For the last few years, the AV processor market has been relatively quiet. Serious options existed, but the price ladder had gaps, and if your budget sat below £5,000 you were largely looking at AVRs rather than dedicated processors. That picture has changed significantly in 2026.
This year sees four notable processor launches — all available through Kalibrate — spanning a price range from £1,999 to £8,819. More importantly, they cover different use cases, different levels of Dirac integration, and different connectivity architectures. If you’ve been waiting for the right moment to step up from an AVR or to replace an ageing processor, this is genuinely the year to pay attention.
Here’s a clear-eyed look at each one.
Tonewinner AT-600 | £1,999–£3,249
The AT-600 is the entry point on this list, and it punches well above its price. It’s an 8K-capable processor with full Dirac Live Room Correction, Bass Control, and the ART (Acoustic Room Treatment) suite included — that combination at this price point is unusual. Connectivity is comprehensive: HDMI 2.1 with HDCP 2.3, Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, Dolby Vision, HDR10, and HDR10+. Audio output is via ESS ES9081 DACs, running up to 7.3.6 or 9.3.4 unbalanced and 7.1.6 or 9.1.4 balanced.
Who it’s for: Clients building a capable immersive system on a tighter budget, or anyone who wants full Dirac ART without paying processor-tier prices for it. The value case is difficult to argue against.
Availabilty: Regular deliveries coming into stock at Kalibrate.
Use introductory discount code AT600 at checkout:
miniDSP Tide 16 | £3,749
The Tide 16 is miniDSP’s first immersive audio platform, and it’s a significant step up from their existing DSP products. Sixteen channels of balanced analogue output, a Quad Core ARM processor, and the full Dirac Live suite — including Bass Control and ART — bundled at no additional cost. That last point matters: on competing platforms, DLBC and ART are paid licences that add meaningfully to the total cost.
Connectivity is broad: three HDMI inputs plus eARC, Dolby Atmos and DTS:X decoding, LDAC and aptX HD Bluetooth, USB audio, and multiple S/PDIF inputs. At £3,749 against an original £4,499, the introductory pricing makes this one of the better-value immersive processors available.
Who it’s for: Enthusiasts who want a proper 16-channel platform with full Dirac capability and don’t need AoIP connectivity. Strong fit for complex speaker layouts where balanced outputs matter.
Availabilty: Limited stock delivery due very soon. Next delivery possibly not until November.
Use introductory discount code Tide16 at checkout:
StormAudio Evo One | from £5,661
StormAudio has built a reputation on pro-grade immersive audio processing, and the Evo One brings that pedigree into a 1RU chassis. The standout feature is its scalable channel count: it ships configurable at 8, 12, or 16 channels via software licence, meaning you can grow the system without replacing hardware. Full Dirac Live RC, DLBC, and ART are included out of the box, along with 20 bands of manual PEQ per channel.
Connectivity includes HDMI, AoIP via Dante, and AES/EBU — the latter two making it a genuine option for integrators working with networked audio infrastructures. It’s also Roon Ready, which will matter to a subset of clients.
Who it’s for: High-end installations where future scalability and professional-grade connectivity are priorities. The Dante AoIP capability in particular sets it apart from the others on this list.
Availabilty: Available around November. Preorder now.
AudioControl Hyperion APR-16 | £7,369
The APR-16 is AudioControl’s entry into serious immersive processing through the Hyperion range — built specifically for custom integration environments. Sixteen balanced outputs, and a design philosophy centred on measurable standards compliance rather than headline specs.
Two certifications set it apart. The APR-16 carries HAA (Home Acoustics Alliance) certification, which benchmarks science-based acoustic performance for home cinema. It also surpasses all 21 technical benchmarks established by CEDIA/CTA-RP22 — the immersive audio design recommended practice that gives integrators and clients a verifiable framework for what “properly implemented” actually means. Not many processors explicitly target and exceed both.
Connectivity is CI-grade throughout: studio-level HDMI signal paths with built-in EDID and HDCP management for reliable source handling. Dirac Live with ART is included.
Who it’s for: Integrators and clients building dedicated cinema environments where standards compliance matters — and where professional HDMI management and certified acoustic performance are part of the specification brief. For anyone who wants measurable benchmarks alongside the calibration, not just subjective results.
Availabilty: Available now. Due to be a new product there are some stock level fluctiations.
Trinnov AltitudeCI | from £8,819
The AltitudeCI is Trinnov’s most significant new product in years, and we’ve had a demo unit since December 2025 — so this isn’t a spec sheet exercise. It scales from 8 to 32 channels (with 64-channel model also available), licensed in 2-channel steps, in a compact 2RU chassis. That flexibility means a single unit can grow with the system rather than being replaced as requirements change.
What you get beyond the channel count: Trinnov’s Optimizer, WaveForming technology, and Remapping — none of which are available anywhere else. Native Dante AoIP and AES67 support, three Ethernet ports, and fibre readiness make it a serious proposition for complex or multi-room installations. It’s designed to work alongside Trinnov’s Amplitude16 digital amplifiers, though it integrates with other amplification too.
Having spent time with it in our demo room, the calibration results — particularly with WaveForming on a properly treated room — are measurably different from what you can achieve with competing platforms. That’s not marketing language, it’s what the measurements show.
Who it’s for: Clients building flagship systems where no compromise is acceptable. Also the right choice for anyone seriously exploring AoIP distribution or planning a multi-zone setup from a single processor.
Availabilty: Available now.
Kalibrate’s Role
We stock and supply all five processors. More importantly, we calibrate them. Every one of these platforms supports Dirac Live in some form, and the Trinnov runs its own proprietary Optimizer — the value you get from any of them depends heavily on the quality of the calibration.
If you’re weighing up which processor makes sense for your system, we’re well placed to advise. We’ve had hands-on time with the Trinnov AltitudeCI since late 2025, and we can discuss the real-world trade-offs between platforms based on what we’ve measured, not just what the spec sheets claim.
To book a demo, discuss your system, or arrange a consultation, get in touch.
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