What an absolute delight that video was to watch, by far my favourite review of these speakers so far. I am giving these some consideration based on reviews so far and also the company owner Mads video showing what I recognise as quality components on the crossover. They sit a bit above my budget but I may be patient and add to my pot. Thanks for all the detail.
🤗 IMHHO…KEEP SAVING…IT WILL BE WORTHY OF THE WAIT …as they say your speakers are the most important part of the your KIT / SYSTEM…I TOOK THIS ADVICE FROM OLDER WISER 🧐AUDIOPHILES AND I AM THANKFUL I DID 😍😍😍
Thanks very much Graeme , my intro to a REL subwoofer film I’m doing atm is very pleasing. I’m changing my PC at the moment for a faster AMD/Nvidia one as these place huge demands on my old pc, particularly doing 3d work.
Although I think your bumper videos/music are about 15-20 seconds too long, your comparisons and descriptions are so good that I’m beginning to put a LOT of stock in them. You are VERY good at what you do. Thank you so much.
Thanks so much for the vote of confidence. I keep it to that as I’m an experienced real world based audiophile and technicality can be a mindfield in audio if one were to understand it all. I spend ages working out what I can say to make it succinct and understood by all vis a vis competing gear I have reviewed. I like to make the interludes with music decently extended because it gives people a chance to digest the information before, acts as a breather, but somewhat selfishly I like making them, but also I like the variation in RU-vid videos not just about the subject and an unpredictability of what comes next. In lots of hifi videos you kind of know it’s someone just talking to camera and I want it to be a bit more than that, because I personally subscribe to the creative RU-vid channels that do that. To break traditional boundaries. 😀👍
Holy crap. The editing alone must have taken forever. But it is totally appreciated. Your incite to the speakers was great. Keep it up and you will have Darko looking over his shoulder.
Thanks very much Michael . Really enjoyable getting to a final video for me. Also the filming on the flying fox boat took a big 13th production crew down to Turkey 🇹🇷 lol. 😀
Thanks for the video, I just discovered it and enjoy the style of review! Now I understand why the S400 sell for 2 000 euros. The picture you shown of the crossover made me realise this is not a cut on corners product. It is a serious product which really deserve its price tag. Thanks again!
I ended up settling on the s400 mk2s after having owned Dynaudio and Audiovector speakers. They have the ability to fill the room with music and not demand your attention. If you want to critically listen, they're more than able to provide you with the impressive things audiophiles crave, but they do it in such a way that allows you to connect to the music emotionally, which is something easily missed when upgrading gear and chasing a better sound. I think that all comes down to the midrange that these speakers deliver together with their top to bottom cohesion.
@@3582jj I'd say about 12 inches would be minium, I can't really afford more than that but if in a smaller room you should consider stands in the 28-30 inch range.
@@DigitalPhilosophers I have a class A biased integrated, sonneteer that puts out 55w at 4ohms and for my room that's more than enough, class A gives you good sound at lower levels. I also have a musician pegasus dac which I find pairs well with everything.
Simon, your video skills are fantastic, well done! The S400MKII are truly fantastic speakers, I’ve had my set for about a month and they definitely will not be going back… In comparison to my Kef LS50’s, it’s not even a fair comparison in my listening space, the MKII are better across the board!
Thanks very much Steve 😀….I would keep them too if I owned them. My KEFs are a speaker for test purposes really but wish I had these Buchardt’s too for that end. They are very responsive to electronics which is a test of good speakers. Just very easy was my overall impression as I said.
It's fair to say this review left me somewhat shaken but definitely not stirred (sorry!) Fantastic production as per usual Simon. I can't say I'm not jealous of you trying out all this wonderful gear but it's well deserved, what with all the time & effort these videos must take to script and produce. If I could I would provide you with an additional thumbs-up for giving Orbital some love!
