Maximum AV Hosts an Immersive Trinnov & RBH Sound Audio Listening Event

On Friday, February 20, 2026, Tampa’s Audioholics community gathered at Maximum AV for an immersive listening event hosted by Trinnov Audio and RBH Sound. I’ve seen our relationships with these companies evolve from early product coverage into genuine industry partnerships built on engineering respect and shared passion for high-performance audio. Attending the February 20th event at Maximum AV wasn’t just another assignment for me, but moreover, it felt like a continuation of decades of collaboration. I’ve personally covered RBH Sound loudspeakers and reported on Trinnov’s groundbreaking processing technologies as they’ve redefined what’s possible in immersive audio. Seeing those technologies and loudspeakers come together in a real-world showroom setting, hosted by a dealer like Maximum AV that values proper setup and demonstration, reinforced why I’ve stayed in this industry so long. Although Audioholics is known for their detailed and scientific analysis of the specifications of audio systems, it's nice to get out of the lab every once in a while to see friends and engineers behind the technology, and share those firsthand impressions with our readers. Events like this are a reminder of how those long-term connections translate into meaningful listening experiences.

Audioholics has a long-standing relationship with RBH Sound and Vice President of Engineering, Shane Rich that dates back over two and a half decades. Audioholics President Gene Della Sala often jokes, "I am addicted to Audio, and Shane Rich is my dealer!".  We've recently reviewed products from RBH Sound like their 55-ir LCR Bookshelf Loudspeakers, Unrivaled 81/AX Active Monitor, and one of the speakers we listened to at the event, RBH Sound’s SFTR Speakers. We've also covered many of Trinnov's innovations including how their WaveForming technology that redefines low frequency reproduction and its potential impact on immersive sound system design. We frequently reference Trinnov’s technologies when comparing advanced room optimization and immersive audio formats (such as Dolby Atmos up to 32 channels) within industry analysis. 

The evening was equal parts technology showcase and enthusiast meet-up, complete with food, drinks, live demos, and on-camera reactions led by Gene DellaSala and Maximum AV’s Gabe Martinez. Four rooms, four distinct systems, and one clear takeaway: thoughtful system design and proper calibration still matter more than ever.

Room 1: The Trinnov Altitude CI Immersive Theater and RBH Sound in-wall speakers

Room 1 was the custom integration showcase, anchored by the Trinnov AltitudeCI processor (approximately $18,000 MSRP depending on configuration) paired with the Trinnov Amplitude16 (approximately $13,200 MSRP). This system demonstrated Trinnov’s push into CI with added balanced analog outputs and a new GUI, while retaining core technologies like Optimizer, remapping, advanced bass management, and multi-way active crossover capability.

Speaker layout 

 

Front LCR duties were handled by three RBH Reference 632-I in-wall speakers (approximately $1,100 each). Surrounds consisted of two RBH Reference 621-I in-walls (approximately $900 each). Overhead Atmos channels were delivered by four RBH Reference 815 ceiling speakers (approximately $1,000 each). Low-frequency support came from dual RBH Reference 1212 subwoofers (approximately $3,500 each) powered by bridged channels of the Amplitude16.

Everything was concealed in-wall and in-ceiling, yet the sonic presentation was anything but hidden. The dual Reference 1212 subwoofers delivered tight, authoritative low-frequency output with excellent integration. It never felt bloated or disconnected. Bass transitions into the lower midrange were seamless, a testament to Trinnov’s advanced bass management and room correction.

Canyon scene from Top Gun: Maverick

The canyon scene from Top Gun: Maverick was a visceral demonstration of transient impact and dynamic headroom. Jet flyovers were rendered with explosive immediacy, yet there was no compression or strain. The speakers filled the room with a wall of coherent sound that remained controlled and layered. The Atmos steering was particularly impressive. Overhead pans were precise without sounding spotty or gimmicky. The remapping technology preserved spatial cohesion even when listeners shifted off-axis. Dialogue through the Reference 632-I LCR array was clear, dynamic, and intelligible at both moderate and reference-level playback. This room represented roughly a $65,000–$75,000 installed electronics and speaker package before labor and acoustic treatment. This was serious performance aimed squarely at the high-end custom theater market.

RBH Sound 61 Series Towers Floored Us at MaximumAV Listening Event!

Room 2: RBH UNRIVALED SFTR/AX – Active 2-Channel Authority

Room 2 showcased the RBH SFTR loudspeakers with powered bass drivers from RBH’s UNRIVALED series, with a starting price of $17k/pair depending on configuration and finish options. This system can be upgraded to what Gene has at his place to a fully active version. The RBH SFTR/AX pairs RBH’s refined driver architecture with full active amplification and DSP processing to deliver a compact but very capable reference-grade loudspeaker. According our reviews, the SFTR/AX fully active version “gives you near the performance of their massive SVTRS flagship but in a more compact design,” with a reported flat in-room extension down into the single-digit hertz region thanks to its dual active 12″ sealed subwoofer modules and DSP correction.  The mid/tweeter portion of the modular tower combines dual 8″ proprietary aluminum cone mid/woofers arranged above and below a high-resolution AMT tweeter for detailed midrange and highs, with the bottom module’s dual 12″ long-throw aluminum subwoofers providing deep, robust bass. Unlike the passive version, the SFTR/AX uses active DSP crossovers and a linear-phase digital crossover network with finite-impulse-response filters for optimized driver alignment and seamless frequency response, backed by about 4,500 W of onboard amplification: 250 W per tweeter channel, 500 W per mid-range channel, and 1,500 W per subwoofer channel, resulting in a level of precision and control that exceeds typical passive designs.

