In this review, we will be comparing R7c and WASAE Center, two Passive Center Channel speakers from Perlisten and Wilson Audio.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Perlisten R7c and Wilson Audio WASAE Center first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Perlisten R7c | Wilson Audio WASAE Center |
|---|
| Brand | Perlisten
United States · founded 2016 | Wilson Audio
United States · founded 1974 |
|---|
| Design | 3-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | — | 1" Dome |
|---|
| Woofer | — | 2 x 5.75" Paper pulp |
|---|
| Frequency response | 36-32k Hz | 65-31k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 90 dB | 88 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 4 ohms | 4 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 100 - 400W RMS watts | from 20 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 36.80kg / 81lbs | 25.85kg / 56.9lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 9.06" x 36.22" x 11.81"
230.1 x 920.0 x 300.0mm | 7-11/16" x 26-3/4" x 13-3/16"
196.0 x 680.0 x 335.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Perlisten R7c and Wilson Audio WASAE Center speakers good for?
The size of the room in which you are planning to use these loudspeakers is an important decision
factor. Here we have compared their suitability to various sizes of environments considering their size
and max power parameters:
| Listening Environment* |
Perlisten R7c |
Wilson Audio WASAE Center |
| Near-field |
Good |
Average |
| Small Room |
Good |
Good |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Average |
| Large Room |
Poor |
Poor |
| Very Large Room |
No way |
Bad |
(* Approximate Room sizes: Small < 100sq. ft / 9 m2,
Mid-size: 100-220 sq. ft / 9-20 m2, Large 220-400 sq. ft / 20-36 m2, Very Large: >
400 sq. ft / 36 m2.
Average Floor Height: 9" / 2.7m. Typical room sizes differ from country to country, and the actual
listening experience changes depending on floor height, room shape, surface materials, listening
position, speaker locations, etc.)
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
Drivers
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that R7c is a 3-way design whereas the WASAE Center is a 2-way speaker. 3-way designs utilize a midrange driver in addition to the tweeter and woofer on 2-way designs. Designing a crossover for a 3-way speaker is a complicated process and generally increases the overall cost of the speaker.
| Driver |
Perlisten R7c |
Wilson Audio WASAE Center |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
x -inch
|
2 x 5.75-inch
|
R7c features a " Tweeter and x " Woofer. On the other hand, the WASAE Center features a 1" Doped silk fabric Dome Tweeter and 2 x 5.75" Paper pulp Woofer.
Frequency Response
R7c has a frequency range of 36-32k Hz whereas WASAE Center has a frequency range of 65-31k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 36Hz, the R7c can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the WASAE Center's min frequency of 65Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Center Channel class in our database.
Low Frequency
Center Channel Speakers
Neither pair reaches down to 20Hz, the usual definition of full-range, which is normal for speakers of this size. If you want the bottom octave for movies or bass-heavy music, add a subwoofer to whichever you choose. Visit our Powered Subwoofers section to find out more about the available options.
Impedance and Sensitivity
R7c and WASAE Center have the same Impedance of 4 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. R7c sensitivity is rated at 90 dB and the WASAE Center's is at 88 dB. This 2 dB difference makes the Perlisten R7c a more sensitive speaker compared to Wilson Audio WASAE Center, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
One thing to keep in mind that the lower impedance speakers, especially the ones that are rated at 4 ohms may put more pressure on the amplifier unit comared to higher impedance speakers especially at high volume levels, so make sure the amp you pair with the R7c and the R7c can provide this impedance level.
Sensitivity
Center Channel Speakers
Power Range
Power
range is the range of input power in watts RMS that a loudspeaker is designed to handle. Staying
within that range gives nominal performance; driving the speaker beyond its maximum wattage can damage it.
R7c can handle a max power of 400 watts RMS, whereas WASAE Center has a max power handling value of watts RMS, 400 watts less than the R7c.
Note that higher power handling does not make a speaker louder: that depends mainly on
sensitivity and impedance. The calculator below shows how loud each of these actually plays
on a real amplifier.
Which plays louder on your amplifier?
Starting with a popular amplifier - change it to the one you own, or any you are
considering, and watch both numbers move.