Thanks very much Anton. I was gonna put some of the baddies vocal clips in except it may have had too sinister connotations. Lol. Love that orbital track, gotta prefer snivilisation as you know. A great test track for these speakers I didn’t mention is this sabres of paradise track which tests decay which I always use for testing that. Fantastic group … so sad Andy Weatherall went too early. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-GIKP4kza3cQ.html
Thanks Edmund - always try and think hard to centre in on what would someone would tell me if they owned them without being too pretentious (if I can help it)
Great review! The one weakness of the S400's is their poor performance in small rooms and low volume listening. I auditioned a pair last year and sent them back. They sounded great in my larger living area, but performed poorly in my listening room. They definitely need at least 3m of space from your listening position and a fair amount of volume to wake them up. I ended up with the LS50 Meta. They perform much better in a nearfield to midfield environment.
Thank you although I didn’t find that re low level listening. It’s gonna depend on things like amp damping factor and dynamic output I think as my Hegel makes them work fine at low volumes. I’d probably agree in a nearfield environment that the KEFs work best but I’d still use the KEFs in a decently sized if not massive room.
If you have loudness compensation or Dynamic EQ they're amazing at low volumes. Also I find an 8 ft triangle to work great and minimizes room reflections (increases detail and intimacy).
I don't react on You Tube reviews very often, but in this case I have to. I very much enjoy your reviews in the way you do this in general and this one with the James Bond parts particularly. Together with John Darko, you are my favorite HiFi reviewers by far. Keep un doing this fantastic job. Greetings from The Netherlands !!!
Thanks very much for lovely comments. How do special 40s compare and R300’s. I suspect they out do the kefs and SP40 is close , if not Buchardt’s better? . I think dynaudio are generally tuned to be a little more forward like emits I reviewed which depending on taste is preferred or not.
@@13thnotehifireviews7 I like em all. I had the Emit M30s before I got the special 40s and the M30s were quite good actually - kind of a V shaped sound i think. I gave them up cause the edges of the speakers had started to open up and dynaudio said it is a product defect or so & that I could get em exchanged for new ones but the distributor said they couldn't do it cause as per them the dealer i got them from wasn't an authorized dealer so i sold em for cheap and bought the special 40s from the distributor cause i liked the dynaudio sound. The Buchardts have a bigger soundstage and sound muscular compared to the sp40s. They sound balanced across the frequency range with slight emphasis on the lows i think. Enjoyable to listen to overall. Very good mids - vocals & bass can sound impressive. The sp40s can sound lively, fast, dynamic, a lil more cleaner and refined and basslines can sound tight and are usually easy to follow. Very good mids & mid bass here. The highs are a lil more prominent with the sp40s while with the MKIIs you just get sufficient doses of treble - smooth & delicate when its there. The MKIIS are neither laid back nor lively - kind of in the middle i think. The sp40s is like a chap in his late teens or early 20s. The MKIIs are like a mature muscular chap in his 30s. The R300s sound weighty but the bass is not fast and tight like with the sp40s. Highs are somewhat prominent in the R300s, the sound is a lil clean & sharp. They can sound somewhat laid back. Is like a chap in their 40s :) I use a REL s510 sub bass system with the sp40s and the MKIIs.
Thanks for the info, that’s what I thought would be the case particularly your description of the bass in the sp40’s. Helps to get feedback for me from owners who can be open and honest with their experiences. 😀👍
Thanks Simon,you put a lot of time and effort to make a great video and it shows. Watched your review on Supernait 3 and one of mary reasons I bought one five months ago,and will pair it with s400mk2 walnut when it gets here. Please keep it coming.
🤗🤩🤩SIMON …MY FIRST TIME WATCHING YOU …AND I HAVE TO SAY…YOU 🏆 WIN ON BEING CLEVER AND THE QUALITY OF YOUR REVIEW 👏👏👏 and as for the BUCHARDTS…IMHHO …in all the reviews they sound more to my Taste…but not my budget 😞…THANKS FOR SHARING THIS WITH US 🤗😍😍😍
That would be cool but thanks for saying. hopefully it has the aim of elevating hifi towards people who aren’t into it, which is the power of RU-vid. 😀
Your reviews and their production value are next level - and then some... Finally became a (modest) patreon after having enjoyed so many of your reviews in the past. Thank you for the hard work and keep them coming. NK
Fantastic review. I have watched a lot of reviews of this speaker and yours is the best. Substantive and very cleverly presented. Thank you from New Jersey.
Still got the monitor audio gx200 floorstanding speakers (previous version), on gaia feet. They are Awesome! You can play every genre on them. No sub need either.
Great content, subscribed ! Very tempted to get these speakers. I’d love to hear your opinion on Ls3/5a speakers ( Rogers, Falcon, Harbeth ) not in comparison to these ( different application ) but in general. Thanks
I have the originals in the SE form, improved crossover components in a solid Scandi oak design, they are sublime and beautiful to look at, so even if these are an improvement im not ready to change yet, but well done Buchardtt. For the discerning listener.
I've had the MKII since the preorder in 2021. If you have the MKI, I would say the upgrade is not worth it unless you have money to burn. They are better, but the differences are not night and day. I can describe the differences if you'd like.
AMT,s are a strange ting in my world. The MA 100,s, AudioVectors and ADAM,s, all gave me beeping/ringing ears in the most uncomfortable way,,, while ELAC Vela, Golden Sound and HEDD may have the most airy, etherial soft non intrusive magical treble Iw ever heard. Strange huh. 🤪 Thanks for another absolutely masterfull review Simon. Your spot on about the S400,s. I envy the M33 of yours, and the 390,, 😋. Cheers my friend,, 🍻😎👍
This should be your best video ever Simon (great Bond theme... 😀)! Because these speakers cannot be listened to a dealer, I like your detailed explanation, specifications and sound. The only concern for me with the Buchards is the placement of the wall because the rear radiator cannot be adjusted. Btw, good to get some music tips ... 👍🏻.
Thanks so much Klaverro . Knowing what I know myself I wouldn’t have any qualms about buying to try and keep, especially if you get a pair of other speakers from a dealer on loan at the same time to compare them against.
@@13thnotehifireviews7 A few months ago i would have considered these speakers but i love my Dynaudio Evoke 10 loudspeakers in my tv-setup. Maybe someday...☺️. Ronald
Hello SuperSimon, congratulations for another great review in content and production. To be picky, would add a bit more attention to tonality in relation to various types of music and to amplifier pairing, did you try them with H390?
Hi, I’m loving your channel and I’ve just subscribed but if I could ask a question I currently have just purchased a Naim unity atom, and my first entry into what is good quality speakers in my price budget dhal Oberon 3 , would you recommend the buchardts as I am finding unless I really crank up the volume the base is quite poor And I think the speakers may solve the issue please let me know what your thoughts are once again. What a fantastic review.
Great job. of course the Buchardts are a step more $$$ and a more full range design , the KEF obviously designed for use with a Sub , the addition of which would prob. change their tone. ( new 'meta' version of R3 coming ?) note I have Metas , sub ,and Outlaw Rec. with my 72 years old ears, I'm not commenting on actual sound.
Thank you Rick. Not sure KEFs are designed to be used with a sub as Kef won’t tell anyone that to buy them you have to buy a sub. Lots of it just comes down to the bass the customer wants. I’m doing a sub review from next week with my metas. 😀
@@13thnotehifireviews7 Those Kef LS Meta sounds very, very good with the KC62 sub. Heard those at my dealer and I wish I could create another setup with these at my home but that’s the audiophile life of making choices…. ☺️. Looking forward to your review about that sub…. 🔉😀🔉.
I use a secondhand JM acoustics ref 100 mk 2 sub with my Meta’s and it’s a fantastic combination. If you take the new Kef sub that’s also a great combo, but it’s priced rather high. I can confirm that the Meta’s do need a sub to reach the full sound that the Buchardt have, and with a really good sub you even get a better sound.
Probably a passive radiator has some advantages in terms of enclosure volume reduction...however such a large paper diaphragm allows mid-low frequencies escaping from inside the box and reaching the listening room...
