The Altitude range is now complete. From compact media rooms to the world’s most ambitious private cinemas, there is now a Trinnov processor designed to fit. What unites them is uncompromised performance, powered by Trinnov’s exclusive technologies: Optimizer™, WaveForming™, and Remapping™. What separates them is how they integrate into your system. On one hand, the Altitude16 and Altitude32 remain the reference for analog-first systems, where integrators and audiophiles want freedom to use the vast majority of power amplifiers on the market. On the other side, the AltitudeCI introduces a new hardware platform, built for Custom Integration, with Audio over IP (AoIP) at its core and scalability that extends all the way to DCI-grade theaters and theatrical post-production. All models will benefit from Trinnov’s redesigned, streamlined user interface,  a premium, professional workflow consistent across the range. The question is not which sounds better,  they all do. The real question is: which Altitude fits your project?

The Two Families at a Glance

ALTITUDE16/32 – ANALOG-FIRST, AUDIOPHILE-FRIENDLYMore than 95% of power amplifiers still accept analog inputs only. For that reason, the Altitude16 and Altitude32 remain the natural choice for the majority of projects. They provide maximum amplifier freedom and remain the safest fit when networking expertise is limited. Altitude16 provides 16 channels natively and can be expanded to 20 via the +4 option, enabling up to 20 discrete outputs, for example 9.1.6, 11.1.8, or 7.4.6 depending on your bass strategy,  making it a robust analog‑first choice for dedicated theaters. Altitude32 is expandable from 8 to 32 channels via DAC boards. It has become the benchmark for reference theaters worldwide, not only because of its performance but also because of its long-term flexibility: integrators can start smaller and expand the channel count over time.

Which Trinnov Processor is right for your project?

ALTITUDE^CI – AOIP-FIRST, CI-OPTIMIZED

The Altitude^CI represents a new hardware generation, designed for AoIP-first workflows. It is available in precise configurations, scaling in 2-channel increments from 8 up to 32 outputs. This allows integrators to select exactly the right capacity for their project, without unnecessary overhead. For the largest theaters and post-production facilities, 64-channel builds will be available from 2026, extending the same platform into DCI-grade applications.

The Altitude^CI Rear Panel

Connectivity is built around Dante (hardware) and AES67 (software), with additional AES/EBU I/Os and 8 analog outputs for hybrid designs. A compact 2RU chassis, integrated touchscreen, and a three-port Ethernet design make it a natural fit for technical racks and networked environments.

The Altitude^CI shines when paired with power amplifiers equipped with digital inputs, most notably the Amplitude¹⁶ with its optional Dante board, or with AoIP-ready amplifiers from other vendors. It requires more networking expertise to deploy correctly, but in return it delivers exceptional scalability, cleaner wiring, and the most efficient rack usage of any Altitude model.

How to Decide Between Altitude^CI and Altitude^16/32?

INTEGRATION AND SKILLSET

The first decision point is not performance but infrastructure and installer expertise.

• If your project is analog-heavy and your team prefers traditional wiring, the Altitude^16/32 remains the safest and most flexible choice.
• If your project is designed around AoIP and your integrator is confident with networking (Dante Controller, VLANs, QoS, and traffic isolation), the Altitude^CI is the more forward-looking option.

CHANNEL COUNT SPLIT

Channel count is the second major qualifier:

• 8–20 channels → Altitude¹⁶ or Altitude^CI both suitable.
• 20–48 channels → Altitude³² or Altitude^CI both valid choices.
• 48–64 channels → Altitude^CI only (build-to-order, available from 2026).

Altitude³² also serves as an upgradable smaller system: it can start with as few as 8 channels and grow to 32 through additional DAC boards, a path some integrators value for future-proofing.

Technical Differences That Matter

• Outputs: Altitude^16/32 provide extensive analog outputs; Altitude^CI offers only 8 analog outs but adds AoIP and AES/EBU flexibility.
• HDMI: Altitude^16/32 feature 8 HDMI inputs; Altitude^CI includes 4, typically sufficient in CI environments where video matrices handle switching.
• Sampling Rate: All Altitude processors process at the native sampling rate up to 192kHz depending on channel count. When using AoIP, the limitation comes from the network itself, Dante and AES67 streams are typically restricted to 48kHz. This is not a processor limitation but a network constraint.
• 3D Microphone:
  • Altitude^16/32 use Trinnov’s previous-generation, self-powered 3D microphones with XLR3 or XLR5 connectors, requiring manual upload of the calibration file.
  • Altitude^CI requires Trinnov’s new Ethercon-based 3D microphone, powered directly by the processor, which automatically feeds its compensation file
  • The two microphone generations are not compatible, a detail important for integrators with mixed inventories.

