Improved? Buchardt S400 Mk2 Speaker Review
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- Опубликовано: 27 июл 2024
- The Buchardt S400 has been updated. The new speaker sounds quite different to the outgoing model but is it a change for the better?
Link to manufacturer webpage
buchardtaudio.com/collections...
Link to my Patreon
/ abritishaudiophile
Link to my speaker setup video
• Hifi Myths & Misconcep...
Time stamps
Intro 0:00
Design & features 2:02
Sound quality 4:42
Setup & partnering equipment 10:24
Conclusion 14:54
A pleasure to hear you speak again kind sir, you deliver your reviews with such grace, humility and just as much quality and articulation as the components you speak of, thank you.
Thank you my friend. That is very kind 👍😊👍
As always Tarun, an excellent review. Your tone and realistic approach to speaking about audio gear is excellent. Thank you!
Thank you Blair. Much appreciated 😊👍
Love your channel. Thorough, analytical, but importance provided to the right points. Every statement you make is measured and deliberate. I don’t believe any other reviewer brings the weight of precise comments to this hobby that you do. You are deeply appreciated. I only wish companies that I would liked reviewed would play nice and send their components to you!
Thank you Jim. Receiving feedback like that means a lot and is gratefully appreciated 👍😊👍
This is a truly informative and illuminating review. Thanks for your objectivity and clarity. I sometimes read reviews from 6 Moons Audio that I can make neither head nor tail of, so this is a welcome breath of fresh air. Thanks!
Thank you Howard. That is much appreciated 🙂👍
This is a remarkable review. Great detail, very specific and to the point - Tarun, thanks so much for helping us better understand the nuanced and more apparent differences between excellent choices. No such thing as the perfect speaker for everyone, and your remarks highlighting differences are much appreciated. Cheers from Los Angeles.
Absolutely agree 👍🏻
Thank you my friend. That is very kind and greatly appreciated 😊👍👍
Thank you Marcus. Very much appreciated 😊👍👍
Yes, lovely review!
@@2HatHudders thank you 😊
Top video again, detailed, objective and professional, thank you
Back in 1989 I first realized how important synergy is, then I started experimenting and now I'm back on components like 1989, but top models, nothing exotic, but the synergy of components and the sound itself left my friends speechless. Me too.
Th am you Damir. Much appreciated 😊👍
I bought the 300’s a while back. Recently upgraded to these. Very pleased with them. Living in a country that is not shipping friendly to say the least the folks at Buchardt went above and beyond the call of service. Most impressive!
That is great to know. Thank you John 😊
Your videos are excellent. I am sensitive to hardness in the upper registers, so this was very useful information. One of these days I'm going to get a Hegel amplifier thanks to this channel.
Thank you my friend. Very much appreciated 😊👍
Another excellently review. I ordered the s400 mk II this week. Also a Vincent 237 mk 2 plus a power node 3. Mogami 3103 speaker cables. Belden 8402 rca. A audioquest niagira 1200. All from watching reviews. I’m really limited on space so that was my smallest hifi I could come up with. You , Thomas, Jay, Steve all helped me in my purchase. Now we can sit and enjoy the music! Thank you
Great. Thank you Steve 👍
Small speakers seem to be getting better and better.I always thought bass radiators gave a muffled sound, this has changed my mind completely.
Another great review.
Thank you Richard 😊
Another well done, and detail oriented review. Congratulations Tarun.
Thank you Cesar 😊
@@abritishaudiophile7314 you are welcome Tarun. Well done!
Excellent review Tarun, I’ve really enjoyed your presentation style since finding your channel!
I purchased the S400 MKII about 2 months ago and am very impressed with them. They will definitely not be going back since they’ve easily surpassed my KEF LS50’s in every area in my listening space.
My partnering amp is the Gato Amp150, which drives them with ease. Mads via the forum, mentioned that they used the Gato as part of their initial setup work with the MKII.
Thank you Steve. It is a very nice speaker and Mads knows his stuff 👍
Excellent. How would you think these would pair with REL subs?
I decided to try them out with some quality vintage components and power and was taken in for keeps. I switched them to a lower watt Vidar and other Schiit components and was still smiling. Thoroughly enjoy them with vinyl & R2R and despite the impressive bass, I still went with a sub. Love the black finish & design too. Thanks for the review.
Thank you for sharing Wolf 😊
Exceptionally well done ... best possible!
My modest opinion is based on previous observation at the several "Buchardt S400 MK2" reviews.
Great presentation Tarun!
Thank You!
Thank you Hrvoje. Much appreciated. I am pretty happy with how this review turned out 😊👍
Well, Finally someone got the crossover on the review. Well done mate.
Thank you 😊
Wow, you really worked on this one. Touche!
Thank you Jeff 😊👍
OH MY GOD ! MY FAVORIOT REVIEWER ! WAITED A LONG TIME FOR THIS
Thank you. Much appreciated 👍😊👍
Fantastic review Tarun , hope you enjoying holidays with family.
