Short answer: the Perlisten Audio D15s. Both are rated 4.1/5 for sound quality (#99 and #101 of 143 subwoofers), and the Perlisten Audio D15s costs $5,995 against $7,200 for the Bowers & Wilkins DB1D, with sound quality a draw, the lower price decides it.
The case for the Bowers & Wilkins DB1D: Flagship dual-opposed 12-inch Aerofoil drivers powered by 2,000 watts of dedicated Hypex Class D amplification. Watch for: Flagship pricing represents a substantial investment.
Why pick the Perlisten Audio D15s: The smallest-footprint subwoofer to achieve THX Dominus certification. The catch: Substantial 100.5 lbs (45.6 kg) weight and luxury pricing.
Buy the Perlisten Audio D15s. Both are rated the same for sound quality, and it costs $1,205 less than the Bowers & Wilkins DB1D.
Still deciding? The full Subwoofers rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| Bowers & Wilkins DB1D | Perlisten Audio D15s | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $7,200.00 each | $5,995.00 each |
| Ranked | #101 of 143 in Large Home Subwoofers (Over 75 lbs) | #99 of 143 in Large Home Subwoofers (Over 75 lbs) |
| Amplifier Power | 2000W RMS | 1500W RMS |
| CEA-2010-A Average (40-80Hz) | 120.0 dB | 118.3 dB |
| Cabinet Color | gloss black, satin white, rosenut | piano black, piano white |
| Country | United Kingdom | United States |
| Dimensions | 18.1”H x 16.9”W x 16.1”D (460.0 x 429.0 x 410.0 mm) | 20.8”H x 19.7”W x 19.7”D (528.0 x 500.0 x 500.0 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 12” (305mm) Aerofoil drivers | 15” (381mm) carbon fiber driver |
| Enclosure | sealed | sealed |
| Inputs | XLR (2, balanced), RCA (2, unbalanced) | XLR (2, balanced), RCA (2, unbalanced) |
| Measurement Source | Audioholics | Audioholics |
| Output SPL at 15 Hz | 96.5 dB | 98.3 dB |
| Output SPL at 20 Hz | 103.8 dB | 103.5 dB |
| Output SPL at 25 Hz | 108.7 dB | 107.8 dB |
| Output SPL at 31.5 Hz | 113.2 dB | 112.0 dB |
| Output SPL at 40 Hz | 117.5 dB | 115.6 dB |
| Output SPL at 50 Hz | 119.8 dB | 117.8 dB |
| Output SPL at 63 Hz | 121.0 dB | 119.2 dB |
| Output SPL at 80 Hz | 121.5 dB | 120.4 dB |
| Output SPL at 100 Hz | 121.8 dB | 121.2 dB |
| Output SPL at 125 Hz | 122.0 dB | 122.0 dB |
| RCA Input | Yes | Yes |
| Warranty | 5 | 5 |
| Weight | 94.8 lbs (43.0 kg) | 100.5 lbs (45.6 kg) |
| XLR Input | Yes | Yes |
| Output SPL at 12.5 Hz | - | 92.8 dB |
Related Speaker Comparisons
How Perlisten Audio D15s compares with other leading options:
- REL Acoustics 212 Black Label vs Perlisten Audio D15s
- MartinLogan Depth 212 vs Perlisten Audio D15s
- Perlisten Audio D15s vs Perlisten Audio D12s
- PSB SubSeries BP12 vs Bowers & Wilkins DB1D
- Paradigm Persona SUB vs Bowers & Wilkins DB1D
Prices on this page were last checked October 11, 2026 at 4:59 PM UTC. Product prices and availability are accurate as of that date/time and are subject to change; the price and availability shown on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
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The Two Speakers In Full
Bowers & Wilkins DB1D: $7,200.00 each Bowers & Wilkins eBay
Same family: the Bowers & Wilkins DB4S (smaller subwoofer, rated 3.8/5), the Bowers & Wilkins DB3D (smaller subwoofer, rated 3.7/5) and the Bowers & Wilkins DB2D (smaller subwoofer, rated 3.9/5).
