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  1. Home
  2. Buchardt Speakers
  3. Passive Bookshelf Speakers
  4. Buchardt S400
Buchardt S400 Review
Buchardt S400 - Front View

Compare To

Main Features

  • 0.74" aluminum waveguide Tweeter
  • 6" paper Woofer
  • One 5x8-inch Passive Radiators
  • 33-40 kHz Frequency Response
  • 88 dB Sensitivity
  • Impedance: 4ohms
  • Power Range: 40-200 watts
  • Weight: 16.60 lbs / 7.30 kg
  • Dimensions(HxWxD): 14.75"x7"x9.65" / 375 x 180 x 245mm
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Buchardt S400 Review
Buchardt S400 Buchardt S400
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Made by Buchardt · Denmark · since 2014 · factory-direct only

Buchardt S400 is a 2-way Passive Radiator Bookshelf speaker by Buchardt. It was released in 2017. It features a 0.74" aluminum waveguide Tweeter and 1 x 6" paper Woofer. S400 also employs one 5x8-inch passive radiators. The speaker has a frequency range of 33-40 kHz and a sensitivity of 88 dB.

Room Size Suitability

The size of the room where you plan to use the Buchardt S400 is a crucial factor in your decision. We have assessed its suitability for various room sizes based on its dimensions and maximum power output:

Listening Environment* Suitability
Near-fieldPoor
Small RoomAverage
Mid-size RoomGood
Large RoomAverage
Very Large RoomPoor

(* 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.)

Buchardt later replaced S400 with S400 MKII. Follow the link to read our in-depth comparison of these speakers:
Compare Buchardt S400 vs Buchardt S400 MKII
Buchardt S400  Lifestyle
Buchardt S400 Lifestyle

Buchardt's Passive Series of Loudspeakers

S400 is a member of Buchardt's Passive series of Passive speakers. Buchardt's Passive range are traditional passive loudspeakers built with premium drivers and cabinets, sold factory-direct at prices that undercut dealer brands. Below you can see the main specs of these speakers.

See all 6 Buchardt Passive models compared »

Buchardt Passive Series Speakers
Model Frequency SensitivityImpedance Woofer
Buchardt E50
Compare
36-30k Hz 85 dB4Ω 1 x 6.5"
Buchardt S400 MKII
Compare
33-40k Hz 88 dB4Ω 1 x 6"
Buchardt P300
Compare
37-40k Hz 86 dB4Ω 1 x 6"
Buchardt S400
33-40k Hz 88 dB4Ω 1 x 6"
Buchardt E50-S
Compare
38-22k Hz 88 dB4Ω 1 x 7.5"
Buchardt S400 MK3
Compare
33-20k Hz 87 dB4Ω 1 x 7.5"

Frequency Response of the Buchardt S400 Speaker

Buchardt S400 has a Frequency response range of 33-40 kHz and Power Range of 40-200 watts. With a minimum frequency of 33 Hz, S400 delivers deep bass that will likely satisfy most listeners, especially those who enjoy music. However, movie enthusiasts and music fans who prefer a full range of sound may still benefit from adding a subwoofer.

Here we have a comparison of how S400's Low frequency value compares with the average, max and min Low frequency values in its class.
Low Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
Buchardt S400
Min
Average
Median
Thinking about a subwoofer for the Buchardt S400?
  • Work out the crossover setting - it follows from this speaker's 33 Hz low end
  • Every powered subwoofer we cover, whatever the budget

Crossover frequency of the Buchardt S400?

The crossover frequency of the S400 is set to 2000Hz. This is the threshold frequency where the higher frequency signals over this level are sent to the tweeter and the lower-frequency signals are sent to the woofer by the crossover component.

Buchardt S400 driver frequency bands33-2kWoofer 6"2k-40kTweeter 0.74"20501002005001k2k5k10k20k40kHz, log scale

Impedance and Sensitivity

Buchardt S400's nominal impedance level is 4 ohms and has a sensitivity of 88 dB.

Sensitivity
Bookshelf Speakers
Buchardt S400
Min
Average
Median

Nominal Impedance of the 4 Ohms means that the Buchardt S400 is a difficult to drive speaker from nominal Impedance perspective, make sure that you choose an amplifier than can provide 4 Ohms for this speaker.

Many AVRs (audio/video receiver) in the market may have difficulty when the speakers dip below the 4 Ohms levels (this may cause clipping or even physical damage), so we recommend to not pair the Buchardt S400 with an AVR but use an Integrated Amplifier instead.

Sensitivity

88dB of the Buchardt S400 is an average sensitivity for stereo speaker so it is neither easy nor difficult to drive Sensitivity wise. Work out how loud the Buchardt S400 plays in your room →

Running more than one pair from a single amplifier? Check the load it would present →

What amplifier does the Buchardt S400 need?

At normal listening levels in a medium room, about 24–200 W per channel into 4 ohms. Set your own conditions and we will rank every amplifier we cover.

We check power, impedance safety and current delivery - not just watts.

Prefer to browse? See every integrated amplifier we cover.

Input Type

S400 features type connectors.

Buchardt S400 External Dimensions and Weight

Buchardt S400 has external dimensions of (Height x Width x Depth) 14.75 x 7 x 9.6inch (375 x 180 x 245mm ).

Base Surface Area
Base surface area of a loudspeaker may become a determining factor when the space in your room or desk is limited. The base area of Buchardt S400 is approximately 441.0cm2 / 68.4inch2.

To get a better perspective on the real life size of Buchardt S400, let's compare it with a standard size Compact Disc which has a diameter of 4.7inch (120mm).

Buchardt S400 Real Life Body Size Comparison
Buchardt S400 Speaker Size Compared to a Compact Disc

Here we place the Buchardt S400 virtually next to a standard width amplifier and turntable on a BDI Octave Media Cabinet to get a better idea about the size.

Buchardt S400 placed next to an amplifier and turntable
Buchardt S400 Speaker next to an amplifier and turntable

Find speakers that fit your shelf or alcove →  ·  Work out where they should sit in the room →

Weight

The Buchardt S400 weighs 7.30kg / 16.1lbs per piece. Here is a comparison of how S400's weight compares with the average, max and min weights in its class.

Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
Buchardt S400
Min
Average
Median

How does the Buchardt S400 compare to the Buchardt S400 MKII?

One of the natural alternative to the Buchardt S400 is the S400 MKII which is located one step higher in Buchardt's Passive Bookshelf selection.

Here is a scaled size comparison of these two speakers to give you an idea how their external dimensions compare:

Buchardt S400 vs Buchardt S400 MKII Size Comparison - Front View
Comparison image of Buchardt S400 and Buchardt S400 MKII Size and External Dimensions

Check the Detailed Comparison of Buchardt S400 vs S400 MKII for more details.

Cabinet type and Materials

Buchardt S400 has a Passive Radiator type cabinet.

Available colors

Buchardt S400 is available in Black, White, Walnut and Graphite Oak.

Wall Mounting

S400 doesn't sport any built-in mounting bracket, so you need an external structure to mount it on walls.

Speaker Stands

Buchardt sells a dedicated speaker stand for the S400 with a model name Buchardt Stands. You can check the latest price and availability of these stands at B&H PHOTO and Amazon.

Buchardt Stands for Buchardt S400
Buchardt Stands Speaker Stands for Buchardt S400

Does the Buchardt S400 come with a Grille?

S400 comes with grilles. The purpose of the grille is to protect the delicate driver elements from external impacts while still allowing the sound to pass as clearly as possible.

Recommended Accessories

Here is a list of accessories that we think you may need for the Buchardt S400.

  • Speaker Cable and Connectors
    • Speaker Cables with Banana Plugs: If you know the lenght of the cable you need, this is the easier option to connect your speakers with your amp.
    • Speaker Cables without Connectors: If you are not sure about the lenght or need longer than standard cables with plugs, choose this option.
    • Banana Connectors and Plugs: If you chose the cables without connectors option or already have some cable around, pick the banana plugs separately.
  • Vibration Isolators: IsoAcoustics isolators are our favorite isolators but you may find more affordable options too.
  • Acoustic Panels and Treatments: Your room is as important as your stereo equipment so acoustic treatments goes a long way in improving the overall performance.
  • Speaker Stands: Stands bring your bookshelf speakers to ideal height (rule of thumb is to have the tweeter level with your ear in your listening position), helps stability and acoustical isolation.

