In this review, we will be comparing Model Three and S400 MKII, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from KLH and Buchardt.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of KLH Model Three and Buchardt S400 MKII first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | KLH Model Three | Buchardt S400 MKII |
|---|
| Brand | KLH
United States · founded 1957 | Buchardt
Denmark · founded 2014 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" | 0.74" aluminum waveguide |
|---|
| Woofer | 8" Pulp-Paper Cone | 6" paper |
|---|
| Frequency response | 46-20k Hz | 33-40k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 88 dB | 88 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 6 ohms | 4 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 30-150 watts | 40-200 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 13.20kg / 29lbs | 7.50kg / 16.5lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 19.0" x 12.25" x 10.5"
482.0 x 311.0 x 267.0mm | 14.4" x 7" x 11"
365.0 x 180.0 x 280.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the KLH Model Three 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* |
KLH Model Three |
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.)
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
Drivers
Both Model Three and S400 MKII are 2-way speakers.
KLH Model ThreeBuchardt S400 MKII
TweeterWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
KLH Model Three |
Buchardt S400 MKII |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
0.74-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 8-inch
|
1 x 6-inch
|
Model Three features a 1" Aluminum Tweeter and 1 x 8" Pulp-Paper Cone Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 1600Hz. 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
Model Three has a frequency range of 46-20k 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 Model Three's min frequency of 46Hz.
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
Model Three is a 6 ohms speaker compared to the S400 MKII which has a nominal impedance of 4 ohms. Lower impedance speakers, especially the ones that are rated at 4 ohms may put more pressure on the amplifier unit especially when played at high volume levels, so make sure the amp you pair with the S400 MKII can provide this impedance level.
On the other hand, they have the same sensitivity of 88 dBdB.
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 can handle a max power of 200 watts RMS, whereas Model Three has a max power handling value of 150 watts RMS, 50 watts less than the S400 MKII.
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 KLH Model Three's and Buchardt S400 MKII's external dimensions. KLH Model Three has external dimensions of 482.0 x 311.0 x 267.0mm (19.0 x 12.25 x 10.5inch) whereas Buchardt S400 MKII has external dimensions of 365.0 x 180.0 x 280.0mm (14.4 x 7 x 11inch).
Buchardt S400 MKII is 131mm narrower and 117mm shorter than KLH Model Three but it is also 13mm deeper.
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 KLH Model Three is approximately 830.4cm2 / 128.7inch2 and base area of the Buchardt S400 MKII is approximately 504.0cm2 / 78.1inch2. The Model Three requires 65% more surface area than the S400 MKII which gives it a small disadvantage on placement in tight spaces.
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 KLH Model Three weighs 13.20kg / 29lbs and the Buchardt S400 MKII weighs 7.50kg / 16.5lbs. This makes the Model Three 76% heavier than the S400 MKII.
Here is a comparison of how Model Three and S400 MKII's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
What's in the Box of KLH Model Three?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Model Three:
- Floorstanding loudspeaker
- Riser base
- Grille
- Owners Manual
 Nominal Impedance |
6 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 Woofer Size |
8 inches
vs
6 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 Price per pair* |
2000USD
vs
2200USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Max Input Power |
200 watts
vs
150 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
|
Low Frequency Response |
33 Hz
vs
46 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
40k Hz
vs
20k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Passive Radiator |
one 5x8-inch
vs
None
|
Increases the bass performance |
 Height |
365mm
vs
482mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
504cm2
vs
830cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
| General |
KLH Model Three |
Buchardt S400 MKII |
| Brand |
KLH |
Buchardt |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
30-150 watts |
40-200 watts |
| Sensitivity |
88 dB |
88 dB |
| Impedance |
6 ohms |
4 ohms |
| Impedance |
3.7 ohms |
n/a |
| Frequency Response |
46-20k Hz |
33-40k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
8" |
6" |
| Woofer Composition |
Pulp-Paper Cone |
paper |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
n/a |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
0.74" |
| Tweeter Type |
n/a |
aluminum waveguide |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
1600Hz |
1800Hz |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
482.0mm (19") |
365.0mm (14.4") |
| Width |
311.0mm (12.2") |
180.0mm (7.1") |
| Depth |
267.0mm (10.5") |
280.0mm (11") |
| Weight |
13.20kg (29lbs) |
7.50kg (16.5lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Acoustic Suspension |
Passive Radiator |
| Finish |
MDF/Wood Veneer |
n/a |
| Available Colors |
English Walnut, West African Mahogany |
Black, White, Walnut, Rosewood, Light Oak |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
No |
n/a |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
10 Years |
10 years |
| Labor Warranty |
10 Years |
10 years |
No single best speaker here - they are built to different priorities, and the right one depends on your room, your amplifier and what you listen to.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | B | Buchardt S400 MKII digs deeper - 33Hz against 46Hz. |
| Amplifier needs | evenly matched | Similar sensitivity (88dB vs 88dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Amplifier match | A | KLH Model Three is the easier load at 6 ohms; the other is 4 ohms and wants an amplifier rated for it. |
| Headroom | B | Buchardt S400 MKII takes more power (200W vs 150W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | Buchardt S400 MKII is easier to place; KLH Model Three is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Cabinet | depends | Sealed vs Passive Radiator. Sealed is tighter and happier near a wall; ported digs lower but wants space behind it. |
| Price | evenly matched | Much the same money ($2,000 vs $2,200 a pair). |
A KLH Model Three B Buchardt S400 MKII
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?
Buchardt S400 MKII has the edge on paper, though the margin is not large. The rows marked "depends" may matter more to you than the score does. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 46Hz anyway, so judge these on the other rows instead. In a large or open-plan room, KLH Model Three has the cabinet volume to fill it more easily; in a small room, near a wall or at desk distance, Buchardt S400 MKII is the easier speaker to get right.
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.