Short answer: pick the Perlisten S4b if you want sound quality that has been measured and ranked; the B&W 805 D4 is unmeasured so far, so its case rests on features and price.
What the B&W 805 D4 offers: Two-way stand mount with a 25mm Diamond dome tweeter in a separate solid body housing and a 165mm Continuum cone mid/bass.
What the Perlisten S4b brings: Reference-grade directivity and output from a compact sealed monitor.
On paper: The B&W 805 D4 is more sensitive, 88dB against 84.5dB, so it needs less amplifier power to play loud.
Price: the B&W 805 D4 lists at $10,000 and the Perlisten S4b at $8,000.
Buy the Perlisten S4b if you want a speaker whose sound quality has been measured and ranked.
Buy the B&W 805 D4 if you want higher sensitivity, and you can wait for measurements to confirm how it sounds.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Passive Home rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| B&W 805 D4 | Perlisten S4b | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $10,000 per pair | $8,000 per pair |
| Ranked | - | #2 of 131 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Drivers | 1” (25mm) Diamond dome tweeter, 6.5” (165mm) Continuum cone mid/bass | DPC array with 28mm beryllium tweeter and dual 28mm midrange domes; 7” woofer |
| Frequency Response | 42Hz - 28kHz ±3dB (Manufacturer specified) | - |
| Sensitivity | 88dB (2.83V/1m, manufacturer specified) | 84.5dB/2.83V/1m (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Impedance | 8 ohms nominal (4.6 ohms minimum) | Just under 4 ohms minimum (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Power Handling | 50-120W | - |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported | sealed |
| Dimensions | 440H x 240W x 373D mm | 16.5”H x 9.4”W x 7.3”D |
| Weight | 15.55 kg each | 24.3 lbs (11 kg) each |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | - | 78Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | 40Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | - | 5.35 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | - | 8.01 |
| DIY Kit | - | No |
Prices on this page were last checked September 29, 2026 at 3:43 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.
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
The Two Speakers In Full
B&W 805 D4: $10,000 per pair Bowers & Wilkins eBay
Older model: the B&W 805S (rated 2.8/5).
Pros: Two-way stand mount with a 25mm Diamond dome tweeter in a separate solid body housing and a 165mm Continuum cone mid/bass. B&W rates it at 42Hz to 28kHz (±3dB) and 88dB sensitivity with an 8 ohm nominal load. Four finishes.
Cons: No independent measurements yet, so its tonal balance and directivity can’t be compared with ranked speakers. At about four times the price of the 805S it replaces, it is a very expensive stand mount, and bass below 42Hz still calls for a subwoofer.
Full B&W 805 D4 review and specifications →
| Dimensions | 440H x 240W x 373D mm |
|---|---|
| Drivers | 1” (25mm) Diamond dome tweeter, 6.5” (165mm) Continuum cone mid/bass |
| Frequency Response | 42Hz - 28kHz ±3dB (Manufacturer specified) |
| Impedance | 8 ohms nominal (4.6 ohms minimum) |
| Power Handling | 50-120W |
| Sensitivity | 88dB (2.83V/1m, manufacturer specified) |
| Weight | 15.55 kg each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- These figures are manufacturer-specified rather than independently measured.
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
Perlisten S4b: $8,000 per pair Perlisten Dealer Locator eBay
Pros: Reference-grade directivity and output from a compact sealed monitor. Erin called its radiation behavior the smoothest he had measured: Perlisten’s DPC array (beryllium tweeter between two midrange domes) shapes vertical output while transitioning cleanly to the 7-inch woofer. Harmonic distortion remains below 1% at 86dB and, above 100Hz, also below 1% at 96dB; compression is exceptionally low. The response is highly linear, the midrange was a listening highlight, and the sealed F10 of 40Hz provides a predictable slope for subwoofer integration. Measured bass extension of 78Hz (-3dB), with a measured sensitivity of 84.5dB.
Cons: Erin measured only 84.5dB sensitivity and an impedance minimum just under 4 ohms, a difficult efficiency/load combination that deserves substantial clean amplification. Its 78Hz F3 means a subwoofer is effectively mandatory for full-range listening despite the 40Hz F10. A roughly +3dB feature around 10kHz appears on-axis, though Erin did not find it objectionable. Price is extreme for a stand-mount and the tightly managed vertical radiation makes correct stand height important.
Full Perlisten S4b review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 40Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 78Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| DIY Kit | No |
| Dimensions | 16.5”H x 9.4”W x 7.3”D |
| Drivers | DPC array with 28mm beryllium tweeter and dual 28mm midrange domes; 7” woofer |
| Impedance | Just under 4 ohms minimum (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | 84.5dB/2.83V/1m (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 5.35 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 8.01 |
| Weight | 24.3 lbs (11 kg) each |
| Woofer Cabinet | sealed |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons