Disclaimer/ Personal interest in my reviews - nbtsmedia.com/about-us/ Technical Difference 0:36 Placement & Set up 1:55 Low Frequency 2:47 Mid Frequency 4:03 High Frequency 5:36 Low & High Volume listening 6:11 Soundstage and imaging 6:54 Amplification 7:46
@@9XThunder I somewhat agree with you, but i have listened to some of the speakers he has reviewed in the past and agree with his opinion on the sound of them. I cannot take it as gospel, but I do take his words in the review as a great opinion to how something sounds. He is an educated person with a large pool of test results and speaker auditions/reviews with a passion for audio gear. So as stated previously I appreciate his hard work and dedication to the community.
@@9XThunderOK, thanks for the input. The OCD HIFI GUY still praises the s400 as a great value speaker. He actually makes an upgraded parts kit for them. I'm only trying to say that reviews like these usually translate well to reality once you listen to both speakers side by side. But everyone had their own opinion, so in my opinion these reviews are a good thing for the person looking to buy a speaker that may not be readily available to audition.
@@9XThunder well unfortunately with the s400 they don't have any brick and mortar stores, so before I take them in for testing I appreciate reviews like these to help not waste anyone's time.
These comparison videos are fantastic! One shot, no editing, but just getting some of your opinions out on the fly. I find it very entertaining, and I really value your thoughts!
Yeh, I like that about his videos, limited jarring edits. Unlike some others. I won't mention anyone as I still watch others,. These videos are not easy to make. I appreciate all who make them.
I'm completely mesmerized by Allen Powell's replies. Heading out to the Electrical Store to read some pamphlets to gain a deeper understanding of speaker comparisons.
Oh is that sarcasm based on your deep knowledge of bogus terms. Still that is to be expected from someone placing their Rube faith in a guy like this who abandons all reference to specification. Wake up and don't try to be such a smartarse.
For me, it’s the R3 all day long. They just sound, well, effortless natural, yet, punchy. Drive them with some decent electronics and they just sing! Importantly, for us apartment dwellers, they retain excellent tonality at lower listening levels.
I had ATC SCM11, SVS Ultras, other Kefs none come close to Kef R3 for these reasons R3 is far more detailed all over, much faster pace, far more dynamic, far more detailed, far better soundstage, flat response and easily boosted. Perfect in any size room. I have a second set of R3 in a small box room and they sound equally good.
didn't listen to S400s but have the R3s for more than a year. Its a KEF (had LS50 before the R3) - all their speakers have this a little bit more in the face mids. So i suppose is really about a personal taste. KEF is absolute magic with brass instruments or with violin. Vocals are also more foreword. Wouldn't say they are audiophile ... Hights are some kind of sparkling, but more around 3-6 Khz. Over that they are not soo airy like more high end speakers like dynaudio special 40, or the jet tweeters in elac (or the SCM 11). And even some kind of similar looking the stealth design of the KEFs is just stunning and the quality of the paint is top. The S400s looks more like IKEA furniture :)
I'm in my upgrade stage now. Subs were first. I purchased two SVS SB 3000's and I couldn't be happier. That alone took me three months of debating! Now I want to choose speakers. I currently own Emotiva T1 towers, Elac B6.2's, and Klipsch RP-600m's. I feel like I want to take the next step up in performance from the more budget end of the market. My Budget is $2000 USD for speakers, as it was for subwoofers and will be for amplification. A system budget of $6000 broken into three equal parts. I listen primarily to Hip Hop both old school and some new, and also Classic Rock.(I know this makes me "unworthy" in the eyes of MANY Audiophiles, but that's what I grew up loving and I still believe in high quality audio) I really like the Kef R3's, but I worry that they may not have that "BIG" sound? I'm also considering Revel F36's, but my living room is not that big. We're going to be buying a home in the next couple of years and in my area and price, most homes are not large and don't have large rooms, but there's still that fear that maybe the Kef's may not hold it together at higher volumes with electronic music in even a medium sized room. On the other hand, my room now is about 12x15 feet with 8ft ceilings and the Revel's may be a bit much? I over agonize about these things I'm sure, lol! Maybe I'll just upgrade the amp next to avoid this decision again! First world problems, I know. Right now I'm using a Yamaha RN803, which is nice for the $550 I paid and it was an all in one solution, but I'm certain it won't scale up very well with better speakers. I really like the Parasound NewClassic 200 Pre. That would leave me with about $1300 left for the amplifier section, and it has the high-pass crossover feature which is really cool to me, not to mention that remote control. End Rant. Any advice or suggestions about the R3's, or any other areas of my comment would be appreciated.
@ray h. I agree with you 100 %, but geeking out over gear is so much fun too! I actually just completed my upgrades. For speakers I ended up with the Revel Performa3 F208's. I went and demoed the F36's, and they were nice, but I really fell in love with the performa3 line. I ended up finding a fantastic second hand pair for $2700. I went with NAD separates, which I purchased blindly without the chance to hear them first. The NAD C658 Digital preamp and the 275BEE amp. The features of the C658 were what really sold me and the combo has turned out to be something I'm happy with. I have a serious love for music and it has such an impact on my quality of life that I'm able to justify the purchases to myself (and fortunately my Wife too). I'm a recovered addict and alcoholic and this hobby has been such an amazing thing for me. The music is like daily medicine for my soul, and the gear gives me an outlet for my obsessive nature, lol! I love the people I have had the chance to connect with, and the "audiophile" hobby has given me a lot of joy throughout my recovery! Thanks for responding man👍
I'm excited to see more of these videos as I have the buchardt s400 on the top of my shortlist! It's great to see all the comparable speakers and how they compare ! Thank you 😊.
Awesome info! Trying to figure out synergy with a limited budget and space is very difficult for the everyday person. I think these videos go a long way into getting a bigger picture of how a speaker really shines and works with different components.
Don't talk the same nonsense he does. He didn't give frequency responses or ranges or any kind of specific. How the hell can anyone make any sensible comparison without mention the specs for each set. He talks babble. By the way what the hell is the "bigger picture of how a speaker shines". I've been listening to Classical music for over sixty years and he gave me absolutely no information necessary to make an informed choice about either set of speakers. Come on, don't humour the guy. And don't use that hackneyed term Awesome, you sound like a damn twelve year old. Happy New Year
Sweet Synergy. Yeah . Everyday awesome person. So yeah man hey. Dude. like wow. Y'dig? I was spaced thru the whole gig. Yeah. How did he show the speaker shining with different components Dude? ...Awesome. Blasted, blown away by that.....Synergy.
Very good review, especially regarding your descriptions of the sound differences and how each product might work with different electronics. NICE JOB!
"Great work" doing what? Having a comparison of speaker without mentioning any of eithers' specs. You can't have gone out and bought based on this guy's babble? Surely not? Did you go get the manufacturer's leaflets for either? Did you listen to either? You are kidding. Happy New Year.
ps I hope it triggers the realisation in young naive inexperienced music listeners that this guy posts nonsense and worse than that, some people mistake it for expertise. Are you one of the "musicality" morons?
I really like this comparison format. Would love to see amplifier comparisons where you keep the speakers constant. I don’t think anyone else is doing that, but it would be very insightful. Thanks for the vids!
the best placement for kef speakers is straight if possible otherwise as wide as you can place them clear of walls and then take them up about 2 inches. from there you'll have even dispersion across the entire room woth no pink noise quivering at all. you really just want to keep out of the way of the direct radiation hot spot and always listen slightly off axis.
Good comparison on the two; it helps to know what better components paired with these will do. Don’t need the musical interludes or flashy gazing shots of equipment as other reviewers do. I have the S400’s and had the LS50’s and the KEFs were definitely more picky about where you pointed them, and the sparkly highs were a treat but fatiguing over time. Using a refurbished McIntosh MC 2200 amp.
Nonsense, he didn't give you any specs . Go to the Electrical store and get the manufacturer's blurb. It will have more facts in it than this wally's babbling had.
What on earth do you think you are listening to except the electrical activation of specs? The real life experience is you in your home listening to the specs being executed or in the case of disappointment, failing to be executed. Put some thought into it
allan powell Suggesting going to the manufacturer and reading their marketing dribble is hardly an example of putting thought into it. Equipment with similar specs can sound differently, especially combined with other components. That why so many people want to know what the reviewer was using in their reviews.
How can you have a valid comparison of two products by your chappie here without any reference to the specs of either product?How is that a good comparison on the two as you said in your post? Think about it. It is not a good comparison to ignore completely the specifications of each product. Just sit and think about that please before you respond. It isn't is it? It's an opinion but the opinion is expressed in meaningless jargon that you take to mean something because he says it. It's nonsense
Both good speakers. R3 is probably going to please more audiophiles as it does the imaging vanishing act better. You need very good electronics if you want the most from these speakers. The R3 has more headroom for building up a great system.
I had both speakers and reallly liked the R3 but I like the S400 better so I sold the R3. The R3 has all frequencies going for it but the S400 puts it all together in a more pleasing, and addicting, way. It's more euphonic to my ears. This is not knock on the R3 but I couldn't see owning both. I use a Cary SLP-98 pre into a Cary CAD 280sa V12R to power the speakers.
@@allanpowell7208 I think he meant "addictive". You really spammed the comments on this video but I tend to agree with you on the word "addicting". It seemed to pop up a few years ago and made huge numbers of internet users instantly forget a more appropriate word has always existed.
I like the look of R3. It seems that R3 scales even better than S400. And i am hoping for a more revealing sound. So i will pick R3. However, i already got a S400...
Hi, great comparison videos, really enjoy them! One question though, have you ever paired the S400 with Hegel? Think Mads is a bit ambivalent when it comes to those two together. Since you are a Hegel and S400 fan it would be nice to get your thoughts on that. Keep up the great work 👍👍
@@Wenslauw You might consider the Belles Aria. See the review in the Steve Hoffman forum. It could that amplifiers with very high damping factors work against some high analytical speakers.
Informative and helps you understand the differences easily. Both great speakers, it’s a close call and even though I’m a fan of the S400 design and it’s soundstage, the low volume test is an interesting one. All round the S400’s are excellent value and forgiving. How will they fare with the Rega R- Elicit and P6 with Ania MC? I think it will be a match made in heaven. At that price point. Will you ever review Rega products? Also the Harbeth P3ESR?
I was interested in the R3 after hearing the R11, but the uni-q is not the same. I found it to be too bright and fatiguing. I now own the Buchart and find your comparison quite accurate. I have them in a room with poor acoustics and they still project a nice soundstage. Thanks for your time and attention in all your videos.
"fatiguing"? you're supposed to put them down and listen to them, They're not like earphones. His comparison contained no figure of specs stated or achieved, How can it be accurate? You're doing the old Emperor's new clothes thing. Listen,, ridicule the ridiculous when you blindly bump into it. Happy New Year, hope you don't find it too fatiguing..
@@allanpowell7208 I felt he was pretty accurate in his evaluation of the difference in the two. I agreed with his opinion. I could just read all the specs, but do they really matter.
He did not evaluate them by comparison of specifications.He said they were "smooth" or "in your face". Can you explain to me what those terms mean regarding musical reproduction? You agreed with meaningless twaddle. Use your intelligence. Any frequency response charts in the review?. Any Specs mentioned.? None that I heard. He's a charlatan and if you think he said something of value which a speaker buyer could use as a guide for a purchase, you are mistaken. You have, I'm afraid caught the nonsense nomenclature language that floats around among people who are enthusiastic about but not informed about musical reproduction equipment., Sorry if that upsets you but someone needed to tell you, if only to save you money.The guy is an enthusiast but not an informed or informing one. Sorry.
I forgot to say, "I could read all the specs but do they really matter" Of course they bloody do. Take home a speaker that is rated at 50 watts ( American or UK?) and find that they are half that and that their frequency range is less than specified and you are going to think it matters quite a lot, trust me.Attach 16 Ohm speakers to your 4 Ohm amp or wait did you want them speakers to be 16 Ohm?. And what amp is going to drive them efficiently? And 6 Ohm speakers can safely run at up to 44 Ohms intermittently can't they? That is all down to specs but obviously you are young and uninformed and probably offended by now that your ignorance has been shown up. Swallow the offence and learn stuff for yourself.Do you really rely on this guy to dictate your purchases? Why on Earth would you do that when he abandons all reference to specifications? He does no measurement or Frequency readings. And he gives his views on speakers when he has a cold?A head cold affecting his ears???????? Really? Come on, wake up, use your intelligence. Happy New Year
@@allanpowell7208 I guess ohms mater eh . I have some scanspeek that are rated at 6.5 ohm which would be listed at 8 ohms 400 rated 4 ohms . My Maggie's are 4 ohms jbls 100s are 8 ohm my Hegel will drive down to 2. O have some Dayton eights I built that are 4ohm. I did audition the r3s I n my home with both my Hegel and Luxman. I heard the buchardt on the parasound jc.I have owned at least 30 pairs of speakers I my day. I would say that the sound of the r3 was not for me. Now the r11 has the same uni q as the blade and I'd a different creature. The specs not so important. It is not like it makes any difference. Not many 16 ohm out there. I still have a later model Sansui amp that needs 8 ohms or you will cook it. I am not letting anyone make up mind for me. If you want to talk about the Nyquist and it effects on distortion within a given sampling rate due filters maybe you can help me out. The other thing I am not to decipher is how to get my tidal to wirelessly stream to my DAC easily. What do you suggest for a streamer that will pass mqa. I might not totally believe in mqa at this time but seems like best solution at time for me. Honestly have not been able to figure this out and am open to suggestions. I also like the wharfdale heritage Litton. But they were a little big for the room at present. Pitter patter.
I absolutely loved this comparison. Especially because both, especially the S400, have been reviewed to death. The last time I commented on one of your reviews, you were quite “edgy”... if not a smartass. Yet, I have come to know that this sharpness in humor, together with your knowledge and experience, is what make you one of the best reviewers in high end audio. Of course, your ability to convey all of that to us in a useful, entertaining, and sometimes crass way, also makes uou one of the best. Cheers bro!
Christ if he is one of the best I am grateful not to have encountered the worst. He uses babble terms, Musicality, Sweet spot etc etc. I have been listening to Classical music for more than sixty years and I wouldn't nor would any other serious music listener, have a clue about what his descriptions of these speakers means. No specs, no frequency ranges or validated responses. You ever heard of the Emperors new clothes? Don't humor this guy by telling him he's as good as he thinks he is. He jabbers way with nonsense and you people tell him how good he is. Wake up. Happy New Year.
I don’t have a problem with criticism, mr. Powell, but mindless attacks, with no constructive commentary makes you come off as the baseless angry old man, shouting at people to stay of is lawn. Firstly, the few points you do mention are simply false. The reviewer’s description is quite thorough, and the words he uses are a mix of technical language and descriptive words. Yes, he uses some typical audio reviewer wording at times, but as a whole, to me, I am left with an excellent description and characterization of both speakers. Which is the point of it all, right. Also, to me, some of his “colorful” language is just him being honest, and being himself. I say all of these positive things about him, even though he was a bit rude to me personally in his previous reply to me regarding my personal opinion of Andrew Jones, and my own personal and honest feelings about Andrew’s consistent sound signature, which I happen to not like. Consistent, in that I see it in nearly all of Andrew’s most popular speakers he has designed; from budget speaker to some of his more pricey offerings. In short, your audio/music resume means nothing, if your criticism is both false and quite empty to begin with. And if you don’t like his review style, leave. Go somewhere else. And submit your baseless rants elsewhere, because this review, which I listened to a second time was truly excellent.
His lawn. The comments are not baseless and your rant is certainly longer than mine. You got shares in him, Don't tell me where to go or what to do. Who do you think you are other than a simpleton rube. How do you defend a speaker comparison without specifications of either? You are a dullard.
