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Buchardt E50 vs Buchardt S400 Comparison

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Buchardt E50

Passive Bookshelf | 36-30k HZ

Buchardt E50
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Buchardt S400

Passive Bookshelf | 33-40 kHz

Buchardt S400
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Buchardt E50 Buchardt E50
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Buchardt S400 Buchardt S400
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Buchardt E50
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Buchardt S400
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Buchardt E50 vs Buchardt S400 Speaker Comparison

In this review, we will be comparing E50 and S400, two Passive Bookshelf speakers by Buchardt

Let's have a brief look at the main features of Buchardt E50 and Buchardt S400 first before getting into our more detailed comparison.

Buchardt E50 Key Specs

  • 2-way Design
  • 1" waveguide Tweeter
  • 6.5" PURIFI Extended Stroke Woofer
  • 36-30k HZ Frequency Response
  • 85 dB Sensitivity
  • Impedance: 4ohms
  • Power Range:60-200watts
  • Weight:8.60kg
  • Dimensions (H x W x D): 395.0" x 7.5" x 11.1"( 395 x 190 x 284 mm )

Buchardt S400 Key Specs

  • 2-way Design
  • 0.74" aluminum waveguide Tweeter
  • 6" paper Woofer
  • 33-40 kHz Frequency Response
  • 88 dB Sensitivity
  • Impedance: 4ohms
  • Power Range:40-200watts
  • Weight:7.30kg
  • Dimensions (H x W x D): 375.0" x 7" x 9.65"( 375 x 180 x 245mm )

E50 and S400 are members of Buchardt's Passive series of speakers. Below you can find the loudspeakers from this series.

Buchardt Passive Series History
Model Body Frequency SensitivityImpedance Woofer
Buchardt E50
Bookshelf 36-30k HZ 85 dB4Ω 1 x 6.5"
Buchardt S400 MKII
  
Bookshelf 33-40k HZ 88 dB4Ω 1 x 6"
Buchardt P300
  
Bookshelf 37-40k HZ 86 dB4Ω 1 x 6"
Buchardt S400
Bookshelf 33-40 kHz 88 dB4Ω 1 x 6"

What size room are the Buchardt E50 and Buchardt S400 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* Buchardt E50 Buchardt S400
Near-field Poor Poor
Small Room Average Average
Mid-size Room Good Good
Large Room Average Average
Very Large Room Poor Poor

(* 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.)

In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the Buchardt E50 and Buchardt S400 compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one of these loudspeakers is the better choice for you.


**This post contains affiliate links, and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking through my links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.


Drivers

Both E50 and S400 are 2-way speakers.

Driver Buchardt E50 Buchardt S400
Driver Setup 2-way 2-way
Tweeter 1-inch 0.74-inch
Midrange - -
Woofer 1 x 6.5-inch 1 x 6-inch

E50 features a 1" Custom Scanspeak textile dome waveguide Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" PURIFI Extended Stroke Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2000Hz. On the other hand, the S400 features a 0.74" Custom fine weave soft fabric textile aluminum waveguide Tweeter and 1 x 6" paper Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2000Hz.

Frequency Response

E50 has a frequency range of 36-30k HZ whereas S400 has a frequency range of 33-40 kHz. With a minimum frequency of 33Hz, the S400 can go slightly deeper then the E50's min frequency of 36Hz.

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

E50
S400
Min
Average
Max
High Frequency

Bookshelf Speakers

Buchardt E50
Buchardt S400
Min
Average
Max

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

E50 and S400 have the same Impedance of 4 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. E50 sensitivity is rated at 85 dB and the S400's is at 88 dB. This 3 dB difference makes the Buchardt S400 a more sensitive speaker compared to Buchardt E50, 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 E50 and the E50 can provide this impedance level.

Sensitivity

Bookshelf Speakers

E50
S400
Min
Average
Max

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.

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 Buchardt E50's and Buchardt S400's external dimensions. Buchardt E50 has external dimensions of 395 x 190 x 284 mm ( 15.5 x 7.5 x 11.1 inch) whereas Buchardt S400 has external dimensions of 375 x 180 x 245mm ( 14.75 x 7 x 9.6inch) .

Buchardt E50 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 10mm wider, 20mm taller and 39mm deeper than Buchardt S400.

Below you can see the front view size comparison of Buchardt E50 and Buchardt S400 in scale.

Buchardt E50 vs Buchardt S400 Size Comparison - Front View
Comparison image of Buchardt E50 and Buchardt S400 Size and External Dimensions

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 Buchardt E50 is approximately 539.6cm2 / 83.6inch2 and base area of the Buchardt S400 is approximately 441.0cm2 / 68.4inch2. The E50 requires 22% more surface area than the S400 which gives it a small disadvantage on placement in tight spaces.

Here is an another comparison that shows both speakers on a BDI Octave Media Cabinet, next to a standard size amplifier and turntable in scale:

Buchardt E50 vs Buchardt S400 Size Comparison on a Media Console
Size Comparison image of Buchardt E50 and Buchardt S400 on a Media Console
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 Buchardt E50 weighs 8.60kg / 18.9lbs and the Buchardt S400 weighs 7.30kg / 16.1lbs. This makes the E50 18% heavier than the S400.

Here is a comparison of how E50 and S400's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.

Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
Buchardt E50
Buchardt S400
Min
Average
Max

Reasons to choose Buchardt E50 over Buchardt S400
Woofer Size 6.5 inches vs 6 inches Larger woofer

Reasons to choose Buchardt S400 over Buchardt E50

Sensitivity 88 dB vs 85 dB Play louder with same amount of amplification power
Low Frequency Response 33 Hz vs 36 Hz Generates deeper bass
High Frequency Response 40k Hz vs 30k Hz Generates higher frequency
Height 375mm vs 395mm Easier to fit in smaller spaces
Base Surface Area 441cm2 vs 539cm2 Takes less floor space
Buchardt E50 vs Buchardt S400 Specs Table
Detailed comparison of specifications
General Buchardt E50 Buchardt S400
Brand Buchardt Buchardt
Speaker Type Bookshelf speakers Bookshelf speakers
Power Range 60-200 watts 40-200 watts
Sensitivity 85 dB 88 dB
Impedance 4 ohms 4 ohms
Frequency Response 36-30k HZ 33-40 kHz
Drivers
Woofer Quantity 1 1
Woofer Size 6.5" 6"
Woofer Composition PURIFI Extended Stroke paper
Tweeter Size 1" 0.74"
Tweeter Type waveguide aluminum waveguide
Aimable Tweeter No No
Midrange Driver No No
Crossover Frequency 2000Hz 2000Hz
Physical Specs
Height 395.0mm (15.6") 375.0mm (14.8")
Width 190.0mm (7.5") 180.0mm (7.1")
Depth 284.0mm (11.2") 245.0mm (9.6")
Weight 8.60kg (18.9lbs) 7.30kg (16.1lbs)
Enclosure Passive Radiator Passive Radiator
Finish 19 & 28mm (front baffle) solid european wood n/a
Available Colors Stained Black, Rounded Natural Oak, Smoked Natural Oak, Rounded Charcoal, Smoked Oak, Natural Oak Black, White, Walnut,Graphite Oak
Mounting Bracket No No
Grille Yes Yes
Moisture Resistancy No No
Connections
Other
Parts Warranty 10 years
Labor Warranty 10 years

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