Cabasse The Pearl Akoya Compact Speaker, Black (Each)

The Cabasse The Pearl Akoya is an active streaming compact speaker that houses power amps, a network player and a coaxial driver in a 22-centimetre sphere.

It's the most compact entry point into the Pearl family – and along the way it dismantles the idea that a speaker has to look big to sound big.

Why the Pearl Akoya?

Inside the sphere, three ways work together delivering 1050 watts RMS combined: 450 watts for the 17 cm HELD woofer, 300 watts each for the mid and high frequencies of the coaxial BCI driver. Because mid and high come from a single point and the spherical enclosure has no edge for sound to break against, the music stands freely in the room instead of in the box. CRCS room correction measures via the StreamCONTROL app and takes the roughest errors out of your placement.

What you hear

The Akoya reaches down to 30 Hz and manages 115 dB in mono, up to 121 dB as a pair – headroom you'll rarely exhaust in a normal living room. Playback runs via network (LAN or dual-band WLAN), Bluetooth, optical, USB, or the analogue 3.5 mm input, for which an RCA adapter is included. Formats up to 24-bit/192 kHz play natively. Since the 2025 Roon Ready certification, the Akoya also shows up in Roon as its own zone, provided the firmware is current. A streaming service is an option here, not a requirement: internet radio, files from the network, or the TV via the optical input are perfectly enough.

Who is the Pearl Akoya for – and who isn't it for?

For small to medium rooms, for a shelf, a stand or a wall mount – anywhere floor space is tight but the standards are still high. Straight talk: each sphere is sold individually, so for classic stereo you need two. And if you want to flood an open living-dining area with deep bass, the larger The Pearl or an additional subwoofer serves you more honestly.

Our verdict

A speaker that looks like a design object and still replaces a complete system – not many manage that. At HD Zürisee in Wädenswil, we work out with you whether a single Akoya, a pair, or the larger model suits your room. Call us on +41 44 680 22 00, email shop@hdzuerisee.ch, or reach us on WhatsApp at 076 534 22 00 (text only, no calls).

Technical data

• Type: Active streaming compact speaker, 3-way, single unit
• Amplifier power: 1050 W RMS total per speaker (woofer 450 W, midrange 300 W, tweeter 300 W); peak power 2100 W
• Drivers: coaxial BCI mid/high-frequency driver (13 cm midrange, 2.5 cm tweeter), 17 cm HELD woofer
• Frequency response: 30 Hz – 27,000 Hz
• Max. sound pressure: 115 dB (mono), 121 dB (stereo pair)
• Resolution and formats: MP3, AAC, WMA, WAV, AIFF, FLAC, ALAC up to 24-bit/192 kHz
• Network: Ethernet RJ45 (10/100 Mbit), dual-band WLAN 2×2 802.11a/b/g/n/ac, AirPlay 2
• Bluetooth: 4.2 (SBC and AAC codecs)
• Roon: Roon Ready (Cabasse certification 2025, current firmware required), additionally listed as Roon Tested
• Streaming services: Spotify Connect, Tidal, Qobuz, Deezer, Napster, vTuner internet radio – subscription optional
• Inputs: 1× S/PDIF optical, 1× USB 2.0 (5 V/1 A), 1× analogue 3.5 mm stereo jack
• Not on board: HDMI/eARC, MQA, aptX
• Room correction: CRCS (Cabasse Room Compensation System), calibration via app
• Operation: Bluetooth remote control, Cabasse StreamCONTROL app, Google Assistant compatible
• Finish: Noir Métallisé (black metallic), high gloss
• Dimensions (W × H × D): 220 × 220 × 220 mm (sphere including integrated base)
• Weight: 8 kg
• Scope of delivery: speaker, Bluetooth remote control, power cable, USB adapter, RCA-to-3.5 mm jack adapter, carry bag, quick guide

Frequently asked questions

Is the Pearl Akoya supplied singly or as a pair?

Singly. Each sphere is a standalone speaker sold per piece. For classic stereo you order two and pair them into a stereo set in the StreamCONTROL app. A single Akoya plays in mono, say in the kitchen, office or bedroom.

Does the Akoya need an additional amplifier?

No. Power amps delivering 1050 W RMS combined, a converter and a network player already sit inside the enclosure. All you need is power, your network and a source. It can't be run passively – in exchange, you save an amplifier, a rack and a whole stack of cables.

Is the Pearl Akoya Roon Ready?

Yes. Cabasse had the Pearl series certified Roon Ready in 2025, and in Roon's partner list the Akoya is additionally listed as Roon Tested. Current firmware, installed via the StreamCONTROL app, is required. It doesn't support MQA, but FLAC and ALAC run up to 24-bit/192 kHz.

Does the Akoya work without a streaming subscription?

Yes. Via the optical input, USB and the 3.5 mm jack you connect a TV, CD player or a turntable with a phono stage, and internet radio costs nothing. A paid service is purely optional, not a starting requirement for the first note.

Why buy the Pearl Akoya at HD Zürisee?

Because years of practical experience tell us which active speakers genuinely bring joy in everyday use, and where a sphere reaches its limits. Add to that correct warranty handling as an authorised dealer, and our own technician for setup, network questions and service.

Goes well with

Matching speaker stands, complementary subwoofers for more foundation, and everything around streaming.