In this review, we will be comparing S400 MKII and S400, two Passive Bookshelf speakers by Buchardt.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Buchardt S400 MKII and Buchardt S400 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Buchardt S400 MKII | Buchardt S400 |
|---|
| Brand | Buchardt
Denmark · founded 2014 | Buchardt
Denmark · founded 2014 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 0.74" aluminum waveguide | 0.74" aluminum waveguide |
|---|
| Woofer | 6" paper | 6" paper |
|---|
| Frequency response | 33-40k Hz | 33-40 kHz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 88 dB | 88 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 4 ohms | 4 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 40-200 watts | 40-200 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 7.50kg / 16.5lbs | 7.30kg / 16.1lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 14.4" x 7" x 11"
365.0 x 180.0 x 280.0mm | 14.75" x 7" x 9.65"
375 x 180 x 245mm |
|---|
S400 MKII and S400 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 S400 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 MKII |
Buchardt S400 |
| 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
Both S400 MKII and S400 are 2-way speakers.
Buchardt S400 MKIIBuchardt S400
TweeterWoofer
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 MKII |
Buchardt S400 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
0.74-inch
|
0.74-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 6-inch
|
1 x 6-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 S400 features a 0.74" Custom fine weave soft fabric textile aluminum waveguide Tweeter and 1 x 6" paper Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2000Hz.
Frequency Response
S400 MKII has a frequency range of 33-40k Hz whereas S400 has a frequency range of 33-40 kHz.
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 MKII and S400 have the same Impedance of 4 ohms and their sensitivity is also same at 88 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 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. Staying
within that range gives nominal performance; driving the speaker beyond its maximum wattage can damage it.
S400 MKII and S400 have the same power range of 40-200 watts.
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 MKII's and Buchardt S400'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 S400 has external dimensions of 375 x 180 x 245mm (14.75 x 7 x 9.6inch).
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Buchardt S400 MKII and Buchardt S400 in scale.
Comparison image of Buchardt S400 MKII and Buchardt S400 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 S400 is approximately 441.0cm2 / 68.4inch2. The S400 MKII requires 14% more surface area than the S400 which gives it a small disadvantage on placement in tight spaces.
Here is 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 S400 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 S400 weighs 7.30kg / 16.1lbs. This makes the S400 MKII 3% heavier than the S400.
Here is a comparison of how S400 MKII and S400's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
 Height |
365mm
vs
375mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
441cm2
vs
504cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
| General |
Buchardt S400 MKII |
Buchardt S400 |
| Brand |
Buchardt |
Buchardt |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
40-200 watts |
40-200 watts |
| Sensitivity |
88 dB |
88 dB |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
4 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
33-40k Hz |
33-40 kHz |
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 |
1800Hz |
2000Hz |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
365.0mm (14.4") |
375.0mm (14.8") |
| Width |
180.0mm (7.1") |
180.0mm (7.1") |
| Depth |
280.0mm (11") |
245.0mm (9.6") |
| Weight |
7.50kg (16.5lbs) |
7.30kg (16.1lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Passive Radiator |
Passive Radiator |
| Available Colors |
Black, White, Walnut, Rosewood, Light Oak |
Black, White, Walnut,Graphite Oak |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
10 years |
|
| Labor Warranty |
10 years |
|
Siblings in Buchardt's Passive series, so they share a family sound. It comes down to size, output and price.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | evenly matched | Much the same reach (33Hz vs 33Hz). |
| Amplifier needs | evenly matched | Similar sensitivity (88dB vs 88dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Headroom | evenly matched | Similar power handling (200W vs 200W). |
| Size | depends | Similar cabinet size - neither is easier to fit. |
A Buchardt S400 MKII B Buchardt S400
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.
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.