Short answer: the Danley SH50, if you are buying new. The Buchardt Audio S400 ranks higher than it (#29 vs #47 of 131 bookshelf speakers, 4.4/5 vs 4.2/5) but is discontinued, so only consider it used; the Danley SH50 is still sold new.
The case for the Buchardt Audio S400: Compact passive design with a 6-inch aluminum woofer, rear passive radiator and waveguided 0.74-inch tweeter positioned below the woofer. Watch for: The impedance reaches 3.7 ohms (Erin), so a genuinely four-ohm-stable separate amplifier is recommended rather than a basic AVR.
Why pick the Danley SH50: A true point-source-style professional loudspeaker: two 12-inch woofers, four 5-inch midranges and a compression driver share one Synergy horn, preserving approximately 50° x 50° constant directivity through most of the passband. The tradeoff: This 133-pound, roughly 28-inch cube is engineered for venues and large rooms, not conventional domestic nearfield listening.
Buy the Danley SH50, since the Buchardt Audio S400 is discontinued and only worth hunting down used.
Want more options? Browse the full Passive Home rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Buchardt Audio S400 | Danley SH50 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | €1,800 per pair Discontinued | $8,000 per pair |
| Ranked | #29 of 131 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers | #47 of 131 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 53Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | Approximately 60Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 38Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 43.4Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | Approximately 86dB/2.83V/1m (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | Approximately 97dB/2.83V/1m (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Impedance | 3.7 ohms minimum (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | Just under 4 ohms near 100Hz and 1kHz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Drivers | 0.74” waveguided tweeter; 6” aluminum woofer | Two 12” woofers; four 5” midranges; 1” compression driver in Synergy horn |
| Woofer Cabinet | sealed with rear passive radiator | - |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 5.23 | -0.29 (spinorama.org) |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 7.43 | 1.93 (spinorama.org) |
| Dimensions | 14.8”H x 7.1”W x 9.6”D (375 x 180 x 245 mm) | 28”H x 28”W x 25.5”D |
| Weight | 16.1 lbs (7.30 kg) each | 132.9 lbs (60.3 kg) each |
| DIY Kit | No | No |
| Coverage | - | 50° horizontal x 50° vertical |
| Maximum SPL | - | 127dB continuous, 133dB peak (manufacturer specified) |
Related Speaker Comparisons
How Buchardt Audio S400 compares with other leading options:
- TAD Compact Reference One (CR1TX) vs Buchardt Audio S400
- DIYSG HTM-12 v2 vs Buchardt Audio S400
- ELAC Debut 3.0 DB63 vs Buchardt Audio S400
- KEF R3 Meta vs Danley SH50
- KEF Q Concerto Meta vs Danley SH50
Prices on this page were last checked September 30, 2026 at 2:57 PM UTC. Product prices and availability are accurate as of that date/time and are subject to change; the price and availability shown on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
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The Two Speakers In Full
Buchardt Audio S400: €1,800 per pair Discontinued eBay
Newer model: the Buchardt S400 MK3. It’s likely to perform similarly, though we can’t confirm that yet.
Pros: Compact passive design with a 6-inch aluminum woofer, rear passive radiator and waveguided 0.74-inch tweeter positioned below the woofer. Erin measured F3/F10 at 53Hz/38Hz, approximately 86dB/2.83V/1m sensitivity and smooth, broad horizontal directivity. The waveguide controls crossover handoff effectively, the passive radiator avoids port chuffing, and Erin heard no objectionable narrow-band distortion despite excellent extension for the enclosure volume. Measured bass extension of 53Hz (-3dB), with a measured sensitivity of 86dB.
Cons: The impedance reaches 3.7 ohms (Erin), so a genuinely four-ohm-stable separate amplifier is recommended rather than a basic AVR. Low-frequency distortion naturally rises at high output and the compact woofer cannot supply theater-level deep bass; crossing to a subwoofer protects headroom. Erin measured narrow distortion features above 8-9kHz and vertical lobing outside the intended axis. This is the original S400, distinct from the S400 MKII already ranked. Discontinued.
Full Buchardt Audio S400 review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 38Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 53Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| DIY Kit | No |
| Dimensions | 14.8”H x 7.1”W x 9.6”D (375 x 180 x 245 mm) |
| Drivers | 0.74” waveguided tweeter; 6” aluminum woofer |
| Impedance | 3.7 ohms minimum (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | Approximately 86dB/2.83V/1m (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 5.23 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 7.43 |
| Weight | 16.1 lbs (7.30 kg) each |
| Woofer Cabinet | sealed with rear passive radiator |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
Danley SH50: $8,000 per pair Danley Dealer Contact eBay
Pros: A true point-source-style professional loudspeaker: two 12-inch woofers, four 5-inch midranges and a compression driver share one Synergy horn, preserving approximately 50° x 50° constant directivity through most of the passband. Erin measured roughly 97dB/2.83V/1m sensitivity, an F3 near 60Hz and extraordinary output. Distortion stayed below 1% above about 60Hz at 86dB, and compression remained negligible above roughly 70Hz even at 102dB. Broad response trends can be corrected with DSP without destroying the controlled radiation pattern. Measured bass extension of 60Hz (-3dB), with a measured sensitivity of 97dB.
Cons: This 133-pound, roughly 28-inch cube is engineered for venues and large rooms, not conventional domestic nearfield listening. Its narrow 50° coverage demands precise aiming and provides a small sweet area close up. Erin measured impedance just below 4 ohms near 100Hz and 1kHz; the high sensitivity eases voltage demand, but professional use still warrants a robust dedicated amplifier and DSP. A resonance/second-harmonic distortion feature around 900Hz and smaller nonminimum-phase response features cannot be fully equalized. Subwoofers remain appropriate below the approximately 60Hz measured F3.
Full Danley SH50 review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 43.4Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | Approximately 60Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Coverage | 50° horizontal x 50° vertical |
| DIY Kit | No |
| Dimensions | 28”H x 28”W x 25.5”D |
| Drivers | Two 12” woofers; four 5” midranges; 1” compression driver in Synergy horn |
| Impedance | Just under 4 ohms near 100Hz and 1kHz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Maximum SPL | 127dB continuous, 133dB peak (manufacturer specified) |
| Sensitivity | Approximately 97dB/2.83V/1m (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | -0.29 (spinorama.org) |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 1.93 (spinorama.org) |
| Weight | 132.9 lbs (60.3 kg) each |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons