Cabasse Stream Amp 100Antigua 170 Review

Cabasse Stream Amp 100: Ideal Partner for Antigua 170

Founded in 1950, Cabasse stands as one of France’s most venerable loudspeaker manufacturers. The company’s founder, Georges Cabasse, who sadly passed away last year, pioneered coaxial speaker design for cinema use as early as 1952. This marked the inception of Cabasse’s remarkable 70-year exploration into coaxial loudspeaker technology. Their iconic spherical coaxial speakers are not just symbols of French contemporary design, but also embodiments of solid acoustic principles.

Beyond their signature spherical speakers, Cabasse also produces more conventionally shaped box loudspeakers. While perhaps less visually striking, many of these models still benefit from Cabasse’s renowned coaxial driver technology. The Antigua MC170 bookshelf speaker is a perfect illustration of this.

Cabasse’s Entry-Level Coaxial Offering

The Antigua MC170 represents Cabasse’s most accessible entry point into the world of coaxial speaker technology. If you’re curious to experience the allure of Cabasse, this is the model to start with. Despite its compact bookshelf dimensions, each speaker weighs a substantial 9 kilograms, feeling remarkably solid in hand.

While appearing to be a two-way design, it is actually a three-way system, thanks to its unique coaxial driver. Cabasse ingeniously mounts the tweeter at the center of the midrange driver, placing both drivers on the same axis to ensure coherent time alignment for mid and high frequencies. The tweeter is a silk soft-dome type, surrounded by a shallow waveguide that enhances efficiency and controls dispersion. The midrange driver features a very narrow surround, promoting agile responsiveness.

Even as an entry-level speaker, a closer examination reveals numerous thoughtful design details. As a loudspeaker manufacturer with 70 years of history, Cabasse’s expertise is evident. Positioned below the coaxial unit is a 170mm bass driver. The manufacturer doesn’t specify the diaphragm material, but emphasizes its robust mechanical strength. However, my initial touch of the diaphragm triggered a static shock, leading me to believe it’s likely made of metal. Its voice coil is wound on a Kapton former, facilitating efficient heat dissipation and high power handling. It can withstand peak power bursts of up to 550W, enduring demanding, long-excursion movements.

In terms of crossover design, Cabasse sets the low-pass frequency at 700Hz, assigning frequencies below to the bass driver and those above to the coaxial mid-tweeter. The mid-tweeter then crosses over at 3,600Hz. Three-way designs are already uncommon at this price point, especially in bookshelf speakers, making the Antigua MC170 a truly exceptional offering.

Entry-Level, Yet Meticulously Engineered

Despite its entry-level status, Cabasse meticulously engineered the Antigua MC170, utilizing an anechoic chamber to measure and refine sound wave behavior around the speaker, ensuring a balanced directivity and dispersion pattern. This embodies their HDSE (Homogeneous Distribution of Sonic Energy) principle, aimed at guaranteeing even energy distribution from the speaker.

The speaker cabinet features curved side panels, employing non-parallel surfaces to effectively break up internal standing waves. The bass reflex port is located at the rear, contributing to a cleaner front aesthetic. The metal grille magnetically attaches to the front baffle, providing robust driver protection, even against curious fingers.

A Compact Integrated Amplifier Born for Streaming

Accompanying the speakers was the Cabasse Stream Amp 100, a versatile integrated amplifier from their own stable. This compact unit, roughly the size of a lunchbox, measures approximately 20cm square and under 10cm tall, weighing less than 2 kilograms – remarkably light and small. However, its diminutive size belies its capabilities. It boasts a comprehensive array of connectivity options and a respectable 50W of power per channel.

In terms of external connections, it offers two pairs of RCA analog inputs, a preamp output, and a subwoofer output. While analog inputs are standard, the inclusion of preamp and subwoofer outputs in such a compact integrated amplifier is noteworthy. It allows users to enhance system performance by adding an external power amplifier or subwoofer, indicating potential for future upgrades.