Trinnov’s new Ethercon 3D Measurement Microphone

Project Scenarios

• Media Rooms & Hi-Fi (Stereo to 7.1.4)Both Altitude¹⁶ and Altitude^CI can serve these projects, but in different ways. The Altitude¹⁶ is the natural fit when paired with analog amplifiers. The Altitude^CI, available as an 8-channel configuration, is particularly efficient for smaller systems such as stereo, 5.1, or 7.1, avoiding unused channels while adding AoIP flexibility. It becomes even more compelling when digital-input amplifiers are part of the design.
• Dedicated Theaters (≈16–20 outputs)The Altitude¹⁶ delivers 16 channels natively and up to 20 with the +4 option, supporting layouts such as 9.4.6, 11.2.6, or 11.1.8. Beyond 20 outputs, the choice shifts to the Altitude³² for analog-first projects or the Altitude^CI-16/20 for AoIP-first systems — especially effective when paired with the Amplitude¹⁶.
• Large Private Cinemas (≈22–32 outputs)For theaters requiring higher channel counts such as 13.4.6 or 15.8.9, the Altitude³² remains the strongest option for analog-based projects, while the Altitude^CI-22 to ^CI-32 provides hybrid routing and full AoIP scalability.
• DCI-Grade & Post-Production (up to 64 outputs)At the very top end, only the Altitude^CI is designed to meet these requirements. It offers Dolby server compatibility over AES67 and the scalability needed for screening rooms, large private cinemas, and professional post-production facilities.

Conclusion

All Altitude processors deliver identical Trinnov sound quality, the same exclusive technologies, and the same redesigned user interface. Choosing between them is not a matter of audio performance, it is a matter of infrastructure, amplifier choice, and integrator skillset. Choose Altitude16/32 if you want maximum amplifier freedom, more analog outputs, and the reassurance of traditional wiring. Choose AltitudeCIif your system is AoIP-centric, rack efficiency is a priority, and your integrator has the network expertise to implement it properly. Either way, you are investing in the most advanced AV processor platform available today, built to deliver uncompromised performance for years to come.

AOIP IS MORE THAN A CABLE

In high-end audio, new formats and interfaces are often adopted quickly. Audio over IP (AoIP) is different. Moving audio to the network is not just a matter of replacing analog or AES/EBU cables with Ethernet. It reshapes how systems are designed, deployed, and maintained.

Once audio is transported as network traffic, integrators face challenges that go beyond audio alone: latency management, clock synchronization, traffic isolation, and quality of service all come into play. These are concepts more familiar to IT specialists than to traditional Hi-Fi or home cinema installers. AoIP is therefore not only a technical shift, but a cultural one.

For many integrators, that shift requires support, training, and carefully considered tools. 

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE FIRST

Park Road Post Production in New Zealand – Peter Jackson’s legendary facility, uses Trinnov MC processors with MC Dante.

Trinnov has not been absent from the AoIP conversation. Since 2018, we have supported Dante® in professional markets, where large-scale audio distribution and interoperability are common. That experience taught us how to address clock domains, jitter, and routing in mission-critical environments.

But for residential projects, we chose to wait. Not because we couldn’t implement AoIP, but because we wanted to do it right. At Trinnov, new technologies are introduced only when they enhance performance, reliability, and long-term system value. 

That is why AoIP arrives on our residential platform today, in the form of the Altitude^CI.

Engineering a Reliable Foundation

INTEGRATED BY DESIGN WITH NATIVE DANTE AND AES67

In the Altitude^CI, AoIP is part of the core architecture from the ground up. This approach makes it possible to address one of the most complex challenges in modern AV: multiple unsynchronized clock domains. HDMI brings one clock, AoIP brings another. Without proper management, those streams can drift, causing jitter or instability.

To resolve this, Trinnov developed its own software-domain Asynchronous Sample Rate Converter (ASRC) for Ravenna/AES67. This in-house work took years to complete, and it ensures real-time reconciliation of independent clocks without compromising transparency. We chose the software approach because we wanted every Altitude^CI to support both Ravenna/AES67 and Dante natively. That way, integrators know their needs are covered from the start, without having to make protocol choices upfront or invest in additional hardware they might not need.

The AltitudeCI’s Three-Port Network Artchitecture

ASRC itself is common in AoIP, but Trinnov’s custom software implementation is what sets the Altitude^CI apart, delivering both stability and flexibility while maintaining our long-standing standards for signal integrity.

