Buchardt S400 Mk II vs Sony SSCS 5 in Bass


I am still in the quest for a ideal bookshelf / stand mount as my secondary system. Recently I procured Buchardt S400 Mk II for in-home auditioning a month ago. The top end and midrange SQ is top-notch, airy and rich with dynamics. However, the bass is a bit on the light side to my taste. Although it is rated down to 33hz (- 3 dB) in room, I do not feel the bass is that impactful as compared to the Sony SSCS 5 which is only rated down to 53Hz (-3dB). Both me and my best half could hear more impactful, better-defined double bass notes from SSCS 5 than from S400. I was so puzzled / annoyed by this. Let me lay out the main specs that might affect the bass performance for comparison purpose.

                      Buchardt S400 Mk ii                Sony sscs 5

Woofer          6" paper cone (on top)             5.12" cone (on bottom)

Enclosure      1 rear 8"x5" passive radiator   1 rear port

Bass rating    33 Hz (-3dB)                            53 Hz (-3dB)

Efficiency       88 dB/m/w                               87 dB/m/w

Both were driven by the same components, speaker placements, supported by the semi-sphere silicone footers, and evaluated with the same music. Does the rear port design more effective than the passive radiator? Does the position of woofer affect the bass weight? Can someone, in particular who owned the S400, shed a light on this please?

 

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@dwest1023  

I will appreciate if you could also perform the airtight / leak test as described above  on your S400, and let me know how long does it take the woofer or PR to get back to its normal position / equalization of internal pressure.  I have read somewhere that it will actually take longer time (say 6-8 seconds instead) to return to its default position.  Appreciated.

anything above 60Watts should work fine with the Buchardts. I never read or saw any tests where they complained about the bass or used a beast like the  Pass Lab 250

Oh, agreed @grislybutter.  I would like to have @dwest1023 test on his speaker, not the Pass int 250.  The Buchardt has suspected one of my S400 Mk ii's internal is NOT airtight enough to the standard to push the PR well.  I just want to confirm that.

I know longer have the 400’s but have a pair of the 400 Mrk 2 special.Edition on the way. I will do the test then FedEx says they will be here this Saturday. To grisly, the I dont think I said you need a Pass labs to get bass from the 400’s. At the time that is what I used when I had them. My pass is overkill especially in my 12x 14 room. . Lanx003, seems like you are looking for pounding kick drum bass? Im not sure the 400’s do that. 

@dwest1023 

Thanks but do not force it.  When I tried to do the test earlier this night, I found neither woofer nor PR can be pushed in gently.  I give up as I do not wish to damage the speaker.

I am looking for weighty and nimble bass and I fully agree you that S400 is not doing the magic even the speaker can go really low.  The bass is too polite for lack of a better word.  I may let it go and resume the journey of my end-game speaker quest.