And his lack of specs about the products makes him "one of the best reviewers" ?You are a fool and know nothing about musical reproduction. Go frighten some children or better still do something useful like learn the basics of sound reproduction. That is a suggestion that will truly help you rather than coming to the aid of a charlatan who dupes simpletons with nonsense about products
Had both these... To many Bios reviews...review the Dali Rubicon 2 it's an END GAME! I first auditioned these Buchardt S400 MKll ...sent them back and was charged €100 for return...After auditioning so many speakers I found my END GAME- Dali Rubicon 2 , these have full sound stage and detail with plenty enough bass for now...maybe I'll try a sub in the future...these Dali's blow away even the Sonus Faber... I actually auditioned many speakers in the local privately owned Hi-fi store...
I dont know if it's because I know the Buchardt does not have any bracing or the exposed screws or the not so expensive drivers(or at least expensive looking!)... I dont know what it is, but it just looks cheap to me! If I was going to choose, I think Kef R3 is the more solid speaker of the two. Even the 10 year warranty on the Buchardt has not convinced me!!!
Nice review.... I agree across the board with you on the Buchardts. QUESTION: What do you have the S400 sitting on??? Is that SILICONE, Band Name please. THANKS
Yeah sure if you don't want to hear the specs of frequency response and the difference between stated and measure response, Oh wait he didn't measure anything he just told you what his cold ridden ears told him. Wow what a great comparison review. Wake up. Happy New Year
How is this great? Not a mention of frequency responses, either stated or actual. And what fantastic words of wisdom "Shit goes in shit comes out" Wow, really. Get the manufacturer's leaflets from the electrical store, they will tell you more than this pratt did.
Hi Jay. I have watched so many of your vids and thank you for your great insights, i have learned alot. I am curious on which set you think would work best with a Peachtree Nova 300 and Bluesound 2021 node combination? Thank you for any thoughts you can give.
The buchardt s400 se (the one in the video) is alot more expensive than the kef r3. Even the standard version of buchardt S400 are more expensive than kef r3 atleast inside EU. I had the Buchardt s400 se, they are very good but i sold them because of the lacking midrange. Voices did not sound as foward and neutral as i wanted so maybe the kef r3 will be a choice for me. Before the Buchardt i had dynaudio contour 20 and they had the best midrange i have heard. Maybe thats why i didnt like the Buchardts midrange. The dynaudios were also more expensive than the Buchardts. The upper bass was very good with the Buchardt and less good with the dynaudios. I hope that the kef r3 will be somewhere between the two.
10:06 Not sure what you said here: The S400 is miles better than the S400 when you pair something like that with the KEF R3? Did you mean that the KEF is miles better than the S400 when paired with superior front end gear? And if so, is it not the case, the other way around?
I guess what you meant to say is that both the R3 and S400 scale very well with amplification quality but the R3 more so since it's so revealing? I wanted to ask how the PS Sprout 100 scales with the Billie amp and the H190 since it's the price goes from 600 to 1500 and 4000 USD and how the R3 and S400 perform on these amps.
Also got a sprout 100 with the 400s. I'm wondering what the next step in amplification would be for the 400s though room treatment would probably do more IMO...
@@DanielAnchondo you're probably right. I don't have much room for that with the wife need to approve finishes (maybe I'll make a listening room). I'm looking for a dedicated amp of 200-300watts and a tube amp like a Freya
@@mrtitms I got a sister in law I got to deal with. Other than a bigger rug or changing the blinds to curtains I don't think I can get away with doing much to the room either lol. The Freya has good reviews? What amp would go well with it?
Hi Jay, thanks for your video. Did you think the Billie amp 60w was enough power for the KEF R3, that seams to need a lot of power to be at its best ? Or would you suggest another speaker for the Billie in a nearfield / small room configuration ? Many thanks.
Great compariso vid! This price spread can make selecting easier. However, audiophile speakers are by their very nature.. Revealing. That's what the extra cost technically buys.. Truth in the recordings. Less coloration means less distortion/noise. Plus, the KEF has a seprate bass driver! That, in itself equates to higher cost over a drone. But, all speakers are a blend of compromises. You also failed to discuss weight between the two?
Weight? What are you going to do? Use them to exercise? The guy talks dribble. No Frequency figures, stated or actual. Do you buy things because somebody else give nonsensical definitions of them which you assume means they are efficient? Go back and listen to his "comparison" again and then think about the things that he doesn't mention, does mention in babble speak, and the lack of precision in the comparison. I've been listening to Classical music for over sixty years and I have no clue what he was talking about in his so called comparison. The manufacturer's leaflet would have sufficed. Happy New Year.
@@allanpowell7208 You hit on several points. "What are we going to do, weight train with them?" Lol No. But, weight with loud speakers are definitely a contributing factor to their performance. Afterall, it produces sound by physically moving air. No puny 12 lbs 12x12 box is going to shake the walls with chest pounding bass from a timpani at volume. Simple physics. How much does a Wilson Audio Sasha weigh? Nearly 200 lbs! Surely, they could make it out of carbon fiber? But, every time the bass drum kicks it would move around, if not fastened down? Lol
Home stereos rarely get played at the max level for the speakers do they? If you want loud popular music, it's generally club music. Home music is for moderate levels and in my case, fairly intense listening which you cannot really do with great volume. I'm afraid the speaker that can produce the loudest thump would not be my criteria for purchasing and again a speaker weighing 200lbs is without argument impractical for most home listening. Have you ever heard of sand bags? Thank you for responding you made me have to think and that is not something one always gets on these posts Cheers and keep safe.
I went from the LS50 to the Dynaudio Special Forty and it’s insane how much better they are. Although they’re twice as expensive, I got them open box mint condition for 2,200 as opposed to 1,500 for the LS50 at the time.
@@mikechivy what amp and source do you drive Special 40 with? From LS50 they would of course be a huge upgrade. But I wonder how they'd sound next to R3.
Measurements for both, telling the whole story: S400: www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/buchardt-s400-speaker-review.12844/#post-381791 R3: www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/kef-r3-speaker-review.12021/ Conclusion: The R3 is objectively a more accurate speaker, with literally no flaw... still, some might subjectively prefer the signature of the S400.
Hi Jay. Apologies, as I realise this is an older video (I hope you see this), but can you tell me what stands you have the R3s on please? I’ve just purchased a pair, and looking at as many options as I can. Kind regards. Scott.
Great video. So, to answer the big question, which you elude to in your title (which is better?): given the R3's are 35% more ($CDN), which one would you buy if it was your only system?
@@Jayiyagi Tough call having not heard either live. But seems to me from your review, if I was going with a sub $5k amp, and I have a preference for bigger soundstage, the S400's might be a better call?
Hi, not too sure about your math. I will round the numbers for my simple mind. The S400 is approx 2,400 CDN (1610 euro). The KEF R3, with Ontario taxes is 3,000 CDN (2,700 msrp + 13% HST). A gap of 600 CDN, or 25% more then the S400. I agree that is a significant amount. For those that really want to shop I would encourage a visit to a local audio shop, build a relationship and negotiate. That price gap will go down significantly (better base price and less evil tax too).. Ultimately the individual needs to determine the value to them, once they establish what that is. I do have a couple of general questions. Does anyone know if there are any Canadian import duties/tariffs? And to NBT, did you compare the S400 or the S400 SE (significant cost difference, and per the website some significant internal upgrades). Thanks!! and a Happy Musical New Year to all. Ps. I would encourage everyone to do their own math !! lol
@@korbindallas6727 Actually you're right about the math - I was comparing to S400 b-stock price (returned, flawless models) which is the route I would likely go. My mistake. Not sure about import tariffs, but you do still have to pay GST.
@@Skidaddl Thanks Pat B. The tax man commeth!! Ouch. I agree about the b-stock comment. If I was going to pull the trigger I would do the same thing. Crazy part is, most if not all (I haven't checked recently) are sold out. So many reviews lately have made the S400 (any model) a hot commodity. Hopefully the economics of supply and demand don't come into play, and price goes up. Cheers! and happy listening.