THREE-PORT NETWORK ARCHITECTURE

Another part of this foundation is the Altitude^CI’s three-port Ethernet design. The processor includes one RJ45 port and two SFP cages, which support either copper or fiber connections. By default, Port 1 is isolated from Ports 2 and 3. This means control traffic and AoIP audio can live on separate networks, a best practice that reduces congestion and prevents interference.

At the same time, all three ports are fully configurable. They can be assigned to different roles, combined for redundancy, or adapted to fit unique topologies. This flexibility ensures the Altitude^CI can integrate smoothly into anything from a single-room theater to a complex yacht installation, it also makes the Altitude^CI well-suited for high-security environments.

Making AoIP Practical for Integrators

DIRECTLINK AS A SHORTCUT

With the DirectLink approach, one can link the Altitude^CI directly to the Amplitude¹⁶ with a single Ethernet cable.

In some projects, the challenge with AoIP is not the protocol itself but the risk of congestion when audio traffic shares space with heavy network activity. DirectLink addresses this by creating a dedicated path between the Altitude^CI and an Amplitude¹⁶ equipped with the Dante input board. By isolating AoIP traffic from the client’s main network, it ensures audio runs smoothly while keeping setup straightforward and repeatable.

DirectLink is not a new technology, but a method made possible by the Altitude^CI’s flexible three-port network architecture. Because each port can be configured independently, integrators can separate control, internet, and AoIP traffic in a way that fits the project.

It is important to see DirectLink for what it is: a practical shortcut. It makes integration easier and more predictable, but it does not replace best practices. Long-term reliability still comes from understanding how to design proper AoIP networks, which is why Trinnov continues to invest in training and education to empower integrators with that knowledge.

REAL-WORLD ADVANTAGES

With AoIP implemented at the core of Altitude^CI, integrators gain practical benefits that translate directly into better projects:

• Scalability: from 8 to 32 channels today, with 64-channel builds available from 2026.
• Output flexibility: hybrid routing with analog, AES/EBU, and Dante/AES67 outputs.
• Cleaner racks: fewer converters and less cabling bulk.
• Space efficiency: easier deployment in tight environments, such as yachts or compact rack rooms.
• Compatibility: Dante preferred for outputs, AES67 for inputs, particularly when integrating with devices like the Dolby CP950 or IMS3000 cinema servers.
• Consistent quality: the Altitude^CI and Amplitude¹⁶ share the same DAC architecture, so whether conversion happens at the processor or the amplifier, sound quality remains seamless and transparent.

SOFTWARE-FIRST, PAY ONLY FOR WHAT YOU NEED

AoIP does more than simplify cabling or enable higher channel counts. It also unlocks a new value model for integrators and end-users.

Because the Altitude^CI is built on a software-based architecture , outputs are licensed in 2-channel increments. Whether you start with 8, 12, or 20 channels, you pay only for what the project requires today. When it’s time to expand, additional channels can be unlocked via software, with no need for new hardware, expansion boards, or unnecessary upfront costs.

This flexibility reflects Trinnov’s software-first approach: we invest in developing our own solutions and routing architecture so integrators gain precise scalability without compromise. The result is a processor that adapts to the system, not the other way around, redefining what an AV processor can deliver in terms of both performance and long-term value.

Ready for Today, Built for Tomorrow

HYBRID FREEDOM

AoIP is not replacing analog. It is expanding what is possible. The Altitude^CI supports hybrid topologies where analog, AES/EBU, and AoIP outputs coexist.

Every speaker or subwoofer output can be routed to any output, regardless of its type, ensuring consistency while leaving integrators free to choose the most appropriate path.

This flexibility makes it easier to design transitional systems that combine legacy hardware with future-ready infrastructure.

WHY NOW MATTERS

For Trinnov, the timing of AoIP adoption was not about being first to market. It was about being ready. AoIP, done properly, requires more than protocol compliance. It requires engineering at the platform level, a vision for long-term scalability, and the responsibility to empower integrators who must deliver reliable systems to their clients.

That is why AoIP enters Trinnov’s residential portfolio now, not as an experiment, but as a mature solution embedded in the Altitude^CI. It is ready for today’s projects and built to grow into tomorrow’s.

Takeaway

Audio over IP marks a turning point in residential AV. It introduces efficiency, scalability, and new design freedoms, but it also demands careful engineering and new expertise. Trinnov’s deliberate timing ensures that AoIP can be embraced by everyone without compromise.