Thank you Atri 😊👍
Excellent review as always.
Thank you KL 👍
Good honest review, love it. 👍🏻
Thank you Tony. Much appreciated 😊👍
As always, enjoyable review.
Thank you 😊
Simply outstanding review. Thanks for the great content.
Thank you. Much appreciated 😊👍
Great review Tarun.
Thank you filofilo 😊
Thank you for a very thoughtful and useful review.
Thank you Jack 👍
Impressive x-over components for the price point - thanks for the review!
Thank you Derek 👍
Tarun, thank you for another quality, no bullsh*t review!
BTW, did Buchardt send you some Skygels to try between the speakers & stands?
Thank you. Much appreciated 😊👍
No they didn’t but I use my own isolation devices 😊
My experiences with upgrading or updating components is mixed. Each component has it’s pros and it’s coms. It’s virtues and it’s caveats. It’s strengths and it’s compromises. The difference a new component makes when integrated into an existing system is judged purely by the personal preference of the end user.a classic example. A couple of years ago I completely upgraded my hifi rig. I replaced everything. The record deck. The CD transport. The DAC. The amplification. And the speakers. The system it replaced had been the beating heart of my world of music for 30 years and I wasn’t about to abandon it. I reinstated it in the spare bedroom. Whilst the updated system is unquestionably superior, which it should be at 3 times the price, there are still some musical genres that I prefer to listen to on the old system. The low frequency response on the new system reaches a lot deeper and with greater heft. Yet, female vocal trance with it’s infamous 120 BPM comes across as far more impactful and enjoyable on the old set up. As does rock and metal. The newer system shines with Jaz, acoustic music, classical and instrumental.
I guess you will never put a system that excels at all that you throw at it, and it’s a question of learning to live with the compromises.
At work, in my office, I have a pair of tiny, 12 watt active speakers sat either side of my computer monitor. I stream music to them from my laptop via a portable DAC and it sounds amazing, obviously near field and at low volume. The soundstage blows me away. I listen to music on that little set up, which I couldn’t entertain on either of my home set ups, as they’re too revealing.
Another excellent video. Keep them coming.
Thank you for posting this Howard. Very insightful and I am sure many can learn from your experiences 😊👍
Both Buchardt speakers have the best high frequency waveguide in the industry. It makes the tweeter more efficient while reducing distortion and allowing it to perform well down into the lower frequency ranges. Traditional horn speakers use a phase plug that distorts the phase coherency of the upper frequency ranges. The Buchardts don't have this drawback. That makes them cleaner while retaining the advantages of horn loading of the tweeter. I normally prefer an acoustic suspension design for the best, tight base quality, but Buchardt did an amazing job to get down to 33Hz at the -3 DB with the over size passive radiator which is the best I've seen. Passive radiator designs provide better, tighter base than open ported designs and the oversize Buchardt radiator works better than smaller ones. Nice job Buchardt. Nice review British Audiophile.
Thank you Jeff 😊
Good review once again. I have been thinking of these as I swap out the LS50’s or ATC scm 9’s but will see. Mads was very helpful with delivery options for me once again. Well done 🙏
Thank you buddy 😊
Great content you’ve been putting on recently !
One thing I’ve taken away is that if these speakers were being sold by distributors, they’d be selling for close to 3K. Another is that I’ve got to get my hands on Willsenton R800 amp, seems like a great match with most speakers. Keep up the great work !
Thank you Silvio. I agree, they would probably be £3k if sold through the traditional distributor model. I hope to review the R800 myself 😊👍
If sold by distributors you can multiply the price with factor 2. Distributors usually work with 30-50% margins
I own the mk IIs. Spot on review, thank you. I power them with Primaluna Evo 400 integrated tube amp, and I am very pleased with the sound. Love the sound over all, especially the lower end. I’m very sensitive to high pitched sounds, and I’m glad these are way more laid back on the tweeter/ high kHz then my former speakers, the Dynaudio special 40s.
Thank you. I appreciate you watching and sharing your experiences 😊👍
It looks like each Dynaudio speaker checks a number of boxes and leave some key boxes unchecked. Contour 20 has non-harsh trebble, but lack punch. Heritage Special has punch but slightly harsh trebble. Emit has slightly wooly bass, some punch, but also slightly harsh trebble. I am looking forward to hearing this s400mkii and KLH model 5.
I watched a review on RUclips of both these speakers & the Dynaudio special 40's. In the comments section there were as many people who preferred the Special 40's as there was who preferred the Buchardt S400 Mk2's. If anything the Special 40's edged it. That said, whichever of these you own, they are both fine speakers.
@@silverbirch9502 agreed, both are great speakers!
