We recently attended the Cabasse Pearl Collection launch event hosted by Centre Circle Audio, where the Pearl Myuki, Pearl Akoya, Pearl, and Pearl Pelegrina were showcased.
For those unfamiliar, Cabasse is a French audio company with a rich history dating back to 1950. Known for its coaxial speaker designs and cutting-edge acoustics, Cabasse has built a reputation for delivering high-fidelity sound with striking aesthetics.
The Pearl Collection is the brand’s lineup of high-end wireless speakers, designed to offer uncompromising audio performance in a sleek and modern package. From portable models to flagship powerhouses, the collection aims to bring studio-quality sound into homes with advanced acoustic engineering.
Pricing
With premium craftsmanship and top-tier sound engineering comes a premium price tag. The Cabasse Pearl Collection is not for the budget-conscious, but for those who value high-fidelity audio and design. Here’s how much you’ll need to shell out for each model:
- Pearl Myuki: RM5,600/unit
- Pearl Akoya: RM9,000/unit
- Pearl: RM17,000/unit
- Pearl Pelegrina: ~ €25,000/per pair
Pearl Myuki
How much are you willing to pay for a portable Bluetooth speaker? RM300? RM900? Well, the Cabasse Pearl Myuki costs RM5,600!
The latest addition to the Pearl collection, Myuki is a relatively compact, portable, battery-powered premium speaker designed for versatility without compromising sound quality. The speaker hosts one Dôme 45 full-range loudspeaker and two powered 12cm bass drivers arranged in a honeycomb-type Push-Push configuration. Cabasse are well known for their coaxial driver systems, but the Pearl Myuki is an exception.
Frequency response range is from 30 Hz to 23,000 Hz, and total system power is rated at 141W RMS. It’s relatively heavy for a portable system at 2.1kg but the battery does offer up to 12 hours of continuous playback. There’s a cavity at the back that acts as a handle and Cabasse includes a custom-made bag with shoulder strap.
At the top, there are six illuminated LED tactile keys with haptic feedback for control over playback, volume, and input selection. At the bottom, there’s an ethernet port, 3.5 mm jack, USB-C charging port, and S/PDIF.
There’s also Wi-Fi and Bluetooth for wireless connectivity and it supports music streaming from Spotify and Tidal. Using the StreamCONTROL app, you can add this speaker to a multi-room system with other Cabasse connected speakers.
It features Automatic CRCS Room Calibration that uses the built-in microphone to assess room acoustics and automatically calibrate audio output for an optimised listening experience.
For richer audio, you can pair two Pearl Myuki to work in a stereo pair, but that will set you back RM11,200!
Available in matte black or matte white finishes with chrome accents and an embossed Lissajous pattern on the woofers.
From our brief listening session with it in a noisy hall, we weren’t that blown away with the audio performance. But then again, we were unsure of the audio source and the room calibration could have been off.
Pearl Akoya
What do you get when you pay RM9,000 for a speaker? Well, the Cabasse Pearl Akoya is a relatively compact yet powerful wireless speaker with advanced acoustic engineering and elegant design.
The Pearl Akoya utilises a 13cm patented triaxial design, integrating the tweeter, midrange, and midbass drivers into a single, compact unit. Handling bass frequencies is a 17cm HELD driver. Combined, they offer a frequency response range of 30Hz to 27,000Hz with a total system output of 1,050W RMS. If you have deep enough pockets, you can buy two of these and run them in a stereo pair for enhanced audio.
At 6kg, it’s not particularly light, but Cabasse still includes a carrying case. Available in black or white, the Pearl Akoya boasts a sleek, spherical design with a high-gloss finish. Optional stands and wall brackets are available, providing flexible placement options to suit different spaces.
It comes with a puck-shaped Bluetooth remote control, allowing you to adjust volume, select input sources, and control playback functions.
Wired inputs include ethernet, S/PDIF, RCA, and 3.5mm AUX while wireless connectivity includes Wi-Fi and Bluetooth for streaming from your smartphone or music services like Spotify and Tidal. This also means it’s compatible with the Cabasse StreamCONTROL app, enabling multi-room system and synchronised playback across multiple Cabasse connected speakers.
To ensure the best possible sound, the speaker comes with features Automatic CRCS Room Calibration, which utilises an integrated measuring microphone to perform automatic acoustic optimisation.
Unfortunately, we didn’t get an opportunity to listen to the Pearl Akoya.
Pearl
If for whatever reason you feel that the RM9,000 Pearl Akoya doesn’t output enough power to wake your next-door neighbour, you can move one model up to the Pearl.
Here, you get the same 13cm patented triaxial design, integrating the tweeter, midrange, and midbass drivers into a single, compact unit. But handling bass frequencies is a larger 25cm HELD driver. Therefore, the frequency response range now starts at 14 Hz and goes up to 27,000 Hz. Power is bumped up as well, with a total system output of 1,600W RMS.
It’s also way heavier at 18kg, so there’s no case provided. There are some differences in design, but the general shape of the speaker is identical, with it also being a sphere.
The rest of the features are identical to the Pearl Akoya, with the exception being the price. You’ll need to fork out an additional RM8,000 for a total of RM17,000. If you have the money, you can pair a second unit to form a stereo system.
Unfortunately, we didn’t get an opportunity to listen to the Pearl Akoya.
Pearl Pelegrina
For roughly the price of a Honda HR-V, you can get the flagship of the Pearl Series. According to Cabasse, the Pearl Pelegrina is a masterpiece that seamlessly blends advanced acoustic engineering with luxurious design elements, offering an unparalleled auditory and aesthetic experience. Strap in.
It uses the patented triaxial driver design which combines the tweeter, midrange, and midbass drivers into a single unit, though Cabasse doesn’t state the size of this unit. What they do state is the size of the subwoofer, which is a 30 cm HELD driver. Frequency response is from 10 Hz to 27,000 Hz with four amplifiers providing a total system output of 3,700W RMS.
Weighing a hefty 45kg, it features a custom-cut polished mirror metal band encircling the spherical enclosure and mounted on a stand inspired by the Lissajous curve, a symbol associated with Cabasse, providing both aesthetic appeal and structural support.
Wired inputs include ethernet, S/PDIF, RCA, Balanced Audio, and USB A. Of course, there’s also Wi-Fi and Bluetooth for wireless music streaming from smartphones and music apps.
To ensure the best possible sound, the speaker comes with Automatic CRCS Room Calibration which utilises an integrated measuring microphone to perform automatic acoustic optimisation.
We got an opportunity to listen to these speakers and despite being in a non-ideal environment, they sounded great. The way the speaker handled the dynamics in the audio was impressive, and the clarity of detail was top tier.
As for price, well, you’re looking at around €25,000 (~RM120,250) for a pair.
Have a listen for yourselves
If you want to experience these speakers for yourself, head over to Centre Circle Audio and give them a listen.