Hi Jay, thank you for this great comparison. Can you (or anyone here) advise if they're had experience with the Kef R300 vs the R3, mainly in terms of amps adequate enough to drive the speakers? I'm powering the R300's with an Audiolab 6000a, which I think maybe isn't strong enough as they seem to be underperforming (bass is bloated/not full/punchy enough). Thanks!!:)
Help help help buchardt s400 mk2 or kef r3 which is better sound wise.is s400 mk2 better then r3.which one you like more and why .what will be your choice plz answer plz plz
the new s400 mk2 definitely beat the kef r3 and pretty much any bookshelf speaker because they produce more deeper bass and sound fuller and bigger and more dynamic and it's all because they used the best quality parts they could on the crossover. Buchardt really poured a lot of love on this speaker.
good info, review given no tech details like for example ' stereophile mag provides fits my expectations, that is any speaker of what, $ 500. each + is gonna be really good, no clunkers allowed in todays market. a piano sounds like a piano, D.Krall sounds like... D.Krall. difference being one of personal preference, maybe ' bright' or ' mellow' not that ' this one is better. end of story.' efficiency might be a factor, 3 db difference which is possible being a double or half the power for same loudness. of course that's with. similar types. larger floor standers are most likely gonna have more bass below 50 hz or so. important if Ya like modern boom / bang movies.
I really enjoyed the review. I am not in such a unique situation as I do not have the room or the funds to support a listening and a dedicated movie room. I am on a quest to find a great front two but a manufacture that also offers a complete system. I.e Paradigm Kef golden ear Psb . Any recommendations please
I had some (or a lot ;-)) speakers at home when I was on the hunt for new speakers. One of them was the Buchardt S400. I don't know why but I felt they were not the most natural sounding speakers. I really liked the dynamics and the bass but I had problems with the way the Buchardts reproduced voices. Another problem was that the S400 trashed bad and even mediocre recordings. I also tried out a bunch of studio monitors and there were no big difference when it comes to reveal bad recordings. The only passive hifi speakers which were more brutal were the Trenner&Friedl Suns. On the other hand the Suns were the most natural sounding speaker I have tried. Second place goes to the Dynaudio special forty.
Check out Ascend acoustics sierra 2EX line if you haven't already, they're in a direct competition with these two and most who heard all three prefer the Sierra.
I bought and returned the 2EX, as much as Ascend keeps trying with their woofers, they simply cannot keep up with the amazing Raal ribbons. I felt a disconnect in the sound between the drivers, bass is big but lagging behind. I also bought and sold the S400 as they just didn't work on my credenza's with the flipped drivers. Settled on Monitor Audio Gold 100's (5g) and I'm happy. They have better driver integration sacrificing a little of that ribbon magic. The ebony finish is also stunning on the MA, the s400 looks cheap by comparison.
@@SealKojac So interesting how people have different experiences! I bought the last version of the gold 100's and couldn't wait to return to Crutchfield! They were way too bright for me! Built like a tank in a great way but too bright! Played some AC/DC and was like nexttttt! Bought JBL Studio 500 series speakers and the difference was/is night and day! It turns out I am a paper cone/compression driver type of guy!😉🤗😇🤔😬 All I could think about when listening to the monitor Audio's was the sound of a metal stainless steel ball traveling around a steel metal bowl like a roulette wheel! Now take that ball and move it in a paper bowl!🤔🤔 Much more natural sounding to me! They did just redid the whole Gold speaker line and I myself can see why! Heck, some people like chocolate some like vanilla!🤪😇 The fit and finish of the Golds made these two speakers in question look like garbage in comparison!🤪
Really great video! A question: Would one of these be an upgrade from my Dynaudio Contour 1.3MKII? I do have a good amp, in the Van Medevoort MA220. A really musical amp.
Ik denk wel dat de KEF R 3 een upgrade zijn voor je Dynaudio's! De Contours zijn prachtige speakers maar de tijd heeft niet stilgestaan. Buchardt heb ik niet gehoord dus daar kan ik geen oordeel over vellen.
@@petervanderham4725 De KEF R3 zit zo'n beetje op hetzelfde niveau als een Dynaudio Special Forty. Die zou je ook kunnen overwegen 😉 Wellicht ook nog een versterker upgrade dan...😁
Disclaimer/ Personal interest in my reviews - nbtsmedia.com/about-us/
Technical Difference 0:36
Placement & Set up 1:55
Low Frequency 2:47
Mid Frequency 4:03
High Frequency 5:36
Low & High Volume listening 6:11
Soundstage and imaging 6:54
Amplification 7:46
Thank you for the in depth breakdown of strengths and weaknesses!
@@9XThunder These placements were used for filming only to showcase both speakers.
@@9XThunder I somewhat agree with you, but i have listened to some of the speakers he has reviewed in the past and agree with his opinion on the sound of them. I cannot take it as gospel, but I do take his words in the review as a great opinion to how something sounds. He is an educated person with a large pool of test results and speaker auditions/reviews with a passion for audio gear. So as stated previously I appreciate his hard work and dedication to the community.
@@9XThunderOK, thanks for the input. The OCD HIFI GUY still praises the s400 as a great value speaker. He actually makes an upgraded parts kit for them. I'm only trying to say that reviews like these usually translate well to reality once you listen to both speakers side by side. But everyone had their own opinion, so in my opinion these reviews are a good thing for the person looking to buy a speaker that may not be readily available to audition.
@@9XThunder well unfortunately with the s400 they don't have any brick and mortar stores, so before I take them in for testing I appreciate reviews like these to help not waste anyone's time.
The KEF R3 is my next speaker. Great review!
Me too😇
These comparison videos are fantastic! One shot, no editing, but just getting some of your opinions out on the fly. I find it very entertaining, and I really value your thoughts!
Yeh, I like that about his videos, limited jarring edits. Unlike some others. I won't mention anyone as I still watch others,. These videos are not easy to make. I appreciate all who make them.
I'm completely mesmerized by Allen Powell's replies. Heading out to the Electrical Store to read some pamphlets to gain a deeper understanding of speaker comparisons.
Oh is that sarcasm based on your deep knowledge of bogus terms. Still that is to be expected from someone placing their Rube faith in a guy like this who abandons all reference to specification. Wake up and don't try to be such a smartarse.
ps not a deeper understanding, just the basics that this character doesn't think it worthwhile telling you.
For me, it’s the R3 all day long. They just sound, well, effortless natural, yet, punchy. Drive them with some decent electronics and they just sing! Importantly, for us apartment dwellers, they retain excellent tonality at lower listening levels.
Yup, me too! Kef R3's are amazing! Plus probably cheaper!
I had ATC SCM11, SVS Ultras, other Kefs none come close to Kef R3 for these reasons R3 is far more detailed all over, much faster pace, far more dynamic, far more detailed, far better soundstage, flat response and easily boosted. Perfect in any size room. I have a second set of R3 in a small box room and they sound equally good.
@@mjames978 👍
didn't listen to S400s but have the R3s for more than a year. Its a KEF (had LS50 before the R3) - all their speakers have this a little bit more in the face mids. So i suppose is really about a personal taste. KEF is absolute magic with brass instruments or with violin. Vocals are also more foreword. Wouldn't say they are audiophile ... Hights are some kind of sparkling, but more around 3-6 Khz. Over that they are not soo airy like more high end speakers like dynaudio special 40, or the jet tweeters in elac (or the SCM 11).
And even some kind of similar looking the stealth design of the KEFs is just stunning and the quality of the paint is top. The S400s looks more like IKEA furniture :)
Buchardt in white looks classy Danish understated Scandinavian design.
