In this review, we will be comparing E50 and S400 MK3, two Passive Bookshelf speakers by Buchardt
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Buchardt E50 and Buchardt S400 MK3 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 MK3 Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1" waveguide Tweeter
- 7.5" SB Acoustics Satori Egyptian Papyrus papercone Woofer
- 33-20k Hz Frequency Response
- 87 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 4ohms
- Power Range:30+watts
- Weight:8.50kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 392.0" x 7.8" x 11"( 392 x 198 x 280 mm )
E50 and S400 MK3 are members of Buchardt's Passive series of speakers. Below you can find the loudspeakers from this series.
Buchardt Passive Series
History
What size room are the Buchardt E50 and Buchardt S400 MK3 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 MK3 |
| 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 MK3 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 MK3 are 2-way speakers.
| Driver |
Buchardt E50 |
Buchardt S400 MK3 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
1 x 7.5-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 MK3 features a 1" Custom aluminum dome with neodymium motor waveguide Tweeter and 1 x 7.5" SB Acoustics Satori Egyptian Papyrus papercone Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2200Hz.
Frequency Response
E50 has a frequency range of 36-30k HZ whereas S400 MK3 has a frequency range of 33-20k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 33Hz, the S400 MK3 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
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
E50 and S400 MK3 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 MK3's is at 87 dB. This 2 dB difference makes the Buchardt S400 MK3 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
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.
E50 can handle a max power of 200 watts RMS from the amp the whereas S400 MK3 has a max power handling value of watts RMS, 200 watts less than the E50.
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 MK3'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 MK3 has external dimensions of 392 x 198 x 280 mm ( 15.4 x 7.8 x 11 inch) .
Buchardt S400 MK3 is 3mm shorter and 4mm less deeper than Buchardt E50 but it is also 8mm 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 Buchardt E50 is approximately 539.6cm2 / 83.6inch2 and base area of the Buchardt S400 MK3 is approximately 554.4cm2 / 85.9inch2. The E50 requires 3% less surface area than the S400 MK3 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 Buchardt E50 weighs 8.60kg / 18.9lbs and the Buchardt S400 MK3 weighs 8.50kg / 18.7lbs. This makes the E50 1% heavier than the S400 MK3.
Here is a comparison of how E50 and S400 MK3's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
 High Frequency Response |
30k Hz
vs
20k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Passive Radiator |
two 6-inch
vs
None
|
Increases the bass performance |
 Base Surface Area |
539cm2
vs
554cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Sensitivity |
87 dB
vs
85 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Woofer Size |
7.5 inches
vs
6.5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
33 Hz
vs
36 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Height |
392mm
vs
395mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Price per pair* |
2300USD
vs
3950USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Buchardt E50 |
Buchardt S400 MK3 |
| Brand |
Buchardt |
Buchardt |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
60-200 watts |
30+ watts |
| Sensitivity |
85 dB |
87 dB |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
4 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
36-30k HZ |
33-20k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
7.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
PURIFI Extended Stroke |
SB Acoustics Satori Egyptian Papyrus papercone |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
waveguide |
waveguide |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
2000Hz |
2200Hz |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
395.0mm (15.6") |
392.0mm (15.4") |
| Width |
190.0mm (7.5") |
198.0mm (7.8") |
| Depth |
284.0mm (11.2") |
280.0mm (11") |
| Weight |
8.60kg (18.9lbs) |
8.50kg (18.7lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Passive Radiator |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
19 & 28mm (front baffle) solid european wood |
15mm HMR.E2 moisture-proof fiberboard |
| Available Colors |
Stained Black, Rounded Natural Oak, Smoked Natural Oak, Rounded Charcoal, Smoked Oak, Natural Oak |
Black, White, Walnut, Natural oak |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
10 years |
10 years |
| Labor Warranty |
10 years |
10 years |