Well they were optimized for vocal reproduction for the BBC, which is what they require. Outside of vocal reproduction, they fall short in the low and high frequencies.
I have a bookshelf speaker with sb acoustics drivers, probably custom made sold online around 400USD(used speaker). The drivers is SB29RDNC for tweeter and MR13P midrange with a port in the back. At the beginning it sound not impressive at all, but after few months sound fantastic. Probably same level or maybe better than this two, based on in this video.
I love the dark sounding speakers... S400 for me. Also, voices seem to sound more life like, more distant life like. BTW< The S400 image is nice, but they are too close together. They like to be used as big speakers.
Don't ever sell those LS3/5A. They are special. I don't know why KEF doesn't just re-issue them (without making any "improvements".) S400 sound very good, but that extra bit of clarity in the LS3 is like a breath of fresh air each time you switch. I'd love to see you review the Harbeth P3ESR.
Very easy comparison thanks to the smooth transition. The selection of tracks were also great. Thanks. Personally i prefer the LS3 most of the time. Guess i would rather lose some bass than risk losing details. Somehow the S400 reminds me of JBL boombox....
Great comparison. I am doing my test now between S400 and B&W 805s and i have big problem with decision. S400 sounds nice and dark with U shaped soundstage but they have about 70 hours . my B&W i was listening for few years and i know this sound. I am fighting with my thoughts. : )
One of the best reviews I've seen on youtube. And I've seen a lot of hi-fi reviews. You´re very professional and with great musical taste. Most reviewers present music that deserves to be played on cheap radio. They can understand devices, but they don't understand anything about music and their musical tastes are insignificant. They do not give confidence to the consumer. Congratulations on your professionalism. Even with the limitations of youtube, thanks to the way you recorded the test, my USB DAC and good headphones, the differences between the LS3 and the Buchardt S400 were perfectly audible. I look forward to your review of the A500. Thank you.
Interesting video. To my ears, LS3 / 5 is more pleasant to me - they have a clearer and at the same time less resonant middle (about how to compare vinyl and CD). Also, to my ear, the 400s have a slightly colored horn - there are problems with sibilants at 7-9 kHz. Generally, SB Acoustics does good mid-bass (I have 17NRXC35-8-UC), but they play too far - almost like fullrange. And this greatly interferes in the mixing of the 2-ways speakers - you have to cut very strongly with large coils/capacitors and not higher than 2 kHz (giving more to a good, low-ghost tweeter - I have TW030WA08) - in the same diy Kairos on the Satori mid-bass there is a coil of 3 mH !!!! - usually such coils cut a 10 "woofer, and not a 6.5" mid-woofer ))) In general, the SB mid-bass is quite difficult heads, but gives very good microdynamics (especially those with a non-coated paper cone).
I agree with the problems but not with the explanation I’m using SB Acoustic drivers a lot and I don’t get why the flat response up to high frequencies would be a disadvantage or something that makes them tricky Because of this and their usually linear impedance response crossover calculation almost always match An early roll-off doesn’t mean an easier crossover necessarily, the normal calculation are made for a linear response, anything else has to be compensated for That’s also why I’m confused about the 3mH coil, what order is the crossover and where is the crossover point supposed to be? In my experience normal 1-2mH coils are enough for 12db crossover frequencies ranging from 1-2khz depending on the type of crossover desired exactly
As one friend of mine says, vibrating mid-bass for 2way - "I look at constructions on the Internet on this drivers - where the filter is simpler - I choose that one". And I'll add from myself - you need to take that mid-bass, which at the end of the frequency response is smooth, without any bumps - but you can't say this about the SB - there is a VERY big mountain. So you have to choke. If you want to see a crossover 2-way speakers "SB Kairos" - I can send you an email (this is a commercial product and it is classified).