Wow! Great review Simon! I like the clarity of the many information. Your illustrations, images and specifications are clear and support your point. I currently have a Hegel H190 amplifying my Focal Aria 926 which broadcast frequencies of 45Hz-28kHz compared to these small Buchardt s400 Mk2: 33Hz-40kHz... How can that be? I don't like the stands, but that's a matter of taste. Finally, I intend to buy the Ifi Zen Stream which has significantly improved the software part. Is adding the Ifi iPower a good thing? Keep up the GREAT work! You are one of the reviewers I regularly consult with British Audiophile and Excellence Audio Canada.
Thanks very much. Not sure re design tbh why that is so. Maybe just driver unit design etc. I’d be cautious about zen stream with connection issues I found . Don’t know if they sorted it though. And thanks for vote of confidence
Hello , a great insightful review - thank you. In a large space (8 x 4 M) how would they compare/perform to the PMC Prodigy 5 ? Really appreciate your response (off axis performance is important) much thanks
Simon amazing review i love the speakers but im in small space and can't play loud but like Quality would these speakers sound good at low volumes ? Anyone please
Per usual, this is an excellent review, that is informative, FUN, and even dare I say, light hearted. I really appreciate the comparisons with other gear, particularly the KEF LS50 metas, which are on "my list," though these might be a replacement. As a KEF LS50 w owner, at times, the treble can occasionally "bite." I like the detail from the KEFs, but I would appreciate perhaps a warmer top (it could be my aging ears, I confess). And if these Buchardt's have better imaging, I think I have a "new project." Anyway, please take bow. This is a terrific review and dare I say, it's a FUN and clever review with impressive production values. Thank you!
A beautifully produced video Simon. Well done. Just wondering how these would handle lower listening levels and still give of their best? I listen at about 45 to 50 on my Hegel H95 volume setting through my Dentons.
Thank you very much. With the price hike to the Buchardt’s, the direct selling model and all that brings, it would be hard to envisage KEF R3 getting close, granted I haven’t tried them. I like the LS50 Meta for the back and forwards soundstage, compact size, and looks. But equally like the looks of the s400’s.
@@13thnotehifireviews7 , thanks for your reply, they are roughly the same price in Portugal but I guess the direct sales means that the Buchardt value is much higher than the other two.
Greeting! Is the bass of the Buchardt speakers comparable to the pmc twenty 23i? I have a 25m2 room and the speakers must be close to the wall, so I'm wondering which choice is better - pmc or Buchardt?
It depends which is why I say if people want information and advice please support me first - it’s not a quick answer in comments . Pls see description
Great review , quality video . Not having much experience or being in the know , when going down to 4 ohm and saying your amp has to be capable , I have the roksan attessa streaming amp , would this be sufficient for 4 ohm speakers , I currently have the rp 600m but now have a budget of around 2k , pounds to spend on new speakers , I have reviewed the mk11 but was unsure if my amp would be a good match cheers
I think it is rated at 4 ohms (130W per channel) so it should be fine. Although depending on the speakers freq response it can dip below that slightly, because impedance changes with speaker output frequency, but I think it should be fine, so long as you don't drive them hard or want loud listening. Sometimes the specs give the min load impedance like my Hegel which I quoted in the vid of 2ohms. If they say at 4 ohms and at 8 ohms with wattage output I think they are generally designed for these impedances. Essentially the way I understand it, is looking at the impedance or resistance of the amp and the speakers impedance or resistance. If the impedance is lower there is less resistance so the speakers impedance needs to be equal too or more than the output impedance of the amp. If you have a 4 ohm speaker with an 8 ohm amp the amp is electrically struggling to get its current out to meet the demands of the amp, a bit like imagining if they were water pipes of differing diameter. You should get an amp that matches the quality of the speakers otherwise you could make an argument for having lesser speakers because its always matching exercise. Personally these speakers are responsive to better amplifiers so if you were buying these I would recommend upgrading your amp. I always say the amp should at least be the price of the speakers, generally speaking, and in fact it is better if it is more.
