SimpliFire Electric Fireplace Comparison Guide

This guide compares five SimpliFire electric fireplace series available at Serene Yards: the Inception, Built-In, Scion, Scion Trinity, and Allusion Platinum. All are 100% electric and require no venting or gas line. All are indoor-only and backed by Hearth and Home Technologies' 2-year limited warranty on all parts. Where they differ is in installation method, wall depth requirement, voltage capability, configuration options, and control features.

The Inception is SimpliFire's flagship traditional masonry-style electric fireplace. Available in one size only — 36 inches — it installs into new construction framing or attaches to a finished wall using the optional Wescott Mantel Kit (MK-WS-INC36), which requires no wall construction. The Inception is the only model in this comparison that uses DigitalSpark™ Technology, which renders digital footage of real flames rather than an animated LED loop. It is also the only model with Wi-Fi, IntelliFire App control, and voice assistant compatibility (Google Home and Amazon Alexa). A decorative front is required for operation: three options are available — the Folio, Halston, and Chateau Forge — each sold separately. When installed with the Wescott Mantel Kit, the Inception connects to a standard 120V outlet via the included power cord — no electrician required. Built-in installations are hard-wired only and support both 120V and 240V.

The SimpliFire Built-In (SF-BI30-EB and SF-BI36-EB) is the traditional masonry-style fireplace with the most installation flexibility in this lineup. The installation manual explicitly states it can be built into new construction framing or installed into an existing factory-built fireplace. It supports three voltage options — 120V, 208V, and 240V — with an on-unit voltage selector switch that must be correctly positioned before operation. Unlike the Inception, the Built-In uses remote and on-unit buttons only with no Wi-Fi or app control. One critical installation note: at 240V, a 2" clearance is required at the top of the unit, and supplied stand-offs must be bent into position to maintain this clearance.

The Scion is SimpliFire's clean-face linear electric fireplace, designed to be installed flush with any finishing material so that no visible heaters or framing appear around the glass. It builds into new construction framing before the wall is finished, at a minimum framing depth of 7-5/8". The Scion supports Wi-Fi control confirmed in the manufacturer brochure. Available in three sizes — 43", 55", and 78" — with a uniform 15" viewing height across all sizes. All three sizes produce up to 5,000 BTU at 1,500W and offer 4 flame effects (blue, blue/orange, orange, orange/blue). The 78" model (SF-SC78-BK) is documented in the installation manual; confirm current availability before specifying.

The Scion Trinity is the only fireplace in this comparison that supports multiple viewing configurations from a single appliance. The installation manual documents six installation options: single-sided, 3-sided bay, 2-sided right corner, 2-sided left corner, wall mount with optional wall mount kit, and wall mount with optional floating mantel kit. The configuration is determined by trim selection — 2-inch trim or 1/2-inch trim for multi-sided viewing, flat side cover plates for single-sided. The framing dimensions are the same regardless of configuration: the opening size does not change between single-sided and 3-sided installations.

The Scion Trinity is available in 43" and 55" sizes. Both operate at 120V with 1,500W maximum, and support a plug-in connection as well as hard-wired installation — this plug-in flexibility applies to all configurations, including built-in installations, which is confirmed in the manufacturer brochure but not detailed in the installation manual beyond the wall mount context.

The Allusion Platinum is the only fireplace in this comparison that installs after the wall is finished. It slides into a framed opening in an existing 2x6 wall — no framing work required at the time of installation, provided the wall was originally built with 2x6 construction and the rough opening was framed to the correct dimensions. This makes it suitable for post-construction installations and renovations. It explicitly cannot be installed in 2x4 framed wall construction.

The Allusion Platinum operates at 120V only, with 1,500W maximum output. It uses remote and on-unit touch controls with no Wi-Fi or voice control capability. Available in 50", 60", and 72" widths, all sharing the same 5-5/8" body depth and 20-7/16" overall height including trim. The trim ring is shipped attached to the appliance and is included.

Both are traditional masonry-format built-in fireplaces and both support 120V and 240V. The primary documented differences are technology, controls, and depth. The Inception uses DigitalSpark™ Technology with 7 digital fire backgrounds and 13 ember bed colors, controlled via the IntelliFire App, Google Home, Amazon Alexa, or remote. The Built-In uses LED flame with 1 flame style (per brochure), 1 ember bed color, and remote or on-unit buttons only — no Wi-Fi. The Inception requires a framing depth of 8-3/4"; the Built-In requires approximately 11-5/8". The Inception is one size (36"); the Built-In is available in 30" and 36". The Built-In also supports installation into an existing factory-built fireplace; the Inception does not document this installation type.

The Scion builds into framing before the wall is finished, at a minimum depth of 7-5/8". The Allusion Platinum slides into a framed opening in an already-finished 2x6 wall, at a minimum wall thickness of 5-3/4". The Scion supports Wi-Fi control; the Allusion Platinum does not. The Scion is available in 43", 55", and 78" widths; the Allusion Platinum in 50", 60", and 72". Both operate at 120V and produce up to 5,000 BTU. For new construction or renovations where framing is not yet finished, the Scion is the documented built-in option. For installations into an existing finished wall, the Allusion Platinum is the documented slide-in option.