@@genaishivatov1737 Most mid-bass drivers have a peak in the treble area, it’s normal Drivers with a soft, plastic or coated cone are less prone to this but they usually sound too “slow” for my taste Also, the peak is not an issue at all especially with the SB drivers Many comparable drivers have the peak at 4-6khz already while it’s located at around 7-8khz with many SB midwoofers Instead of using a heavy crossover to make the peak inaudible I’d just throw in an EQ to remove the peak entirely, it’s that simple you can send me an email at speakertoni55@gmail.com
Having Spendor s3/5 for years.. bought them for reproducing that charming sound/ female vocal, convincing myself that they are so called true audiophile speakers, BUT there are only a few amplifiers they will play with, starting from 3.500 eur and you have to be very selective with wires.. They just sound dark and depressive and this is what I hear in this comparison. They are accenting a few notes in the vocal but is worth it?! .. Buchardt audio is much better choice.. through your microphone :)
Mihails Lapoteckis in my experience the Ls3 works with absolutely every amp Small and cheap class d or big and high end class ab amps are no problem They are high impedance which makes them easy to drive and they reveal all differences with electronics/cables nicely If you think that the Ls3 sounds too dark why do you prefer the S400 then? The frequency amplitude of the Ls3 gets slightly louder at higher frequencies while the S400 does the complete opposite Especially in my comparison which I checked several times the Ls3 certainly does not sound more depressive or darker than the S400
Hi Toni Thanks for taking time replying to my comment. Well I like your video and appreciate your effort to tell people more about HiFi. I believe comments help your channel so I decided to comment, but on the other hand my comment is as bold as an attempt to judge the sound through the RU-vid so your comments on the sound is what valuable.. I haven't ever heard both of them but I think it's probably possible to understand the character of the sound through the RU-vid.. So within many years on this path I came into conclusion that I want to hear that something good is playing before I sit in front of speakers.. I think the S400 might be that kind of speakers: in two words if I decide to play on them anything I will enjoy them 8 times out of 10 depending on different factors where with 3/5 it would be say 5 out of 10.. ..I'm myself trying to make a decision of rather make my Spendor s3/5 thing or simply replace them and I think second is wiser decision..
Acoustically this a quite a bad setup, they could go a bit closer to the wall and all those speakers at the back should be either removed or shorted to prevent those drivers from interfering. Also some acoustic blocks would work amazing in your room
TechTT can’t really agree My room sounds rather accurate over 200hz Acoustic blocks often over dampen a room unless you really need them because there’s nothing in your room But I don’t think that those are necessary when you have books, shelves, a bed and carpet in your room like in my case Closer to the wall is not an option because the room modes below 100hz will get worse here and bass will be unnecessarily boosted I spent quite some time to find the best spot in my room and it seems to be where I recorded the speakers in this video
@@speakertoni2680 well acoustic blocks do not have to mean that they absorb. There are a lot of different types of acoustic blocks, some widen, some block, some diffuse. I would still advice you to short the other speaker not being used.
Very good no nonsense review. 👍 But, dissappointed.. 1. You have partly ruined my idea that the s400 might be the perfect speaker. 2. I think there is a bit of room sound being picked up which is more detrimental for the s400s richer bass. Guessing that the same roomsound gives both a slight phasing sound. So, very good review but ideally I think a bigger room combined with your skills in audio would make it all even better.
@@mickrileybcn i guess its just common sense, with active speakers, the company gets to fix every problem (like delay,hpf etc) and makes it perfect for the costumer
Thanks for this top video. Gives a good acoustic image of the speakers. Details concerning the tuning of the speakers are in my opinion changing with the whole system you are using. So maybe your whole equipment is part of your conclusion. So you have to name it make it transparent form the viewer. Beside that i appreciate your work!
blaudsom thank you! I understand your concern but my electronics are either self made/modified or individual parts from eBay. I know their sound quite good and I tried different electronics, cables and rooms with this speakers and that’s what I based my conclusion on.
Great review style and production, subbed. Also the first I've heard a reviewer mention the forced upper bass sound of the S400, the extended bass feels artefical and monotoneous, my guess the passive radiator is the cause of this.
Hi. Could you explain or elaborate on the “2nd issue”? What is an “elevated response” ? I am fairly new to this so I am not sure I understand what you mean there.
lapetitemort bis hi, sorry for the very late response It means that the the speaker gets louder with higher or lower frequencies In the case of the S400 it gets louder and louder the lower the frequency gets
Tbonyandsteak in almost all cases one good cable will sound better than two average ones And it’ll cost a bit less I don’t see why it would make sense then
Biwiring definitely makes a difference and can be heard on good systems. It gives a more airy sound and better definition. I believe it separates the back emf that comes from the woofer when it retracts. So it doesn’t interfere with the high frequency drivers being on the same line.
hi, vielen dank :) leider bin ich zur zeit ein bisschen im stress da ich meinen schulabschluss mache und außerdem wenig geld für neue lautsprecher habe :( trotzdem würd ich bald gern mal wieder was neues testen !!
@@speakertoni2680 Da fallen mir auf Anhieb nur ein: HK Aura Studio 3 & Onyx 6, Sonos Roam, Beosound Emerge, Beosound Level, Beosound Balance. Oder die Nubert nuPro XS-7500 "Soundbar", ist ja streng genommen auch ein Bluetooh Speaker. :D Aber bis du fertig bist, gibt es hoffentlich noch ein paar mehr Optionen.
@@BLACKBIRDdigitalTV das hoffe ich auch, weil ich mich eher auf stereo hi-fi lautsprecher konzentrieren möchte die ganzen bt lautsprecher interessieren mich nur noch eher selten