Had these on my short list for a while now. Seems like they'll pair well with my Hegel H120 so even more excited to get my hands on them soon. Thanks for the review. By the way their website says you can flip them upside down so that can solve the tweeter placement problem
Thank you Orrman. Please let me know how you get on 😊
Another excellent review….as I close the checkbook. Whew. Interesting too that the Exposure pairing was not all that.
Thank you Paul. We can chat about it in the next ABA Club meeting 😊
Thank you, Tarun, for another informative and entertaining review. and happy to see that your channel has really taken off.
In answer to today's question, I prefer my system to be revealing, so I find myself avoiding poor recordings. Unfortunately, much rock and jazz music fits in the less than excellent recording category.
Thank you my friend. I have the same problem when I am in the mood for critical listening 😊👍
Beautifully done! Thanks :)
Thank you 👍
I've come to enjoy your crisp, incisive and well informed reviews. Have my like and sub, sir.
Thank you Ward. Very much appreciated 😊👍
always great ones
Thank you 😊
Looks very desirable. They've clearly got their R & D right if they can get that level of bottom end from a speaker that's essentially a moderately sized standmount. Very nice review Tarun.
Thank you Rafe 👍
Good and balanced as always
Thank you FE 👍
Hi Tarun, great review, really appreciate it. The one things that confused me was the bit comparing to the 1SC where you mentioned the 400S Mkii couldn’t match the transients or fine detail of the 1SC, a Proac speciality. I’ve had 1SC’s for 15 years and as good as they are, I’ve never felt those were its strengths, rather the complexity of leading edges and fine detail are an area I’ve felt needed improvement through the crossover which I’ve experimented a bit with. So that gave me pause for the 400S Mkii.
Thank you Bruce. The 1SCs are demanding of amplification but with the right amp they can produce a midrange that only the ATC SCM19 has matched so far 😊
Thanks Tarun. Great review. But, I am surprised that you did not discuss the Buchardt amp pairing that i thought i saw in the background. I have the MK1 and agree that Mads was a pleasure to deal with
Thank you. That was an Buchardt press shot that I used a B-roll. I haven’t personally seen or heard the Buchardt amp as yet 😊
Many thanks for your review, I am new to paying big money for audio equipment having invested in Naim unity atom, having purchased a set of Dali speakers my overall impression was less than I’d hoped.
However, after listening to your review, I decided to buy a pair of Mark 2 under the 45 day return policy, they will not be going back. They are some of the most well defined and detailed speakers I have ever listened to.
I find myself listening to songs hearing detail that I’ve never heard before . Many thanks for your excellent videos. I am now a subscriber.
Thank you. I appreciate your support 😊👍
Great video Tarun and again as usual I concur with your comments. I have auditions these speakers and find them a lot closer to Neutral than the series 1 version. The other thing I did notice is they love plenty of current, and if you can partner them with a good amplifier it will reward you greatly.🎧🙂👍
Thank you Shane. I agree on both accounts 😊
tarun, great review as always. i thoroughly enjoy each and all reviews you've done! ...thanks so much!
...maybe you can include a "very highly recommended" category between "outstanding" and "highly recommended" ...
Thank you. Much appreciated. If I did the S400 Mk2 would qualify 😊👍
Thanks Tarun. Another great review. I think the Menuet SE and Exposure are probably a better fit for me.
I hope you and your family are enjoying your Easter break.
Thank you my friend. We are currently enjoy a break in the Lake District 😊👍
I aspire to these someday. Or Tekton Ulfberts, Encore, or Ulfberts. This was a marvelous review.
Cool 😎
Tarun, your delivery is spot on as usual. You don’t pull back as to the deficiencies as well as the pluses of this speaker and what equipment will make it sing. Placement can make or break the sound of any speaker and the fact the tweeter is on the bottom also requires that extra attention. Finding the ideal placement and height will make your opinion change or make you smile. There are more than just one aspect which effect speaker performance and you lay this out very well. Cheers to you Tarun! Stay safe my mates!😊👍🏻😁
Thank you Mark. Always a pleasure to hear from you 😊👍
Waiting for my order. I think this will be my end game speaker.
How long so far?
Cool 😎please let me know how you get on 👍
@@doifeellucky 2 more weeks out.
@@Morido-1 Please share your experience
Great job Taurun! I also found the original S400 could have a tendency towards hardness/peakyness in the midrange on some tracks. Vocals on something like “Hey Laura”, especially with the otherwise wonderful Exposure 2510 😊 I have the MKIi on order so naturally I’m slightly trepidatious based on your review.
I hate to harp on about the Rega Aethos, but this was really a revelation on the S400 and mitigated the midrange peakyness. You can also play them at low volumes without feeling shortchanged now. Really a case of a speaker that scales with the right amp!
I’ve owned the B&W Nautilus 805 for years and it’s always been a love hate relationship and one of trying many amps and often failing to make a match. Finally finding a good pairing, one with enough power and refinement, changed it fundamentally. Now never harsh, ruthless and unforgiving, just detailed, much more forgiving and drivers integrating seamlessly.