By building AoIP directly into the Altitude^CI, supporting both Dante and AES67, and providing methods like DirectLink alongside education and training, we give integrators the tools they need to succeed in this new era.

AoIP isn’t just here. It’s ready.

With dual-native AES67 and Dante support; 8 to 32-channels; and exclusive Trinnov technology, AltitudeCI has the flexibility for any premium audio application

Paris, France, and East Hampton, Connecticut, USA – August 26, 2025 – Trinnov Audio today announces the release of Altitude^CI, a fully networked, Audio-over-IP (AoIP) processor designed specifically for the custom integration (CI) market. Scalable, flexible, and compact, Altitude^CI delivers premium immersive audio for projects ranging from high-end media rooms to DCI-grade private cinemas.

“Altitude^CI makes Trinnov performance available to more projects than ever before,” said Arnaud Laborie, Trinnov Audio Co-Founder and CEO. “This is the one platform integrators can rely on for every immersive audio project, regardless of scale, infrastructure, or performance demands.”

Altitude^CI is the first processor in its class to offer native support for both Dante® and Ravenna®/AES67, offering seamless compatibility across consumer and professional audio infrastructures. This “best of both worlds” architecture enables direct integration with Dolby Atmos® and DCI servers via AES67, while managing output through Dante without the need for external converters.

Altitude^CI brings Trinnov’s renowned performance within reach for a wider range of premium installations than ever before: it introduces a modular licensing model that allows integrators to specify channel count in 2-channel increments. Altitude^CI is available in configurations from 8 to 32 channels,  with a custom 64-channel version arriving in 2026. Upgrades can be activated remotely via Trinnov’s extranet, maximizing long-term flexibility.

Exclusive Acoustics Technology

Altitude^CI includes Trinnov’s full suite of proprietary active acoustics technologies, including:

• Optimizer™: 3D room and speaker correction system that precisely calibrates phase, EQ, level, and delay.
• WaveForming™: Trinnov’s groundbreaking low-frequency optimization tool that actively eliminates room modes for impactful bass and unprecedented seat-to-seat consistency.
• Remapping™: Ensures accurate immersive format rendering, even in acoustically or architecturally compromised rooms.

These technologies are delivered via Trinnov’s exclusive software-based platform with 64-bit floating-point processing: powerful architecture that enables exceptional audio fidelity and future-ready expansion potential.

Rack-Efficient Design and Simplified Setup

Altitude^CI is built with installers in mind. The streamlined 2RU chassis includes eight analog outputs, ideal for active subwoofer, or WaveForming™ applications or 7.1 systems. HDMI support (4 in, 2 out) ensures compatibility with matrix-based video systems. Altitude^CI also has three independently configurable Ethernet ports, including two with SFP cages, supporting robust network architectures with separated or redundant control, audio, and service traffic.

System setup has been streamlined as well: The newly redesigned Altitude user interface features a guided calibration workflow, making Trinnov’s powerful tuning tools more user-friendly while preserving expert-level control. 

Power Couple: Altitude^CI and Amplitude¹⁶ with Dante

To complete the AoIP ecosystem, Trinnov now offers an optional Dante input board for the award-winning Amplitude¹⁶ multichannel amplifier. This addition enables end-to-end AoIP signal flow—from processor to amplifier.

The input board uses the same high-performance DACs architecture as the Altitude line, preserving signal integrity and achieving exceptional dynamic range. The Amplitude¹⁶ features an inherently quiet design, unequalled by commercial AoIP amplifiers but essential for high-performance audio applications. Together, Altitude^CI and Amplitude¹⁶ form a fully digital, networked signal chain in just 5RU, delivering audiophile-grade performance with maximum rack efficiency.

Discover the Altitude^CI at CEDIA Expo 

Trinnov will debut the Altitude^CI at CEDIA Expo 2025 in Denver, Colorado, September 4–6. Attendees are invited to experience the Altitude^CI at the Trinnov High Performance Audio room (HPA208), with live demos, full system tours, and one-on-one partner consultations.

Trinnov will also offer a free training session on Altitude^CI on September 3 at 2:00 PM MT. Seating is limited to 50 participants; attendees can reserve a spot by registering on Trinnov’s dedicated CEDIA webpage.

Altitude^CI will ship in Q4 2025. 

A New Altitude Experience Ahead: Upcoming Major Software Update   We are thrilled to announce a landmark software update for the Altitude audio processor line. Featuring a brand-new user interface and Trinnov’s latest updated implementations of Dolby Atmos, DTS:X Pro, and Auro-3D, this release will bring a renewed user experience to all Altitude owners    Read more

Cinema Solutions – Buy Trinnov Once And Never Look Back!

