Swiss luxury audio brand Goldmund has teamed up with renowned French trunk maker Pinel et Pinel to create an extraordinary, limited edition set of Apologue speakers that push the boundaries of both craftsmanship and sound. The collaboration, which also features the work of famed French street artist Cyril Kongo, results in a truly unique masterpiece that costs a staggering $1.77 million USD per pair. Only 20 sets will ever be made, making this an exclusive offering for the world’s most discerning audiophiles and collectors.
A Masterpiece of Sound and Design
Goldmund’s Apologue speaker has long been regarded as one of the brand’s most iconic products. Originally launched in 1987, the speaker was celebrated for its innovative design and engineering, earning a place in the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York City. However, this latest edition, dubbed “Apologue Ultimate Pinel et Pinel & Cyril Kongo”, takes the classic model to new heights, blending cutting-edge technology, luxury materials, and fine art into a truly exclusive offering.
Unlike the original Apologue, which was a passive three-way speaker, the new version is an active speaker featuring six separate drivers—including a tweeter dome, a super tweeter dome, dual seven-inch midrange drivers, and dual 12-inch woofers. To power these drivers, the speakers are equipped with six corresponding amplifiers—one 300-watt amp for the tweeters, two 300-watt amps for the midrange drivers, and two 700-watt amps for the woofers. All of these amplifiers are integrated into the speaker’s five individual units, making the Apologue Ultimate a powerful and high-performance system designed for those who demand the very best.
Luxury Meets Art
What truly sets this edition of the Apologue speaker apart is the unparalleled level of artistry involved in its creation. In addition to the technical brilliance of Goldmund’s engineering and Pinel et Pinel’s exquisite craftsmanship, the speakers are adorned with custom artwork by Cyril Kongo, a French street artist known for his collaborations with high-end brands like Hermès and Richard Mille.
Kongo’s artwork—consisting of vibrant, hand-painted designs—covers each of the speaker’s five units. Each piece is unique, with Kongo given full creative freedom to interpret the collaboration however he saw fit. The result is a multi-sensory experience that merges ultimate hi-fi sound, luxury leather craftsmanship, and contemporary art.
“The design is a multi-sensory work that bridges the worlds of ultimate hi-fi, luxury leather goods, and contemporary art,” Kongo explained. “I wanted to incorporate the elements that define my pictorial style, my artistic vocabulary, and my personality into the speakers, which have become like sculptures in their own right.”
The speakers are wrapped in a 52.5 feet (16 meters) of premium calfskin leather sourced from Pinel et Pinel’s Parisian atelier. This leather is meticulously hand-painted by Kongo, with each speaker separated into about 15 pieces of leather, which are then individually painted to create a one-of-a-kind design.
The Collaborative Process
For both Pinel et Pinel and Kongo, this project was as much about artistic challenge as it was about luxury. Pinel et Pinel’s founder, Fred Pinel, said the speakers were designed not just as audio devices, but as sculptures—luxurious works of art in their own right. “We designed these speakers as sculptures,” he stated, highlighting the intricate craftsmanship involved in wrapping and painting each individual unit.
For Kongo, the project also allowed him to tap into his personal passion for music and sound systems. “When I was younger, I experimented a lot with sound systems,” Kongo noted. “I have a passion for music and musicians, but also for artisans like Fred Pinel. This collaboration was an opportunity to create something that blended my love for art and music into a truly unique piece.”
Unparalleled Exclusivity
At €1.5 million EUR (around $1.77 million USD) per pair, the Apologue Ultimate Pinel et Pinel & Cyril Kongo speakers are priced for the elite few who can afford such a lavish investment. Weighing in at an impressive 794lbs (360kg) each, these speakers are as much a statement of wealth and taste as they are a technological marvel. Only 20 pairs will be produced, making them an ultra-exclusive collector’s item.
These speakers are available for special order through Goldmund, and those who purchase them will receive not just a state-of-the-art audio experience but also an unparalleled fusion of art, craftsmanship, and design.
A New Benchmark in Luxury Audio
The Apologue Ultimate speakers are a testament to the extraordinary possibilities when three visionary brands come together—Goldmund for its unparalleled audio engineering, Pinel et Pinel for its legacy in luxury leather craftsmanship, and Cyril Kongo for his contemporary artistic vision. Together, they’ve created more than just speakers; they’ve created a multidimensional masterpiece that sets a new benchmark in luxury, art, and sound.
For those who value exclusivity and demand perfection, the Apologue Ultimate is the ultimate expression of luxury in both form and function.