Seeing how much it did for both speakers, I will never skimp on the amp again 😋
Thank you buddy. Always great to learn about your experiences 👍
Are you happy with your Mk2 now? Which partnering Amp?
Those filter components are exceptional, even in much more expensive speakers
Agreed 👍
Thanks for another great review, Tarun. I agree with you, highly revealing speakers will definitely not be your friend if there is anything wrong further up the chain. In my own setup it’s taken a long time, and no small investment, by my standards anyway, to tame the speakers, especially in the top end. Compressed recordings induced discomfort akin to scratching nails down a blackboard.
Over the years, however, I’ve ironed out the kinks and now I’m reaping the rewards that these analytical speakers can bring. The harshness is gone in favour of air and breathiness, with a total lack of sibilance, which enables vocalists to come and sing in my room as if they have no microphone.
I would say these speakers sound like they will be very happy with amplification costing many times their price and will most likely keep stepping up each time the source or amp is changed up. Just another reason, in my view, to focus on source first then amp and finally speakers.
By the way, it’s interesting to see all those wonderful components in the crossovers. No sandcast resistors, thank goodness! I took delivery of a box of parts from Hi-Fi Collective on Thursday, to upgrade by speakers in my study. Caps are from Mundorf, Janzten and Clarity for bypass, as the Hovlands I prefer are out of stock. Inductors are custom wound air cores from Mundorf with baked varnish finish. Finally the resistors are Mills wirewound types from Mexico. Can’t wait to fit them.
Thank you Mark. Much appreciated. Great to learn about your experiences 😊👍
I agree about source, amp then speakers
thanks for another detailed and informative review Tarun! Speaking of standmounts, any plans to review the B&W 805D4s? I know there is no shortage of reviews available on these speakers, but I find your analysis and insights to be so much more informative, and my approach to audio gear and how I listen to music is similar to yours, so it would be great to hear how these compare to the many standmounts you cover. Thanks and keep these reviews comings. Greetings from NJ!
Thank you Steven. I am extremely flattered. I have contacted Sound United about reviewing those very speakers. I hope it doesn’t take too long to get a response 😊👍
Thank you for another sobering review. It looks like this is not a giant killer, but a competitive bookshelf speaker. Some people said things like they liked it better than 5-10K speakers (Wilson audio bookshelves; Dynaudio Contour) and I was getting ready to pull the trigger.
Thank you Gökhan. The S400 Mk2 is one of the best speakers you can buy for the money but I am sure you know that those hype merchants are seldom correct 😊
@@abritishaudiophile7314Well, a a lot of us are looking forward to your reviews because you will say it like it is. Now I wonder if you would review AE1202 sometime soon:)
@@abritishaudiophile7314 I think people’s interest in s400mkii lies in the hope that the speaker would provide the 4-5K speaker performance (Dyn Contour or sp40; Proac d2r; ATC scm19, etc) at around $2500. But your review suggest that it is indeed a $2500 speaker that would compete with a similarly priced speaker like the KLH model 5.
@@gokhanersan8561 I haven’t heard the KLH 5 but the S400 Mk2 performance is in line with some very good speakers up to about £3k 😊
👋 TARUN ,AGAIN A GREAT DESCRIPTIVE REVIEW 🧐 and inspite of all the technical jargon 😁😉
And what I have heard 👂 of the sounds…I think I could use these to replace my rear speakers…just have to start saving 🥲 it might take a while 😍😍😍
Thank you for watching and sharing buddy 😊👍
@@abritishaudiophile7314 🤗🤗ALWAYS A PLEASURE 😍😍😍
It is about time crossovers are now being taken seriously by speaker manufacturer's mainly because of RUclipsrs taking the time to dissect speakers internally and expose the cheap as chips crossovers used in so called medium to high-end speakers.... Great review as usual from Down Under.
Thank you Fred 😊
i run the Mark II with a Schiit Freya and two Aegir. Despite the fact the Aegir is not recommended for 4 Ohm, i tried it and it was worth the risk. I never had so much fun listening to music ever. Most of the time i listen to Ambient, Electronic Musik, Deep House and Rock at moderate levels. My loud ist better times are long gone.
Cool 😎 thank you for sharing 😊
At points in this video I thought you were headed for an "outstanding." Having now seen your video about your CD collection & knowing what you've said about your preferences in sound, I'm confident my next system will be made up of components you find "outstanding." Great review & thanks!
Thank you Steve. The only thing I would suggest is that the synergy between amp and speakers is critical to pay attention to 😊👍
@@abritishaudiophile7314 Yes. That complement between speaker & amp is what I'm looking for. Your Dali Menuet SE & Sound Artist LS3/5a reviews make me think that I may (finally) be closing in on a system for my study without breaking the bank. Thanks for all you do to keep the hobby interesting.
