In this review, we will be comparing R15s and DB4S, two Powered Subwoofer speakers from Perlisten and Bowers Wilkins. Being Powered subwoofers, they both have built-in amplifiers so you don't need an external power amp or an integrated amp to power them. Let's have a brief look at the main features of Perlisten R15s and B&W DB4S first before getting into our more detailed comparison.
The sections below take each area in turn: driver and amplifier, frequency response, physical size and connectivity.
Drivers
The efficiency of a subwoofer is directly proportional to the total radiating are squared hence the woofer quantity and diameter.Perlisten R15s and B&W DB4S have a totally different setup: the Perlisten R15s features x -inch drivers whereas the DB4S features 1 x 10-inch drivers.
Frequency Response
R15s has a frequency range of 20-388 Hz whereas DB4S has a frequency range of 10-350 Hz. With a minimum frequency of 10Hz, the DB4S can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the R15s's min frequency of 20Hz.
Below graphs depict how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average values of the Min and Max Frequencies of other speakers in the Subwoofer class in our database.
Low Frequency
Subwoofer Speakers
High Frequency
Subwoofer Speakers
Cabinet Type
The Perlisten R15s has a Bass Reflex type cabinet. Bass Reflex type subwoofers (aka Ported, Vented or Reflex Port) have enclosures that uses a port, hole or vent cut into the cabinet. Ported designs are generally more efficient than the Sealed designs. On the other hand the B&W DB4S have Acoustic Suspension type enclosure. Acoustic Suspension aka Sealed type subwoofers have enclosures that are sealed hence no ports or holes exists on the cabinet. Sealed designs helps to provide more accurate and tight bass responses compared to ported designs.
Physical Specs
The size of a speaker can sometimes be an important decision factor due to space constraints or in some cases purely for esthetic reasons. In this section, we are going to compare Perlisten R15s's and B&W DB4S's external dimensions. Perlisten R15s has external dimensions of 498.0 x 460.0 x 465.0mm () whereas B&W DB4S has external dimensions of 375.0 x 362.0 x 434.0mm (14-3/4 x 14-1/4 x 17-1/16inch).
Perlisten R15s is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 98mm wider, 123mm taller and 31mm deeper than B&W DB4S.
Size, drawn to scale
Both speakers and both views share one scale, so everything here is directly comparable. Hover a box for its dimensions.
One scale for both, standing on the same surface and pushed back to the same wall, so the deeper one visibly sticks out further.
Perlisten R15s needs about 36% more floor or shelf area. Perlisten R15s is 31mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall. Perlisten R15s is 123mm taller.
Base Surface Area Comparison
Base surface area of a loudspeaker may become a determining factor when the space in your room or desk is limited.
The base surface area of the Perlisten R15s is approximately 2139.0cm2 / 331.5inch2 and base area of the B&W DB4S is approximately 1571.1cm2 / 243.5inch2. The R15s requires 36% more surface area than the DB4S which gives it a small disadvantage on placement in tight spaces.
Weight Comparison The weight of a subwoofer may become an important factor if you need to move and reposition the unit often to find the optimal positioning, also known as 'Subwoofer Crawling'. The Perlisten R15s weighs 35.50kg / 78.1lbs and the B&W DB4S weighs 26.05kg / 57.3lbs. This makes the R15s 36% heavier than the DB4S.
Here is a comparison of how R15s and DB4S's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Powered Subwoofer class.
Weight
All Subwoofer Speakers
 High Frequency Response |
388 Hz
vs
350 Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Woofer Size |
10 inches
vs
inches
|
Larger woofer |
| Low Frequency Response |
10 Hz
vs
20 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 App-Based Control |
iOS,Android
vs
None
|
Control the speaker via an app |
 Height |
375mm
vs
498mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
1571cm2
vs
2139cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
2199USD
vs
4495USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
Size, drawn to scale
Both subwoofers and both views share one scale, so everything here is directly comparable. Hover a box for its dimensions.
One scale for both, standing on the same floor and pushed back to the same wall, so the bigger one visibly takes more of the room.
Perlisten R15s needs about 36% more floor area. Perlisten R15s stands 31mm further into the room. Perlisten R15s is 123mm taller.
| General |
Perlisten R15s |
Bowers & Wilkins DB4S |
| Brand |
Perlisten |
Bowers Wilkins |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Subwoofer |
Powered Subwoofer |
| Sensitivity |
92 dB |
n/a |
| Frequency Response |
20-388 Hz |
10-350 Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
|
1 |
| Woofer Size |
" |
10" |
| Woofer Composition |
|
Aerofoil |
| Woofer Surround Material |
n/a |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
- |
- |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
n/a |
front |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
498.0mm (19.6") |
375.0mm (14.8") |
| Width |
460.0mm (18.1") |
362.0mm (14.3") |
| Depth |
465.0mm (18.3") |
434.0mm (17.1") |
| Weight |
35.50kg (78.1lbs) |
26.05kg (57.3lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Acoustic Suspension |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
|
2 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
|
2 Years |
A ported subwoofer against a sealed one. That is the most consequential line on this page: it decides how the bass rolls off, how it behaves in a small room, and how much output you get for the size of the box.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass depth | B | B&W DB4S goes deeper - 10Hz against 20Hz. Under 20Hz is felt more than heard - the bottom of a pipe organ and the bottom of a film mix. |
| Enclosure | depends | Perlisten R15s is ported - a ported box gives more output low down for its size, at the cost of a steeper roll-off below tuning; B&W DB4S is sealed - a sealed box rolls off gently and is usually the easier one to integrate in a small or awkward room. Neither is better in the abstract; ported tends to suit films and sealed tends to suit music, and both generalisations have exceptions. |
| Cabinet size | depends | B&W DB4S is about 45% smaller by volume. In a subwoofer that is a real trade rather than a preference: box volume is how you get output low down without a bigger amplifier. |
| Price | B | B&W DB4S costs less - $2,199 against $4,495, about 51% less. |
A Perlisten R15s B B&W DB4S
depends neither is better in the abstract - it turns on your room, your system or how you will use them. Only specs published for both subwoofers are judged; anything missing on either side is left out rather than guessed.
Which should you choose?
B&W DB4S has the edge on paper, though not by much. The "depends" rows are more likely to decide this than the score is. Films or music? If this is mainly a home cinema, Perlisten R15s will hit harder for the money; if it is mainly for music in a normal-sized room, B&W DB4S is usually the easier one to make sound right. Two small subwoofers beat one big one in most rooms - a pair evens out the room modes in a way no single box can, whatever its specs. At $2,199 each, two B&W DB4S cost about $4,398 against $4,495 for one of the other, which is worth a thought.
One thing outweighs everything above: where the subwoofer stands. Room modes can add or remove 10dB or more at a given seat, which is far larger than any difference on this page. Before spending more, try the sub in two or three positions - the crawl test, where you put it in the listening seat and crawl the room to find where the bass sounds best, costs nothing and usually beats an upgrade.