New speakers! Buchardt S400IIs Color Signature Editions

Puma Cat

Puma Cat

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Whelp, after sending the review pair of Buchardt S400II standmount speakers back to Mads after completing my review, I put my Harbeths back into the system, and immediately said to myself: "I'm going to buy a pair of the Buchardts." :D

Also, right around this time, Mads Buchardt released a set of Color Signature Edition versions of the "standard" Buchardt S400IIs. The Color Signature Edition have Argento binding posts (the same type used on Constellation components) mounted with a beautiful engraved bronze plate on the rear of the cabinet and also uses silver wire internally for wiring the drivers and crossover board. The Color Signature Edition are limited to 25 pair/color worldwide, so I bought a pair in Green. Here's some photos:

Studio Product Shot from Buchardt...
Buchardt%20S400II%20Color%20Sig%20Green.jpg


The crossover for the Buchardt S400IIs uses very high-quality parts. Danny Ritchie of GR-Research did some consulting for Mads Buchardt for the S400II's crossover design. As a result, the S400IIs utilize only very high-quality parts thoughout. All air-core inductors, high-quality resistors, Janzten Cross-Cap capacitors, and you'll note a MiFlex capacitor that Danny is a proponent of and also uses in his XO designs. No cheap-*ss iron-core inductors and sandcast resistors in these "bad boys". 👍

Buchardts%20S400II%20XO%20pic.png


Here's a shot of them set up in the system on Pangea stands...
Buchardt-S400II-and-Stands.jpg


Summing up, Buchardt S400IIs are incredibly musical and engaging speakers. You forget about all the audiophile "analysis-paralysis" behavior" and just get lost and completely immersed in the music. Which is what it's all about at the end of the day, in my book. 👍

They also have very impressive bass performance for their size, and are only -3dB down at 33Hz...without a subwoofer (they have a large passive radiator on the back of the cabinet).

Love 'em...absolutely love 'em! And at their price of €2100 for the standard version and €2500 for Color Signature Edition, IMHO, they are an absolutely superb value proposition, IMHO. 👍
 
Mikado463 said:
Glad to hear Stephen ! Heck the cross-over network alone is artwork in its own right !
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Ohh, yeah. Mads Buchardt pulled out "all the stops" on the crossover. I spoke to Danny Ritchie about it on his forum at Audio Circle and he provided some context on what he advised to Mads, including the use of the MiFlex capacitor.

The key thing about the Buchardts is that you just get "lost" in the presentation. Kinda hard to describe exactly, but they are incredibly engaging, musically speaking, to listen to.
 
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FWIW my 'Baby Totems' I have in my living room set up I filled with 50/50 lead shot and sand years back and it did make a noticeable improvement of the bottom end, granted there wasn't much there to begin with ! Also and I know it's a whole different scenario with speaker stands.............
 
Congratulations! Those look superb.

What height are those Pangea stands?
At what height does Burkhardt recommend your position the mid bass driver?



.
 
Nikhil said:
Congratulations! Those look superb.

What height are those Pangea stands?
At what height does Burkhardt recommend your position the mid bass driver?



.
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IIRC, the stands are 29", They may appear to be higher than this in the photo above, but that's simply due the position of and perspective of the camera lens to the speakers.

I've positioned the height of the speakers such that my ear level is the at midpoint between the bass driver on top and the tweeter on the bottom of the cabinet. I fine-tune the exact height, though, by how much I rotate forward or back in my Human Touch reclining zero gravity chair. I just rotate forward or back until the image "locks in".
 
slowgeezr said:
Congrats, they look superb!
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Thanks. They sound, superb, too. Very engaging, musically.

Here's photo of the large passive radiator on the back of the cabinet that helps to provide their impressive bass performance for their size. I also use a REL sub that is connected to the amp's binding posts for fully fleshing out the lowest bass registers. There are also Argento speaker cable binding posts and nice engraved brass plate.

S400II%20Green%20Rear.webp
 
Puma Cat said:
Thanks. They sound, superb, too. Very engaging, musically.

Here's photo of the large passive radiator on the back of the cabinet that helps to provide their impressive bass performance for their size. I also use a REL sub that is connected to the amp's binding posts for fully fleshing out the lowest bass registers. There are also Argento speaker cable binding posts and nice engraved brass plate.

S400II%20Green%20Rear.webp
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I think adding a passive radiator to a smaller speaker makes a lot of sense.
 
slowgeezr said:
I think adding a passive radiator to a smaller speaker makes a lot of sense.
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Agreed. I'm listening to my S400Iis right now playing some Joaquin Rodrigo with the Romero Quartet, and they are absolutely wonderful. They are incredibly...musical.
 
