Note that this is a discontinued product. You may want to visit the brand's page here to browse their newer products.
What reviewers think
Bloggers and YouTubers have tried this product—so we've summarized their strongest opinions below. Links to full reviews follow.
All
Alcyone 3 (In-cieling)
reviews
Manufacturer details
- Way: 1
- Drivers: Wide band 8T15, cellulose fiber membrane
- Sensitivity 1W/1m: 87 dB
- Frequency response: 160-20,000 Hz
- Nominal impedance: 8 Ω
- Minimum impedance: 4.6 Ω
- Power handling: 50 W
- Peak power: 350 W
- Dimensions: Ø 99 mm
- Weight: 0.75 kg
Brand highlights
Taking a step back to look at reviewers' thoughts of the brand's entire lineup—not just this product—what stands out most is the following:
- Coaxial driver design is a core element, used even in their more affordable models, enhancing spatial coherence and minimizing diffraction, a design choice they heavily promote for its acoustic benefits.
- Cabasse often incorporates DSP technology for room correction (ARCS) and sound signature adjustments (DEAP), enabling their speakers to adapt to different listening environments.
- While known for hifi audio, they also offer integrated streaming options, exemplified by their StreamControl app, compatible with various music services and DLNA playback.
- Their signature design is spherical enclosures, minimizing cabinet-induced diffraction and enabling wide sound dispersion, and they are found throughout their product lines, from the entry level to reference models.
Select products
Jersey MC170
- Positioning: The entry-level floorstanding speaker in the Cabasse lineup.
- Description: Offers a rich and dynamic sound with its coaxial midrange-tweeter, providing a wide and stable soundstage. Compared to the Java MC40, it is more affordable and suitable for those seeking a balanced sound in medium-sized rooms.
Java MC40
- Positioning: A mid-range floorstanding speaker offering high-fidelity sound at a competitive price.
- Description: Stands out with its SCS technology and BC10 coaxial unit, delivering precise and realistic sound. It provides a more immersive experience than the Jersey MC170.
Bora
- Positioning: A high-performance bookshelf speaker designed for audiophiles seeking compact yet powerful sound.
- Description: Features a BC13 coaxial midrange-tweeter and a 21 cm Duocell woofer, offering analytical precision and dynamic capability. It surpasses the Antigua MC170 in sound depth.
Murano Alto
- Positioning: A high-end floorstanding speaker, representing the pinnacle of Cabasse's lineup.
- Description: Excels with its 3-way triaxial TC23 and BC13 drivers, delivering exceptional soundstage and tonal balance.
Our take on the brand
Look inside the brand
Our interview with the brand
What are two key technological innovations or strong opinions that differ you from other brands?
I think there are four pillars, but they’re all intertwined. The first is the 75 years of acoustics and R&D. We were one of the first companies to create the coaxial driver itself. Today, a lot of companies use coaxial or geo concentric designs, but we were one of the first in 1958 to develop it. You’ll find this in 90% of our lineup. The second is the connectivity aspect. More than 10 years ago, we were acquired by a company whose specialty was connectivity (UPNP, DLNA, and other connectivity protocols). The CEO saw Cabasse as an amazing brand, and he recognized that the audio market was shifting; similar to how Sonos pioneered multi-room wireless audio in the mid-market in the early 2000s. The same shift started happening in the high-end hi-fi industry, but very few companies had the expertise. So he purchased Cabasse, and now we have acoustics, coaxial driver design, high-excursion woofer technology, and robust connectivity; plus DSP and active filtering. These are things we’ve been doing for a while. And I’d also say the design makes us stand out.
What's your approach to customer support?
Now that we’re basically our own distributor in the U.S., we work directly with dealers. We offer warranties on drivers; ranging from 3 to 5 years, or lifetime depending on the product. We just launched a new product in Munich, and it comes with a lifetime driver warranty. If a customer buys a product and a driver fails, the dealer comes to us and says, “Hey, can you help my client?” Then we either get in touch with the customer directly, if the dealer agrees, or the dealer takes care of it. Not every dealer has the ability to repair, especially since many of our products are heavily electronics-based. In some cases, we’ll just replace the entire unit. We also have a policy where, within a certain period, if the electronics fail, we’ll replace the unit for free. Generally, it’s 3 to 5 years for drivers, and 2 years for electronics.