I'm in my upgrade stage now. Subs were first. I purchased two SVS SB 3000's and I couldn't be happier. That alone took me three months of debating! Now I want to choose speakers. I currently own Emotiva T1 towers, Elac B6.2's, and Klipsch RP-600m's. I feel like I want to take the next step up in performance from the more budget end of the market. My Budget is $2000 USD for speakers, as it was for subwoofers and will be for amplification. A system budget of $6000 broken into three equal parts. I listen primarily to Hip Hop both old school and some new, and also Classic Rock.(I know this makes me "unworthy" in the eyes of MANY Audiophiles, but that's what I grew up loving and I still believe in high quality audio) I really like the Kef R3's, but I worry that they may not have that "BIG" sound? I'm also considering Revel F36's, but my living room is not that big. We're going to be buying a home in the next couple of years and in my area and price, most homes are not large and don't have large rooms, but there's still that fear that maybe the Kef's may not hold it together at higher volumes with electronic music in even a medium sized room. On the other hand, my room now is about 12x15 feet with 8ft ceilings and the Revel's may be a bit much? I over agonize about these things I'm sure, lol! Maybe I'll just upgrade the amp next to avoid this decision again! First world problems, I know. Right now I'm using a Yamaha RN803, which is nice for the $550 I paid and it was an all in one solution, but I'm certain it won't scale up very well with better speakers. I really like the Parasound NewClassic 200 Pre. That would leave me with about $1300 left for the amplifier section, and it has the high-pass crossover feature which is really cool to me, not to mention that remote control. End Rant. Any advice or suggestions about the R3's, or any other areas of my comment would be appreciated.
@ray h. I agree with you 100 %, but geeking out over gear is so much fun too! I actually just completed my upgrades. For speakers I ended up with the Revel Performa3 F208's. I went and demoed the F36's, and they were nice, but I really fell in love with the performa3 line. I ended up finding a fantastic second hand pair for $2700. I went with NAD separates, which I purchased blindly without the chance to hear them first. The NAD C658 Digital preamp and the 275BEE amp. The features of the C658 were what really sold me and the combo has turned out to be something I'm happy with. I have a serious love for music and it has such an impact on my quality of life that I'm able to justify the purchases to myself (and fortunately my Wife too). I'm a recovered addict and alcoholic and this hobby has been such an amazing thing for me. The music is like daily medicine for my soul, and the gear gives me an outlet for my obsessive nature, lol! I love the people I have had the chance to connect with, and the "audiophile" hobby has given me a lot of joy throughout my recovery! Thanks for responding man👍
I'm excited to see more of these videos as I have the buchardt s400 on the top of my shortlist! It's great to see all the comparable speakers and how they compare ! Thank you 😊.
I like the KEF 3 nice clear sound with a fantastic deep bass.
Awesome info! Trying to figure out synergy with a limited budget and space is very difficult for the everyday person. I think these videos go a long way into getting a bigger picture of how a speaker really shines and works with different components.
Don't talk the same nonsense he does. He didn't give frequency responses or ranges or any kind of specific. How the hell can anyone make any sensible comparison without mention the specs for each set. He talks babble. By the way what the hell is the "bigger picture of how a speaker shines". I've been listening to Classical music for over sixty years and he gave me absolutely no information necessary to make an informed choice about either set of speakers. Come on, don't humour the guy. And don't use that hackneyed term Awesome, you sound like a damn twelve year old. Happy New Year
@@allanpowell7208 you are an Awesome Hack!
Awesome. Gee that means a lot coming from you. Awesome.Synergy. Yeah. Awesome
Sweet!
Sweet Synergy. Yeah . Everyday awesome person. So yeah man hey. Dude. like wow. Y'dig? I was spaced thru the whole gig. Yeah. How did he show the speaker shining with different components Dude? ...Awesome. Blasted, blown away by that.....Synergy.
Really good comparison video. Thanks to you, I am much more interested in learning about the S400 speakers. Happy Holidays!
Very good review, especially regarding your descriptions of the sound differences and how each product might work with different electronics. NICE JOB!
Try Tidal or another high fidelity streaming service if you have good equipment. Spotify is not as smooth or detailed. I currently have both.
Great work! I ordered a pair of S400s. It was a hard choice between the Kef's and S400's. I need them to double duty with movies so opted for S400's.
"Great work" doing what? Having a comparison of speaker without mentioning any of eithers' specs. You can't have gone out and bought based on this guy's babble? Surely not? Did you go get the manufacturer's leaflets for either? Did you listen to either? You are kidding. Happy New Year.
allan powell easy there buddy, may trigger a stroke or something
HahahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhHhHHHhhhhhahahahahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhahhhhhhhhhh. Is that what passes for wit in your village?
ps I hope it triggers the realisation in young naive inexperienced music listeners that this guy posts nonsense and worse than that, some people mistake it for expertise. Are you one of the "musicality" morons?
allan powell oh wow.. you actually are old.. take care buddy...
Great review, really helpful. Are you going to review the A21+ amp?
Yes I would like a parasound review also
Great comparison thanks for posting!!!
I really like this comparison format. Would love to see amplifier comparisons where you keep the speakers constant. I don’t think anyone else is doing that, but it would be very insightful. Thanks for the vids!
the best placement for kef speakers is straight if possible otherwise as wide as you can place them clear of walls and then take them up about 2 inches.
from there you'll have even dispersion across the entire room woth no pink noise quivering at all.
you really just want to keep out of the way of the direct radiation hot spot and always listen slightly off axis.
Good comparison on the two; it helps to know what better components paired with these will do. Don’t need the musical interludes or flashy gazing shots of equipment as other reviewers do. I have the S400’s and had the LS50’s and the KEFs were definitely more picky about where you pointed them, and the sparkly highs were a treat but fatiguing over time. Using a refurbished McIntosh MC 2200 amp.
Nonsense, he didn't give you any specs . Go to the Electrical store and get the manufacturer's blurb. It will have more facts in it than this wally's babbling had.
Nah, I can look up the specs myself, which don’t tell you how it sounds with other components. Real life experience is better than any spec.
What on earth do you think you are listening to except the electrical activation of specs? The real life experience is you in your home listening to the specs being executed or in the case of disappointment, failing to be executed. Put some thought into it
allan powell Suggesting going to the manufacturer and reading their marketing dribble is hardly an example of putting thought into it. Equipment with similar specs can sound differently, especially combined with other components. That why so many people want to know what the reviewer was using in their reviews.
How can you have a valid comparison of two products by your chappie here without any reference to the specs of either product?How is that a good comparison on the two as you said in your post? Think about it. It is not a good comparison to ignore completely the specifications of each product. Just sit and think about that please before you respond. It isn't is it? It's an opinion but the opinion is expressed in meaningless jargon that you take to mean something because he says it. It's nonsense
Great review! I’ve been looking at both of these speakers, as well as Amphion. Currently have Dynaudio Audience 42’s.
Don't look at them. Listen to them . And don't pay any attention to the gibberish that this guy babbles.
@@allanpowell7208 Ha ha. I do. Sound first. I've owned the same speakers for almost 10 years now.
Good on you.
Love your videos, I subbed and liked.
Please compare the Buchardt S400 to the new, quite hyped, Wharfedale Evo 4.2.
Thank you very much.
Or kef r3 Vs Evo 4.2
Both good speakers. R3 is probably going to please more audiophiles as it does the imaging vanishing act better. You need very good electronics if you want the most from these speakers. The R3 has more headroom for building up a great system.
I have the KEF R3's they are amazing.
Me too. Yes they are.
What's the amp ?
Depends entirely on amp. Mentioning speakers without amp is so...ordinary.
I had both speakers and reallly liked the R3 but I like the S400 better so I sold the R3. The R3 has all frequencies going for it but the S400 puts it all together in a more pleasing, and addicting, way. It's more euphonic to my ears. This is not knock on the R3 but I couldn't see owning both. I use a Cary SLP-98 pre into a Cary CAD 280sa V12R to power the speakers.
"addicting" what the f....... Is that a musical term or an electrical term or a frequency term. Stop talking like a pretencious twat.
@@allanpowell7208 I think he meant "addictive". You really spammed the comments on this video but I tend to agree with you on the word "addicting". It seemed to pop up a few years ago and made huge numbers of internet users instantly forget a more appropriate word has always existed.
Very nice comparison...!!! Much needed indeed. It would be great if you could review the KEF LSX,
Good review, the relevant information conveyed quickly, except prices.
I like the look of R3. It seems that R3 scales even better than S400. And i am hoping for a more revealing sound. So i will pick R3. However, i already got a S400...
I got an S400 as well.
Seems my money would be better spent on a better amp since I have a PS Sprout 100.
Nice review, the kef looks very nice.
