinnov's processing capability at a channel count suited to most premium residential projects. It belongs in dedicated media rooms, high-performance living room systems, and any installation where the client will not accept a compromise between performance and integration.
At £8,818, it demands a serious budget. But at this level of installation, the processor is the last place to save money.
Hear It at Martins Hi-Fi
Martin's Hi-Fi has been in Norwich since 1968. Elizabeth Gould runs the business today, and we stock only brands we have heard properly and stand behind. Dave and Chris can walk you through the full Altitude CI platform and help you specify the right configuration — whether that is a straightforward 7.1 system or a complex networked cinema build.
Contact us at info@martinshifi.co.uk, call 01603 627010, or WhatsApp on 07554 687137. You can read more about how we work on our Why Martin's page (https://www.martinshifi.co.uk/about-us/why-martins/). We are at 85–91 Ber Street, Norwich, NR1 3EY.