Trinnov went to Sweden to visit our dealer Cinema Solutions, an experienced integrator. 

Jacob Sernefell, founder of Cinema Solutions, has 20 years of experience in the AV industry. His passion for home cinema design pushed him to start the company four years ago, and now provides top-notch AV experience to his clients.

We interviewed him in this 11.8.10 home theater, featuring a Procella speaker system and a Trinnov Altitude32 processor. For Jacob, investing in a Trinnov is a wise long-term investment, preventing customers from switching from processor to processor every couple of years.

Please introduce yourself

I’ve been working in this industry for 20 plus years, doing many cinemas but also smart homes, lighting, curtains etc…but my passion really lies in home cinemas. Four years back, I started my own company called Cinema Solutions to try to make the best home theaters for my customers. The aim is for them to have a luxury place to enjoy with the whole family, relax and just have a good time. 

What was the client’s intent?

This particular client was having some demonstrations where he felt like he wanted to be in the middle of the action. He wanted an immersive experience. To accomplish that, we need, of course, ear level sound, low-frequency sound from subwoofers and some overheads, to get a nice sound bubble.

To make that work with all the spatialization going on and the sound moving in the room (for example, a thunder coming in and leaving in the back and stuff like that), requires a really high-quality processor. So that’s why we went with the Procella speakers here. We have 11 ear channel speakers, eight subwoofers and 10 overhead speakers for Atmos, DTS:X and also some Auro integration.

With this setup, can you use different formats?

We can. We don’t have everything in the exact places where it’s supposed to be. For all the formats, we made a hybrid layout where it suits most use cases of our client. For instance, when we’re watching a concert, we always use the Auro3D. It gives that little bit of extra.

You feel like you’re really there and you’re truly enjoying it. To make that work, in the entire world, there are very few companies who can pull that off in terms of processing. And that’s one reason why we work with Trinnov. It’s so powerful in the processing, and it works with different formats. That’s really unusual in the industry. So Trinnov is really giving us the opportunity to make that happen here.

What sets Trinnov apart from other brands?

With Trinnov you get a very nice calibration system and the optimization gives us the possibility to adjust time, phase and delays. This is because the speakers are in different places, and you don’t sit in the same place all the time. We constantly try to think of it as a really impressive big toolbox.

With the Trinnov system, you have all the tools you need. That doesn’t mean that you should use them heavily, but some of them should just be there, just in case. And some of them you need to tweak a little bit. We constantly try to make the best possible room before. So we have good acoustics, to have a good clean sheet for sound to be very nicely reproduced. And then we use the optimization to do that little bit of extra tweak for the client.

There’s also built-in flexibility that allows us to do so much! We can choose how much it should do, how little it should do, where it should do it, if not to do it in some part of the frequency range… That’s really, really outstanding.

How would you describe your experience working with Trinnov?

As an integrator, you come up with loads of different problems that you need to solve on the fly. And all of those concerns haven’t reached a support team in another country yet. It could be just an upgrade for an HDMI card. It could be Apple TV, a new software upgrade or something that went wrong, and it went wrong in that system. And then it’s very good to have a great support team, which also includes sales team, because the sales hear about this more frequently as they are around visiting many different cinemas.

I can’t find it in any other company than Trinnov, so it’s a blessing working that way. And then in Sweden, we’re also fortunate enough to have a great distributor for Trinnov. They’re helping out a lot, not just with the technical stuff, but also with logistics and planning, how to get stuff in time and all of that. We’re very fortunate here to have that. 

”Buy quality the first time and you will be much happier.”

In your opinion, should other integrators consider using Trinnov?

It’s a matter of what do you want out of your home theater. For me, it’s all about the experience. I want to have a great experience when I’m sitting there, and you can’t get a great experience if you’re not using the right solution. Trinnov is making the best sound processing we have ever heard. So that’s why we like using it.

Also, one interesting thing is that in smaller rooms, which we have quite a lot in Sweden. It becomes even more important how the processing is done because you can’t get away with big spaces and the sound traveling some space. It needs to be very precise, and that is a perfect reason why you should invest in a Trinnov in the first place.

The other thing is that it’s lasting so long. It was released eight years ago, there’s still nothing on the market that surpasses it. If you want to go another way, go ahead. You might be happy, but you will need to change your receiver or your processor in a couple of years, and then in a couple of years again. And in a couple of years again. So I have clients who’ve been on this journey over these eight years who have switched processors four times, and it’s not going to be cheaper. So buy quality the first time and you will be much happier.