“Perlisten’s R18s subwoofer easily outguns some companies’ top-of-the-range models”
A new model to headline Perlisten’s ‘entry-level’ R series of subwoofers, the R18s benefits from the company’s first 18in driver. Mark Craven introduces it to the King of Atlantis
Stepping up to the plate weighing 57.3kg, measuring a chunky 57cm wide and deep, and bothering your bank account to the tune of £5,000, Perlisten’s R18s subwoofer easily outguns some companies’ top-of-the range models. But for the American manufacturer, it counts as one of its second-tier options, less desirable than a dual-driver subwoofer from its premium D series.
Or maybe not. By debuting Perlisten’s first 18in woofer, the R18s gives the R series something to shout about beyond simply being ‘more affordable’. And it also promises some good old-fashioned low-frequency lunacy.
Tiny?
As alluded to, this is a relatively big beast, certainly not worthy of Perlisten’s ‘tiny frame, mighty bass’ description. I’m aware that houses and listening rooms in its homeland are bigger than they are in the UK, but to describe any subwoofer that stands 61cm high and requires help getting it out of the box as ‘tiny’ is pushing it.
At least it looks the part thanks to Perlisten’s now familiar styling. The cubic nature of the R18s’s main cabinet is softened by the rounded edges of its front baffle, and the sub’s satin black finish is smart too.
As usual, there’s a grille available to hide the front-firing driver, but as this is an optional extra I can’t see many bothering to buy one.
The brains of the operation
In terms of features, this model is cut from the same cloth as its R series siblings, and indeed Perlisten’s D series. As the company’s chief technology officer Eric Wiederholtz explains [see p30], the underlying electronics platform remains unchanged between the two ranges, so the R18s features the same ARM Cortex-M4 processor and 48-bit DSP platform, and offers the same app control/calibration.
The latter has been covered before [see HCC #344], so I will quickly tell you it features preset EQs (THX, Boost/ Large Room and Cut/Small Room), manual 10-band parametric adjustment, and control of crossover, phase, level and more. Backing this up is a 2.4in colour touchpanel built into the sub’s top, but the rest of the subwoofer offers little – on the back you’ll find only a power socket, trigger and service ports, and a choice of XLR and RCA inputs and outputs.
The R18s’s driver is another of Perlisten’s glass-fibre designs, married to a 1,000W amp. The cabinet is sealed, which is a feature of all the brand’s subwoofers. ‘Ports add a ton of group delay,’ says Wiederholtz. ‘That’s physics’.