The speaker terminals are particularly impressive. Despite its small footprint, the Stream 100 incorporates two sets of speaker outputs, enabling connection to two pairs of speakers, allowing selection of A or B speaker sets, or bi-wiring capable loudspeakers by dedicating one set to the tweeter and the other to the woofer. However, when both speaker sets are active, the power output halves to 25W. Perhaps due to space constraints on the rear panel, the Stream 100 utilizes smaller speaker terminals with spring clips, suitable for bare wire or banana plugs, but not Y-spades.

For digital inputs, there’s a USB Type-A port on the front for connecting external storage devices, and an optical input and RJ45 network connection at the rear. It also supports wireless streaming and Bluetooth. Crucially, streaming is the primary focus of this amplifier, as its name, Stream 100, suggests.

App Control and Exclusive DEAP DSP Optimization

Cabasse provides the “Cabasse Stream Control” app, available for free download from the App Store or Google Play. Through the app, users can control multi-room playback if they have other Cabasse streaming devices. It also supports internet radio stations, streaming services (such as Tidal, Spotify, Deezer, etc.), and playback from local music storage.

A standout feature of the app is DEAP (Digital Enhancement of Acoustical Performances). DEAP is essentially a DSP sound processing function tailored to specific Cabasse bookshelf and floorstanding speakers. It optimizes sound based on speaker placement – whether on stands, near walls, or in corners – to achieve enhanced audio performance. This benefit is exclusively for Cabasse speaker owners.

DSP features are becoming increasingly common. For more sophisticated optimization, manufacturers often include microphones for room analysis, allowing the DSP to account for listening distance and room acoustics for more precise adjustments. However, many consumers find this process cumbersome. A simpler approach, adopted by Cabasse, is to analyze speaker models and placement types and apply pre-set EQ curves. This menu-driven operation offers greater user-friendliness than microphone-based measurements.

Cabasse also includes an oval-shaped remote control, offering comprehensive functions like input switching, volume control, and track selection. Furthermore, despite the Stream Amp 100’s seemingly button-less front panel, it features touch-sensitive controls for volume, playback, and input selection. This enhances usability, especially when the remote is misplaced. Of course, your smartphone becomes an even more convenient remote once the Cabasse Stream Control app is installed. Remotes are easily lost, but phones are rarely out of reach.

Stream Control App: Well-Designed, Stable, and Intuitive

This is how I primarily used the system. Although the Stream Amp 100 offers analog inputs, I considered how I would personally use it at home. My usage would be, not 80%, but 90%, or even 100%, exclusively through streaming sources. The Stream Amp 100 is designed to showcase the modern streaming era – listening via streaming and Bluetooth.

And so I listened. I launched the app, its black background and slender font creating a visually pleasing interface. The app is well-designed, remarkably intuitive, and easy to navigate even on first use. Its stability is commendable, with no crashes encountered during my testing. It includes a beginner’s tutorial that appears upon initial launch, which can be skipped by experienced users familiar with similar devices and apps.

Diverse and Free Internet Radio Resources

The first option in the app’s side menu is internet radio. I selected Linn Classical, streaming at 320kbps MP3, and the sound quality was surprisingly good. Internet radio offers continuous music without track selection, allowing me to work while enjoying background music. vTuner provides free access to a vast array of music resources. However, the sound quality from phone or laptop built-in speakers is worlds apart from what I experienced through the Stream Amp 100. Even compared to portable Bluetooth speakers, the Stream Amp 100 driving the Antigua MC170 small system is far superior.

The difference lies in bandwidth, detail, dynamics, and soundstage. Phone and laptop speakers simply produce “sound.” Portable Bluetooth speakers offer fuller sound with better bass and treble extension, providing a more complete musical picture. But with a dedicated audio system, even a compact setup like the Stream Amp 100 and Antigua MC170, the improvement is dramatic. Frequency extension becomes wider, detail retrieval increases, dynamic range expands, and most significantly – a soundstage emerges. At this point, music transforms into something truly “enjoyable.”

