(July 27, 2026) Audio Advice Live returns to Raleigh next week, and one of its most intriguing home theater demos is shaping up to be a monster. The annual event has already given enthusiasts plenty to circle on the calendar, with live demonstrations, educational sessions, and access to manufacturers across home audio, home theater, projection, displays, and custom integration. But for anyone chasing big cinema sound and serious projection, the Magnolia II room might just be the weekend’s must-hear, must-see stop.
That’s where Ascendo Immersive Audio, Trinnov, and Christie are joining forces for a full-scale cinema showcase. The system pairs Ascendo loudspeakers and subwoofers with Trinnov processing and amplification and Christie projection. It’s being billed as a standout experience, and based on the gear list, that doesn’t feel like a stretch. This is a purpose-built demo designed to show what happens when high-output immersive speakers, advanced bass control, and professional-grade visuals are unified and pushed to extreme levels of performance. And to add a little twist, the system will be deployed in a 25' x 25' x 8' room, which, by audio standards, is far from ideal. Yes, its total size is appealing, but square rooms can be especially challenging when it comes to bass. That makes the low-frequency side of this demo particularly interesting, and a true test of Trinnov's cutting-edge Cylindrical WaveForming technology and Ascendo's low-end subwoofer muscle.
The system will use four, yes four, THE18 SUB Passive Vented subwoofers along the front wall and two more along the rear to create a proper Cylindrical WaveForming array. Ascendo will also add its THE32 infrasub to reach into the deepest bass below WaveForming’s operating range. That means the demo isn’t only aimed at producing bass you can hear. It’s designed to deliver the kind of infrasonic energy that turns bass into a physical part of the movie experience.
The rest of the audio system is equally serious. Trinnov’s flagship AltitudeCI processor will serve as the system brain, joined by an Amplitude16 amplifier and Trinnov’s Dante interface. Ascendo will provide 13 coaxial point-source cinema speakers, creating a 9.7.4 immersive audio system intended to deliver precise imaging and a more consistent experience across the room's seating area.
Christie will handle the visual side of the room with its Korus 4K1000-KS laser projector. Rated at more than 10,000 ISO lumens and built around 0.8" HEP DMD technology with 4K resolution, the projector will be paired with a 135" Stewart Wallscreen Deluxe featuring Harmony woven screen material. So, attendees will experience a bright, detailed image that doesn't hamstring the audio experience, as the woven screen allows the system's speakers to remain properly positioned behind the visual display.
As if that room isn't enough, Ascendo and Trinnov are teaming up for a second audio experience. Located in the upstairs main lobby, showgoers will find a 2.1-channel rig built around Ascendo’s legendary BLACK SWAN loudspeakers, a single THE28 SUB SQUARED, a Trinnov AltitudeCI, and an Amplitude16 amp. Make sure to have this system on your destination list, because it has the makings of something special.
Audio Advice Live 2026 runs Friday, August 7 through Sunday, August 9 at the Sheraton Raleigh Hotel in Raleigh, North Carolina. Show hours are 10 am to 5 pm on Friday and Saturday, and 10 am to 4 pm on Sunday. Early bird ticket pricing is available through August 6, with 1-day passes priced at $25 and 3-day passes priced at $45. On-site tickets, available August 7 through August 9, increase to $30 for a 1-day pass and $50 for a 3-day pass. Child and student admission, ages 21 and under, is free.
AV NIRVANA members can use the exclusive promo code AALNIRVANA to save $5 on a 3-day pass. To buy tickets and learn more, visit the event's website.
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