Pros: Flagship dual-opposed 12-inch Aerofoil drivers powered by 2,000 watts of dedicated Hypex Class D amplification. Opposing driver reaction forces cancel cabinet resonances entirely, producing pristine, tight, distortion-free bass reaching over 120 dB in mid-bass and 103.8 dB at 20 Hz. Includes app-based automated room acoustic correction and balanced XLR connectivity.
Cons: Flagship pricing represents a substantial investment. The sealed, compact cabinet relies heavily on its 2 kW amplifier to achieve deep bass and does not produce the extreme sub-15Hz output of massive vented subs.
Full Bowers & Wilkins DB1D review and specifications →
| Released | May 2017 (9 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | 2000W RMS |
| CEA-2010-A Average (40-80Hz) | 120.0 dB |
| Cabinet Color | gloss black, satin white, rosenut |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Dimensions | 18.1”H x 16.9”W x 16.1”D (460.0 x 429.0 x 410.0 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 12” (305mm) Aerofoil drivers |
| Enclosure | sealed |
| Inputs | XLR (2, balanced), RCA (2, unbalanced) |
| Measurement Source | Audioholics |
| Output SPL at 15 Hz | 96.5 dB |
| Output SPL at 20 Hz | 103.8 dB |
| Output SPL at 25 Hz | 108.7 dB |
| Output SPL at 31.5 Hz | 113.2 dB |
| Output SPL at 40 Hz | 117.5 dB |
| Output SPL at 50 Hz | 119.8 dB |
| Output SPL at 63 Hz | 121.0 dB |
| Output SPL at 80 Hz | 121.5 dB |
| Output SPL at 100 Hz | 121.8 dB |
| Output SPL at 125 Hz | 122.0 dB |
| RCA Input | Yes |
| Warranty | 5 |
| Weight | 94.8 lbs (43.0 kg) |
| XLR Input | Yes |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
Perlisten Audio D15s: $5,995.00 each Audio Advice eBay
Same family: the Perlisten Audio D12s (smaller subwoofer, ranked lower, estimated 4/5), the Perlisten Audio D212s (larger subwoofer, ranked higher, rated 4.2/5) and the Perlisten Audio D215s (larger subwoofer, ranked higher, rated 4.2/5).
Pros: The smallest-footprint subwoofer to achieve THX Dominus certification. Massive 15-inch carbon fiber cone driven by a 1.5 kW smart amplifier in an inert sealed cabinet, delivering lightning-fast transient grip, 10-band parametric EQ, and touchscreen control.
Cons: Substantial 45.6 kg weight and luxury pricing. Being a sealed enclosure, single-digit infra-sub output rolls off naturally without room gain compared to enormous ported theater subs.
Full Perlisten Audio D15s review and specifications →
| Released | Jun 2021 (5 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | 1500W RMS |
| CEA-2010-A Average (40-80Hz) | 118.3 dB |
| Cabinet Color | piano black, piano white |
| Country | United States |
| Dimensions | 20.8”H x 19.7”W x 19.7”D (528.0 x 500.0 x 500.0 mm) |
| Drivers | 15” (381mm) carbon fiber driver |
| Enclosure | sealed |
| Inputs | XLR (2, balanced), RCA (2, unbalanced) |
| Measurement Source | Audioholics |
| Output SPL at 12.5 Hz | 92.8 dB |
| Output SPL at 15 Hz | 98.3 dB |
| Output SPL at 20 Hz | 103.5 dB |
| Output SPL at 25 Hz | 107.8 dB |
| Output SPL at 31.5 Hz | 112.0 dB |
| Output SPL at 40 Hz | 115.6 dB |
| Output SPL at 50 Hz | 117.8 dB |
| Output SPL at 63 Hz | 119.2 dB |
| Output SPL at 80 Hz | 120.4 dB |
| Output SPL at 100 Hz | 121.2 dB |
| Output SPL at 125 Hz | 122.0 dB |
| RCA Input | Yes |
| Warranty | 5 |
| Weight | 100.5 lbs (45.6 kg) |
| XLR Input | Yes |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons