Loudspeakers

Measured on the axis of the beryllium dome tweeter – the centre of the DPC array – the Perlisten S7t's response is impressively uniform [Graph 1]. Its maximum ±2.4dB response error occurs between 10kHz, where there's a peak in output associated with a mild presence band boost, and 20kHz where there's a notch prior to the dome resonance at 24kHz [pink shaded area, Graph 1]. Pair matching is very tight at 0.7dB (200Hz-20kHz) and while the magnetically-attached grilles introduce a further ±0.7dB variation in mid/presence band output [blue trace, Graph 1] they are otherwise benign. Sans grilles, the response errors hold to a tight ±1.1dB and ±1.3dB between 500Hz-8kHz where sensitivity is very close to Perlisten's claimed 92dB (91.6dB/1kHz/2.83V).

The HF response falls steeply following the dome resonance to 30.6kHz/27.6kHz (–6dB re. 10kHz), as does the bass below 49Hz (–6dB re. 200Hz), supplemented by a limited port/slot output at 23Hz. Boundary reinforcement will produce deeper bass in-room. Nearfield analysis shows the upper/lower woofers have a –6dB bandbass of 56Hz-540Hz while the innermost cones extend out to 1kHz (–6dB) just prior to the crossover. Distortion is a very low <0.1% through the midrange (re. 90dB SPL) while the 180mm TPCD cones show minor but well-controlled break-up [CSD waterfall, Graph 2]. This performance comes at the expense of a tough amplifier load – minima of 2.84ohm/15.1kHz and 3.1ohm/154Hz, maximum swings in phase angle of +59°/20kHz and –50°/80Hz, and taxing combinations at 4ohm/–36°/104Hz and through the high treble where sub-4ohm loads from 9.5-21kHz meet swings in phase from –15° to +60°. PM