In this review, we will be comparing AE500 and S400 MKII, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Acoustic Energy and Buchardt. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of AE500 and Buchardt S400 MKII first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
What size room are the AE500 and Buchardt S400 MKII 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:
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the AE500 and Buchardt S400 MKII compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one of these loudspeakers is the better choice for you.
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Drivers
Both AE500 and S400 MKII are 2-way speakers.
| Driver |
AE500 |
Buchardt S400 MKII |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
0.74-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 5-inch
|
1 x 6-inch
|
AE500 features a 1" carbon fibre dome with waveguide Tweeter and 1 x 5" carbon fibre cone Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2800Hz. On the other hand, the S400 MKII features a 0.74" fine weave soft fabric textile aluminum waveguide Tweeter and 1 x 6" paper Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 1800Hz.
Frequency Response
AE500 has a frequency range of 45Hz - 28kHz whereas S400 MKII has a frequency range of 33-40k HZ. With a minimum frequency of 33Hz, the S400 MKII can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the AE500's min frequency of 45Hz.
Below graphs depict how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average values of the Min and Max Frequencies of other speakers in the Bookshelf class in our database.
Low Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
High Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
None of these speakers achieves full range experience which is commonly agreed as 20Hz-20kHz. In order to achieve lower lows / deeper bass, we recommend you pair these with a subwoofer. Visit our Powered Subwoofers section to find out more about the available options.
Impedance and Sensitivity
AE500 is a 6 ohms speaker compared to the S400 MKII which has a nominal impedance of 4 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 S400 MKII can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. AE500 sensitivity is rated at 87 dB and the S400 MKII's is rated at 88 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the Buchardt S400 MKII a more sensitive speaker compared to AE500, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Bookshelf Speakers
Power Range
Power
range is the range of input power in watts RMS that a loudspeaker is designed to handle. While using an amplifier within this range ensures the nominal performance , inputting a power that is higher than the max wattage can result in a damaged speaker.
AE500 can handle a max power of 200 watts RMS from the amp the whereas AE500 has a max power handling value of 100 watts RMS , 100 watts less than the S400 MKII.
Keep in mind that a higher max power handling value doesn't necessarily make that a louder speaker
compared to a lower max handling speaker. Loudness or the sound level is also impacted by parameters
such as Impedance, sensitivity and system efficiencies.
Physical Specs
Size of a speaker can sometimes become an important decision factor due to space constraints or in some cases purely for esthetic reasons. In this section, we are going to compare AE500's and Buchardt S400 MKII's external dimensions. AE500 has external dimensions of 310.0 x 185.0 x 260.0mm ( 12.2 x 7.3 x 10.2inch) whereas Buchardt S400 MKII has external dimensions of 365.0 x 180.0 x 280.0mm ( 14.4 x 7 x 11inch) .
AE500 is 55mm shorter and 20mm less deeper than Buchardt S400 MKII but it is also 5mm wider.
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 AE500 is approximately 481.0cm2 / 74.6inch2 and base area of the Buchardt S400 MKII is approximately 504.0cm2 / 78.1inch2. The AE500 requires 5% less surface area than the S400 MKII 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 AE500 weighs 8.00kg / 17.6lbs and the Buchardt S400 MKII weighs 7.50kg / 16.5lbs. This makes the AE500 7% heavier than the S400 MKII.
Here is a comparison of how AE500 and S400 MKII's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
 Nominal Impedance |
6 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 Height |
310mm
vs
365mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
481cm2 (185x260mm)
vs
504cm2 (180x280mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
1499USD
vs
2200USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Max Input Power |
200 watts
vs
100 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Sensitivity |
88 dB
vs
87 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Woofer Size |
6 inches
vs
5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
| Low Frequency Response |
33 Hz
vs
45 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
40k Hz
vs
28k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Passive Radiator |
one 5x8-inch
vs
None
|
Increases the bass performance |
| General |
Acoustic Energy AE500 |
Buchardt S400 MKII |
| Brand |
Acoustic Energy |
Buchardt |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
up to 120 watts |
40-200 watts |
| Sensitivity |
87 dB |
88 dB |
| Impedance |
6 ohms |
4 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
45Hz - 28kHz |
33-40k HZ |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
5" |
6" |
| Woofer Composition |
carbon fibre cone |
paper |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
0.74" |
| Tweeter Type |
dome with waveguide |
aluminum waveguide |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
2800Hz |
1800Hz |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
n/a |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
310.0mm (12.2") |
365.0mm (14.4") |
| Width |
185.0mm (7.3") |
180.0mm (7.1") |
| Depth |
260.0mm (10.2") |
280.0mm (11") |
| Weight |
8.00kg (17.6lbs) |
7.50kg (16.5lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Passive Radiator |
| Finish |
Resonance Suppression Composite (RSC) |
n/a |
| Available Colors |
Piano Gloss Black, Piano Gloss White, American Walnut wood veneer |
Black, White, Walnut, Rosewood, Light Oak |
| Mounting Bracket |
|
No |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
|
10 years |
| Labor Warranty |
|
10 years |