An audiophile acquaintance who often writes reviews on audio products reviewed some Danish speakers and immediately dumped his expensive Harbeth speakers in favor of the speakers he was reviewing. He especially liked their very musical sound and its naturalness.
Here’s the scoop:
The Buchardt S400 MkII is one of the most highly regarded bookshelf speakers from Buchardt Audio, a Danish company known for delivering high-end audio performance at a relatively reasonable price by selling directly to consumers. The S400 MkII is an update to the original S400, which was already well-loved for its natural sound and wide soundstage.
Key Features of the Buchardt S400 MkII
Passive Radiator Design
The S400 MkII uses a rear-facing passive radiator instead of a traditional ported design.
This approach helps improve bass response and avoids “chuffing” or port noise often found in ported speakers.
The passive radiator extends the bass response down to around 33 Hz, which is remarkable for a speaker of this size.
Custom Woofer
The mid-woofer is made from customized aluminum.
The woofer is designed to handle both low and mid frequencies with precision and minimal distortion.
It provides a very tight, controlled bass while maintaining midrange clarity.
Waveguided Soft Dome Tweeter
The S400 MkII features a 0.74-inch soft dome tweeter with a carefully engineered waveguide.
The waveguide ensures even dispersion of high frequencies, resulting in a broad sweet spot and smooth treble extension.
The tweeter is crossed over at a low frequency, which helps improve integration with the mid-woofer.
Crossover and Tuning
Buchardt spent a lot of time refining the crossover network.
The goal was to create a natural, cohesive sound with accurate tonal balance.
The crossover uses high-quality components to minimize phase distortion and maintain consistent sound across different listening positions.
Cabinet and Build Quality
The cabinets are made from high-density MDF and are internally braced to reduce resonance.
The finish options include high-quality wood veneers and matte lacquers.
The rear passive radiator and tweeter/woofer combination allow the speaker to deliver a bigger sound than its size would suggest.
Room-Friendly Design
The S400 MkII is known for being very forgiving in terms of placement.
It performs well even when close to walls, thanks to the rear passive radiator tuning and controlled dispersion pattern.
The wide soundstage and off-axis response make them suitable for various room sizes and configurations.
Sound Characteristics
Bass -Deep and tight, especially for a bookshelf speaker.
Midrange: Natural and well-balanced; vocals and instruments sound lifelike.
Treble: Smooth, never harsh, with a refined high-end sparkl
Soundstage: Wide and deep with precise imaging.
Dynamics: Strong micro and macro dynamics; handles both soft and loud passages with ease.
Specs
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Feature
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Specification
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Frequency Response
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33 Hz - 40 kHz (±3 dB)
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Sensitivity
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88 dB (2.83V/1m)
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Impedance
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4 Ohms
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Woofer
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6-inch aluminum cone
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Tweeter
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0.74-inch soft dome with waveguide
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Passive Radiator
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Rear-mounted
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Dimensions
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14.2 x 7.9 x 11.4 inches (H x W x D)
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Weight
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17.6 lbs (8 kg) each
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Recommended Amplification
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40+200W
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Pros:
Natural, balanced sound
Deep, controlled bass for a bookshelf speaker
Wide sweet spot and expansive soundstage
Forgiving of room placement
Excellent value for the performance
Cons:
4-ohm impedance may require a more powerful amp
Rear passive radiator means placement too close to a wall could affect bass quality
Not ideal for very large rooms
Price and Value
The S400 MkII is priced at around $2,000–$2,500 depending on the finish and region.
Buchardt’s direct-to-consumer model helps keep the price competitive compared to similarly performing high-end speakers from larger brands.
The Buchardt S400 MkII punches well above its price point, delivering the kind of nuanced, room-filling sound that many people associate with larger floor-standing speakers. Its combination of deep bass, detailed highs, and wide dispersion makes it suitable for both critical listening and casual enjoyment. It’s particularly well-matched with high-quality solid-state or tube amplifiers.
