LIVE @ ISE 2026 - Trinnov Altitude CI Debuts In Europe

Want a cleaner, smarter path to reference home cinema? We sit down with David to unpack the European debut of the Altitude CI and why a license-based, Dante-ready processor can save time, money, and headaches without compromising sound. Instead of locking projects into fixed channel counts, the CI scales in twos—start at eight channels and expand as rooms and ambitions grow. With analogue, AES, and Dante options up to 32 channels—and a Dante hardware variant supporting up to 64 channels—it’s built for modern systems that need flexibility from day one.

We dig into what audio over IP actually means for integrators: less cable chaos, simpler routing, and faster iteration. Dante’s been a staple in pro audio for decades, and now that speaker brands are shipping amps with Dante onboard, residential installers can map one-to-one or one-to-many paths in software rather than with split cables and creative labelling. The gain isn’t raw performance; it’s control, clarity, and confidence when projects get complex. David also walks through Trinnov’s TAC 2 platform, which moves more processing onto the board and can operate stand-alone or paired with a PC for extra horsepower.

A redesigned UI anchors the experience with wizard-driven workflows and a clean split between basic and expert modes. That means faster setup without sacrificing deep access for power users, plus a roadmap to roll out the interface across the wider Trinnov range once the CI’s high-channel demands are fully addressed. For teams looking to skill up, level one training is available online through distribution partners, while level two is in person and covers critical listening and advanced features. And for hands-on demos, Trinnov’s long-awaited Paris facility is almost ready, offering real rooms where integrators can test Dante routing, calibration flows, and multi-amp strategies at scale.

If you care about reference sound, cleaner racks, and painless upgrades, this conversation lays out a blueprint for building theaters that evolve gracefully. Subscribe, share with a colleague who still loves split cables, and leave a review telling us which Altitude CI feature you’d deploy first.

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Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:04

We're here with uh David uh ISE 2026, and David, you've got uh the Trinolf uh CI product here to show us.

What The CI Is For

SPEAKER_01 0:12

Can you tell us a little more about this? Certainly can. Well, first of all, thank you guys for coming back by. Thanks for coming to see us. Um, we've done a lot of content with you guys, the HCA. Um, so we really appreciate your engagement, first of all. So we are this is technically the European debut for the uh for the Altitude CI. So um we launched it in September at CDE US, and now we come all full circle round to uh to uh uh I think you said Amsterdam, it's Barcelona. Barcelona. They were the good old days. So let me just give you the headlines of the Altitude CI. What's it what's it used for? Because obviously we have the Altitude 16 and the Altitude 32, they are very much fixed channel options. So the benefits of the Altitude CI is it's a license model. Okay, so we can do analog up to eight channels, we can do AES CPU up to 32 channels, and we can do Dante up to 32 channels. We have a new uh hardware variant coming uh later in the year, which will go actually up to 64 channels on the Dante side. So super super flexible, but you basically license every two channels. So you know the customer is really only paying for what they need, whereas the previous generation you're fixed by the number of DAC channels or whatever, so it typically goes up in eights rather than going up in twos. So really nice and modular.

SPEAKER_00 1:29

So it makes it much more cost-effective as well for the uh for the end user.

Licensing And Channel Flexibility

SPEAKER_01 1:32

So and you know, it's a new hardware version. Um internally we call it the TAC 2, which is the Trenov Audio Core for those that are interested. Um, but fundamentally, um, a lot more processing is done on that board itself. So actually, you know, it can be a standalone as well as coupled with a PC for the extra horsepower. So this starts at 10,000 euros um sort of retail price. Okay, that gets you eight channels. Yep, and then we go up from there every sort of 900 euros gets you another two channels. So, but you know, that granular when we were designing the product, it was like, do we go in four channels? Do we go in eight channels? No, we go in two, make it nice and granular.

SPEAKER_00 2:08

We'll let everybody else do the maths on that, but you can go up to 32, yeah, as you say, and uh yeah, and it comes in significantly lower than the altitude 32.

Audio Over IP Explained

Dante Routing Advantages

SPEAKER_01 2:16

So begs the question, why would we sort of cannibalize our own business? Please tell us. Yeah, well, you know, and and it and what it's about is the right product for the right solution. So this doesn't replace the altitude 16 or 32, it just offers you a different avenue. So it's primarily audio over IP. So for the audience members that aren't familiar with audio over IP, it's sending the audio over the network rather than a traditional uh analog or digital cable. Now, for us, what does that give in a term of advantage? It's not based around performance, there's no performance benefit as such when it comes to flexibility. So when you're linking to multiple amplifiers, you might be bridging channels. So when you start bridging channels, now you've got to do split cables. So you got all these cables everywhere, and the routing actually becomes quite difficult. What we do in here is we do all the routing in Dante controller, so it makes life so much easier. So it's a one to two, three to four, five, whatever. It's as simple as that. It is as simple as that. Actually, you know, Dante is a super flexible platform, and it really is plug and play. You know, you don't need advanced networking knowledge, there's a couple of key bits that you need to understand, but fundamentally it's plug and play, and away you go.

