In this review, we will be comparing Reference 1 Meta and S400 MKII, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from KEF and Buchardt. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of KEF Reference 1 Meta and Buchardt S400 MKII first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
What size room are the KEF Reference 1 Meta 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:
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the KEF Reference 1 Meta 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.
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Drivers
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that Reference 1 Meta is a 3-way design whereas the S400 MKII is a 2-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.
Driver |
KEF Reference 1 Meta |
Buchardt S400 MKII |
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
2-way
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
0.74-inch
|
Midrange
|
1 x 5-inch |
- |
Woofer
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
1 x 6-inch
|
Reference 1 Meta features a 1" aluminium dome with MAT Tweeter , a 5" Midrange and 1 x 6.5" aluminium cone Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 450Hz and 2100Hz. 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
Reference 1 Meta has a frequency range of 45-35k Hz whereas S400 MKII has a frequency range of 33-40k HZ. With a minimum frequency of 33Hz, the S400 MKII can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Reference 1 Meta's min frequency of 45Hz.
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
Reference 1 Meta and S400 MKII have the same Impedance of 4 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Reference 1 Meta sensitivity is rated at 85 dB and the S400 MKII's is at 88 dB. This 3 dB difference makes the Buchardt S400 MKII a more sensitive speaker compared to KEF Reference 1 Meta, 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 Reference 1 Meta and the Reference 1 Meta 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 KEF Reference 1 Meta's and Buchardt S400 MKII's external dimensions. KEF Reference 1 Meta has external dimensions of 440 x 205 x 422 mm ( 17.3 x 8.1 x 16.6 ) whereas Buchardt S400 MKII has external dimensions of 365.0 x 180.0 x 280.0mm ( 14.4 x 7 x 11inch) .
KEF Reference 1 Meta is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 25mm wider, 75mm taller and 142mm deeper than Buchardt S400 MKII.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of KEF Reference 1 Meta and Buchardt S400 MKII in scale.
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 KEF Reference 1 Meta is approximately 865.1cm2 / 134.1inch2 and base area of the Buchardt S400 MKII is approximately 504.0cm2 / 78.1inch2. The Reference 1 Meta requires 72% more surface area than the S400 MKII which gives it a small disadvantage 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:
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 KEF Reference 1 Meta weighs 18.20kg / 40lbs and the Buchardt S400 MKII weighs 7.50kg / 16.5lbs. This makes the Reference 1 Meta 143% heavier than the S400 MKII.
Here is a comparison of how Reference 1 Meta and S400 MKII's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
Driver Setup |
3-way
vs
2-way
|
Have a dedicated mid-range driver |
Woofer Size |
6.5 inches
vs
6 inches
|
Larger woofer |
Sensitivity |
88 dB
vs
85 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
Low Frequency Response |
33 Hz
vs
45 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
High Frequency Response |
40k Hz
vs
35k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
Passive Radiator |
one 5x8-inch
vs
None
|
Increases the bass performance |
Height |
365mm
vs
440mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
Base Surface Area |
504cm2 (180x280mm)
vs
865cm2 (205x422mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
Price per pair* |
2200USD
vs
9000USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
General |
KEF Reference 1 Meta |
Buchardt S400 MKII |
Brand |
KEF |
Buchardt |
Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
Power Range |
50-200 watts |
40-200 watts |
Sensitivity |
85 dB |
88 dB |
Impedance |
4 ohms |
4 ohms |
Impedance |
3.2 ohms |
n/a |
Frequency Response |
45-35k Hz |
33-40k HZ |
Drivers |
|
|
Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
Woofer Size |
6.5" |
6" |
Woofer Composition |
aluminium cone |
paper |
Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
n/a |
Tweeter Size |
1" |
0.74" |
Tweeter Type |
aluminium dome with MAT |
aluminum waveguide |
Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
Midrange Driver |
5" |
No |
Crossover Frequency |
450Hz and 2100Hz |
1800Hz |
Firing Direction |
rear |
n/a |
Physical Specs |
|
|
Height |
440.0mm (17.3") |
365.0mm (14.4") |
Width |
205.0mm (8.1") |
180.0mm (7.1") |
Depth |
422.0mm (16.6") |
280.0mm (11") |
Weight |
18.20kg (40lbs) |
7.50kg (16.5lbs) |
Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Passive Radiator |
Available Colors |
High-Gloss White/Blue, High-Gloss White/Champagne, High-Gloss Black/Grey, High-Gloss Black/Copper, Satin Walnut/Silver |
Black, White, Walnut, Rosewood, Light Oak |
Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
Grille |
n/a |
Yes |
Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
n/a |
Other |
|
|
Parts Warranty |
5 years |
10 years |
Labor Warranty |
5 years |
10 years |