Perlisten S4b: A New American Legend in High-End Audio

Few new speaker manufacturers have garnered as much acclaim as Perlisten, and after extensive listening sessions, it's clear that the praise lavished on their flagship S4b bookshelf speakers is far more than mere encouragement for this emerging brand from Wisconsin. Founded in 2016 by acoustical engineer Daniel Roemer, Perlisten Audio waited until 2020 to launch their production speakers, targeting both high-end audio and home theater markets. During this development period, the company executed a comprehensive R&D program, particularly focusing on their proprietary DPC (Directivity Pattern Control) array waveguide—a defining feature of their S and R series speakers.

The formidable seven-driver S7t floorstanding speaker (weighing 123 lbs) created significant media buzz upon its release. The S4b shares many of its groundbreaking technologies while offering a more compact form factor that, when mounted on stands, holds its own against premium competitors. This substantial bookshelf speaker positions itself as a compelling alternative to the KEF Reference 1 Meta and B&W 805 D4, albeit with a lighter footprint. While Perlisten offers purpose-built heavy-duty stands (which actually outweigh the speakers themselves), the S4b's 34.4-pound weight also makes wall-mounting feasible via four rear-panel mounting points. In our testing, we preferred 24-inch Slate Audio stands, which matched the dedicated stands' mass while offering superior top-plate thickness.

The S4b exudes luxury at every turn, from its robust HDF (High-Density Fiberboard) cabinet to its premium bi-wire binding posts. Available in standard piano black or white finishes, with piano black ebony as a premium option, our review unit in piano white exhibited flawless craftsmanship throughout.

Perhaps more intriguing is the driver configuration mounted on the CNC-machined HDF baffle, particularly the distinctive DPC array. This consists of a central 28mm beryllium tweeter flanked by two 28mm TPCD (Thin-Ply Carbon Diaphragm) dome drivers. While beryllium presents manufacturing challenges, it remains one of the stiffest known materials, offering superior damping characteristics without the unwanted breakup modes typical of other metals. All three drivers are housed within a large cast fiberglass acoustic lens waveguide, computer-modeled to optimize horizontal and vertical dispersion. Perlisten claims the dual TPCD midrange domes allow crossover points more than an octave lower than typical dome drivers, offering quick response and minimal inter-driver interference.

This three-way design incorporates a 180mm Textreme TPCD woofer below the DPC array. Its layered construction purportedly reduces weight by 30% compared to similar carbon fiber diaphragms, while its distinctive checkerboard weave pattern helps control breakup distortion without creating sharp response peaks.

For home theater enthusiasts, the S4b's THX Dominus certification is noteworthy, though stereo listeners will appreciate its combination of high output capability and low distortion. The sealed cabinet design, rather than a ported configuration, partially explains the relatively low 85.5dB sensitivity and nominal 4-ohm impedance, suggesting careful amplifier matching. While the specified 36Hz frequency response (-10dB) might seem impressive, it's worth noting this is not at the more commonly quoted -6dB or -3dB points. Perlisten offers a range of powered subwoofers for those seeking extended bass response.

In testing with the muscular Hegel H600 integrated amplifier, Chord Hugo TT2 DAC, and our reference Rega Planar6/Ania Pro turntable through the Tom Evans phono stage, the S4b revealed its true character. Think of it as an LS3/5a reimagined with advanced technology—delivering remarkable transparency, precise midrange/treble detail, and impeccable timing, all while offering substantially greater scale and authority than its British inspiration. The speakers demonstrated particular prowess with complex musical material, rendering Stanley Clarke and George Duke's "Heroes" with outstanding timbral accuracy and dynamic expression.

When compared to similarly-priced competitors like the EgglestonWorks Nico Evo, the S4b holds its own. While the Nico Evo offers excellent build quality and a more forward presentation, the Perlisten counters with superior spatial reproduction and what might be described as "holographic magic," though perhaps at the expense of some of the Nico Evo's rhythmic authority.

In conclusion, while some listeners may desire subwoofer integration for the deepest bass frequencies, the S4b stands as a remarkable achievement, offering exceptional versatility, tonal authenticity, and rhythmic precision. Its ability to deliver room-filling sound with outstanding dynamics and dimensional staging surpasses what one might expect from a speaker of this size. This is truly a product that demands personal audition to fully appreciate its capabilities.