Short answer: the Perlisten A3m. It ranks #51 of 222 bookshelf speakers by sound quality, rated 4.2/5, at $3,000; the Dynaudio Special Forty ranks #148, rated 3.5/5, and costs $3,600, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
The Dynaudio Special Forty is the deeper-bass option. Premium bookshelf speakers with strong output, wide dispersion and fairly deep bass from a compact rear ported cabinet. Its bass reaches about 54Hz before falling 3dB, against 85.8Hz for the Perlisten A3m. Watch for: A glaring, sometimes sibilant quality around 3-4kHz was the most noticeable issue in listening, the one thing the reviewer would want notched out with EQ.
The Perlisten A3m is the better-sounding option. A sealed high output monitor with dual 8 inch woofers and a waveguide tweeter, a great match for a subwoofer in a home theater. Watch for: The low-quality vendor Spinorama data measures only 85.8Hz at -3dB, 74.1Hz at -6dB, and 55.7Hz at -12dB, conflicting with Perlisten’s much deeper in-room extension claim.
Buy the Perlisten A3m. It is rated higher for sound quality than the Dynaudio Special Forty and costs less, so it is the default pick unless a specific strength of the other one matters more to you.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Passive Home rankings.
Premium bookshelf speakers with strong output, wide dispersion and fairly deep bass from a compact rear ported cabinet.
A sealed high output monitor with dual 8 inch woofers and a waveguide tweeter, a great match for a subwoofer in a home theater.
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Specifications Side By Side
| Dynaudio Special Forty | Perlisten A3m | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $3600 per pair | $3,000 per pair |
| Ranked | #148 of 222 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers | #51 of 222 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 39Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | approximately 61Hz (measured, spinorama.org) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 54Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 85.8Hz (measured, spinorama.org) |
| Dimensions | 14.1”H x 7.7”W x 12.1”D (358.1 x 195.6 x 307.3 mm) | 26.6 x 11.0 x 13.8 in each |
| Impedance | 6 ohms nominal (4.9 ohms minimum above 80Hz, measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 4 ohms nominal; 3 ohms minimum |
| Sensitivity | 83.5dB (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner; 86dB manufacturer specified) | 87.4dB at 2.83V/1m |
| Drivers | 5.9” MSP (Magnesium Silicate Polymer) cone woofer, 1” Esotar soft dome tweeter | Two 8-inch carbon-fiber woofers; 35mm Teteron dome tweeter |
| Weight | 17.9 lbs (8.1 kg) each | 63.9 lbs (29 kg) |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported | - |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 4.73 | 4.30 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.74 | 7.34 |
| DIY Kit | No | No |
| Enclosure | - | Sealed |
| Maximum SPL | - | 111.4dB peak at 1m (manufacturer specified) |
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