Thread: Buchardt S400II speakers In-Bound

I've been really intrigued by Mads Buchardt's loudspeakers and speaker design principles, and so with that, my Editor and I reached out to him about getting a pair of the Buchardt S400II standmount loudspeakers in for review, and Mads was "all in".

So...a pair of S400IIs are arriving Friday!

Here's a pic of them in white...



This is gonna be fun...

Originally Posted by Puma Cat

I've been really intrigued by Mads Buchardt's loudspeakers and speaker design principles, and so with that, my Editor and I reached out to him about getting a pair of the Buchardt S400II standmount loudspeakers in for review, and Mads was "all in".

So...a pair of S400IIs are arriving Friday!

Here's a pic of them in white...



This is gonna be fun...

Can't wait for your comments.

It’s gonna be Mads around there ....!

What is intriguing about them? New to me.

Originally Posted by Puma Cat

I've been really intrigued by Mads Buchardt's loudspeakers and speaker design principles, and so with that, my Editor and I reached out to him about getting a pair of the Buchardt S400II standmount loudspeakers in for review, and Mads was "all in".

So...a pair of S400IIs are arriving Friday!

Here's a pic of them in white...



This is gonna be fun...

Originally Posted by CPP

Can't wait for your comments.

Yeah, I am really looking forward to them; going to stay home tomorrow to be sure I'm here to take delivery when the UPS driver arrives.

Originally Posted by Mr Peabody

What is intriguing about them? New to me.

The small tweeter (~0.75") with large, textured waveguide, "inverted" driver configuration, with tweeter on bottom, and bass driver on top (my Dyn Contour S3.4's use this configuration, as well), and the passive radiator on the rear. Also, the Buchardts uses very high-quality components for the crossover circuit, including air-core inductors, very high-quality film capacitors, and Mills resistors, unlike the iron-core inductors, electrolytic caps, and cr*p sandcast resistors used in the crossovers of the vast majority of speakers.

Originally Posted by Puma Cat

The small tweeter (~0.75") with large, textured waveguide, "inverted" driver configuration, with tweeter on bottom, and bass driver on top (my Dyn Contour S3.4's use this configuration, as well), and the passive radiator on the rear. Also, the Buchardts uses very high-quality components for the crossover circuit, including air-core inductors, very high-quality film capacitors, and Mills resistors, unlike the iron-core inductors, electrolytic caps, and cr*p sandcast resistors used in the crossovers of the vast majority of speakers.

How would you possibly know that? The answer is you don't.

Looks to be a Danish company that sells direct. There are reviews but I haven't read them yet. Look forward to your comments and how the sound compares to Dynaudio.

One thing I found interesting they use paper cones yet only 87 dB. I suspect possibly due to the passive radiator design. Well that is also interesting the radiator is 5x8".

Originally Posted by Mr Peabody

Looks to be a Danish company that sells direct. There are reviews but I haven't read them yet. Look forward to your comments and how the sound compares to Dynaudio.

One thing I found interesting they use paper cones yet only 87 dB. I suspect possibly due to the passive radiator design. Well that is also interesting the radiator is 5x8".

Paper is an excellent material for cone driver functional response. Just ask Danny Ritchie.

Agree for midrange , not so much for bass ...!


Regards

Originally Posted by a.wayne

Agree for midrange , not so much for bass ...!

Regards

These are -3dB at 33Hz. That's very good performance for a standmount.

Besides, they'll be nicely integrated with my REL sub, for which I did a DOE to determine the control settings for optimal integration; such is the power of the appropriate rigorous statistical analysis for the application at-hand.

I meant paper cones are typically more efficient.

Originally Posted by Puma Cat

Paper is an excellent material for cone driver functional response. Just ask Danny Ritchie.

Originally Posted by Puma Cat

Whelp, the Buchardt S400IIs arrived today, and I have to say, even without sufficient time to settle fully having just come off the logistics truck, I am already very impressed with them.

Specs say these are only -3dB down at 33 Hz, and I would believe that; their bass output in the lower registers for a smallish standmount is very impressive.

For only $2300 USD, delivered, these are a massive value proposition, IMHO. These perform WAY above their price point.

-3dB down at 33 Hz for the Buchardt stand mount is impressive. Amazing value proposition at the price.

I noted that Steve Huff has reviewed the S400 IIs and another speaker in the Buchardt range, the A700 Le and was very impressed.

Great to see some audio brands adding affordable product to the range. By offering entry-level products that are both high-quality and distinct, these brands attract consumers who may have previously considered their products unattainable. This expansion of the customer base not only drives revenue but also introduces new audiences to the brand, potentially creating lifelong loyalists.

Originally Posted by kiwi_1282001

-3dB down at 33 Hz for the Buchardt stand mount is impressive. Amazing value proposition at the price.

I noted that Steve Huff has reviewed the S400 IIs and another speaker in the Buchardt range, the A700 Le and was very impressed.

Great to see some audio brands adding affordable product to the range. By offering entry-level products that are both high-quality and distinct, these brands attract consumers who may have previously considered their products unattainable. This expansion of the customer base not only drives revenue but also introduces new audiences to the brand, potentially creating lifelong loyalists.

