Buchardt Audio S400 Bookshelf Speaker Review

YouTube Video Review version:

Intro:

A few months ago, I came across a forum post that touched on Buchardt Audio’s S400 bookshelf speaker. I took a visit to their website to read about it and was (pleasantly) surprised to find the manufacturer provides a set of objective data as well as thorough explanation regarding the design choices. For example: the discussion regarding the tweeter/waveguide assembly and the benefit of controlled directivity (which is, essentially, maintaining the same response profile as the listener moves off-axis from the intended listening axis; the output decreases but the shape varies little when compared to conventional tweeter designs). I don’t have the funds to make costly purchases for review, so I reached out to Mads at Buchardt and inquired about getting a demo pair to try out. Yes, I know to some that is bothersome as it could imply bias but that’s how it is when you’re on a budget and no owner is willing to offer their own samples for test. Mads appreciated that my review goal was objective-data oriented and arranged for me to receive a demo set.

Rythmik Audio F12G Direct Servo Subwoofer In-Depth Review

Foreword:

Rather than discuss only the performance of the enclosed subwoofer, I want to present some more, detailed information that not even some manufacturers are able to obtain. I will be using my own Klippel Distortion Analyzer and software modules to extract raw subwoofer driver data so we can assess the raw driver performance. This is telling because, simply put, if you start with garbage you will never achieve anything better than garbage. It’s always nice to know what is at the base of a system and this can help determine potential pitfalls in design and use.