@@13thnotehifireviews7 hi thanks for the detailed response . I now have an understanding as to what 4 and 8 ohm speakers have on the power handling of a an amplifier . As the amp is new and the speakers a couple of years old . I think the best thing to do is keep with the 8 ohm search for speakers, and keep searching and reviewing 8 ohm . My quest is now a little better to understanding the capabilities of amps and speakers and how they work together . As to driving them hard the only way I can say is that I usually listen at around 60 to 70 dcb in a small flat but do push them occasionally when my neighbours below permits . Thanks again
@13th Note HiFI Reviews I hear if you had KC62 sub to LS50 Meta, the mid-range opens up, soundstage widens by freeing up the drivers from bass duties. And I hear s400 mk2 without sub has more bass, wider soundstage and bigger sound. However, LS50 Meta should have a deeper soundstage. So I was wondering, with the KC62 on the LS50 Meta, would they equal or get close to s400 mk2 or would s400 mk2 still trump the LS50?
I’ve been playing my ls50 metas with the rel t7x atm and it’s very nice. Re Buchardt’s it depends on so many things tbh. It’s about what all the drivers are doing. The KEFs and a sub are very good but go for a branded brand like rel would be my advice. A sub brand with loads of experience in the area.
Hi Simon, just bought these speakers and plugged them into my Yamaha aventage av whilst waiting to receive a powernode. The speakers are absolutely fantastic but......I'm so disappointed with the powernode muddy bass and diminished soundstage in comparison to the Yamaha av tight bass and open soundstage. I was expecting so much more from the powernode but it looks like it will be going back. Do you think this is just not a good match, even my missus can hear the difference. I can go up to 2K at a push.... any thoughts?
Nowhere near as fast and precise and with low distortion of the pmc speakers. Nice tonally the Buchardt’s and dispersive. I’d prefer something like goldenear brx for precision. Depends what music you listen too
I just have to listen to these. Sounds like my kind of sound. I did listen to the previous 300 model and it didnt do much for me. These I suspect the 400s will be a treat. I want to compare to m Dynaudio Special 40s. Onward. Thanks for a great review.
Thank you too. I think Dynaudio are tuned to be a little more forward than these Buchardt’s - certainly from what I’ve heard people say and listening at a show myself, plus my previous Dynaudio emit 20 review. I’m finishing my REL sub video atm and then am looking at the matching I150 Buchardt room correcting amp that Mads sent me.
@@13thnotehifireviews7 The Dynaudios are definitely detailed and forward A ver different character than Evoke 20s. I am partnering with tube hybrids and they definitely lean to the Neutral side of things. I have made a couple pair of CSS Audio Criton Speakers and those are on the warmer side of neutral. Both excellent and depends on what you want. The Critons are more like a hug from your beloved auntie with the big bust.
Excellent review of these interesting speakers Simon. I am looking for a speaker with a treble that isn't fatiguing in any way, a mid range that makes a grand piano, vocals and acoustic guitar sound realistic and lovely deep punchy bass without sounding boomy. My room is around 16' X 11'3" wide and my listening distance is 3 meters. my question is, would these be suitable for my room? What's your thoughts my friend and keep up your excellent work. 🙂
I can answer this with my opinion of affirmative! I primarily listen to strings, piano, acoustic guitar and vocals. These speakers do a wonderful job of imaging/soundstage. They’ve basically disappeared in my listening space and I get nothing but the music! Room size is about 15x28 and I have the speakers on either side of the 15’ dimension, mostly because of room considerations.
Thanks Steve. I think Steve is right and bang on. The fatigue in these speakers is like sitting on a Far East beach having your head massaged whilst swimming in a blue lagoon. Sorry if that sounded a bit pretentious. Wasn’t meant to be. Lol.
Hey Simon, I have added these speakers to my gear and have matched them to Buchardt's i150 Integrated amplifier. It would be nice if you could give that amp a look at also 🙂.
Great review Simon!! Just found your channel recently and I’m really enjoying it. I was wondering if the Audiolab 6000a would have enough power for these speakers?
Thanks very much Brandon. If it’s specced as outputting 4ohms ok, usually it will be ok. Check out my other response to someone asking a similar question in the comments. I think that’s right.
@@justinbennitt835 hi, have you tried the MK1 version too with your audiolab? O have an audiolab Power amp and i am trying to undestand which of the two speakers would have the better sinergy. Thanks.