@@StevePilgrim2013 that is very kind and much appreciated 😊👍
I was waiting for your review of these fabulous Buchardt s400 mk2. I am not disappointed. They are a nice improvement over the previous model from what all the reviews are saying. I would have liked to see the inside of these boxes with the reinforcements.
Now, am I going to sell my Focal Aria 926 (them drived by the Hegel H190)?... No, but I would really like to listen to these famous loudspeakers. And if I had to compare them all the same, what would happen?
Eventually I will be getting the Ifi Zen stream soon and indulging in the world of streaming...although I'm still old school with my 24 bits and DSD...
Thank you Tarun for your informative videos.
Thank you my friend. Much appreciated. I would suggest to take advantage of the 45 day home trial before making your final decision to sell the Aria 926 as the speakers have a different presentation 😊👍
Fantastic review, thanks for mentioning those highs!
Just wondering if you could talk about the soundstage depth with those tubes, I’d really love to head in that direction 👌
Thank you Ryan. In my space vocals and lead instruments were projected a coupe of feet forward from the main soundstage which was in line with the speakers 😊👍
@@abritishaudiophile7314 nice mate, thanks for answering! 👍
Thannk you Tarun for this excellently considered review. As to your question: Very fussy! Or maybe that's just me 😊. Synergy is so important and can be hit and miss. My experience with certain (old) TacT product nearly had me chuck it all in and get a boombox (the chap I sold it to put it to excellent use). I have large Altec Lansing 15" drivers and am moving to somewhere with a long, narrow room. Wondering about these S400s (with a sub)... or back to Eminent Technology speakers which can be close to side walls.
Thank you for watching and sharing your experiences Adrian 😊👍
To answer your question, my upgrade would go to:
1. a power conditioner (Furman M-8x2) because I only have 2 dedicated outlets and my AV system is concentrated there.
2. Since I like discovering new music in high resolution without paying too much for it, I decided to take advantage of the offer from my friend who provides me with the Tidal subscription for free (I gave him the encoding of all my music in Flac, 24 bits or DSD...). So, I bought myself the Ifi Zen Stream.I'm there.
3. Now, I will listen and deepen this new way of listening, but I have the strong desire to listen to the Buchardt s400 Mk2 with my Hegel H190 which was used by its designer in the analysis/production of its speakers... My Focal Aria 926, although they suit me, precisely these metallic treble which tires me a little...
I am a little too demanding perhaps, but being retired, I want to treat myself to a listening pleasure that I always dreamed of...
And your site is particularly useful to me in this regard. Thank you Tarun!
Th am you for watching and sharing my friend 😊👍
Very interesting speaker review tarun, great looking speakers, many mission speakers I used had the tweeter below the midbass driver, excellent crossover parts in the speakers especially at the price, putting some very expensive speakers to shame, which use so so basic parts, i prefer a more laid back speaker myself perhaps a wee bit warmer than a ruler flat sounding speaker, another indepth review tarun, looking forward to seeing another review soon.
Thank you. They are a significant improvement over the Mk1 😊
I have the new Mission QX Mk2 update to the 2014 award winning inverted 38mm tweeter speaker
Of course these are budget end by comparison to the Burchardt 400 mk 2
I am only using them with a decade old Marantz PM6005 45wpc amp .
Delighted with the sound compared to the Monitor Audio Bronze they were packaged with 🇬🇧
@@andrewbrazier9664 that is great Andrew 😊
Fantastic 👍🏻
Thank you David 😊👍
Hmmmm, been wanting these for a while to partner my new Exposure 3010. Oh well, the search continues!
Thank you for watching Ossie 😊
Thanks as always for well made videos... The MK II are my on my list , they will be my next speaker purchase.... I will pair them with the Yamaha AS 2200
Thx 😊
I received my pair of S400 MK2 two days ago. Driving them with Pass Labs XA 30.8 They are still in break in mode (less then 20 hours working) but I already hear much more details regarding to Dynaudio Evoke 50 I have. Yes, Evoke 50’are floorstanders with 2 bass drivers and deliver more base, but I see know how much base Dynaudio put in all spectrums: from base to highs. I will sell my Dynaudio and add some sub on S400mk2. So far so good, expect to have more sparkles In highs after 300 hours.
Cool 😎
a youtuber you can take advice from unlike many others.
Thank you 😊
Great video again !
I’m using an rme adi-2 pro fs r dac and an XTZ a2-300 with my Buchardt S400 mkII’s and I like it. Now I’m very curious to hear the speakers with the Willsenton r8 ☺️..
Thank you Jelle 😊
Ok, so I should not sell my ATC SCM 19s for some mk2s. Got it! Another good review.
