In this review, we will be comparing S4b and F701SP, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Perlisten and Fyne Audio.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Perlisten S4b and Fyne Audio F701SP first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Perlisten S4b | Fyne Audio F701SP |
|---|
| Brand | Perlisten
United States · founded 2016 | Fyne Audio
United Kingdom · founded 2017 |
|---|
| Design | 3-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Woofer | — | 8" |
|---|
| Frequency response | 36-37k Hz | 35Hz - 34kHz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 85.4 dB | 90 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 4 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 50 - 300W RMS SPL Capability (100Hz - 20kHz) 111dB peak <2% - 2nd, 3rd Harmonics Certification THX Dominus Available Finishes Piano Black watts | 30 - 180 W watts |
|---|
| Weight | 11.00kg / 24.2lbs | 14.00kg / 30.8lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 16.54" x 9.45" x 11.81"
420.1 x 240.0 x 300.0mm | 18-5/16" x 10-15/16" x 15-1/2"
465.0 x 278.0 x 393.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Perlisten S4b and Fyne Audio F701SP 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 S4b |
Fyne Audio F701SP |
| Near-field |
Good |
Good |
| Small Room |
Good |
Good |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Average |
| Large Room |
Poor |
Poor |
| Very Large Room |
No way |
No way |
(* 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 S4b is a 3-way design whereas the F701SP 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 S4b |
Fyne Audio F701SP |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
-inch
|
-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
x -inch
|
x 8-inch
|
S4b features a " Tweeter and x " Woofer. On the other hand, the F701SP features a " Tweeter and x 8" Woofer.
Frequency Response
S4b has a frequency range of 36-37k Hz whereas F701SP has a frequency range of 35Hz - 34kHz. With a minimum frequency of Hz, the F701SP can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the S4b's min frequency of 36Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Bookshelf class in our database.
Low Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
Impedance and Sensitivity
S4b is a 4 ohms speaker compared to the F701SP which has a nominal impedance of 8 ohms. Lower impedance speakers, especially the ones that are rated at 4 ohms may put more pressure on the amplifier unit especially when played at high volume levels, so make sure the amp you pair with the S4b can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. S4b sensitivity is rated at 85.4 dB and the F701SP's is rated at 90 dB. This 5 dB difference makes the Fyne Audio F701SP a more sensitive speaker compared to Perlisten S4b, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Bookshelf 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.
S4b can handle a max power of 300 watts RMS, whereas F701SP has a max power handling value of 180 watts RMS, 120 watts less than the S4b.
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.
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
S4b features Binding post type posts and F701SP 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 S4b's and Fyne Audio F701SP's external dimensions. Perlisten S4b has external dimensions of 420.1 x 240.0 x 300.0mm (16.54 x 9.45 x 11.81inch) whereas Fyne Audio F701SP has external dimensions of 465.0 x 278.0 x 393.0mm ().
Fyne Audio F701SP is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 38mm wider, 44.9mm taller and 93mm deeper than Perlisten S4b.
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.
Fyne Audio F701SP needs about 52% more floor or shelf area. Fyne Audio F701SP is 93mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall. Fyne Audio F701SP is 45mm 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 S4b is approximately 720.0cm2 / 111.6inch2 and base area of the Fyne Audio F701SP is approximately 1092.5cm2 / 169.3inch2. The S4b requires 34% less surface area than the F701SP which gives it a small advantage 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 S4b weighs 11.00kg / 24.2lbs and the Fyne Audio F701SP weighs 14.00kg / 30.8lbs. This makes the F701SP 27% heavier than the S4b.
Here is a comparison of how S4b and F701SP's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
 Max Input Power |
300 watts
vs
180 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Driver Setup |
3-way
vs
2-way
|
Have a dedicated mid-range driver |
 High Frequency Response |
37k Hz
vs
k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
420mm
vs
465mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
720cm2
vs
1092cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
8790USD
vs
8999USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Sensitivity |
90 dB
vs
85 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 Woofer Size |
8 inches
vs
inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
Hz
vs
36 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
| General |
Perlisten S4b |
Fyne Audio F701SP |
| Brand |
Perlisten |
Fyne Audio |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
50 - 300W RMS SPL Capability (100Hz - 20kHz) 111dB peak <2% - 2nd, 3rd Harmonics Certification THX Dominus Available Finishes Piano Black watts |
30 - 180 W watts |
| Sensitivity |
85.4 dB |
90 dB |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
3.2 ohms |
n/a |
| Frequency Response |
36-37k Hz |
35Hz - 34kHz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
|
|
| Woofer Size |
" |
8" |
| Woofer Composition |
|
|
| Tweeter Size |
- |
- |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
420.1mm (16.5") |
465.0mm (18.3") |
| Width |
240.0mm (9.4") |
278.0mm (10.9") |
| Depth |
300.0mm (11.8") |
393.0mm (15.5") |
| Weight |
11.00kg (24.2lbs) |
14.00kg (30.8lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Mounting Bracket |
|
|
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
|
|
| Labor Warranty |
|
|
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 |
|---|
| Amplifier needs | B | Fyne Audio F701SP is more sensitive (90dB vs 85dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Amplifier match | B | Fyne Audio F701SP is the easier load at 8 ohms; the other is 4 ohms and wants an amplifier rated for it. |
| Headroom | A | Perlisten S4b takes more power (300W vs 180W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | Perlisten S4b is easier to place; Fyne Audio F701SP is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Price | evenly matched | Much the same money ($8,790 vs $8,999 a pair). |
A Perlisten S4b B Fyne Audio F701SP
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?
Fyne Audio F701SP has the edge on paper, though the margin is not large. The rows marked "depends" may matter more to you than the score does. In a large or open-plan room, Fyne Audio F701SP has the cabinet volume to fill it more easily; in a small room, near a wall or at desk distance, Perlisten S4b is the easier speaker to get right. If your amplifier is modest, vintage or valve-based, Fyne Audio F701SP is the safer partner - the other will want more current or more watts to sound its best.
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.