What are your favorite tracks for showcasing the strength of your products?
We actually have a playlist on Qobuz with all of our demo tracks. Off the top of my head, for precision and showcasing microdetails, I really like the track called “Soft Landing” by Hadouk Trio. It’s a very clean and amazingly recorded track. I also like “Magnetic Lies” by Malia to show the low end and precision. and fact that our woofer technology provides a lot of dispersion without distortion. The coil never leaves the magnetic field, so you get a lot of excursion. Plus, our DSP helps a lot. We want people to experience that at a given price and speaker size; they have a lot to play with.
What other products pair best with yours?
Used
Cabasse
What if you spend more?
The new compact IC95 integrated loudspeaker system is based on the well proven proprietary 6,5-inch mid-woofer, also used in Miller & Kreisel studio monitor system MPS1620P and in-wall system IW95. The mid-woofer in IC95 is a long time accepted key component in the Miller & Kreisel signature sound history, now appearing as the key component for the smallest and most compact format ever – to provide the real Miller & Kreisel sound. IC95 present a new developed axial mounted 1” soft fabric dome tweeter, designed with swivel function to angle and optimize the on-axis response to the listening positions.
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Product Strengths
- The IC95 is built with high-quality materials, including rigid push-button speaker terminals
- Sound field height, envelopment, and directionality are improved
- Speaker localization tends to disappear in the sound field
Product Considerations
- The cutout template included is slightly larger than the Revel c263, which may require some ceiling modification
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- The IC95 improves sound field height, envelopment, and directionality over the Revel c263
Takeaway: The MK Sound IC95 is a phenomenal in-ceiling speaker that will give a lot for the money and is especially good as Atmos speakers. The improvements in sound quality are substantial and make it a worthwhile upgrade.
Video review
Our take on the brand
Inheriting Focal innovations and adapting to Dolby Atmosâ technology, the 300 ICA6 in-wall speaker offers pure hi-fi sound and sound immersion in 3 Dimensions. Its 35°-tilted driver allows precise adjustment to the listening position, while adapting to the acoustics of your room. The "shower effect" is a thing of the past, and the sound is evenly distributed, perfect for a home cinema installation.
Product Strengths
- Crystal clear highs are provided due to the aluminum magnesium inverted dome tweeter
- It's versatile, aimable, and allows directional audio optimization
- Easy installation with a convenient two-piece quick install bracket system
- The flax woofer is rigid and improves excursion, providing a good price-to-performance ratio
- Offers both square and circular paintable magnetic grills
Product Considerations
- Requires a mounting depth of at least five and three-quarter inches
- An amplifier with at least 25 to 130 watts is recommended
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- Vs Focal 100 series—the 300 Series has a more enveloping soundstage
- Vs Focal 100 series—the 300 Series offers more ambiance, with crisp articulation of vocals
- Vs Focal 100 series—installation is superior
Takeaway: The Focal 300 Series provides optimized audio and easy installation with a sleek design. It's versatile for home theater or distributed audio, making it a great choice for anyone looking for quality sound.
Video review
Our take on the brand
The IC82 is Totem’s premium 8” in-ceiling speaker in the KIN Architectural IC series.
Product Strengths
- High-quality construction with mhex cone material and aluminum tweeter
- A low volume intelligibility switch boosts vocal clarity and bass at lower volumes
- A cast aluminum frame basket allows for a larger spider and suspension system, enabling the speaker to handle more power
- Wide dispersion (75 degrees) provides a good soundstage for every seat
- Weather-resistant materials (impermeable drivers, stainless steel hardware/grills) make it suitable for use in humid environments
- Custom-fit back boxes create a sealed enclosure, reducing sound transmission and protecting the driver
- Pre-construction bracket provides even pressure on the drywall for better support
Product Considerations
- The low volume intelligibility switch should be off when playing at reference levels
- 12 gauge is the max gauge for the binding posts
Takeaway: The KIN IC 82 is a high-quality in-ceiling speaker with unique features and durable construction, making it a great choice for a home theater or other applications. The speaker's ability to deliver clear sound and withstand various environmental conditions adds to its value.