Thank you Will 😉👍
Hi Tarun. I appreciate your articulate and thoughtful reviews. You were reluctant to mention the touch of hardness in the upper mid-range on these speakers. However I thank you for mentioning this observation as it does matter to some of your readers. My question would be where you noticed this? Was it a particular genre of music, certain instruments or with some types of voices? Thanks again from Victoria, Canada for your work on these reviews.
Thank you Harald. It is relatively minor but most noticeable with vocals regardless of genre 😊
Tarun, you are the only reviewer that stated that there is some harshness in certain frequency bands, something that all other hifi reviewers and for this product almost all of them have reviewed it, but not mentioned it or heard it as you did. But this did now make me highly insecure about ordering a pair. I would be running it with a Linn Akkurate amp, not knowing if this was a good match or not and by the way a brand that I miss on your channel.
If I have a product in or due in for review, I won’t watch/read other reviews of it for that reason, as it is easy to get influenced. I doubt that many will pick up on the slight hardness in the vocal region I only mentioned it for those who are sensitive to such things 😊
Great review
I have ordered them a couple of that's ago.
Hope the pair good with my Musical Fidelity M6si and Topping D90 MQA.
Using s300mk ll right now.
Cool 😎 Please let me know how you get on 😊👍
Please share your impression/experience.
Thanks for your always excellent reviews. I’m waiting on a pair of mk2’s, to compare with the KLH Model 5’s. I’ve had the 5’s for two days now, powered by a Pass X150.5 with Ayre K-5xeMP preamp and Denefrips Pontus dac. The 5’s are replacing Klipsch Heresy 3’s, which were outstanding on certain tracks/genres but super-colored and annoying at certain frequencies, and not great for off axis listening…I could never totally relax. The KLH’s on the other hand are easily the best all-arounders I’ve ever owned. I have Maggie 1.7’s but they need space and a tiny sweet spot listening position. The 5’s are SO darn balanced, big detailed soundstage with depth, and a sparkling spot lit center image. They should cost more than they do. I’m eager for the showdown with the mk 2’s. Do you predict I’ll prefer the Buchardt’s? Thanks again.
Thank you Ben. I would expect the S400 Mk2 to be more resolving but the KLH 5 to have better dynamics. I may get around to review it sometime 😊
would love to hear what you prefer when you get your buchardts as i am currently trying to decide on those exact same 2 speakers
Would love a KLH model 5 review.
No need to apologise for any negativity. We are looking for your honest opinion, warts, smiles and all. Thx as always.
Thank you. Much appreciated 👍
OK…the jaw-drop and the "what have they done" or "what have they done" were quite amusing! 😂 This is the first I have heard of the upper mid-range quality…hmm..
…I am not in the market for speakers. I am loving my DynAudio Contour 20s…perhaps Max had a hand in their design as I believe he used to work at DynAudio…..
Glad you enjoyed it Bob 😊
I was planning to Buchardt I, but went with Wharfedale 85.
I maybe in market next year and based upon your review, I have shortlisted Buchardt II .
I am waiting for you to review comparison of Kef Meta and Wharfedale 85
Thank you. I appreciate the suggestions 😊
This is probably my third time I watched this review and discovered something that is important to me but not quite picked up last time.. . particularly like it when u compare the result of different amp and your Proac reference. You did mentioned that due to its wave guard design a 6ft distance away from the speakers are reccommended... I did think of trying this as my desktop though not placing on my desk but on stand that is 1 ft behind my desk.. but still I am only 3 -4ft from the speaker... wonder this would affect the imaging and soundstage significantly.. Thanks so much again for the excellent review
Thank you Terry. I wouldn’t use the S400s only 4ft away. Due to the large waveguide there is quite a bit of distance between the centre of the tweeter and the mid/woofer. You won’t get a coherent sound. Just my opinion 😊
Thanks for another great review.
After seeing it, I am quite curious if you could give Danish Gato Audio a call. They have a similar bookshelf as Buchardt. 6" SB Acoustics bass driver and Jantzen crossover components.
They also focus on time alignment, but does it in the crossover.
A difference is that Gato Audio uses a SB Acoustics ring tweeter instead of a dome.
Thank you Sebastian. I will look into it 😊
🤔as far as your question about partnering equipment I don’t have enough experience…but I’m A BIG BELIEVER IN SYNERGY AND QUALITY OF SOUND IS MORE IMPORTANT TO ME ….so I look 👀 for new recordings of older songs and I search 👀 for new music well recorded to broaden my musical experience 🤗😍😍😍
That is great 👍
I own a pair, in my room at least positioning makes a huge difference, and if not in the correct place I do get that upper mid energy that's a touch too much. But when placed right they open up and sound natural.
Thank you for sharing you experiences 😊
Excellent review, Thanks Tarun. Would love to hear from you how these compare to the ATC SCM 19. I am on the SCM 19 v2 with a KEF KC62 for sub duties, and enjoying them.
