In this review, we will be comparing S400 MKII and E50, two Passive Bookshelf speakers by Buchardt Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Buchardt S400 MKII and Buchardt E50 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
S400 MKII and E50 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 S400 MKII and Buchardt E50 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 S400 MKII and Buchardt E50 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 S400 MKII and E50 are 2-way speakers.
| Driver |
Buchardt S400 MKII |
Buchardt E50 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
0.74-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 6-inch
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
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. On the other hand, the 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.
Frequency Response
S400 MKII has a frequency range of 33-40k HZ whereas E50 has a frequency range of 36-30k HZ. With a minimum frequency of 33Hz, the S400 MKII 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
S400 MKII and E50 have the same Impedance of 4 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. S400 MKII sensitivity is rated at 88 dB and the E50's is at 85 dB. This 3 dB difference makes the Buchardt S400 MKII 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 S400 MKII and the S400 MKII 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 S400 MKII's and Buchardt E50's external dimensions. Buchardt S400 MKII has external dimensions of 365.0 x 180.0 x 280.0mm ( 14.4 x 7 x 11inch) whereas Buchardt E50 has external dimensions of 395 x 190 x 284 mm ( 15.5 x 7.5 x 11.1 inch) .
Buchardt E50 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 10mm wider, 30mm taller and 4mm deeper than Buchardt S400 MKII.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Buchardt S400 MKII and Buchardt E50 in scale.
Comparison image of Buchardt S400 MKII and Buchardt E50 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 S400 MKII is approximately 504.0cm2 / 78.1inch2 and base area of the Buchardt E50 is approximately 539.6cm2 / 83.6inch2. The S400 MKII requires 7% less surface area than the E50 which gives it a small advantage 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:
Size Comparison image of Buchardt S400 MKII and Buchardt E50 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 S400 MKII weighs 7.50kg / 16.5lbs and the Buchardt E50 weighs 8.60kg / 18.9lbs. This makes the E50 15% heavier than the S400 MKII.
Here is a comparison of how S400 MKII and E50's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
 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 |
365mm
vs
395mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
504cm2 (180x280mm)
vs
539cm2 (190x284mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
2200USD
vs
3950USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| Woofer Size |
6.5 inches
vs
6 inches
|
Larger woofer |
| General |
Buchardt S400 MKII |
Buchardt E50 |
| Brand |
Buchardt |
Buchardt |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
40-200 watts |
60-200 watts |
| Sensitivity |
88 dB |
85 dB |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
4 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
33-40k HZ |
36-30k HZ |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
6" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
paper |
PURIFI Extended Stroke |
| Tweeter Size |
0.74" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
aluminum waveguide |
waveguide |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
1800Hz |
2000Hz |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
365.0mm (14.4") |
395.0mm (15.6") |
| Width |
180.0mm (7.1") |
190.0mm (7.5") |
| Depth |
280.0mm (11") |
284.0mm (11.2") |
| Weight |
7.50kg (16.5lbs) |
8.60kg (18.9lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Passive Radiator |
Passive Radiator |
| Finish |
n/a |
19 & 28mm (front baffle) solid european wood |
| Available Colors |
Black, White, Walnut, Rosewood, Light Oak |
Stained Black, Rounded Natural Oak, Smoked Natural Oak, Rounded Charcoal, Smoked Oak, 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 |