Tbh I don’t tend to get wrapped up in absolute best. I go on what is good at price, good in comparison and recognise that hifi can be enjoyed just as much at these types of prices, and I leave best to people whilst giving own opinions. 😀
Is there a difference between fiberboard and MDF. They say their cabinets are fiberboard construction. These speakers are known to be very light for their dimensions. 15 millimeter cabinet walls are thin in my book. What's going on here?
Some are going to like the Buchardt’s for their presentation and they are still bloody good speakers, but for my tastes I much prefer the Arendal speakers I reviewed more recently.
The amount of volume Buchardt does is minuscule to Kef, as one example, so you’re paying a lot more for the Buchardt per dollar value, even if you factor in no dealers or traditional mark up. Higher volume sales (happening because dealers push a product) increases volume and brings down overall cost since there is more production. If Kef could only sell an LS50 to however many Buchardt buyers there are, the production would be waaaay lower and cost much higher, maybe $5999 or $6999 rather than $1999
I’m not sure about that as how would anyone know on volume re both firms. There might be some validity to your point but we don’t just live in a shop world, but an internet world. Anyone who ignores the latter and walks into dealer when many people have done a to b comparisons online, would be remiss (for them). So whether that plays out into sales of firms like Buchardt selling similar numbers, I don’t know. But whatever the Buchardt’s are in a different performance and price territory. Out of interest do you own the KEFs?
Ok that’s why you hold the opinion you do….but another economics point in hifi is that we are not talking about products that have mass market volume competition to the extent price between competing products is kept close. In hifi it’s not uncommon to get a pricey product that doesn’t perform to a consumer as well as a cheap one and vice versa. With that in mind your point about much higher price may not ring true. Hifi is not Veblen goods but there is a strong subjective element in sound and that pushes performance close together for competing and varied price levels. That’s the context audiophile hifi exists in, and I’d imagine it makes selling hifi hard. I get that. But it still is the case that an ls50 isn’t the proposition of these Buchardt’s even with £500 ish price change.
@@13thnotehifireviews7 More people buy LS50 who are not audiophiles than audiophiles. Probably close to a 2:1 ratio. The market (globally) lays bare the facts of how much a company like Buchardt does vs Kef. It's like comparing Karma to Tesla. It's not about the one to one comparison in quality it's about how one of those models is a lot cheaper to make because they make a lot more which brings the price down. So you're take a high grade product and bringing it down to a much nicer price point. Kef does this through mass production while Buchardt tries to do this by cutting out the dealer, but they still don't have the volume or latitude to bring their overall costs down like Kef.
Daniel HiFi yes more buy because Kef spend more on marketing and Buchardt are a small firm trading nowhere near as long without the supply chain. The point is you can do this by volume and lower margin to brand eg shop / distributor route or lower volume and higher margin. Your shop margins can be high on some hifi gear too. The components these Buchardt’s use are more than the equal of the KEFs for 50 percent ish more in price so it stands to reason they are the better speaker and some agree with me by comments on here. Eg crossover materials the KEFs don’t have. But the internet is powerful and people consume content by video and the number of hits on this video is testamount to people at least considering these when thinking of the Kef / Buchardt price catergory. People in hifi need to reckon the power of video and internet which the hifi industry needs to get more onboard with because it doesn’t matter if as a point of principle a brand has higher market cap so much. When you add it all up the big difference a volume route can bring is not there because remember these are still niche products do no it’s not like a small firm to big firm of say the car industry because the economies of scale and volume are not there in hifi. For example a lotus sports car built to order versus a Mazda mx5 in a factory. It’s nowhere near that in the hifi world. This isn’t to say those Kefs are fantastic at price. Also Kef build in China and Buchardt in Indonesia so economies of scale are likely different.
I can’t comment on what I don’t try, this is easily the biggest response I give in comments. Just so you know Sometimes I dont comment as I don’t have the time to keep saying the same things. Sorry.
Ride cymbals are typically at that 300-600 hz frequency which is what I was talking about in so far as not highest treble but a bit further down, and as the kef rolls off the very top frequencies….not sure at what point, but it’s a rolled off speaker nonetheless. Certainly compared to original ls50 as I said. 😀