Video review
Our take on the brand
With a 38mm(1.5inch) tweeter voice coil coupled to a vented aluminium dome with tangerine waveguide, and a woofer with absolutely massive magnet and Z-flex surround, the KEF Ci200RR-THX is an in-ceiling LCR capable of delivering a magical musical theatre experience even in the largest of rooms.
Product Strengths
- Delivers cinema-quality sound for home Atmos or DTS:X systems
- Has crisp highs, mid tones, and vocal reproduction
- Is terrific for multi-zone or MusicCast audio options
Product Considerations
- May require a subwoofer for deep bass tones
- Sound levels drop significantly when walking too far to the side of the speakers
Takeaway: The KEF Ci200RR-THX in-ceiling speakers offer excellent sound replication across various frequencies and can play loud without distortion. They would be a great addition to a Dolby Atmos home theater.
Video review
Our take on the brand
What competes at this price?
Our Summary
Product Strengths
- The KEF Ci160TR is a great solution for those looking for ultra-slim flush ceiling speakers for shallow ceiling voids
- The slim and compact design does not compromise on sound quality
- The grilles can be painted
- It makes life easy if you have a very limited space in which to install the speakers since they require a mounting depth of just 36mm
Product Considerations
- It needs accompanying speakers or a subwoofer to deliver the bass
- It requires bass from elsewhere, such as a subwoofer
- It has a recessed mid and upper bass, eventually settling on 150Hz as providing a good balance
- It doesn't claim anything much in the way of bass performance
Takeaway: The Ci160TR is a great speaker if you need something that fits in a small space but still sounds good. It is especially useful when paired with other speakers to help with the bass.
Video review
Our take on the brand
Our Summary
Product Strengths
- Sound quality receives positive feedback
- Impressive design
- Impressive size
- Bass quality is appreciated
- Usability is mentioned favorably
Product Considerations
- There are mixed opinions about the price
Takeaway: The Magnat Interior IC 82 appears to be a well-regarded speaker with a good design and size. It is worth considering if one needs a speaker with good sound and bass.
Video review
Our take on the brand
Our Summary
Product Strengths
- Timber matched to the RTi and TSi range
- Improved bass over the RC80i
- Moisture resistance allows installation in any room, including kitchens and bathrooms
Product Considerations
- Branding text is a little intrusive when the grille is removed
- Lacks brightness
- Needs to be paired with an amplifier to function
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- Vs Polk RC80i: VT60 has broader timber matching support and wider frequency response range, giving it more bass
Takeaway: The VT60 ceiling speaker is a versatile and affordable option that improves upon previous models with enhanced bass and timber matching. Its moisture resistance makes it a great choice for any room in the house.
Video review
Our take on the brand
Our Summary
Product Strengths
- Low cost makes them an easy choice for in-wall/in-ceiling speakers
- Swivel tweeter design allows them to be used in small to large rooms
- Easy to install
- Can be used in bathrooms or saunas
- Large dispersion design makes them an easy choice for in-wall/in-ceiling speakers
Product Considerations
- Pairing with a sub is recommended for those seeking super deep rumble
- Reported to not perform as well with staging and precision as bookshelf or floorstanding speakers for surround sound audio or stereo fronts
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- RC60i is voiced to match with the RTi series from Polk
Takeaway: The Polk Audio RC60i speakers are a good option for in-wall/in-ceiling use because they are low cost, easy to install, and have a swivel tweeter that works in different sized rooms. Their infinite baffle tuning enhances the bass response.
Video review
Our take on the brand
Our Summary
Video review
Our take on the brand
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