In this review, we will be comparing P300 and R3, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Buchardt and KEF.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Buchardt P300 and KEF R3 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Buchardt P300 | KEF R3 |
|---|
| Brand | Buchardt
Denmark · founded 2014 | KEF
United Kingdom · founded 1961 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 3-way |
|---|
| Uni-Q driver | — | 12th Generation Uni-Q |
|---|
| Tweeter | 0.74" aluminum waveguide | 1" Dome |
|---|
| Midrange | — | 5" |
|---|
| Woofer | 6" paper | 6.5" Hybrid aluminum |
|---|
| Frequency response | 37-40k Hz | 52-28k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 86 dB | 87 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 4 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 50 - 200 watts | 15-180 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 6.30kg / 13.9lbs | 13.55kg / 29.8lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 14.4" x 7" x 11"
365.0 x 180.0 x 280.0mm | 16-5/8" x 7-13/16" x 13-1/4"
423.0 x 199.0 x 337.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Buchardt P300 and KEF R3 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 P300 |
KEF R3 |
| 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.)
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
Drivers
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that P300 is a 2-way design whereas the R3 is a 3-way speaker. 3-way designs utilize a midrange driver in addition to the tweeter and woofer on 2-way designs. Designing a crossover for a 3-way speaker is a complicated process and generally increases the overall cost of the speaker.
Buchardt P300KEF R3
TweeterMidrangeWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
Buchardt P300 |
KEF R3 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
0.74-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
1 x 5-inch |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 6-inch
|
1 x 6.5-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 R3 features a 1" aluminum Dome Tweeter, a 5" Midrange and 1 x 6.5" Hybrid aluminum Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 400Hz and 2900Hz.
Frequency Response
P300 has a frequency range of 37-40k Hz whereas R3 has a frequency range of 52-28k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 37Hz, the P300 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the R3's min frequency of 52Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Bookshelf class in our database.
Low Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
Neither pair reaches down to 20Hz, the usual definition of full-range, which is normal for speakers of this size. If you want the bottom octave for movies or bass-heavy music, add a subwoofer to whichever you choose. Visit our Powered Subwoofers section to find out more about the available options.
Impedance and Sensitivity
P300 is a 4 ohms speaker compared to the R3 which has a nominal impedance of 8 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 P300 can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. P300 sensitivity is rated at 86 dB and the R3's is rated at 87 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the KEF R3 a more sensitive speaker compared to Buchardt P300, 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. Staying
within that range gives nominal performance; driving the speaker beyond its maximum wattage can damage it.
P300 can handle a max power of 200 watts RMS, whereas R3 has a max power handling value of 180 watts RMS, 20 watts less than the P300.
Note that higher power handling does not make a speaker louder: that depends mainly on
sensitivity and impedance. The calculator below shows how loud each of these actually plays
on a real amplifier.
Which plays louder on your amplifier?
Starting with a popular amplifier - change it to the one you own, or any you are
considering, and watch both numbers move.
KEF R3 Port
Physical Specs
The size of a speaker can sometimes be 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 KEF R3's external dimensions. Buchardt P300 has external dimensions of 365.0 x 180.0 x 280.0mm (14.4 x 7 x 11inch) whereas KEF R3 has external dimensions of 423.0 x 199.0 x 337.0mm (16-5/8 x 7-13/16 x 13-1/4inch).
KEF R3 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 19mm wider, 58mm taller and 57mm deeper than Buchardt P300.
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 KEF R3 is approximately 670.6cm2 / 103.9inch2. The P300 requires 25% less surface area than the R3 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 P300 weighs 6.30kg / 13.9lbs and the KEF R3 weighs 13.55kg / 29.8lbs. This makes the R3 115% heavier than the P300.
Here is a comparison of how P300 and R3's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
What's in the Box of KEF R3?
Here are the items that come with the R3:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
- 2 Grilles
- 2 Foam port plugs
- 8 Self-adhesive rubber feet
- User Manual
- Warranty Information
 Max Input Power |
200 watts
vs
180 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Low Frequency Response |
37 Hz
vs
52 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 |
 Height |
365mm
vs
423mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
504cm2
vs
670cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
1450USD
vs
2200USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Driver Setup |
3-way
vs
2-way
|
Have a dedicated mid-range driver |
 Sensitivity |
87 dB
vs
86 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
|
Woofer Size |
6.5 inches
vs
6 inches
|
Larger woofer |
| General |
Buchardt P300 |
KEF R3 |
| Brand |
Buchardt |
KEF |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
50 - 200 watts |
15-180 watts |
| Sensitivity |
86 dB |
87 dB |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
n/a |
3.2 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
37-40k Hz |
52-28k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
6" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
paper |
Hybrid aluminum |
| Woofer Surround Material |
n/a |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
0.74" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
aluminum waveguide |
Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
5" |
| Crossover Frequency |
2900Hz |
400Hz and 2900Hz |
| Firing Direction |
n/a |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
365.0mm (14.4") |
423.0mm (16.7") |
| Width |
180.0mm (7.1") |
199.0mm (7.8") |
| Depth |
280.0mm (11") |
337.0mm (13.3") |
| Weight |
6.30kg (13.9lbs) |
13.55kg (29.8lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Passive Radiator |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
15mm Fiberboard HMR.E2 Moisture-proof with internal bracing |
MDF/Lacquer |
| Available Colors |
Black, White, Peach, Ocean, Olive |
Black Gloss, White Gloss, Walnut |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
n/a |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
10 years on speakers / 2 years on electronics (4 years if registered) |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
10 years on speakers / 2 years on electronics (4 years if registered) |
5 Years |
A generation apart: Buchardt P300 is the newer design, against a 2018 model. Newer is not automatically better, but the older one is more likely to be discounted or near run-out.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | A | Buchardt P300 digs deeper - 37Hz against 52Hz. |
| Amplifier needs | evenly matched | Similar sensitivity (86dB vs 87dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Amplifier match | B | KEF R3 is the easier load at 8 ohms; the other is 4 ohms and wants an amplifier rated for it. |
| Headroom | evenly matched | Similar power handling (200W vs 180W). |
| Size | depends | Buchardt P300 is easier to place; KEF R3 is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Cabinet | depends | Passive Radiator vs Ported. |
| Expandability | B | KEF R3: bi-amping. |
| Price | A | Buchardt P300 is cheaper - $1,450 against $2,200, about 34% less. |
A Buchardt P300 B KEF R3
depends neither is better in the abstract - it turns on your room, your system or how you will use them. Only specs published for both speakers are judged; anything missing on either side is left out rather than guessed.
Which should you choose?
KEF R3 is ahead, but only on 1 of the measured areas, and it costs about 52% more. That is a lot of money for a narrow margin on paper - Buchardt P300 looks like the sensible buy unless something else about the KEF R3 appeals to you. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 52Hz anyway, so judge these on the other rows instead. In a large or open-plan room, KEF R3 has the cabinet volume to fill it more easily; in a small room, near a wall or at desk distance, Buchardt P300 is the easier speaker to get right.
And remember what a spec sheet cannot show: how each looks in your room and whether the finish suits it, what dealer support and warranty are like where you live, and how they actually sound to you. If you can hear them first - ideally with your own music - that will tell you more than any number above.