In this review, we will be comparing S400 and S400 MK3, two Passive Bookshelf speakers by Buchardt
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Buchardt S400 and Buchardt S400 MK3 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
Buchardt S400 Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 0.74" aluminum waveguide Tweeter
- 6" paper Woofer
- 33-40 kHz Frequency Response
- 88 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 4ohms
- Power Range:40-200watts
- Weight:7.30kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 375.0" x 7" x 9.65"( 375 x 180 x 245mm )
Buchardt S400 MK3 Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1" waveguide Tweeter
- 7.5" SB Acoustics Satori Egyptian Papyrus papercone Woofer
- 33-20k Hz Frequency Response
- 87 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 4ohms
- Power Range:30+watts
- Weight:8.50kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 392.0" x 7.8" x 11"( 392 x 198 x 280 mm )
S400 and S400 MK3 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 and Buchardt S400 MK3 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 |
Buchardt S400 MK3 |
| 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.)
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the Buchardt S400 and Buchardt S400 MK3 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 S400 and S400 MK3 are 2-way speakers.
| Driver |
Buchardt S400 |
Buchardt S400 MK3 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
0.74-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 6-inch
|
1 x 7.5-inch
|
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. On the other hand, the 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.
Frequency Response
S400 has a frequency range of 33-40 kHz whereas S400 MK3 has a frequency range of 33-20k Hz.
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 and S400 MK3 have the same Impedance of 4 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. S400 sensitivity is rated at 88 dB and the S400 MK3's is at 87 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the Buchardt S400 a more sensitive speaker compared to Buchardt S400 MK3, 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 and the S400 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.
S400 can handle a max power of 200 watts RMS from the amp the whereas S400 MK3 has a max power handling value of watts RMS, 200 watts less than the S400.
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's and Buchardt S400 MK3's external dimensions. Buchardt S400 has external dimensions of 375 x 180 x 245mm ( 14.75 x 7 x 9.6inch) whereas Buchardt S400 MK3 has external dimensions of 392 x 198 x 280 mm ( 15.4 x 7.8 x 11 inch) .
Buchardt S400 MK3 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 18mm wider, 17mm taller and 35mm deeper than Buchardt S400.
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 is approximately 441.0cm2 / 68.4inch2 and base area of the Buchardt S400 MK3 is approximately 554.4cm2 / 85.9inch2. The S400 requires 20% less surface area than the S400 MK3 which gives it a small advantage on placement in tight spaces.