Thank you Amit. The SCM19 is still the best passive speaker I have heard to date under £3k 😊
As your front end components get better it becomes critical that you pay attention to synergy. As an example vacuum tube preamps tend to fare very well with class D and highly revealing class AB amplifier topologies. I'm using a supratek chardonnay with a pair of ps audio m700 mono blocks and the combination works quite well.
Cool 😎
After listening to the many reviews on this speaker, I have to say Tarun,
this one was a wee bit sobering or perhaps I should say ... realistic. I say
this because of your assessment relevant to partnering amps. I would have
thought the Hegel would have blown the Willlsenton R8 right out of the water!!
I'll have a re-listen to your review on the R8 and pay more attention to your
tube (rolling) up-grade comments. I am definitely planning on purchasing
this speaker at the right (affordable) time and I know full well that my current
pre/power system will not bring out the best that the new S400 has to offer.
On a further note - even though you only lightly touched on the new cross-over
this speaker has, it is nice that finally a speaker manufacturer has put some
serious thought, design (and money) into this so very important component.
My opinion of Buchardt was good before this new S400 (cross-over)"iteration"
but now it's considerably higher. Thank you Tarun. (and Buchardt)👍🏾
Thank you Charles. As you know, I am not one for jumping on hype trains. Many will prefer the more precise nature of the H190 with the S400 Mk2 and others will prefer the more colourful presentation of the R8 with PSVANE tubes. I just let people know what camp I was in 😊👍
@@abritishaudiophile7314 I am sure the Hegel and its precision would marry up with the Buchardts just fine
but I am a sucker for colour with the right balance of precision and warmth. There is also the "fun" factor
of tube rolling not to mention the flexibility of modes that the R8 brings. The R8 offers a path of discovery
with alternative probabilities and I find that very alluring. If it was not for reviewers like yourself - I would not
know about the R8, never mind which tubes as alternatives. I've been around the audio world for a very
long time but I am not an electrical engineer nor do I consider myself to be an audiophile. I simply know
what I like and want to hear and to be honest, I like the experience of ownership relevant to self perceived
value. The R8 with those Psvane upgrades !! .... a real beauty ... and that's important too. I hope the Chinese
get back into (r8) production soon. No reply necessary Tarun ... just keep doing what you are doing.
I Love Mine, Period! Driven with Benchmark ahb2!
Cool 😎
Tarun, would love to see your thoughts on Audiovector R1 Arreté Bookshelf Speakers.
They are my go to benchmark speakers for a bright speaker for now.
See if you can get your hands on those mate.
Thank you for the suggestion Josh 😊
Excellent stuff as usual. What about a Khl Model 5 review, that so many of your yt peers rave about??
Thank you. Much appreciated. Not so easy to get hold of in the U.K. but I will try 😊👍
I didn't know about these until I saw the size of the tweeter in a Sevenoaks store which got my attention
It is small 😊
T' you're a legend
Thank you William 😊👍
Great review, as usual, Tarun. Because of your detailed analysis and a couple of other reviewers I respect, I have just pulled the trigger on a pair. I will wait to see what they sound like with my Nad M10 before I consider the Buchardt 150 amp. I figure the same component might be complimentary? Thanks again. Keep on keeping on...
Thank you Stuart. I hope you like them 😊👍
@@abritishaudiophile7314 I’ll let you know…
@@abritishaudiophile7314 they have just arrived, a mere 4 days after ordering, here in Australia. They are superb (in my begginers view). They sound head and shoulders above my KLH Model 3's. very much as you described them. Thank you for your review and for reconnecting me with the younger man inside (I've got that younger exuberance again!). Now for the Buchardt i150...or the Willsenton R8???? See what you have started LOL
@@stuharrison1 that is great Stuart! Good luck with the amplifier search 😊👍
Thankfully it was a Highly Recommended and not Outstanding. And also your caveat about the 2510 (which I love). My wallet is very relieved. But great review which I enjoyed.
Thank you Jeremy 😊👍
Hi Tarun, I really appreciate your reviews. You've been most informative. I've been listening to the S400 mkii for the last 3 days. The bass is incredible and overall very balanced and smooth sound. One major thing I noticed in comparison to my reference speakers with ScanSpeak beryllium tweeters is that 3 dimensionality and depth are a bit lacking with these soft dome tweeters. The wave guides also seem to project the sound in a way that gives lots of width but does not layer well. Lack of depth was immediately noticeable to me. Also I can hear that almost tin-ny and shouty sounds I often get from metal tweeters or horns. I hope this improves with break in process. I am certainly nitpicking and for the price I believe this is a great pair of speakers. But did you hear that part of tweeters at all? I'd love to hear your thoughts.
Thank you. Yes, there is a little hardness in the upper midrange 😊👍
@@abritishaudiophile7314 I think I got the sound signature of these speakers after proper break in the last 3 weeks. It is still very much on the warm side of the spectrum. Although they are clearly smooth sounding speakers with decent imaging and very very pleasant/coherent bass, I believe it can greatly improve with higher quality tweeter. The lack of high frequency resolution is what I think is their weakness. Therefore the sound seems almost nasal especially if your ears are more used to beryllium tweeters as I am. I hope mk3 could improve upon mk2.