Hi, great comparison videos, really enjoy them! One question though, have you ever paired the S400 with Hegel? Think Mads is a bit ambivalent when it comes to those two together. Since you are a Hegel and S400 fan it would be nice to get your thoughts on that. Keep up the great work 👍👍
Yeah, a Hegel amp would have been an ideal amp. I've heard that Hegel often uses KEF speakers at audio shows.
I have them running on my Luxman right now. I also have a Hegel that I want to try but to switch them out one day.
I don’t like Hegel on the R3s. It sounds very cold to me and it’s hard to get involved with the music. Just my opinion though, others might like it.
@@Wenslauw You might consider the Belles Aria. See the review in the Steve Hoffman forum.
It could that amplifiers with very high damping factors work against some high analytical speakers.
Excellent comparison again
Informative and helps you understand the differences easily. Both great speakers, it’s a close call and even though I’m a fan of the S400 design and it’s soundstage, the low volume test is an interesting one. All round the S400’s are excellent value and forgiving. How will they fare with the Rega R- Elicit and P6 with Ania MC? I think it will be a match made in heaven. At that price point. Will you ever review Rega products? Also the Harbeth P3ESR?
Very informative. Watched the full video hoping to hear the price on these great speakers.
jtc168
Overpriced both of them
I was interested in the R3 after hearing the R11, but the uni-q is not the same. I found it to be too bright and fatiguing. I now own the Buchart and find your comparison quite accurate. I have them in a room with poor acoustics and they still project a nice soundstage. Thanks for your time and attention in all your videos.
"fatiguing"? you're supposed to put them down and listen to them, They're not like earphones. His comparison contained no figure of specs stated or achieved, How can it be accurate? You're doing the old Emperor's new clothes thing. Listen,, ridicule the ridiculous when you blindly bump into it. Happy New Year, hope you don't find it too fatiguing..
@@allanpowell7208 I felt he was pretty accurate in his evaluation of the difference in the two. I agreed with his opinion. I could just read all the specs, but do they really matter.
He did not evaluate them by comparison of specifications.He said they were "smooth" or "in your face". Can you explain to me what those terms mean regarding musical reproduction? You agreed with meaningless twaddle. Use your intelligence. Any frequency response charts in the review?. Any Specs mentioned.? None that I heard. He's a charlatan and if you think he said something of value which a speaker buyer could use as a guide for a purchase, you are mistaken. You have, I'm afraid caught the nonsense nomenclature language that floats around among people who are enthusiastic about but not informed about musical reproduction equipment., Sorry if that upsets you but someone needed to tell you, if only to save you money.The guy is an enthusiast but not an informed or informing one. Sorry.
I forgot to say, "I could read all the specs but do they really matter" Of course they bloody do. Take home a speaker that is rated at 50 watts ( American or UK?) and find that they are half that and that their frequency range is less than specified and you are going to think it matters quite a lot, trust me.Attach 16 Ohm speakers to your 4 Ohm amp or wait did you want them speakers to be 16 Ohm?. And what amp is going to drive them efficiently? And 6 Ohm speakers can safely run at up to 44 Ohms intermittently can't they? That is all down to specs but obviously you are young and uninformed and probably offended by now that your ignorance has been shown up. Swallow the offence and learn stuff for yourself.Do you really rely on this guy to dictate your purchases? Why on Earth would you do that when he abandons all reference to specifications? He does no measurement or Frequency readings. And he gives his views on speakers when he has a cold?A head cold affecting his ears???????? Really? Come on, wake up, use your intelligence. Happy New Year
@@allanpowell7208 I guess ohms mater eh . I have some scanspeek that are rated at 6.5 ohm which would be listed at 8 ohms 400 rated 4 ohms . My Maggie's are 4 ohms jbls 100s are 8 ohm my Hegel will drive down to 2. O have some Dayton eights I built that are 4ohm. I did audition the r3s I n my home with both my Hegel and Luxman. I heard the buchardt on the parasound jc.I have owned at least 30 pairs of speakers I my day. I would say that the sound of the r3 was not for me. Now the r11 has the same uni q as the blade and I'd a different creature. The specs not so important. It is not like it makes any difference. Not many 16 ohm out there. I still have a later model Sansui amp that needs 8 ohms or you will cook it. I am not letting anyone make up mind for me. If you want to talk about the Nyquist and it effects on distortion within a given sampling rate due filters maybe you can help me out. The other thing I am not to decipher is how to get my tidal to wirelessly stream to my DAC easily. What do you suggest for a streamer that will pass mqa. I might not totally believe in mqa at this time but seems like best solution at time for me. Honestly have not been able to figure this out and am open to suggestions. I also like the wharfdale heritage Litton. But they were a little big for the room at present. Pitter patter.
I absolutely loved this comparison. Especially because both, especially the S400, have been reviewed to death. The last time I commented on one of your reviews, you were quite “edgy”... if not a smartass. Yet, I have come to know that this sharpness in humor, together with your knowledge and experience, is what make you one of the best reviewers in high end audio. Of course, your ability to convey all of that to us in a useful, entertaining, and sometimes crass way, also makes uou one of the best. Cheers bro!
Christ if he is one of the best I am grateful not to have encountered the worst. He uses babble terms, Musicality, Sweet spot etc etc. I have been listening to Classical music for more than sixty years and I wouldn't nor would any other serious music listener, have a clue about what his descriptions of these speakers means. No specs, no frequency ranges or validated responses. You ever heard of the Emperors new clothes? Don't humor this guy by telling him he's as good as he thinks he is. He jabbers way with nonsense and you people tell him how good he is. Wake up. Happy New Year.
I don’t have a problem with criticism, mr. Powell, but mindless attacks, with no constructive commentary makes you come off as the baseless angry old man, shouting at people to stay of is lawn. Firstly, the few points you do mention are simply false. The reviewer’s description is quite thorough, and the words he uses are a mix of technical language and descriptive words. Yes, he uses some typical audio reviewer wording at times, but as a whole, to me, I am left with an excellent description and characterization of both speakers. Which is the point of it all, right. Also, to me, some of his “colorful” language is just him being honest, and being himself. I say all of these positive things about him, even though he was a bit rude to me personally in his previous reply to me regarding my personal opinion of Andrew Jones, and my own personal and honest feelings about Andrew’s consistent sound signature, which I happen to not like. Consistent, in that I see it in nearly all of Andrew’s most popular speakers he has designed; from budget speaker to some of his more pricey offerings. In short, your audio/music resume means nothing, if your criticism is both false and quite empty to begin with. And if you don’t like his review style, leave. Go somewhere else. And submit your baseless rants elsewhere, because this review, which I listened to a second time was truly excellent.
His lawn. The comments are not baseless and your rant is certainly longer than mine. You got shares in him, Don't tell me where to go or what to do. Who do you think you are other than a simpleton rube. How do you defend a speaker comparison without specifications of either? You are a dullard.
And his lack of specs about the products makes him "one of the best reviewers" ?You are a fool and know nothing about musical reproduction. Go frighten some children or better still do something useful like learn the basics of sound reproduction. That is a suggestion that will truly help you rather than coming to the aid of a charlatan who dupes simpletons with nonsense about products
i think will be interesting a comparison vs R300, r300 are less forward and suit very well with every music because its smooth nature
I really like how clean this KEF R3 looks... it would be interesting to compare it to the Dynaudio Evoke series
What are you gonna do? Watch them or listen to them?
@@allanpowell7208 Why not both ?
So you pay a small fortune to look at them. Talk sense
Had both these...
To many Bios reviews...review the Dali Rubicon 2 it's an END GAME! I first auditioned these Buchardt S400 MKll ...sent them back and was charged €100 for return...After auditioning so many speakers I found my END GAME- Dali Rubicon 2 , these have full sound stage and detail with plenty enough bass for now...maybe I'll try a sub in the future...these Dali's blow away even the Sonus Faber...
I actually auditioned many speakers in the local privately owned Hi-fi store...
hi what stands did you put it on the r3 looks like a perfect fit?
