In this review, we will be comparing S5c and HTM82 D5, two Passive Center Channel speakers from Perlisten and Bowers Wilkins.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Perlisten S5c and Bowers & Wilkins HTM82 D5 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Perlisten S5c | Bowers & Wilkins HTM82 D5 |
|---|
| Brand | Perlisten
United States · founded 2016 | Bowers Wilkins
United Kingdom · founded 1966 |
|---|
| Design | 3-way | 3-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | — | 1" Diamond dome |
|---|
| Midrange | — | 5" |
|---|
| Woofer | — | 2 x 6.5" Aerofoil |
|---|
| Frequency response | 42-34k Hz | 45-28k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 88.8 dB | 89 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 4 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 100 - 300W RMS watts | 50-1000 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 21.40kg / 47.1lbs | 26.10kg / 57.4lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 9.45" x 23.46" x 11.81"
240.0 x 595.9 x 300.0mm | 11-3/8" x 28-1/8" x 14-5/16"
289.0 x 715.0 x 363.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Perlisten S5c and Bowers & Wilkins HTM82 D5 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 S5c |
Bowers & Wilkins HTM82 D5 |
| Near-field |
Good |
Poor |
| Small Room |
Good |
Average |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Good |
| Large Room |
Poor |
Average |
| Very Large Room |
No way |
Poor |
(* 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
Both S5c and HTM82 D5 are 3-way speakers.
| Driver |
Perlisten S5c |
Bowers & Wilkins HTM82 D5 |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
1 x 5-inch |
|
Woofer
|
x -inch
|
2 x 6.5-inch
|
S5c features a " Tweeter and x " Woofer. On the other hand, the HTM82 D5 features a 1" Diamond Diamond dome Tweeter, a 5" Midrange and 2 x 6.5" Aerofoil Woofer.
Frequency Response
S5c has a frequency range of 42-34k Hz whereas HTM82 D5 has a frequency range of 45-28k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 42Hz, the S5c can go slightly deeper then the HTM82 D5's min frequency of 45Hz.
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
S5c is a 4 ohms speaker compared to the HTM82 D5 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 S5c can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. S5c sensitivity is rated at 88.8 dB and the HTM82 D5's is rated at 89 dB.
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.
HTM82 D5 can handle a max power of 1000 watts RMS, whereas S5c has a max power handling value of 300 watts RMS, 700 watts less than the HTM82 D5.
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.
Bowers & Wilkins HTM82 D5
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
HTM82 D5 features Binding post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. S5c has a Binding post which doesn't 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 S5c's and Bowers & Wilkins HTM82 D5's external dimensions. Perlisten S5c has external dimensions of 240.0 x 595.9 x 300.0mm (166.93 x 23.46 x 11.81inch) whereas Bowers & Wilkins HTM82 D5 has external dimensions of 289.0 x 715.0 x 363.0mm (11-3/8 x 28-1/8 x 14-5/16inch).
Bowers & Wilkins HTM82 D5 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 119.1mm wider, 49mm taller and 63mm deeper than Perlisten S5c.
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.
Bowers & Wilkins HTM82 D5 needs about 45% more floor or shelf area. Bowers & Wilkins HTM82 D5 is 63mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall. Bowers & Wilkins HTM82 D5 is 49mm 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 S5c is approximately 1787.7cm2 / 277.1inch2 and base area of the Bowers & Wilkins HTM82 D5 is approximately 2595.5cm2 / 402.3inch2. The S5c requires 31% less surface area than the HTM82 D5 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 S5c weighs 21.40kg / 47.1lbs and the Bowers & Wilkins HTM82 D5 weighs 26.10kg / 57.4lbs. This makes the HTM82 D5 22% heavier than the S5c.
Here is a comparison of how S5c and HTM82 D5's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Center Channel class.
Weight
All Center Channel Speakers
Bowers & Wilkins HTM82 D5
 Low Frequency Response |
42 Hz
vs
45 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
34k Hz
vs
28k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
240mm
vs
289mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
1787cm2
vs
2595cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Max Input Power |
1000 watts
vs
300 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
|
Woofer Size |
6.5 inches
vs
inches
|
Larger woofer |
 Price per pair* |
12000USD
vs
12990USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Perlisten S5c |
Bowers & Wilkins HTM82 D5 |
| Brand |
Perlisten |
Bowers Wilkins |
| Speaker Type |
Center channel speaker |
Center channel speaker |
| Power Range |
100 - 300W RMS watts |
50-1000 watts |
| Sensitivity |
88.8 dB |
89 dB |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
3 ohms |
3.0 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
42-34k Hz |
45-28k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
|
2 |
| Woofer Size |
" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
|
Aerofoil |
| Tweeter Size |
- |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
n/a |
Diamond dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
5" |
| Firing Direction |
n/a |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
240.0mm (9.4") |
289.0mm (11.4") |
| Width |
595.9mm (23.5") |
715.0mm (28.1") |
| Depth |
300.0mm (11.8") |
363.0mm (14.3") |
| Weight |
21.40kg (47.1lbs) |
26.10kg (57.4lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
n/a |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
|
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
|
5 Years |
A generation apart: Bowers & Wilkins HTM82 D5 is the newer design, against a 2021 model. Newer is not automatically better, but the older one is more likely to be discounted or near run-out.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | A | Perlisten S5c digs deeper - 42Hz against 45Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Amplifier needs | evenly matched | Similar sensitivity (89dB vs 89dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Amplifier match | B | Bowers & Wilkins HTM82 D5 is the easier load at 8 ohms; the other is 4 ohms and wants an amplifier rated for it. |
| Headroom | B | Bowers & Wilkins HTM82 D5 takes more power (1000W vs 300W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | Perlisten S5c is easier to place; Bowers & Wilkins HTM82 D5 is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability | B | Bowers & Wilkins HTM82 D5: bi-amping. |
| Price | evenly matched | Much the same money ($12,990 vs $12,000 a pair). |
A Perlisten S5c B Bowers & Wilkins HTM82 D5
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?
Bowers & Wilkins HTM82 D5 has the edge on paper, though the margin is not large. The rows marked "depends" may matter more to you than the score does. Match it to your room: we rate Perlisten S5c the better fit for near-field listening and a small room, and Bowers & Wilkins HTM82 D5 for a mid-size room and a large room. In a large or open-plan room, Bowers & Wilkins HTM82 D5 has the cabinet volume to fill it more easily; in a small room, near a wall or at desk distance, Perlisten S5c is the easier speaker to get right.
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.