The standard Scion installs as a single-sided flush built-in only. The Scion Trinity supports single-sided, 2-sided corner (left or right), and 3-sided bay configurations from the same appliance, with configuration determined by trim selection at installation. The Scion Trinity has a minimum framing depth of 11-1/2" versus the Scion's 7-5/8", because the deeper appliance body is required to accommodate the side viewing areas. Both operate at 120V and share the same 1,500W wattage and 15A circuit requirement. The Scion Trinity also supports plug-in connection in addition to hard-wired; the Scion's installation manual documents hard-wired only for built-in installations.

The Built-In series is the only SimpliFire series in this comparison that the installation manual explicitly documents for installation into an existing factory-built fireplace. The installation requires sealing all chimney drafts with non-fibrous insulation, closing or sealing the chimney flue and damper, and providing a power connection within the existing firebox or on an adjacent wall. The Inception, Scion, Scion Trinity, and Allusion Platinum do not document existing fireplace installation.

The Inception is the only SimpliFire model in this comparison that uses DigitalSpark™ Technology. SimpliFire describes it as "digital footage of real flames for a dynamic and natural-looking fire." Rather than generating a flame image through an LED animation loop, DigitalSpark™ displays actual recorded video footage of a real fire on a high-resolution digital display. The result is a flame that behaves the way a real fire does — irregular, non-repeating, and responsive — rather than following the predictable cycle of a programmed LED pattern.

The Inception pairs this display with a physical media bed: four individually positioned logs in a refractory-lined cavity with black embers. The combination of the digital flame overhead and the physical log set below is what gives the Inception its traditional hearth character. Buyers who compare the Inception to a standard LED electric fireplace side by side consistently describe the difference as immediately visible — the flame on a DigitalSpark™ unit does not repeat, does not pulse on a fixed interval, and does not produce the uniform glow that signals an LED animation.

The Built-In, Scion, Scion Trinity, and Allusion Platinum all use LED flame technology. LED flame systems use light-emitting diodes directed at a reflective or translucent media bed — typically crystals, logs, or embers — to create a flame appearance. The flame is generated by the lighting effect on the media rather than by displaying video footage. Modern LED flame systems can produce convincing results, particularly at longer viewing distances, and offer a wider range of color customization than earlier LED designs.

The practical trade-off is that LED animations are programmed cycles. Buyers who spend extended time with an LED unit will eventually notice the repetition in the flame pattern. For buyers primarily interested in ambient light and supplemental heat rather than the most realistic possible fire appearance, the LED units offer the same core function at a lower price point, with a broader range of ember bed colors and, in some models, greater installation flexibility.

The Scion Trinity has the broadest installation flexibility of any series in this comparison, supporting four distinct configurations from a single appliance: single-sided, 2-sided corner (left or right), 3-sided bay, and wall-mount. The Allusion Platinum is the only model that installs into a finished wall without any new construction — making it the right choice when framing is already complete and wall opening access is the constraint. The Built-In is the only model documented for installation into an existing factory-built fireplace. The Inception and Built-In require construction framing to be built before the wall is finished, with the Inception also offering the optional Wescott Mantel Kit as a finished-wall alternative.

Which models can plug into a standard outlet? The Built-In (at 120V with the optional plug-in kit), the Scion Trinity, and the Allusion Platinum can use a plug-in connection. The Inception can also plug in — but only when installed with the optional Wescott Mantel Kit (MK-WS-INC36), which includes a power cord and connects to a standard grounded 120V outlet with no electrician required. Built-in Inception installations are hard-wired only and require a qualified electrician. The Scion's installation manual documents hard-wired connection for built-in installations.

Which models support 240V for higher heat output? The Inception and Built-In both support 240V and will produce significantly more heat at that voltage — 3,000W and 2,800W respectively versus 1,500W at 120V. The Scion, Scion Trinity, and Allusion Platinum are 120V only and are not documented for 240V operation.

What does "dedicated circuit" mean? A dedicated circuit serves only one appliance — no other outlets or devices share the breaker. No SimpliFire series in this comparison requires a dedicated circuit, but all five manuals recommend one to prevent breaker trips when other appliances are running on the same circuit. At 1,500W, any of the 120V models drawing full power will consume the majority of a 15A circuit's capacity.

• All five series are 100% electric and require no venting, no gas line, and no chimney connection.
• All five series are designated indoor-only. Each installation manual explicitly states "Do not use outdoors."
• All five series are classified as supplemental heat sources — not intended for use as a primary heat source in residential heating calculations.
• All five series require combustibles (furniture, drapery, bedding, clothing, curtains) to be kept at least 3 ft. (0.9 m) from the front of the appliance.
• All five series require all electrical connections to be performed by a qualified electrician in accordance with local codes and the NFPA 70 National Electric Code.
• No series permits the use of extension cords or relocatable power strips (Built-In documents an exception for heavy-gauge extension cords as a last resort only — see manual for specifics).

All five series are zero-clearance designs at the sides, floor, back, and top — with one critical exception: the Built-In requires 2 inches of clearance at the top when hard-wired for 240V. This requires the supplied stand-offs to be bent to a vertical position before the wall is finished. At 120V, the Built-In returns to zero clearance at the top. The Allusion Platinum is the only series with a documented mantel clearance value (5/8") in addition to zero clearance at sides, back, and floor. All series maintain the same 36" front clearance to combustibles regardless of voltage.

Every SimpliFire series in this comparison produces the same core result: electric-powered flames with no venting and no gas line required, backed by the same 2-year warranty. The decision between them turns on installation constraints, voltage access, and visual priorities. The following scenarios are based on the documented specifications in this guide.