Wilson Audio WASAE Center
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
R7c features Binding post type posts and WASAE Center has a Binding post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
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 R7c's and Wilson Audio WASAE Center's external dimensions. Perlisten R7c has external dimensions of 230.1 x 920.0 x 300.0mm (9.06 x 36.22 x 11.81inch) whereas Wilson Audio WASAE Center has external dimensions of 196.0 x 680.0 x 335.0mm (7-11/16 x 26-3/4 x 13-3/16inch).
Wilson Audio WASAE Center is 240mm narrower and 34.1mm shorter than Perlisten R7c but it is also 35mm deeper.
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 R7c needs about 21% more floor or shelf area. Wilson Audio WASAE Center is 35mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall. Perlisten R7c is 34mm 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 R7c is approximately 2760.0cm2 / 427.8inch2 and base area of the Wilson Audio WASAE Center is approximately 2278.0cm2 / 353.1inch2. The R7c requires 21% more surface area than the WASAE Center which gives it a small disadvantage on placement in tight spaces.
Weight Comparison The weight of a loudspeaker can become an important factor if you need to move and reposition the unit often. Weight of a speaker can also "sometimes" be an indicator of the rigidity of the enclosure and the quality of the internal components used. The Perlisten R7c weighs 36.80kg / 81lbs and the Wilson Audio WASAE Center weighs 25.85kg / 56.9lbs. This makes the R7c 42% heavier than the WASAE Center.
Here is a comparison of how R7c and WASAE Center's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Center Channel class.
Weight
All Center Channel Speakers
Wilson Audio WASAE Center
 Driver Setup |
3-way
vs
2-way
|
Have a dedicated mid-range driver |
 Sensitivity |
90 dB
vs
88 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Low Frequency Response |
36 Hz
vs
65 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
32k Hz
vs
31k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Price per pair* |
9990USD
vs
10250USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Minimum Impedance |
3.9 ohms
vs
3.2 ohms
|
Very low impedance levels puts more pressure on amplifier |
|
Woofer Size |
5.75 inches
vs
inches
|
Larger woofer |
 Height |
196mm
vs
230mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
2278cm2
vs
2760cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
| General |
Perlisten R7c |
Wilson Audio WASAE Center |
| Brand |
Perlisten |
Wilson Audio |
| Speaker Type |
Center channel speaker |
Center channel speaker |
| Power Range |
100 - 400W RMS watts |
from 20 watts |
| Sensitivity |
90 dB |
88 dB |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
4 ohms |
| Impedance |
3.2 ohms |
3.9 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
36-32k Hz |
65-31k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
|
2 |
| Woofer Size |
" |
5.75" |
| Woofer Composition |
|
Paper pulp |
| Tweeter Size |
- |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
n/a |
Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
n/a |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
230.1mm (9.1") |
196.0mm (7.7") |
| Width |
920.0mm (36.2") |
680.0mm (26.8") |
| Depth |
300.0mm (11.8") |
335.0mm (13.2") |
| Weight |
36.80kg (81lbs) |
25.85kg (56.9lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
n/a |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
|
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
|
5 Years |
No single best speaker here - they are built to different priorities, and the right one depends on your room, your amplifier and what you listen to.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | A | Perlisten R7c digs deeper - 36Hz against 65Hz. |
| Amplifier needs | A | Perlisten R7c is more sensitive (90dB vs 88dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Size | depends | Wilson Audio WASAE Center is easier to place; Perlisten R7c is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Price | evenly matched | Much the same money ($9,990 vs $10,250 a pair). |
A Perlisten R7c B Wilson Audio WASAE Center
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 speakers are judged; anything missing on either side is left out rather than guessed.
Which should you choose?
Perlisten R7c has the edge on paper, though the margin is not large. The rows marked "depends" may matter more to you than the score does. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 65Hz anyway, so judge these on the other rows instead. Match it to your room: we rate Perlisten R7c the better fit for near-field listening; elsewhere the two are rated the same.
And remember what a spec sheet cannot show: how each looks in your room and whether the finish suits it, what dealer support and warranty are like where you live, and how they actually sound to you. If you can hear them first - ideally with your own music - that will tell you more than any number above.