Yes, I agree, and if I may add, your comment is both insightful and accurate about what constitutes...value propostions. Back when I was workin' as an MBB in Biotech, I used to try to get a simple but key principle across to the product development PhD-level scientists & engineers I used to teach DFSS to: Value = Quality/Price. While they were developing DNA Sequencers and Genetic Analysis, the key principlies applied and were the same.

The Buchardt S400IIs are exemplars of...Value.

I also watched Steve Huff's video review and agree with his review and conclusions.

Jay of Jay's Iyagai YT Channel also really liked them, as well, as described in these two videos:




Thanks, and thank you for sharing your insightful comments. Cheers, mate!

Puma Cat, can I ask how you are running them from your P1?
I have not looked up their connection options. I used to own Dynaudio XD 600’s, which allowed you to hook them up from a digital source (rca) or analog.The best connection on the XD’s was digital direct out of my then (Naim) streamer.

Originally Posted by No Quarter

Puma Cat, can I ask how you are running them from your P1?
I have not looked up their connection options. I used to own Dynaudio XD 600’s, which allowed you to hook them up from a digital source (rca) or analog.The best connection on the XD’s was digital direct out of my then (Naim) streamer.

Ah, that's easy. They're connected to my Constellation Inspiration integrated amp's speaker terminals. The S400IIs also have nice binding posts; Mads really went through and used very-high quality parts throughout this speaker's components.

I set the volume on the Inspiration to Unity Gain, and then adjust the actual output volume using the P1's LEEDH volume control, which I find to be superior sonically to the Inspiration. So effectively, the Inspiration integrated simply functions as the power amplifier. The amplifier section of the Inspiration integrated amp is the "standalone" Constellation Inspiration stereo power amp, just with half the number of output devices, so it outputs 100 Wpc RMS instead of 200 Wpc. Other than that, they are identical.

So...it's really good power amp, too. 👍

With my 'Beths, which are nominally 6 ohm, sometimes I also the P1 as the preamp for use with my little Amp Camps amps I built up. Running as bridged monos, they put out 15 Wpc pure Class-A power, so they're more than enough for the levels I listen at (nominally 68-74 dB). And, as they're designed by Nelson Pass, they sound...really good. I also upgraded the parts specification doing the build, with all Vishay metal-film resistors, and larger value audio-grade caps in the power supply.





The little ACAs sound...GREAT. That's Nelson for ya... 😎

-Stephen aka PC

Originally Posted by Puma Cat

Ah, that's easy. They're connected to my Constellation Inspiration integrated amp's speaker terminals. The S400IIs also have nice binding posts; Mads really went through and used very-high quality parts throughout this speaker's components.

I set the volume on the Inspiration to Unity Gain, and then adjust the actual output volume using the P1's LEEDH volume control, which I find to be superior sonically to the Inspiration. So effectively, the Inspiration integrated simply functions as the power amplifier. The amplifier section of the Inspiration integrated amp is the "standalone" Constellation Inspiration stereo power amp, just with half the number of output devices, so it outputs 100 Wpc RMS instead of 200 Wpc. Other than that, they are identical.

So...it's really good power amp, too. 👍

With my 'Beths, which are nominally 6 ohm, sometimes I also the P1 as the preamp for use with my little Amp Camps amps I built up. Running as bridged monos, they put out 15 Wpc pure Class-A power, so they're more than enough for the levels I listen at (nominally 68-74 dB). And, as they're designed by Nelson Pass, they sound...really good. I also upgraded the parts specification doing the build, with all Vishay metal-film resistors, and larger value audio-grade caps in the power supply.





The little ACAs sound...GREAT. That's Nelson for ya... 😎

-Stephen aka PC

Ah ok, excuse my ignorance of not looking up the specs of the speakers. For some reason I have always thought they were active speakers.😉

Originally Posted by No Quarter

Ah ok, excuse my ignorance of not looking up the specs of the speakers. For some reason I have always thought they were active speakers.😉

Buchardt does make active speakers, but the S400IIs and the P300s are passive loudspeakers.

And yes, a quick search on the 'Net can be effective in providing info and answers. 😉

Cheers.

68 to 74 dB? That's not listening, LOL

Originally Posted by Puma Cat

Ah, that's easy. They're connected to my Constellation Inspiration integrated amp's speaker terminals. The S400IIs also have nice binding posts; Mads really went through and used very-high quality parts throughout this speaker's components.

I set the volume on the Inspiration to Unity Gain, and then adjust the actual output volume using the P1's LEEDH volume control, which I find to be superior sonically to the Inspiration. So effectively, the Inspiration integrated simply functions as the power amplifier. The amplifier section of the Inspiration integrated amp is the "standalone" Constellation Inspiration stereo power amp, just with half the number of output devices, so it outputs 100 Wpc RMS instead of 200 Wpc. Other than that, they are identical.

So...it's really good power amp, too. 👍

With my 'Beths, which are nominally 6 ohm, sometimes I also the P1 as the preamp for use with my little Amp Camps amps I built up. Running as bridged monos, they put out 15 Wpc pure Class-A power, so they're more than enough for the levels I listen at (nominally 68-74 dB). And, as they're designed by Nelson Pass, they sound...really good. I also upgraded the parts specification doing the build, with all Vishay metal-film resistors, and larger value audio-grade caps in the power supply.





The little ACAs sound...GREAT. That's Nelson for ya... 😎

-Stephen aka PC