In this review, we will be comparing S7t and Reference 3 2023, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from Perlisten and Canton.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Perlisten S7t and Canton Reference 3 2023 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Perlisten S7t | Canton Reference 3 2023 |
|---|
| Brand | Perlisten
United States · founded 2016 | Canton
Germany · founded 1972 |
|---|
| Design | 3-way | 3-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | — | 1" |
|---|
| Midrange | — | 6.85" |
|---|
| Woofer | — | 2 x 8.6" Black ceramic tungsten |
|---|
| Frequency response | 22-37k Hz | 20-40k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 92.2 dB | 88 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 4 ohms | 4 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 100 - 600W RMS watts | 300-500 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 55.70kg / 122.5lbs | 42.00kg / 92.4lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 50.98" x 9.45" x 15.75"
1294.9 x 240.0 x 400.1mm | 42.9" x 12.6" x 19.3"
1089.7 x 320.0 x 490.2mm |
|---|
What size room are the Perlisten S7t and Canton Reference 3 2023 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 S7t |
Canton Reference 3 2023 |
| Near-field |
Bad |
Bad |
| Small Room |
Poor |
Poor |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Average |
| Large Room |
Good |
Good |
| Very Large Room |
Average |
Average |
(* 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 S7t and Reference 3 2023 are 3-way speakers.
| Driver |
Perlisten S7t |
Canton Reference 3 2023 |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
1 x 6.85-inch |
|
Woofer
|
x -inch
|
2 x 8.6-inch
|
S7t features a " Tweeter and x " Woofer. On the other hand, the Reference 3 2023 features a 1" Aluminum oxyd ceramic Tweeter, a 6.85" Midrange and 2 x 8.6" Black ceramic tungsten Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 180 / 3000 Hz.
Frequency Response
S7t has a frequency range of 22-37k Hz whereas Reference 3 2023 has a frequency range of 20-40k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 20Hz, the Reference 3 2023 can go slightly deeper then the S7t's min frequency of 22Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Floor-standing class in our database.
Low Frequency
Floor-standing Speakers
Impedance and Sensitivity
S7t and Reference 3 2023 have the same Impedance of 4 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. S7t sensitivity is rated at 92.2 dB and the Reference 3 2023's is at 88 dB. This 4 dB difference makes the Perlisten S7t a more sensitive speaker compared to Canton Reference 3 2023, 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 S7t and the S7t can provide this impedance level.
Sensitivity
Floor-standing 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.
S7t can handle a max power of 600 watts RMS, whereas Reference 3 2023 has a max power handling value of 500 watts RMS, 100 watts less than the S7t.
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
S7t features Binding post type posts and Reference 3 2023 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 S7t's and Canton Reference 3 2023's external dimensions. Perlisten S7t has external dimensions of 1294.9 x 240.0 x 400.1mm (50.98 x 9.45 x 15.75inch) whereas Canton Reference 3 2023 has external dimensions of 1089.7 x 320.0 x 490.2mm (42.9 x 12.6 x 19.3inch).
Perlisten S7t is 80mm narrower and 90.1mm less deeper than Canton Reference 3 2023 but it is also 205.2mm 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.
Canton Reference 3 2023 needs about 63% more floor or shelf area. Canton Reference 3 2023 is 90mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall. Perlisten S7t is 205mm 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 S7t is approximately 960.2cm2 / 148.8inch2 and base area of the Canton Reference 3 2023 is approximately 1568.6cm2 / 243.1inch2. The S7t requires 39% less surface area than the Reference 3 2023 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 S7t weighs 55.70kg / 122.5lbs and the Canton Reference 3 2023 weighs 42.00kg / 92.4lbs. This makes the S7t 33% heavier than the Reference 3 2023.
Here is a comparison of how S7t and Reference 3 2023's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Floor-standing class.
Weight
All Floor-standing Speakers
 Max Input Power |
600 watts
vs
500 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Sensitivity |
92 dB
vs
88 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Base Surface Area |
960cm2
vs
1568cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
19190USD
vs
19500USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Woofer Size |
8.6 inches
vs
inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
20 Hz
vs
22 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
40k Hz
vs
37k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
1089mm
vs
1294mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
| General |
Perlisten S7t |
Canton Reference 3 2023 |
| Brand |
Perlisten |
Canton |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
100 - 600W RMS watts |
300-500 watts |
| Sensitivity |
92.2 dB |
88 dB |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
4 ohms |
| Impedance |
3.2 ohms |
n/a |
| Frequency Response |
22-37k Hz |
20-40k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
|
2 |
| Woofer Size |
" |
8.6" |
| Woofer Composition |
|
Black ceramic tungsten |
| Tweeter Size |
- |
1" |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
6.85" |
| Crossover Frequency |
n/a |
180 / 3000 Hz |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
1294.9mm (51") |
1089.7mm (42.9") |
| Width |
240.0mm (9.4") |
320.0mm (12.6") |
| Depth |
400.1mm (15.8") |
490.2mm (19.3") |
| Weight |
55.70kg (122.5lbs) |
42.00kg (92.4lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| 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 |
|---|
| Bass | evenly matched | Much the same reach (22Hz vs 20Hz). |
| Amplifier needs | A | Perlisten S7t is more sensitive (92dB vs 88dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Headroom | evenly matched | Similar power handling (600W vs 500W). |
| Size | depends | Perlisten S7t is easier to place; Canton Reference 3 2023 is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Price | evenly matched | Much the same money ($19,190 vs $19,500 a pair). |
A Perlisten S7t B Canton Reference 3 2023
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 S7t 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 your amplifier is modest, vintage or valve-based, Perlisten S7t 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.