Cabasse The Pearl Keshi 2.1 System, White (Set)

The Cabasse The Pearl Keshi in white is an active 2.1 streaming system: a spherical subwoofer unit with the complete electronics on board, plus two tiny satellite spheres for mids and highs.

The white finish practically disappears against a light wall – and that's exactly the point: the subwoofer carries the amplifiers, network, converter and room calibration, the two 8 cm spheres handle the rest. A complete system with no rack and no cable mess.

Why the Cabasse The Pearl Keshi?

Because the smallest Pearl model is by no means a stripped-down one technically. The coaxial Dom55 mid/tweeter sits in the satellite sphere, the 17 cm HELD woofer in the subwoofer goes down to 30 Hz. Cabasse names 1050 W of Class-D power, split between 450 W in the bass and twice 300 W in the satellites – so the system doesn't run out of breath at higher levels either. CRCS room correction calibrates automatically with a built-in microphone.

What you hear

More scale than the eye expects. The coaxial satellites draw a wide, stable stage, vocals stay full-bodied, and the subwoofer sets a foundation underneath that you simply wouldn't credit to three small spheres. Because the dispersion is so wide, it stays coherent even when you're not sitting dead centre.

You're free in how you play music: Qobuz, Tidal, Deezer, Spotify, Napster and internet radio arrive over Wi-Fi or Ethernet, AirPlay 2 and Bluetooth are on board, and in a Roon environment the Keshi shows up as a Roon Ready zone. A subscription is not a requirement – you play just as easily via the optical input and the jack.

Who is the Keshi for?

For anyone who wants good sound without a visible system: city apartment, bedroom, office, second system. Bottom line: for large, open living spaces or home-cinema levels, The Pearl or The Pearl Akoya is the more honest choice. And if you listen to a lot of vinyl, you need a phono preamp and the 3.5 mm jack input – there are no line-level RCA inputs.

Our verdict

A fully-fledged stereo system disguised as a home accessory. In white it's the most discreet variant – and sonically more grown-up than three small spheres suggest.

"The Cabasse Pearl Keshi combo sounds like a couple of large floorstanders fed by proper electronic components." That's how STEREO GUIDE sums up the system in its test from 16/05/2022 – overall score 92%, rating "Runde Sache".

Technical data

• System power: 1050 W RMS / 1500 W max.
• Subwoofer power: 450 W RMS (900 W max.)
• Satellite power: 300 W RMS each (600 W max.)
• Amplification: Class-D, active bi-amping
• Max. sound pressure: 115 dB
• Frequency response: 30 – 23,000 Hz
• Satellite driver: coaxial mid/tweeter Dom55 (55 mm)
• Subwoofer driver: 17 cm HELD
• DAC: up to 768 kHz / 32 bit
• Audio formats: MP3, AAC, WMA, WMA Lossless, AIFF, WAV, FLAC, ALAC (up to 24 bit / 192 kHz), Ogg Vorbis, DSD64/128 (via USB or NAS)
• Network: dual-band Wi-Fi 802.11a/b/g/n/ac, Ethernet (RJ45), UPnP/DLNA
• Bluetooth: 4.2, codecs SBC and AAC (no aptX)
• AirPlay 2: yes
• Roon: Roon Ready
• MQA: not supported
• Services: Qobuz, Tidal, Deezer, Spotify, Napster, internet radio (vTuner)
• Inputs: optical S/PDIF, 3.5 mm jack (analogue), Micro-USB (USB 2.0, for USB storage)
• Satellite connection: 2 speaker outputs on the subwoofer, 3 m connection cable
• Room correction: CRCS with built-in measurement microphone, DEAP and DFE signal processing
• Satellite dimensions (W × H × D): 80 × 101 × 80 mm
• Satellite weight: 0.55 kg each
• Subwoofer dimensions (W × H × D): 220 × 237 × 266 mm
• Subwoofer weight: 6 kg
• System weight: 7.1 kg
• Colour: white
• What's included: subwoofer, 2 satellites with 3 m connection cable, 2 adjustable metal brackets for stand or wall mounting, programmable remote control, power cable, USB adapter cable, RCA-to-3.5-mm-jack adapter, quick guide and warranty card

Frequently asked questions

Does the Cabasse The Pearl Keshi work without a streaming subscription?

Yes. Internet radio, music files from your NAS or home network, and the wired inputs all work without any subscription. You can use Qobuz, Tidal, Deezer and Spotify, but you don't have to – and via AirPlay 2 you can play anything running on your iPhone anyway.

How do I mount the satellites on the wall?

The satellites sit in adjustable metal brackets that serve as both a stand and a wall mount – you don't need any extra accessories. The connection cables to the subwoofer are three metres long, and they practically disappear against a light-coloured wall. A calibration microphone is already built into the subwoofer.

Where's the best place to put the subwoofer?

The spherical subwoofer is much less fussy about placement than a classic cube sub. A free position on the floor, not directly in a corner, is a good starting point. After that, CRCS room correction measures automatically via the microphone and evens out any excess. If in doubt, we'll plan the placement with you.

Does the Keshi support Roon and MQA?

Roon yes, MQA no. Roon Labs lists the Keshi as Roon Ready, so it appears as its own zone in your Roon library. Cabasse does not state MQA decoding for the Keshi. High-resolution files up to 24 bit / 192 kHz, plus DSD64 and DSD128, play without any trouble, though.

Does the Keshi work well with a TV?

Yes, via the optical input. The TV sound then runs through the subwoofer and satellites instead of the TV's own speakers. The Keshi doesn't offer HDMI ARC, so your TV needs an optical digital output. For the screen in your living room, it's a quiet, elegant alternative to a soundbar.

Why buy the Cabasse The Pearl Keshi at HD Zürisee?

Because with us you get experience instead of spec sheets. We've worked with HiFi in Wädenswil since 1997, know the Pearl series in different rooms, and tell you honestly when a bigger model makes more sense. We handle delivery and setup on request. Contact: +41 44 680 22 00 or shop@hdzuerisee.ch.

Goes well with

More streaming speakers, the whole world of Cabasse and everything around streaming.