In this review, we will be comparing S400 MK3 and R3 Meta, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Buchardt and KEF.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Buchardt S400 MK3 and KEF R3 Meta first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Buchardt S400 MK3 | KEF R3 Meta |
|---|
| Brand | Buchardt
Denmark · founded 2014 | KEF
United Kingdom · founded 1961 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 3-way |
|---|
| Uni-Q driver | — | 12th Generation Uni-Q |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" waveguide | 1" Hard-Dome |
|---|
| Midrange | — | 5" |
|---|
| Woofer | 7.5" SB Acoustics Satori Egyptian Papyrus papercone | 6.5" Hybrid Aluminum |
|---|
| Frequency response | 33-20k Hz | 58-28k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 87 dB | 87 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 4 ohms | 4 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 30+ watts | 15-180 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 8.50kg / 18.7lbs | 12.41kg / 27.3lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 15.4" x 7.8" x 11"
392 x 198 x 280 mm | 16-5/8" x 7-15/16" x 13-1/4"
423.0 x 202.0 x 337.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Buchardt S400 MK3 and KEF R3 Meta 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 S400 MK3 |
KEF R3 Meta |
| Near-field |
Poor |
Poor |
| Small Room |
Average |
Poor |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Good |
| Large Room |
Average |
Good |
| Very Large Room |
Poor |
Average |
(* 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 S400 MK3 is a 2-way design whereas the R3 Meta 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 S400 MK3KEF R3 Meta
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 S400 MK3 |
KEF R3 Meta |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
1 x 5-inch |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 7.5-inch
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
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. On the other hand, the R3 Meta features a 1" Aluminum with MAT absorber Hard-Dome Tweeter, a 5" Midrange and 1 x 6.5" Hybrid Aluminum Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 420Hz and 2300Hz.
Frequency Response
S400 MK3 has a frequency range of 33-20k Hz whereas R3 Meta has a frequency range of 58-28k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 33Hz, the S400 MK3 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the R3 Meta's min frequency of 58Hz.
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
S400 MK3 and R3 Meta have the same Impedance of 4 ohms and their sensitivity is also same at 87 dB.
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 S400 MK3 and the S400 MK3 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. Staying
within that range gives nominal performance; driving the speaker beyond its maximum wattage can damage it.
R3 Meta can handle a max power of 180 watts RMS, whereas S400 MK3 has a max power handling value of watts RMS, 180 watts less than the R3 Meta.
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.
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 S400 MK3's and KEF R3 Meta's external dimensions. Buchardt S400 MK3 has external dimensions of 392 x 198 x 280 mm (15.4 x 7.8 x 11 inch) whereas KEF R3 Meta has external dimensions of 423.0 x 202.0 x 337.0mm (16-5/8-inch x 7-15/16-inch x 13-1/4-inch).
KEF R3 Meta is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 4mm wider, 31mm taller and 57mm deeper than Buchardt S400 MK3.
Size, drawn to scale
Both speakers and both views share one scale, so everything here is directly comparable. Hover a box for its dimensions.
One scale for both, standing on the same surface and pushed back to the same wall, so the deeper one visibly sticks out further.
KEF R3 Meta needs about 23% more floor or shelf area. KEF R3 Meta is 57mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall. KEF R3 Meta is 31mm taller.
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 S400 MK3 is approximately 554.4cm2 / 85.9inch2 and base area of the KEF R3 Meta is approximately 680.7cm2 / 105.5inch2. The S400 MK3 requires 19% less surface area than the R3 Meta 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 S400 MK3 weighs 8.50kg / 18.7lbs and the KEF R3 Meta weighs 12.41kg / 27.3lbs. This makes the R3 Meta 46% heavier than the S400 MK3.
Here is a comparison of how S400 MK3 and R3 Meta'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 Meta?
Here are the items that come with the R3 Meta:
- 1 pair of R3 Meta loudspeakers
- 1 pair of microfiber grilles
- Rubber feet
- Port bungs
- User manual and warranty information
 Woofer Size |
7.5 inches
vs
6.5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
33 Hz
vs
58 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Height |
392mm
vs
423mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
554cm2
vs
680cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Driver Setup |
3-way
vs
2-way
|
Have a dedicated mid-range driver |
 High Frequency Response |
28k Hz
vs
20k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Price per pair* |
2199USD
vs
2300USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Buchardt S400 MK3 |
KEF R3 Meta |
| Brand |
Buchardt |
KEF |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
30+ watts |
15-180 watts |
| Sensitivity |
87 dB |
87 dB |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
4 ohms |
| Impedance |
n/a |
3.2 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
33-20k Hz |
58-28k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
7.5" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
SB Acoustics Satori Egyptian Papyrus papercone |
Hybrid Aluminum |
| Woofer Surround Material |
n/a |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
waveguide |
Hard-Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
5" |
| Crossover Frequency |
2200Hz |
420Hz and 2300Hz |
| Firing Direction |
n/a |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
392.0mm (15.4") |
423.0mm (16.7") |
| Width |
198.0mm (7.8") |
202.0mm (8") |
| Depth |
280.0mm (11") |
337.0mm (13.3") |
| Weight |
8.50kg (18.7lbs) |
12.41kg (27.3lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
15mm HMR.E2 moisture-proof fiberboard |
n/a |
| Available Colors |
Black, White, Walnut, Natural oak |
Black Gloss, White Gloss, Walnut, Indigo Gloss Special Edition |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
| Grille |
Yes |
n/a |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
n/a |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
10 years |
5 years |
| Labor Warranty |
10 years |
5 years |
No single best speaker here - they are built to different priorities, and the right one depends on your room, your amplifier and what you listen to.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | A | Buchardt S400 MK3 digs deeper - 33Hz against 58Hz. |
| Amplifier needs | evenly matched | Similar sensitivity (87dB vs 87dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Size | depends | Buchardt S400 MK3 is easier to place; KEF R3 Meta is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Cabinet | depends | Bass Reflex vs Ported. |
| Expandability | B | KEF R3 Meta: bi-amping. |
| Price | evenly matched | Much the same money ($2,300 vs $2,199 a pair). |
A Buchardt S400 MK3 B KEF R3 Meta
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?
Neither runs away with it - they trade advantages. Let the "depends" rows and your own room settle it. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 58Hz anyway, so judge these on the other rows instead. Match it to your room: we rate Buchardt S400 MK3 the better fit for a small room, and KEF R3 Meta for a large room and a very large room.
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.