In this review, we will be comparing P300 and S400 MKII, two Passive Bookshelf speakers by Buchardt Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Buchardt P300 and Buchardt S400 MKII first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
P300 and S400 MKII 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 P300 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 Buchardt P300 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 P300 and S400 MKII are 2-way speakers.
| Driver |
Buchardt P300 |
Buchardt S400 MKII |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
0.74-inch
|
0.74-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 6-inch
|
1 x 6-inch
|
P300 features a 0.74" Custom fine weave soft fabric textile with CDC aluminum waveguide aluminum waveguide Tweeter and 1 x 6" paper Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2900Hz. 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
P300 has a frequency range of 37-40k HZ whereas S400 MKII has a frequency range of 33-40k HZ. With a minimum frequency of 33Hz, the S400 MKII can go slightly deeper then the P300's min frequency of 37Hz.
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
P300 and S400 MKII have the same Impedance of 4 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. P300 sensitivity is rated at 86 dB and the S400 MKII's is at 88 dB. This 2 dB difference makes the Buchardt S400 MKII a more sensitive speaker compared to Buchardt P300, 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 P300 and the P300 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.
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 P300's and Buchardt S400 MKII's external dimensions. Buchardt P300 has external dimensions of 365.0 x 180.0 x 280.0mm ( 14.4 x 7 x 11inch) whereas Buchardt S400 MKII has external dimensions of 365.0 x 180.0 x 280.0mm ( 14.4 x 7 x 11inch) .
In this case, we can see that Buchardt P300 and Buchardt S400 MKII have the exact same height, width and thickness.
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 P300 is approximately 504.0cm2 / 78.1inch2 and base area of the Buchardt S400 MKII is approximately 504.0cm2 / 78.1inch2.
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 P300 weighs 6.30kg / 13.9lbs and the Buchardt S400 MKII weighs 7.50kg / 16.5lbs. This makes the S400 MKII 19% heavier than the P300.
Here is a comparison of how P300 and S400 MKII's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
 Price per pair* |
1450USD
vs
2200USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Sensitivity |
88 dB
vs
86 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Low Frequency Response |
33 Hz
vs
37 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
| General |
Buchardt P300 |
Buchardt S400 MKII |
| Brand |
Buchardt |
Buchardt |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
50 - 200 watts |
40-200 watts |
| Sensitivity |
86 dB |
88 dB |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
4 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
37-40k HZ |
33-40k HZ |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
6" |
6" |
| Woofer Composition |
paper |
paper |
| Tweeter Size |
0.74" |
0.74" |
| Tweeter Type |
aluminum waveguide |
aluminum waveguide |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
2900Hz |
1800Hz |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
365.0mm (14.4") |
365.0mm (14.4") |
| Width |
180.0mm (7.1") |
180.0mm (7.1") |
| Depth |
280.0mm (11") |
280.0mm (11") |
| Weight |
6.30kg (13.9lbs) |
7.50kg (16.5lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Passive Radiator |
Passive Radiator |
| Finish |
15mm Fiberboard HMR.E2 Moisture-proof with internal bracing |
n/a |
| Available Colors |
Black, White, Peach, Ocean, Olive |
Black, White, Walnut, Rosewood, Light Oak |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
10 years on speakers / 2 years on electronics (4 years if registered) |
10 years |
| Labor Warranty |
10 years on speakers / 2 years on electronics (4 years if registered) |
10 years |