Perlisten 14 Subwoofer Trinnov Waveforming Ultimate Demo Experience!

Perlisten 13.14.6 System for Perfect Immersion & Bass in Every Seat?

Each autumn, the CEDIA (Custom Electronics Design and Installation Association) show gives manufacturers and designers the opportunity to show off custom-install products and services for distributed audio, high-end home theater, and related parts of the industry. Some companies keep everything hush-hush before this year’s show, while others have given us a heads-up about what to expect when the doors opened in Denver in September. I much prefer the latter approach, as it gives show-goers and members of the press a chance to create a plan of attack in order to get the most out of their time. Perlisten was once again at this year’s event, and attendees had the unique opportunity to meet key members of their team, all of whom are eager to “share insights into our latest innovations and discuss how we are continuing to push the boundaries of audio technology,” according to the company. (I had the pleasure of interviewing CTO Erik Wiederholtz last year when the brand launched its game-changing Perlisten THX Dominus in-ceiling speakers.)  The company has teamed up with several other elite brands, including Trinnov, Barco, madVR, and Kaleidescape, to create what’s being hailed as “the most advanced and high-performing immersive home theater demonstration ever presented at CEDIA.” The CEDIA show has featured its fair share of heavy-hitting demos over the years, so that’s a bold statement, but one that these brands will surely be ready to back up.

These companies unveiled innovative products and demonstrated “the future of immersive A/V in home theaters, setting a new standard for enthusiasts and professionals alike,” according to a press release from Perlisten. The theater featured no fewer than 33 channels, anchored by the mighty Perlisten S7t Limited Edition floorstanders reproducing the front left, right, and center channels. The room also included ten of Perlisten’s S5i in-wall speakers serving as front wides, three pairs of side surrounds, and rear surrounds. Overhead, there will be six Perlisten S4s speakers reproducing the height channels for Dolby Atmos. 

Finally, the system featured a whopping 14 of Perlisten’s world-beating D215s push-pull active subwoofers, each featuring dual 15-inch woofers driven by 3000 watts of amplification. As our own James Larson explained in his 2021 review, the Perlisten D215s is simply one of the best subwoofers ever made. (See his article: Perlisten D215s: Is This the Most Accurate Subwoofer on the Planet?) Eight of the D215s subs were placed along the front wall (behind the projection screen), and the remaining six were placed along the rear wall. If you’re struggling to keep track of all those channels, the configuration is a dizzying 13.14.6 Perlisten speaker system.

In an age where technology and entertainment merge seamlessly, our immersive home theater demo represents the pinnacle of audio innovation. We are excited to share an audiophile home theater experience with fellow audio professionals and enthusiasts.

Lars Kragh Johansen, Chief Sales Officer at Perlisten Audio

There’s clearly no shortage of brawn in the Perlisten speaker system described above, but it also takes some serious audio brains to make 33 independent sound sources work together in harmony. Audio processing (and presumably, amplification) was provided by the folks at Trinnov, who showcased the brand’s groundbreaking WaveForming technology. Trinnov describes WaveForming as “an entirely new approach to optimizing low frequencies with unprecedented seat-to-seat bass uniformity, impact, and detail, reinforcing Trinnov’s position as the leader in audio processing technology.” That reportedly translates to a level of performance previously unavailable in small rooms. This new technology recently became available for Trinnov owners in early August of 2024 via the release of software version 4.4.0 for the Trinnov Altitude platform. WaveForming uses a unique active acoustics approach that reportedly eliminates room modes rather than compensating for them. And while not everyone will have the space or budget for 14 Perlisten subwoofers, the folks at Trinnov have developed flexible subwoofer layout options, allowing integrators to deploy WaveForming with as few as four subwoofers, according to the company.

As my colleague Matthew Poes explains in his article Trinnov Reveals Details of WaveForming Redefines Low Frequency Reproduction, Trinnov’s WaveForming technology is a cutting-edge “Multiple Source Multiple Controller” (MSMC) approach, utilizing all speakers in the system to address acoustical challenges. Trinnov leverages properly-positioned subwoofers on the front wall to narrow dispersion, bending the low-frequency radiation and confining it to specific areas. Trinnov also incorporates an additional set of subwoofers on the back wall, designed to capture and cancel the sound waves, preventing the formation of longitudinal modes. 

WaveForming relies on 4 major innovations, including the MSMC approach, arguably the most significant one. MSMC stands for Multiple Sources, Multiple Controllers, and truly differentiates WaveForming from any other low-frequency optimization technology. With other methods, each low-frequency source (usually a subwoofer) is driven and considered individually. WaveForming drives multiple sources individually and combines them together to create a single acoustic source. This single acoustical source forms the appropriate wavefront (Wavefront Synthesis) for the acoustic environment. In practical terms, WaveForming steers bass towards the listening area and away from the most reflecting surfaces (via Acoustic Reshaping) to limit and control the amount of reflections created in the room.

— Trinnov

Trinnov WaveForming technology represents a seismic shift in the world of home theater design and how we approach low frequency mode control. By leveraging advanced algorithms and sophisticated signal processing, this groundbreaking technology offers unparalleled control over low-frequency sound reproduction.

Video content for the system was refined by madVR video processing before being blasted onto a Seymour screen by a Barco Nerthus projector, delivering up to 32,000 lumens. The theater space was designed by Italy’s Officina Acustica, which builds interiors for private cinemas, media rooms, screening rooms, mixing/mastering studios, and “any space that requires exquisite interior design and incredible acoustic performance.”

Perlisten / Trinnov Demo Room Listening Impressions

Our own Matthew Poes was at CEDIA 2024 this year to give his listening impressions. According to Matt: 

"the Perlisten and Trinnov room at CEDIA 2024 delivered the most impressive audio demonstration of the event. In fact, it wasn’t just the standout demo this year—it was the best performance I’ve heard from Trinnov to date. The Perlisten speakers achieved a superb balance, combining neutral high-fidelity sound with effortless dynamic range. The bass, possibly the cleanest I’ve encountered in any demo, was remarkably precise, with tight, controlled response—no overhang, rattles, or unwanted resonance. The result was an exceptional auditory experience, with outstanding spatial accuracy and little to criticize."

About Matthew Poes: As a professional luxury home cinema designer, engineer, and project manager, Matt specializes in transforming his clients' visions into immersive, high-performance spaces. By bridging the gap between creative ideas and technical execution, Matt ensures every home cinema project exceeds expectations and delivers an unparalleled entertainment experience.