@@RoselynNY thank you for sharing 😊
I like you describe all the different aspects of how they "sound". I would really like to see some quantitative mesurements about this to actually show this. You also could easily compare the MK1 and MK2 SPL charts to show how they actually sound differently in all the different frequency areas. There you see the facts in a simple graph... Describing it in your own words is needed though :) But maybe the usual audiophile audience is not so receptible for more science based facts.
Measurement are useful but it takes a lot of time, effort and expense to do them right. They can be easily manipulated of just messed up. I admire those who do a good job of doing them but it isn’t something I focus on at present 😊
@@abritishaudiophile7314 Thx for the info. I am doing it on my really basic home audio system with REW and a Steinberg DAC with a Sonarworks mic. Mic is about 80, the DAC/amp around 100€. So compared to the usual equipment this is rather cheap... The largest investment would be time to learn on how you would do it right.
You need no chamber to test them. Usually a simple listening position test would explain so much. And would make them actually comparable to other measurements. Seeing what you are hearing is such a big help :)
Unfortunately not many guys here doing even simple measuments.
Maybe in some time :)
I like that you now include some more technical backgrounds too.
@@obiwan007 cool 😎. It is pretty straightforward to get an on axis in room response using a gated window but of limited value. To do it properly and get some directivity and sound power measurements would need me to invest something like a Klippel nearfield scanner and follow a standard from the likes of CEA, ANSI, AES, IEC, IEEE. It is a costly and involved process that I am happy to avoid for the time being 😊
@@abritishaudiophile7314 Yes that would be nice - but why do you want to create a space shuttle instead of just creating a small RC plane? Starting small is better than starting never. I would never expect this kind of measurements (maybe from Amir on ASR). But to have something comparable would be nice. If the setup is always the same (and somehow documented) - you do not need the full featured ANSI/xyz measument routine.
Just a thought. Maybe I am alone with that requests :)
Hi Tatum. You continue to have the most well-reasoned, detailed and thoughtful reviews on the internet. No sensationalism here….just a perfect blend of logic and passion. I know you didn’t try this combo, but based on your experience with NAD (the M10 for example), do you think that would be a good fit? Also wondering if the Yamaha A-S1200 would emphasize that slight harness you heard….I have a sensitivity in that area as well. Thanks for all you do, Tarun. It’s what keeps me coming back to your channel.
Thank you MH. Very kind. Both the Yamaha A-S1200 and the NAD M10 have a cool tonality. As long as you are not looking for a warm sonic signature, they should on paper work well with the S400 Mk2 😊👍
@@abritishaudiophile7314 Sorry about the auto-correct….I did type Tarun but didn’t notice it had changed. I do tend to prefer tonality on the warmer side so would probably rule those two out now.
Hi Tarun, love your straight to the point honest reviews.
Can you review the Sonus Faber Olympica 1 speaker?
Thank you. Much appreciated . I am down to review some Sonus Faber speakers soon. I am sure I will get to the Olympica at some point 😊👍
Thanks for reviewing the mkii's Tarun! They're on my upgrade list along with a few other speakers around the same price. I know it was quite a while ago, but can you offer any comparisons to the Argon 3S? It's a similar design so I'm especially wondering how off axis response and midrange stack up against each other.
Thank you. The Argon 3S has a cooler tonal balanced but I were a touch more resolving 😊
Bracing and heftier materials were needed. Balance was needed. A good tweak in my view.
Thank you for watching 😊
Very well done review.
Mr. Pete-------->
aging hippie
Thank you David. There is not much that is cooler than an ageing hippie 😊✌️
Would really like to see your review of the buchardt i150 amp, seems pretty serious
Thank you. I may get to that 😊
Great review as per usual - I think we have similar tastes - loved my 1SC as well until I sold it. I'm intrigued by the S400 MK2, as I love my S400 MK1 but noticed it's deficiencies as reflected in your review. The MK2 looks to have fixed some of these issues. By your recollection, is the bass speed improved? Though bass weight and depth is good, bass speed and punch was not the best.
Thank you Ryan. Bass speed or definition is much better on the Mk2 👍
For me, a well-designed Transmission LIne designed loudspeaker beats a well designed passive radiator design any day of the week.
Having had a pair of fine RAM 200 (ABR design) speakers for many years before moving on to the TDL Studio 1 (TL design) the TDL's blew my RAM 200 away.
For me, the current range of PMS (TL) speakers have moved everything forward where the bass is (regardless of volume) is how it should be.
Being both a HiFi addict for nearly 50 years and a musician for even longer, I fully trust my ears and it'd take something I haven't heard to sway me away from the transmission line design.