Fantastic review Tarun! Really love the more technical approach you bring to the otherwise many reviews on the s400 out there. I need to make a small correction to the presentation though : Kasper Raun is not currently working at Hansong, he did though :) there have been a lot of miss information / misunderstanding regarding our back story done by some previous reviewers that simply had misunderstood a few things. Thank you so much for taking the time to give them a listen, please keep doing this as we need more reviewers like you 🙏👍
Hi Mads, thank you for the clarification and I am glad you liked the review. Thank you for sending the speakers out for review. The S400s are a really interesting design and should be on the shortlist of anyone looking for speakers in this price category (within the use case scenario, of course). I wish you every success in the future.
@@HowIsThat69 The Designer was Kasper Raun. As for the parts, these are selected from quality and price. We do offer a Signature crossover where the impedance correction circuit is cut out (as must that goes for them have quality amps). Here we also used some very high end caps and resistors from Jantzen Audio
The review is spot on, I own a pair and can confirm that. I my opinion live recordings are where they shine the most. Acoustic guitars sound like they are in the room, I tried comparing actually. Not brilliant at Michael Jackson though because of the softer edge on the beat.
@Free Speech Ok? Care to elaborate. I think they're a brilliant speaker per their design goal. I typically prefer a different approach, but I'd love to have a pair of these because they're done so well.
I have these speakers, and I love to have people over to hear my system. They may not know stereo systems, but my system "wows" people . But the best compliment I can give is that they still WOW me. I drive them with a Class D amplifier, Peachtree Nova 300, and went this direction because there is no doubt that the Buchardt Audio S400 speakers need power to sound their best. Mads was consulted before my amplifier purchase. Within my price range, this was the best choice. In my case, I have the speakers set up by my Television, because they are FANTASTIC FOR MOVIES. But this is a 80 square meter room, and is highly reflective. I do not feel the sound becomes boomy or shrill. Otherwise, I note that the S400's are not enjoyable at low volumes, and this was KNOWN to me before I bought the speakers; if I were to add a system in a smaller room, I would not go with the S400's. I have the suspicion that the coming self-powered (almost certain Class D amplifiers) S500's will solve this problem, by using the rear facing active woofer, instead of the passive radiator. If I had known that this choice was coming, I may have waited on buying the Amplifier and waited for the reviews that I expect to be positive. The S500's have the potential to be shockingly cost effective. I enjoyed this review, found it mostly consistent with others, more technical, but really honest. When he describes the listener that would be drawn to the S400's, he was describing my tastes exactly. But I admit, I don't consider myself an audiophile, just someone that wanted the full warm sound, without a subwoofer. The S400's have exceeded my expectations.
Hi sooththetruth, thank you for watching and sharing. I really enjoyed reading about your experiences. If you care about music and how it sounds, that makes you an audiophile in my book. We need to reclaim this word back from the snobs. 😉👍
Possibly the most underrated HiFi reviewer on UA-cam. This video really showcases your channel as of of the best s400 reviews. Especially considering that this is perhaps the most reviewed speaker of recent years. I look forward to seeing this channel flourish!
Absolutely the BEST review on UA-cam,very detailed and to the point.Have owned.The S400 paired with the NAD M10/M22 combo for about 6 months now and once you take the time to set them up they are truly great speakers!! Are they for everyone (NO) but no speaker is.
Don´t think i´ve ever come across someone so knowledgeable in the world of hifi! I normally pass on youtube clips when it come to budget and mid end hifi but you knowledge impresses me.
Hi Tarun. Thank you for contributing your time to build up this UA-cam channel. I hope your reviews will remain as objective as always, especially as your channel continues to grow and evolve. My personal preference leans towards a brighter Focal/KEF house sound, so S400's are indeed too warm and full sounding in the lower-mid range for my taste. However, after having owned the S400's for over a year, I've come to admire their capabilities in a 2.0 home theater environment. My family members appreciate the exceptional off-axis response and the extra kick from those passive radiators. After giving it a lot of thought, I moved the old KEF LS50's to my desktop rig, and let Buchardt S400 dominate the living room. What wouldn't we do for our families, right? 😉 One point I felt that you neglected to mention in your review is imaging. From my experience, sound image is not the S400's forte. I've struggled a lot with speaker placement and tow-in, but no matter what I do, instrument placement continues to be a bit vague. If you know how to get that pin-point center image from S400's I would be happy to hear.
Thank you Vicky, I really enjoyed reading about your experiences with the S400s. You are right, the central image is not quite as sharp as my Proac 1SCs. I suspect Mads and Kasper traded a little on axis performance for that exceptional off axis performance by virtue of the waveguide. The main problem is that the leading edge of notes aren’t quite as cleanly defined as with my 1SCs. This slight lack of resolution and definition can be perceived as vagueness in lead instruments/vocals and the central image. It is there but not quite as focussed as the best at this price point. Try moving your speakers further apart and toeing them in so that the tweeters point directly to you. It may work? Ultimately, the room will decide. Thank you, once again 😉👍
@Fat Rat Please keep in mind that I only have experience with bookshelf speakers that are priced around $1500-$2000 USD. With that said, B&W 706 had exceptional imaging and instrument separation in my room, but tonality-wise I preferred to keep the LS50's. The LS50 images very well even compared to the B&W, but the B&W does push it aside on some complex tracks. It is also worth mentioning that LS50 images better as you get closer to it, so it feels very comfortable in a nearfield system.
Damned brilliant! It's always a pleasure to listen to competent people. Now I am looking forward to hearing your comments about the A500 in the standard configuration, of course.
I have learned a bit about loudspeaker design and it's very refreshing to watch a review that mentions impedance curves, driver cone material, time alignment, beaming frequency, and so on. Currently my fav reviewer in the UA-cam scene! Keep up the excellent work!
Your commentary is a refreshing change vs the normal condescending snobby attitudes of some audiophile reviewers. You do not diminish the product because it does not require a thirty year mortgage to acquire. Thanks for taking us 'under your wing' and balancing impressions with performance. Great job!
Hi Marty, I am very passionate about getting more people exposed to good hifi and it doesn’t need to be expensive. That is the primary reason I started this channel. There are powered speakers for a coupe of hundred pounds out there that will sound great if you know a little about speaker set up and room acoustics. Thank you for watching and sharing 👍
I was considering trying out these speakers until I watched your review. As I am listening ‘near field’ at low volume, your review was extremely helpful in steering me away from these and some others , once you pointed out the issue. Your advice has helped shape my current setup, so thank you for that. The reason for posting was to request a review, although I’m not looking to change my system, I’m intrigued on hearing a comparison between the Hegel 160 + A400’s and a A500 setup. I wonder if the A500’s with their clever gizmo’s would solve the near field issue you highlighted. I think your insight and down to earth style of review would be fascinating!
Thank you Glendelous. I am currently doing exactly that. Comparing the S400s + H160 against the A500s. A lot to look at in that speaker. So hopefully it will be out in a few weeks 😊👍
One word: superb! Best review of these speakers bar none. You have a unique approach to reviewing hifi gear which is both informed, engrossing and easy to digest. Keep it up!
This is the best review of the S400 I've heard so far. Yes, there are other good reviews but this one gave me the clearest picture of what this speaker is about. The opening shot of the factory in China was brilliant!!!! Wow, I'd love to hang out and watch every step of their production relevant to these speakers. I'm in the market for some new speakers and I am considering Harbeth and/or Magnepan LRS's but now there has been a positive disturbance in the force and I have to reconsider these 400's. It's a tough life but I can do it. I get all of the near-field goodness I want from my rather excellent desk top system but having said that, I am concerned about low level listening with the 400's. I do enjoy background classical but jazz and decent rock often fit the bill as well. I guess the best part about any potential disappointment with Buchardt products is you can return them. Somehow that seems quite unlikely as this key-stone review has got me thinking about things Danish again. Excellent review ... I hope others are paying attention. Charles, Canada
Hi Charles, thank you for your kind words of support. I rally enjoyed reading your comments. As long as you are not using the S400s in nearfield or listening regularly at low volumes and you want a warm tonal balance, the S400s should definitely be on your shortlist. 👍😊
Everything said in the review regarding low listening levels is true, however there is an easy fix for this. Use the bass tone control on your amp/AVR at +2 to +4 and at low levels they are very impressive. That is how I'm running mine at the moment and they are superb.
@@roquesoprano913 Excellent question. I've heard the Dynaudio Evoke 20's and 10's and they are quite amazing, including in the bass. The passive radiator in the Buchardt's seems like an effective way to produce more bass, but my question would be how tight and clean is it compared to Dynaudio speakers?
This is a good fair review. I had a pair in my system but ultimately couldn't live with the rolled off treble, compared to my PMC DB1 Gold it seemed like there was a lot of missing information in this region. The design is extremely interesting for sure but I've heard a lot of British mini monitors that give a more balanced and less compromised presentation IMO. I'm glad I tried them though if only to rule them out as something I'd be unwilling to listen to long term.
This is a great review and I wish more reviewers presented info like this. Tonal balance, scenarios it is good in, weaknesses, and comparisons, along with some discussion of tech. Excellent!
Just Pulled the Trigger on them! Your insight into Design & Engineering...Amazing...Thank You! I have the S300's in my Wineroom...love them..can't wait to get these for my Livingroom....Thank You for Your Attention to Details Mate...from San Antonio, Texas...
