Cabasse Archipel 17ICPS

Cabasse Archipel 17ICPS: stereo from a single point in the ceiling

In a small room, two ceiling speakers often end up too close together for stereo to make sense, or positioned so that some occupants hear only one channel. Cabasse brings the left and right channels together here in a single recessed enclosure measuring 24 cm on each side. Two tweeters mounted on a rotating base share the front with a common woofer, all behind a paint-ready grille that blends into the ceiling.

Two stereo channels in a single cutout

The Archipel 17ICPS is a 2 x 2-way speaker: each channel has its own DOM24 tweeter, a 24 mm soft dome, while a 17 cm mid/bass driver with a P2C cone handles the lower frequencies of both channels. This arrangement relies on a known property of hearing: below a few hundred hertz, the ear has difficulty locating the source of a sound, and it is in the treble that most of the left-right sensation is created. The crossover, set at 3,200 Hz, determines the frequency at which the tweeters take over from the woofer.

The two tweeters are mounted on a base that rotates on its axis. Once the speaker is installed, this assembly is rotated to align the two tweeters across the width of the room as seen from the main listening area, then each amplifier channel is connected to the corresponding pair of terminals, taking this orientation into account. The stereo image remains narrower than with a pair of speakers spaced two or three metres apart, and that is the trade-off of this approach. In return, everyone in the room hears both channels, regardless of their position, making it suitable for a hallway, kitchen, toilet, study, walk-in wardrobe or child’s bedroom.

In the Archipel 17 range, the ICPS sits alongside the Archipel 17ICP, sold in pairs, with each unit featuring a single tweeter adjustable by up to 20°. Both models share the same 24 x 24 cm dimensions, grilles and finish, and can easily be combined in the same home: a pair of ICP speakers in the living room, an ICPS in rooms where ceiling space is limited.

Modest sensitivity to consider when choosing amplification

The sensitivity of 84 dB (measured at 1 metre with 1 watt) is modest. By comparison, the Archipel 17ICP reaches 87.5 dB, and a difference of 3 dB roughly corresponds to doubling the power needed to achieve the same sound level. For background music in a small room, the difference goes unnoticed; for turning the volume up substantially, an amplifier with a little headroom is preferable to an entry-level model pushed to its limits.

Rated power is 2 x 20 W, with peaks of up to 2 x 160 W permitted. The nominal impedance of 8 ohms does not drop below 6.4 ohms, an easy load for any stereo amplifier, integrated amplifier or zone amplifier in a multiroom system. The frequency response of 40 Hz to 19,000 Hz is specified for a speaker recessed into a large flat surface, with an air volume of around 15 litres behind it: a smaller or poorly sealed cavity reduces bass extension.

Installation in a ceiling or plasterboard wall

The Archipel 17ICPS can be mounted in either a ceiling or a wall. A supplied template is used to mark out the cutout. The frame is then inserted into the opening, and four screws visible on the front swing mounting tabs into place against the back of the plasterboard. The frame allows slight flexing to accommodate surface irregularities, provided the screws are not overtightened.

Before drilling, it is best to locate pipes, electrical conduits and ventilation ducts, and avoid a cavity containing lightweight ducting or a thin wall that could vibrate. A gap of at least 50 cm from corners and the wall-ceiling junction prevents overly heavy, lingering bass. The cavity can be loosely filled with glass wool or mineral wool insulation, avoiding closed-cell foam and expanded polystyrene, and checking that the materials used comply with local fire safety regulations.

The cable cross-section depends on the distance to the amplifier: 1.5 mm² is sufficient up to 4.5 m, 2.5 mm² is suitable for 7.5 m, and 4 mm² is needed at around 12 m. Since the speaker receives two channels, two speaker cables (or one four-conductor cable) run up to it.

Optional back box and mounting kit

Above a suspended ceiling, the air volume behind the speaker is rarely defined: it may be enormous, open to other rooms or cluttered. The optional back box resolves this by providing a sealed enclosure made from moisture-resistant MDF, with a volume tailored to the Archipel models. The result then no longer depends on the ceiling structure.

The mounting kit, also optional, includes a frame and tabs to be installed during new plasterboard construction, before finishing. The location is reserved during the structural work, making the final installation more precise. For either option, using an installer is still recommended.

Paint-ready round and square grilles

Two grilles are supplied with the speaker, one round and one square, each held in place by magnets. They position themselves when brought close to the front and can still be rotated after fitting, a useful detail for aligning the square grille with a light fitting, wall tiles or the edge of a suspended ceiling tile. Their semi-matt white finish can be painted to match the room. The enclosure measures 24 x 24 cm, is 10.5 cm deep and weighs 1.5 kg.

Enclosure: 2 x 2-way

• Speakers
  • 2 x DOM24 swiveling soft dome tweeters
  • 1 x 17T20 IC P2C diaphragm midrange-woofer
• Nominal power: 2 x 20 W (peak 2 x 160W)

Measurements

• Efficiency: 84 dB
• Crossover frequency: 3,200 Hz
• Frequency response: 40 Hz - 19,000 Hz
• Impedance
  • Nominal: 8 Ω
  • Minimum: 6.4 Ω

General

• Optional
  • Mounting kit
  • Back box
• 2 grilles included (square or round)
• Finish: white (grille ready to paint)
• Dimensions (W x H x D): 24 x 24 x 10.5 cm
• Weight: 1.5 kg