Sales, Return and Warrant Policy

Buchardt sells its speakers only via its official website and doesn't use any dealers. Eliminating the middleman helps the company to keep the costs down. Shipping is free anywhere in the world (including all tax and import costs) for orders over 850 Euros. They have a 45-days return period, you can decide to return the product for any reason but there is a 100/200 Euro return fee (Please check their official website for most up to date information).

Buchardt S400 Alternatives in Passive Bookshelf Speakers
Model Type Sensitivity Impedance Frequency
Buchardt S400 MKII
Compare
2-way 88 dB 4 ohms 33-40k Hz
Buchardt P300
Compare
2-way 86 dB 4 ohms 37-40k Hz
Buchardt E50
Compare
2-way 85 dB 4 ohms 36-30k Hz
Wharfedale LINTON
Compare
3-way 90 dB 6 ohms 40-20k Hz
Wharfedale Elysian 2
Compare
3-way 89 dB 4 ohms 35-22k Hz
Jamo S 801
Compare
2-way 85 dB 8 ohms 76-26k Hz
Klipsch R-51M
Compare
2-way 93 dB 8 ohms 62-21k Hz
KEF Q150
Compare
2-way 86 dB 8 ohms 51-28k Hz
Frequently Asked Questions about Buchardt S400

What amplifier do you need for the Buchardt S400?

Buchardt rates the Buchardt S400 for 40-200 watts of amplifier power. It is a 4-ohm speaker, a demanding load that wants an amplifier rated to drive 4 ohms - many budget receivers are not.

Is the Buchardt S400 easy to drive?

The Buchardt S400 has a sensitivity of 88 dB. That is about average for a home speaker, so it is neither hard nor especially easy to drive.

Does the Buchardt S400 need a subwoofer?

The Buchardt S400 reaches down to 33Hz (full range 33-40 kHz). That is genuinely deep bass - a subwoofer is optional unless you want home-theatre effects below that.

What drivers does the Buchardt S400 use?

The Buchardt S400 is a 2-way design using a 0.74" aluminum waveguide tweeter and a 6" paper woofer. It also uses one 5x8-inch passive radiators to reinforce the low end.

Is the Buchardt S400 sealed or ported?

The Buchardt S400 uses a Passive Radiator enclosure. A passive radiator does the job of a port without the vent noise, which suits compact cabinets.

Can the Buchardt S400 be wall mounted?

The Buchardt S400 does not include a wall-mount bracket or keyhole, so it is designed to sit on a stand, shelf or the floor.

Does the Buchardt S400 come with grilles?

Yes. The Buchardt S400 comes with removable grilles.

How big and heavy is the Buchardt S400?

The Buchardt S400 weighs 7.30kg / 16.1lbs each and measures 14.75 x 7 x 9.6inch (HxWxD).


Buchardt S400 Detailed Specifications

General
BrandBuchardt
Full Model NameBuchardt S400
Speaker Type2-way Bookshelf
Power Range40-200 watts
Sensitivity88 dB
Impedance4 ohms
Frequency Response33-40 kHz
Release Date2017
DRIVERS
Woofer Size6-inch
Woofer Compositionpaper
Tweeter Size0.74-inch
Tweeter Typealuminum waveguide
Crossover freq2000Hz

CONNECTIONS
PHYSICAL SPECS
Height375.0mm ( 14.75-inch)
Width180.0mm ( 7-inch)
Depth245.0mm ( 9.65-inch)
Height375.0mm ( 14.75-inch)
Weight7.3 kg (16.6 lbs)
EnclosurePassive Radiator
Available ColorsBlack, White, Walnut,Graphite Oak
Mounting BracketNo
GrilleYes
Moisture ResistanceNo
OTHER
Handheld RemoteNo
Parts Warranty
Labor Warranty
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