If youre not particularly invested in high-quality speakers, theres a good chance you havent heard ofBuchardt Audio.
I think its time to fix that.
At a glance, the S400 is unassuming.
Its a fairly compact unit given its claimed in-room bass extension of 33 Hz with a single 6.5-inch woofer.
But the real star of the show is the massive waveguide the conical structure surrounding the tweeter.
Its just a bit of impressive engineering.
It sounds as good at low listening levels as well as when blasting music.
Their timbre is well-balanced, without emphasis in any particular region.
Highs seemed balanced just right with ample detail without harshness or sibilance.
Not that these were any slouches in the soundstage department overall.
Those who prefer a more focused image will feel right at home with the Buchardt.
My positive impressions were backed up by measured data.
As usual, I performed measurements after forming most of my listening impressions.
Measurements help eliminate biases and are highly correlated to user preferences.
I cant emphasize enough how refreshing that is.
It shows the company has little to hide.
Good measurements dontguaranteeyoull like a speaker, but they significantly increase the likelihood of it.
This is a seriously admirable performance for a speaker at any price point.
Its nice to confirm the company isnt fudging its measurements.
The only speaker Ivemeasured flatteris the Neumann KH80, which uses digital signal processing to enhance the speakers sound.
Moreover, the off-axis response is remarkably smooth, suggesting an excellent soundstage and even tonal balance.
It also means you have some flexibility for angling the speakers.
You also dont have to be seated perfectly in the center for neutral tonality.
You wont get the deepest sub-bass, but no compact passive speaker will get you that.
A subwoofer is always a good idea.
Next is the S400s vertical response out to 30 degrees.
The S400 is no different.
Only coaxial speakers like the KEF R3 or a few exotic designs have a pristine vertical response.
That said, we can see the S400 is particularly finicky about your listening height.
That means these flaws should not affect the perceived tonal balance dramatically a typical living room setup.
All that being said, I have no reservations about recommending the Buchardt S400.
It looks nice, feels solidly built, and is smaller than many competing systems.
For many audio enthusiasts, the S400 could be endgame material.
Youd have a hard time finding a better pair of passive bookshelf speakers at its price or well above.
Within Europe, its priced at 2,000, which includes 25 percent VAT.
Outside of Europe, you’re free to get it for 1,610, or approximately $1,800.
Buchardt also sometimes sells refurbished units for a couple of hundred bucks cheaper.