I dont know if it's because I know the Buchardt does not have any bracing or the exposed screws or the not so expensive drivers(or at least expensive looking!)... I dont know what it is, but it just looks cheap to me! If I was going to choose, I think Kef R3 is the more solid speaker of the two. Even the 10 year warranty on the Buchardt has not convinced me!!!
Nice review.... I agree across the board with you on the Buchardts. QUESTION: What do you have the S400 sitting on??? Is that SILICONE, Band Name please. THANKS
Very nice comparison.
Yeah sure if you don't want to hear the specs of frequency response and the difference between stated and measure response, Oh wait he didn't measure anything he just told you what his cold ridden ears told him. Wow what a great comparison review. Wake up. Happy New Year
Great comparison, both are great shpeakers :P
How is this great? Not a mention of frequency responses, either stated or actual. And what fantastic words of wisdom "Shit goes in shit comes out" Wow, really. Get the manufacturer's leaflets from the electrical store, they will tell you more than this pratt did.
do you think pairing kef r3 to yamaha as801 is a good match?
Nice review! I have the R3 (upgraded from LS50)🙂 what stands are under the R3 in the video? I realy like how they look…
Hi Jay. I have watched so many of your vids and thank you for your great insights, i have learned alot. I am curious on which set you think would work best with a Peachtree Nova 300 and Bluesound 2021 node combination? Thank you for any thoughts you can give.
What stands are you using on the kef R3
thank you, very interesting! Will you do the same between kef ls50 w2 and buchardt A500?
The buchardt s400 se (the one in the video) is alot more expensive than the kef r3.
Even the standard version of buchardt S400 are more expensive than kef r3 atleast inside EU.
I had the Buchardt s400 se, they are very good but i sold them because of the lacking midrange. Voices did not sound as foward and neutral as i wanted so maybe the kef r3 will be a choice for me. Before the Buchardt i had dynaudio contour 20 and they had the best midrange i have heard. Maybe thats why i didnt like the Buchardts midrange. The dynaudios were also more expensive than the Buchardts. The upper bass was very good with the Buchardt and less good with the dynaudios. I hope that the kef r3 will be somewhere between the two.
Great comparison review. Are there any sound demo?
Dr_Pureness, there will not be a sound demo because they are useless.
I am deciding between the s400 and the Double Impact, the two most hyped speakers of the last couple years. Which one do you prefer?
Hmmm...a $15K USD amplifier to make $2K speakers sound proper. No thanks.
That s wrong, I use it with 800 USD Yamaha RN 803 and they shine with it...
.... To make a $2 USD song "sound proper" :-p
10:06 Not sure what you said here: The S400 is miles better than the S400 when you pair something like that with the KEF R3? Did you mean that the KEF is miles better than the S400 when paired with superior front end gear? And if so, is it not the case, the other way around?
I guess what you meant to say is that both the R3 and S400 scale very well with amplification quality but the R3 more so since it's so revealing?
I wanted to ask how the PS Sprout 100 scales with the Billie amp and the H190 since it's the price goes from 600 to 1500 and 4000 USD and how the R3 and S400 perform on these amps.
Hi, good review! Quick question, at the end you mentioned the Atoll IN200, did you use the inbuilt DAC or external? Thanks
What stands you are using for R3? Thanks.
Love my 400's, need a better front end but the spout 100 will do for now.
Also got a sprout 100 with the 400s.
I'm wondering what the next step in amplification would be for the 400s though room treatment would probably do more IMO...
@@DanielAnchondo you're probably right. I don't have much room for that with the wife need to approve finishes (maybe I'll make a listening room). I'm looking for a dedicated amp of 200-300watts and a tube amp like a Freya
@@mrtitms I got a sister in law I got to deal with.
Other than a bigger rug or changing the blinds to curtains I don't think I can get away with doing much to the room either lol.
The Freya has good reviews? What amp would go well with it?
This is a good review.
Hi Jay, thanks for your video.
Did you think the Billie amp 60w was enough power for the KEF R3, that seams to need a lot of power to be at its best ?
Or would you suggest another speaker for the Billie in a nearfield / small room configuration ?
Many thanks.
Kef R3 VS Atc SCM 11 comparison. Please! Happy New year!
Mico Ivcevic
ATC hands down
@@ralex3697 Thanks
ATC as long as you have a decent amp
Great compariso vid!
This price spread can make selecting easier.
However, audiophile speakers are by their very nature.. Revealing. That's what the extra cost technically buys.. Truth in the recordings. Less coloration means less distortion/noise.
Plus, the KEF has a seprate bass driver! That, in itself equates to higher cost over a drone.
But, all speakers are a blend of compromises. You also failed to discuss weight between the two?
Weight? What are you going to do? Use them to exercise? The guy talks dribble. No Frequency figures, stated or actual. Do you buy things because somebody else give nonsensical definitions of them which you assume means they are efficient? Go back and listen to his "comparison" again and then think about the things that he doesn't mention, does mention in babble speak, and the lack of precision in the comparison. I've been listening to Classical music for over sixty years and I have no clue what he was talking about in his so called comparison. The manufacturer's leaflet would have sufficed. Happy New Year.
@@allanpowell7208 You hit on several points. "What are we going to do, weight train with them?" Lol
No. But, weight with loud speakers are definitely a contributing factor to their performance. Afterall, it produces sound by physically moving air. No puny 12 lbs 12x12 box is going to shake the walls with chest pounding bass from a timpani at volume. Simple physics.
How much does a Wilson Audio Sasha weigh? Nearly 200 lbs!
Surely, they could make it out of carbon fiber? But, every time the bass drum kicks it would move around, if not fastened down? Lol
Home stereos rarely get played at the max level for the speakers do they? If you want loud popular music, it's generally club music. Home music is for moderate levels and in my case, fairly intense listening which you cannot really do with great volume. I'm afraid the speaker that can produce the loudest thump would not be my criteria for purchasing and again a speaker weighing 200lbs is without argument impractical for most home listening. Have you ever heard of sand bags? Thank you for responding you made me have to think and that is not something one always gets on these posts Cheers and keep safe.
@@allanpowell7208 Thx. You too my friend.
I listened to the R3’s and they added the low end that was missing from the LS50’s.
I agree. I had the ls50s and I sold them for the r3s. I couldn't be happier
I went from the LS50 to the Dynaudio Special Forty and it’s insane how much better they are. Although they’re twice as expensive, I got them open box mint condition for 2,200 as opposed to 1,500 for the LS50 at the time.
I would hope the R3's are better for twice the price.
@@mikechivy what amp and source do you drive Special 40 with? From LS50 they would of course be a huge upgrade. But I wonder how they'd sound next to R3.
If I was following you were liking the S400 until both were mated with the Grandinote - in which case the R3 pulled way ahead?
Which amp in the $2000 price range would you suggest works best for the Kefs
Measurements for both, telling the whole story:
S400: www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/buchardt-s400-speaker-review.12844/#post-381791
R3: www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/kef-r3-speaker-review.12021/
Conclusion: The R3 is objectively a more accurate speaker, with literally no flaw... still, some might subjectively prefer the signature of the S400.
You really need to do a sound test comparison... sound is in the ear of the beholder.
And you cant reproduce the Sound with a Demo :X
How do either of these synergize with Hegel?
If you had to choose your last speaker what would you choose, the Klipsch RP-600M or the
Buchardt S400 ?
Gadgetdad
Both not very good
Harbeth, Spendor, PMC, ATC, Pro Ac, Neat, Wharfedale are better options
I avoid B&W, Monitor Audio, Kef very poor sonics
What speaker stands are the R3 placed on?
Jay, could I ask, which speaker do you feel has the most consuming/fullest soundstage around the £600-800 mark? Thank you
Hi Jay. Apologies, as I realise this is an older video (I hope you see this), but can you tell me what stands you have the R3s on please? I’ve just purchased a pair, and looking at as many options as I can. Kind regards. Scott.
Great video. So, to answer the big question, which you elude to in your title (which is better?): given the R3's are 35% more ($CDN), which one would you buy if it was your only system?
You tell me. Thats the idea of that title. I have you the differences. Which ones better for you?
