Short answer: the Perlisten S4b. It ranks #2 of 222 bookshelf speakers by sound quality, rated 4.8/5, at $8,000; the Bowers & Wilkins 805 D4 ranks #177, rated 3.2/5, and costs $10,000, which makes this an easy call rather than a real tradeoff.
Why pick the Bowers & Wilkins 805 D4: A luxury B&W stand mount with a diamond dome tweeter in a separate housing, a Continuum cone woofer and four finishes. The tradeoff: No independent measurements yet, so its tonal balance and directivity can’t be compared with ranked speakers.
The Perlisten S4b is the better-sounding choice. A compact sealed bookshelf speaker with reference grade accuracy, exceptionally smooth dispersion, and very low distortion at high volume. The tradeoff: Erin measured only 84.5dB sensitivity and an impedance minimum just under 4 ohms, a difficult efficiency/load combination that deserves substantial clean amplification.
Buy the Perlisten S4b. It is rated higher for sound quality than the Bowers & Wilkins 805 D4 and costs less, which makes it the one to get unless you need something the other one does better.
Worth knowing: the Bowers & Wilkins 805 D4 has not been measured yet. Its rating is estimated from related models, with a likely range of 3.0 to 3.4, so treat this verdict as provisional.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Passive Home rankings.
Measured Differences
- Efficiency: the Bowers & Wilkins 805 D4 is rated at 88 dB sensitivity against 84.5 dB for the Perlisten S4b, so it plays as loud with roughly half the amplifier power.
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Specifications Side By Side
| Bowers & Wilkins 805 D4 | Perlisten S4b | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $10,000 per pair | $8,000 per pair |
| Ranked | #177 of 222 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers Estimated | #2 of 222 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 42Hz (manufacturer specified) | 78Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| 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 | 17.3”H x 9.4”W x 14.7”D (440 x 240 x 373 mm) | 16.5”H x 9.4”W x 7.3”D |
| Weight | 34.3 lbs (15.55 kg) each | 24.3 lbs (11 kg) each |
| 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 |
Where the Ratings Come From
- Bowers & Wilkins 805 D4: manufacturer specifications and listening comparisons; no independent measurement has been published yet.
- Perlisten S4b: Spinorama.org measurements and reviews by Erin’s Audio Corner.
This comparison is generated from the ratings, specifications and measurements on each product’s own page, and it updates when that data changes. How we rank explains how each rating is decided.
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