TheHills44060 said:
That shade of green looks fantastic. Something relaxing about it. Not something I would have appreciated without seeing the pictures.
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Yes, they're very nice. These are the Color Signature Editions and, IIRC, are now sold out except for the Dusk Orange color. They were limited to 25 pair in each color, worldwide. You can still get the standard model in black or white and some veneer finishes. The only difference is the standard specification don't use silver wire internally for the crosover, or the Argento binding posts. The standard model is what I reviewed and they impressed me so much that I decided to buy them.
 
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Mechnutt said:
These speakers are on my short list when we decide to move and downsize. Thanks Puma.
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You'll love them. They are exceptionally music-engaging and just do everything right, in my experience. They also have impressive bass performance, and are only -3dB down at 33 Hz (without a sub). Their imaging and soundstage is very impressive as well.
 
Thx. My son and I have been following this brand for a couple of years. Your review was excellent and convincing. I am usually very cautious about reviews but I trust and value your opinion. It was your review that convinced me to buy the Gold Note phono preamp which arrives in 2 days. I wish that they would come out with a floor stander. I am so use to the huge sound of Magnepans.

The other speaker that I am looking at are the Arendal 1528 Monitor 8's. They have a 60 day return policy with free shipping both ways but they weigh in at 100 pounds each for very tall monitors. They use HDF instead of mdf and it is 1.5 inches thick I believe. Probably too heavy for me as I approach 70 years old within 4 years. Plus they are almost $7k. I love the cost of the S400. Especially as I move on to a higher end tube integrated lie an Ayon or similar.

How large a room would you recommend for the S400?

Thanks again.
 
Mechnutt said:
Thx. My son and I have been following this brand for a couple of years. Your review was excellent and convincing. I am usually very cautious about reviews but I trust and value your opinion. It was your review that convinced me to buy the Gold Note phono preamp which arrives in 2 days. I wish that they would come out with a floor stander. I am so use to the huge sound of Magnepans.

The other speaker that I am looking at are the Arendal 1528 Monitor 8's. They have a 60 day return policy with free shipping both ways but they weigh in at 100 pounds each for very tall monitors. They use HDF instead of mdf and it is 1.5 inches thick I believe. Probably too heavy for me as I approach 70 years old within 4 years. Plus they are almost $7k. I love the cost of the S400. Especially as I move on to a higher end tube integrated lie an Ayon or similar.

How large a room would you recommend for the S400?

Thanks again.
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Thanks so much for your very kind words. The Buchardt Color Special Editions are also made of HDF as well as using higher quality wire and binding posts. The standard edition Buchardt S400II's are so wonderful, though, that if the Color Special Editions weren't available, I would have bought the standard-spec S400IIs.

As for the size of the room, I can't really say as I've only heard them in my own small space. I have the speakers 3' in front of the front wall, placed about 6.5' apart and I sit 7" in front of them. Regardless, they project a very spacious soundstage that is tall, deep, and wide, so my thought is they'd work well in a variety of room sizes.

Also, please note, I'm referring to the S400II's not the S400s. IIRC, the original S400 is no longer in production.
BTW, Buchardt has a 45-day return policy, so if they don't work out for you, you can return them for a full return. Also, the purchase price includes shipping and insurance delivered via UPS to your door. You'll generally receive them 3-5 days from placing your order.

Personally, I can't recommend the Buchardt S400IIs highly enough. When you consider that Value=Quality/Price, and when you factor in that they come with a 10 year warranty, a no-questions asked 45-day return policy, they are a superb value proposition. BTW, one of my local audio buddies in the SF Audiophile Foundation bought a pair on sharing my impressions and experiences of them in our weekly Friday Zoom meet-ups, and he absolutely loves them, too. IMHO, you can't go wrong with the Buchardt S400IIs.

Here's the key thing about them: they are just so musically-engaging and involving that you forget about all that male audiophiile "analysis behavior'" and you just get fully engaged, immersed, and lost in the music. They are just wonderful that way, and for me personally, they are the best and most musically-satisfying speakers I've ever owned.

Regarding the Gold Note PH-10: Yes, it's an excellent and wonderful phono stage. It's very musically satisfying to listen to and beautifully made. If I were shopping for one, it'd be at the top of my list.

Please let me know if you decide to order a pair of the Buchardts. Cheers.
 
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