Bluetooth Convenience

After listening to Linn Classical for over half an hour, I switched to Bluetooth streaming using my iPhone, playing 256kbps AAC files. Bluetooth offers unparalleled convenience. Anyone can easily stream music from their phone’s library or streaming services. I randomly selected Beethoven’s Symphony No. 3 “Eroica,” conducted by Thielemann and the Vienna Philharmonic, from YouTube. Despite YouTube’s audio compression, the small system still allowed me to appreciate the heroic grandeur of the music.

The first movement’s powerful opening chords, followed by the immediate introduction of the first theme and its subsequent development, resonated with rich orchestral textures. Even from YouTube, the music was satisfying. However, when I tried to increase the volume to enhance the heroic impact, pushing my phone’s volume to maximum, the sound didn’t get louder. Looking at the Stream Amp 100, the volume indicator on the front panel remained static, unresponsive to further adjustments. The Stream Amp 100’s volume is not linked to Bluetooth-paired devices. For Bluetooth playback, it’s best to set the Stream Amp 100’s volume first and then use the phone to fine-tune the level.

Precise Imaging, Natural Soundstage, Lively Yet Smooth

Both internet radio and YouTube audio are subject to lossy compression, compromising ultimate sound quality. To truly assess the system’s capabilities, higher-resolution files are needed. I switched to DLNA playback from my NAS, listening to the Blue Coast Collection, The E. S. E. Sessions album. This album boasts natural recordings with excellent sound quality, detail, and spaciousness.

Playing “Looking for a Home,” the vocalist’s image was clearly defined and precisely located. The voice seemed subtly smoothed, possessing a rounded, gentle quality. The Antigua MC170 rendered vocals with vibrancy and presence, and guitars with equal finesse. The texture of the two acoustic guitars, the rich tones resonating from their bodies, the subtle nuances of fingers sliding across strings, the vibrato from left-hand finger movements – all were vividly portrayed. I even discerned faint rhythmic “thumps” – the singer tapping his foot to the beat – a detail remarkably revealed by the Antigua MC170.

“Slow Day,” the second track, presented a slightly sweet female vocal, avoiding excessive lightness. The system combination delivered commendable sonic weight. Articulation of consonants, breath sounds, and vocal resonances were all clearly rendered. The nylon-string guitar on the third track, “Liliana,” sounded particularly rich. This Cabasse system, both amplifier and speakers being reasonably priced, avoids the typical pitfalls of budget systems – thinness and harshness. The sound is lively yet composed, with precise imaging and a natural soundstage. Detail retrieval is plentiful without any irritating sibilance. Even passing colleagues paused to listen, remarking, “These speakers sound good.”

Excellent Midrange Resolution, Enjoyable Vocals

Switching to Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong’s duets, despite being mono recordings, the sound quality remained impressive – warm and rounded. Paired with the legendary duo’s dynamic vocal styles and charismatic voices, it’s an album that never tires. The Cabasse Stream Amp 100 and Antigua MC170 system handled this album effortlessly, but more importantly, brought it to life, revealing its inherent brilliance. Ella’s versatile vocal techniques and Louis’s improvisational genius were fully conveyed. The nuances in their phrasing, especially the variations in trills and vocal decays, were clearly discernible through the Antigua MC170. Listening to vocals through the Antigua MC170 is truly a pleasure.

However, its capabilities extend beyond vocals. Louis’s trumpet sounded vibrant and brilliant, yet not harsh or strident. Bass plucks were rounded and elastic. The bookshelf-sized Antigua MC170 delivered surprisingly capable bass performance. While not aiming for ultimate low-frequency extension, it maximized elasticity, speed, and detail within its range, with a more substantial bass presence than I anticipated. Mono recordings, lacking left-right soundstage width, can sound somewhat flat. Combined with the limited bandwidth of older recordings, an unbalanced audio system can make them less engaging. However, the lively and vibrant sound of this Cabasse system breathed new life into these vintage recordings. Ella and Louis’s playful banter sounded wonderfully engaging. Truly enjoyable.

Substantial Bass Performance

Further emphasizing the system’s vocal clarity and balanced bass, I listened to Diana Krall’s Love Scenes album. The opening track, “All or Nothing at All,” features a full, rounded bass with excellent texture. However, on bass-heavy speakers or systems, this track can sound overly thick, muddying the bass and even becoming boomy. The Antigua MC170 avoids this. Paired with the Stream Amp 100, the bass sounds weighty without overshadowing the song’s vitality. Diana Krall’s vocals are vivid and three-dimensional, full of expressive nuances. Supported by the bass and guitar, and complemented by her own piano playing, the musical atmosphere is both relaxed and playful, bringing a smile to the listener’s face.

Expansive and Deep Soundstage

Having explored internet radio, Bluetooth, and DLNA, what other music sources are available “without adding extra equipment”? Streaming services. The Cabasse Stream Control app supports multiple streaming providers – Deezer, Napster, Qobuz, Spotify, and Tidal. Subscribers to these services can log in and stream music directly. I tested Tidal playback. The app organizes Tidal’s menus in a tree structure, requiring three to four levels of navigation to reach album tracks, which is intuitive and clean.

Have I neglected large-scale orchestral works so far? Despite their compact size, both speakers and amplifier produce an open and flowing sound. The music never sounds constrained or small, but rather expansive, lively, and energetic. On Tidal, I found Anne-Sophie Mutter’s recent John Williams soundtrack album, her first foray into crossover music. The track selection and arrangements are excellent, with John Williams himself conducting, making it a truly remarkable recording.

From the opening track, “Rey’s Theme” from “Star Wars: The Force Awakens,” the performance is captivating – passionate and vibrant. Through Mutter’s soaring violin lines, I truly understood Cabasse’s design philosophy. The Antigua MC170 doesn’t aim for clinical precision, but rather strives to convey the essence of the music – the dynamic shifts, the subtle decays, the textural nuances of bowed strings, and the myriad details – all are faithfully rendered by the Antigua MC170. Driven by the Stream Amp 100, it creates an expansive and deep soundstage, a remarkable achievement for such an affordable and compact audio system. The album’s rich bass is immediately apparent. When the low strings swell, it’s a delightful surprise, the bass extension exceeding my expectations for these bookshelf speakers.

Music at Home Amidst the Pandemic

With the recent pandemic situation, many people are spending more time at home. What to do indoors? Binge-watching shows? Listening to music? A convenient, practical, and affordable audio system is needed. Cabasse’s Stream Amp 100 and Antigua MC170 combination perfectly fits this need. This compact system embraces the streaming era. Through Bluetooth and network streaming, everything is controlled via your smartphone. An accessible system that connects you to the world of digital streaming. While the world outside faces challenges, music fills your home.

Specifications

* **Cabasse Antigua MC170 Bookshelf Speaker**
* Type: 3-driver, 3-way bookshelf speaker
* Drivers: 1 x 10T15MC coaxial driver; 1 x 17cm woofer
* Frequency Response: 60-20kHz
* Impedance: 8 ohms
* Sensitivity: 88dB
* Crossover Frequencies: 700Hz, 3600Hz
* Minimum Impedance: 3.2 ohms
* Maximum Continuous Power Handling: 75W
* Peak Power Handling: 550W
* Dimensions: 40 x 23 x 30 cm
* Weight: 9kg

* **Cabasse Stream Amp 100 Integrated Amplifier**
* Type: Digital streaming amplifier
* Power Output: 50W x 2
* Total Harmonic Distortion: 0.05%
* Signal-to-Noise Ratio: 96dB
* Analog Inputs: RCA x 2
* Digital Inputs: Optical x 1; USB x 1; Bluetooth apt-X
* Outputs: RCA x 1; Subwoofer x 1
* Network Interface: RJ45 (10/100Mb), Wireless (802.11b/g/n -WPS 2.0)
* Supported Audio File Formats: WMA, PCM, WAV, AIFF, AIFC, ALAC, FLAC, MP3
* Dimensions: 91 x 218 x 190 mm
* Weight: 1.9kg