In this review, we will be comparing S7c and Viva Utopia Colour Evo, two Passive Center Channel speakers from Perlisten and Focal.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Perlisten S7c and Focal Viva Utopia Colour Evo first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Perlisten S7c | Focal Viva Utopia Colour Evo |
|---|
| Brand | Perlisten
United States · founded 2016 | Focal
France · founded 1979 |
|---|
| Design | 3-way | 3-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | — | 1.1" Inverted Dome |
|---|
| Midrange | — | 6.5" |
|---|
| Woofer | — | 2 x 8.25" W sandwich |
|---|
| Frequency response | 38-37k Hz | 39-40k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 92 dB | 92 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 4 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 100 - 600W RMS watts | 50-600 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 33.50kg / 73.7lbs | 57.00kg / 125.4lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 37.8" x 9.45" x 11.81"
960.1 x 240.0 x 300.0mm | 15-1/2" x 52-15/16" x 26-3/8"
394.0 x 1345.0 x 670.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Perlisten S7c and Focal Viva Utopia Colour Evo 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 S7c |
Focal Viva Utopia Colour Evo |
| 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
Both S7c and Viva Utopia Colour Evo are 3-way speakers.
| Driver |
Perlisten S7c |
Focal Viva Utopia Colour Evo |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
-inch
|
1.1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
1 x 6.5-inch |
|
Woofer
|
x -inch
|
2 x 8.25-inch
|
S7c features a " Tweeter and x " Woofer. On the other hand, the Viva Utopia Colour Evo features a 1.1" Beryllium Inverted Dome Tweeter, a 6.5" Midrange and 2 x 8.25" W sandwich Woofer.
Frequency Response
S7c has a frequency range of 38-37k Hz whereas Viva Utopia Colour Evo has a frequency range of 39-40k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 38Hz, the S7c can go slightly deeper then the Viva Utopia Colour Evo's min frequency of 39Hz.
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
S7c is a 4 ohms speaker compared to the Viva Utopia Colour Evo 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 S7c can provide this impedance level.
On the other hand, they have the same sensitivity of 92 dBdB.
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.
Both handle the same maximum of 600 watts RMS, though S7c is rated 100 - 600W RMS watts and Viva Utopia Colour Evo 50-600 watts.
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.
Focal Viva Utopia Colour Evo
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
Viva Utopia Colour Evo features Binding post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. S7c 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 S7c's and Focal Viva Utopia Colour Evo's external dimensions. Perlisten S7c has external dimensions of 960.1 x 240.0 x 300.0mm (37.8 x 9.45 x 11.81inch) whereas Focal Viva Utopia Colour Evo has external dimensions of 394.0 x 1345.0 x 670.0mm (15-1/2 x 52-15/16 x 26-3/8inch).
Perlisten S7c is 1105mm narrower and 370mm less deeper than Focal Viva Utopia Colour Evo but it is also 566.1mm taller.
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.
Focal Viva Utopia Colour Evo needs about 1152% more floor or shelf area. Focal Viva Utopia Colour Evo is 370mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall. Perlisten S7c is 566mm 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 S7c is approximately 720.0cm2 / 111.6inch2 and base area of the Focal Viva Utopia Colour Evo is approximately 9011.5cm2 / 1,396.8inch2. The S7c requires 92% less surface area than the Viva Utopia Colour Evo 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 S7c weighs 33.50kg / 73.7lbs and the Focal Viva Utopia Colour Evo weighs 57.00kg / 125.4lbs. This makes the Viva Utopia Colour Evo 70% heavier than the S7c.
Here is a comparison of how S7c and Viva Utopia Colour Evo's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Center Channel class.
Weight
All Center Channel Speakers
Focal Viva Utopia Colour Evo
 Low Frequency Response |
38 Hz
vs
39 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Base Surface Area |
720cm2
vs
9011cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
|
Woofer Size |
8.25 inches
vs
inches
|
Larger woofer |
 High Frequency Response |
40k Hz
vs
37k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
394mm
vs
960mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Price per pair* |
16995USD
vs
17590USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Perlisten S7c |
Focal Viva Utopia Colour Evo |
| Brand |
Perlisten |
Focal |
| Speaker Type |
Center channel speaker |
Center Channel speaker |
| Power Range |
100 - 600W RMS watts |
50-600 watts |
| Sensitivity |
92 dB |
92 dB |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
3.2 ohms |
n/a |
| Frequency Response |
38-37k Hz |
39-40k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
|
2 |
| Woofer Size |
" |
8.25" |
| Woofer Composition |
|
W sandwich |
| Tweeter Size |
- |
1.1" |
| Tweeter Type |
n/a |
Inverted Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
6.5" |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
960.1mm (37.8") |
394.0mm (15.5") |
| Width |
240.0mm (9.4") |
1345.0mm (53") |
| Depth |
300.0mm (11.8") |
670.0mm (26.4") |
| Weight |
33.50kg (73.7lbs) |
57.00kg (125.4lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
n/a |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
|
|
| Labor Warranty |
|
|
A generation apart: Perlisten S7c is the newer design, against a 2017 model. Newer is not automatically better, but the older one is more likely to be discounted or near run-out.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | evenly matched | Much the same reach (38Hz vs 39Hz). |
| Amplifier needs | evenly matched | Similar sensitivity (92dB vs 92dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Amplifier match | B | Focal Viva Utopia Colour Evo is the easier load at 8 ohms; the other is 4 ohms and wants an amplifier rated for it. |
| Headroom | evenly matched | Similar power handling (600W vs 600W). |
| Size | depends | Perlisten S7c is easier to place; Focal Viva Utopia Colour Evo is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability | B | Focal Viva Utopia Colour Evo: bi-amping. |
| Price | evenly matched | Much the same money ($17,590 vs $16,995 a pair). |
A Perlisten S7c B Focal Viva Utopia Colour Evo
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?
Focal Viva Utopia Colour Evo 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, Focal Viva Utopia Colour Evo has the cabinet volume to fill it more easily; in a small room, near a wall or at desk distance, Perlisten S7c is the easier speaker to get right. If your amplifier is modest, vintage or valve-based, Focal Viva Utopia Colour Evo 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.