In this review, we will be comparing S400 and S400 MKII, two Passive Bookshelf speakers by Buchardt
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Buchardt S400 and Buchardt S400 MKII 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 MKII Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 0.74" aluminum waveguide Tweeter
- 6" paper Woofer
- 33-40k HZ Frequency Response
- 88 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 4ohms
- Power Range:40-200watts
- Weight:7.50kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 365.0" x 7" x 11"( 365.0 x 180.0 x 280.0mm )
S400 and S400 MKII 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 MKII 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 MKII |
| 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 MKII 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 and S400 MKII are 2-way speakers.
| Driver |
Buchardt S400 |
Buchardt S400 MKII |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
0.74-inch
|
0.74-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 6-inch
|
1 x 6-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 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.
Frequency Response
S400 has a frequency range of 33-40 kHz whereas S400 MKII has a frequency range of 33-40k 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 MKII 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 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 and S400 MKII has the same power range of 40-200 watts.
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 MKII's external dimensions. Buchardt S400 has external dimensions of 375 x 180 x 245mm ( 14.75 x 7 x 9.6inch) whereas Buchardt S400 MKII has external dimensions of 365.0 x 180.0 x 280.0mm ( 14.4 x 7 x 11inch) .
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Buchardt S400 and Buchardt S400 MKII in scale.
Comparison image of Buchardt S400 and Buchardt S400 MKII 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 is approximately 441.0cm2 / 68.4inch2 and base area of the Buchardt S400 MKII is approximately 504.0cm2 / 78.1inch2. The S400 requires 13% less surface area than the S400 MKII 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 and Buchardt S400 MKII 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 weighs 7.30kg / 16.1lbs and the Buchardt S400 MKII weighs 7.50kg / 16.5lbs. This makes the S400 MKII 3% heavier than the S400.
Here is a comparison of how S400 and S400 MKII's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
 Base Surface Area |
441cm2
vs
504cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Height |
365mm
vs
375mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
| General |
Buchardt S400 |
Buchardt S400 MKII |
| 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 |
33-40 kHz |
33-40k HZ |
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 |
2000Hz |
1800Hz |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
375.0mm (14.8") |
365.0mm (14.4") |
| Width |
180.0mm (7.1") |
180.0mm (7.1") |
| Depth |
245.0mm (9.6") |
280.0mm (11") |
| Weight |
7.30kg (16.1lbs) |
7.50kg (16.5lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Passive Radiator |
Passive Radiator |
| Available Colors |
Black, White, Walnut,Graphite Oak |
Black, White, Walnut, Rosewood, Light Oak |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
|
10 years |
| Labor Warranty |
|
10 years |