@@Jayiyagi Tough call having not heard either live. But seems to me from your review, if I was going with a sub $5k amp, and I have a preference for bigger soundstage, the S400's might be a better call?
Hi, not too sure about your math. I will round the numbers for my simple mind. The S400 is approx 2,400 CDN (1610 euro). The KEF R3, with Ontario taxes is 3,000 CDN (2,700 msrp + 13% HST). A gap of 600 CDN, or 25% more then the S400. I agree that is a significant amount. For those that really want to shop I would encourage a visit to a local audio shop, build a relationship and negotiate. That price gap will go down significantly (better base price and less evil tax too).. Ultimately the individual needs to determine the value to them, once they establish what that is. I do have a couple of general questions. Does anyone know if there are any Canadian import duties/tariffs? And to NBT, did you compare the S400 or the S400 SE (significant cost difference, and per the website some significant internal upgrades). Thanks!! and a Happy Musical New Year to all. Ps. I would encourage everyone to do their own math !! lol
@@korbindallas6727 Actually you're right about the math - I was comparing to S400 b-stock price (returned, flawless models) which is the route I would likely go. My mistake. Not sure about import tariffs, but you do still have to pay GST.
@@Skidaddl Thanks Pat B. The tax man commeth!! Ouch. I agree about the b-stock comment. If I was going to pull the trigger I would do the same thing. Crazy part is, most if not all (I haven't checked recently) are sold out. So many reviews lately have made the S400 (any model) a hot commodity. Hopefully the economics of supply and demand don't come into play, and price goes up. Cheers! and happy listening.
Do you think Marantz PM7000N could be a good match for the Kef R3?
Will the Audiolab 6000a amp drive the R3s sufficiently?
Thanks for review. I would like to get a list of the sounds you mentioned for my test tracks. I can't find some of them unfortunately... :=(
what would be better for Classical music? Piano Black is a great selling point
This vid is like a late Christmas gift ;p
Hi Jay, thank you for this great comparison. Can you (or anyone here) advise if they're had experience with the Kef R300 vs the R3, mainly in terms of amps adequate enough to drive the speakers? I'm powering the R300's with an Audiolab 6000a, which I think maybe isn't strong enough as they seem to be underperforming (bass is bloated/not full/punchy enough). Thanks!!:)
Considering both. Wondering which would match better with my McIntosh mc7100 amp which is more on the warm side
Just a question about the kefr3.
Would you use the internal links or external jumpers.
Thanks.
This may sound like heresy, but couldn't you compensate with EQ on either?
what stand are you using for the KEF
Any chance for kef vs atc comparison? And atoll in200 or in300 review?
Help help help buchardt s400 mk2 or kef r3 which is better sound wise.is s400 mk2 better then r3.which one you like more and why .what will be your choice plz answer plz plz
the new s400 mk2 definitely beat the kef r3 and pretty much any bookshelf speaker because they produce more deeper bass and sound fuller and bigger and more dynamic and it's all because they used the best quality parts they could on the crossover. Buchardt really poured a lot of love on this speaker.
The build quality of this speakers is like comparing a Kia against a BMW.
Which is Kia?
@@veral111 the S400
Which means?
Kia has better reliability than bmw.
Thanks For an informative video as allways😄 Any plans for Rubicon2? W.H.R
What speaker stands are those r3 on? They fit perfectly
good info, review given no tech details like for example ' stereophile mag provides
fits my expectations, that is any speaker of what, $ 500. each + is gonna be really good, no clunkers allowed in todays market. a piano sounds like a piano, D.Krall sounds like... D.Krall. difference being one of personal preference, maybe ' bright' or ' mellow' not that ' this one is better. end of story.' efficiency might be a factor, 3 db difference which is possible being a double or half the power for same loudness.
of course that's with. similar types. larger floor standers are most likely gonna have more bass below 50 hz or so. important if Ya like modern boom / bang movies.
How would S400 compare to a Martin Logan Motion 40 tower speaker?
Motions 40 are discontinued and great value / practically same footprint with stand.
Rod007man
Not even remotely close
Which one of these speakers would go best the Naim Unity Star?
Review the Elac active. Forget the model number. Any other active. Also speakers that can be used with my 2A3 mono blocks.
Kef R3 all day
Why?
I really enjoyed the review. I am not in such a unique situation as I do not have the room or the funds to support a listening and a dedicated movie room. I am on a quest to find a great front two but a manufacture that also offers a complete system. I.e Paradigm Kef golden ear Psb . Any recommendations please
Eaxactly what iwas looking for. Thank You
KEF reference
Are badass on luxman ,
Russel K Red are serious too .
I agree, I have the Kef R11 on a Luxman L-505UX, great match !!
@@mathieucouture-gauthier6115
Luxman are killer Amps , congrats on owning such a high end piece
KEF R3 has more wide scene , tested several times.
I had some (or a lot ;-)) speakers at home when I was on the hunt for new speakers. One of them was the Buchardt S400. I don't know why but I felt they were not the most natural sounding speakers. I really liked the dynamics and the bass but I had problems with the way the Buchardts reproduced voices. Another problem was that the S400 trashed bad and even mediocre recordings. I also tried out a bunch of studio monitors and there were no big difference when it comes to reveal bad recordings. The only passive hifi speakers which were more brutal were the Trenner&Friedl Suns. On the other hand the Suns were the most natural sounding speaker I have tried. Second place goes to the Dynaudio special forty.
Overall which of these speakers do you prefer? What amplification are you running them with?
Check out Ascend acoustics sierra 2EX line if you haven't already, they're in a direct competition with these two and most who heard all three prefer the Sierra.
I bought and returned the 2EX, as much as Ascend keeps trying with their woofers, they simply cannot keep up with the amazing Raal ribbons. I felt a disconnect in the sound between the drivers, bass is big but lagging behind. I also bought and sold the S400 as they just didn't work on my credenza's with the flipped drivers. Settled on Monitor Audio Gold 100's (5g) and I'm happy. They have better driver integration sacrificing a little of that ribbon magic. The ebony finish is also stunning on the MA, the s400 looks cheap by comparison.
@@SealKojac
So interesting how people have different experiences! I bought the last version of the gold 100's and couldn't wait to return to Crutchfield! They were way too bright for me! Built like a tank in a great way but too bright! Played some AC/DC and was like nexttttt! Bought JBL Studio 500 series speakers and the difference was/is night and day! It turns out I am a paper cone/compression driver type of guy!😉🤗😇🤔😬 All I could think about when listening to the monitor Audio's was the sound of a metal stainless steel ball traveling around a steel metal bowl like a roulette wheel! Now take that ball and move it in a paper bowl!🤔🤔 Much more natural sounding to me! They did just redid the whole Gold speaker line and I myself can see why! Heck, some people like chocolate some like vanilla!🤪😇 The fit and finish of the Golds made these two speakers in question look like garbage in comparison!🤪
Driving Buchardt S400 with 60W Class A sound "meh". Driving it with 200W Class A/B made it alive. The S400 is quite power hungry imo.
What exactly is „very, very low“?
No music, just bla bla bla!
Ichikawa San because listening on your phone to a recording of speakers playing is dumb.
Really great video!
A question: Would one of these be an upgrade from my Dynaudio Contour 1.3MKII? I do have a good amp, in the Van Medevoort MA220. A really musical amp.
Neither would be. Contours are up there. But S400 is a decent speaker in general.
Ik denk wel dat de KEF R 3 een upgrade zijn voor je Dynaudio's! De Contours zijn prachtige speakers maar de tijd heeft niet stilgestaan. Buchardt heb ik niet gehoord dus daar kan ik geen oordeel over vellen.
@@robertwillemen6407 dank Robert. Waarin zit volgens jou de upgrade tov mijn Contours :)?
@@petervanderham4725 resolutie, transparantie en 'inzicht' in de opname. De Dynaudio's zijn ook wat minder makkelijk te matchen qua versterker
@@petervanderham4725 De KEF R3 zit zo'n beetje op hetzelfde niveau als een Dynaudio Special Forty. Die zou je ook kunnen overwegen 😉
Wellicht ook nog een versterker upgrade dan...😁