SPEAKER_00 3:28

So it's it's day one of uh IC 2026, and Dante is the word that we've heard so much more this year. And I didn't realise Dante has been out since the 90s in the in the in the pro pro range.

SPEAKER_01 3:40

So I mean we finally it's come to the residential market, and we've been using Dante in the pro audio environment for uh for years now. Yeah, so it's not new to us, it's new to us in residential, but the application has really been driven by the speaker manufacturers. So many of them are now developing their own amplifiers with Dante on board, and um, you know, it's something we need to follow. It has its advantages, but equally, so does analog and and traditional. Of course, exactly that.

Dante’s Pro Roots Meet Residential

SPEAKER_00 4:06

So this is a brand new product out. Is there software, uh software updates for this?

SPEAKER_01 4:10

Yeah, or so you'll see the new UI and uh the new software on here. Yep, it's nice. Yeah, it is lovely, it's super user-friendly. So, for you guys as integrators, uh, it's a much more tailored workflow, let's put it that way, much more wizard-based. But we've got basic and expert mode, so you don't lose any flexibility, you just gain uh speed and efficiency.

SPEAKER_00 4:31

Because previously it was a bit difficult to navigate, wasn't it? Sometimes you like didn't really know where you were or what you were where you were meant to be going. But with this, it looks well pretty simple to be fair.

New UI And Workflow Updates

Rollout Across Product Range

SPEAKER_01 4:40

Think about our routes, you know. Our routes are in pro audio, so that interface, when it's designed, best part of 20 years ago, makes sense. It was for pro audio. This is obviously now the platform that we're using moving forwards through all of our product range. It will be what immediately, eventually, or how's that working? So it's already available in the pro range, okay, and the residential range in terms of the altitude CI. Right for altitude 16 and 32, uh, it will take a little bit longer. So we've spent more time on the development stage of the software um for the altitude CI, getting that right. Um, remember, this has got to work up to 64 channels. Yes. How do you display 64 graphs, 64 meters, you know, all that sort of stuff? So once we've got that nailed here, then we'll roll it out into the 1632.

SPEAKER_00 5:24

So, what's this space? 68 and 32, but it will be coming, it's not like you're ignoring that, and it's only the CI range, it will be on there.

Training Paths And Levels

SPEAKER_01 5:31

And as I said to you before, you know, this doesn't replace the existing range. So, you know, the benefits of the platform being software upgradable. Um, once we're ready, we just pour the software across. I make it sound very easy. My RD engineers are probably cringing right now, but you know, that's the process. Will this be at the uh the new demonstration facilities you've got in uh Paris? Yeah, it's it's going to be key to what we're doing. So, even working with our distribution partners, we are asking them to move forward with the Altitude CI, um, mainly to get people up to date on the UI, but also introduce them to Dante as well. Because it does have those uh key advantages. So, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 6:05

So, uh, for the Home Cinema Alliance members, where do they go to get trained on on this particular product? And obviously, if they want to come and see you, the new demonstration facilities later next year. What can they need to go to?

Paris Demo Facility Plans

SPEAKER_01 6:15

Um, we do have a level one online training, so you can go via your distributor, whoever that is, um, they can sign you up to our Mindranoff portal, and then you can take the whole course online. And that is that's the basic setup and calibration course. Um, of course, what you miss out on there is the practical element of experience, which some people can can find more easily to do that, and they find it better to but again, you know, it depends on your pass. It depends on your background as an integrator. Yes, if you've done a lot of calibration work, you're learning how to drive the bus. You don't need to learn how to build the road. No, yeah. So that's the analogy. That's why we do that option. Um, of course, we then do a level two training where we that is done in person. There's no way because that's all very critical listening and advanced uh features and all that sort of thing. Yes, of course, fantastic.

SPEAKER_00 7:00

And uh the uh the new demonstration facilities you've got coming in.

SPEAKER_01 7:03

Can you tell us a bit more about those? Obviously, the the Paris office, the long-awaited Paris office. Um there's been some delays. Um, as you guys will be aware, with any building project, things do slip. We're still aiming for this summer. Okay, things open. Um, we need it desperately because all the staff are crammed into a tiny office here. Uh, all 60 odd of them in Paris. So, yeah, we need a new facility as soon as possible. And then we'll get the rooms open, start inviting everybody down. And no doubt, I do think you guys will be one of the first to be there. So, as soon as that invite's available, it'll be out to you.

SPEAKER_00 7:33

Fantastic. Well, we look forward to that, David. Yeah, fantastic. Thanks for showing us this product, and uh it's nice to see it in the flesh. Yeah, and uh enjoy the rest of uh I see. I will. Thanks, dude. Thanks so much. Take care, see you.