AU SHOW: Westan & Audio Trends Bring Big Cinema Experience to the Pullman

Designed to give showgoers a taste of Hollywood at home, the demonstration space will combine Westan’s distribution muscle with Audio Trends’ system design expertise—anchored by premium components from Epson, Klipsch, and Onkyo.

Epson’s new LS9000B 4K HDR 3LCD laser projector will be at the heart of the visual experience. Engineered for true big-screen immersion, the LS9000B delivers razor-sharp detail, vivid colour accuracy, and deep contrast even at extreme image sizes. High brightness and a precision lens system perfectly match the room’s planned 140-inch cinemascope acoustically transparent screen, letting the projector show off the cinema’s full scope and scale in a home environment.

The Klipsch RCC-122-BTS behind-the-screen speaker system will handle audio duties—a professional-grade solution adapted for residential cinemas. While Klipsch is well-known in home audio for its horn-loaded hi-fi and home theatre speakers, the brand has long been a go-to in the professional cinema sector, with systems installed in movie theatres around the globe.

The RCC-122-BTS draws directly from that heritage, bringing commercial Real Custom Cinema technology into the home. Packaging pro-cinema components—including compression drivers, cinema horns, and massive 18-inch subwoofers—into a modular behind-the-screen format optimised for residential spaces delivers the scale, dynamics, and clarity of an actual big-screen theatre in a room-friendly form.

For many show visitors, this will be their first chance to experience commercial-grade cinema sound tailored for the home. Overhead, Klipsch PRO-180RPC LCR in-ceiling speakers — part of the Professional Reference Premiere Architectural series and sharing acoustic components with the acclaimed Reference Premiere range — will handle Dolby Atmos height cues. With a 45° angled 8-inch Cerametallic woofer and 1-inch titanium dome tweeter in an FEA-optimised Tractrix® horn, they promise immersive, dynamic height effects. Side surround duties will be handled by Klipsch PRO-180-RPW in-wall speakers, ensuring a seamless, wraparound soundstage.

The system will be driven by Onkyo’s flagship TX-RZ70 11.2-channel 8K AV receiver. With 140 watts per channel and support for the latest immersive formats, the TX-RZ70 blends muscle with precision, offering Dirac Live room correction and HDMI 2.1 connectivity for a future-ready hub.

Supporting hardware includes a Kaleidescape Strato movie player for reference-grade playback, AudioQuest cabling for signal integrity, and RowOne theatre seating for comfort. The entire system will be installed on professional-grade trussing supplied by Village AV, ensuring a clean, cinema-authentic presentation.

For Westan, this demonstration is a chance to highlight its role as the Australian distributor for Epson and Klipsch while showing how a top-tier Onkyo AVR can anchor a serious home cinema. For Audio Trends, it’s an opportunity to prove what’s possible when premium AV components are integrated with expertise and attention to detail. State Room 2 is shaping up as one of the Melbourne Hi-Fi Show’s most immersive stops—and a must-visit for anyone dreaming of their big-screen escape.

Onkyo Icon Series Makes Australian Show Debut

Separately from the cinema installation, Westan has confirmed it will also showcase Onkyo’s new Icon Series including the C-30 CD player. This masterfully designed high-fidelity line-up blends modern technology with the brand’s classic hi-fi DNA. First unveiled at CES 2025 and launching later this year, the Icon Series represents Onkyo’s confident statement of intent, delivering powerful, ultra-pure sound in sleek, industrially styled chassis. From the brushed aluminium panels and glass-front VU meters to the fanless, vibration-resistant construction, every detail has been engineered to enhance both performance and pride of ownership.

At the heart of the range is the Icon P-80 Network Preamplifier, a fully featured control hub that combines audiophile-grade analogue circuitry with state-of-the-art digital convenience. It offers balanced and unbalanced outputs, high-resolution playback via a premium DAC, and Dirac Live Limited room correction (with optional upgrades to Full Band and Bass Control). Streaming is built in, supporting Roon, Spotify, TIDAL, Amazon Music and more.

For those needing muscle, the Icon M-80 Power Amplifier is a Class-AB two-channel design delivering 130 watts per channel into 8 ohms, or 200 watts into 4 ohms, with vast headroom for dynamic peaks. The symmetrical layout, high-quality aluminium heat sinks, and fanless cooling keep noise and distortion to an absolute minimum, letting the partnering preamp and speakers take centre stage.

The Icon A-50 Integrated Amplifier combines the refinement of the P-80 and the punch of the M-80 into a single chassis. Rated at 110 watts per channel into 8 ohms (180W into 4 ohms), it caters to both vinyl and streaming fans with MM/MC phono support, HDMI ARC for easy TV integration, Bluetooth, AirPlay 2, Chromecast, and Roon Ready certification. Dirac Live Limited is also included, making it a proper all-in-one solution for modern hi-fi.

Together, the Icon Series offers a compelling blend of timeless hi-fi values and forward-thinking features—whether your music comes from a turntable, CD or a high-res streaming service.