Listening selections included:
Stevie Ray Vaughan – “Tin Pan Alley”
Woong San – “I Can’t Stand the Rain”

From the first notes of “Tin Pan Alley,” the system established a cavernous, enveloping soundstage. The decay on cymbals and the texture of Vaughan’s guitar strings hung in space with startling realism. These speakers project scale—large, effortless, and dynamically unconstrained—yet they never lose composure.

Woong San’s vocal performance was intimate and holographic. The system disappeared, leaving behind a three-dimensional vocal image suspended between the speakers. The word “enveloping” was used repeatedly—and appropriately.

At this price point, the SFTR with its powered low end makes a compelling case to go fully active—adding DSP linear-phase correction and RBH amplification to deliver full-range extension and brute-force dynamics in a single solution.

Room 3: RBH Premier 86-SB Passive LCR Soundbar

Room 3 was setup in the center of Maximum AV's lobby and featured the RBH Premier 86-SB, a massive passive LCR soundbar incorporating technology derived from RBH’s flagship designs. I reviewed RBH's smaller Ultra-3 back in 2020 so I have some familiarity with their soundbars, but this was a beast! The RBH Premier 86-SB is essentially three high-performance speakers engineered into a single, unified enclosure, built to deliver true LCR performance beneath a large display. Internally, it utilizes RBH’s premium aluminum cone midrange/woofer drivers paired with high-output AMT (Air Motion Transformer) tweeters—the same core driver technology found in RBH’s higher-end freestanding models. Each channel (left, center, right) is independently chambered to preserve proper acoustic isolation, reduce crosstalk, and maintain imaging precision across the front soundstage. The cabinet itself is heavily braced and constructed from thick MDF to minimize resonance, while a carefully engineered crossover network ensures seamless integration between drivers and consistent tonal balance across all three channels. Designed as a passive solution, the Premier 86-SB relies on external amplification but delivers the scale, dynamics, and clarity expected from a full-size LCR array—just in a clean, wall-mounted form factor that can be customized to match display width and finish requirements. Pricing typically starts around $8,000 and can exceed $12,000 depending on size and custom configuration.

A scene from The Revenant was used for demonstration. Because of its proximity to the food and drinks, it was somewhat difficult to fully evaluate the soundbar. That said, the scale and output capability were evident. Dialogue cut through clearly, and environmental ambience had convincing width. Offered in standard widths but fully customizable to match display dimensions, the 8600-SW/R is clearly aimed at high-end media rooms where visual integration is just as important as acoustic output.

Room 4: RBH Signature Reference 61-PM – Small Tower, Big Punch

Room 4 featured the RBH Signature Reference 61-PM towers, priced between $6,800 and $7,800 per pair depending on finish and amplification options. The RBH Signature Reference 61-PM is a compact powered tower built around RBH’s reference-grade driver and amplification architecture. It features dual 8-inch aluminum cone woofers dedicated to low-frequency reproduction, complemented by a 6.5-inch aluminum midrange in a dedicated sub-enclosure and RBH’s high-performance AMT (Air Motion Transformer) tweeter for extended, low-distortion highs. The “P” designation indicates onboard amplification, with an internal power module driving the bass section for greater output and control, while the midrange and tweeter operate through a carefully engineered passive crossover network to maintain tonal cohesion. The cabinet is heavily braced MDF with a front-firing port design to optimize placement flexibility and low-frequency reinforcement. As we mentioned in our review of the 61-PM, "the result is a relatively slim tower capable of delivering surprising bass depth, wide dynamic range, and high SPL capability that far exceeds expectations for its footprint".

Listening tracks included:
“Bam Bam” (Electronic/Opium mix)
Madonna – “Vogue”
Beyonce – “Blackbird”

For a relatively compact tower, the output capability was shocking. When the bass dropped on the electronic track, the room pressurized in a way that felt disproportionate to the speaker’s footprint. These towers dig deep and hit hard.

On “Vogue,” transient snap and rhythmic drive were front and center. The system played incredibly loud without sounding harsh or compressed. When “Blackbird” came on, the layering of vocals and instrumentation demonstrated impressive clarity and separation.

The highlight of the room came when the bass kicked in during one of the tracks and Gene—normally one of the most vociferous personalities in the room—simply paused and said, “Wow.” The room erupted in laughter. It was a candid, unscripted endorsement of just how much dynamic output these modestly sized towers can deliver.

Trinnov/RBH Sound Listening Event Wrap-Up

The February 20 event at Maximum AV wasn’t just a product demo—it was a curated journey through modern audio design philosophy. One room demonstrated how invisible in-wall and in-ceiling speakers, when paired with cutting-edge Trinnov processing, can deliver a truly reference-level immersive theater experience without visible hardware dominating the space. 

Another room showcased no-compromise active two-channel performance capable of filling a large room with enveloping, full-range sound that rivals far larger systems. A third emphasized integration, proving that a properly engineered high-output soundbar can anchor a serious media room without sacrificing dynamics. And finally, the compact tower demo showed that intelligently designed powered speakers can deliver room-pressurizing bass and startling output levels from a surprisingly small footprint and reasonable cost.

Each room solved a different problem for a different type of listener, yet all shared a common thread: scale, clarity, dynamic realism, and engineering-first design. For those who attended, it was a powerful reminder that when great loudspeakers meet advanced processing and careful setup, even seasoned listeners can still be surprised.

Maximum AV Address: 

7212 N Dale Mabry Hwy

Tampa, FL 33614 

Phone: (813) 882-8477