Thank you for sharing your experiences Mark. I feel a bit of pressure now 😊. I hope they live up to expectations. Please let me know how you get on. 😉👍
Hi Tarun Thank you once again for another in-depth video. I am in the midst of researching for my next speaker upgrade and as l am looking for a bookshelf speaker that will give me good bass response the Buchardt S400 were very recently added to the list. l was very pleased that your review was positive about these speakers and the company’s new price structure. Keep up your excellent public service. 🙏🏾
This is a great review of a much reviewed pair of speakers...probably not an easy review to do since so many folks have reviewed them already...thanks for being so detailed and thoughtful!
Thank you for watching amusikpoem, you are absolutely right. I probably went into more detail about the design of these speakers than I would otherwise do. This is for two reasons. It is a very interesting design and I felt because it had been reviewed so many times before, there was no point in me posting a review unless I could add something new. I appreciate your support 😊👍
Hi Tarun! Very competent and in depth review! Most reviewers are so enamoured with the S 400, it was a bit of a surprise you found many caveats about them. Considering their price for a direct to consumer product, the sound and built quality must be impeccable. Thanks!
Super review.. even after seeing 10 different S400 review, I felt like I was hearing a review of these speakers for the first time in a way that really gave me the best sense of what these speakers are capable of doing...I can't quite explain it, but your review out of any I've heard, perhaps the subtle comparison's in the middle without hesitation about ruffling any feathers, made it all so cohesive. In how I process information, the technical info weaved in was super helpful as well. Thanks for bringing it all together.. Bravo.
Excellent review Tarun one or the best I've watched on a speakers/equipment I don't even need. For me the main reason I found the review compelling is, your tech talk at the start was sooooo easy to follow & understand,the fact you had a timeline there is a great idea but,I feel anyone that jumped to the timeline missed the best part of the video/review. It's heart warming to see your channel grow & grow & grow...keep up the excellent work. #hifi4ever
Thanks tarun another great in depth review & explanation of hifi terms I often hear but don’t understand what they really mean. I very much like what you say at the beginning there’ll be no gushing review on this channel 👍 there’s far too many manufacturers pushing products to so called influencers 🤮 who just spout the same old nonsense on every review.. Keep up the great work & I hope your channel grows even more 😀
Very informed review. I have two brief comments. I don't want a speaker to be warm or cold or anything else. I want it to accurately reproduce sound. If it's a bad recording, so be it. If a speaker fixes one issue due to its design, that built in correction factor will adversely affect being able to fully enjoy the nuances of other recordings. Also, while I understand the necessity to produce a product at a certain price point, I cannot understand why company after company continue to use cheap parts in their crossovers. Maybe a product's superior build quality, which would be praised by reviewers like yourself, would generate more sales which would offset the small extra cost of better quality electronics. Thank you for an outstanding review. By the way, I'm a big fan of passive radiators. If they are done right, they can really improve a speaker's bottom end, and they make it possible to get really big sound out of a relatively small package. I'm sure Mr. Buchardt would agree.
I miss Hifi stores where one could actually listen to gear one was thinking of purchasing. (I don't mean the mass-market stores with a wall of speakers though.) Glad you take the time to explaing the strength/weaknesses of these speakers.
Hi brown-eyed man, I miss them too. Those of us who have good dealers near us need to do all we can to support them. Especially at these challenging times. Thank you for watching 😉
I appreciate your educational no nonsense approach to sound reproduction. Hopefully other UA-camrs adjust. Floyd E. Toole developed the „Spinorama“ while he was research scientist at the National Research Council of Canada. After his retirement he worked as a consultant for Harman International. (from the 3rd ed. of his book on Sound Reproduction).
Tarun - really enjoyed your review. I like comparisons to give me a reference point and I like blend of the tech explained to see if they actually translates into audible results. I own a set of S400s which I've been ecstatic about. The aesthetics fit nicely with the style of my home, the forgiving placement is fantastic since I don't have a dedicated listening space, I love the low end, holographic sound and separation - make music very immersive. I'm with you on the "room for improvement" areas too. At low listening levels, the speakers don't work as well because they need a bit of upper-mid/treble boost otherwise you can't hear dialog/vocals very well. Fixed that with Schiit Loki+ and gave the uppermids/treble a kiss up. Have pre-ordered the S400 MKII - can't wait! Almost forgot to mention - I'm driving these with a Bakoon Amp13-R, which is only 25W @8ohm per channel. It's a current based amp, so that may be why it has no problems feeding the S400 - also I have them in a small room. Lovely combo with an R2R DAC.
Thank you GG. I really enjoyed learning about your experiences with the S400. I am not familiar with your amp but I seemed to be doing a fine job. Please let me know how you get on with the S400 Mk 2 😊👍
Great review, Tarun, thanks! Been waiting for this one. You are always very articulate, objective and offer excellent detail in your reviews. Your description of them seems to be in line with most other impressions and helps reinforce my desire to keep them on my list of potential new speakers. Like you, I have some bookshelf classics right now that I love, the Dynaudio Audience 42. Thanks!
Hi Sean, Dynaudio have produced something if my favourite speakers. I would love to get the Special Fourties in for review to compare to the S400s. Thank you for watching and your kind words of support 😉👍
I'm just enjoying every minute if your videos. Surprises me every time to watch a review done right. And your honesty really passes though the screen. Would love to hear more reviews especially on the Harbeth brand.
@Huw chardon Yeah... you are right. I should have bought them a year earlier. With Freya+ and 2 monoblock Vidars driving @400 watts each, Buchardt not only sing, they can blast my chest. I literally have to soundproofed my apartment in order to have a healthy relationship with the neighbors. Things are even get better once SOtM SMS200 Ultra Neo and SOtM SNH-10G become part of the system.
Great review! I agree with your observations. I think I can hear the extra bass plus I wish they were a bit more open and sometimes the details seem obscured but as I upgrade my components they sound better and better so in that sense I feel I am only scratching the surface of their potential. I look forward to more videos from you!
Hello Tarun, really enjoyed your review of this speaker and you are very well right on the comment of crossover component choices made by the manufacturer. Being a tweaker, your term DIYer, I do not share the company’s choice of resistors used simply because sand cast resistors are not the best choice nor are standard polypropylene capacitors. The air core inductors are the best and better if larger diameter wire is used. Without internal bracing, most speaker enclosures will have problems with resonances. This can be avoided by using denser and thicker walls and dampening the surfaces inside with thin dampening panels which have foam as a layer. Poly fill is marginal in my opinion as a dampening material. A minimalist answer to internal bracing would be to use pyramid shaped pressed wood corners at each of the eight corners of the inside of the box structure. I am sure there are those who won’t share my enthusiasm for correcting product deficiencies by modifying a design. I learned by using my understanding of materials and their characteristics while building my boss’s turntables in the eighties. Key to being a part of a solution to problems in product performance is knowing the product characteristics from a material aspect and addressing them effectively at the base level. Boxes are resonant cavities and as such require damping to remedy the issues caused so the listener ears are not offended. Pardon my lengthy explanation. If it requires further explanation, I will try!
Designing and building a speaker for commercial purposes likely involves answering two questions when choosing components: (1) does the choice of a particular component make an audible difference, and (2) is that difference enough to make a difference to the target market, enough to justify the extra cost? I suspect that the choice of more expensive resistors and caps are probably iffy on question #1 and a definite NO on question #2...
I will have to go along with the consensus, and agree, that this one of the best reviews I've seen of this speaker. I really enjoy your method for reviews. As a DIY'r, I will have to be one of those annoying people, and say, yes, there shouldn't be any wire wound resistors in that crossover. I am using SB Acoustics drivers in my own speakers, and I am pretty sure that the difference with MOX resistors in the crossovers. For all those people that own these, when your warranty runs out, you could life the sound quality of these by swapping the caps and resistors with better quality. And you wouldn't be losing any of what you like about them, either.
FWIW, I've tested many of the cast (wirewound) audio resistors with my DATS and their impedance is basically a flat line from 20 Hz to 20 kHz. Any inductance that they have will have no impact at audio frequencies. Their %variation OTOH may have some impact - that's why I use the audio-grade ones with their 2% ratings in my x-over builds, basically to ensure that what I sim is what I get :-)
Excellent review style....I’ve always said there’s no “best” speaker......they all have different presentation styles/ pros and cons. it all depends on your preferences. You explained brilliantly the circumstances where someone might love this speaker and more importantly you also explained why someone might dislike this speaker. Well done Tarun.
Impressed with.the review also you can purchase direct from the manufacturer. With the advent of dealers shrinking this could be the trend where you can purchase hifi direct from all the manufacturers. Please carry on the good work you do with the reviews as I find yours very comprehensive. Regards Brian.
Thank you for watching and your kind words of support Brian. I am striving to get the balance right between scratching below the surface without boring people to death. 😉👍
Great reviewTarun. I learn something new every time I listen to you. It would be great to hear your views of how this speaker compares to my ATC SCM 11 speakers.
@@abritishaudiophile7314 Speaking of actives, you should review/compare the Buchardt actives to the passives you have. I'll bet the actives are even better.
Thanks for this excellent review Tarun. I really like your measured approach to a review - never gushy or over the top. The Bristish Audiophile is the perfect name for you. I'm considering this speaker but am also considering going full digital with their S500 (3 x 150W amps in each speaker). The great thing about Buchardt's direct to consumer business model is that I can try for 45 days and here in Australia, it's very rare that any dealer allows this and certainly never accepts returns for a poor choice. have you had a chance to hear this set up yet as I understand the S500 is basically an S400 with amplificiation (that's probably an oversimplication but you get what I mean). Thanks again for a great channel and good luck - you definitely deserve a bigger audience.
Hi Denis, thank you for your support. Essentially the A500 is an active version of the S400 with a few enhancements. According to Mads Buchardt the active crossover and DSP take the performance to another level. I am hoping to put that to the test myself soon.
@@abritishaudiophile7314 Thanks for that Tarun. I'll keep a loook out for that one. BTW, I've looked at the Buchardt web page but I'm still unsure if the Hub + Remote are essential to the A500 or not. Any idea?
Exceptional review, Tarun. It was wonderful to hear all the detailed information you gave, and it was very appreciated. As far as the crossover parts go, I believe that possibly in some cases, the synergy produced is why it’s not upgraded, but I could be wrong. There’s also a price point to meet. Thanks for yet another excellent vid.
A couple of things to note about the x-over: (1) there is an electrolytic cap in there - it's that NPE 47uF cap in the upper right hand corner, likely in the woofer bypass circuit. Not much choice there - a 47uF poly cap would be HUGE. Like D-size battery huge. And the inductors are all mounted in different orientations - a known tweak to ensure that the electromagnetic fields from each inductor doesn't affect the others. I'd love to see the schematic for that x-over BTW. At first I thought it was a simple 4th order one (4th order on both woofer and tweeter). But the wire used in the three smaller inductors looks a little thin for bass driver duty. Hmm.
Great review. Subscribed. Best review I've seen/heard/read about the S400. I wish that it was suited for my bedroom for low level listening, but I otherwise love the S400. A Hegel H90 gets them going and that's the least expensive in the Hegel line.
Very nice & detailed review. Being from Copenhagen originally it's nice to see quality products still coming from the "Old Country". I have some experience with passive radiators (Sony) & understand how they can make a substantial difference in your listening experience. Thanks brother, i'm subscribing. Take care & stay safe.
The Danes have a fine tradition in loudspeaker design. I hope you are not too homesick. Thank you for watching and your support of this channel. It is very much appreciated 😉👍
As always Tarun a well researched, insightful and enjoyable video, plus your teaching background really does shine through. From a fellow electronic/electrical engineer the detail you provide is perfectly positioned I feel. Keep up the good work mate, 10k subs is a real achievement, however, I am certain these numbers will climb rapidly and deservedly so. 👍🏻
Thank you Lawrence. I am still taken aback by the amount of interest this channel has attracted. Very humbled by the amount of support people like yourself have given me. It is very much appreciated 😊👍
Thank you Tarun for comprehensive review. I still wonder weather has sense of buying this kind of speakers. Of course it punches above its weight but had I been on the market I would have gone floor stander route. There are floor standers that give the same for even less half of price. Just to mention few of them DALI zensor 7 . FOCAL CHORUS 726 .Triangle - Borea BR08 .MONITOR AUDIO BRONZE 6 , Klipsch RP-8000F. Q Acoustics 3050i with the benefits of not spending extra for the stands.
A good, informed review, Tarun - thanks! The waveguide on the tweeter reminded me of the pioneering work done by Technics on their SB-F1 forty years ago, though obviously the little SB-F1 can't compete with the Buchardt at the bottom end. I wonder how the S400 would compare to Canon's odd-looking, Allen Boothroyd-designed S series from the 90s, which seem to have had similar design goals re: dispersion and generous sweet spot and gone about achieving their aims in very different ways? (Again, of course, the Buchardts would win on bass extension.)
@@abritishaudiophile7314 You're most welcome. I'm a beginning audiophile, so it's great to learn from an expert. Years ago, I asked an audio consultant what he thought of my gear when I wanted to replace my Kef LS50 speakers with a pair of Harbeth P3esrs. "It's okay," he replied. "It sounds better than a home theater system." Naturally, that disappointing answer sounded more complimentary that, say, "I don't hate it." But someday, thanks to your and my dear friend Nick, I'll get my dream system if only in my dreams. :)
@@abritishaudiophile7314 True enough, but I'm too perfectionistic to think I'll ever reach moksha on earth. Computer science, Catholic theology, philosophy, and opera are the only fields I've learned much about. So it's easy to confuse me with electronics.
Great review Tarun. I love my S400s. I keep going back and forth between these and my Graham LS6 - each have their strengths (the S400’s advantage being mainly in the low end). I agree Mads should be very proud of them. I would love to see you compare these to the SE version.
Hi Rick, according to Mads Buchardt, the SE version is essentially the same speaker. The main difference being that it used a fancier crossover with Jantzen parts which provided a bit more “airy” quality to the top end. The reason it was quite a bit more expensive was because it was hand assembled by Mads and his brother in Denmark as opposed to China and came with a lifetime warranty. What would be more interesting, to me at least, is the soon to be released active version called the A500. Thank you for watching and commenting 👍
A British Audiophile agreed the A500 looks very interesting. I’m quite skeptical of built in class D amps in general but I would be happy to be surprised by them. Hopefully I’ll get a chance to hear them someday and would love to hear your thoughts on them if you manage to get a pair for evaluation. Regarding the SE edition of the S400, the main reason I’m curious is for the crossover and wiring upgrades and whether the HDF cabinet changes the sound at all. Mainly just curiosity on my part since there doesn’t seem to be much for reliable comparisons out there - as you say, perhaps this is for a reason (not much difference other than some top end air). Anyhow, have been enjoying your channel so far, keep up the great work!
Thank Rick. I can’t really comment much further about the sound of the SE version without having a pair to review and compare. I am merely conveying what Mads told me. If I get the A500s in for review, that would make an interesting comparison 😉
Excellent review. Even after seeing so many reviews on this particular speaker I still really enjoyed this one. Now the question is how will Buchardt’s new A500 actives compare against these. I love active speakers and I feel they may be the way to go as they eliminate the problem of amp matching. The 500’s are available for pre-order so we will have to wait to find out! I also want to mention the 500’s go down to 25 Hz which is another advantage. Bass to me is soooooo important and so many great bookshelf compact speakers fail here and you are left with a messy subwoofer situation in tight spaces.
Excellent review! I've been waiting to hear your thoughts on this speaker. I second your thoughts on pairing this speaker with higher powered amps with a bit more "bite". It does not have the zing like B&W, Proac, or KEF speakers do. I also find that adding tubes in the DAC/Pre enhances the depth even more - something my 1SC could not do (in my room). This makes some music sound like instruments/effects are coming from behind me - and I do not have a wall remotely close behind my listening position. Also interesting is the height. Music always sounds large and I find it good for orchestral/soundtrack music. Anyway, well done on the review!
@@cjpriustt I had sold my 1SC :-). Due to room limitations, I cannot integrate a sub in my room, so I do appreciate the s400s ability to go low. It just completes the music. The 1SC is no slouch though and I enjoyed it for 3 years.
Hi there Tarun, I got them today and i couldn't be more pleased with the sound, let me tell you i had a grate system onceuponatime i had a spark valve amp that you needed two people to pick it up, and i had a luxman cd player, with colin whatmough tower speakers, that sounded superb sounding system, my house was broken into and they took the lot, ever since i have serious trust issues so i dont have friends over any more, but remember when i told you i bought the second hand Nad Amp but never had speakers to test it? well im listening to my cd collection through it now! and it has plenty of power on tap so yer my days been good today hope your days been well, i have 5 kids well two little ones and 3 teenagers they love the sound to anyway hope to see some more of your content soon take care. 👍🎶🎶🎶✔😊✨.
Thank you Jason. I was sorry to hear about your system getting stolen. It happened to me many years ago and I know how devastating it can be. They even took my clothes ! I hope you get back to having a system you enjoy. As someone said to me we are here for a good time but not a long time. 😉
I won’t pretend to have the speaker knowledge needed to converse about such high range monitors, but I will say, that since I have experiencing passive bass radiators, it’s been a game changer for me. Hard to understand how so much low end can come from certain smallish speakers these days. Wow!
Hi Chuk, as always, great to hear for you. I hope you are well rested. You are right, the bass extension is something to get excited about. Reminds me of transmission line speakers. Maybe, I will finally get round to reviewing my 30 yr old Celestion 300 transmission mission line floorstanders to see which has better bass. Stay safe, buddy 😉
Good video, I've got a pair of burchard S400 with Primaluma preamp tube. Imaging awesome but you need a high end power amplifier like jeff Rowland amplifier or tube amplifier which I use to get the midrange and top end.
Hey Tarun. Perhaps the best insight of these speakers iv'e come across, and btw...thx for distribute Danish design and brands, but i have to pull out another important Danish brand, you didn't mention? It's of course "Audiovector", which founder Ole Kliforth, before he started Audiovector, was the founder of another Danish brand: F3 Lyd, which was responsible for the now legendary "Onken Focal", which saw the daylight in the early 80's. Maybe some here remember them by the design? It's the ones with a big bass cabinet, with a (i think) 10/12 " driver, and on top of that cabinet, you have a Eeg like white cabinet (made by a kind of concrete?), with the mid driver and tweeter. I owned a pair of these, and remember them as kicking ass when it comes to dynamic! After the succes of that speaker, he then designed the F3 Trapez Xi, which i also owned as a kit set, and "builded" myself. Another series was launched along the way, but after a decade or so, it faded away and he then started Audiovector, which is up & running as i write. Of course i could mention other brands, but i think Audiovector has owned it's place in the industry. Cheers from Denmark
@@abritishaudiophile7314 They are truly high-end, but also very good intro level speakers. I owned several designs from the founder, Ole Kliforth, and he knows he's way around building very good speakers.
A British Audiophile: I have KEF LS50 and they are very detailed with very good imaging and soundstage. They're particularly good with vocals, instrumentals, classical and jazz. For rock music, I think they are lacking, as I don't really feel as much of the energy and as enveloped in the music as one would expect listening to rock. So, I've been considering S400 because it may have an even bigger soundstage, more/better bass, and it just might fill what's missing when it comes to rock music. That said, I got m KEF LS50 for $900 USD a pair brand new. The S400 is going for just over $2000 US, so that's well over twice the price. I'm wondering if I'd be getting more than double the audio quality/experience in return? I know that I could get more airiness by getting a Denafrips Ares II DAC, and I could add a subwoofer to the LS50 and maybe those 2 things would help fill the void. Just wondering what you think or what you would advise?
Hi Stefan, as good as the S400s are, I would not suggest them in your case. They will provide a bigger sound with more bass but will also shift the tonal balance to a warmer and richer sound. I am not sure that this is the right move for someone who listens to a lot of rock music, A sub woofer will obviously extend the bass and this will help give you a better sense of scale. It is worth doing as long as you get a subwoofer that can keep pace with your main speakers (Rel, comes to mind). It may be worth adding a sub in any case as most systems benefit from having a subwoofer. If you still feel the system lacks dynamics then you need a bigger speaker. If you like your LS50s then the obvious choice would be to look at something in the Kef R range. Good luck and thank you for watching 😉
I'm from Canada, I own and would love to hear totem forest , rainmakers reviews, if u get your hands on them (I know u do what u can ) Your approach is interesting and entertaining , great channel hope u hit 40 k subscribers like some others on UA-cam !
Sir, i do like your videos but, as i say to everyone, please normalize your sound on every video so they all gonna be the same level. it is annoying to watch a few of those videos with different sound levels. promise us you will do this one, thank you and if i will visit your country someday i would like to get in touch with you and personally thank for the good quality content, clear talking and non BS videos. thank you! you have my respect!
Hi Ioan, thank you for putting up with the poor video and audio quality of my videos. They are shot on a new iPad Pro and should come out really well but clearly don’t ! I need to probably ditch it and get a decent camera and mixer so please bare with me. I appreciate you watching 😉👍
Most of the equipment you review is way out of my budget but I still watch your channel because the calibre of review and professionalism is just something else. Plus the knowledge is exceptional and I dont get the sense of product pushing like some UA-cam channels. Anyway, maybe as an occasional thing could you review some budget products such as Topping E30 DAC? I'd love to know how such products perform from the point of view of someone whom I consider an audiophile. Thanks.
Hi Sahin, I feel passionate about promoting inexpensive hifi products that have exceptional performance for the outlay. This will always be a central goal of my channel. My plan is to review a couple more speakers at this price point, then amplifiers around the £500 range for people who want to take the next step above the entry amplifiers. I will try to do reviews on budget gear as well. Thank you for watching 👍
Definitely the best review of the S400 on the net! A couple of rather specific question. Does the treble roll off causes "edges" to become rounded off or softened in some way? And how does it handle busy songs, are the instruments separated clearly enough?
Thank you Yogi. The leading edges are a little softer than with my Proac response 1SCs or the ATC SCM 19s. The overall tonal balance is on the dark side of neutral. Good separation between instruments though 😊👍
Hi! Tarun.... by now of course you would be aware that Buchardt has available on their web site a crossover upgrade for the original S400, 650 eurs. It would be wonderfull to have a review of that speaker with upgraded crossover ( made by Lantzen Audio of Denmark with high quality parts ) Yes there is now a MK II version at the same cost but with sales will come with sales of the original, so a good deal to be had. Giving the opportunity for those buyers to upgrade if desired which could in fact overall make it the same cost as the originals but with the upgrade crossover!...worth considering I think + comparing...?
Hi KVR Listening Room, Sean does a fantastic job and his channel is one of my go to’s to get accurate information about a product. He is one of the guys who inspired me to start my channel.
Thanks for that review. A bit late for me as I could not resist buying a nicely priced pair of returned whites. Great match w/ my old Lindemann amp4.99 delivering quite some watts which are needed. This might (wife needs to be informed) get replaced by a class-D like a XTZ. Hope is this would add to the top end. Base is great and even in my 50m² living room with high ceilings I do not miss a subwoofer. Again, Tarun, thanks for the great work. Like your channel a lot.
Thank you No Data. I suspect it may work well with the XTZ but can’t say for sure until you try it. The XTZ should be good at dealing with the 4 ohm load and have plenty of grip on the woofer and by implication, the passive radiator, as well as enough extension on the top end.
Great review Tarun. I am now a subscriber! I am relatively new in the hifi game. Just purchased an Anthem STR Intergrated, and I am wondering what your views are regarding how the s400's will partner with the integrated? I was considering DALI Rubicon 2's before I came across this review...
Hi Masood, I haven’t heard the Anthem STR but their other products were traditionally on the bright side of neutral. The S400s have a warm, slight dark tonal balance. On paper it looks like a good match but you can never tell unless you try it yourself. Thank you for watching and your support. Good luck 😊👍
Fantastic review Tarun! Really love the more technical approach you bring to the otherwise many reviews on the s400 out there. I need to make a small correction to the presentation though : Kasper Raun is not currently working at Hansong, he did though :) there have been a lot of miss information / misunderstanding regarding our back story done by some previous reviewers that simply had misunderstood a few things.
Thank you so much for taking the time to give them a listen, please keep doing this as we need more reviewers like you 🙏👍
Hi Mads, thank you for the clarification and I am glad you liked the review. Thank you for sending the speakers out for review. The S400s are a really interesting design and should be on the shortlist of anyone looking for speakers in this price category (within the use case scenario, of course). I wish you every success in the future.
Hi Mads. Who was in change of the crossovers, and the units used?
@@HowIsThat69 The Designer was Kasper Raun. As for the parts, these are selected from quality and price. We do offer a Signature crossover where the impedance correction circuit is cut out (as must that goes for them have quality amps). Here we also used some very high end caps and resistors from Jantzen Audio
The review is spot on, I own a pair and can confirm that. I my opinion live recordings are where they shine the most. Acoustic guitars sound like they are in the room, I tried comparing actually. Not brilliant at Michael Jackson though because of the softer edge on the beat.
@Free Speech Ok? Care to elaborate.
I think they're a brilliant speaker per their design goal.
I typically prefer a different approach, but I'd love to have a pair of these because they're done so well.
I have these speakers, and I love to have people over to hear my system. They may not know stereo systems, but my system "wows" people . But the best compliment I can give is that they still WOW me. I drive them with a Class D amplifier, Peachtree Nova 300, and went this direction because there is no doubt that the Buchardt Audio S400 speakers need power to sound their best. Mads was consulted before my amplifier purchase. Within my price range, this was the best choice. In my case, I have the speakers set up by my Television, because they are FANTASTIC FOR MOVIES. But this is a 80 square meter room, and is highly reflective. I do not feel the sound becomes boomy or shrill.
Otherwise, I note that the S400's are not enjoyable at low volumes, and this was KNOWN to me before I bought the speakers; if I were to add a system in a smaller room, I would not go with the S400's. I have the suspicion that the coming self-powered (almost certain Class D amplifiers) S500's will solve this problem, by using the rear facing active woofer, instead of the passive radiator. If I had known that this choice was coming, I may have waited on buying the Amplifier and waited for the reviews that I expect to be positive. The S500's have the potential to be shockingly cost effective.
I enjoyed this review, found it mostly consistent with others, more technical, but really honest. When he describes the listener that would be drawn to the S400's, he was describing my tastes exactly. But I admit, I don't consider myself an audiophile, just someone that wanted the full warm sound, without a subwoofer. The S400's have exceeded my expectations.
Hi sooththetruth, thank you for watching and sharing. I really enjoyed reading about your experiences. If you care about music and how it sounds, that makes you an audiophile in my book. We need to reclaim this word back from the snobs. 😉👍
For a well-reviewed speaker - and yeah, I thought, "Oh gee! ANOTHER Buchardt S400 review..." - your review was extremely good (with lots of detail)!
Thank you redstarwraith
Bravo to your technical point of view in this review. I can not think of anyone who does this kind of in depth reviewing.
Thank you Red Monster. I appreciate your support 😊👍
By far the most objective review I have seen on the S400s
Thank you Byron. I appreciate your support 👍😊
Possibly the most underrated HiFi reviewer on UA-cam.
This video really showcases your channel as of of the best s400 reviews. Especially considering that this is perhaps the most reviewed speaker of recent years.
I look forward to seeing this channel flourish!
Thank you for watching and your kind words of support 😉👍
Absolutely the BEST review on UA-cam,very detailed and to the point.Have owned.The S400 paired with the NAD M10/M22 combo for about 6 months now and once you take the time to set them up they are truly great speakers!! Are they for everyone (NO) but no speaker is.
Thank you for watching and sharing your experiences with the S400s. I appreciate your support 😉👍
Don´t think i´ve ever come across someone so knowledgeable in the world of hifi! I normally pass on youtube clips when it come to budget and mid end hifi but you knowledge impresses me.
Thank you William, you have got me blushing 😉
I appreciate your support.
You put quite a bit of intellectual effort in analyzing the nuances of this speaker. Thanks for sharing!
Thank you for watching Oleksii
Hi Tarun. Thank you for contributing your time to build up this UA-cam channel. I hope your reviews will remain as objective as always, especially as your channel continues to grow and evolve.
My personal preference leans towards a brighter Focal/KEF house sound, so S400's are indeed too warm and full sounding in the lower-mid range for my taste. However, after having owned the S400's for over a year, I've come to admire their capabilities in a 2.0 home theater environment. My family members appreciate the exceptional off-axis response and the extra kick from those passive radiators. After giving it a lot of thought, I moved the old KEF LS50's to my desktop rig, and let Buchardt S400 dominate the living room. What wouldn't we do for our families, right? 😉
One point I felt that you neglected to mention in your review is imaging. From my experience, sound image is not the S400's forte. I've struggled a lot with speaker placement and tow-in, but no matter what I do, instrument placement continues to be a bit vague. If you know how to get that pin-point center image from S400's I would be happy to hear.
Thank you Vicky, I really enjoyed reading about your experiences with the S400s. You are right, the central image is not quite as sharp as my Proac 1SCs. I suspect Mads and Kasper traded a little on axis performance for that exceptional off axis performance by virtue of the waveguide. The main problem is that the leading edge of notes aren’t quite as cleanly defined as with my 1SCs. This slight lack of resolution and definition can be perceived as vagueness in lead instruments/vocals and the central image. It is there but not quite as focussed as the best at this price point. Try moving your speakers further apart and toeing them in so that the tweeters point directly to you. It may work? Ultimately, the room will decide. Thank you, once again 😉👍
@Fat Rat Please keep in mind that I only have experience with bookshelf speakers that are priced around $1500-$2000 USD. With that said, B&W 706 had exceptional imaging and instrument separation in my room, but tonality-wise I preferred to keep the LS50's. The LS50 images very well even compared to the B&W, but the B&W does push it aside on some complex tracks. It is also worth mentioning that LS50 images better as you get closer to it, so it feels very comfortable in a nearfield system.
One of the best reviewers of HiFi I’ve come across. Your knowledge and the way you present information to the viewer is very insightful.
Thank you. That is vey much appreciated 😊👍
As usual Tarun has given a very balanced review. His eloquence and diction is a pleasure to listen to. Lovely Tarun!
Thank you Mahes. I appreciate you watching and your kind words of support 😊👍
Damned brilliant! It's always a pleasure to listen to competent people. Now I am looking forward to hearing your comments about the A500 in the standard configuration, of course.
Thank you Fabrizio. I greatly appreciate your support. Thank for reminding me, I need to email Mads Buchardt 😉👍👍
I have learned a bit about loudspeaker design and it's very refreshing to watch a review that mentions impedance curves, driver cone material, time alignment, beaming frequency, and so on. Currently my fav reviewer in the UA-cam scene! Keep up the excellent work!
Thank you for watching and your kind words of support Jason 😉👍
Your commentary is a refreshing change vs the normal condescending snobby attitudes of some audiophile reviewers. You do not diminish the product because it does not require a thirty year mortgage to acquire. Thanks for taking us 'under your wing' and balancing impressions with performance. Great job!
Hi Marty, I am very passionate about getting more people exposed to good hifi and it doesn’t need to be expensive. That is the primary reason I started this channel. There are powered speakers for a coupe of hundred pounds out there that will sound great if you know a little about speaker set up and room acoustics. Thank you for watching and sharing 👍
Excellent presentation. the review is on scale of journalism! Fantastic review and description.
Thank you angelo, that is very kind of you. I appreciate you watching and your support 👍😊
I was considering trying out these speakers until I watched your review. As I am listening ‘near field’ at low volume, your review was extremely helpful in steering me away from these and some others , once you pointed out the issue. Your advice has helped shape my current setup, so thank you for that.
The reason for posting was to request a review, although I’m not looking to change my system, I’m intrigued on hearing a comparison between the Hegel 160 + A400’s and a A500 setup. I wonder if the A500’s with their clever gizmo’s would solve the near field issue you highlighted.
I think your insight and down to earth style of review would be fascinating!
Thank you Glendelous. I am currently doing exactly that. Comparing the S400s + H160 against the A500s. A lot to look at in that speaker. So hopefully it will be out in a few weeks 😊👍
This was probably the best review of these speakers ive seen, great job!
Thank you for watching and commenting Neil 😉👍
One word: superb! Best review of these speakers bar none. You have a unique approach to reviewing hifi gear which is both informed, engrossing and easy to digest. Keep it up!
Thank you Anton. I appreciate your support 👍
This is the best review of the S400 I've heard so far. Yes, there are other good reviews but this one gave me the clearest picture of what this speaker is about. The opening shot of the factory in China was brilliant!!!! Wow, I'd love to hang out and watch every step of their production relevant to these speakers. I'm in the market for some new speakers and I am considering Harbeth and/or Magnepan LRS's but now there has been a positive disturbance in the force and I have to reconsider these 400's. It's a tough life but I can do it.
I get all of the near-field goodness I want from my rather excellent desk top system but having said that, I am concerned about low level listening with the 400's. I do enjoy background classical but jazz and decent rock often fit the bill as well. I guess the best part about any potential disappointment with Buchardt products is you can return them.
Somehow that seems quite unlikely as this key-stone review has got me thinking about things Danish again.
Excellent review ... I hope others are paying attention.
Charles, Canada
Hi Charles, thank you for your kind words of support. I rally enjoyed reading your comments. As long as you are not using the S400s in nearfield or listening regularly at low volumes and you want a warm tonal balance, the S400s should definitely be on your shortlist. 👍😊
A British Audiophile how different the S300 are in terms of low vol listening and tonal balance ? and dynaudio evoke ?
Everything said in the review regarding low listening levels is true, however there is an easy fix for this. Use the bass tone control on your amp/AVR at +2 to +4 and at low levels they are very impressive. That is how I'm running mine at the moment and they are superb.
Stick with the Harbeth's made in the UK and will last a lifetime.
@@roquesoprano913 Excellent question. I've heard the Dynaudio Evoke 20's and 10's and they are quite amazing, including in the bass. The passive radiator in the Buchardt's seems like an effective way to produce more bass, but my question would be how tight and clean is it compared to Dynaudio speakers?
This is a good fair review. I had a pair in my system but ultimately couldn't live with the rolled off treble, compared to my PMC DB1 Gold it seemed like there was a lot of missing information in this region. The design is extremely interesting for sure but I've heard a lot of British mini monitors that give a more balanced and less compromised presentation IMO. I'm glad I tried them though if only to rule them out as something I'd be unwilling to listen to long term.
Thank Gavin for watching my video and sharing your experiences with the S400s 😉👍
Rapidly becoming my favourite audiophile channel.
Thank you David. I appreciate your support 😉👍
This is a great review and I wish more reviewers presented info like this. Tonal balance, scenarios it is good in, weaknesses, and comparisons, along with some discussion of tech. Excellent!
Thank you twostepped999 👍😊
Always a pleasure to listen to you Tarun.
Thank you Simmo. Much appreciated 😊👍
Supreme knowledge, and a fresh take on a speaker we know very well through UA-cam. Terrific Review!
Thank you Small Room Audio, I appreciate your support 👍
Just Pulled the Trigger on them! Your insight into Design & Engineering...Amazing...Thank You! I have the S300's in my Wineroom...love them..can't wait to get these for my Livingroom....Thank You for Your Attention to Details Mate...from San Antonio, Texas...
Thank you for sharing your experiences Mark. I feel a bit of pressure now 😊. I hope they live up to expectations. Please let me know how you get on. 😉👍
Hi Tarun Thank you once again for another in-depth video. I am in the midst of researching for my next speaker upgrade and as l am looking for a bookshelf speaker that will give me good bass response the Buchardt S400 were very recently added to the list. l was very pleased that your review was positive about these speakers and the company’s new price structure. Keep up your excellent public service. 🙏🏾
Thank you Leonardo. I appreciate you watching and your kind words of support 😉👍
This is a great review of a much reviewed pair of speakers...probably not an easy review to do since so many folks have reviewed them already...thanks for being so detailed and thoughtful!
Thank you for watching amusikpoem, you are absolutely right. I probably went into more detail about the design of these speakers than I would otherwise do. This is for two reasons. It is a very interesting design and I felt because it had been reviewed so many times before, there was no point in me posting a review unless I could add something new. I appreciate your support 😊👍
Hi Tarun! Very competent and in depth review! Most reviewers are so enamoured with the S 400, it was a bit of a surprise you found many caveats about them. Considering their price for a direct to consumer product, the sound and built quality must be impeccable. Thanks!
Thank you Yves. I always strive for a balanced review 👍
Super review.. even after seeing 10 different S400 review, I felt like I was hearing a review of these speakers for the first time in a way that really gave me the best sense of what these speakers are capable of doing...I can't quite explain it, but your review out of any I've heard, perhaps the subtle comparison's in the middle without hesitation about ruffling any feathers, made it all so cohesive. In how I process information, the technical info weaved in was super helpful as well. Thanks for bringing it all together.. Bravo.
Thank you Hooman. I appreciate you watching and for your kind words of support 👍😊
Excellent review Tarun one or the best I've watched on a speakers/equipment I don't even need. For me the main reason I found the review compelling is, your tech talk at the start was sooooo easy to follow & understand,the fact you had a timeline there is a great idea but,I feel anyone that jumped to the timeline missed the best part of the video/review.
It's heart warming to see your channel grow & grow & grow...keep up the excellent work.
#hifi4ever
Thank you ev for watching and your kind words of support. I was trying to get the right balance with tech talk and relatable information.
Your review is refreshing, informative, and I really enjoy the learning! Please keep it going and I'd like to see more :)
Thank you Raphael. I appreciate your support 👍
Thanks tarun another great in depth review & explanation of hifi terms I often hear but don’t understand what they really mean.
I very much like what you say at the beginning there’ll be no gushing review on this channel 👍 there’s far too many manufacturers pushing products to so called influencers 🤮 who just spout the same old nonsense on every review..
Keep up the great work & I hope your channel grows even more 😀
Thank you Madds66, I appreciate you watching and your kind words of support 😊👍
I was like OMG
another B review, but this one is different and probably the best!
Thank you novica toncic 😉👍
Very informed review. I have two brief comments. I don't want a speaker to be warm or cold or anything else. I want it to accurately reproduce sound. If it's a bad recording, so be it. If a speaker fixes one issue due to its design, that built in correction factor will adversely affect being able to fully enjoy the nuances of other recordings. Also, while I understand the necessity to produce a product at a certain price point, I cannot understand why company after company continue to use cheap parts in their crossovers. Maybe a product's superior build quality, which would be praised by reviewers like yourself, would generate more sales which would offset the small extra cost of better quality electronics. Thank you for an outstanding review. By the way, I'm a big fan of passive radiators. If they are done right, they can really improve a speaker's bottom end, and they make it possible to get really big sound out of a relatively small package. I'm sure Mr. Buchardt would agree.
Mads Buchardt would agree. Thank you for watching and sharing Mike 😊👍
I miss Hifi stores where one could actually listen to gear one was thinking of purchasing. (I don't mean the mass-market stores with a wall of speakers though.) Glad you take the time to explaing the strength/weaknesses of these speakers.
Hi brown-eyed man, I miss them too. Those of us who have good dealers near us need to do all we can to support them. Especially at these challenging times. Thank you for watching 😉
Best hifi reviews on UA-cam, no BS well presented facts.
Thank you Péter 😉👍
I appreciate your educational no nonsense approach to sound reproduction. Hopefully other UA-camrs adjust.
Floyd E. Toole developed the „Spinorama“ while he was research scientist at the National Research Council of Canada. After his retirement he worked as a consultant for Harman International. (from the 3rd ed. of his book on Sound Reproduction).
Thank you Christian. I appreciate you watching 😉👍
Tarun - really enjoyed your review. I like comparisons to give me a reference point and I like blend of the tech explained to see if they actually translates into audible results. I own a set of S400s which I've been ecstatic about. The aesthetics fit nicely with the style of my home, the forgiving placement is fantastic since I don't have a dedicated listening space, I love the low end, holographic sound and separation - make music very immersive. I'm with you on the "room for improvement" areas too. At low listening levels, the speakers don't work as well because they need a bit of upper-mid/treble boost otherwise you can't hear dialog/vocals very well. Fixed that with Schiit Loki+ and gave the uppermids/treble a kiss up. Have pre-ordered the S400 MKII - can't wait! Almost forgot to mention - I'm driving these with a Bakoon Amp13-R, which is only 25W @8ohm per channel. It's a current based amp, so that may be why it has no problems feeding the S400 - also I have them in a small room. Lovely combo with an R2R DAC.
Thank you GG. I really enjoyed learning about your experiences with the S400. I am not familiar with your amp but I seemed to be doing a fine job. Please let me know how you get on with the S400 Mk 2 😊👍
Great review, Tarun, thanks! Been waiting for this one. You are always very articulate, objective and offer excellent detail in your reviews. Your description of them seems to be in line with most other impressions and helps reinforce my desire to keep them on my list of potential new speakers. Like you, I have some bookshelf classics right now that I love, the Dynaudio Audience 42. Thanks!
Hi Sean, Dynaudio have produced something if my favourite speakers. I would love to get the Special Fourties in for review to compare to the S400s. Thank you for watching and your kind words of support 😉👍
I'm just enjoying every minute if your videos. Surprises me every time to watch a review done right. And your honesty really passes though the screen. Would love to hear more reviews especially on the Harbeth brand.
Thank you Astro 👍
You are quite an excellent and thorough reviewer; clicked subscribe without hesitation. Thank you.
Thank you Ben. I appreciate you watching and your support 😉👍
Congrats on the 10k subscribers. I'm looking forward to more exceptional content from your channel.
Thank you Dat. I appreciate your support 😉👍
This review that made me pull the trigger on ordering S400
I hope you enjoy them 😉👍
@Huw chardon Yeah... you are right. I should have bought them a year earlier. With Freya+ and 2 monoblock Vidars driving @400 watts each, Buchardt not only sing, they can blast my chest. I literally have to soundproofed my apartment in order to have a healthy relationship with the neighbors. Things are even get better once SOtM SMS200 Ultra Neo and SOtM SNH-10G become part of the system.
The best review of these speakers I've heard by far. I have subscribed.
Thank you James 😉👍 I appreciate you watching and your support.
Great review! I agree with your observations. I think I can hear the extra bass plus I wish they were a bit more open and sometimes the details seem obscured but as I upgrade my components they sound better and better so in that sense I feel I am only scratching the surface of their potential. I look forward to more videos from you!
Thank you for watching and sharing your experiences Phil 😉
Hello Tarun, really enjoyed your review of this speaker and you are very well right on the comment of crossover component choices made by the manufacturer. Being a tweaker, your term DIYer, I do not share the company’s choice of resistors used simply because sand cast resistors are not the best choice nor are standard polypropylene capacitors. The air core inductors are the best and better if larger diameter wire is used. Without internal bracing, most speaker enclosures will have problems with resonances. This can be avoided by using denser and thicker walls and dampening the surfaces inside with thin dampening panels which have foam as a layer. Poly fill is marginal in my opinion as a dampening material. A minimalist answer to internal bracing would be to use pyramid shaped pressed wood corners at each of the eight corners of the inside of the box structure. I am sure there are those who won’t share my enthusiasm for correcting product deficiencies by modifying a design. I learned by using my understanding of materials and their characteristics while building my boss’s turntables in the eighties. Key to being a part of a solution to problems in product performance is knowing the product characteristics from a material aspect and addressing them effectively at the base level. Boxes are resonant cavities and as such require damping to remedy the issues caused so the listener ears are not offended. Pardon my lengthy explanation. If it requires further explanation, I will try!
Thank you Mark, always a pleasure to read your insights. Very clear and informative. Thank you for watching and sharing 👍😊
Designing and building a speaker for commercial purposes likely involves answering two questions when choosing components: (1) does the choice of a particular component make an audible difference, and (2) is that difference enough to make a difference to the target market, enough to justify the extra cost? I suspect that the choice of more expensive resistors and caps are probably iffy on question #1 and a definite NO on question #2...
All I can say is this was an excellent, informative review!
Thank you Mike 😉👍
I will have to go along with the consensus, and agree, that this one of the best reviews I've seen of this speaker. I really enjoy your method for reviews.
As a DIY'r, I will have to be one of those annoying people, and say, yes, there shouldn't be any wire wound resistors in that crossover.
I am using SB Acoustics drivers in my own speakers, and I am pretty sure that the difference with MOX resistors in the crossovers.
For all those people that own these, when your warranty runs out, you could life the sound quality of these by swapping the caps and resistors with better quality. And you wouldn't be losing any of what you like about them, either.
Thank you pandstar for watching, your kind words of support and for sharing your experiences 😉
FWIW, I've tested many of the cast (wirewound) audio resistors with my DATS and their impedance is basically a flat line from 20 Hz to 20 kHz. Any inductance that they have will have no impact at audio frequencies. Their %variation OTOH may have some impact - that's why I use the audio-grade ones with their 2% ratings in my x-over builds, basically to ensure that what I sim is what I get :-)
This is the first positive review I've saw on this speaker.
Thank you for watching ghogue61
Excellent, by far most informative review of the S400s!
Thank you Yogi, I appreciate you watching and your kind words of support 😊👍
Excellent review style....I’ve always said there’s no “best” speaker......they all have different presentation styles/ pros and cons. it all depends on your preferences. You explained brilliantly the circumstances where someone might love this speaker and more importantly you also explained why someone might dislike this speaker. Well done Tarun.
Thank you Sheff Steel, I appreciate your kind words of support 😉👍
Just found your channel and subscribed, thoroughly enjoying your presentations. In the middle of a binge watch!
Thank warren, I hope I haven’t bored you to oblivion. Thank you for watching 😉👍
Excellent review, separates the man (that's you) from the boys. My attempt at humor. Best review of the S400 I've seen.
Thank you SonicPalpability. I appreciate your support 😉👍
Impressed with.the review also you can purchase direct from the manufacturer.
With the advent of dealers shrinking this could be the trend where you can purchase hifi direct from all the manufacturers.
Please carry on the good work you do with the reviews as I find yours very comprehensive.
Regards Brian.
Thank you for watching and your kind words of support Brian. I am striving to get the balance right between scratching below the surface without boring people to death. 😉👍
Great reviewTarun. I learn something new every time I listen to you. It would be great to hear your views of how this speaker compares to my ATC SCM 11 speakers.
Bring them over next time you visit and we will find out. Their big brother’s, SCM19s should be on the way 😉👍
Great review approach. I find your explanatory style and logical approach very appealing. Thank you.
Thank you for watching and your continued support of this channel イエンスヨハンセン 😉👍
An Excellent review that provides exactly what people need. You should be giving lessons on how to do reviews of products. Thanks
Thank you R Tomp. I appreciate you watching and your kind words of support 😉👍
Congrats on reaching 🎉 10000 subs.
Thank you Randy 👍😉
excellent review precise and to the point .well done sir. u deserve many more subs
Thank you gerard 😉👍
I enjoy the tech talk on the speakers few have the knowledge to really get into. Excellent info,
Thank you Will 😉👍
@@abritishaudiophile7314 Speaking of actives, you should review/compare the Buchardt actives to the passives you have. I'll bet the actives are even better.
I am planning to Will.
Thanks for this excellent review Tarun. I really like your measured approach to a review - never gushy or over the top. The Bristish Audiophile is the perfect name for you. I'm considering this speaker but am also considering going full digital with their S500 (3 x 150W amps in each speaker). The great thing about Buchardt's direct to consumer business model is that I can try for 45 days and here in Australia, it's very rare that any dealer allows this and certainly never accepts returns for a poor choice. have you had a chance to hear this set up yet as I understand the S500 is basically an S400 with amplificiation (that's probably an oversimplication but you get what I mean). Thanks again for a great channel and good luck - you definitely deserve a bigger audience.
Hi Denis, thank you for your support. Essentially the A500 is an active version of the S400 with a few enhancements. According to Mads Buchardt the active crossover and DSP take the performance to another level. I am hoping to put that to the test myself soon.
@@abritishaudiophile7314 Thanks for that Tarun. I'll keep a loook out for that one. BTW, I've looked at the Buchardt web page but I'm still unsure if the Hub + Remote are essential to the A500 or not. Any idea?
Exceptional review, Tarun. It was wonderful to hear all the detailed information you gave, and it was very appreciated. As far as the crossover parts go, I believe that possibly in some cases, the synergy produced is why it’s not upgraded, but I could be wrong. There’s also a price point to meet.
Thanks for yet another excellent vid.
Excellent points Nick. Thank you for watching and commenting 😉👍
Thanks for your always excellent reviews.
Thank you Randy 😊
First time saw u today. Super S400 review and I rang the bell immediately.
Thank you Vinod. I appreciate you watching and your support 😉👍
A couple of things to note about the x-over: (1) there is an electrolytic cap in there - it's that NPE 47uF cap in the upper right hand corner, likely in the woofer bypass circuit. Not much choice there - a 47uF poly cap would be HUGE. Like D-size battery huge. And the inductors are all mounted in different orientations - a known tweak to ensure that the electromagnetic fields from each inductor doesn't affect the others.
I'd love to see the schematic for that x-over BTW. At first I thought it was a simple 4th order one (4th order on both woofer and tweeter). But the wire used in the three smaller inductors looks a little thin for bass driver duty. Hmm.
Thank you for your insights Brian. I recall something about it being a 3rd order but can’t say for sure 😉👍
Glad i found your channel! never change never stop!
Thank you brainache555 (love your name, by the way). Thank you for watching 😉😉
Great review. Subscribed. Best review I've seen/heard/read about the S400. I wish that it was suited for my bedroom for low level listening, but I otherwise love the S400. A Hegel H90 gets them going and that's the least expensive in the Hegel line.
Thank you for watching and sharing your experiences cosmo 😉👍
Very nice & detailed review. Being from Copenhagen originally it's nice to see quality products still
coming from the "Old Country".
I have some experience with passive radiators (Sony) & understand how they can make a substantial
difference in your listening experience. Thanks brother, i'm subscribing. Take care & stay safe.
The Danes have a fine tradition in loudspeaker design. I hope you are not too homesick. Thank you for watching and your support of this channel. It is very much appreciated 😉👍
As always Tarun a well researched, insightful and enjoyable video, plus your teaching background really does shine through. From a fellow electronic/electrical engineer the detail you provide is perfectly positioned I feel. Keep up the good work mate, 10k subs is a real achievement, however, I am certain these numbers will climb rapidly and deservedly so. 👍🏻
Thank you Lawrence. I am still taken aback by the amount of interest this channel has attracted. Very humbled by the amount of support people like yourself have given me. It is very much appreciated 😊👍
Thank you Tarun for comprehensive review. I still wonder weather has sense of buying this kind of speakers. Of course it punches above its weight but had I been on the market I would have gone floor stander route. There are floor standers that give the same for even less half of price. Just to mention few of them DALI zensor 7 . FOCAL CHORUS 726 .Triangle - Borea BR08 .MONITOR AUDIO BRONZE 6 , Klipsch RP-8000F. Q Acoustics 3050i with the benefits of not spending extra for the stands.
Thank you for watching and commenting benjamin 😉
A good, informed review, Tarun - thanks! The waveguide on the tweeter reminded me of the pioneering work done by Technics on their SB-F1 forty years ago, though obviously the little SB-F1 can't compete with the Buchardt at the bottom end. I wonder how the S400 would compare to Canon's odd-looking, Allen Boothroyd-designed S series from the 90s, which seem to have had similar design goals re: dispersion and generous sweet spot and gone about achieving their aims in very different ways? (Again, of course, the Buchardts would win on bass extension.)
Hi thisisnev, as always, great to hear from you. I would love get my hands on more vintage gear. Thank you for watching and sharing 👍
You're a great reviewer. I understand what you're telling us. But others confuse me with adjectives used to describe subjective impressions.
Thank you William. Very kind of you to say 😊👍👍
@@abritishaudiophile7314 You're most welcome. I'm a beginning audiophile, so it's great to learn from an expert. Years ago, I asked an audio consultant what he thought of my gear when I wanted to replace my Kef LS50 speakers with a pair of Harbeth P3esrs. "It's okay," he replied. "It sounds better than a home theater system." Naturally, that disappointing answer sounded more complimentary that, say, "I don't hate it." But someday, thanks to your and my dear friend Nick, I'll get my dream system if only in my dreams. :)
@@williammcenaney1331 we are all on our personal journey to audio nirvana 😊👍
@@abritishaudiophile7314 True enough, but I'm too perfectionistic to think I'll ever reach moksha on earth. Computer science, Catholic theology, philosophy, and opera are the only fields I've learned much about. So it's easy to confuse me with electronics.
@@williammcenaney1331 you are a wise man William 😊👍
Great review Tarun. I love my S400s. I keep going back and forth between these and my Graham LS6 - each have their strengths (the S400’s advantage being mainly in the low end). I agree Mads should be very proud of them. I would love to see you compare these to the SE version.
Hi Rick, according to Mads Buchardt, the SE version is essentially the same speaker. The main difference being that it used a fancier crossover with Jantzen parts which provided a bit more “airy” quality to the top end. The reason it was quite a bit more expensive was because it was hand assembled by Mads and his brother in Denmark as opposed to China and came with a lifetime warranty. What would be more interesting, to me at least, is the soon to be released active version called the A500. Thank you for watching and commenting 👍
A British Audiophile agreed the A500 looks very interesting. I’m quite skeptical of built in class D amps in general but I would be happy to be surprised by them. Hopefully I’ll get a chance to hear them someday and would love to hear your thoughts on them if you manage to get a pair for evaluation.
Regarding the SE edition of the S400, the main reason I’m curious is for the crossover and wiring upgrades and whether the HDF cabinet changes the sound at all. Mainly just curiosity on my part since there doesn’t seem to be much for reliable comparisons out there - as you say, perhaps this is for a reason (not much difference other than some top end air).
Anyhow, have been enjoying your channel so far, keep up the great work!
Thank Rick. I can’t really comment much further about the sound of the SE version without having a pair to review and compare. I am merely conveying what Mads told me. If I get the A500s in for review, that would make an interesting comparison 😉
That was a great thorough review. I would like to see you put out a review for the JBL studio 590. I enjoy watching your videos.
Thank you michael. I appreciate your support 😉
Excellent review. Even after seeing so many reviews on this particular speaker I still really enjoyed this one. Now the question is how will Buchardt’s new A500 actives compare against these. I love active speakers and I feel they may be the way to go as they eliminate the problem of amp matching. The 500’s are available for pre-order so we will have to wait to find out! I also want to mention the 500’s go down to 25 Hz which is another advantage. Bass to me is soooooo important and so many great bookshelf compact speakers fail here and you are left with a messy subwoofer situation in tight spaces.
I would also love to find out. Thank you for watching and commenting 😉
Excellent review! I've been waiting to hear your thoughts on this speaker. I second your thoughts on pairing this speaker with higher powered amps with a bit more "bite". It does not have the zing like B&W, Proac, or KEF speakers do. I also find that adding tubes in the DAC/Pre enhances the depth even more - something my 1SC could not do (in my room). This makes some music sound like instruments/effects are coming from behind me - and I do not have a wall remotely close behind my listening position. Also interesting is the height. Music always sounds large and I find it good for orchestral/soundtrack music. Anyway, well done on the review!
Thank you Ryan. Very interesting to learn about your experiences with the S400s and the 1SCs 😊
So Ryan, if you can only keep one, would it be the 1SC or S400?
@@cjpriustt I had sold my 1SC :-). Due to room limitations, I cannot integrate a sub in my room, so I do appreciate the s400s ability to go low. It just completes the music. The 1SC is no slouch though and I enjoyed it for 3 years.
Ryan Lucas. I can totally see how these speakers makes sense where floor space is limited. Save money on subs too.
Hi there Tarun, I got them today and i couldn't be more pleased with the sound, let me tell you i had a grate system onceuponatime i had a spark valve amp that you needed two people
to pick it up, and i had a luxman cd player, with colin whatmough tower speakers, that sounded superb sounding system, my house was broken into and they took the lot, ever since i have serious trust issues so i dont have friends over any more, but remember when i told you i bought the second hand Nad Amp but never had speakers to test it? well im listening to my cd collection through it now! and it has plenty of power on tap so yer my days been good today hope your days been well, i have 5 kids well two little ones and 3 teenagers they love the sound to anyway hope to see some more of your content soon take care. 👍🎶🎶🎶✔😊✨.
Thank you Jason. I was sorry to hear about your system getting stolen. It happened to me many years ago and I know how devastating it can be. They even took my clothes ! I hope you get back to having a system you enjoy. As someone said to me we are here for a good time but not a long time. 😉
@@abritishaudiophile7314 to true brother! to true.
I won’t pretend to have the speaker knowledge needed to converse about such high range monitors, but I will say, that since I have experiencing passive bass radiators, it’s been a game changer for me. Hard to understand how so much low end can come from certain smallish speakers these days. Wow!
Hi Chuk, as always, great to hear for you. I hope you are well rested. You are right, the bass extension is something to get excited about. Reminds me of transmission line speakers. Maybe, I will finally get round to reviewing my 30 yr old Celestion 300 transmission mission line floorstanders to see which has better bass. Stay safe, buddy 😉
Another fantastic review. Thanks
Thank you for watching and commenting B Shah
Good video, I've got a pair of burchard S400 with Primaluma preamp tube. Imaging awesome but you need a high end power amplifier like jeff Rowland amplifier or tube amplifier which I use to get the midrange and top end.
How about Primaluna amp with KT120 or KT150 tubes?
Thank you Newurbandeals 😉
Thorough Analysis...Thank You!!!
Thank you for watching and commenting 😉👍
Excellent review simply explained....
Thank you Olu 😊👍
Hey Tarun. Perhaps the best insight of these speakers iv'e come across, and btw...thx for distribute Danish design and brands, but i have to pull out another important Danish brand, you didn't mention? It's of course "Audiovector", which founder Ole Kliforth, before he started Audiovector, was the founder of another Danish brand: F3 Lyd, which was responsible for the now legendary "Onken Focal", which saw the daylight in the early 80's. Maybe some here remember them by the design? It's the ones with a big bass cabinet, with a (i think) 10/12 " driver, and on top of that cabinet, you have a Eeg like white cabinet (made by a kind of concrete?), with the mid driver and tweeter. I owned a pair of these, and remember them as kicking ass when it comes to dynamic! After the succes of that speaker, he then designed the F3 Trapez Xi, which i also owned as a kit set, and "builded" myself. Another series was launched along the way, but after a decade or so, it faded away and he then started Audiovector, which is up & running as i write. Of course i could mention other brands, but i think Audiovector has owned it's place in the industry. Cheers from Denmark
Thank you for sharing Thomas. I have heard of Audiovector brand but never listened to their speakers.
@@abritishaudiophile7314 They are truly high-end, but also very good intro level speakers. I owned several designs from the founder, Ole Kliforth, and he knows he's way around building very good speakers.
Thank you Thomas
A British Audiophile: I have KEF LS50 and they are very detailed with very good imaging and soundstage. They're particularly good with vocals, instrumentals, classical and jazz. For rock music, I think they are lacking, as I don't really feel as much of the energy and as enveloped in the music as one would expect listening to rock. So, I've been considering S400 because it may have an even bigger soundstage, more/better bass, and it just might fill what's missing when it comes to rock music. That said, I got m KEF LS50 for $900 USD a pair brand new. The S400 is going for just over $2000 US, so that's well over twice the price. I'm wondering if I'd be getting more than double the audio quality/experience in return? I know that I could get more airiness by getting a Denafrips Ares II DAC, and I could add a subwoofer to the LS50 and maybe those 2 things would help fill the void. Just wondering what you think or what you would advise?
Hi Stefan, as good as the S400s are, I would not suggest them in your case. They will provide a bigger sound with more bass but will also shift the tonal balance to a warmer and richer sound. I am not sure that this is the right move for someone who listens to a lot of rock music, A sub woofer will obviously extend the bass and this will help give you a better sense of scale. It is worth doing as long as you get a subwoofer that can keep pace with your main speakers (Rel, comes to mind). It may be worth adding a sub in any case as most systems benefit from having a subwoofer. If you still feel the system lacks dynamics then you need a bigger speaker. If you like your LS50s then the obvious choice would be to look at something in the Kef R range. Good luck and thank you for watching 😉
Once again great stuff. Thanks.
Thank you Sean 😉
Always enlightening,thanks.
Thank you Henry. I appreciate you watching 😉👍
I'm from Canada, I own and would love to hear totem forest , rainmakers reviews, if u get your hands on them (I know u do what u can )
Your approach is interesting and entertaining , great channel hope u hit 40 k subscribers like some others on UA-cam !
I would have to look into who distributes them in the U.K. Very much loved brand. Thank you for watching and your kind words of support 😊👍
Sir, i do like your videos but, as i say to everyone, please normalize your sound on every video so they all gonna be the same level. it is annoying to watch a few of those videos with different sound levels. promise us you will do this one, thank you and if i will visit your country someday i would like to get in touch with you and personally thank for the good quality content, clear talking and non BS videos. thank you! you have my respect!
Hi Ioan, thank you for putting up with the poor video and audio quality of my videos. They are shot on a new iPad Pro and should come out really well but clearly don’t ! I need to probably ditch it and get a decent camera and mixer so please bare with me. I appreciate you watching 😉👍
Most of the equipment you review is way out of my budget but I still watch your channel because the calibre of review and professionalism is just something else. Plus the knowledge is exceptional and I dont get the sense of product pushing like some UA-cam channels. Anyway, maybe as an occasional thing could you review some budget products such as Topping E30 DAC? I'd love to know how such products perform from the point of view of someone whom I consider an audiophile. Thanks.
Hi Sahin, I feel passionate about promoting inexpensive hifi products that have exceptional performance for the outlay. This will always be a central goal of my channel. My plan is to review a couple more speakers at this price point, then amplifiers around the £500 range for people who want to take the next step above the entry amplifiers. I will try to do reviews on budget gear as well. Thank you for watching 👍
Definitely the best review of the S400 on the net! A couple of rather specific question. Does the treble roll off causes "edges" to become rounded off or softened in some way? And how does it handle busy songs, are the instruments separated clearly enough?
Thank you Yogi. The leading edges are a little softer than with my Proac response 1SCs or the ATC SCM 19s. The overall tonal balance is on the dark side of neutral. Good separation between instruments though 😊👍
@@abritishaudiophile7314 Thank you for answering, that helped massively!
Hi! Tarun.... by now of course you would be aware that Buchardt has available on their web site a crossover upgrade for the original S400, 650 eurs. It would be wonderfull to have a review of that speaker with upgraded crossover ( made by Lantzen Audio of Denmark with high quality parts ) Yes there is now a MK II version at the same cost but with sales will come with sales of the original, so a good deal to be had. Giving the opportunity for those buyers to upgrade if desired which could in fact overall make it the same cost as the originals but with the upgrade crossover!...worth considering I think + comparing...?
Thank you Alain. I appreciate the suggestion. I need to speak to Mads when the schedule clears 😊👍
Taran: "Unusually, the tweeter is below the woofer"
Almost all Mission speakers: "AHEM!" :-)
I still have a pair of them Brian 😉
Excellent review
Thank you Doug 😉👍
Well explained sound characteristics. Look like you have caliber to take over zero Fidelity interns of giving right expectations
Hi KVR Listening Room, Sean does a fantastic job and his channel is one of my go to’s to get accurate information about a product. He is one of the guys who inspired me to start my channel.
Sean and Andrew Robinson are two of the best at explaining sound detail and Tarun is the next go to guy. Watch this space. 👍
outstanding review
Thank you Newf Guy. I appreciate you watching 😉👍
Thanks for that review. A bit late for me as I could not resist buying a nicely priced pair of returned whites. Great match w/ my old Lindemann amp4.99 delivering quite some watts which are needed. This might (wife needs to be informed) get replaced by a class-D like a XTZ. Hope is this would add to the top end. Base is great and even in my 50m² living room with high ceilings I do not miss a subwoofer. Again, Tarun, thanks for the great work. Like your channel a lot.
Thank you No Data. I suspect it may work well with the XTZ but can’t say for sure until you try it. The XTZ should be good at dealing with the 4 ohm load and have plenty of grip on the woofer and by implication, the passive radiator, as well as enough extension on the top end.
Amazing speakers.... You won't find better at this price ... Like a modern epos es14
Thank you for watching and commenting Edward 😊
Excellent review 👍
Thank you dave 😊
Great review Tarun. I am now a subscriber! I am relatively new in the hifi game. Just purchased an Anthem STR Intergrated, and I am wondering what your views are regarding how the s400's will partner with the integrated? I was considering DALI Rubicon 2's before I came across this review...
Hi Masood, I haven’t heard the Anthem STR but their other products were traditionally on the bright side of neutral. The S400s have a warm, slight dark tonal balance. On paper it looks like a good match but you can never tell unless you try it yourself. Thank you for watching and your support. Good luck 😊👍